Anyone else catch this was the first time in five years he didn’t say “thanks guys” at the end?

Maybe it’s silly to bring up as a thread but I think it speaks volumes to his frustration.

We can only hope some positive changes can actually happen to right this ship. God knows there’s a lot that can and should be done.

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/pRjn8XsvYdo

1. What the fuck did I just watch?

2. I'm not one to typically call for individuals to be fired after a bad performance, but I have two this week that I want to see gone.

3. Bobby Evans. When PFF releases its ratings this week, he may be the first player ever to receive a negative rating. By my count, he gave up at least 3 sacks today, and countless pressures and running plays blown up due to his ineptitude. I'd cut him. I mean it. I don't ever want to see him on the field again.

4. The other is Raheem Morris. I've defended him, and I give him a lot of credit for his contributions to last year's championship. But I just can't excuse his soft coverage strategy that allowed the Bucs to walk down the field twice in the last to drives. We were saved by a dropped TD pass on the first, and the last one killed us. There has to be some accountability for the system that allowed this to happen. Let the CBs do their freakin' job!!!!!

5. Did I bury the lead here? Should I have lead off by talking about letting Tom Brady (who, along with this weak Bucs team, is going nowhere this year) get one more moment of glory? Perhaps. But that wasn't the worst offense today.

6. The worst offense was... well, the worst offense we've seen under Sean McVay. I 100% blame it on the OL, which couldn't block an intramural flag football team from Dartmouth, much less Vita Vea and company.

7. If you want to add to the list, I'd go with the RBs. While Darrell Henderson had a couple of nice runs on one drive, we rarely see anyone making something out of nothing (or even something out of a small crease).

8. Finally, there's the lack of turnovers. The primary issue there is, once again, the soft coverage, which hampers the pass rushers and creates easy throws.

9. That said, the entire defense needs to spend a few sessions with the JUGS machine. Today, there were dropped interceptions by Terrell Lewis (a tough catch to make, no doubt, but a sure pick 6 if he does), Troy Hill and Jalen Ramsey. We just can't afford to miss opportunity for game changing plays.

10. Its sad, really, to see a game end like this. Aaron Donald played his guts out. So did Bobby Wagner. Hill and Ramsey, drops aside, made some plays.

11. Kendrick is in over his head.

12. The offensive line needs a complete rebuild. Apart from Rob Havenstein (who's not a world beater, but certainly is good enough to be part of a successful OL) every spot is up for serious review next year. While I can see getting a starter in the draft, we're going to have to bring in some veteran help in free agency.

13. So, yeah... I'm pretty much saying its unfixable within the season. Sure, if Coleman Shelton and David Edwards can get on the field, it could get better (not starting from a very high bar). But that's just a temporary fix. Joe Noteboom will be a huge question mark coming back from a torn Achilles, and Edwards is a FA. We're going to need an influx of talent

14. So where do we go from here? Just push on, I guess. We have some more favorable matchups (i.e. weaker defenses we might be able to move the ball against) in the coming weeks, so maybe, in a weak NFC field, we can still stay in the playoff race.

15. But we all know what we're seeing... a team that can't compete at the highest level.

16. So, karma has hit. The good fortune that allowed us to go through the 49ers and the Bucs on the way to a championship last year has now failed us. Our ability to avoid big injuries, gone. The ball bouncing our way,.. not happening.

17. That's sports, though, isn't it? Moments in the sun can turn into tough times in the blink of the eye. Heck, only 2 of the 7 NFC playoff teams from last year currently have a winning record.

18. Its a brutal league, and success is tough to achieve... even tougher to sustain.

19. But here's the good news... fix the OL, and get some fresh legs in the backfield, and this offense can turn around next year and be a force again. And, with an offense that can be relied upon to score points, let the defense apply pressure at all levels. I'll trade an occasional big play allowed for more sacks and more turnovers.

20. Sorry folks, that's all the "feel goods" I can muster right now. I'm feeling frustrated and drained.

This one is on coaching. Keep running the worst O lineman in the NFL out there, playing soft 10 yds off the line the entire game.

Fate, this death hurts so much. I grew up with the Backstreet Boys, with Aaron and Nick. Thirty-four is far too young to go, and it reminds me of my own brush with mortality. Add in the struggles with mental health that Aaron had, and this one just fucking hurts to the bone.

Rest in peace, Aaron. I hope you're no longer suffering.

One of my good friends sent this pic to me Friday night. She lives out in Vegas now and guess who lives on her street...

Duval Love! He played on our O-Line back when ED2105 was breaking records. Here he is probably get annoyed af by my friend.

In no particular order…

IF Akers gets snaps will he produce or has that Achilles robbed him of his gift? I fear the latter.

Will Carberry sit Evans in favor of either Skura or Brewer? I sure would. Can’t believe he hasn’t done so previously.

Can this Ram OL give Stafford 3 seconds consistently?

Will Atwell get a few deep targets or have Rams given up on him and/or OL?

I’m gonna try to watch Jackson carefully. Don’t look now but we may already have our 10 year LOT on board. Hot Damn! One of the few bright spots this season.

Can Higbee have a bounce back game? We really need him today.

Maybe it would be good to give Jefferson a target? Or maybe two? You know, just to give Bucs D something to worry about?

Will AR be able to continue his upward trajectory? If so, Rams might be in business.

I’m hoping to see SOME increase in effort from Hollins/Lewis in edge pressure. They’ve looked somewhat lackadaisical over there lately.

Do NOT make AD take every snap. Give him a needed breather from time to time.

Who will be boundary CB opposite Ramsey today? Long, Rochell, Durant, Hill, or Kendrick?

Will Rapp still be starter for Morris? If so, why?

My kingdom for no missed tackles today.

Can Rams rush for 100+ yards? If so, they’ve got a shot.

Please, no empty backfields, Sean.

We know that Morris is still gonna predominantly run his ‘soft zone’ D, but will he at least try some alternatives from time to time? Just to try to confuse Brady? I’m afraid that Brady will feast on those easy underneath gimme’s all game long and will thereby keep Stafford on the sideline.

This game looks like an acid test for several Ram coaches in terms of ability to correct tendencies and make adjustments.

McVay
Morris
Carberry
Samples
Cooley (secondary)

I don’t think it’s a big stretch to consider this game as a fork in the road for both players and coaches. The margin for errors is rapidly disappearing.

What dud I miss?

Would I like it if Christian McCaffrey or Brian Burns was lining up for the Rams today?

Of course.

But, in the long run, Carolina, by trading CMC to the 49ers and spurning our crazy offer for Burns, may have saved us from ourselves.

In CMC’s case, I just don’t trust the guy to stay healthy. Also, look at the Day 2 rookie RBs tearing up the league. Do you really need to give up 3-4 picks for a RB?

In Burns’ case, two firsts and a second!?!? That’s WAY to much for him, particularly in a year where he’s not likely to be the final piece that leads to a championship.

Call it sour grapes if you will, but I think when we look back two or three years from now, we’re going to be glad these deals didn’t happen.

Why is there so much bad football in the NFL?​

A month has passed since Tom Brady’s public rumination on the state of the NFL game, and it seems that plenty of other bright football minds tend to agree with him.

“I watch a lot of bad football,” Brady said in early October. “Poor quality of football. That’s what I see.”

The prime-time windows this season have often featured teams ill-prepared or ill-equipped to play entertaining football or to move the ball in the way we have come to expect in the pass-happy NFL. On-field coaching decisions and in-game management have seemed, to many inside and outside the league, more baffling than ever. The inevitable officiating controversies (this year mostly surrounding roughing-the-passer calls) haven’t helped. Penalties have been a scourge for some teams, quarterback play has been erratic, and one of the more salient scenes from the first half of the season featured Denver fans leaving in droves as the Broncos and Colts headed to overtime during what would end up a 12-9 blemish of a football contest.

