Brian Allen Is The Starting Center Of Debate​

It seems like yesterday that many a piece was written (including on this amazing site) about how Austin Corbett is the best center for the job despite him technically being a starting guard. The Rams didn’t feel compelled to draft a center despite losing last year’s starter Austin Blythe, who took less money to not start for the Chiefs. Corbett got all the first-team reps during OTA’s all spring but now Sean McVay has decided to make Brian Allen the starter.

The fanbase became apoplectic, to say the least, especially since everyone already talked themselves into Corbett in lieu of drafting Quinn Meinerz or Creed Humphrey, who is now the starter for the Chiefs (more on them later).

Brian Allen hasn’t played since 2019 and is entering his fourth year in the league, and has yet to start a full season. So why did the Rams decide to do risk their championship dreams on a fourth-year project?

In working backward on Brian Allen, why didn’t the Rams simply draft Creed Humphrey with either of their early-round picks? They opted for Tutu Atwell and Ernest Jones instead, and while most Rams couch pundits claim those picks were brilliant, most did NOT feel that way at the moment. Rams twitter had a meltdown akin to if they found out they were being charged a Bear Patrol Tax. Yes, Creed Humphrey is already capable of starting on just about every team in the league so Jones and Atwell, while great picks, will have a Creed shadow over them; but not enough to do illegal boxing matches in Mexico. Why didn’t they draft Meinerz? Well, word out of Broncos camp is that he’s more of a project than he seemed in April so that makes some sense. Alright, so if they didn’t see a starting center they liked why not go after a vet?

The most logical veteran candidate was The Secret World of Alex Mack. Mack is 36 and entering the stage in his career (though older) that John Sullivan was in, where he wants to play for a contender. The Rams let him go to the Niners and they didn’t really pursue any other vets. So why not? Obviously, they knew they had to be careful with their money to the extent that they’d have to wait for their wedding to shop at the 99 Cent Store. They also were a little wary about having a 36-year-old, even one as good as Mack, protect Stafford.

That also makes sense, but what doesn’t is why they didn’t resign Austin Blythe? Especially since he again took less money to play for the Chiefs because they’re his favorite team (essentially living Paul Rudd’s dream)? It seems odd, but perhaps Sean McVay and new offensive line coach Kevin Carberry didn’t feel like he was the best option, which if true, makes their previous two decisions even more baffling.

Les Snead and the Rams’ scouting team have been so savvy in drafting beyond the first-round that choosing Tutu and Jones over Humphrey feel like they’re in irrational confidence mode. They announced they were shifting Austin Corbett to center signaling that Brian Allen wasn’t long for the team and would be kept around for depth. What happened?

It seems that Bobby Evans has had a bumpy camp and Corbett’s services were better served at guard. The Rams have drafted several Swiss Army-style linemen to have flexible with their depth but they don’t still don’t have anyone that can specifically play center outside of Allen.

Brian Allen, in a vacuum, isn’t inherently BAD. Where fan acrimony comes in is how much of an unknown he really is. He was drafted in 2018 but served as a backup. In 2019, he became the new starter after John Sullivan left. He made it through nine games before an MCL injury ended his season. Last year, he tested positive for Covid, and along with Blythe’s emergence, kept him on the sidelines. His sample size is extremely small but in his nine starts, he was serviceable and didn’t allow a sack, but again, a small sample size.

The Rams are primed to make a Super Bowl run, but if Brian Allen can’t stay healthy or he hasn’t progressed, that could doom them or at least force them to shuffle their line and at a certain point, it becomes a house of cards. In theory, the Rams could still pluck someone after cuts or do what they did with Corbett and trade for a salvage project but right now it doesn’t look like Andy McCullum is walking through that door (although if he did he’d bring donuts).

With fans and amateur blog boys, any weakness in the Rams’ armor will be dissected like Boliver Trask cutting into a dead mutant. The center position is a glaring question mark and honestly has been since Sully left in 2019. Brian Allen could wind up being the answer, at least for this year, and then they can begin developing their franchise of the future next season while shelling out for a vet. Or Allen is the answer long term and they can set their sights elsewhere. Until week one, and perhaps all year, every penalty, block, snap, etc. will be scrutinized until he either acquits himself as a solid starter or gets yanked off the stage.

