Of course we can, but odds are against it. I will say that I love that we took a different approach than the Bucs - Robinson for Woods, adding Wagner.
Summary of losses - I'll do playoffs and regular season because the rosters and performances were pretty different for a few key players:
Regular season - Whitworth, Corbett, Woods, Darious Williams, Sebastian Joseph-Day
Playoffs - Von, Whitworth, Corbett, OBJ, Williams
Von and OBJ came on very late in the regular season, but they weren't very impactful until the playoffs. To replicate our regular season success, to be frank - they're not needed. In fact, even with a more difficult schedule I'll probably predict 13 wins this year. Woods and SJD didn't play in the playoffs (SJD was back for the Super Bowl but didn't make much of an impact). Darious Williams was not good in the regular season but played much better in the playoffs.
Additions:
Cam Akers - losing him was a blow. He came back for the playoffs and looked pretty good - our run blocking was horrific all playoffs though, so tough to evaluate him. Major upgrade to our RB room.
Allen Robinson - will more than replace Woods, who aside from the Thursday night against Seattle, never quite clicked with Stafford. Upgrade.
Bobby Wagner - we have for some reason just ignored ILB for years, but the combo of Wagner and Ernest Jones should be one of the better in the league. Jones was a rookie last year and looked VERY good prior to getting hurt and missing some time.
Troy Hill - traded for him yesterday - he was an average player for us that we let go which is how we operate - get him back on the cheap. Can play with inside and outside and it's worth mentioning that his best season coincided with Ramsey and Williams best seasons, as well as the (statistically) best defense the Rams have ever had. His versatility helps to unlock Ramsey by allowing him to move around more.
In house replacements:
Noteboom (Whitworth) - we had to pay him because of his flawless performance against the Bucs. Definite downgrade from Whitworth, but is at least a league average LT who excels in pass pro. Run blocking has been a weakness for some time, so here's to hoping he works on that.
Robert Rochelle (Darious Williams) - Rochelle was a rookie last year and played well, but like Ernest Jones, injuries derailed his rookie season. Williams missed a few games last year and Rochelle was filling in nicely. He's got the length and athleticism to play outside. From that perspective, he's an upgrade. We kept Williams outside despite him being 5'9". Williams lackluster regular season performance last year likely makes this an upgrade overall, especially with Hill back in the mix at the third CB spot.
Justin Hollins (Von) - Hollins was actually the starter to begin the season and prior to trading for Von, we were near the top of the league in sacks. Hollins is the definition of a solid starter/role player in the NFL.
Open competitions:
RG - Coleman Shelton vs Bobby Evans vs Tremaine Anchrum vs Logan Bruss - based on McVays comments, Bruss has the inside track here despite being a rookie. The OL could be better worse or the same as last year, but injuries notwithstanding, I think it will border on a top ten unit as it usually has under McVay.
S - Nick Scott vs Taylor Rapp - most Rams fans have already declared Scott the winner. Between picking off Brady and blowing up our boogeyman (Deebo) in the playoffs last year, he won a lot of us over. I am also starting to think we have a deal with Mathieu ready to go and are waiting until it doesn't impact the comp formula, but we'll see on that one.
Summary - in McVays post draft press conference he mentioned wanting to get more depth for the OL and secondary. The secondary being the key thing here - we were forced to play Eric Waddle and David Long in the Super Bowl. We will be better at both spots. On paper you would think the loss of Williams would make the secondary worse, but we added three CBs yesterday between Hill and the draft, so the added depth, IMO, offsets that loss, especially because of how thoroughly average he was last year.
The OL is a question mark, but a controlled one. We've had Noteboom for four years and he's practiced with the ones A LOT while giving Whit rest days.
We will be definitively better during the regular season IMO at RB, WR, TE and ILB whether from additions or internal development (the two backup TEs, for example were forced to play - and made plays - in the Super Bowl). We also have most of an entire draft class from last year that basically red shirted.
The issue will come in the playoffs - and the questions will be do we have enough to rush the passer? Miller was incredible in the playoffs. Id expect another mid season trade to help bolster that unit.
Can Robinson do what OBJ did? Will OBJ be back?
And finally, can we beat the Packers? We were the Bucs kryptonite and they avoided us for their Super Bowl run. Not so lucky the next year. Well for us, that's Green Bay. And we were lucky to avoid them this season. Does Adams being gone help us get over that hump? A potential trip to Lambeau could be all that stands in our way of getting back to the Super Bowl.