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derrrrrrrrrrrp!!!!!!

i'm a little embarrassed to post this video but it shows how most of the world thinks of the rams right now, including a fair few around here.

it's obvious he didn't spend much time doing any research on the team.


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Who do you think is the longest tenured Ram who will be cut or traded before opening day?

Hello Ramily - Anyone have any idea of when they will announce the Training Camp dates? I would have assumed by now they would have. I need to arrange flights and what not and I know TC is at the end of July to early August, so running out of time to get solid flights.

Can Aaron Rodgers duplicate feats of Tom Brady, Matthew Stafford in Year 1 with Jets? Comparing each roster​

The Jets are chasing a recent trend with Aaron Rodgers. In 2020 and 2021, the Buccaneers and Rams famously added Tom Brady and Matthew Stafford respectively, two established veterans in the late stages of their NFL careers, and parlayed those signings to immediate Super Bowl victories.

Of course, the Chiefs snapped that two-year streak a season ago, but we're all still keenly aware that the veteran-quarterback addition can provide a franchise an instant, seismic boost.

That begs the question -- how similar are the 2023 Jets to the 2021 Rams and 2020 Buccaneers? Let's dissect each roster. I'm using a three-answer scale for the verdict in each category: almost identical, similar, and not alike.

Quarterback

In Brady's final regular season with the Patriots, he completed 60.8% of his throws, at 6.6 yards per attempt with a TD rate of 3.9% and INT rate of 1.3%. Rock-solid for many quarterbacks. Not exactly meeting typically Brady standards.

Rodgers' final season in Green Bay went as follows -- 64.6% completion rate, 6.8 yards per attempt, 4.8% TD rate, 2.2% of his throws were intercepted. Darn close to Brady's swan song season in New England.

Considerably younger, Stafford was at a 64.2% completion rate with 7.7 yards per attempt, a 4.9% TD rate and 1.9% INT rate in his last year with the Lions. With a boost in offensive line play, Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods plus Sean McVay's play-design brilliance, and yeah, no wonder the Rams went from 23rd in EPA per play in 2020 to 8th in that foundational analytics stat category in Stafford's first season in Los Angeles.

Brady and Rodgers were more similar in age and most recent season performance to Stafford, but altogether, this category earns an almost identical label. Right now, Rodgers feels somewhere between where Brady and Stafford were before joining their second teams.

Verdict: Almost identical (advantage: Rams)

Run game

In 2020, for the Buccaneers, Ronald Jones had a sneaky-good 978-yard campaign at 5.1 yards per carry. Leonard Fournette was bluntly not good during the regular season -- fewer than 400 yards at 3.8 yards per -- then morphed into Playoff Lenny by upping his yards-per-rush total nearly one full yard (3.8 to 4.7) en route to earning his ring.

Here's what I can say about the Rams run game the following season -- I completely forgot who led the team in rushing yards. Total blank. That's telling. In fact, it was Sony Michel who led the Rams with 845 yards. Darrell Henderson was the most efficient main ball carrier. He averaged 4.6 yards per tote. And it really was a two-man show. No one else eclipsed 50 yards on the ground! And there wasn't a transformative performance in the postseason either.

On paper, the Jets are light years more exciting as a running team, and I'm not even that concerned about Breece Hall coming off an ACL tear. He's 22 years old! For his body, healing is still a piece a cake. Before his injury a season ago, Hall, not Garrett Wilson, was tracking toward the offensive rookie of the year award. Behind him is the bouncy Michael Carter, Zonovan Knight, and Israel Abanikanda, who will make an impact in Year 1. Sure, this isn't an established running back room like the Buccaneers and Rams had. Heck though, I'll trade experience for fresh legs in my running back room any day.

Verdict: Not alike (advantage: Jets)

Pass catchers

I'll always be convinced the Buccaneers pass catchers -- and his confidence to lure Rob Gronkowski out of retirement -- were a key element to Brady deciding on Tampa Bay as his near-retirement snowbird destination. Mike Evans was still in his prime. Chris Godwin a budding superstar. As per usual, Brady dispersed the ball like a seasoned, MVP-caliber point guard. Six Tampa Bay skill-position players finished with 30-plus catches -- including Antonio Brown.

The following year, the Rams boasted Kupp, Woods, polished youngster Van Jefferson, and athletic tight end Tyler Higbee. Solid albeit unspectacular group after Kupp. They signed Odell Beckham Jr. in-season after his release from the Browns, and the flashy veteran caught five touchdowns down the stretch before snagging a pair of touchdowns in the postseason pre-Super Bowl injury.

