THAT'S MY QB!!

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ABSOLUTELY FUCKIN LOVE THIS

This is going to be a great week.

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1. Wow... that was fun!

2. After months of departures, changes and uncertainty, Rams football is finally back, and it was a beautiful thing behold!

3. There's only one Cooper Kupp, but Puka Nacua did an impression worthy of Frank Caliendo. He is such a mature player, even if his face looks like it belongs in a High School yearbook!

4. Puka had a lot of help, though... Tutu Atwell just played his best game as a pro. He found success, not as gimmick/mini-WR, but as a true, well-rounded WR (albeit in a small package).

5. Matthew Stafford looked comfortable, confident, and in control. He made some great throws (the 30 yarder to Tyler Higbee was particularly impressive).

6. We finally learned who is starting on the OL. Who had Jackson/Avila/Shelton/Noteboom/Havenstein in the pool?

7. The OL did a great job in pass protection. The only stains on Stafford's jersey resulted from running plays!

8. Run blocking was not as strong, but...

9. I don't think you can fully evaluate the effort in the running game by looking at the box score. Yes, there were a lot of unsuccessful running plays. There were enough successful ones, though, to allow for a balanced, ball controlling, clock burning attack.

10. I was particularly pleased with our success running the ball in the Red Zone. The credible threat there will allow us to keep defenses guessing where it counts.

11. The defensive effort was truly a tale of two halves. In the first half, we didn't force a single punt, edge-setting was nonexistent, and Geno Smith was way too comfortable.

12. In the second half, we absolutely shut down Seattle, giving up 3 yards before the final, meaningless snaps.

13. Perhaps the turnaround was due to a unit that saw no live action in preseason needing a few reps to warm up, but I think you need to give some credit to Raheem Morris, who clearly made the right adjustments (did I actually see CBs pressuring receivers?).

14. Great contributions from the rookie class. Avila held up nicely in pass protection. Nacua, of course, was stellar. Young adjusted well in the second half and provided some timely pressures. Kobie Turner got into the act. Great start for the newbies!

15. Brett Maher was okay, and Ethan Evans only had to punt once! (Need to shore up that coverage.)

16. It was great seeing the Seahawks unravel in the end!

17. Offensive Player of the Game. I'm not usually a fan of co-players of the game but, in this case, I have to split it between Nacua and Atwell.

18. Defensive Player of the Game: Ernest Jones. 8 tackles and 3 TFL. He has taken the reigns of the defense.

19. Bring on the parade of Crow-Eating Talking Heads, Bloggers and Commentators!

20. Its just one game, I know. But I'm going to enjoy it and smile all week. Nothing wrong with that!

ALOHA seadderall !

RAMS WIN, RAMS WIIIIN!!!!!!!

Pretty please

I'm trying to be realistic about the coming season while maintaining a positive outlook about the team. I'm not going to be as focused on wins and losses as I am on the development of young players, because I think we're into year 2 of a major reset. If this team is going to get anywhere, it needs to start developing some real talent.

On that note... I'm laying out my expectation for players and units. The basic question is do I think player X will perform better than the player they are replacing from last year and/or just improving if it's the same player. Same for units. I'm not doing every rostered player.

There are some slightly different questions for a couple of players because they don't quite fit the comp model, or carry some extra expectations.

I do expect more out of the coaching staff this year, but I'm not sure how well I'll be able to quantify that.

Here goes nothing:

Matt Stafford HIGH

Cam Akers HIGH
Kyren Williams HIGH
RB Group HIGH
Van Jefferson HIGH
Ben Skowronek HIGH
Tutu Atwell HIGH
Puka Nacua (replacing Allen Robinson) MEDIUM
Demarcus Robinson (Brandon Powell) MEDIUM
WR Group MEDIUM
Tyler Higbee HIGH
Brycen Hopkins MEDIUM TO LOW
Davis Allen (replacing Kendall Blanton) MEDIUM TO HIGH
Hunter Long (can he replace Higbee eventually is the question here) MEDIUM TO LOW
TE Group HIGH
Alaric Jackson HIGH
Steve Avila (replacing David Edwards) HIGH
Coleman Shelton HIGH
RIGHT GUARD SITUATION HIGH

Rob Havenstein MEDIUM TO HIGH
OLINE DEPTH MEDIUM TO HIGH
OLINE AS A GROUP MEDIUM TO HIGH
The takeaway from the offense is that I expect a much better overall performance this year. Of course... it ALL starts with the line. While I like the individual pieces a lot.. it's basically a brand new unit, with a rookie starter. There could be some rough times.. but I think they have the talent and depth to be good.

