A lot of people thought this guy should have been the DC this year on this board.

Maybe, just maybe, Rams scouts are deficient in evaluating certain positions?

Such as:

OL (Creed Humphrey)
RB
TE
Edge

Snead’s scouts have excelled at other positions, especially considering how low Rams are forced to draft, but boy have they missed opportunities at those listed positions over the years.

I understand that scouts work by geographic regions by necessity, but perhaps Rams need better final decision makers at the top for these positions when it becomes table pounding time?

Perhaps someone to replace the likes of Brad Holmes and Ray Agnew? I hope Snead gives this serious consideration.

And while I’m at it, McVay might better dial back his urge to go overboard on skill positions at the top of drafts/FA and give more emphasis to fundamental necessities such as OL. The Atwell/Humphrey fubar is a classic example. One that will take me 10 years to get over, frankly.

Some judicious tweaking in scouting and draft priorities might yield some significant benefits.

Thoughts?

Just Asking (Wishful Thinking!!!)!

I can see the team going 2-1 these next 3 games. That would leave the Rams at 5-5 with 7 games to go. Chiefs look daunting but you never know. Our Defense may match up well with their Offensive style. Also Spags likes to blitz and Stafford is usually really good against zero looks.
Rams could be 6-5 at the end of November.

It's one thing to be bad, see rams team usually. It's another to have hope and then see the writing on the wall and watching as a team exploits your team and makes them a laughing stock again, see 49ers using McCaffrey to really put the wood to us by scoring 3 touchdowns 3 ways. So hard to deal with. However we have been bad before and this time we are hoping we won't be as bad for as long as we usually are. See Jeff Fischer... and all the other ram coaches that sucked. A bailout is needed but I'm afraid this might be an off year? Lol. Go rams

Maybe I should put this in the vent thread, but what were Stafford and Kupp still doing in the game, let alone passing the ball when the Rams had given up trying to win.

Makes no sense.
McVay is known for keeping players out of the preseason to avoid injuries. What gives?

As frustrating as the loss to the 9ers was (and always is), the Rams still have a good shot at the playoffs. There were even some promising signs for 2+ quarters.
If Kupp is lost, no playoffs. What was McVay thinking???

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns: AFC North Rivals Get Together for MNF on Halloween Night​

NFL fans are hoping for a scary ending to Week 8, but in a good way, when the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals meet on "Monday Night Football." It's the first of two meetings between these AFC North rivals, with the return coming in Week 14 in Cincinnati. Last year, Cleveland swept the series, winning 41-16 on the road and 21-16 at home. Overall, the Browns have defeated the Bengals four straight times and in seven of the last eight encounters.

Last week, Cincinnati (4-3) racked up 537 yards of total offense in a 35-17 home win over Atlanta. The Bengals raced out to a 28-7 lead with less than a minute to go in the second quarter before the Falcons scored 10 quick points. But they would get no closer as Joe Burrow finished the game with 481 passing yards and three touchdowns and also ran one in, Ja'Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd both went over 100 receiving yards and the defense did its part by holding Atlanta to just 3.7 yards per carry and giving up a total of eight pass completions.

Meanwhile, things have not gone well for Cleveland (2-5), who has lost four straight. Last week, it was a 23-20 setback to current division leader Baltimore on the road in a game in which the Browns outgained the Ravens by 82 yards. The problem was a pair of lost fumbles, giving up five sacks, and allowing Baltimore to win the time of possession battle (34:04 to 25:56).