The Jets stack up very closely. Not an envy-of-the-league unit. Hardly a pedestrian group either. Wilson is tracking toward stardom. Allen Lazard is a unique big body with the utmost trust of Rodgers. Mecole Hardman can stretch defenses vertically. The collection of Corey Davis, Randall Cobb, and Denzel Mims make for a respectable albeit unspectacular depth trio.

These three groups feel close, with maybe the Rams and Buccaneers having a slight advantage because we knew what those veteran quarterbacks were getting with Evans, Godwin, and Kupp.

Verdict: Almost identical (advantage: Buccaneers, slightly)

Offensive front

On draft night 2020, I vividly remember thinking "how in the world did the rest of the NFL let the Buccaneers draft Tristan Wirfs?" He was my OT1 in the class, right tackle was the one clear-cut need Tampa Bay had on offense, and three -- yes, three -- offensive tackles were selected in front of the Iowa mountain of a man before he was selected at No. 13 overall.

Wirfs was outstanding as a rookie, and the three-man interior of Ali Marpet, Ryan Jensen, and Alex Cappa was a group of club bouncers, and Donovan Smith held his own at left tackle. Stellar blocking unit in front of Brady.

The 2021 Rams had more of a patchwork, unproven offensive line, yet there wasn't a liability for defensive coordinators to target and Andrew Whitworth was still an elite pass blocker at left tackle. McVay's stretch-run/play-action offensive foundation mitigated any blocking deficiencies too.

This Jets team is directly between the 2020 Buccaneers and 2021 Rams but the weakest of the bunch. Alijah Vera-Tucker might become a Pro Bowl guard. He's returning from a season-ending injury last year. Duane Brown is your classic, wily veteran without All-Pro upside but a high floor. Mekhi Becton is a giant human and giant question mark. Laken Tomlinson will typically get the job done, and Joel Tippmann is likely the starting center as a rookie. This won't be a blocking unit that will carry the offense. And it could hinder the offense's efficiency at times. With Rodgers quick release, New York's offensive line shouldn't be that big of a stumbling block.

Verdict: Similar (advantage: Buccaneers)

Defensive front

A season ago, the Jets were seventh in the NFL in sacks (45) and sixth in team pressure rate (36%), and that was without a monstrous year from 2021 splashy free-agent signing Carl Lawson. At linebacker, Gang Green boasts a fine complementary starting duo of C.J. Mosley and the explosive Quincy Williams. A great but non All-Pro pairing. There's Quinnen Williams, who's weeks or months away from becoming the highest paid defensive tackle in football (probably), agitating bruiser John Franklin-Myers and two first-round picks at edge -- Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald. Can't forget about recent signing Al Woods, who blocks out the sun in the middle.

The 2020 Buccaneers had an embarrassment of riches in their defensive front seven. Perennial near the top of the league pressure-creator Shaq Barrett, Jason Pierre-Paul reached 9.5 sacks during the regular season, Ndamukong Suh, the always-underrated Steve McClendon inside, and Vita Vea for five games, including the NFC title and Super Bowl. At linebacker, Lavonte David and Devin White. Serious speed, ferocity, and big-play capability.

The 2021 Rams were headlined by none other than Aaron Donald, got 9.5 sacks from long, springy edge rusher Leonard Floyd, brought in Von Miller and rotated the likes of chippy interior rusher Greg Gaines, Obo Okoronkwo, and Sebastian Joseph-Day up front. Oozing with diverse talent. The linebackers? Not memorable. Troy Reeder led all classic second-level defenders with 91 tackles for that Rams club. Rookie Ernest Jones flashed late in the season and, particularly, the Super Bowl. This was a front seven anchored by its defensive line.

Verdict: Similar (advantage: Buccaneers or Jets)

Secondary

Crank the intensity here. Collectively, these teams had/have the following defensive backs -- Sauce Gardner, Jalen Ramsey, Jamel Dean, Carlton Davis, Antoine Winfield Jr., D.J. Reed, and Jordan Whitehead (who was on the 2020 Bucs and 2023 Jets).

Not an easy task picking a winner here. In reality, all the secondary groups were built differently. The Jets and Rams were buoyed by superstar perimeter corners. The Buccaneers had a deeper talent pool at every position, including safety. The 2020 Bucs finished seventh in opposing EPA per drop back. The 2021 Rams were 12th. Last year, the Jets brought it defensively -- their unit was sixth in that critical category. New York does not need to be historically stingy in the secondary to win plenty of football games. And with Gardner leaning the way, they have the horses to be a top 10 pass defense once again in 2023.

