Can you imagine if Whit had retired?

I think Brown will have a bigger role this year, and Henderson will have a new role we haven't seen with McVay's Rams yet.

Polish Power....Vitas Hrynkiewicz....On that bandwagon now, how can you not like a Finance Major from tough Youngstown State?

"The Giants also gave Manning the option to keep his 210-game starting streak going anyway (he declined), and then-head coach Ben McAdoo offered a fair justification as well. The season was essentially over and they wanted to get a look at potential successors Geno Smith and Davis Webb. It was that simple."
For what its worth, that is really not what happened, at all and a lousy spin doctor move at that.
McAdoo had lost the team completely. He threw Manning under the bus in a game he himself couldn't get a play in on time, he let Odell Beckham do whatever he wanted and lost all respect, and then in a move which was a final straw started Geno Smith over Eli. He was a total doosh and the season was lost all right, but Smith was never looked at as a "Potential Successor".
And the "Option" to start is BS too. He told Eli he'd let him play the first series, then pull him. Was quite public too, McAdoo had no problem talking on NY Radio about it. So Eli had to decline, it was a joke. And for the Giants fans, Eli's streak was pretty much all they had left
Had they at least started Webb, it would have been palatable, but Geno Smith? Good lord.

It should be noted that SJD did go up against a healthy Travis Frederick, 3x All-Pro 4x Pro-Bowl, in the Dallas game.

Hager covers better that Kiser so that's a positive. He needs to not hurt the Rams against the run. Everyone on defense has to step up against the run. I think he will be alright but, he needs help. Littleton has to step up in the run game. It should be interesting to watch. If he can't do the job, then Allen is an alternative.

I'll be there in person! I have family in Texas, and this will be my first Rams game.

oldnotdead said:

Luck had no control over the timing of his injuries. Of course, he put it off as long as he could....not to sabotage anyone but to try to get through it. I've been hurt like that and understand how it gets to the point that you have to leave the life you love behind. It isn't an easy decision. If he pulled the plug earlier people would have said he was a quitter for not trying to tough it out. What a croc!! Only people who don't know what pain is say crap like that. I was an avid hiker, backpacker, woodsman, survivalist my whole life. From the time I was 8 and my father got me started on my first backpack and I was hooked.

Then the war came to my life and all that went away. The more I tried to hold on to it the more I injured myself in the attempt. I still live with the pain 24/7 365 all these years and I just have learned to live with it. But I know how much worse it could be. I just got the other part of my life back and did things there I never had envisioned before because it was never "necessary" to even think of it. It's called facing the reality of your life.

Damn, right I can relate to Andrew. There are a lot of things he can do, just not be a pro footballer. But he could coach or broadcast, or sit back and drink Modelo Negro and eat tacos all day while he watches other guys destroy their bodies. Props Andrew my brother, time to live that other part of your life to it's fullest. Ignore the noise, because they don't understand. Ignorance is their bliss.

The hypocrisy of it all. The NFL is a little more than a week away from ending the dream of hundreds of guys who have sweated and sacrificed in the quest of their life long dream. Does the NFL care? Hell no, it's just business, right? How much notice do you think they are going to give these guys? They are going to make them play a meaningless game, risking their health to do so, all the while these teams already know who is going to make it and who isn't. All for the sake of making more money. Give me a break. Andrew gave them more notice than they would have given him if it came down to it.

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Damn fucking straight. Preach it, my brother!

Lindsey Thiry
ESPN


THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- He knew he wouldn't be the starter, and the temporary practice facilities certainly did not lure him.
Blake Bortles signed with the Los Angeles Rams in free agency because he saw the same thing the rest of the NFL saw the past two seasons: Rams coach Sean McVay has ignited the league with a prolific offense, helped spring players to MVP-caliber seasons and propelled assistant coaches to head jobs.
"Everybody kind of wants a piece of what he's doing," Bortles said.
Bortles isn't interested in coaching yet. He also isn't interested in sticking around L.A. for the long term. The plan is to soak up everything McVay can offer, back up Jared Goff as he leads the pursuit of another trip to the Super Bowl and then find a job as a starting quarterback somewhere else.
"I want to get an opportunity to start in this league and go do that again, and I think in order to do that, this is the best step," Bortles said. "Being here around McVay and helping Jared, kind of taking a year to do whatever I can to better myself."