With all the Rams RB’s getting hurt will we be seeing the Rams Offense playing a lot of Empty Backfields??? Just kidding but I do think we will be seeing Stafford throwing a little more than expected/hoped this season. I don’t play Fantasy Football but if I did I would definitely pick Stafford as my QB since I really do think he will be throwing for a lot of.Yards and Touchdowns!! Not to mention that he really is a GREAT QB!!!

Lets dive right into it,

Offense - Positives

Shelton and Anchrum - I think both have cemented themselves as the apparent backups to RT and C. Shelton has really stepped up his game and shown he at least can be depended on in a game or two if Allen goes down. Hopefully he continues to grow in the next preseason game to show he's ready to be called on if needed. Anchrum, a pleasant surprise at Tackle. While he's smaller he makes up for it with good footwork and getting into his frames quickly off the snap. While I don't think he'll ever be a starter, he's proven he can fill in if needed. I'm not sure if he or Evans the better RT since I haven't seen Evans play one snap @ RT this preseason. Kind of a head scratcher. With Anchrums frame you'd think he'd be a better Guard than Tackle. But what do I know...

Jones and Funk,

After carefully watching these two, it's become apparent to me that Jones has separated himself from Funk in both pass catching and running the ball. He looks smoother and can get outside when needed if the play breaks down inside. While I think Funk might have a higher ceiling than Jones at least for now it looks like Jones is more NFL ready. Not to mention Funk is an injury away from working at the local grocery store. For anyone that saw McVays comments after the game about how Funk has separated himself from Jones, Im not sure WTF he is talking about. But maybe he see's something I don't and I'll trust his eyes more than my own. With that being said I still think Funk by mid season will take over the No2 spot with Jones bringing up the 3rd option. And I still think we sign a cut FA or trade for a RB that has some NFL starting exp.

Hopkins,

He did show up yesterday and I have to give credit where credit is due. And maybe it's because he actually got on the field and stayed out there. He had a couple of nice grabs and one nice contested catch along the sidelines. If he can continue to show improvement every week then I eventually expect him to take over the No2 spot by week 3 or 4. In his second season he should be at least somewhat acclimated to what's to be expected of him. He still needs a lot of polishing but the only way he's going to get that now is by being thrown in the deep end and see if he sinks or swims.

Offense - wash

Perkins,

I really do love this kid, I think he's a playmaker but there are some limitations to his game and they might be the biggest reason that keeps him from ever developing into a NFL starting QB and that's Perkins arm talent. I love his touch on the ball, he seems to have pretty good accuracy and pocket awareness, however, it does not seem like he has the arm talent to put zip on the ball when needed. Too many passes fluttered and took too long to get to his receivers and that is a HUGE problem when going against starters. I know not every elite QB has elite arm talent but 99% of the top ten QB's at least have the arm strength to make all the throws, and I'm just not sure Perkins even has that capability. Watching some of his comeback throws and how badly he underthrew Tutu on that deep pass was a real indicator that he might not have what it takes to be an NFL QB in the long run. If we see him again this preseason I would like to see him put some mustard on the ball, to see if he can rope a ball 20 yards down the field and not float it to a receiver. Because NFL starting CB's and Safeties will feast on him once they figure out his timing.

Tutu,

I still need to see more of him. I'm not sure he cracks the starting line up this year. He might be more of an insurance policy if Jackson goes down but as of right now he looks raw. Which is completely understandable. I just hope he's not Tavon reincarnated.

Offense - The bad

Evans, Brewer, Meredith;

I pray to Jesus every night that none of these guys get called on this season and our starters have a long healthy season ahead of them. Lets start with Evans, is he playing hurt? Is he playing out or position? Why is he playing? Is McVay making a mistake by giving him so much playing time at Guard rather than Tackle? Last season when he filled in for Hav he wasn't bad at tackle by any means. He wasn't a world beater either but he did his job and kept his mistakes to a minimum. That was also when Hav was having a terrible season so any improvement went a long way. I Just don't think Evans is a Guard AT ALL, and im not sure why the Rams staff is pushing for him to be one. I'm terribly confused by it.
Brewer did so-so at Guard and it all went downhill once he moved to RT and it was not pretty. Keep him at Guard because he's awful at tackle. Meredith, I doubt he makes the team. If he does then we're thinner than I thought at Guard.

