Los Angeles Rams Fighting Uphill Battle to Success

The L.A. Rams will fight an uphill battle towards success, hoping to win the NFC West while battling for relevance in a new city. Yet today’s Los Angeles is different, and the new L.A. Rams can thrive. Dan Salem and Todd Salem debate in today’s NFL Sports Debate. Two brothers from New York yell, scream, and debate sports.

TODD:

We are still waiting to hear about whether or not the Chargers will be joining the Rams next season in Los Angeles. Whatever the decision ends up being, the L.A. Rams have their long-term future laid out.

But how comfortable is that future? How likely are the Rams to succeed in Los Angeles?

In a recent podcast, Bill Simmons described his feeling that the Rams would become a free-agent destination team playing in L.A. The top players would want to come to this team because of its new location. This seems…ludicrous.

The NFL doesn’t work like the NBA. One player doesn’t bring a playoff berth with him, and future success isn’t layered one roster spot at a time. Free agents in football go to teams that offer the most money and/or have the best chance to win right now. Success is so fleeting in this league. No one builds a dynasty out of free agency.

So if L.A. isn’t going to bring the Rams better players, what is? This team stinks on offense and seemed to plateau on defense. Over an extended period, Jeff Fisher has never been a winning coach in his many runs in the league. And we already know something about this team’s new home: fan support will dry up once the mystique wears off. It’s happened multiple times before.

Maybe luxury-box sales will be enough where waning weekly support won’t matter, but after a few years, if the Rams still stink, will everyone involved regret this decision to uproot? Unless the new stadium has built-in Draftkings fantasy seat displays, why go to the game anyway and miss out on how your players are doing? It’s not like Los Angeles residents routinely wax poetic about the good ole days when the Rams used to play there.

Jan 3, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; St. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin (11) returns a punt against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at Levi /

DAN:

You aren’t giving Los Angeles nearly enough credit. As someone who’s lived here for over ten years, I can easily say this is not the same city as a decade ago, let alone twenty plus years. When I moved to Los Angeles this was a two team town. The Lakers and USC Trojans were the only teams worth talking about, and the only two teams that casual L.A. sports fans gave a hoot about. Winning had a lot to do with this, but so did tradition and location.

Fast forward to 2016 and Los Angeles is a five team city, maybe even six. The Lakers, Trojans, Clippers, Dodgers, Angels, and even UCLA Bruins all grab local sports fan’s attention. Even if we eliminate the Bruins and Angels, you’ve got four viable franchises. Granted, all are doing well right now except the Lakers, but its the new city of Los Angeles that makes them sustainable.

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If you had a chance to visit the Staples Center, where the Lakers and Clippers and Kings all play, prior to the opening of L.A. Live, you’d know what a difference the surrounding entertainment complex has made for all three teams. Downtown Los Angeles is now a destination, and fans head to L.A. Live to watch the game, not simply to the arena. This is the plan for the L.A. Rams and its new complex. This is the idea behind football returning to Los Angeles.

Because of how successful athletes have been in movies, television and commercials, I tend to agree with Bill Simmons that the L.A. Rams will be one of most attractive free agent destinations. Setting aside the awful California taxes, these players will gain a lot by joining the Los Angeles market. Assuming the team can afford the players, they will come. This DOES NOT mean the team will be any good, however. On field success in the NFL has everything to do with ownership, front office management and coaching. It has nothing to do with location.

That being said, the Rams have not been a bad team of late. They are a middle of the road club needing those stars we spoke of to push them up a rung or two. The L.A. Rams may stink in their first few seasons, but fan interest is pretty much guaranteed for five to seven years. The Rams will play in a temporary home for three seasons, enjoying the new team smell and excitement that comes along with it.

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In 2019 the new stadium opens. Regardless of how good or bad the Rams are, this will be a huge deal for both the city and the franchise. Within a few years of that, the entire complex surrounding the stadium will be finished. More built-in excitement for the L.A. Rams. I don’t know if the team can compete for an NFC West crown, let alone a Super Bowl, in the next five seasons. But the local excitement in Los Angeles is a sure bet. Magic Johnson already reserved seats for the games, and when Magic gets behind something in Los Angeles, it tends to be successful.

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