Monday Night Football: Cincinnati (4-3) at Cleveland (2-5)

Kickoff: Monday, Oct. 31 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Bengals -3
Tickets: As low as $30 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. Injury impact

Cincinnati got some frightful news earlier this week when it was revealed that star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase will miss 4-6 weeks because of a hip injury. Chase has been the second-most targeted player this season (74), he's tied for second with six touchdown catches, is tied for fifth in receptions (47), and is sixth in yards (605). He's Joe Burrow's favorite target and a big-play weapon rolled into one, and his absence won't be easy to overcome. Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins are certainly capable pass catchers in their own right, each is averaging more yards per reception (15.7 and 14.7, respectively) compared to Chase (12.9), but they'll have to continue to produce without having their teammate around to draw defensive attention. Look for tight Hayden Hurst (39 rec., 226 yds., TDs) to potentially see more targets as well, although he's been limited in practice this week by groin/ankle injuries.

Cleveland's injury report is much longer and as big a loss as Chase is to the Bengals, the Browns are in rougher shape health-wise. Four players have been ruled out for Monday — cornerback Denzel Ward (concussion), tight end David Njoku (ankle), and offensive linemen Wyatt Teller (calf) and Joe Haeg (concussion). Additionally, cornerbacks Greedy Williams (illness) and Greg Newsome II (oblique), as well as linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (knee) are listed as questionable. The good news is that defensive ends Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney don't carry an injury designation, although the former didn't practice at all this week and the latter was a limited participant. Garrett's presence could be huge as he's remained productive (tied for fifth in NFL with six sacks) despite dealing with the lingering effects of the injuries he sustained in a car accident a month ago.

2. Mixon things up on offense

Burrow has been hot lately, with 781 passing yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions in his last two games alone. He's also scored twice on the ground during that span for good measure. But the passing attack is going to look different over the next month or s with Chase sidelined. So that's where Joe Mixon comes in. The Bengals' versatile back finished third in the NFL last season with 1,205 rushing yards but he's off to a slow start thus far. He enters this game averaging less than 60 yards per contest and just 3.3 yards per carry. He has only one run of more than 20 yards (it came in Week 1) and hasn't been much of a factor as a receiver either (27 rec., 6.7 ypr., TD). Cleveland is 24th against the run, giving up 135.6 yards per game, so this would be the perfect timing for a Mixon breakout performance, especially with the Bengals' top playmaker sidelined for the foreseeable future.

3. Browns need to play keep away

Cleveland is at its best when controlling the tempo and wearing down teams by running the ball. The Browns are fourth in the league in rushing offense (163.6 ypg) but unfortunately, they've also lost three games in which they have run for more than 170 yards. Last week, they ran for 113 yards on 24 carries while Jacoby Brissett attempted 27 passes. He completed 22 of them for 258 yards with no interceptions. But he also didn't have a touchdown and was sacked five times. Ideally, Cleveland needs to lean on Nick Chubb (5.9 ypc) and Kareem Hunt against a Cincinnati defense that is giving up 116 yards on the ground per game, which will hopefully set up Brissett to find Amari Cooper and others with some play-action passes. Even though the Bengals' offense will be without Chase, it's still plenty dangerous and the Browns can't afford for this one to turn into a high-scoring affair.

Final Analysis

It's a scary thing for the NFL that the Bengals may have found their offense over the past few weeks. Losing Chase for an extended period of time will be tough to overcome, but Burrow is capable of winning games himself. And he may have to continue to do so if the rushing attack continues to lag behind. The Browns have one of the more productive ground games in the league but it hasn't led to many wins. A depleted Cincinnati offense helps Cleveland keep this one close, but Evan McPherson's leg proves to be the difference as the Bengals get the Halloween W to keep pace with the Ravens atop the AFC North.

Prediction: Bengals 23, Browns 20

Akers and now Cupp maybe calling out McVay and this running game. Does it help?

Someone who knows online play much better than me... please tell me if I'm wrong.

He was not at all the problem today... at least not in the pass game.

Looks to me like a guy who was taking care of business.. and someone I'd be happy to have in that spot.

This year's offense is pretty comparable to his.

Last 30 years Rams 2 Super Bowls

49ners 0

I mean you're playing a guy that was a free agent a month ago ahead of you starter but no matter who's back there they can't get anything going.