As a whole the Oline once again did very poorly. holding penalties, hands to the face and pre-snap penalties really shows our backup Olinemen are being outclassed and outplayed. I have to ask myself, is all this cross training worth it??? When I watch other teams backup Olines they don't look as bad as the Rams. Maybe I'm being overly critical because I'm a Rams fan but I try to look at it thru unbiased lenses and right now I'm just not seeing good backup depth at the Guard or RT spot. hopefully I'm wrong.

Defense - Positives

JR Reed,

This kid is a gamer. I keep on hearing his 40 time is what's going to keep him out of the NFL... Give me a break, some of the best players to ever play the game have slower 40 times than some of their counterparts. It's complete ESPN, PFF, NFLnetwork bullshit. He's a ballhawk and a game changer. If the Rams don't figure out a way to keep him on the roster he will get picked up by another team and be an eventual starter. I'm not saying he's Justin Simmons or JJIII but he passes all the eye test so far and I think he'll end up being an eventual all pro. Watching his film you'll see he's always around the ball even when he's on another assignment. He's got great instincts and isn't afraid to make the hard tackle. Hopefully the rams stash him away on ST this year, and maybe just maybe he'll break the starting lineup this year. Lookout for this kid.

Chris Garrett,

ok ok, before I go all in on him I still would like to see him get more playing time. I can see he's still very raw as a pass rusher but he might just be a keeper. He flat out pancaked a LT yesterday on a bulrush like it was nothing. He also flew by an LT off the edge and made him look like he was standing still. While I'll hold my judgement on him because he's so raw, he definitely has some talent and it's in an area where the Rams have struggled over the last 3 to 4 seasons in finding "that guy" who can rush the passer opposite Floyd and Donald. I'll wait and hone in on him against Denver and see how he does. TBD

Hughes and Harris,

Both DB's flashed at times, I liked their man to man coverage skills and they seemed to cover the field pretty well. Not sure if there's room for them on the roster at this point but they could be a good option on ST and possibly back up David Long if he struggles.

Defense - wash

Howard and Kiser,

The Rams will only keep one and it will probably be Howard from the looks of it. He just looks more comfortable out there and more stout. I think Kiser will end up being the odd man out. Which is weird because last year he was slotted to be the starter over Reeder and company.

Defense - The bad

I don't have too much on this atm. If anyone wants to fill in this segment please feel free to do so. I didn't have time to take any negative notes on defense because i was only really looking for standouts.


Overall,

I'm pretty happy with most positions on our team right now as far as depth is concerned. We still have some holes on offense and defense that have yet to either have a clear cut winner come out at TC and preseason. Like RB and Nickle corner but in the NFL you can't have everything so we'll have to see how the final 53 shakes out.

cheers!

Paris Ford and Duck Hodges first to go. Calais to IR.

Am I being a Rams homer or do they have some serious roster depth at safety?

It sure feels like the Rams have one of the top 3 deepest groups at the safety position in the NFL.


1. Jordan Fuller
2. Taylor Rapp
3. Terrell Burgess
4. JuJu Hughes
5. JR Reed
6. Nick Scott (banged up knee)

Kinda interesting.....and Stafford makes a LOT of these top 10's....


Today's NFL quarterbacks do so many different things extremely well, and picking out the best of the best is no easy task. Every Sunday, we are treated to incredible highlight-reel plays across the league, from 60-yard deep balls to huge gains on designed rushes to inconceivable pinpoint throws outside the pocket. To get a sense of how these talented passers stack up right now, we broke their games down by different skills.

To do so, we asked NFL analysts -- Matt Bowen, Tim Hasselbeck, Mina Kimes, Booger McFarland, Louis Riddick, Mike Tannenbaum, Seth Walder, Field Yates, Pro Football Focus' Sam Monson and Football Outsiders' team of Aaron Schatz and Derrik Klassen -- to rank their personal top 10 NFL quarterbacks entering the 2021 season in 12 distinct categories, from arm strength to field vision. We then combined those lists with a point-based system to generate a final ranking in each area, all 12 of which are below.

