What makes Murray special is his ability to quickly create space. Second is his quick release. Those two things together are going to be a pain in our @$$ for a long time.

Seems to me that most mobile QBs tend to do better than the pocket types in their rookie season because they can slow the edge rush with threat of their legs. But they also tend to not progress as well in years 2 and 3 because that dependency on gaining those yards on the ground. He will probably win some games he shouldn't for that reason, but it's hard to think that roster will win more than, say, 7 games.

Merlin said:

I don't think I'd play Gaines too much tomorrow. He was clearly a cut above the depth types he was lined up across from vs the Raiders so stick him in there a bit early on to do his thing then put him on the bench. He's an important piece for us IMO.

SJD... Similarly I would have him follow Gaines and do his thing then finish up his snaps before halftime. IMO these two guys are important to our run defense this season so don't risk them too much. I can care less if we give up a ton of yards on the ground when they're out in a preseason game either.

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I mostly agree, but i'd also like to see SJD compete at 3T for a few possessions.

So if we're stacked at one position (which it seems we are at WR depth), why can't we trade for a vet Guard or other OL for quality depth, who might even be able to start?

McVay understands leadership better than anybody. We are so fortunate right now, and I'm loving it.

There could be odd visuals off and on today as some tweaks are made.

The site could hang, or drop. But these should all be temporary and short in duration.

We’ll try not to have any.

ReekofRams said:

Have we heard yet who exactly they are keeping home? Because McVay say that Aaron will be making the trip and he will be playing. So I was wondering if there’s a list a video I missed just something to tell us who’s playing and who’s not.

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The tweet in the OP states that Donald and Peters will not be playing.

I couldn't find a list, and the only info that I could find says "most of the starters" so my assumption is that aside from Donald and Peters the starters that sat out last week didn't go.

BonifayRam said:

The real biggy is "How is Cam's shoulder?"

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That's my response here in NC when someone mentions Gurley's knee.

Hope he ousts Reynolds for the #4 spot (no knock on him), I just like Thomas's upside more

It seems to me that both Kiser & Hager have some stiff competition.

Howard looked good playing that Littleton post & he loves to tackle with some hit in that little body. Dakota Allen would appear to be better @ the Littleton post too. Now Troy Reeder was something different. Much bigger & a lot more active than I would have thought. Troy Reeder reminded me some of a young ILB Jim Youngblood of the mid 70's & early 80's. Reeder might end up being just what the doctor ordered for last seasons pathetic soft up the middle run defense.

tklongball said:

Good Lord. At some point these guys have to quit listening to their agents if they want to be on a winning team.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001040986/article/dak-prescott-seeking-extension-worth-40myear

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den-the-coach said:

Wow can't believe I liked Justin Gilbert & Dennard...Glad Aaron Donald is in Horns.

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Yep! I wanted Matthews and Denard. I didn’t think they’d go for DT because we just picked up that one? Langford was it? What hell was his name in FA? He played decent to where I thought we wouldn’t think to go DL. Glad they dipped into the DL again and let Langford go! We got a HOF!

Now G-Rob on the other hand.. View attachment 29615

Merlin said:

Good point. ED has no idea what a great QB looks like.

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Dieter Brock is in shock at your comment!!!

Photo released of Gruden anointing McVay back in Tampa:

Gurley posted a short video of him and his new kitty. That's my prediction - he needs to stay home to bond with his new mate. lol

https://www.therams.com/news/anonymous-keys-to-the-rams-2019-season

Anonymous keys to the Rams 2019 season

In the span of three years, the Rams have been transformed from a collection of promising but relatively unknown commodities to an organization of household names. A good portion of that rise in Q-rating has occurred through individual development, while marquee trades and free agency have layered in All-Pros and Super Bowl-winning veterans.

It’s why multiple outlets have listed Los Angeles as boasting one of the NFL’s most talented rostersentering 2019.

However, in the spirit of “We Not Me,” what if we presented keys to the upcoming season withoutmentioning a single one of those players? After all, haven’t you read enough this summer about the left knee of a certain No. 30, and how the Rams fate will hinge on whether or not he’s able to score another 21 touchdowns?