1. This one was really ugly.

2. Well, not at first. For 2+ quarters, the Rams looked pretty good. A couple of nice touchdown drives, a key Red Zone stop, and a four point lead.

3. Then the defense decided to forget how to play defense.

4. Some of it was by design. The soft zone just does not work against a team like the 49ers. How many times do we have to see them march down the field before that becomes apparent to those calling the plays?

5. Can't absolve the defenders, either. The coverage was awful, and Taylor Rapp was a true liability out there.

6. We can't seem to buy a turnover. Jalen Ramsey dropped an INT that could have gone for 6, and a key fumble dropped in the lap of a 49er.

7. The pass rush had its moments but, in the end, with the soft coverage, it wasn't able to be a factor. In the last third of the game, it was nonexistent.

8. Where's the fight in this team? We get the ball back with a minute to go in the first half and a timeout, and we run the clock out? No trust to even try to get into field goal range?

9. The OL wasn't the problem for a good portion of the game. At least in the first half, they did their job. But as the 49ers turned the score and the Rams became more one-dimensional, they showed their limitations.

10. Can't blame Matthew Stafford either. He played well when he had time, and even on a few plays when he didn't.

11. Cooper Kupp potentially getting injured in garbage time? Hopefully its nothing, but why was he on the field?

12. How did Ronnie F-ing Rivers become our lead back?

13. Darrell Henderson - 4 carries. He missed a practice due to illness earlier in the week, but is there more to this? Is he, like Cam Akers, in the doghouse? Is he on the trade block? Weird.

14. The trade deadline really loses its luster with this loss.

15. I'm OUT on any "all in" type moves at this point. In other words NO RENTALS. I'm not interested in a half season from Bradley Chubb or Kareem Hunt (both UFAs this offseason).

16. Alvin Kamara? At least he'd be a longer term option, as he's signed through 2025. Not really expecting this to happen, but you never know.

17. Mathematically, the Rams are still in the thick of the NFC playoff hunt. We don't look like a playoff team right now, though.

18. The Christian McCaffrey move will be lauded this week as a great move, and with good reason. In the long run, though, you have to wonder if he'll stay healthy long enough to not engender regret (I'd have the same fear if we were to trade for Kamara).

19. That could be the last time we see Jimmy Garoppolo in a 49ers uniform (barring another playoff meeting this year, it will be). I'm tired of making that bum look good.

20. Can I find a bright side here? Well... yeah. In ten years, twenty years, thirty years, and (hopefully) beyond... I'll vaguely remember this horrific regular season losing streak against our most hated rival. But I'll vividly remember last year's NFC Championship game win. Screw their well-traveled fans, their history and their taunts. We beat them when it counted last year, and that lasts forever.

Here is the good new... no more 49ners all year.

I hope Kupps injury isn't significant... looked like something in his foot.

I just can’t watch this OL with Evans any more. He’s so bad. I dunno what they see in him, but it’s not working.

He has to go. I’m a disabled vet and I’d pay real money for him to never play for the Rams again.

be a waste to stand pat.

So, what do Rams need to do to become SB caliber? At a minimum they need a significant upgrade at edge AND for Floyd to get healthy and become a force once again.

Problem is that top drawer edges are scarce AND Rams lack draft picks needed to compete in an auction atmosphere for said services. Sounds like Rams have been shut out on both Burns and Chubb based upon pundits feedback. Other teams are copying Rams formula for success and they simply have more ammo. Foreseeable but still frustrating.

The other thing that Rams need is an upgrade at RB. I’m assuming that a returning healthy OL can be at least upper middle of the road once Shelton is back. If not, nothing else really matters, does it?

These 2 things must both happen at a minimum if Rams want to be included in a serious SB conversation, imo anyway.

If these 2 things don’t happen then a hypothetical signing of OBJ will not matter much, btw.

So, that’s the bad news.

