Is this team too confident?
Rams’ great D’Marco Farr perfectly explained my concern for the Los Angeles Rams on a recent Between the Horns episode, and it’s not a veteran quarterback with an aching back, it’s how will the Rams deliver, when so many expect them to hoist the Lombari in February?
I’ve been wanting to write this article for some time, but I haven’t been able to find the words. Enter Farr, Super Bowl Champion and St. Louis Ram, who perfectly explained my worry for this Rams team.
Said Farr,
“And I’ve been talking to as many people as possible about this because I’ve been telling them how high morale is around this football team and there’s nothing wrong with saying ‘Lombardi or bust.’ Especially when you have a team this loaded, this good and this veteran led. But it does make me a little bit nervous when…morale is so high. You know what I mean? Like, it’s hard to get tough, it’s hard to get good or to become when people are patting you on the back. At least from my expectation. When you’re trying to overcome naysayers that’s the easy part, it’s how do you become better when everyone’s telling you, ‘You a Super Bowl contender before you play Game 1. That’s…a rough environment to be in.”
In 2024, we saw many count the Rams out, especially in the beginning of the year as they struggled to stack wins. They responded by making the playoffs and pushing the Philadelphia Eagles to the brink.
The Rams are no longer underdogs, so how is this team going to respond as favorites in the NFC and the NFL? How are they preparing during an offseason where nothing is won, but wins are presumed? How will they motivate themselves in 2025? And more importantly than anything, will the Rams deliver?
It’s better to be a franchise who believes they can win it all, and not a franchise who delivers lip-service. However, too much confidence can lead to Pride, and Pride more often than not, will lead to a downfall. But you have to have confidence, right? Visualize to achieve, but the line between confidence, arrogance and fool-hearty can be a fine line.
Sean McVay’s team is walking a tight-rope between losses and wins, success and failure, we won’t know if they land on their feet until the circus act is done.