I'd draft rookies...and build new offense around their skills....Joe Flacco....Cousins....and Bradford will show GM's the error in overpaying for a QB.

LACHAMP46 said:

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/20...rams-roster-linebacker-depth-rookie-starters/

By: Cameron DaSilva

After the Los Angeles Rams were bounced from the playoffs last season, everyone’s eyes turned to the roster. Trumaine Johnson, Sammy Watkins, Lamarcus Joyner, Nickell Robey-Coleman and John Sullivan were among the many players set to hit free agency, bringing into question how the Rams would address potential roster holes.

Joyner, Robey-Coleman and Sullivan were all re-signed, while Los Angeles replaced Watkins and Johnson with three blockbuster trades. That left them needing very little heading into the 2018 NFL Draft.

Linebacker was obviously a top priority, as was offensive line depth, but the Rams didn’t seem overly concerned about the latter. After all, they waited until the fifth round to add any sort of linebacker, either inside or outside.

So where do the roster holes lie now that the draft is in the books? Really, there’s only one vacancy, and it’s at the position the Rams needed most heading into the draft: linebacker.

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

At cornerback, they’re set with Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib and Robey-Coleman, among others. Their safety duo of Joyner and John Johnson is one of the best in the league. The defensive line needs no explanation with Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers topping the depth chart, while the offensive line is equally deep after the draft.

At wide receiver and running back, the Rams have a wealth of talent. At quarterback, Jared Goff isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so there’s no concern under center, either.

As you can see, there aren’t any real holes on the roster outside of linebacker. Unfortunately, that’s a big vacancy, given the possibility that three new starters will be on the field in Week 1 after trading Alec Ogletree and Robert Quinn, as well as letting Connor Barwin walk. Mark Barron looks like the only returning starter, while the rest of the group will be sorted out in training camp.

We’re still in the very early parts of the offseason and there’s plenty yet to be determined, but you can’t help but wonder what Los Angeles will do at linebacker next season. Will it be rookies Micah Kiser or Tegray scales starting next to Barron? Or will Cory Littleton and Ramik Wilson hold off the first-year players to earn a starting job?

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

At outside linebacker, Samson Ebukam and Matt Longacre will have their work cut out for them when it comes to staving off Ogbonnia Okoronkwo. It’s likely one of the two will start in Week 1, but Okoronkwo has a good chance to take one of their jobs – likely Longacre’s.

Fortunately, the Rams bolstered their defensive line and secondary to make up for the holes at linebacker. If they can generate pressure up front and on the interior, it’ll make the lives of all four linebackers much easier. Inside ‘backers will be given more free runs to ball carriers, while the edge rushers will be afforded additional one-on-one matchups.

Los Angeles is in as good of shape as any team in the NFL, but until the linebacker position gets sorted out, all eyes will go to the middle of the defense.

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Every NFL Team's Biggest Remaining Offseason Need
Gary Davenport on May 12, 2018
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2774921-every-nfl-teams-biggest-remaining-offseason-need#slide17

Los Angeles Rams: Inside Linebacker
Here's a news flash:

The Los Angeles Rams spent most of the offseason loading up for a Super Bowl run. There wasn't a more aggressive team in the NFL when it came to adding impact players, whether it was cornerback Marcus Peters or defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

However, that doesn't mean the Rams are without holes on defense. Among all the additions was one major subtraction—the trade that sent inside linebacker Alec Ogletree to the New York Giants.

This isn't to say the Rams are barren at the position now. Mark Barron is a proven veteran with a pair of 100-tackle seasons on his professional resume.

But the spot next to Barron is now a question mark. Fourth-year pro Bryce Hager has all of one career start. Ramik Wilson has more experience as a starter, but the former Chief is a liability in coverage.

The Rams have the makings of a formidable defense. But if that defense has an Achilles' heel, it's in the middle.

Whenever I encounter shitbird "fans"

Here’s my take...

I reeeeeally like this team as it’s currently constituted, although a few outside FA tweaks will still likely be brought in.

I mean, everything is so balanced from coaching, to FO, to the O, the D, the ST. That’s pretty rare altitude, y’all.

If I HAD to pick a weakness it would be to call the upcoming LB corps unproven and the TE corps underachieving thus far. Even there we know that Wade is all over his LB corps development and McVay understands TE development and deployment like few others. And those are our “weaknesses”? Wow!