“The product is low quality right now,” a prominent player agent said, unsolicited, during a conversation about a different topic. (He spoke on the condition of anonymity in part not to offend some of his clients.) “There’s too much low-IQ football being played. Too many games are tough to watch. If you want to know what people who have been in this league a long time are talking about right now, this is it.”

Scoring is down, from 2.48 offensive touchdowns a game in 2021 to 2.31 now. Passing touchdowns per game are down from 1.54 to 1.38. Entering Week 9 last year, the average NFL passer rating was 94.5 — 12 qualified passers had a rating of at least 100 — with 408 touchdowns thrown to 191 interceptions. Entering this week, only seven qualified quarterbacks had a rating above 100, and the average rating was 90.2, with 338 touchdown passes and 188 interceptions. Couple that with what many executives believe to be a coaching crisis, and you might have found the epicenter of the unsightly product.

“How many teams have the right coach and the right quarterback?” asked one successful general manager, speaking on the condition of anonymity so as not to alienate his peers or incur penalties from the league office. “There’s not that many. If you have one or the other, you’ll win enough games to hang around and be in most games, which the league wants. Parity.

“If you only have one, there’s going to be some inconsistencies in your play but you won’t be getting blown out every week. That’s probably 70, 75 percent of the league. If you’ve got both, you’re going to win consistently. And if you don’t have either, you’re f----d and you’re dragging down the quality of play for everybody.”

Determining which franchises truly have a winning coach and quarterback is obviously open to interpretation, and in a league of constant transition with tanking no longer prohibited, some general managers argue that not enough time and patience are granted to either position. In my own estimation — feel free to play along at home — only five of 32 teams receive double check marks, which feels telling.

Last season at this time, Russell Wilson led the NFL in passer rating (125.3!), Kyler Murray was an MVP favorite, Brady and Aaron Rodgers were deep into potential MVP campaigns, a healthy Dak Prescott was tearing it up, and Matthew Stafford was second in the NFL with 22 passing touchdowns to just four interceptions. This year, well, Russ is getting cooked, the Buccaneers and Packers have broken offenses, the league is baffled why Murray and his coach got contract extensions, Prescott has missed more games than he has completed and Stafford has seven touchdowns to eight interceptions.

“Some Hall of Fame quarterbacks have walked away [in recent years], some older quarterbacks might be hitting the wall, and these [recent] quarterback classes might not be that good,” another general manager suggested, with the 2021 class drawing particular scrutiny. “Then you look at who is coaching some of them, and that’s a problem, too. Too many of these coaching searches are s--t shows. Too many owners don’t know what they’re doing or what to even look for.”

Of the quarterbacks drafted in 2021, top overall pick Trevor Lawrence certainly hasn’t looked generational yet, although being saddled with inept Urban Meyer his rookie year didn’t help. Jets fans are clamoring for second overall pick Zach Wilson to be benched, third pick Trey Lance has barely played for the 49ers, and the Bears finally got around to leaning into 11th pick Justin Fields’s strengths just a few weeks ago. Mac Jones (15th overall) lost his job in New England, at least briefly, to Bailey Zappe (the 137th pick this past spring).

As for the first-time head coaches hired that year: Meyer is (mercifully) already gone, and the backward Texans fired David Culley after one year; meanwhile, Dan Campbell (Lions) and Brandon Staley (Chargers) got much hype, but their accomplishments have been scant.

Cronyism and nepotism still offer a fast track for unworthy coaching candidates, people around the league lament. Then factor in how many of the young coaches stack their staffs with similarly inexperienced assistants, and consider how all this newness impacts skill players already having to learn new systems.

There are more explanations. We saw an unprecedented offseason of blockbuster trades involving both quarterbacks and wide receivers changing teams. The preseason is shorter than ever, and fewer teams are actually playing their starters for any meaningful period of time in those exhibitions. Injuries to key players have been prevalent — with players rightfully indignant over the lack of mandatory grass fields — and executives grumble privately that the ever-expanding slate of international games doesn’t help the quality of play across a regular season that is also longer than ever.

There is an interesting subplot to consider, however. Believe it or not, the NFL running game is thriving like never before.

The average NFL rush this season is gaining 4.54 yards (it was 4.33 last season and 4.28 entering Week 9 a year ago). The highest figure in NFL history was 4.42 yards in 2018, while about 4.0 yards per rush are the historical norm. Teams aren’t running much more often — 42.2 percent of plays have been rushes in 2022 compared with 41.1 percent at this point last year — but they are doing it more efficiently in a game that has incentivized the downfield pass, even if casual fans haven’t caught on.

“What are they all b----ing about?” one grizzled NFL personnel executive asked when probed for his thoughts on the quality of play. “Let me guess: Scoring is down, and everybody wants more points? Listen man, it’s all cyclical, and no one is talking about it, but running the ball is coming back.

“You hear a lot about all the spread formations in college and how they don’t produce offensive linemen. But since it’s so small now [with college teams using so many three-or-more wide receiver sets], they aren’t producing [defensive] tackles, either. I’m on the road every week [scouting colleges], and they aren’t around like they used to be. The best offenses attack what you give them, and people in this league stopped paying for run-stuffers years ago, and there aren’t as many good ones coming out. So why wouldn’t you attack them in the run game?”

Perhaps we have unlocked the NFL’s “Moneyball” equation: YPC (yards per carry) in 2022 = OBP (on-base percentage) in 2000? Worthy of attention in the second half, if nothing else.

What is on YOUR game day menu?

SUNDAY - NOVEMBER 06, 2022

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

.

Tennessee Titans vs. Kansas City Chiefs: AFC Division Leaders Meet on SNF​

Two of the AFC's marquee teams will duke it on "Sunday Night Football" when the Tennessee Titans travel to GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs.

Both the Titans and Chiefs are atop their respective divisions with 5-2 records, but they're getting the job done in different ways. The Titans have won five straight games by leaning heavily on Derrick Henry and taking advantage of their rather undaunting schedule. All five of Tennessee's wins have come against teams that have a combined record of 10-18-2 and almost zero offensive firepower. With their quarterback situation still murky, a win on the road against Kansas City would be a huge boon for a Titans team flying under the radar yet again.

The Chiefs are doing what they've always done in the Patrick Mahomes era — score points — and scoring points as efficiently as any other team in the NFL. Despite new faces in the receivers' room, Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid haven't missed a beat. In fact, this year's Chiefs' offense is as dangerous as any in the last few years, leading the league in a bevy of offensive categories. Kansas City is coming off a bye week and a 21-point road win against the 49ers prior to that, so this offense should be well-prepared for whatever the Titans may throw at them.

Sunday Night Football: Tennessee (5-2) at Kansas City (5-2)

Kickoff: Sunday, Nov. 6 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Chiefs -12.5
Tickets: As low as $165 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. The Return of the King

The NFL's two-time rushing champion, Derrick Henry, is coming for his throne. After an injury-derailed 2021 and a slow start to this season, Henry has thrust himself near the top of the league's rushing leaderboard.

In the first two games of the season, both losses, Henry was averaging just 53.5 total yards and 3.1 yards per carry. Since then, he has exploded during the Titans' five-game win-streak, averaging 129.6 yards per game on 4.9 yards per carry and totaling six touchdowns. After last week's 219-yard and two-score explosion against the Texans, Henry leads the league in rushing yards per game (107.9) and sits third overall with 755. The two names in front of Henry, Nick Chubb and Saquon Barkley, have played eight games to Henry's seven.