Verdict: Almost identical (advantage: Rams or Jets)

L.A. hires 37 year-old with only four years of coaching experience

After the Los Angeles Rams offensive line debacle last season and the 5-12 record that ensued, it came as no surprise when Head Coach Sean McVay decided to replace Kevin Carberry as offensive line coach. The surprise came when L.A. announced the hiring of Ryan Wendell for the role, a 37 year-old with four seasons as an NFL coach. Actually, four total seasons in coaching.

Wendell played for nine NFL seasons and retired after the 2016 season. He spent two years away from the pro game before starting his coaching career as an offensive assistant with the Buffalo Bills in 2019. He was elevated to assistant line coach in 2020 and remained in that role until the Rams lured him away. Wendell played under legendary offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia and cut his coaching teeth under Bobby Johnson and Aaron Kromer. Yes, that Aaron Kromer, the Rams former offensive line leader who came to L.A. with Sean McVay in 2017 and was pushed out after 2020 season.

Integrating those three different personalities and styles into his own philosophy is Wendell’s task. All three of his mentors have one thing in common, they demand aggressive, physical linemen. Scarneccia was a drill sergeant, working relentlessly on technique and preaching a full, physical effort to get the unit working in cohesion. When it didn’t happen, he thought nothing of equally chewing ass on UDFA’s or high-priced stars. Johnson began his career as a tight ends coach and is known for pass blocking acumen. His run game philosophy is simple, move the defender, whether it’s backwards off the line of scrimmage on inside runs or horizontal displacement on wide runs. Kromer is a footwork fanatic, getting linemen into position to turn, seal, and drive defenders. He also teaches aggressive hand work (chops on defenders reach) to counter length and gain the control edge. In the pass game, he likes the offensive line to aggressively take on speed rushers at the point of attack rather than back into protection or rely on slide steps, giving athletic rushers less room to use their speed.

What will Wendell’s influence be?​

Fans should expect a different style of offensive line play, with Wendell’s background, physicality should be the calling card. The Rams braintrust seemed to tip this off with their draft strategy, selecting two tough, hard-nosed players. Both can create movement, Steve Avila with mass and power and Warren McClendon with his footwork and hand use. Even the UDFAs were more about power than finesse.
With Wendell’s background as a UDFA that faced long odds and earned his way into a starting position, hard work and effort should be in large supply. But the truth is, this is his first season leading a unit and how he relates in that leadership role will remain to be played out. It would appear that in the background of his ascent, he was around coaches who wanted the best performers to see the field, no matter their draft pedigree or veteran/salary status.

The Rams do have a lot of linemen with starting experience and the versatility to move up and down the line. Wendell must sort it all out and decide who are the best five, and get them working together as a unit. Having the whole line seeing the game through the same set of eyes is what all his mentors strived for. Tough decisions may have to be made, veterans, particularly those with injury backgrounds, may have to take a back seat. OTAs are the wrong place to try and project who’s in and out, but when camp starts, those first five in workouts are likely entrenched.

The status of the Rams current offensive line​

While no one could predict the injury cluster that would beset the 2022 Rams, reactionary changes to a 5-12 record were inevitable. The domino effect signs began to appear soon after L.A. reached the NFL pinnacle and won Super Bowl LVI. Cornerstone left tackle Andrew Whitworth hung up his cleats, guard Austin Corbett bolted to the Carolina Panthers for a free agent payday, the contracts of oft-injured Brian Allen and Joseph Noteboom were extended and finally, top draft pick Logan Bruss was lost for the season early in preseason.

According to Football Outsiders, the Rams used 14 different linemen in 13 different lineups. Their longest stretch of the same lineup of Ty Nsekhe, Matt Skura, Brian Allen, Coleman Shelton and Rob Havenstein was three games, from Week 13 through Week 15. Nsekhe and Skura are no longer in the NFL. How important is continuity? In the McVay years, the Rams have finished 1st, 1st, 12th, 2nd, 7th, and 32nd in offensive line continuity. Their record when in the Top 10 of this stat category is 46-15 against 14-29 when not.

The Rams have nine returning linemen and seven of those, Allen, Tremayne Anchrum, AJ Arcuri, Havenstein, Alaric Jackson, Noteboom, and Shelton have NFL starts. Logan Bruss missed the whole season with a knee injury and Zachary Thomas was a late season practice squad poach from the Chicago Bears.

