The Rams have rebranded the Draft House to Draft Lab.

Photos here:


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Which Mock draft simulators - if any - do y'all like? I can't seem to find one that feels very realistic as I keep coming away with dream hauls that are ridiculous on their face.

Perhaps there is one a bit more hidden on the internet that someone can point me towards (and that don't involve me paying)

I think they dodged a bullet. He was a real asshole in Detroit

Welp - another one bites the dust

For me & two retired neighbors it's going to be a Day 2 Draft Day feast starting at 4:00 PM PST (Friday, April 28)

Delivery from my favorite Chinese Restaurant :

Giant N.Y. style Egg Rolls
Shrimp in Lobster Sauce
Curry Chicken
Beef with Broccoli
Beef with Green Peppers
Chicken Fried Rice
Chicken Lo Mein

$109.46 + tip

These are all very large portions so there will be some great Day 3 (Saturday, April 29) 9:00 AM PST Leftovers.


So what are you guys bringing to the party ?

Up 2-1 on the oilers, need to get this home game tonight on the way to hopefully knocking thier punk asses out!

What's their "base" defense?

They've purged their roster and have no Edge players on the current roster that fit the mold of their previous group. Hoecht is built like a 4-3 end.. you could argue Jonah Williams could play there on first downs.
Hardy is more athlete than pure rush guy.. but is he someone who can set an edge?

My point is that maybe they're looking to be more of a 4-3 type front on first downs? Hoecht, Donald, Brown and Williams or, perhaps, a late and inexpensive vet.. or rookie?

Will McDonald and BJ Olujari are both too light in the pants to be counted on to set the edge.. but could probably have some impact on passing downs as rookies.

As others have pointed out in other threads... the Rams division has two teams that are going to run the ball A LOT. We know more teams are going to try running to attack the "light boxes" approach.. that was the counter last year.

The team could go in multiple directions and I just wonder what the plan is, going into next season.

I’ll give everyone a cheat sheet,but this Rams 2021 Draft still can be very special.

The Rams are really counting on these young players.2022 Draft class was very young as well.

but for whatever reason, never did?

For me that would be Sam Bradford. Am I right, @-X- ? We sucked so bad to earn that number one draft pick and needed a young stud so badly. We had hope after he dinked and dunked his way to the OROY. But that was the best he'd ever be...

Who is your biggest draft hope, destroyed by reality?

Not sure how many of you know the Reno area but my wife, oldest son, and I just hiked to the top of Peavine mountain from the base. It's only a 6.5 mile hike up but has a 3000' elevation gain. It's no mount Everest or McKinley (did that about 30 years ago) but for a day hike, it was pretty cool.

Keep in mind that my wife went through triple fusion surgery on her back less that a year ago. Hell... She did better than I did.

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

12:00PM ET XFL — Orlando Guardians at St. Louis Battlehawks, ESPN / ESPN+
12:30PM ET USFL — Houston Gamblers vs New Orleans Breakers (Birmingham), USA / Peacock
3:00PM ET XFL — D.C. Defenders at San Antonio Brahmas, ABC / ESPN+
7:00PM ET USFL — Memphis Showboats vs Birmingham Stallions, FOX

SUNDAY, APRIL 23

1:00PM ET USFL — New Jersey Generals vs Pittsburgh Maulers (Canton), NBC / Peacock
3:00PM ET XFL — Houston Roughnecks at Arlington Renegades, ESPN / ESPN+
7:00PM ET USFL — Michigan Panthers vs Philadelphia Stars (Canton), FS1
7:00PM ET XFL — Vegas Vipers at Seattle Sea Dragons, ESPN2 / ESPN+

Jourdan breaks down the Allen Robinson trade - we saw it coming, but what happens now? Then, The Athletic's draft analyst Diante Lee joins the show for a fantastic conversation about the Rams' upcoming draft, potential targets and pick points and so much more.

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15 NFL draft sleepers on offense who caught the eye of scouts​

The NFL draft is an imperfect science, with many productive players found in later rounds. For this exercise, I spoke with one personnel executive and two veteran scouts to highlight 15 of the best sleepers at the offensive skill positions. We have each player's top attributes, what they need to work on, and a reasonable NFL player comparison - either current or retired.

Jonathan Mingo, WR, Ole Miss​

Size: 6-foot-1 3/4, 220 pounds

What the scouts are saying: Big-bodied specimen who can run and is excellent after the catch (16.9 yards per catch). Could end up being one of the best offensive players in the draft; he's that talented.

Something to work on: Would like to see him use that 4.46 speed and 39.5-inch vertical jump more on deep balls.