It's no secret that the Titans' offense goes as Henry goes. For reference, in the second half last week against Houston, Tennessee called just one passing play while Henry had 18 carries. He's accounted for 51 percent of Tennessee's total yards (748 of 1,453) and six of their 10 offensive touchdowns. For a running back in today's pass-heavy NFL, that is absurd. But with the Titans' uncertain quarterback situation unresolved, it's necessary.

This week, Henry and the Titans' offense face arguably their toughest test yet against the Chiefs' vaunted run defense. Kansas City has allowed the second-fewest rushing touchdowns (3), third-fewest rushing yards per game (92.0), and seventh-fewest yards per carry (4.1). However, over the last three games, the Chiefs have been a little more generous, surrendering 127 yards per game on the ground.

2. Can the Titans keep up?

Facing the Chiefs, after five weeks of lackluster offensive opponents, will have the Titans feeling like they've entered the Indianapolis 500 after a month of racing golf carts with Matt Ryan, Carson Wentz, and Davis Mills. Kansas City owns the league's top-scoring offense, averaging nearly 32 points per game, and has scored more touchdowns than any other team despite only playing seven games.

During their win streak, Tennessee hasn't seen an opposing offense ranked higher than 20th in DVOA, including four wins against the three lowest-ranked squads in the category. Four of their five wins were against teams that rank no higher than 25th in yards per play, 26th in total points scored, and 27th in expected points from offense and points per game.

The Titans' offense isn't any better. They're actually one of the worst units in the league, having failed to score more than 24 points in a game this season. Tennessee ranks 24th in scoring (18.9 ppg) and expected offensive points, 26th in total touchdowns (15), 28th in yards per play (5.0), and 30th in Pro Football Focus' offensive power rankings.

Those dismal numbers are only exacerbated by the fact it doesn't really matter who plays quarterback, whether it's Ryan Tannehill or rookie Malik Willis. This Titans offense simply does not have the tools to be a high-scoring unit. But they are going to have to find a way to keep pace by keeping the Chiefs' offense off the field, or they might be getting lapped before the race even starts.

3. Third downs

The Titans' best chance at keeping this game close is to keep the Chiefs' offense off of the field as much as possible. Easier said than done. The Chiefs are the top-rated third-down offense in the NFL (51.9 percent) and Mahomes is lights out with 35 conversions, a 120 passer rating, and six touchdowns on 61 third-down passing attempts. But the Titans do have the top-ranked third-down defense in the league (25.8 percent), and a blueprint for stopping Kansas City has been provided by Tennessee's own division rival earlier this season.

When the Colts knocked off the Chiefs back in Week 3, they held Kansas City to just 3-for-10 on third down and had the edge in time of possession by more than seven minutes. Those third-down stops led to field goals instead of touchdowns and kept Indianapolis within striking distance the whole game. Again, easier said than done.

But both the Colts and Titans have similar defensive makeups. Like the Colts, The Titans' front line with Denico Autry (3.5 sacks) and Jeffery Simmons (5.5 sacks) is able to pressure quarterbacks without having to sell out on blitzes. This in turn could allow the linebackers to help in coverage and maybe take pressure off a secondary that's allowed a 67.5 percent completion rate and a combined passer rating of 96.6 against some less-than-stellar quarterbacks this season.

Tennessee's coverage will obviously have to account for tight end Travis Kelce. He's the centerpiece of this K.C. offense outside of Mahomes, especially on third downs. Kelce's 14 third-down catches are tied for third in the NFL this season. He is easily Mahomes' favorite target when the sticks need to be moved.

Final Analysis

No matter who is under center for the Titans, a lot of Lady Luck's good graces need to break their way for them to win this game. But Reid's teams are exceptional coming off the bye, like 20-3 good. I see no reason why this high-flying Chiefs team should be any less prepared against a limited, but tough Titans team.

Prediction: Chiefs 30, Titans 20

Sunday, November 6, 2022

THE LATE GAMES
Seattle at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay, 4:25 p.m.

THE EARLY GAMES
Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Miami at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Carolina at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Green Bay at Detroit, 1 p.m.
Las Vegas at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Indianapolis at New England, 1 p.m.
Buffalo at New York Jets, 1 p.m.
Minnesota at Washington, 1 p.m.

SNF
Tennessee at Kansas City, 8:20 p.m.

Monday, November 7, 2022

MNF
Baltimore at New Orleans, 8:15 p.m.

Byes: Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, New York Giants, Pittsburgh, San Francisco

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ALREADY PLAYED

Thursday, November 3, 2022

TNF
Philadelphia at Houston, 8:15 p.m.

Sunday, November 6, 2022

THE EARLY GAMES
Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta, 1 p.m.
Miami at Chicago, 1 p.m.
Carolina at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
Green Bay at Detroit, 1 p.m.
Las Vegas at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Indianapolis at New England, 1 p.m.
Buffalo at New York Jets, 1 p.m.
Minnesota at Washington, 1 p.m.

THE LATE GAMES
Seattle at Arizona, 4:05 p.m.
Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay, 4:25 p.m.

SNF
Tennessee at Kansas City, 8:20 p.m.

Monday, November 7, 2022

MNF
Baltimore at New Orleans, 8:15 p.m.

Byes: Cleveland, Dallas, Denver, New York Giants, Pittsburgh, San Francisco

---

ALREADY PLAYED

Thursday, November 3, 2022

TNF
Philadelphia at Houston, 8:15 p.m.

Great Rams running backs, could you imagine Gurley or Jackson with Stafford and Kupp, i know im dreaming but dang i miss those great Ram running backs. We have had some great ones. This maybe the worst Ram running game that I remember. They have zero threat running the ball. It sucks ass.

Guess the correct score & win $10,000 ROD dollars or be the closest to the exact score & win $5,000 Rod Dollars. All entries must be posted before the game begins. Good Luck !

Rams - 27

Brady's - 17

Trade deadline is passed.. and the Rams couldn't pull the trigger on anything. So, what's next?
The Rams can't just give up on this season, obviously, but this year needs to be about developing younger players and thoroughly evaluating what's on their roster. There's a chance they can still make the playoffs, but it's obvious that outside of something very flukey, this isn't a Super Bowl team.
So, how do they get back in the '23 season? A lot of internal improvement, an excellent draft, and adding a couple of key vets from outside.

Here are some of the roster areas and players that I'm very interested on focusing on and believe will be key to getting back on track next year.

Force feed the young safeties. We need to see as much of Yeast, Lake and Burgess as possible, imo. Can any of those three be counted on to contribute next year? Is any one of them going to be a real player? Fuller also needs to show he can be healthy. This is a HUGE area of need.. if we want to see the Rams play tighter coverage more often, and we all do, there needs to be a big improvement here.
Same thing for the corners. Durant needs to be healthy and be on the field.. we need to see Rochell.. good or bad.. and see if he can be the player many of us thought he could develop into. Kendrick has shown early promise.. but has a lot of growing to do and needs to show he can.

Dline.. what is Bobby Brown? You have to know to make decisions on Gaines and Robinson. If he's *not* a real player.. your going to have to not only sign one of Gaines or Robinson, which I think you already have to plan on... you're going to have to dumpster dive. Maybe you'll bring Brockers back on a cheap deal.. and hope you hit on a mid-round contributor. My hope is that Brown really steps up in the second half.

Edge.. really.. not much to see here. Unless Lewis or Hollins make dramatic improvements, the Rams desperately need to find another starter at that position. I'd like to see Hardy.. but he's a gimmick rotational guy, imo.. you have to scheme him to take advantage of his speed, because he's just not big enough to be a regular edge.

ILBS.... Wagner's been good, but I don't know that they don't cut him loose and save 4.5 on the cap and move Ernest Jones to the primary role. There will be tough decisions to make and I just think that this is one obvious area it may happen. We'll see. Maybe we see more of Hummel and Rozeboom? Tough one.