I really think that all 3 units could be Top 5. Each unit’s stellar play will only make the effectiveness of the other 2 all that much more potent. For example, the D giving the O more possessions resulting from turnovers. The O playing keep away from opposing D while scoring lots of points, giving our D ample rest and a nice lead so that they can release the hounds. Our ST flipping field position. Call it the synergy factor if you want, but the results could be devastating for our opponents.

I’m hard pressed to recall such a similarly balanced Ram team. Certainly since two of the GSOT teams. And the great Ram teams of the 70’s and 80’s lacked this team’s O status, IMO.

In short, I do feel that S&M kinda “finished” this overall team this offseason.

But it’s also true that the Eagles and Vikings have assembled formidable rosters and are also well coached. Plus the Saints are only a tick behind maybe a little bit because of Brees’ advancing age.

The NFC will be a tremendous knock down drag out fight all through the playoffs, no doubt.

These off season prediction articles by randoms are all starting to look the same. I can't wait for camp to open.

FM... “Frequency”... hopefully a description of how often he’ll get to the QB.

Login to view embedded media View: http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Franklin-Myers-Primed-for-Development-Under-Wade-Phillips-/ace85e62-506b-4e6e-8fc6-301c721967e0

And with that combination of versatility and talent, Franklin-Myers is poised to develop nicely under one of the top coordinators in the league in the Rams’ Wade Phillips. His impressive production last season — recording 13.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks — and standout measurables give Phillips two important aspects to look forward to.

“I like him because he’s 6-foot-4, 283 pounds and runs a 4.7 first,” Phillips said with a laugh. “But he’s a development guy, a develop-quickly guy it looked like to me.”

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Just so we're not confused....this is for backs, linemen, and most players...maybe QB is different...but Josh
Allen wasn't just selected highly because he talks proper....

DaveFan'51 said:

I started this thread looking for commentary on what Montana had to say about QB's past and present and Quarterbacking in general! I guess that didn't work!!

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Let us know when Kurt says something.

bluecoconuts said:

NFL is dumb as hell, teams should be able to wear whatever they want.

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For the NFL it certainly doesn’t appear smart to have one of your better teams in 2018 “caught up in a stupid rule” like this.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...antees-la-rules-mitch-trubisky-rises-and-more

2018 NFL guarantees: L.A. rules, Mitch Trubisky rises and more
By Adam Schein

The 2018 NFL Draft has been in the books for a couple weeks now, but the buzz on this epic class remains ever-present. Fans are fired up. Players, too. Heck, even front-office heavies are feeling their oats.,

"I honestly think (people) are going to look back 20 years from now," New York Jets CEO Christopher Johnson said Tuesday, via ESPN.com, "and say this is the moment the Jets shifted into a new gear, that they became a great team."

I get it. Mid-May always feels like a good time to let it fly. With the coaching carousel, the bulk of free agency and the draft in the rearview, rosters have really taken shape. It's only natural to peer into the future. Time to dream big, time to think bold. Yes, this is always the time when I channel my inner Joe Namath and toss out some audacious proclamations on the coming campaign.

Without further ado, here are my way-too-early guarantees for the 2018 NFL season, Schein Nine style:

1) Each Los Angeles team makes a deep playoff run.

I'm all in on the Rams and Chargers this year. I think both teams will win 10-plus games and be in the thick of their respective division races.

Over the past week on my SiriusXM Mad Dog Sports Radio show, "Schein on Sports," I've spoken with Rams general manager Les Snead and Chargers GM Tom Telesco. Both are feeling good about the offseason, and rightfully so.

Snead cleaned up in trades and free agency, making a reigning division champ even stronger. Brandin Cooks, Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters and Ndamukong Suh were spectacular pickups. We all know this. But don't sleep on what the Chargers did.

Snagging Swiss Army Knife safety Derwin James with the No. 17 overall pick was a heist. Adding him to a defensive backfield that already includes Casey Hayward, Jason Verrett, Desmond King and Jahleel Addae makes that unit special.

And given the pressure that will be applied by the dynamic pass-rushing duo of Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram, the Bolts' secondary is poised to make plays -- plenty of 'em. Meanwhile, last year's top pick, Mike Williams, had his 2017 season derailed by injury. It's a big offseason for him. And I think he's going to be great in Year 2.

