Grading Rams’ alternate uniform: LA (finally) nails new look
A year after releasing uniforms that were widely disliked by the fanbase, the Los Angeles Rams made up for it a little bit by revealing their new alternate jersey. It’s a classic white jersey with blue horns and yellow sleeves, going back to the popular look from the ’80s and ’90s.
The initial response from fans was undoubtedly better than the reception after last year’s reveal, and it should be. These uniforms are fantastic and there’s almost nothing to dislike about them.
Let’s get into the good, the bad and the grade.
The good
Credit: Los Angeles Rams
This is the uniform the Rams should've released last year instead of the Bone. It's a classic look that pays homage to past teams, from the Eric Dickerson era to the Greatest Show on Turf team that won a Super Bowl. The Rams nailed the shoulders by including blue horns and yellow sleeves, which really pop off the white base color. The Bone jerseys don't have the same color saturation as these new alternates, which is why they look significantly better. The yellow pants are a perfect match for the jerseys, too. Once again, it's the combination the Rams wore 20-30 years ago, tying the entire uniform together, especially when worn with blue socks. It's subtle, but the Rams kept the yellow tag on the back collar but put the secondary ram head logo on it instead of the LA mark. That's a nice little change and update compared to last year's sets.
The bad
Credit: Los Angeles Rams
These new uniforms have very few flaws, but there's still one thing that the Rams should've fixed: the numbers. Both the shape and the design of the numbers could've been improved. The glossy finish and curls within the numbers should've been removed and replaced with a more classic style like the ones on the Rams' road uniforms in 1999. There's just something about the bubbly-looking digits that leave something to be desired – almost making the numbers look soft. The only other nitpick is the nametag on the left side of the chest. It's the Rams' attempt at being different and going against the grain, but we know what team is wearing the jersey. It's the only team in the league with horns. A nametag isn't needed. Fortunately, the tag is white and blends into the jersey, unlike the white tag on the Bone uniform, which looks out of place.
The grade
Credit: Los Angeles Rams
It's really hard to dislike this alternate uniform. It's almost exactly what fans were asking the team to release for several years, ever since the refresh was announced. It's the perfect mix of throwback and modern updates, catering to both new and old fans. Having a simple white jersey is substantially better than the Bone look, which almost seemed like Nike and the Rams trying to do too much. Unfortunately, the Rams will probably still wear their Bone uniforms more than the three times they'll rock these spectacular throwbacks, since these new jerseys are technically alternates, which come with frequency restrictions from the NFL. These jerseys came a year late, but thankfully the team got them right and now have a uniform set just about every fan can get behind. Grade: A
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