QB.. ride or die with Stafford.. but it'd be fun to see them bring in someone with real potential.. A lucky Burger swing in the draft.

WRs.. I hope they can bring in a little more juice.. and I hope Van can be the deep threat he was last year.

RBs.. This is an interesting spot. Does Akers play like a guy who got a wakeup call? Does he fulfill his potential? Is Williams a solid addition to the room, a solid option? If the answer is "yes" to both of those questions.. you just dropped the need to spend a high pick next draft on the position. Fingers crossed. The Akers question is the most pressing... I think you can get 3rd down backs pretty easily, if you're smart.

TEs.. this room is so "meh" right now. Higbee's fine.. but is getting worn out.. and Hopkins isn't getting much action. We need to see a lot more Hopkins to figure out if he's the answer. Would also be great to see if Carter can be brought up to determine if he's a player.

Oline.. unfortunately, the guys who need to be evaluated most for next season are out hurt. Bruss and Anchrum could be the starting guards next year.. but we have no way to know if they'll be good enough. One option I dismissed too early is Noteboom coming back at LT.. and Anchrum at LG. That *could* be interesting.. with Bruss/Anchrum battling for RG. Either way, they need to draft a couple of guys... including a center because of Allen's recurring kneee issues.

Figure out what you got.. then nail the offseason. Lot's of roster questions.. but, the good news is that some real answers may already be on the roster.

An Oline of Noteboom, Anchrum, Allen, Bruse/Anchrum and Havenstein looks very interesting to me.. and you have a 6th guy already there. With Anchrum.. you have your 3rd tackle already there. They'd still need another tackle.. Arcuri? We'll see.. and absolutely another Center. I'd think they'd look at 9 Olinemen next year.

RB? We get to see how big a need there is for 23, fortunately. If the Akers situation ends up being a plus.. that would be a huge win, going into next year.

Between the young DBs, Bobby Brown.. and lack of second edge.. there's a lot to pay attention to on the Defense the rest of the way.

In a best-case scenario... They'd need to bring in a really good edge to play opposite Floyd.. and the rest of the lineup problems would work themselves out with players on the roster and a solid draft.. in order for the Rams to be a real contender next year, imo.

I was originally going to wait until the official announcement for the Compensation Picks was released, but someone posted our estimated picks at :

2) 5'ths
1) 6'th
1) 7'th

to go along with our already set 2023 picks consisting of :

Round 1) N/A
#2) 1
#3) 1
#4) 0
#5) 0
#6) 3
#7) 1

So it now looks like our draft will be :

#1) 0
#2) 1
#3) 1
#4) 0
#5) 2
#6) 4
#7) 2

and then the dastardly Memento jumped in and got this bloody thing started. And I can't let her have all the fun !


So here we go ...

Re-Sign :

DT Greg Gaines
CB Grant Haley
WR/R Brandon Powell
K Matt Gay
P Riley Dixon
LS Matt Orzech


All RFA’s & ERFA’s return :

John Wolford - RFA
Kendall Blanton - RFA
Marquise Copeland - ERFA
Christian Rozeboom - ERFA
Travin Howard - ERFA
Michael Hoecht - ERFA
Bryce Perkins - ERFA
Shaun Jolly - ERFA


Futures Contracts & returning contracted Practice Squad players :


WR Jacob Harris
TE/FB Roger Carter
OLB Kier Thomas
OLB Brayden Thomas
WR Austin Trammell
OT Max Pircher
OT A.J. Arcuri
DE Zach VanValkenburg
DE Earnest Brown IV
TE Jared Pinkney
OL Chandler Brewer
OL Ty Nsekhe
OL Matt Skura
OG Okay Oboushi


Rams Players lost to Free Agency :

DT - A’Shawn Robinson
CB Troy Hill
OT/OG - David Edwards
S - Nick Scott
S - Taylor Rapp
RB - Darrell Henderson
CB - David Long
OLB - Justin Hollins
RB - Malcolm Brown
S/LB - Jake Gervase
OG/OT - Bobby Evans


Free Agent Acquisitions :


DT Da’Ron Payne (4 years)
Edge Arden Key (2 years)
RB D’Ernest Johnson (3 years)
OBj, I'll stick with him until he's officially out of the running.


Rams Major Trades :


Trade 2024 & 2025 1’st Round picks for Edge Brian Burns
Trade Leonard Floyd for a 2023 3’rd
Van Jefferson traded for a 2023 4'th & 6'th


Draft :


1 - N/A
2 - C/OG Ricky Stromberg, Ark.
3a - TE Luke Musgrave, Or. St.
3b - S Rashad Torrence II, Fl.
4 - ILB Jestin Jacobs, Ia.
5a - RB Chris Rodriguez, Ky.
5b - OT Jaxson Kirkland, Wa.
5c - CB Tony Grimes, N.C.
6a - OG Christian Mahogany, B.C.
6b - WR Tyler Harrell, Ala.
6c - QB Phil Jurkovec, B.C.
6d - OLB Brenton Cox Jr., Fl.

6e - traded with 6f to move up to 5c
6f - traded with 6e to move up to 5c
7a - Traded with 7c to move up to 6d
7b - Traded with 7c to move up to 6d


Rams 2023 depth chart for the 53 :


Offense (25) :

QB (2)

Matt Stafford
John Wolford

Offensive Line (9) :

LT) Noteboom, Jackson
LG) Stromberg*, Shelton
C) Allen, Stromberg
RG) Bruss, Anchrum
RT) Havenstein, Kirkland*

RB's (4) :

Kyren Williams
D'Ernest Johnson**
Chris Rodriguez*
Ronnie Rivers

WR's (6) :

Cooper Kupp
Allen Robinson
OBj
Ben Skowronek
Tutu Atwell
Brandon Powell

TE's (4) :

Tyler Higbee
Brycen Hopkins
Luke Musgrave*
Roger Carter


Defense (25) :

Defensive Line (5) :

Aaron Donald
Greg Gaines
Da'Ron Payne**
Bobby Brown
Marquise Copeland

OLB (5) :

Brian Burns*
Arden Key**
Terrell Lewis
Daniel Hardy
Brenton Cox*

ILB (4) :

Bobby Wagner
Ernest Jones
Jake Hummel
Jestin Jacobs, Ia*


CB (6) :

Jalen Ramsey
Robert Rochelle
Cobie Durant
Derion Kendrick
Tony Grimes, N.C.*
Grant Haley

Safety (5) :

Jordan Fuller
Rashad Torrence, Fl.*
Terrell Burgess
Quintin Lake
Russ Yeast

Special Teams (3)

Matt Gay
Riley Dixon
Mathew Orzech


See you at the 2023 Super Bowl

6'4", 318lbs. Ricky Stromberg
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NFL Draft Profile: Luke Musgrave, Tight End, Oregon State Beavers

NFL Draft profile scouting report for Oregon State TE Luke Musgrave

www.si.com

Rashad Torrence II Safety Florida | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Rating: 78.5 Rank: #39 Forty: 4.72 Rashad Torrence II attended Marietta High School and was rated a 4-star prospect by 247 Sports with a scout's rating of 0.900, going unranked by ESPN. Fol...

www.nfldraftbuzz.com

I know this team has had a few injuries , but the offense has been just terrible

is Liam Coen the right fit , I have no idea what this offense is tryin to accomplish , the number of 3 and out is staggering

this offense really needs a running back , just has never been the same with out Todd Gurley

If the Rams finish sub .500 do you see mcVay and snead cleaning house at the end of the season?
I'm speaking on both player and coaching personnel.

I'm thinking there will be a massive changes next season. I just get that feeling

Do you see 7 teams better than the Rams in the NFC?

I don’t.

And… do you think teams will WANT to draw the Rams in their playoff bracket?

I don’t.