Our analysts then reacted to each list, explaining why the signal-callers at or near the top of each group belong there and what surprised them most about the final top-10s. We also gave a big stat to know for each category and spun it forward with a rising QB to watch for each trait. Finally, we pointed out snubs who probably should have cracked each ranking.

Let's start with the best downfield throwers in the NFL, but you can also jump to each category to see how the top quarterbacks align in the other 11 skills.

Arm strength​

This category is all about the biggest arms in the NFL. Pass velocity and the amount of zip a QB can put on a pass were factors in the ranking, as was the ability to hit the deep ball. Who are the best quarterbacks throwing the ball vertically and driving it into windows with authority?

1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
2. Josh Allen, Bills
3. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
4. Matthew Stafford, Rams
5. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
6. Justin Herbert, Chargers
7. Deshaun Watson, Texans*
8. Ryan Tannehill, Titans
9. Kyler Murray, Cardinals
10. Baker Mayfield, Browns

Best of the best: There is an effortlessness to the way in which Mahomes can seemingly flick the football 50 yards down the field without setting his feet or coming to balance. But arm strength without accuracy is fool's gold. Mahomes not only can throw the football about as far as he'd like, but he can throw it where he'd like it to go. The Chiefs' signal-caller ranks third all time in NFL history in passing yards per attempt. -- Yates

Biggest surprise: I'm surprised that Allen didn't end up No. 1 here. Sure, Mahomes throws the prettier deep ball, but if we're just assessing arm strength, Allen's cannon is indisputable. -- Kimes

EDITOR'S PICKS​

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  This NFL record is in jeopardy: How six QBs could break it in 2021 -- and hit 6K yards
  7dMike Clay​

• 
  

  The NFL's best quarterbacks: We asked 50 execs, coaches and scouts to rank the top 10
  39dJeremy Fowler​

• 
  

  Ranking every NFL position group from 1-32
  3dMike Clay​

Stat to know: At the end of the first half of Week 14's Monday Night Football game last season, Mayfield tried throwing a bomb deep to receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones. The pass went incomplete near the back of the end zone, but it was still notable: It was the farthest-thrown football in terms of actual distance by any quarterback on any play in the regular or postseason over the past four years. The pass traveled 68.1 yards in the air, per NFL Next Gen Stats. -- Walder

Riser to watch: Jacksonville's Trevor Lawrence didn't make the top 10 because we haven't yet seen him take an NFL snap. But there's a reason that this kid was the consensus No. 1 prospect for the 2021 class since he was a freshman at Clemson -- he has some of the best arm talent we've seen in the past 20 years. And there's no question that Lawrence will make this list next season. The real question is just how high he'll be ranked. -- McFarland

Snubbed: New England's Cam Newton feels like an odd omission given his reputation, but a relentless string of injuries, including shoulder issues, have sapped him of the arm strength of his youth. But a pair of rookies -- Lawrence and the 49ers' Trey Lance -- have a good case for at least the No. 10 spot, if not higher. Lance, in particular, has a special blend of velocity and downfield distance that comes out of his hand with ease, not unlike Herbert's. -- Schatz/Klassen


Others who received at least one vote: Dak Prescott, Cam Newton, Trey Lance, Drew Lock, Carson Wentz, Trevor Lawrence, Matt Ryan, Jameis Winston, Kirk Cousins, Tom Brady and Derek Carr

Accuracy​

Arm strength doesn't mean much if you can't perfectly put the ball where it needs to go. Who can hit the tightest windows? Who locates their passes in the perfect spots? And who is never off-target with their throws, displaying pinpoint precision?

