Having Steve Smith in your team at that level is a bit unfair.

Logy said:

It was Turkmenistan and he was the guy that changed the words Friday, bread, and snake to the name of his dog, Gurpgork.

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Also, a surprising good tennis player.

Merlin said:

Old bastid.

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That's old bastid, Sir to you!

Fitz isn't wrong on many of his points but what he underestimates is the McVay effect first and the Stafford effect second. No way this team should have done what they did last season and playoffs. They played over their heads largely due to those two I think.

Offensively the big question is Kupp. Since he came onboard in this offense he has been the grease that makes it great. He's the chain mover. He's the guy who keeps things rolling on key downs. So if he's not able to hold up we're not gonna do much in the playoffs. We need him to have a chance to run the table. Period. One SB we had him and did it, the other we didn't and didn't. Neither of those games did the offense have a run game, which puts even more pressure on Kupp being there.

So second question is how good is that run game going to be. Because this is the first time I've looked at the RB room at this time of year and thought to myself we are in a great spot. Well since before the wheels fell off Gurley. McVay has made chicken salad out of a lot of RB room chicken shit. Also he's had the Rams put up investment capital into that interior OL. And just like the lack of run game makes Kupp more important it is the same with Stafford in the sense that having a good run game will extend his window. There is precedent on that, just take a look at Elway who was on fuckin fumes at the end.

Goal with the offense should be ratcheting down the throw volume. Which gives the best chance for QB1 to be in good form for the duration of the season and playoffs without any arm BS. This is how I read the Rams moves too, and why I am very happy with what they have done.

Defensively it's a shitstorm of IFs. But I will say one thing about this offseason that I like, which is that we look more stout up front than we have in some time. Potentially. So another IF. Also I think our new DC is going to be very aggressive, but of course he's another IF no matter how you slice it. My guesstimate is we'll be solid to very good in the front seven. Secondary we'll see, comes down to the corners which there's just no telling.

I think the best way to sum up the defense is this... IF Shula is up to snuff the infusion of talent should show. I don't think it's realistic to expect him to top the league or anything. But if he is good then we're gonna have enough when paired with that offense to fuck people up.

So way I see it with Fitz is he's a typical talking head. Complete lack of vision in seeing anything other than what he saw last season. Him telling us SF is the team to beat does not require any real processing or vision. It's a default position. He may be right. Probably is. But the NFC West is going to be rough in 2024. Running the table in this division is going to be a ton harder than it has been. Throw in some injuries and maybe the Rams overperforming again and we're in this shit.

Karate61 said:

How's Karty gonna practice without goal posts? Seems the Rams just hate kickers the last few years.

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Problem solved.

Steve808 said:

IMO, the Rams have the talent to be good, possibly really good.

But did anyone see "America's Game Rams 2021"? It showed how much the leadership and voice of AD made a difference.

In the NFCCG when Kittle scored to push the lead to 17-7, AShawn Robinson told AD to address the defense. That what he says matters and they needed to hear his voice. AD made that speech about "It's gotta mean something to you" and the whiners never threatened to score the rest of that game.

I love that video because AD says he hates the whiners with a passion.

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Change that to ... When AD talks, ...

VeteranRamFan said:

Since my original post about todays camp is going on to four pages, I thought I would post these in a separate thread so as to get lost. Hope that's OK with the MODS.

Pay close attention to the O and D line matchups. We've got some studs on both sides of the ball.

It's late, I'm tired. More to follow tomorrow.

Rams Camp Day 1

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A few of those shots looked like Verse got a little too close to Stafford. Glad he wont be rushing Stafford when it matters.

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these preview videos are the best. can't wait to watch them before every game this season.

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kurtfaulk said:

the rams are so lucky that stafford isn't an asshat like other qbs around the league.

of course it's fortunate he's already been paid a gazzilion dollars in his career. but look at dak. got paid big money, always crumbles in the playoffs and now looking to be the highest paid qb in the league. otherwise the cowboys already would have extended him again. then tells the media he's only there so he doesn't get fined. fuck off dickhead. that's not what the team wants to hear from you.

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Stafford wants another ring and has the foresight and character to know that will come through by a bit of sacrifice

I think the older you get the less you can sleep because either your back hurts or the bladder needs emptying. Yes I agree that regular exercise helps

So Williams limped off too... let's go ahead and get Witherspoon back

IowaRam said:

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We all do it brother

Memento said:

BB3 seems to have really grown into himself. He had maturity problems in college (which is why he lasted to the fourth), and was obviously suspended, but he's really grown. Quite frankly, he's become a better version of what Robinson was for us. I hope we can re-sign him (obviously not over Ernest Jones, but definitely for a lesser deal), but some team is probably going to pay a lot for a NT who is that good, that young.

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They should have the cap $$ to do it, unless they want to spend on outside FAs.