Even SF… they might have our number right now, but I don’t think they want to play the Rams again unless they must.

We have had our share of adversity. Crazy injuries… discussed here ad nauseam.

But… There are no style points getting to the playoffs.

Just get there.

We have 10 games left. That’s a lot and there are plenty of winnable games in our schedule.

We have THE BEST coach and organization. I will enjoy watching them work hard to figure this out.

Get to the playoffs as the best team we can be this year… and let’s see what happens.

It will be LOTS of fun.

NFL Sundays are THE BEST… 2022 is no different.

Go Rams!

Here is the roadmap:



Here are chumps we need to plow over:

Philadelphia vs. Houston: Undefeated Eagles Invade the Lone Star State for TNF​

Amazon must be scratching its head over another underwhelming "Thursday Night Football" matchup as the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles take on the Houston Texans. In five previous meetings, the Texans have never beaten the Eagles, and only the Detroit Lions (1-6) have a worse record in the NFL this season.

Can the Texans (1-5-1) find a way to turn things around? They rank among the NFL's worst three teams in both total offense and total defense. They're the only team left in the league without a win at home. And during what's supposed to be a rebuild, their roster ranks among the five oldest teams in the NFL (26.5 years old to start the season).

The Eagles (7-0) sure won't make things any easier. They're off to their best start since 2004 when they wound up making the Super Bowl before losing to the New England Patriots. The NFL's lone undefeated team boasts a plus-78 point differential and ranks among the top three NFL teams in both total offense and total defense.

Boy, what a mismatch on paper. But give the Texans credit: three of their five losses this season have been by seven points or less. Can quarterback Davis Mills, running back Dameon Pierce, and Co. keep this one close and give themselves a chance on a national stage? Or will quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Eagles stay on cruise control?

Thursday Night Football: Philadelphia (7-0) at Houston (1-5-1)

Kickoff: Thursday, Nov. 4 at 8:15 p.m. ET
Broadcast Outlet: Prime Video
Live Stream: fuboTV (only available in Houston and Philadelphia markets)
Spread: Eagles -14
Tickets: As low as $50 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. Can the Eagles' offense keep rolling?

Hurts is playing inspired football. One key area of growth this year has been learning how to minimize mistakes: among starting quarterbacks, only Tom Brady has fewer interceptions than Hurts' two this season.

A variety of weapons on offense has given Hurts options, and he's made the most of them. Offseason wide receiver acquisition A.J. Brown had his best game with the team last Sunday, posting 156 yards and a career-best three touchdowns. All of them were impressive throws as Hurts continues to convert big plays: in that game, he became the first Eagles QB since Sonny Jurgensen in 1961 to throw four touchdown passes of 25 yards or more.

“I don't know what his ceiling is going to be,” said head coach Nick Sirianni of Hurts this week.

The deep passing attack has been balanced by a rushing game that ranks sixth in the NFL. A healthy Miles Sanders has played in all seven games and made a major impact, already one short of his career high with five rushing touchdowns. His 563 rushing yards are tied for seventh in the NFL and complemented well by Hurts' 303, fourth among quarterbacks behind Lamar Jackson, Daniel Jones, and Josh Allen.

Add in the overall health of the offense — not a single player was limited in practice this week due to injury — and you've got a team clicking on all cylinders. With the Eagles scoring 28 points per game, third in the league, it's hard to see the Texans' 30th-ranked offense slowing them down.

2. Can the Eagles keep forcing turnovers?

We've already talked about how the Eagles take care of the football: two interceptions and not a single fumble lost. That's even more impressive when you consider they run the ball on average 35 times a game. Only Chicago has run it more this season.

That ball-control philosophy is paired perfectly with a defensive unit coordinator Jonathan Gannon focuses on big plays. The Eagles lead the league with 16 takeaways, including 10 interceptions, to produce an incredible turnover margin of plus-14.

No other team in the NFL is better than plus-six.

That's bad news for Mills, the young Texans quarterback still learning the ropes with six interceptions and 16 sacks. On the other side, preseason acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson and perennial Pro Bowler Darius Slay will be licking their chops; they have seven interceptions already between them. It's hard to see Mills fooling a group that allows just 183.4 yards per game in the air and less than 4.8 yards per play.

So could Pierce be a potential difference-maker against this defense? Possibly. He's arguably the Texans' best offensive player and has been a pleasant surprise on your fantasy roster. The rookie has 539 yards in seven games, nearly as much as Sanders, without a single fumble lost. But the fourth-round pick may be in for a rude awakening with an Eagles' defensive front that's forced six of those fumbles.

3. Which team can play a complete game?

For a team that's won just once in seven tries, Houston sure has held a whole lot of leads entering the fourth quarter. In fact, the Texans have been tied or ahead in five of their seven games this season, only to go 1-3-1 in those contests.

The Texans have been outscored 61-24 in the final frame, allowing for some spectacular comebacks (like Indianapolis, who scored 17 unanswered points to earn a tie in Week 1). They've committed four of their seven turnovers, including a pick-six, while turning the ball over on downs three times. It makes them impossible to trust even when playing quality football through long stretches.

Here's the surprise: The Eagles have also been outmuscled in the final quarter. Their point differential is minus-18 and they've only outscored two of their seven opponents, one of which was the Steelers in a dominant 35-13 victory last Sunday.

That would be the only knock on the Eagles, if anything, within an impressive first seven weeks: letting their foot off the gas has kept a couple of bad teams sticking around, like the Lions in a 38-35 victory in Week 1. But the only way that may matter on Thursday night is in terms of the spread (a relatively high 14 points considering the Eagles are on the road).

Final Analysis

The Texans have played scrappy so far under head coach Lovie Smith, energized despite a wide gap in talent compared to the rest of the league.

That will occasionally allow them to eke out a win versus a team in the middle of the pack. Against the Eagles? They'll learn an A for effort doesn't actually translate into points. The Philly offense just has too much steam and the defense is playing too cohesively to give the Texans a chance.

Add in the Phillies in the World Series, improbably, and something strange is going on in the City of Brotherly Love. You don't want to bet against Philadelphia right now.

Prediction: Eagles 31, Texans 10

Welp, I've decided to make an offseason, now that there's no trade in the deadlines. Here's hoping this is good:

Coaching Changes:

Raheem Morris hired by the Carolina Panthers as their head coach.

(It just makes all the sense in the world. The Panthers obviously want to keep Burns, Brown, and Horn as options, but the rest of the defense has been pathetic and has not lived up to enormous expectations. And they probably want a veteran coach with head coaching experience who can guide a young team that will get even younger as the offseason progresses. Morris just fills every box.)

Eric Henderson promoted to defensive coordinator.

(Also makes sense. Henderson has done a fantastic job on the defensive line and has coaxed a ton out of Gaines, A-Rob, and many others over a long period of time. He more than deserves a promotion.)

Player Position Change:

Ben Skowronek - WR/TE

(Skow has always fit more at H-back than anything else. He's being used in the running game as a blocker. Tell him to bulk up, become a tight end, make it official.)

Practice Squad Players Brought Back:

Jacob Harris
Earnest Brown IV
Roger Carter
Ronnie Rivers
Kier Thomas
Brayden Thomas
Max Pircher
A.J. Arcuri
Chandler Brewer

(Harris has to be brought back. I do not want to give up on him, and I bet that he could still get an opportunity here. Brown IV is for the same reason; I want to see what he can do. Carter is a true H-back. The Thomases are key outside linebackers, Rivers has run well, and Pircher, Arcuri, and Brewer are solid offensive linemen. There's others out there, but honestly, if we bring back Harris, Pircher, and Kier Thomas, that'll make me a very happy gal.)