Both teams are well-coached and have big-time running backs. Philip Rivers is a future Hall of Famer. Jared Goff blossomed into a fine player under Sean McVay. The Chargers and Rams are both hitting the postseason and winning playoff games. I guarantee it. An all-L.A. Super Bowl isn't a Hollywood pipe dream. It's truly possible.

2) The Denver Broncos finish last in the AFC West.

I still cannot believe the Browns passed on Bradley Chubb. It was a no-brainer for John Elway to pounce on the accomplished N.C. State product -- this gives the Broncos the kind of pass-rushing juice that they had in their Super Bowl season of 2015. Unfortunately, the rest of the roster doesn't exactly resemble that title squad.

Denver has issues. Both lines have question marks. The defense is nowhere near as loaded as the 2015 unit, while the offense is unsettled at tight end and in the backfield. And the roster just doesn't stack up to the competition in the AFC West.

Even though Case Keenum is an upgrade from last year's quarterback situation in Denver, he doesn't compare to Philip Rivers or Derek Carr. And I think Patrick Mahomes is going to be special in his first year as the Chiefs' starter. Denver will look up at all three. I guarantee it.

3) The Cleveland Browns DON'T finish last in the AFC North.

I loathed the Browns' draft approach in Round 1. Cleveland took the fourth-best quarterback with the first overall pick and passed on the best defender with the fourth overall pick.

I loved Cleveland's March, when the Browns brought in quality football players like Tyrod Taylor, Jarvis Landry and Carlos Hyde. With viable threats lining up behind a solid O-line, Cleveland's offense -- which has finished 30th or worst in scoring over each of the past three seasons -- could actually put some points on the board. And with some better health luck in Year 2, defensive end Myles Garrett could take the league by storm.

Meanwhile, the arrow is pointing the wrong way in both Baltimore and Cincinnati. (Is Marvin Lewis really coming back, or was that just a dream?) Cleveland has held down the AFC North cellar in 13 of the past 15 seasons, including each of the last seven. That changes in 2018.

4) Aaron Donald wins Defensive Player of the Year (again).

I provided this very guarantee in this very column one year ago. And it came to fruition. So ... If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Donald is the best defensive player in the sport by any measuring stick. This cat is the definition of a game wrecker. And now, with Ndamukong Suh joining him up front, Donald will have the opportunity to wreak even more havoc. He is going to ruin Sundays for offensive coordinators. Now, about that new contract ...

5) David Johnson is the NFL's best running back in 2018.

Johnson was on my SiriusXM Radio show last month and said he is 100 percent, physically. Oh, and his goals include 1,500 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving. Honestly, I'm not going to bet against this guy. He's special.

The Cardinals should have my guy Josh Rosen as the quarterback sooner rather than later. That will greatly help Johnson's cause. Comeback Player of the Year? How about Offensive Player of the Year? Johnson's going to be right in the mix for that high honor.

6) The Houston Texans go from 4-12 to playoff participants.

I love this team. There is no more drama and infighting. New GM Brian Gaine and head coach Bill O'Brien see things the same way. And O'Brien is armed with a brand-new contract. Onward and upward, Texans!

Deshaun Watson is an extraordinary talent. Every football fan in America took notice during his abbreviated rookie season. And it sounds like his recovery from knee surgery is coming along nicely. Get back Watson ... and J.J. Watt ... and Whitney Mercilus? And add the Honey Badger into this delicious stew? See you in the playoffs, Houston!

7) Mitchell Trubisky is this year's Jared Goff.

I'm infatuated with the Bears' offseason. Wrote back in March that Chicago's poised to be the NFL's Cinderella team. The Bears smartly followed the Rams' blueprint from last offseason: hand the keys to an offensive guru/quarterback whisperer (Matt Nagy) and dedicate the offseason to surrounding your young signal-caller with talent (Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Trey Burton in free agency, James Daniels and Anthony Miller in the draft).

Trubisky will follow in Goff's footsteps and take a major jump in his sophomore campaign.

8) The Atlanta Falcons field a top-five offense.

Matt Ryan rightly got PAID. Calvin Ridley was a perfect draft pick -- a speed receiver to complement Julio Jones. Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are a fantastic backfield duo. And it's Year 2 for Steve Sarkisian calling the plays.