Akhello Witherspoon (replacing Troy Hill) MEDIUM
Cobie Durant (replacing Jalen Ramsey) LOW This is a weird one.. because I expect Durant to be much better.. but he's being expected to be the best of the unit, so I have to compare him to the best of last year's unit who has departed.. and Durant isn't Ramsey)

Derion Kendrick MEDIUM TO HIGH
Tre Tomlinson (replacing David Long Jr) HIGH
Duke Shelley (replacing Robert Rochell) HIGH

Corner Group MEDIUM TO LOW
Jordan Fuller MEDIUM
Russ Yeast (replacing Nick Scott) MEDIUM TO LOW
Quentin Lake (replacing Taylor Rapp) MEDIUM
John Johnson Not sure how to place him.. I don't expect him to be as good as his last time with the Rams LOWER
Jason Taylor (replacing Terrell Burgess)

Safety Group MEDIUM TO LOW

Byron Young (replacing Justin Hollins) MEDIUM
Ochuan Mathis (replacing Terrell Lewis) MEDIUM
Michael Hoecht (replacing Leonard Floyd) LOW
Edge group LOW
Ernest Jones MEDIUM

Hummel and Rozeboom LOW

Kobie Turner (replacing Gaines) LOW
Bobby Brown (replacing A'Shawn Robinson) LOW
Aaron Donald MEDIUM TO HIGH
D Line Group LOW
Special Teams LOW
No earth-shattering insight.. but I like laying them out like this to see if it moves me on any of my big-picture notions about this year.
The offensive line is going to be so, SO important.. even more so now, with Kupp out, imo. And.. If the Oline can come out strong and be an actually GOOD unit from the start? This team will look respectable, overall, I think. They are going to run over some dudes with Akers, I think.

The defense has some young potential, but some glaring questions at every level. I hope they try to have fun by being aggressive.. but I expect major growing pains.

Feels like a season where 9-8 is irresponsibly optimistic, especially with their schedule... but, that's why they play the games, right?

Feels like a 7 win season, at best.. and I hope I'm dead wrong. But, if the young players make big strides? And they find real keepers? It will still be fun.

Sunday September 10, 2023

SNF
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants, 8:20 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)

WHAT COWBOY FANS ARE SAYING:

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Sunday September 10, 2023

Game Day Thread

The GDT is a live thread tradition here at ROD.

While we all get fired up watching the game, please remember our core principles;we always show respect for our team and each other.

Despite the emotional highs and lows watching a game, we will moderate this thread with that in mind, however please refrain from name calling. This applies to players, the Rams organization, and others.

This is the core rule of the GDT. Moderators are tasked to issue thread bans, at a minimum, to maintain this standard.

This is our team. Win or lose. Good days and bad. We are here for FUN, not to be dragged down.

A more loosely moderated atmosphere can be found in the chat room.

Go Rams!

———

ROD Chat Room;

Game Day Room

.

Sunday, September 10, 2023:

The Late Games
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)

The Early Games
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns , 1 p.m. (CBS)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. (CBS)
San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Arizona Cardinals at Washington Commodes, 1 p.m. (FOX)

SNF
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants, 8:20 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)


Monday, September 11:

Buffalo Bills at New York Jets, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)


ALREADY PLAYED

Thursday, September 7:

Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)

Sunday, September 10, 2023:

The Early Games
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns , 1 p.m. (CBS)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Tennessee Titans at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m. (CBS)
San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Arizona Cardinals at Washington Commodes, 1 p.m. (FOX)

The Late Games
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)
Las Vegas Raiders at Denver Broncos, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Miami Dolphins at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots, 4:25 p.m. (CBS)
Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks, 4:25 p.m. (FOX)

SNF
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants, 8:20 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)


Monday, September 11:

Buffalo Bills at New York Jets, 8:15 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)


ALREADY PLAYED

Thursday, September 7:

Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. (NBC and Peacock)

thought someone else took over duties on this, so apologies for the late post




You folks should know the rules by now...closest to actual score wins 5k sportsbook credits... 1st post with closest score wins... but that would be trumped by an exact score prediction to win 10k sportsbook credits

I try to find random recipes that relate to the team or city we are playing.

This summer I was digging through Seattle foods and found a hot dog that is known in Seattle.

A hot dog with toppings of cream cheese and grilled onions.

Read below a comment from a Game Day prediction thread OP and my response:

"
Ahhhh. Finally. That time of the year boys and girls. Seahawks football is back baby! We kick off the 2023 campaign this Sunday and hopes are sky high for Seahawks fans. The Rams come to town a mere shell of their Super Bowl team just a couple years back. I believe they are fielding 15 rookies on their squad.

Kupp is still hobbled with a lingering hammy and listed “day-to-day” and he flew out of state to seek out a specialist as he suffered a set back. Even if he suits up Sunday, he won’t be close to 100%.