For the Rams, signing Bortles to a one-year, $1 million deal was a no-brainer after they let backup Sean Mannion walk in free agency.
"When you're kind of in the phase that we are, we do want to continue winning and having a quarterback who's been there, done that," general manager Les Snead said. "Definitely helps if you ever have to go to the bullpen."
The third overall pick in 2014, Bortles played five seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars and led them to the 2017 AFC Championship Game, in which they fell to the New England Patriots.
After the season, Bortles signed a three-year, $54 million contract extension that was expected to keep him with the team through the 2020 season. But he experienced an uneven season last year and was benched as the Jaguars finished 5-11. The organization signed quarterback Nick Foles in free agency and released Bortles while owing him $6.5 million on his contract.
In five seasons, Bortles finished 24-49 as a starter. He passed for 103 touchdowns, with 75 interceptions, and completed 59.3% of his passes.
"When you look at the production over the course of his career, a guy that has played in some big-time games, has some athleticism and some different things that we like," McVay said. "To be able to get a player of his caliber to be able to come in and be willing to be a backup ... he's kind of got that charisma and presence that you expect from a quarterback, where you can't help but say, 'I like this guy.'"
Goff, who is entering his fourth NFL season, had an established relationship with Bortles before he signed with the Rams. The two share an agent and have spent previous offseasons working out together in Orange County. Now they live across the 101 freeway from each other, often grab dinner and enjoy golf outings together.
"I'm excited to continue to grow with him and work together," Goff said.
Bortles said he and Goff are able to discuss their NFL experiences and share ideas.
"It's good back-and-forth banter on, 'What do you think here? Have you seen it before? What did you do in the past?' type stuff," Bortles said.
In his preseason debut, Bortles completed three of eight passes for 50 yards in a loss to the Oakland Raiders. McVay said the numbers were skewed by several dropped passes by receivers. A week later against the Dallas Cowboys, Bortles finished 7-of-11 for 62 yards and a touchdown.
"He's been making great decisions," McVay said. "I think he's getting a great command on what we're trying to do offensively. Then I think some of the things that show up that's been really one of his great traits is just his overall athleticism. In some of these practice settings, you can't tackle the quarterback, and I think his ability to use his legs and be able to create off schedule, whether it's throwing the football or running it, using him in some instances as a runner."

Bortles did not play in the Rams' third preseason game and is not expected to play in the fourth.
"We felt like he has done a good job of really establishing himself as the clear No. 2," McVay said. "If it was a situation where he hasn't played a lot of football -- but when you look at it, all right, what's really to gain?"
Since Goff became the starter with seven games remaining in his rookie season, he has not missed a game because of injury, though he did not play in Week 17 of 2017, as McVay chose to sit starters with a playoff berth secured.

It's possible that Bortles' two brief preseason appearances are the only ones he'll make as a Ram. For now, it remains uncertain whether his decision to sign as a backup will result in another chance to start.
But Bortles isn't second-guessing the move.
"I thought from the time I made the decision, until now, and all the way through, that it was the best choice for me and my career and I think gives me the best opportunity to get back to being a starting quarterback in the NFL," Bortles said. "So right now my role is to do what I can to help this team win, help Jared, better myself as much as possible.
"If I get a chance to play again, great. If not, then I'm gaining experience in that role at practice as a backup."

How does this work exactly? When you slide feet first as soon as a part of you touches the ground the play is dead and the ball is marked, so how can that work going head first? If you’re going head first you’re trying to get to a marker, first down, touchdown, whatever, and when you land you’re going to be near if not over that point. So you’re going to have to blow it dead when the player begins his dive, and how is that measured? When the last foot is touching?
I don’t think we need a rule, guys need to be coached better. Wentz learned the hard way that diving is a risky play and I’ve heard that Belichick doesn’t allow guys to dive extending the ball cuz of the risk of fumbling.

none of the links work for me. Must be cuz they are on GOP sites and I'm in Mexico....

nighttrain said:

i used to abode in San Clemente, Calif., was so sweet
train

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Agreed

I dunno Big Whit...Not everyone gets to the playoffs, and very few make it to Super Bowls. If you win one this year, that may be all that it takesl All I know is that without you and Greg Robinson is still the penalty machine, human turnstyle at LT...I don't know if the Rams even make the plays the last couple of years...

