Why I’m excited for the 2018 Los Angeles Rams As part o

f SB Nation NFL Theme Week this week Todd Gurley Jersey , we’re looking at why fans of every NFL team should be excited for the 2018 season.This month is a new experience for fans of the Los Angeles Rams, at least those who have come on board in roughly the last 15 years.For the first time in about a decade and a half and for the first time in Turf Show Times history, the Rams head toward the regular season with legitimate, sincere expectations to make the playoffs. And to win beyond Week 17 of the regular season.So to the degree that I or any Rams fan is excited about this season, it’s offensively blatant as to why. I think the bigger question is one of satisfaction.We’re all excited for the season. But for what outcomes? And to what longevity?One of the more fascinating polls I’ve seen was from TST’s own Sosa Kremenjas back in April when he set up an uncomfortable dichotomy. Would you rather achieve greatness in one year and have nothing else to show for it or be relevant for a decade without ever reaching the mountaintop?I was honestly surprised at how lopsided it was. I sincerely thought a greater population of fans would want the longer period of success than the fleeting ephemera of Lombardi-tinged excellence.And that’s what I wonder what fans are really excited for.Yes, the 2018 LA Rams look good enough on paper to compete for an appearance in Super Bowl LIII. And yes, with RB Todd Gurley and WR Brandin Cooks locked up for the long-term as QB Jared Goff and WRs Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp are all set for the medium-term future, the Rams have a great offensive core for Head Coach Sean McVay for the near future.And maybe that’s what I’m really excited for. A setup. A prologue.Because as great as the author is, the book still needs to be written. There’s a lot of good sport-ing going on today"WhiteSections 2019 offseason2019 free agency2019 NFL DraftFull ArchiveLibrary 2019 NFL calendar2019 Rams regular season sched2019 Rams preseason schedMasthead Community Guidelines NFL Odds StubHub ✕Random RamsdomRandom Ramsdom, 4/13: LA Rams news Aaron Donald Jersey , Masters leaderboard, and NHL/NBA playoff match-ups and start times for SaturdayNew,30commentsThere’s a lot of good sport-ing going on todayCDTShareTweetShareShareRandom Ramsdom, 4/13: LA Rams news, Masters leaderboard, and NHL/NBA playoff match-ups and start times for SaturdayRob Schumacher-USA TODAY SportsLA Rams’ 2019 NFL Draft needs | Sports Illustrated The biggest need, the hidden need and what else the Rams should be looking for in the 2019 draft.Trade value of every Rams’ draft pick in the 2019 draft | Rams WireLes Snead has never been shy about making trades before, during or after the draft, doing so regularly since he took over as general manager in 2012. One edge rusher for the Rams in every round of the 2019 draft | Rams WireThe Los Angeles Rams waited to address the pass rush in last year’s draft and it led them to trading for Dante Fowler Jr. mid-season. They re-signed Fowler this offseason, but only for one year so the long-term future at outside linebacker is hardly settled.Which teams should trade in round 1? And for whom? | NFL NetworkSome of the most exciting moments of the NFL draft stem from the unexpected trades that go down each year C.J. Anderson Jersey , stunning the audience at the event and those watching from home.Film breakdown: What Bortles brings to QB position | Rams’ official siteThe Rams signed Blake Bortles in March to be their backup quarterback for the 2019 season. Bortles, of course, was Jacksonville’s No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, and spent the majority of the last five seasons as the Jaguars starter.Bortles choosing Rams without other visits show confidence in team | Ramblin FanBlake Bortles agreed to a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Rams this offseason to become the new backup quarterback to Jared Goff.McVay: Gurley will be “focal point” of Rams’ offense | Pro Football TalkWhen Rams General Manager Les Snead discussed running back Todd Gurley‘s late-season knee woes earlier this year, he indicated that the team was going to work on ways to lessen his workload.Joyner has potential to be playmaker Raiders’ secondary needs | Pro Football FocusSafety Lamarcus Joyner opted to join the Oakland Raiders defense this offseason by signing a four-year, $42 million contract with $21.3 million in guarantees. This comes after spending five productive seasons with the Rams, and the 2018 season under the franchise tag in the Los Angeles secondary.What’s on tap for Saturday? NHL Playoffs Carolina Hurricanes at Washington Capitals, 12pm ET (WSH leads 1-0)Dallas Stars at Nashville Predators, 3pm ET (DAL leads 1-0)Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins, 5pm ET (TOR leads 1-0)Colorado Avalanche at Calgary Flames Samson Ebukam Jersey , 7:30pm ET (CGY leads 1-0)The MastersT1 - Adam Scott, -7 (tee time: 2:35pm ET)T1 - Louis Oosthuizen, -7 (tee time: 2:25pm ET)T1 - Francesco Molinari, -7 (tee time: 2:45pm ET)T1 - Jason Day, -7 (tee time: 2:45pm ET)T1 - Brooks Koepka, -7 (tee time: 2:35pm ET)T6 - Justin Harding, -6 (tee time: 2:15pm ET)T6 - Xander Schauffele, -6 (tee time: 2:15pm ET)T6 - Tiger Woods, -6 (tee time: 2:05pm ET)T6 - Dustin Johnson, -6 (tee time: 2:25pm ET)T10 - Jon Rahm Cooper Kupp Jersey , -5 (tee time: 1:55pm ET)T10 - Ian Poulter, -5 (tee time: 2:05pm ET)Full standings, pairings, and tee times, courtesy of CBS SportsMLB GamesErrbody playing todayPremier LeagueTottenham at Huddersfield, 7:30am ETBrighton at Bournemouth, 10am ETSouthhampton at Wolves, 10am ETFulham at Everton, 10am ETBurnley FC at Cardiff City, 10am ETManchester United at West Ham John Johnson Jersey , 12:30pm ETNBA Playoffs (all Game 1’s)Brooklyn Nets at Philadelphia 76ers, 2:30pm ETOrlando Magic at Toronto Raptors, 5pm ETLos Angeles Clippers at Golden State Warriors, 8pm ETSan Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets, 10:30pm ET