Good.

Outside of an aging Donald who is still a force, and Stafford, there’s very little fan fare with these Rams. However it still is a division game so you have to throw out what you think will go down.

Having said that, the Seahawks are favored 5.5 coming into this game and I think that is being kind. Seahawks by 10 in this one.

Aros’ Fearless Prediction: Seahawks 27 Rams 17

Aros’ Fearless Record: 0-0



"Wilson's QB rating, yards, TD, low INT stats are all a facade! Not even a top 15 QB imo. I'd be happy to get Gardner Minshew for Russ." - massari
Like
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My Post in response. Post what you think!

"
I do believe you are underestimating the Rams this season.

*MAtthew Stafford is finally healthy and has been throwing dimes in camp. Last year the Hawks barely beat the Rams when we were playing John Wolford and Bakr Mayfield at QB.

* Our Oline is VASTLY improved. Jackson - Avila- Allen - Noteboom - Havenstein. Last year the initial starting Oline had three weak starters BEFORE the injuries started with little depth. I think we had 13 different combinations of an Oline without Stafford or Kupp. We had no running game because the Oline was garbage. Expect that to change.

*We are still without Kupp this game and that's a shame. But I expect Puka Nacua to step up big time as a rookie and may be a steal in the draft. He has similar characteristics to Cooper Kupp. He runs precise routes and is not scared to block. Also, Tutu Atwell has developed his route tree and has been working with Stafford in regard to timing, which didn't happen last year

Bottom Line, the Rams may still lose.
Both team's defenses are not great with the Hawks Dline being somewhat susceptible against the run game. Expect McVay to really use the run game early to test that Dline. The resulting play action passing game by Matthew Stafford should be accurate and effective. The Rams secondary is young and the Rams Dline is suspect against the run

Bet the over for this game. It may be a shoot out.
Rams 34
Hawks 31

Cooper Kupp's 2023 season will unfortunately begin in the same place his 2022 campaign concluded.
Kupp will miss at least the first four games of the season, as he's being placed on injured reserve due to a lingering hamstring injury, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday, per a source.

Kupp, who head coach Sean McVay announced was out for Week 1 on Wednesday, is now guaranteed to miss 12 straight games for the Rams, dating back to Week 10 of last season in which he suffered an ankle injury against the Arizona Cardinals that led to a season-ending trip to IR. In addition to Sunday's opener against the Seattle Seahawks, Kupp will now be inactive versus the San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts.

For a Rams squad that was beset by injuries in a forgettable 2022, this is hardly a cheery start to their 2023 campaign.

I've been a diehard Rams fan for over 40 years, and always will be. But this year, I've got a "backup" team-- the Detroit Lions and Jared Goff.

It was great rooting for Goff as a Ram, and admittedly it was frustrating when his play declined and then he got traded. But Goff was ALWAYS a good guy and a class act. (I was especially impressed with how Goff handled questions after the Rams won the SB with Stafford). Now that his career is on the upswing again and Detroit has a real team, I'm happy to root for Goff and the Lions.

Here's an interesting (long!) article about Goff that has plenty of info about his past, his family, and the ups and downs of his career.

I only pray for our kids that one day they can understand the beautiful concept of an album and how it worked to intertwine the songs and take you up and down and on a aural trip.

I'm going to start with;
Blind Melon's first album.
You'll be amazed at the genius of these guys after a couple listens.

This would be the perfect scenario to play 12 personnel. Jefferson, Nacua outside, Higbee and Allen at TEs. They can run or pass with 5 potential receivers. It would help protect the new OL until they have had time to gel as a unit. I'd be surprised if we didn't see 12 personnel as their base set in Seattle. With Higbee and Allen they have two good receiving TEs. The run benefit is obvious as they can pull Allen as a lead block between the tackles as well.

If the Rams get the run game moving it will be a long day for the Seattle D.

and I'm not doing it again. I'm not. McVay talked this offseason about the "Super Bowl or bust" mindset (not those words, but basically how he wouldn't be happy unless we won).

We are not going to win the Super Bowl this year. The odds are against us to even make the playoffs - I believe that will happen, but if it doesn't, that's okay.

I am going to enjoy this season, whether we win 3 games or 14. I am going to enjoy watching what could be Donald's last season. I'm going to enjoy watching the development of the young players on our team - Durant, Young, Jones, Turner and the rest of the young secondary. Tutu, Van, Cam, Puca on offense and what could be Stafford's last season.

I will NOT spend what could be our greatest player in Rams history and one of only two Super Bowl winning QBs potentially last seasons with anything other than appreciation, knowing this could be it.