VeteranRamFan said:

So two of our members came through for @bubbaramfan and myself with regards to training camp tickets:

@Bkfld_Rams and @Flatlyner

Shout out to you both for helping us out! We're getting ready to attend opening day this Thursday. I'm getting my trusty old Nikon out and I know Bubba has his pocket voice recorder ready to take notes.

Take care,

VRF (VeteranRamFan)

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Was my pleasure! Looking forward to those reports and being there myself! I'll be there for the 8/1 and 8/3 practices! I'll do my best to post some info!

Another reason to love Aaron: He hates losing. Love those type of players.

Psycho_X said:

I read that Cowboys are essentially "grandfathered" into being allowed because they've been going their since before Rams/Chargers moved back to LA. It only applies to anyone trying to move their camp their after the fact. Jerry Jones gets to do what he wants.

Cowboys are exempt from rule that keeps Raiders, Saints from promoting Southern California practices

The Raiders made a little news over the weekend with the revelation that their decision to conduct training camp in Southern California comes with a rule that prevents them from promoting the practices, credentialing media from local publications to cover it, and/or allowing fans to attend.

www.nbcsports.com

"The answer is simple. The Cowboys were already practicing there before the Rams and Chargers moved to L.A"

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This is the answer. The fuckwad cowgurlz are still practicing within the radius but they are grandfathered in because they've been using Oxnard since before we or the renters moved back to the LA market. Even though Oxnard is in Ventura county, it is still considered to be within the LA market area.

Allen2McVay said:

You don't get laid much, do you?

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As much as Sean McVay during football season!

WestCoastRam said:

Tomlinson will have a shot this year. But it seems like the likeliest answer for him not playing last year was his physical limitations (height, change of direction) and his propensity to take penalties.

It does not sound like he was taking steps forward in OTAs this year...

I don't have high hopes for him but it's only been one year. Too soon to tell.

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Yeah - hard tell,but he still has 3 years on his contract.What his & others upside effects the thought of signing Whiterspoon IMO.

I honestly can’t believe no other NFL team has signed him to a couple year contract.He has the size to cover bigger WR’s. He showed good ball skills & tackling.

IMO he was The Rams #1 CB & made trading Jalen Ramsey not that noticeable? Against Detroit though in the Playoffs he got abused by St.Brown

And i suck ass at this game. Taking too many damn sacks.

Bottom line: Kroenke knows what he doesnt know. Willing to spend money, hire the right people, and stay out of the way. Not like a Jerry Jones desperate for attention by constantly running his yapper and mugging for the camera. I would be shocked if when Woodland Hills is completed it isnt first class in every regard

bubbaramfan said:

He has a future in porn films with his girlfriend.

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(I promised myself I wouldn’t but I’m weak and he was a 69er).
G-String will always be welcome as headliner at SF’s Tallywackers.

Tano said:

I agree with you about what you stated about Reeder but you left out two other issues with Reeder.

One - he cannot stop runners in their track. In fact, he usually gets dragged for two or three yards before they get tackled. And then there are players like Deebo that will drag him for an extra 5 to 10 yards.

Two - he can easily get juked and miss tackles. Frequently - I saw Reeder flail his arms to miss the tackle. It doesn't always happen, but it happens way more often than I like.

But as I have said earlier, he does have one strength - his ability to blitz the QB. Have him blitz on long yardage plays and he will get to the QB more often than not.

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Yeah his most annoying missed tackle was in the redzone, in his run gap, vs Green Bay in the playoffs. He is not an elite tackler I agree. What he is: a cheap depth backer who puts out high effort snap to snap and can do a bit of everything for you. He can stand up a blocker and shed time to time, just won't be at the performance level of a top backer. He can blitz for you with good threat, cover a bit, etc too.

Having a guy like him on the depth chart is not a bad thing basically. The problem is we should have top end role types in those offball backer duties, so that a guy like Reeder is depth, and we don't.

The biggest thing our defense needs right now with that position group is Jones to fully arrive as an elite ILB. He will be the dude who is on the field for all the snaps. Leadership is there. Now it's about consistency for him to continue that rise to being one of the best in the game. He will never be a full sideline to sideline type and that's fine. If he locks it down snap to snap within the hashes alone that should be enough for us to put a lot of teams into third and long, and from there good things should happen.

JonRam99 said:

1. honestly excited about him too. One or both of Verse / Jackson could move inside on 3rd & longs.

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There were times last season when Byron Young was moved inside and played with his hand in the dirt. Now that he’s put on another 10 lbs of muscle, the Rams could put him there with the two rookies on the Edge. Ouch!

The only concern I would have is continuity. They have 4 of the 5 guys from last year returning. With one new guy. Although there will be two positions with Avila moving to center that will be different. I do not expect it to take as long as last year for the chemistry to work together. It could be good at the start since they'll all be together throughout camp. That wasn't the case last year with Dotson joining middle of the season.