Player comp: A.J. Brown

Tyjae Spears, RB, Tulane​

Size: 5-foot-10, 201 pounds

What the scouts are saying: Fluid runner with great vision and strength. Also possesses plenty of juice, making guys miss in the open field.

Something to work on: Get pad level down in between the tackles to break off even more big runs.

Player comp: Tony Pollard

Devon Achane, RB, Texas A&M​

Size: 5-foot-8 1/2, 188 pounds

What the scouts are saying: "Lightning in a bottle" who jumps off the screen with his speed and agility. Blazing 4.32 40 and felt like he could have run even faster. A "weapon" that you "want in your offense" with soft hands and dynamic cutting ability.

Something to work on: Durability is the only concern here, as size isn't in his favor. Pass protection isn't ideal as a result.

Player comp: Reggie Bush

Tyler Scott, WR, Cincinnati​

Size: 5-foot-10, 177 pounds

What the scouts are saying: Game-breaking speed that you simply can't game plan for. Has a gear that you rarely see, even at this level.

Something to work on: Put on some weight to hold up against press coverage.

Player comp: Darius Slayton

Jayden Reed, WR, Michigan State​

Size: 5-foot-11, 187 pounds

What the scouts are saying: Plays much bigger than he is. Physical receiver who finishes routes with precision. Hand-catcher who loves contact. Classic Michigan State player who'll block as well.

Something to work on: Clean up drops on balls he should be catching.

Player comp: Robert Woods

DeWayne McBride, RB, UAB​

Size: 5-foot-10 1/4, 209 pounds

What the scouts are saying: Truly special talent as a feature back with juice, both running and catching the football.

Something to work on: Clean up fumbles to remain on the field more often.

Player comp: Michael Carter

Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota St.​

Size: 6-foot-5, 254 pounds

What the scouts are saying: Prototypical size and athleticism for a modern-day tight end. Will beat linebackers up the seam with his speed and will bother safeties and nickels with his size. Tremendous athlete who plays with a mean streak.

Something to work on: More concentration on the easier balls he should catch. Just a mental thing, but all the tools are there for Kraft.

Player comp: Dallas Goedert

Andrei Iosivas, WR, Princeton​

Size: 6-foot-3, 205 pounds

What the scouts are saying: His 4.43-second 40-yard dash and 39-inch vertical check every box. He understands the position at a high level and can beat press coverage with high-level releases and strong hands.

Something to work on: Would like to see him add another 7-to-8 pounds to match up against the more physical defensive backs.

Player comp: Isaiah Hodgins

Zack Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion​

Size: 6-foot-7, 255 pounds

What the scouts are saying: Size-matchup nightmare who can be deployed all over the field. With his size and strength, he can become a great blocker as well once he learns the techniques. Long strider who ran a surprisingly quick 4.55 40 while jumping a freakish 40 inches.

Something to work on: Doesn't have much post-catch wiggle and is still developing as a route-runner.

Player comp: Colby Parkinson

Michael Wilson, WR, Stanford​

Size: 6-foot-2, 213 pounds

What the scouts are saying: Polished route-runner with enticing twitchiness and wiggle.

Something to work on: Just needs to stay on the field, as injuries plagued him throughout his collegiate career.

Player comp: Romeo Doubs

Payne Durham, TE, Purdue​

Size: 6-foot-5 5/8, 253 pounds

What the scouts are saying: Smart, durable, and surprisingly athletic. Nimble after the catch, capable of being a 10-year pro.

Something to work on: Blocking is the next level of development, especially considering his size and frame. Given his natural strength, an NFL program should help his technique, which will also help him set the edge in the run game.

Player comp: Jack Doyle

Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA​

Size: 6-foot-2, 203 pounds

What the scouts are saying: Excellent mover with an accurate arm. Understands how to manipulate the pocket and move the chains with his legs while avoiding big hits. More than capable arm; can make all the throws. Hyper-competitive and smart as well.

Something to work on: Tighten up his release to get the ball out quicker, as he tends to elongate release from the pocket.

Player comp: Taylor Heinicke

Tank Dell, WR, Houston​

Size: 5-foot-8, 165 pounds

What the scouts are saying: Wonderful feel for the position, knows how to beat press, knows where and when to sit in a zone, and plays much bigger than he is.

Something to work on: Continue developing in the slot, where he could eventually become a true weapon with his route-running and overall feel.

Player comp: Greg Dortch

Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma​

Size: 5-foot-9 1/2, 207 pounds

What the scouts are saying: Natural hand-catcher out of the backfield. Guys bounce off him once he gets a head of steam. Good acceleration as well, with the potential to become a feature back.

Something to work on: Doesn't have true breakaway speed and sometimes goes east-west unnecessarily.