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Sean McVay is changing the preseason by sitting players, and he's fine with it

Frank Schwab
,
Yahoo Sports•August 27, 2019



Of all the ways Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay’s rapid ascent has affected the NFL, how teams approach the preseason seemed to be far down the list.

However, McVay’s approach to the preseason — which is basically to blow it off — seems to be catching on.

Over the last two years McVay and the Rams have sat practically every starter through the preseason, including stars like quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley. That goes against the way teams have approached the preseason for decades.

But the Rams will be healthy going into September. Teams like the Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans and Detroit Lions, who all saw key players get injured this month, perhaps wish they had followed that path.

Sean McVay comfortable with preseason approach
For as long as anyone can remember, the preseason went like this for just about every team: The first game, the starters got a series or two. The second game, maybe a quarter or more. The third game would be the so-called dress rehearsal, with a half or more to the starters. Then teams would sit everyone in the fourth game.

For some teams this year, every preseason game looks like the fourth game. That is McVay’s influence, after the Rams sat everyone last preseason, came into the regular season healthy and went to a Super Bowl.

“We feel confident and comfortable with the approach we’re taking, and we understand that it might not be for everybody,” McVay said, according to the Los Angeles Times.

“You never want to see your main guys that you’re counting on get injured, especially in games where it’s really just tuneups for the regular season.”

Teams are starting to blow off preseason
Here was the Chicago Bears’ inactive list from the third preseason game, which traditionally has been for starters to get a half or more:

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/BearsPR/status/1165375770333798400/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1165375770333798400&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.yahoo.com%2Fauthor%2Ffrank-schwab%2F


Even old-school coach Vic Fangio of the Denver Broncos sat almost all of his starters in the third preseason game. Last week’s Rams-Broncos preseason game, before an announced crowd of 66,899, featured very few players who will have any significant role in Week 1:

(NFL.com gamebook screen shot)
More
Warren Sharp of SharpFootballAnalysis.com pointed out how many teams barely played their quarterbacks this month:

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/SharpFootball/status/1165812071088447489?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1165812071088447489&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fsports.yahoo.com%2Fauthor%2Ffrank-schwab%2F


That list should grow. One quarterback on that list, Cam Newton, suffered an ankle injury in his limited snaps. The Texans lost running back Lamar Miller to a torn ACL. The Lions had center Frank Ragnow and linebacker Jarrad Davis get carted off and while neither injury seems to be as serious as it looked, both will likely enter the season at less than 100 percent.

Some coaches value the preseason. Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid plays his starters a lot in August, and he has had a lot of success. But a movement seems to be afoot. Teams can get ready for the season through practices, or even joint practices with another team. The preseason is already a dubious sell to fans, and it’ll get a lot tougher if most of the league adopts the McVay model and never plays starters.

Teams are starting to see that the risk of getting key players injured isn’t worth the reward of possibly being sharper after a couple dozen preseason snaps. If that approach becomes widespread in the NFL, thank McVay for it.


Frank Schwab is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab

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Our biggest concern this offseason is worrying about who the team will not be able to keep on the roster.
Think about that.

There are other questions, concerns, etc but this cutdown has our attention like never before. Good times.

FaulkSF said:

I'll play:

Offense (24)

QB1: Goff
QB2: Bortles
Wolford to the PS.

RB1: Gurley
RB2: Brown
RB3: Kelly
RB4: Henderson
Henderson needs to learn how to set up blocks and build lower body strength. This shouldn't exclude him from seeing a couple snaps at WR.

TE1: Higbee
TE2: Everett
TE3: Mundt

WR1: Cooks
WR2: Woods
WR3: Kupp
WR4: Reynolds
WR5: Hodge
WR6: Webster
Greene to the PS. As much as I want to root for Thomas, I don't think he can produce against starters in real games. Call it Gibson syndrome. Hodge has more upside and Webster beats out JoJo for ST abilities.

OL1: Whit
OL2: Note
OL3: Allen
OL4: Blythe
OL5: Have
OL6: Evans
OL7: Edwards
OL8: Hrynkiewicz
OL9: Brewer
Considering Whit's age and the youth on the line, we bring 9 to the 53 to hedge these risks.