Re-sign:

Greg Gaines - five years, 35 million total.
Matt Gay - four years, 14 million total.
Riley Dixon - one year, 2.5 million.
Matt Orzech - one year, 2 million.
Marquise Copeland - ERFA
John Wolford - RFA
Christian Rozeboom - ERFA
Travin Howard - ERFA
Kendall Blanton - RFA
Michael Hoecht - ERFA
Bryce Perkins - ERFA
Shaun Jolly - ERFA

(Greg Gaines absolutely has to be re-signed. He's a twenty-five-year-old stud who needs to be on this defensive line long after AD has retired. Gay has been as close to automatic as it gets, and I'd rather keep the special teams battery in Dixon and Orzech - albeit with competition. The rest of them are restricted free agent or exclusive rights free agents who deserve another shot to see how they do (although two will be dealt as a warning.)

Release:

A'Shawn Robinson
David Edwards
Nick Scott
Taylor Rapp
Troy Hill
Darrell Henderson
David Long
Grant Haley
Justin Hollins
Brandon Powell
Ty Nsekhe
Matt Skura
Malcolm Brown
Jake Gervase
Bobby "He Absolutely Needs to Fucking Go, I'm Fucking Done With Him" Evans

(Robinson will get an enormous contract that we will have no way of matching, so he's gone. We don't pay safeties big money (as proven by JJ3), so Scott and Rapp are gone. Edwards could be re-signed, but I wouldn't go further than two years for him, and I have to imagine that he'll get a longer term somewhere than that. Hill is over the hill, while Long has been phased out by Ramsey, Kendrick, Durant and - hopefully, maybe - Rochell. Henderson is probably going to go for a big contract. Haley hit IR, and we have a guy in Jolly who is very much similar to him. Powell is going to command more money as a returner/gadget player than we will pay. Nsekhe and Skura are stopgap offensive linemen, while Brown is a stopgap running back; none of those three are worth bringing back. Hollins has been awful this year, but he'll still probably get paid more than we will offer (i.e., Okoronkwo money). Bobby Evans can - to quote the illustrious Ari Gold - get - the fuck - OUT. I've seen enough.)

Free Agency:

Michael Jordan (OG) - three years, twelve million total (six million first year).

Devin Singletary (RB) - two years, ten million.

(Jordan is a very young offensive guard (twenty-five next January) who started nineteen games in Cincinnati before being cut in 2021 and picked up by Carolina. He's 6'6", 315 lbs. and probably will be one of the bigger bargains of the 2023 free agency period; he reminds me a lot of David Edwards, except healthy. This will be a loaded running back free agent period with Saquon Barkley, Tony Pollard, Kareem Hunt, Josh Jacobs, Miles Sanders, Devin Singletary, and David Montgomery, amongst others. Singletary is someone I loved in the draft process as a small, yet stocky back who can catch out of the backfield. I think he could be a solid addition to our running back group, have Kyren Williams and two draft picks (yes, Akers WILL be dealt in this mock, and I don't have much faith in Rivers) learn from him.)

Trades (yes, there will be a lot of them):

Bobby Wagner to the Dallas Cowboys for 2023 second round pick and 2023 fourth round pick.

(First off, a controversial trade. Yes, I know we just signed him, but Wagner's clearly lost a step or two. He's not the player Fisher and Snead wanted in 2012, and the Seahags were right to get rid of him. But he's still more talented than the oft-injured Leighton Vander Esch, and the Cowboys need linebacker help. In addition, Wagner would likely waive whatever trade clause he may have to be on a contender - which we really aren't.)

Cam Akers, 2024 fifth, and 2025 conditional sixth to the New York Giants for 2023 fourth round pick.

(The Giants might decide to bite on Akers if they lose Saquon Barkley, but even if they don't, they lack depth behind him in case of injury, and may want to have a change-of-scenery option for Akers. I say? Good riddance.)

Van Jefferson to the Houston Texans for 2023 third round pick.

(Yeah, Cooks is gonna get traded (not to us), so the Texans have Nico Collins and nothing else of note at receiver. Van still has the rest of the year to prove himself, but I don't have much faith that he'll ever be the player we expected him to be.)

Chatarius Atwell to the Baltimore Ravens for 2023 fifth round pick.

(Yeah, I'm done with Atwell. Time to cut bait. I think Baltimore would bite, given their lack of a deep threat (they have Tylan Wallace in that role right now, but they need more to compete with the loaded AFC.)

Tyler Higbee to the Indianapolis Colts for 2023 second round pick.

(Jim Irsay runs this team, and the Colts lack weapons necessary for their quarterback, whomever he may be. I see Higbee being traded for a high pick.)

Leonard Floyd to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for 2023 third round pick and 2024 sixth round pick.)

(Tampa Bay is in full win-now mode, and with Shaquil Barrett injured with an Achilles (a notoriously hard injury to come back from), Floyd will be attractive to Tampa Bay as an option.)

Coleman Shelton to the las Vegas Raiders for 2023 fifth round pick.

(Shelton is probably going to be replaced by Bruss and draft picks, so he'll be dealt to Las Vegas, who has issues with their offensive line (an undrafted rookie, Andre James, while he's been good, is a free agent after this year, and he'll be a popular target by many teams.)

Terrell Burgess to the Buffalo Bills for 2024 conditional seventh round pick.

(Burgess hasn't proven much, but Buffalo has two aging safeties, and one is currently injured. I think Burgess for a seventh - which could be more if Burgess has a good year - would be an interesting trade.)

Terrell Lewis to the Atlanta Falcons for 2024 conditional seventh round pick.

(Lewis hasn't proven much more than Burgess, but the Falcons are in desperate need of outside linebacker help, and a seventh - that could turn into more if Lewis has a good year - wouldn't be much to part with.)

Travin Howard to the Washington Comm - anders for 2024 conditional seventh round pick.

(With Ernest Jones and a rookie inside linebacker starting, and Rozeboom and Jake Hummel as backups, Howard simply doesn't have a spot on this team. Yes, you sign him as an ERFA, but also make sure he has a team to go to in order to start. Washington seems as good a place as any; while they have a solid young middle linebacker in Cole Holcomb, Howard could easily start outside as a weakside linebacker - something that Washington lacks. In return, we get a potentially good late round pick that could become a fifth if Howard re-signs.)

Brycen Hopkins and 2024 seventh round pick to the Detroit Lions for 2023 sixth round pick.

(With Skowronek and a couple new tight ends, Hopkins and his coked up, baby-sea-otter-soft ass can get the hell off my team. Getting a sixth round pick is a bonus. Holmes may want to see if he can squeeze anything out of Hopkins, seeing as he scouted him, but honestly, I'm not expecting much.)

Bryce Perkins to the New Orleans Saints for 2024 conditional seventh round pick.

(Yeah, I think it's time we traded Perkins. I do have an idea of what I'm going to do. The Saints only have Jameis Winston and Andy Dalton (no, I don't count Taysom Hill), and no first round pick. Perkins, I feel, could easily earn a spot there.)

Rams 3rd round pick (ours, Morris comp) to the Kansas City Chiefs for 2023 fourth round pick (theirs) and 2023 fourth round pick (Dolphins).

(The Chiefs move up to snag a falling defensive end, while we get a couple of fourths.)

2023 sixth round pick (Packers), 2023 sixth round pick (ours), 2023 sixth round pick (Titans), and 2023 seventh round pick (ours) to the Miami Dolphins for 2023 fifth round pick.

(The Dolphins lack a lot of picks thanks to their Brady scandal. We'll give them a lot more picks in exchange for a fifth.)

Draft:

2nd (ours) - Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State. (6'4", 255 lbs.)