Let’s go a different direction: What macro trends have enabled this franchise to win 24 regular season games and two division titles since the youngest coach in NFL history arrived?

(Yes, I’m even avoiding his name. You have my permission to throw a penalty flag if I slip up.)

Here are five that come to mind.

Turnover Margin

In many ways, it starts and ends here.

In 2018, the Rams were fourth in the league with a plus-11 turnover margin. Similarly, in 2017, they finished in the black at plus-7. Over that two-year span, only Kansas City and Seattle have better cumulative margins.

Last year, just two of the 14 teams that had neutral or negative turnover margins – BAL and PHI – made the postseason. So this is virtually imperative.

The current Rams coaching staff is unbeaten when wining the turnover battle and has only been beaten twice when the margin was even (at NO in Week 9, 2018 and Super Bowl LIII).

Injury Luck

Football Outsiders quantifies health with their Adjusted Games Lost metric. After leading the NFL in that category in 2017, the Rams rated as the fourth healthiest team in 2018.

The coaching and medical and nutrition and operations and analytics staffs all deserve major kudos for prioritizing team health, especially when it comes to avoiding soft-tissue injuries. (Unfortunately, we can’t give them credit by name, here.)

That being said, the Rams also have been extremely fortunate since their Los Angeles homecoming when it comes to the injury report.

Offensive Line Continuity

The closest corollary to health has been the durability of the offensive line.

Last season, the same five lineman started all 16 regular season games and three postseason contests. In 2017, the only variation in the starting lineup occurred in Week 17, when the Rams opted to rest starters, having clinched the division.

We know the Rams will have two new starters on their offensive line in 2019. However, maintaining continuity within that group could go a very long way to replacing lost production.

Yards After Catch

Throughout the offseason program and training camp, the Rams attention to detail on this attribute cannot be overstated.

From schemes that put shifty weapons in space to delivering passes on time and on target, from players blocking for each other downfield to ball-carriers habitually finishing through tacklers, the Rams are elite at racking up yards after the catch. Over the past two years, they rank second in the NFL in YAC/reception (6.2).

Consider the play-calling options available on 2nd & 5 versus 2nd & 7. Or the impact of an extra yard per play over the course of the 1,060 snaps the offense ran last season.

Fast Starts

Last one, as this was meant to be a light exercise, not an endurance test. And unlike a marathon, the sprint out of the starting blocks has proven to be significant to the Rams reign in the NFC West.

They led the league in first half scoring in 2017 and ranked second in 2018.

Since the most recent head coaching change, Los Angeles is 19-0 when leading at halftime.

I don’t put much stock in Time of Possession, except in this regard: Like any team, when the Rams play with the lead, they tend to stay ahead of the chains, stay on the field, and run up their play count. Having led the NFC in scoring in back-to-back seasons, there aren’t many opponents that stand a chance of orchestrating a comeback against the Rams – especially if they don’t possess the football.

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Classic Rams said:

Yuck, why not go back to these?

even a blue and white version....

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man that looks like a 8th graders hat design project for school.

.

A.J. Hicks said:

I'm all for Mcvay letting his coaches get some coaching experience like letting Waldron call plays in the preseason.

As long as he keeps Kromer, Fassel, Wade (as long as he wants to keep coaching), and Aubrey Pleasant close confidants, keeping them with the Rams.

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agreed Aubrey Pleasant is the coach on the D to keep long term

BonifayRam said:

Wade is in good shape this season in his secondary. Next season Wade stands to be in trouble.

+Here's what I would be thinking of on this issue......Rams need two new bona fide starting outside corners next season. Noway the Rams should pay Marus Peters what he will demand, so I let him get paid his $13 to $14 million elsewhere. He simply is not worth the $$$. His performance was just awful when Talib was not on the field. I would rather offer Talib a deal for $7 to $8 million for on more Ram season if he wants to continue to play. But Talib could get much bigger $$$ elsewhere, there is a very good chance he will not return. Thus Rams stand a good chance to be left with corner Troy Hill as our top outside corner:shocking:.....not good.