The good news is that Rams don’t absolutely need top drawer talent at edge or RB added. They need solid upgrades only to put Rams over the top because Rams are already blessed with top talent surrounding these proposed new additions. Acquiring players that can stick around for a few years would be highly desirable, btw. We’re all sick of the 6 month rentals.

It is my hope and belief that Snead has the necessary resources to add these 2 needed players before the deadline. Probably not gonna be household names but solid upgrades nonetheless.

One benefit of going for 2nd tier additions now is that more draft capital will remain to be used in ‘23 and ‘24 to close out our SB window.

Clock is ticking. Snead has maybe 48 hours remaining to pull all this off and nobody knows this better than Les.

‘Nervous Time’ at SOFI, huh? (Little Chick Hearn reference for the old timers).

What’s on YOUR Game Day Menu?

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ever wondered what it feels like to be close to a nuclear bomb explosion? well these vets have and they describe what the whole experience felt like and how it affected them for the rest of their lives.

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Green Bay vs. Buffalo: Scuffling Packers Seek to Stop Bills' Stampede on SNF​

When NFL schedule-makers planned for the Packers and Bills to meet on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 8, it seemed like the perfect choice.

Back-to-back MVP against the Super Bowl favorite in prime time. What could go wrong?

Well, things have gotten almost exactly as hoped for Buffalo, whose only blemish was a loss at Miami in extreme heat. Green Bay, on the other hand, is not even on pace to make the playoffs.

After three straight upset losses — to the Giants, Jets, and Commodes — the Packers (3-4) are struggling to find an identity and trail the Vikings in the NFC North by 2.5 games. They are 23rd in the NFL in scoring and desperately hope that Aaron Rodgers can rescue their lost offense.

Buffalo (5-1), meanwhile, had a week off after an emotional win over Kansas City that effectively provided them a two-game cushion in the race for the AFC's No. 1 seed. With the top-ranked total offense and total defense, it's no exaggeration to say that they're the class of the NFL.

This may not be the competitive game the NFL hoped it would be at the start of the year. The 11.5-point line is the largest of the week. But at minimum, with two of the most exciting quarterbacks of the last few years facing off, there will be plenty of storylines with this game.

Sunday Night Football: Green Bay (3-4) at Buffalo (5-1)

Kickoff: Sunday, Oct. 30 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Live Stream: fuboTV (Start your free trial)
Spread: Bills -11.5
Tickets: As low as $234 on SITickets.com*

Three Things to Watch

1. No. 1 passing attack vs. No. 1 pass defense

After adding more weapons — with potentially more to come — the Bills have the top passing attack in the NFL. They rank first in yards per game (323.0) and net yards per attempt (7.6) while only trailing the Chiefs in touchdowns (17).

But Sunday night will be their biggest test yet as they face off against a talented Packers secondary. Green Bay is holding opponents to a league-low 168.9 passing yards per game and has yet to give up 270 yards to any opponent.

Something will clearly have to give, but one interesting aspect of the Packers' defense is that for all of their success, they only have two interceptions. This after recording 18 last season, including five from Rasul Douglas in 12 games.

A key matchup to watch in this case will be Jaire Alexander, who will likely be on Stefon Diggs. Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry has left Alexander to shadow the other team's best receiver in recent weeks rather than leave him on one side of the field, and minimizing Diggs' impact after he brought in 10 catches for 148 yards and a score in the Week 6 win over Kansas City would be critical.

2. What is left of the Packers' passing attack?

Green Bay's passing attack looks like a shell of its old self after trading Davante Adams over the offseason — actually grading out as below-average. Rodgers has a career-worst 6.5 yards per attempt and is in the midst of a massive drop-off in touchdown rate (down to 4.5 percent).

Green Bay is still looking for a No. 1 receiver, and arguably Rodgers' current favorite target, Allen Lazard, is out with a shoulder injury. What's left is tight end Robert Tonyan (30. rec., 251 yds., TD), Sammy Watkins (8, 147), along with rookies Romeo Doubs (26, 234, 2) and Christian Watson (7, 52). Buffalo's secondary is not healthy, missing top corner Tre'Davious White and safety Micah Hyde, but Green Bay would be able to more easily exploit that if they had a dominant X receiver.