Defense(26)

DT1: D-MVP
DT2: SJD
DT3: Gaines
DT4: Smart

DE1: Brockers
DE2: Fox
DE3: JFM

OLB1: Fowler
OLB2: Ebukam
OLB3: Obo
OLB4: Patrick
Durham and Lawler to PS.

ILB1: Littleton
ILB2: Matthews
ILB3: Hager
ILB4: Allen
Surprised to see Matthews here? Don't be. In 2014 and 2015 Matthews was selected to the pro bowl as a ILB. Kiser is injured and Hager just isn't ready yet for a starting role. Reeder to the PS.

CB1: Talib
CB2: Peters
CB3: NRC
CB4: Peterson
CB5: Long Jr.
CB6: Williams
Something isn't right with Troy Hill. These soft tissue injuries are tricky and he risks going on IR and/or trade bait. Deayon to PS.

S1: JJ3
S2: Weddle
S3: Rapp
S4: Parker
S5: Christian

Pro-Bowlers(3)
PB1: Hekker
PB2: GZ
PB3: McQuaide

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Howard makes this team.... Might be the best young ILB on the roster. And the fastest.

This one’s gotta hurt @Mojo Ram

David Fales released by Lions https://www.rotoworld.com/football/nfl/player-news/9192681


Not sure we’ll see too much before Thursday as they have to have warm bodies to play. I’d think mostly injured guys, roster bonus guys or just those who flat out don’t have it will be cut

damn league is full.

shovelpass said:

Talib has never played a full regular season in his career, he's been close a few times. At his age I wouldn't be surprised to see that streak continue.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaliAq99.htm

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I would be willing to go short on DL/ER/ILB/Safety in order to go heavy @ CB.

I really like the youth assembled by Snead here @ corner. Rams will need these youngsters badly here next season ...... Peterson, Williams, Deayon & Long. I would like to see all three of these young corners (KP, DW & DL) make the 53 player roster & DD is signed to the PS.

LesBaker said:

Mariota and Winston going in the first two picks of the draft is going to prove out to be a memorable fail.

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Lol, the Wentz/Goff draft was supposed to be the weak one.

About to turn 49 and still torturing myself. When I can't do one thing anymore, I just switch to something else.

I don't blame him for not wanting to run though, for taller people that's just hard on the knees.

We can calculate the exact age of the universe but still have yet to uncover the physics required to plan to have a microphone available at NFL press conferences.

Nice article. One thing not to overlook with Snead/McVay/Wade is the lack of leadership at LB and the Safety position by bringing in both Weddle and Mathews we have Donald/Brockers for DL, Talib for the DVs, Mathews for the LBs and Weddle for the Safeties. This year each position has a key vet which I think in the long run will really help the Defense reach it's potential. Last year everyone had high hopes for the D and when Talib went out I felt we lost our edge. This year we have 4 vet leaders on the D which will pay huge dividends.

If you look at his potential Dante should have a very good year. I don't think he will have the kind of year that demands $20M / yr. Those guys have a strong consistent history. Right now Fowler has had one good year with 8 sacks. In this system, he should get 9-12 sacks because of AD and now Ogbo opposite him.

That kind of one-year production will get him a contract in the $14-16M range when you slot it. Why would anyone trade a key pass rusher? He's not Khalil Mack but he's pretty darn good. Stop and remember that this team doesn't make it to the Super Bowl without him. He was a force in the playoffs when it mattered most. That was on a short season. A player with 9-12 sacks is nothing to discount.

It never ceases to amaze me that people always overrate the new guy. Ogbo hasn't done a thing except get hurt, yet people think he's as good or better than Fowler? Dante is bigger and much faster with enough agility to get around the corner with a good burst. Ogbo has yet to show any of that. He's better than many at this stage of his career (basically a rookie) but he's been stymied by second and third unit players. He will struggle against #1 OT's. If he's as good as some people think he should dominate but he's not. He's flashed for sure, but the consistency isn't there. Too many times he gets stoned by a single blocker. There were reasons he dropped as far as he did.

I think given time he will become a solid edge rusher. But what I see is a 6-9 sack per year type of edge rusher. That would be excellent production for the type of player he is. Could he be better?
Absolutely, but there is no way to know. The troubling part is trying to predict how durable he will be.