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(Anudike-Uzomah has the tools you dream about in an edge rusher. He's fast, bendy, strong, all of which are excellent qualities. Winner of the Co-DPOTY in the Big 12, he wins so many battles against offensive linemen with his pure athletic traits. But he needs work on the technical side of things; he often struggles if his initial attempts are beaten, as he lacks a proper counter move. I feel this is something he'll learn in time and in practice. What concerns me with Anudike-Uzomah is gap integrity; he'll often forget it, and that's something that'll have to be coached out. But I love this kid's potential; he could be a lot like what Robert Quinn was for us.)

2nd (Colts) - Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma. (5'11", 184 lbs.)

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(Mims will likely fall to the second round; there's too many elite receivers ahead of him that boast better measurables. But Mims just wins on the deep and intermediate routes constantly. He's what Van Jefferson and Chatarius Atwell could've been, and while his routes need improvement overall, he has the ability to not only learn them, but be amazing at it. He's got solid hands; you're not going to see him drop passes, and he's a very tough blocker who will fit on this team. He is quite small-framed, and there are concerns if he'll constantly win battles against press-man. He might fit better in the slot as well, but he has the potential to fit out wide. All in all, Mims is the solution for our problems. He's tough enough to do run blocking, he rarely drops passes, he has all the potential in the world to be a fantastic route runner, and he constantly wins in the intermediate and deep routes run.

2nd (Cowboys) - Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse. (5'10", 205 lbs.)

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(Tucker has quickly become my favorite running back (especially since Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs look like they're going in the first round.). He's shifty, has extremely good vision, and when he takes off and runs, nobody's catching him. You guys will probably like his ball security; he's rarely ever fumbled at Syracuse, despite his heavy workload. Tucker has incredible contact balance, goes straight to the hole without hesitation and his legs constantly keep churning. He needs improvement in the passing game, but I have no doubt that he'll be able to learn; he has all the traits necessary. I wouldn't put him anywhere near pass-protection; he's simply not big or physical enough for that. But I seriously love this kid, and I consider him the third best running back in this class.)

3rd (Texans) - Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida. (6'4", 234 lbs.)

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(Call me crazy for drafting a quarterback when I've already signed Wolford for another year (even though I did deal Perkins). Call me crazy for drafting a quarterback so high. Call me crazy all you want, but this kid, if taught correctly, could become for us what Patrick Mahomes is for the Chiefs. Richardson is super-raw, sushi-raw, but his athletic traits (he's been known to outrun DBs for touchdowns) and his arm (has been tracked at 75 yards through the air), in addition to being able to fit balls through tight windows make him a moldable ball of clay. He'll need to learn touch on his passes, he'll need to learn to arc the deep ball instead of on a frozen rope, but seriously, I've fallen in love with this kid after his tape, and I think he could be the successor to Stafford after a few years. Yeah, call me crazy. Stafford, in my opinion, isn't going to last with all of the hits he's taking from our offensive O-line. Wolford is an injury magnet. While if Stafford goes down, we're probably screwed, Richardson could probably win you a few games as it is.)

3rd (Buccaneers) - Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, OC/OG, Georgia. (6'4", 310 lbs.)

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(Van Pran-Granger is only a redshirt-sophomore, but he's quickly rising after his performance as a redshirt freshman in Georgia's season. He was dominant as a center with his athleticism, but his IQ is what sold me on him. He was so intelligent as a freshman, able to make the line calls for Georgia. His motor is constant; he's constantly looking for help, constantly battling to the whistle. But he's struggled with defenders with longer arms, though; he's got short arms, and will likely be stuck at center. He needs a redshirt year to bulk up and get stronger, but he could be our Creed Humphrey, and SVPG is one of my favorite offensive lineman in this draft class.)

3rd (ours) - JL Skinner, SAF, Boise State. (6'4", 220 lbs.)

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(The closest prospect to Kam Chancellor since Kam Chancellor, Skinner is one of the heaviest hitters as a big safety that I've ever seen. He knows when to time his tackle as well, jarring the ball loose from the receiver. He's remarkably intelligent as well; he could be a leader in the defensive backfield. However, he's not the right player for a big nickel; quicker slot receivers would eat him alive. He's not really a press-man safety either; I'd rather see him in zone in a two-high coverage, but ultimately? I just don't want the Hags to get him.)

4th (Chiefs) -Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh. (6'0", 280 lbs.)

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(Another Pitt DT who is undersized, yet explosive. Sound familiar? Kancey is basically a poor man's AD, at the moment, as he isn't as strong or explosive as the man himself, but manages to get insane penetration on the defensive line, whether it's against the run or pass. The other thing that separates him is that he's very, very raw. He doesn't have many pass-rushing moves or counters, which is something that he could learn in the NFL. Ultimately, he could go a lot higher than this.)

4th (Chiefs from Dolphins) - Javon Foster, OT/OG, Missouri. (6'5", 320 lbs.)

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(Foster is a solid left tackle prospect who could probably also play guard at the next level. He's powerful, has heavy hands, and outstanding length - all of which could help him in at tackle and guard alike. However, his foot quickness isn't even adequate; it could be a real issue if defensive lineman go inside with a move. He's also not great with speed on the edge, and his technique, while adequate, needs a lot more work. Ultimately, though, he could be a fantastic lineman for us, and I'm not saying that because he's from Mizzou (although I love that he is); I think Foster could be solid for us.)

4th (Giants) - Siaki Ika, NT, Baylor. (6'4", 358 lbs.)

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(Siaki Ika is a big man. He's a lot like Danny Shelton in that he's a bigger nose tackle who fits more as a penetrator than a traditional nose tackle. He's surprisingly quick out of his stance, and if he's up against someone who can't anchor against him, he's going to feast. He really struggles to hold double teams against the run, nor does he really split them in the passing game, which is weird for a man his size to struggle with it so much. I don't know if he's a good enough pass-rusher or if he's conditioned enough for the NFL, though. He's never really been put in third down situations at Baylor, which is why I think he'll fall to the fourth round; two down nose tackles are a dime a dozen. Still, I think it's worth a shot with Ika; maybe you'll get a young Vince Wilfork.)

4th (Cowboys) - Habakkuk Baldonado, EDGE, Pittsburgh. (6'5", 260 lbs.)

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(Baldonado is an interesting prospect who only played one season of high school football, as he was born in Rome, Italy. He's very raw as a result; while he has active hands and wins more often than not against the run, he's a total work in progress in terms of how his upper and lower halves measure up, and he needs to become a lot more fluid and understand exactly what sort of plan he's coming up with against offensive linemen. Overall, I think this second Pitt rusher will need time, probably a redshirt year or two, but he could be a very good run-defender who can get a lot of sacks and pressures.)

5th (Raiders via Falcons) - Justin Flowe, ILB, Oregon. (6'3", 220 lbs.)

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(Flowe was once the best high-school linebacker, the number six prospect in the nation and a consensus five star recruit. After a meniscus tear in his freshman year, and a foot injury after the Fresno State game in his sophomore year - a game where he had fourteen tackles - one for a loss - and a forced fumble to seal the victory - Flowe fell off the radar for a bit. But his talent, instincts, and intangibles make him well worth an early fifth round pick. Flowe is big, fast, smart, everything you want in an inside linebacker.)

5th (Dolphins) - Miyan Williams, RB, Ohio State. (5'9", 225 lbs.)

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(Williams is a bowling ball with serious speed. Tacklers seem to bounce off of him. There were other, more highly-regarded running backs at Ohio State (Williams was a three star recruit), but Williams won the starting job over all of them, capping it off with a five-touchdown day against Rutgers. He's struggled a bit on third down; I don't think he'll ever be a great pass-catcher, but a pass-protector with occasional screens seems doable. I'd love to see him on the Rams in a C.J. Anderson like role.)

5th (Ravens) - Cooper Beebe, OG, Kansas State. (6'4", 322 lbs.)