Outside corner David Long is thought to be in contention for the starting corner opposite Hill but that could change easily. NRC will return for one more season in 2020 & is strictly a Nickel corner. I would find some way to have both Kevin Peterson & Darious Williams on the 53 player roster with their low cost contracts here to compete with Hill & Long next season.I would hope that Donte Deayon can replace Dom Hatfield as the reserve Nickle.

I would hope the Rams go with only four safeties. Weddle & JJ III being the starters with future star SS/FS Taylor Rapp fully capable of backing up both of them. Rapp will be a better version of veteran Marqui Christian. I like FS/ST'mers Nick Scott as the 4th. The Practice Squad would have to carry 2 safeties this season as a precautionary concern for having only 4 safeties. I would suggest Ramon Richards & Steven Parker. Note 4 of our (53 player) roster safeties are under contract for the 2020 season....thus there are no need in keeping a large cadre of safeties.

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I agree with keeping Peterson and Williams on the team and keeping four safeties and six cornerbacks. And yeah, I'd keep Richards and Parker on the practice squad (although honestly, I don't see the big deal about Scott and never have.)

Like I said in another thread, I'm betting on Peterson to excel if he gets regular playing time.

I'm betting that we re-sign Talib, especially if Wade stays on next year. He provides a veteran presence that's sorely needed at the cornerback position, especially if we select a young corner or two in next year's draft.

Long needs a little more seasoning, but he did very well in his first game, aside from one completed pass against him. I expect him to compete with Peterson for a starting slot opposite Talib.

And I don't have any high expectations for Hill. It'll shock me if he's a starting corner on this team next year.

Can anyone in "the know" spell out how he has looked in camp, joint practices, etc.? I think this could and should be his year to break out...and if he does in year 3 of McVay, it could be just what the Dr. ordered. Another weapon to game plan for the D coordinators all week, with an already potent offense with Kupp coming back. And if D. Henderson can become out Kamira, Wow!

Ok, back to work...

By: Cameron DaSilva | 51 minutes ago


No team had a shorter offseason than the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots this year. After making it all the way to the Super Bowl, they were a month behind some teams when it came to scouting and offseason work.

It was undoubtedly a long season spanning from the preseason in August to the Super Bowl in February, but the Rams wouldn’t change anything about it – except maybe the end result. As short as the offseason break was, Sean McVay is feeling great heading into the 2019 season.

He told Albert Breer of the MMQB that he feels as fresh as he ever has entering a campaign, which is somewhat surprising after all he went through last season.

“I’m excited about this season,” McVay said. “I think this is as fresh as I’ve felt. It was good to have that break after the offseason, even though it goes a little longer when you’re playing into the Super Bowl, and the offseason was shorter. It was really the first time I was able to decompress and then truly get so excited about getting back with these guys. You’ve got an enthusiasm and an excitement—you’re ready to go.”

Getting over the Super Bowl loss is understandably difficult, and McVay says “it’ll always bother you.” He’s blamed himself for not putting his players in positions to succeed, failing to adapt to what the Patriots were doing.

Some believe the Rams will go through a Super Bowl hangover because of the loss, but McVay doesn’t foresee that being an issue at all.

“To say there’s any sort of lull, or any sort of energy that’s drained as a result of that, I don’t feel it at all,” he said. “I think there’s an excitement about getting back and attacking the ’19 season. People say, ‘Oh, it’s demoralizing to lose the Super Bowl.’ I told the players this—it’s the best season I’ve ever been a part of. And I obviously didn’t feel great about the way it ended, but I couldn’t be more appreciative of the season.”

All offseason, players have talked about how much they learned from making it to the Super Bowl and the way it’s going to help them moving forward. McVay has echoed that sentiment and gotten everyone on the same page.

This is a team that’s prepared for the upcoming season and the high expectations surrounding them.

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/13/nfl-rams-sean-mcvay-refreshed-2019-season/

Soul Surfer said:

Yeah I'm not sweating the first couple of preseason games but they have to look a little more polished by the third and fourth or I'm going to start worrying about our backups a tad myself.

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Oh I'm definitely already worried....