Last year was the blip for Atlanta's offense. 2016 was real -- and we'll see that again in 2018.

9) The Jacksonville Jaguars boast the league's best defense.

Appearing recently as a guest on my SiriusXM Radio show, Jaguars coach Doug Marrone was giddy when describing how the big and athletic Taven Bryan will fit into the D-line rotation. Man, what a loaded group. What a loaded defense. The Jaguars' D boasts difference makers at every level. And it's deep. Bryan and former No. 3 overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. and promising rookie safety Ronnie Harrison are all coming off the bench.

Yes, following last year's appearance in the AFC title game, Marrone's team faces the great challenge of living up to expectations. The coach knows this. But his veteran leadership, spearheaded by Calais Campbell, is strong. And this defense is absolutely nasty -- a league-best unit.

Les, I don’t think it was a plan, just the result of trading early round picks for veterans.

Maybe I’m in the minority, but I never found Tavon to be an effective “gadget” player. For every great or productive play he had where he shined his potential, there would be 5-8 bonehead, negative yard, questionable outcome plays from him. I get that the jet sweep is a nice play action and distractionary play, but I thought Tavon as whole, didn’t do much for our offense. Run Cooks on those plays, otherwise focus on expanding our offense in other areas ie more down the field bombs that we struggled with Watkins (more him than Goff) or more two tight end plays.

Just my 2 cents

Florida_Ram said:

Click to expand...

FIIIIGARO... FIGARO FIGARO FIGARO... FIIIIGARO.

.

Tremendous class, even with our first pick being an absolute bust.

Gaines is a starting cb , joyner played as a top 5 safety last season , Aaron Donald is Aaron Donald.

I wanted Watkins at 2 that year , ended up with him anyways lol so i can't complain

Elmgrovegnome said:

I am not saying the Rams should be on the top of he list, but there are at least two teams on there that I just can't understand how they are rated higher than the Rams.

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No doubt Elm... The benchmarks I posted for offense had nothing to do with justifying Wesseling's rankings.

The lowest I would rank the Rams last year would be #3. Maybe #4 if you wanted to get technical about their situational football and lack of production in the redzone in 2017.

I don't agree with Chris Wesseling's ranking order and I don't pay much attention to him. I believe the absolute lowest ranking for the Rams on paper going into the 2018 should be #4 or higher.

My whole point of posting the benchmark statistics was only to show why some of these NFL media pundits view the Rams lower than many of us on ROD rank them.


ROD is not like the NFL media. We know every detail of the Rams

Prime Time said:

Looks like Brady has been getting his fashion tips from Steven Seagal.

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Mommy dresses little Tommy up real fancy.

Her recommendation: “It’s time to rebrand these women as athletes, not sex symbols, so they can be treated with the respect they deserve. No more swimsuit calendars, online voting for your favorite cheerleader, or marketing the teams with creepy slogans like, ‘Football's Fabulous Females.’ NFL cheerleaders should be full-time employees or at the very least, better-paid part-time employees.

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Good luck with that....

Prime Time said:

1. I think I don’t know if Eric Reid has a collusion case. I really don’t care. I just know if he’s not signed and in an NFL training camp in July, as an above-average, healthy 26-year-old safety, the NFL deserves what it gets if and when Reid can one day haul them into court.

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This could get ugly.....collusion cases are huge...HUGE monetary value..

Prime Time said:

If Warner can cap the progression from rejected Iowa recruit to NFL camp arm to grocery bagger to AFL star to NFL Europe to out-of-nowhere league and Super Bowl MVP to discarded veteran in St. Louis to placeholder for Eli Manning to late-career star in Arizona to retirement to TV to Canton to a return to the game in the short shadows of 50, the script will write itself.

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The script is already written, but the iron is no longer hot so a major motion picture won't get made.

It'll be on Netflix as a made for Netflix movie.

DaveFan'51 said:

A) I don't recall Bailey ever being suspended for PED's!
B) Using the term " give him a shot" is a commonly used term, and your being over-analytical in presuming I did or didn't mean to use it as a pun!