Going back to Wendell’s playing days​

Back in 2008, Wendell was signed as an undrafted free agent center/guard out of Fresno State by the New England Patriots and spent his rookie year on the practice squad. It was more of the same in 2009, until being added to roster for the final three games of the season. In 2010 and 2011, he stuck on the opening roster, was a special teams stalwart, and earned five starts. From 2012 through 2014, Wendell won starting roles and played in 3400+ offensive snaps and was the starting center for Patriots 2014 Super Bowl winning squad

He was voted a team captain in 2015, but suffered a mystery illness that started him on the PUP (physically unable to perform) List and shelved him for the first five games. I could find no official reports on what the malaise was, just that it was a personal medical problem. He also reportedly had a knee injury later in the season. Whatever happened, it effectively ended his career. Late in 2016, he signed with Carolina Panthers, but was only active in one game and logged one special teams snap.

Conclusions​

Although inexperienced as an NFL coach, Wendell has parlayed the climb-up from-the-bottom grit and work ethic from his playing days into a top assistant coach’s role on one of the NFL’s highest profile offenses. His mentors all have successful pedigrees and he must have impressed the Rams with what he has absorbed from them in the past and how he plans to apply it in the future.

As far as on-field production, it wouldn’t take much to show an improvement over last years effort. With so many fans and experts thinking this is a rebuild/reset year and L.A. will struggle, even an incremental upgrade like having the youngsters show consistent improvement from Day 1 throughout the season shouldl be considered a win.

I don’t agree with that narrative. The Rams have the quarterback, weapons and scheme to score points. If the offensive line gets back to its Top 10 past the offense will be formidable and score points. And by Top 10, I mean season-long lineup continuity, not subjective media pundit ratings.

Identifying, installing and somehow keeping the health of the line is the key to any Rams 2023 success and why I think that Ryan Wendell is the most important part on the L.A. offensive line.

Hey all. Hi!
You may think me crazy but my very specific and realistic prediction is that this year, yes this 2023 season, our Rams will make it to the Super Bowl!
Yes, during this "re-tooling" year. I can just feel it brewing. It's gonna happen and it's gonna shock the NFL. No one expects it.
Bank on it. Come back here and see me in February.


Now, if you have a specific prediction that's worth mentioning and you're willing to stick by it, I'd love to hear it.
(but none of this vague boring stuff like "we'll be a better running team this year if we stay healthy." ) That's not interesting!

We wanna hear something real! Something specific! What do you know about our Rams that the rest of us don't!

Superbowl, here we come! BriansRams has spoken it!

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I'm sure everyone already knows but I haven't seen a post stating Tiyon Evans being the 1st we've released to this point.

in the 4th round 0nly 6.3% of players drafted become starters in the NFL
This is according to FORBES

Tracking NFL Draft Efficiency: How Contingent Is Success ...​

Forbes
https://www.forbes.com › sites › prishe › 2015/05/22
https://www.forbes.com/sites/prishe...-how-contingent-is-success-to-draft-position/
just sayin

How could Dalvin Cook shake up the NFC West​

Cook is a productive and versatile offensive weapon who has the ability to be very dangerous in both the running game and the passing game. Over the past four NFL seasons, he has been the bell cow for the Vikings rushing attack, averaging 269 runs for 1256 yards and 11 touchdowns per year.

Dalvin Cook is just 27 years old and has a far more productive and less injury-riddled career than RB Christian McCaffrey, a player the LA Rams pursued aggressively less than one year ago. While many NFL rosters are firmly established right now, could Cook shift the balance of power in the NFC Western Division by signing with one of the teams this year? Let's give a quick look:

How Dalvin Cook could shake up the NFC West​

Arizona Cardinals: It is difficult to envision that the Cardinals would release veteran WR D'Andre Hopkins, just to sign RB Dalvin Cook. There is no question that the addition of Cook to the Cardinals rushing attack would be an instant and huge upgrade. Yes, the Cardinals have the funds to sign Cook to their roster. Will they? If they do, it will disrupt any plans to tank for a top pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

LA Rams: RB Dalvin Cook could be an incredibly dangerous offensive weapon for the LA Rams. Not only would he be a threat to put up 1000 yards rushing each year, but he is the type of versatile running back who could also put up 500+ yards as a receiver. I like his fit with the Rams offense even better than that of McCaffrey one year ago. But the Rams haven't the cash nor the interest to bust their budget. Such a shame.