Player comp: Khalil Herbert

Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA​

Size: 6-feet, 214 pounds

What the scouts are saying: Love his game. Does everything well with no real weaknesses for a guy with ideal size. Has real power, decisiveness, and can flat-out catch the football. Good in pass protection as well.

Something to work on: Won't scare you with speed (4.53), which sometimes affects his ability as an inside runner.

Player comp: Miles Sanders

Brenton Strange, TE, Penn State​

Size: 6-foot-4, 253 pounds

What the scouts are saying: High-level athlete with tons of juice post-catch. Good and willing blocker.

Something to work on: Add more production to a toolbox that's fairly full, and you're looking at a potential starter.

Player comp: Chris Cooley

One thing that could use a good RoDing is the possibility of trading up and how it might happen. So...

1. Who do you think warrants a trade-up? Someone always warrants a trade-up.

2. What's the top of our range? I.E. how far up can we get by moving next year's 1st round pick.

Good PFF vid on the subject:

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In the NFC West, which team currently has the best…

Quarterback
Wide Receiver
Defensive Player
Head Coach

I could make a strong argument that the answer to all four is the Rams.

Experience and depth issues
aside, I think that gives us a fighting chance this year.

Fitting the mold: What do the Rams value in defensive backs?​

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – While the Rams stocked their secondary with several young players via the 2022 NFL Draft, departures this offseason still make it a potential position of need entering the 2023 NFL Draft according to experts.

Should Los Angeles add to that room via the 2023 NFL Draft, there's a couple key intangibles they look for in prospects, according to defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant: Competitiveness and versatility.

"How is he as a competitor? Does he have any position flexibility? What does he do best?" Pleasant told theRams.com earlier this month. "From there, we kind of evaluate each player and see how he's a scheme fit for us."

With those traits as reference points, the Rams look for players who fit those intangibles and get a feel for where they could plug and play best.

Pleasant points to examples from his first stint on L.A.'s coaching staff in David Long Jr. and Darious Williams as players who fit that mold.

"(Williams) didn't maybe fit the traditional physical attributes that you would look for in a corner, but the way he played against some of the bigger teams, he played at a very high level, and we saw that kind of seeping through the tape," Pleasant said. "So when he came out as a free agent, we really saw a couple of those skillsets and we're like, 'Hey, how can that then transfer to what we do?' and then after he got here, took a couple of years, but he was able to really build up and to keep that spot.

"Or if you look at a guy like David Long, David Long had all those attributes, all the measurables, he played at a high level in the Big Ten, he was from this area, we knew that he'd be an easy plug-and-play fit, and obviously when he got here, he was able to play a lot of football for us here, and was able to have a lot of success before I was able to leave."

Should the Rams address the position via the draft or undrafted free agents, that experience will benefit Pleasant, who is looking forward to the competition that would create.

"What I'm looking forward to most is just the level of competition," Pleasant said. "I mean, it's very evident and obvious to everyone that we have some positions that need to be filled. So no matter if it's the guys that are here or guys that will be coming (with) the opportunity to go out there and compete, and just do your best and get an opportunity to start at this level. I think that's all a guy could really ask for."

Marquise Copeland: 'Great to be around the guys again, great to be around my coach again'​

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – In a Rams offseason with several departures, defensive tackle Marquise Copeland was one of the retainees.

Re-signing a one-year deal to return to the team last month, Copeland is grateful for the chance to be back with those teammates and coaches.

"It's just great to be here," Copeland said Monday as the Rams began their offseason program. "It's great to be around the guys again, great to be around my coach again."

Copeland's return eases some of the departures along the defensive line. Greg Gaines signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and A'Shawn Robinson currently remains a free agent, so Copeland is the next most-experienced player beyond Aaron Donald within the group.

That perspective dawned on him recently thinking about his own journey.

"I mean, it's definitely different," Copeland said. "I was just thinking about that the other day, coming in as an undrafted free agent, I was in the back of the line. Now, I'm one of the ones in the front of the line."

When injuries hit the defensive line last season, Copeland capitalized on the opportunities and posted career-highs of 31 total tackles, 15 games played and nine starts. He also registered his first career sack. Additionally, per truMedia, he recorded the fifth-most defensive stops (defined as tackles causing an unsuccessful play by the offense) among Rams defensive linemen in 2022 with 14.

Asked if he is thinking he'll play a certain position full time after doing a little bit of everything in previous seasons, Copeland indicated it would be dependent on the gameplan.

"So if they need me here or there, I'll play it," Copeland said. "That's one of the biggest parts of my game, just being versatile, so I can play anything."