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He was suspended twice actually
The PED suspension was in 2014, 4 games reduced to 2. He was on suspension for substance abuse in 2015 when he was shot.
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2015/11/9/9698886/stedman-bailey-st-louis-rams-suspension
And he certainly blamed himself
"a few reflections on my 25th. another year is another opportunity to become a better person. to everybody I let down, I'm so sorry & I will do everything I can to gain yalls trust back. thanks for listening, I love y'all" #SteddyB #RamsFam #YearOfTheRam

As for the "take a shot" comments, no I don't think you meant it as a pun but I think its in poor taste to use the term

Prime Time said:

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...ms-in-good-shape-for-2019-compensatory-picks/

Patriots, Rams in good shape for 2019 compensatory picks
Posted by Michael David Smith on May 9, 2018

Getty Images

The deadline has passed for any free agent signings that will affect the awarding of compensatory picks in next year’s NFL draft, and the Patriots and Rams are the teams that look to be in the best shape for 2019 compensatory picks.

Both the Patriots and the Rams are likely to be awarded two third-round picks next year, according to OverTheCap.com. That’s the best haul of any team.

The Patriots are always smart about getting compensatory picks, which are awarded to teams that lose more free agents, and especially more expensive free agents, than they sign. It’s no surprise to see the atop the list of compensatory picks.

But the Rams’ presence at the top may surprise a lot of people, because the Rams made offseason headlines by attracting a lot of players. How can the Rams get so many compensatory picks after an offseason dominated by headlines about the Rams bringing in big-name players?

Because those big-name players weren’t the unrestricted free agents who count toward the compensatory pick formula. Players who arrive in trades, like Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, don’t count toward the compensatory pick formula. Nor do players who were cut by their previous teams, like Ndamukong Suh.

But players who leave your team as unrestricted free agents and sign big-money contracts with other teams do count toward the formula. The Rams lost two such players, Sammy Watkins and Trumaine Johnson, and that’s why they’re expected to get two third-round picks.

Other teams expected to get third-round compensatory picks next year include Washington (for losing Kirk Cousins), Minnesota (Case Keenum) and Carolina (Andrew Norwell).

The NFL doesn’t publish the full compensatory pick formula, and part of the formula relates to players’ performance during their first seasons with their new teams, so it’s possible that some of this could change before the compensatory picks are awarded for next year’s draft. But right now, the Patriots and Rams are looking good.

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Maybe we can trade those for 8 6th round picks.

https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/rams-samson-ebukam-ready-for-starting-gig/

Rams' Samson Ebukam: Ready for starting gig
by RotoWire Staff

Ebukam is expected to step in as a starter for the Rams at outside linebacker in 2018, Vincent Bonsignore of the Los Angeles Daily News reports. The Rams' decision to trade Robert Quinn to Miami may have been buoyed by their belief that Ebukam, a 2017 fourth-round pick, is ready to step into a larger role on the outside.

Ebukam posted a 39-inch vertical leap and 4.50 40-yard dash while checking in at 240 pounds prior to last year's draft, and then compiled 31 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble on 351 defensive snaps as a rookie.

The Rams likely want Ebukam to put on some weight, as the majority of 3-4 outside linebackers check in around 250-to-270 pounds. He'll have athleticism and opportunity both working in his favor this year.

Merlin said:

One of the reasons I love Countess. Love me some DBs that bring the wood man.

Back to Fleener, F the Saints and glad it didn't work out. I actually had hope that offseason that the Rams could add Fleener on an affordable deal until the Aints swooped in.

Still like Fleener on what he should be on: a cheap, prove-it contract. Bring him in, let him compete, if he doesn't show well cut him.

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I'm okay with Countess...but both of those hits were egregious and were flagged. Could have cost us in the Saints game. Stupid Jeff Fisher type of play.

I'll be very surprised if Allen doesn't win a roster spot. Noteboom too, given where they took him he would have to show badly to get weeded out this early.

Demby, though... As a day three guy he's lookin at teams and probably practice squad. So for all those guys the key is showing as good of film as possible in preseason to ensure that the team either doesn't want to cut you/PS you for fear of other teams snapping you up, or ensuring that you have a job after you're cut.

Les does have a very good late round record. Just not on OL. So just hoping this guy was overlooked a bit due to playing up north for an obscure program, but not gonna get all crazy with any of these late round guys, as most of them never amount to much even if they do crack the roster for teams in their first few years.