San Francisco 49ers: The San Francisco 49ers offense is already loaded with offensive weapons, and sliding in a running back of Dalvin Cook's talent pretty much would make that a top scoring offense even if the 49ers had a fan running the offense. A one-two punch of Christian McCaffrey and Dalvin Cook would headline the NFL throughout the 2023 NFL season. But it is still just one football, and the 49ers already have a feature running back

Seattle Seahawks: The Seattle Seahawks are an intriguing landing spot for RB Dalvin Cook, if only for the fact that they have just one season out of second-year RB Kenneth Walker. Could there be room in their offensive for Dalvin Cook as well? In theory, there could be if the Seahawks wanted it to be so. Their offense is better if they keep it balanced, with is best at about 500 passing attempts and 450 rushing attempts. If Walker runs 200 times, that could mean 200 runs for Dalvin Cook as well.

If Dalvin Cook ends up on the roster of an NFC West Division team, he will certainly raise expectations for that team. And he has the versatility and NFL production to deliver on those elevated hopes, too. If you want to see the LA Rams be as successful as possible in 2023, then you are likley hoping that Cook signs elsewhere. But if you want the LA Rams to optimize that first round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, then you could find that easier if the Rams face Dalvin Cook twice per season.

As USC and UCLA join the Big Ten

not sure if anyone on here follows USC or UCLA football

but I still can't get used to them being in the Big Ten , Iowa will play both of them in 2024

UCLA plays at Rutgers and USC plays at Maryland ..................in confrence games

crazy

UCLA

at Hawai'I (Aug. 31)
Fresno State (Sept. 14)
at LSU (Sept. 21)
at Indiana
at Iowa
at Michigan
at Rutgers
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Ohio State
USC

2025 UCLA FOOTBALL OPPONENTS
Georgia (Aug. 30)
at UNLV (Sept. 6)
New Mexico (Sept. 13)
at Illinois
at Michigan State
at Nebraska
at Penn State
at USC
Maryland
Purdue
Rutgers
Wisconsin

USC

2024 USC football schedule
Week 1: vs. LSU in Las Vegas on 9/1
Week 2: vs. San Jose State on 9/7
Week 14: vs. Notre Dame on 11/30
TBD: at Maryland
TBD: at Northwestern
TBD: at Penn State
TBD: at Purdue
TBD: at UCLA
TBD: vs. Illinois
TBD: vs. Iowa
TBD: vs. Michigan
TBD: vs. Wisconsin

2025 USC football schedule
Week 1: vs. Ole Miss on 8/30
Week 2: vs. Georgia Southern on 9/6
Week 8: at Notre Dame on 10/18
TBD: at Minnesota
TBD: at Ohio State
TBD: at Rutgers
TBD: at Wisconsin
TBD: vs. Indiana
TBD: vs. Michigan State
TBD: vs. Nebraska
TBD: vs. Penn State
TBD: vs. UCLA

Which of these predictions do you believe has the highest % chance of being true?

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Imagine if I gave you a scenario where I could have given you a guarantee to beat the 49ers at SoFi in the NFCCG, but that we'd lose in the Super Bowl

Or.

No guarantees with the Big Bad 49ers coming to town with all their fans, ready to celebrate in our place and to never live it down if the Niners won. This is before we have any of our current memories in that game and they had owned us during the season. This is before watching them all file out, listening to the song, "I Love LA." I felt WAY more stress watching that game than the Super Bowl, itself.

Not a bad watch.

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After winning the Super Bowl, any team is going to enjoy a honeymoon period during which they are essentially "playing with house money." Like most things in sports, though, that period is temporary.

In the Rams case, the honeymoon period ended pretty quickly in the eyes of the national media and opposing fans. As the team faltered due to departures and a massive injury list, the talking heads applied a "what have you done for me lately" approach when speaking of the Rams.

For fans of the team, the honeymoon period certainly lasted longer, but has it expired? Have the Rams spent all their "house money"?

I'm not quite there yet. For me, the glow of the Super Bowl win has not been fully extinguished, and it can still carry me through what may be a tough upcoming season.

Others may feel differently.

Is the honeymoon over for you?

I've been saying it forever but most seem to think Allen is a scrub. As I've said when he's healthy he's very good The only issue with him is his inability to stay healthy. I think regardless even if he plays the entire season they view him as a comp pick waiting to happen. They re-signed Shelton for a reason. If Brian goes down again this season and Shelton comes in as his replacement, I think Coleman will be the starter going forward and they will extend him long-term next year.

The Rams brought in McAllister who is a dedicated C and Maginn who has played both OG and C that would give them depth behind Shelton next year. McAllister looks good but needs a year to be coached up to play C at this level.

The bottom line is I like Allen, but I'm not worried about the long terms outlook at the position.

All this senseless nonsense about Saudi money and social injustice was nothing more than some old fashioned mud raking.
Love to see the apologies headed Phil Mickleson's way.... As if...