Whatever his role entails this upcoming season, he's glad to be doing it with the only team he's played for to this point in his career.

"Going into the offseason, I just really went about it the same as last offseason," Copeland said of his offseason process and being re-signed by the team. "Just worked out every day, really tried not to think about outside-of-football-stuff too much. And then when it came, it was like, 'Alright, cool, let's keep going.'"

Unrealistically absurd, so much so that it made me laugh.

Those trades would make Les blush...

…are merely experiencing a “rapid unscheduled disassembly.”

No big deal.

New heights will be reached in the near future!

I was 18 in the mid 60s. I miss browsing Tower Records on Sunset. Then my GF, my best guy friend and his GF would walk west across the street for a block or two and sit on the sidewalk with our backs against the head shop. Once some guy was running towards us with cops in pursuit with them yelling to stop the guy who assaulted a girl. We simply formed a circle sitting and taking up the entire sidewalk. The guy was forced to run out into Sunset out between parked cars. He got side swiped by a car. The cops had to save him from the occupants of the car. We laughed and one of the Sheriff's deputies yelled thanks and Ron took one last drag before flipping his roach away saying "No problem man". That is why the deputies foot patrolling the strip never hassled kids just hanging out.

It was a completely different time in LA. It all began to change in the mid 70s with the influx of millions from the east coast fleeing the energy shortage and terrible winters. Before that things were "cool", very live and let live. Drove around in my Honda 600 car with a 5 gal gas tank getting 40+ miles per gal. Filled the tank for less than $5. Once I ran out of gas and my friend Ron and I opened the doors and skateboarded the car down Sepulveda into the valley to a gas station a-la Flintstones. LAPD drove past laughing their asses off as we got near the station.

Back then starting in the 70s LAPD was the problem, with their metro squad. Those aholes went looking for trouble. If I remember correctly the metro squad was formed in the late 60s to combat crime, but created more crime then they solved. The biggest theft ring was busted by the FBI included LAPD Metro. They started LAPD's bad rep. Kicked me awake while I slept under a tree waiting for my GF on the UCLA campus. They arrested me for loitering and being a vagrant. It was illegal for them to patrol the campus back then but they did when they were bored. They kept me overnight then simply kicked me out on to the streets of downtown LA at late night while they laughed. Of course, no charges were ever filed. But it was all part of living in LA back then when you were a minority.

Taking my Remington 5mm mag (bolt action) rifle plinking in the hills above the east valley. Blew a locked master lock wide open from 50 yds. Loved that rifle. They quit making the ammo which was the size of a .22 mag cartridge.

Going to Tommies for a chiliburger on Sunday morning at 2 am. Not sure but I think it was on Beverly and Rampart. Bathroom paper towels for napkins with your sloppy burger and fries! Love sushi but not back then! Or Tico's or Lucy's Tacos on the west side. To finish out a night of cruising the streets of LA. Gas was less than $.25 per gal. Damn, those were good times. Me and my bright red '69 Plymouth Road Runner with tri-power carbs, the first new car of my life. Yeah, it has the 440 six pack engine, Edelbrock manifolds, and 3 Holley carbs with 390 HP and 490 pounds torque with a fiberglass hood. Gave the car to my brother who gave it to his son who is giving it to his boy. He let me drive it last year. I worked 3 jobs while carrying 21 units at Valley State (now CSUN) to get that car. Still, my favorite car and a complete girl magnet when cruising. Better than a Harley! Total badass. My nephew was offered $175,000 for it and laughed at the guy. It's a family heirloom. LMAO

CSUN offered to give me a duplicate degree with the updated name for a modest $300. I told them to F themselves. LOL I like having a degree from a school that nobody's every heard of San Fernando Valley State College. I was the first one in my family to ever get a BA degree going directly from high school, to a 4 year college. Now I'm the only one with a degree from a school nobody has heard of. My neice asked me if it was a JC and how could I get a BA degree. More than one employer thought it was fake. Standard and Poors was the only one after I got home from Nam that would hire me and knew the degree wasn't fake. But it all worked out just fine.

I'm glad I was born and raised in LA during those days. It was a different time, a different world and I loved it. Wouldn't trade any of my memories of LA in those days. Damn right I miss it.

Losing games for the tactical purpose of improving draft position (tanking) is dishonorable and worthy of heavy sanction. I don't expect McVay (or anyone he hires) to ever take part in it. But a GM's decision to offload talent for pennies on the dollar is acceptable (rebuild) even though it might strategically represent a season-long sub rosa tanking plan for better draft position.

Q1: does anyone else think that is what is going on here?

Q2: if it is going on, is it bad for the league?

They really must not like this guy in San Francisco

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