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
2. Tom Brady, Buccaneers
3. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
4. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
5. Deshaun Watson, Texans*
6. Kirk Cousins, Vikings
7. Ryan Tannehill, Titans
8. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
9. Josh Allen, Bills
10. Justin Herbert, Chargers

Best of the best: Rodgers and Wilson are two of the very best when it comes to hitting tight-window throws that seemingly are impossible completions, in addition to showing great touch on the deep ball. When you need a big throw to be made under challenging circumstances, these two are who you want slinging it. -- Riddick

Biggest surprise: Allen has to be higher on the list given his noticeable development as a pocket thrower. In 2019, Allen completed just 58.8% of his passes, but that number jumped to 69.2% this past season, which was good for fourth in the NFL. Paired with his rare physical traits at the position, Allen can throw with both accuracy and location, putting him in the upper tier of the NFL's quarterbacks. -- Bowen

Stat to know: There's no perfect measure of accuracy, but Rodgers had the lowest interception per dropback rate and second-lowest off-target rate in the league last season. He also ranked third in completion percentage over expectation (CPOE), per NFL Next Gen Stats. Those are pretty strong signs that Rodgers' throws are on the money. -- Walder

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Will Aaron Rodgers replicate his numbers from last season?​

Domonique Foxworth and Kimberley Martin debate Aaron Rodgers' chances of throwing more than 35 touchdowns this season.
Riser to watch: Allen making this list is an incredible tribute to his work ethic and Brian Daboll's coaching in Buffalo. His completion percentage has dramatically increased since his college days at Wyoming. Based on last season, I would expect his improvement to continue. But Herbert will also continue to climb the rankings, and Cincinnati's Joe Burrow -- if healthy -- should work into the top 10 in this category soon. -- Tannenbaum

Snubbed: The NFL Next Gen Stats model for CPOE ranks the Raiders' Derek Carr seventh in the league over the past two seasons, completing 2.6% more passes than expected. And Football Outsiders' model suggests that Carr has 56 more completions than expected since 2018, which ranks fifth over that three-year period. Carr scores high in accuracy stats despite a Raiders wide receiver corps that is far from the league's most consistent. -- Schatz/Klassen


Others who received at least one vote: Derek Carr, Joe Burrow, Matthew Stafford, Teddy Bridgewater, Matt Ryan, Kyler Murray, Baker Mayfield and Jimmy Garoppolo

Touch​

It's not only about pass velocity or placement. How it gets there is also key. Successful quarterbacks need to master trajectory, whether it be fitting the ball in a tight spot with zip or softly dropping it in over a receiver's shoulder. They also need to throw with anticipation, leading a receiver into the catch and navigating defensive coverages.

T1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
T1. Tom Brady, Buccaneers
3. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
4. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
5. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
6. Deshaun Watson, Texans*
7. Matt Ryan, Falcons
T8. Justin Herbert, Chargers
T8. Kirk Cousins, Vikings
10. Derek Carr, Raiders

Best of the best: While Brady might not have the cannon arm down the field that his counterparts possess, it has not hindered his production a bit. Every detail counts for the best to ever do it, and he knows the difference that every inch makes on ball placement. Not every throw needs to be a fastball, and Brady has a mastery of the throws that win with touch. -- Yates

Biggest surprise: Carr isn't a gunslinger, but he throws one of the most catchable balls in the NFL. I think he could've easily been ranked higher on this list. -- Kimes

The NFL's best at every position​

Jeremy Fowler polled a panel of more than 50 coaches, execs, scouts and players to come up with top-10 rankings for 2021:

• Edge | Interior DL | LB
• CB | Safety | OT | Interior OL
• QB | RB | WR | TE
More NFL coverage »

Stat to know: Over the past three seasons, Wilson leads all quarterbacks in completion percentage over expectation on passes with 20-plus air yards -- often via his famous rainbow-arc deep balls -- per NFL Next Gen Stats. But the quarterback who ranked No. 2 in that stat didn't make the top 10 here: Washington's Ryan Fitzpatrick. -- Walder

Riser to watch: Coming out of Wyoming, Josh Allen had a habit of just trying to throw the ball hard. If he was unsure or late, he would just step on the gas with his passes. But as his pre-snap command at the line of scrimmage has grown, his tendency to play with more anticipation has grown with it. -- Hasselbeck

Snubbed: Joe Burrow does not have the raw arm strength to fit the ball into tight windows. He makes up for it with careful ball placement and wonderful touch, doing his best to mimic the success that players such as Drew Brees and Phillip Rivers experienced in the second half of their careers. Burrow's placement consistently enables yards-after-the-catch opportunities, which is necessary for maximizing his skill set as a passer. -- Schatz/Klassen


Others who received at least one vote: Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, Ryan Tannehill, Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, Jimmy Garoppolo, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ben Roethlisberger and Baker Mayfield

Mechanics​

In today's NFL, quarterbacks have so many different throwing motions. But mechanics are still a big part of success. That includes a QB's throwing motion, arm slot, release, follow-through and footwork, among other traits. Who are the most technically sound signal-callers in the league?