Instead, the Packers' top passing options are likely going to be running backs Aaron Jones and (to a lesser extent) AJ Dillon. Jones is second on the team in targets and finally saw more than five last week (10) for the first time all season.

Here's the problem, though: The Bills are one of the best teams at limiting pass-catching back. Last season, they held opposing RBs to a league-low 57 receptions and just 495 yards. They've been nearly as stingy this season thanks to several upgrades on defense, which will force Green Bay to get creative.

3. Can Green Bay bring pressure with just four players?

Passing and scoring are down across the league, but one thing remains clear: it's going to be nearly impossible to stop elite quarterbacks like Josh Allen without being able to bring pressure with four players. Send more blitzers, and you run the risk of getting burned deep.

Green Bay has been able to bring pressure this season, ranking fourth in the NFL with a 27.1 percent pressure rate. But it's also largely thanks to them being one of the most blitz-heavy teams, at 34.0 percent (fourth). Threading that needle will be perhaps the team's biggest challenge of the day.

The Packers have plenty of talented pass rushers, but the biggest focus will be on Rashan Gary, who is tied for fifth in the league with six sacks and seventh with a 25 percent pressure rate. Kenny Clark also rates third among defensive tackles with a 20 percent pressure rate. Of note, Buffalo will be without right tackle Spencer Brown, who exited last week's game with an ankle injury and did not practice this week.

Final Analysis

It's going to be challenging for the Packers to keep up with the Bills, especially since Buffalo sports the NFL's best run defense. We're talking about needing a vintage Rodgers performance, and considering his lack of weapons and track record this season, that seems unlikely. Perhaps Green Bay can squeak out a win in a low-scoring affair, but, with an extra week to prepare, this game seems ripe for a Bills blowout.

Prediction: Bills 27, Packers 10

SUNDAY - OCTOBER 30, 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

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Sunday, October 30th, 2022

THE LATE GAMES
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams
Washington Commodes at Indianapolis Colts
New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks

9:30am ET
Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars

THE EARLY GAMES
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints
New England Patriots at New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles
Miami Dolphins at Detroit Lions
Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys
Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings

SNF
Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills

Monday, October 31st, 2022

MNF
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

Bye Week: KC, LAC

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ALREADY PLAYED

Thursday, October 27th, 2022

TNF
Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sunday, October 30th, 2022

9:30am ET
Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars

THE EARLY GAMES
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints
New England Patriots at New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles
Miami Dolphins at Detroit Lions
Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys
Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings

THE LATE GAMES
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams
Washington Commodes at Indianapolis Colts
New York Giants at Seattle Seahawks

SNF
Green Bay Packers at Buffalo Bills

Monday, October 31st, 2022

MNF
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

Bye Week: KC, LAC

---

ALREADY PLAYED

Thursday, October 27th, 2022

TNF
Baltimore Ravens at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

My Dad and I took a tour of Sofi today. The Rams locker room wasn’t open for obvious reasons so we got to go in the rentoids locker room. Look at this.

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Kurt' s son Kade had 5 catches for 97 yards and 2 TD 's for Kansas State in their 48-0 blowout win over # 9 Ok State

How does Morris manage the cb lineups now with Durant and Hill being back? Depending on the 9ers offensive personnel, will Kendrick hold on the the outside corner position, or will Hill or Durant take over snaps?

My guess:

Against...
11 personnel - Ramsey, Hill, Kendrick, Durant will be on the field.

12 or 21 personnel - Since Deebo is out, Ramsey will mostly follow Kittle on passing downs, and Hill and Kendrick will be on the outside. On running downs, I expect 3 DTs to be on field with Ramsey and Kendrick.

22 or 13 personnel - Ramsey and Kendrick will be the only corners on the field.