And above all else - if things do go sideways - I'm going to remember that we have cap space and our first, second and third round picks next season.

It just means more: Chiefs vs. Lions is game of the century for Detroit​

Chris Jones is a contract holdout in Kansas City. Fellow defensive lineman Charles Omenihu is suspended for the first six games of the season.

Then word broke Tuesday that tight end Travis Kelce hyperextended a knee and could miss Thursday’s opener against Detroit.

All of it makes a tantalizing opportunity for the Lions a little more possible — walk into Arrowhead Stadium to kick off the NFL season and secure the most significant win the franchise has had this century.

Yes, this century.

Hyperbolic? Absolutely. It's ridiculous to even type, except, go ahead and find a Lions triumph that carried more significance than one that extends last season’s late run of success while legitimizing hopes of a deep playoff run and giving a young team a huge boost of confidence.

It’s not that losing the game would doom Detroit this season. It’s that a prime-time victory against the reigning Super Bowl champions would be about as important as anything the Lions have done in decades.

Remember, this is Detroit. It hasn’t won a playoff game since Jan. 5, 1992 (38-6 over Dallas). Its last postseason victory prior to that came in 1957. Since 2000, the Lions have made just three wild-card appearances and in only one of those seasons — an 11-5 team in the 2014 season — was almost anything expected. They promptly lost to the Cowboys.

Maybe there was a victory or two along the way that meant as much as what a victory Thursday would mean, but it’s debatable.

That’s the status of this forlorn franchise. Barry Sanders walked away from football rather than keep playing for the Lions. Wide receiver Calvin Johnson made the same decision. Quarterback Matthew Stafford didn’t quit the team, he just begged for a trade, got shipped to the Los Angeles Rams, and immediately won the Super Bowl.

The downtown stadium, Ford Field, opened in 2002 but has hosted just a single playoff game — Super Bowl XL between Pittsburgh and Seattle.

In the middle of last season, the Lions' record since 2000 was 123-235 (.344 winning percentage).

Then Dan Campbell’s crew began to rally, ripping off an 8-2 record to close the season. Detroit just missed out on the playoffs, but capped the season by beating the Packers in Green Bay and denying Aaron Rodgers a wild-card appearance.

That game was probably one of the five most significant victories of the century, even if it was technically meaningless.

If nothing else, it helped fuel the hype train that the Lions carry into this season. General manager Brad Holmes has stocked the team with young talent and the feel-good ending to the 2022 campaign didn’t hurt in free agency.

There is now quality up and down the roster. In a rarity, when the Lions cut players during training camp, other teams actually picked them up. Season tickets sold out for the first time in Ford Field history. When the NFL picked Detroit for the season opener, it was a statement of not just respect for what is possible but perhaps hope for what might come.

That’s the spotlight now on arguably the NFL’s most forgettable franchise.

“Guys are getting excited,” Campbell said of the approaching season. “Coaches too.”

This isn’t a game Detroit must win, or even should win. Even if Kelce is out, Patrick Mahomes is still there, not to mention the bulk of a 13-win Super Bowl championship team. Arrowhead will be as loud as ever, especially as a banner gets raised.

“I’ve played there, coached there, it’s just an unbelievable environment,” Campbell said. “To go on the road to a place like that, I told my guys, ‘Enjoy this, embrace this. This shouldn’t be stressful. Take it all in. Enjoy the sunlight, if you will.’

“I know [the game] is at night.”

Campbell laughed.

“When you're a true competitor, to go on the road in an environment like this, I think it brings the best out in you,” he continued. “… We’ve just got to stay steady, consistent. Don’t get too high, don’t get too low.”

That last part is the advice for the Lions' season. You can’t overcome 66 seasons of futility and embarrassment in a single game, even one with the entire country watching.

For Detroit, it’s about winning week after week, becoming a competent and then compelling team, challenging for a division title for the first time since the 1993 season and then somehow getting into January and actually advancing.

For most franchises, that’s an annual and reasonable goal.

For Detroit, such potential is so rare that it seems dangerous to embrace. It’s how a season opener could actually mean so much, because the organization has historically accomplished so little.

Thursday is coming though, a rare opportunity coming into focus.

A loss won’t break the Lions. A win, however, sure could propel them.

Lets hope we dont need a back up Sunday... we only have two QB's... And Stetson was one of them.

And it looks like Brett Rypien is going to back up Staff this Sunday.

First Kupp and now this.....

https://www.therams.com/news/cooper-kup ... ury-update

Actually, it does not sound good about Bennett... apparently he's considering surgery or a procedure on his shoulder of some type.

This is eerily sounding a lot like last year and we ain't even got to the first kickoff yet.....

~ArkyRamsFan~