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(Beebe starts as K-State's left tackle, but he'll be a guard at the next level, and a damned good one, at that. He's got a hell of a mean streak, very temperamental in the run game. He'll struggle at the second level, but he's honestly a lot quicker than his size would indicate, so I think that it's fixable. Overall, he seems like the type of player who would definitely fit this team.)

5th (Darious Williams comp) - Tucker Kraft, TE, South Dakota State. (6'5", 255 lbs.)

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(Kraft operates under a run-first offense, and he's a fantastic blocker for a tight end prospect; he's willing, he's able, and he's just solid in terms of fundamentals. But I feel - much like @jrry32 felt with George Kittle - that Kraft could offer a hell of a lot more. He needs to clean up his routes, needs to make more of the difficult catches, but he has the wide frame, the sneaky-good athleticism, and the instincts to really be a solid pass catcher. And even if he doesn't turn into that, he's still arguably a number one tight end in our system with his ability to block.)

5th (Austin Corbett comp) - Tyler Harrell, WR, Alabama. (6'0", 190 lbs.)

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(Harrell is a fucking speed demon. There's rumors that he's run a 4.19 forty and a 1.41 ten yard split - the former of which would easily break the Combine record. He's got the ability to be a hell of a route runner himself; he's really only been used on nine routes and the like, but he's got the talent. He could easily be our Tyreek Hill with his sheer athleticism, and the ability to actually high-point balls that are normally 50-50. The problem with Harrell is that he's barely played. He didn't have many snaps at Louisville, despite his talent, and after he transferred to the Crimson Tide, a foot injury knocked him out for most of the season, although I think he's healthy now. Ultimately, I think he goes a little higher if he can remain healthy and active, but I think we could get a steal in Harrell.)

6th (Lions) - Ronnie Hickman, SAF, Ohio State. (6'1", 207 lbs.)

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(Hickman is another Ohio State safety in a school that seems to churn them out. He's a lot like a mix between Taylor Rapp and Jordan Fuller - strengths and weaknesses alike. Like Rapp, Hickman is a sure tackler, a solid box defender who can sift through traffic and make the tackle at his best. Like Fuller, he's solid in coverage and has underrated athleticism. However, Hickman hasn't had much experience as a single-high safety; I'd love to see how OSU deploys him in that regard. He's also had two notable injuries - one in high school, one in college. But I think that he'd be a solid player, even on special teams.)

6th (Sebastian Joseph-Day comp) - Zakhari Franklin, WR, UTSA. (6'1", 185 lbs.)

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(Franklin is so silky-smooth running routes. He really reminds me of Robert Woods in terms of route running and sheer reliability. Unfortunately, he doesn't often get a chance to shine; the Roadrunners have two other outstanding junior wideouts who are likely better than he is: Joshua Cephus and De"Corian Clark. He's not really much of a high-point receiver either on go-routes or fades; while he's very fast and quick, Franklin isn't really a burner or tall like the other two. But as a sheer route runner, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone better in this draft.)

7th (Ogbonnia Okoronkwo comp) - Zack Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion. (6'8", 245 lbs.)

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(Yeah, the measurements are right: Kuntz is 6'8" with the frame to pack on at least fifteen pounds of muscle. He's a former Penn State transfer, a four-star prospect who dominated high school. He's got fantastic speed, a huge catch radius, the things you dream about for your tight end. But he's raw. Like, Fendi Onobun raw. He's a poor run blocker at best; he'd be best suited for the flex tight end position. Ultimately, he's a developmental tight end, but Kuntz could be something special in time.)

Roster (starters in bold, rookies in italics, free agents in underline).

QB - Matthew Stafford, Anthony Richardson.

(Wolford gets replaced (hopefully not cut, but dealt). I think we go for two quarterbacks this time around with a third on the practice squad if necessary.)

RB - Devin Singletary, Kyren Williams, Sean Tucker, Miyan Williams.

(Sorry, I don't really have much faith in Rivers, so he'll get squeezed out in the end. I could see him go on the practice squad, but I see him going for another opportunity. Singletary is your starter in name, although I could see all four backs get carries.)

WR - Cooper Kupp, Allen Robinson, Jacob Harris, Lance McCutcheon, Marvin Mims (PR), Tyler Harrell (KR), Zakhari Franklin.

(Yes, I think this is the year Harris breaks out, although McCutcheon could easily win the job. Mims is a good punt returner, but I could see Franklin compete for that role. Harrell is the unanimous kick returner; he's had a few in college, and he could easily go the distance.)

TE - Ben Skowronek, Tucker Kraft, Zack Kuntz.

(Three tight ends. I think Blanton - as much as it kills me as a Mizzou fan - is not going to make it over the rookies. I could see us keep Roger Carter on the practice squad for fullback/H-back purposes, but ultimately, I want to see what Skowronek and the rookies can do.)

OL - Alaric Jackson, Michael Jordan, Brian Allen, Logan Bruss, Rob Havenstein, Max Pircher, Sedrick Van Pran-Granger, Javon Foster, Cooper Beebe, Joseph Noteboom (PUP).

(Noteboom is on the PUP list, but if Jordan doesn't pan out, I could see him kick A-Jax back inside at left guard and take Pircher's place on the roster. Bruss will start at right guard no matter what; it'll help with Havenstein teaching his fellow Badger. Shelton belongs where he's at: backing up the center and guard positions while Pircher is the swing tackle. The rookies all make the team. Arcuri takes another stint on the practice squad.

DL - Aaron Donald, Greg Gaines, Bobby Brown III, Earnest Brown IV, Calijah Kancey, Siaki Ika,.

(AD is AD, and Gaines has more than earned a starting job and a shiny new contract. I think BB3 takes the 5-tech spot and backup nose tackle spot; he's got the most potential out of any of our young D-linemen. I still have faith in EB4, as a backup to 5 tech. Kancey can mostly give Donald a breather while learning from the best in the business, while Ika has a redshirt year to condition himself for the NFL.)

LB - Daniel Hardy, Kier Thomas, Brayden Thomas, Felix Anudike-Uzomah. Habakkuk Baldonado, Ernest Jones, Justin Flowe, Christian Rozeboom, Jake Hummel.

(Surprised that Hardy is starting? I wouldn't be; I want to see more of him this season, and I think he'll impress. Kier Thomas will get the other edge rusher spot; I think he'd do better than, say, Hollins or Lewis as a pass-rusher. Brayden Thomas is an underrated edge rusher whom I think will be in our plans. Then you have Anudike-Uzomah and Baldonado learning from them. Jones is obviously your starting inside linebacker, and Flowe, I believe, will win the job. Rozeboom and Hummel are your special teams aces.)

DB - Jalen Ramsey, Robert Rochell, Cobie Durant, Derion Kendrick, Shaun Jolly, Jordan Fuller, JL Skinner, Quentin Lake, Russ Yeast, Ronnie Hickman.

(Ramsey is Ramsey. I think Rochell, in a new system that caters to his strengths, will earn a starting job, while Durant and Kendrick are your nickel/big nickel backs. Jolly is small, but has a lot of potential as well; there's a reason he's on the team. Skinner earns a spot next to Fuller, while Lake, Yeast, and Hickman are for special teams and occasional breathers.)

ST - Matt Gay, Riley Dixon, Matthew Orzech.

(Gay is the most reliable kicker we've had since Wilkins; I will be very upset if we let him go. I'm not sure about Dixon or Orzech. I'd bring in competition for both of them. Still, I can't think of any young punter and/or long snapper prospect who would be available, so I'm leaving them on for now.)

Well, this is my crazy mock (which should be more towards seeing the prospects I like and what someone clueless like me would do rather than what the Rams will do), so please, leave a comment, get your different opinions and ouches ready to click, and just witness insanity.