1. Tom Brady, Buccaneers
2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
3. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
4. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
5. Deshaun Watson, Texans*
6. Matt Ryan, Falcons
T7. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
T7. Josh Allen, Bills
9. Matthew Stafford, Rams
T10. Derek Carr, Raiders
T10. Justin Herbert, Chargers

Best of the best: Nobody has worked to fine-tune the marriage between the lower body and the upper body as it relates to throwing the football as much as Brady has. He is the classic pocket passer in terms of footwork from under center, play-action fakes, subtle movement within the pocket, keeping two hands on the ball, release and follow-through. You name it, he does it perfectly. He is the standard. -- Riddick

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1:03

Why Tom Brady might have his best season ever at age 44​

Dan Orlovsky makes the case for Tom Brady to have his best NFL season yet in his 22nd year in the league.
Biggest surprise: I would have bumped Prescott into the top five here, given his consistent ability to sync his upper- and lower-body mechanics together as a thrower. You can see the strong base, footwork and shoulder/hip rotation on the release to extend through his target. From a pure mechanics standpoint, you could make an argument that Prescott could jump in front of Mahomes and even Rodgers, who both lean more on their natural throwing ability. -- Bowen

Stat to know: Short of accessing biomechanical data on the throwing motion of quarterbacks, anything I'd come up with here would be grasping at straws. While we can quantify plenty in football, sometimes it's important to know when to just trust the qualitative experts. This is one of those cases, as mechanics come down to the eye test more than anything else. -- Walder

Riser to watch: This is another list dominated by veteran guys because it takes years to develop great mechanics and adjust those mechanics to the NFL. However, Justin Herbert's rookie campaign was so incredible that he was able to sneak into the top 10 after just one season. His ability to stand in the pocket, face pressure and hit tight windows without sacrificing his throwing motion was impressive to watch. He will vault to the top of this list over the next couple of years. -- McFarland

Snubbed: Joe Burrow's lack of arm strength necessitates that he be as efficient as possible with his mechanics. He does not have any margin for error to make up time with his velocity. Burrow does an excellent job playing light on his toes and taking shortcuts to accelerate his progression from one read to the next, playing with an eerily similar style of footwork to Prescott. Burrow also does well to keep his hips free and allow his arm to come through cleanly without getting himself hunched over a tight base. Purely on mechanics, Burrow should not be any lower than Allen (tied for seventh) here. -- Schatz/Klassen


Others who received at least one vote: Ryan Tannehill, Joe Burrow, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo, Kyler Murray, Teddy Bridgewater, Baker Mayfield and Zach Wilson

Field vision​

This looks at the ability to read the field. Included in that are awareness and recognition when it comes to seeing defensive schemes or coverages, along with the fast eyes to identify blitzers, breaking defensive backs and open targets. Will a QB audible out when he needs to, diagnosing and understanding different defensive looks? And how quickly can he get through his progressions? Does he get stuck on his first read too often and stare down receivers, making it easy for the defense? Or can he scan the field, make the defense bite with his eyes and then find the open receiver?

1. Tom Brady, Buccaneers
2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
3. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
T4. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
T4. Deshaun Watson, Texans*
6. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
7. Matthew Stafford, Rams
8. Matt Ryan, Falcons
9. Derek Carr, Raiders
10. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers

Best of the best: Brady's lack of mobility has never been an issue because his processing and understanding of what's going to happen before it actually happens is unparalleled. Be it situational awareness, identifying pressure, adjusting protections or anticipating the unforeseen, he sets the bar. -- Yates

Biggest surprise: Wilson at No. 4 is higher than I would have expected. Yes, he's a good processor, but this isn't a category where I'd rank him over the likes of, say, Ryan. -- Kimes

Stat to know: The Chiefs, as a team, have led the league in each of the last two seasons in separation over expectation on targets (an ESPN stat using NFL Next Gen Stats data). Receivers like Tyreek Hill and an offensive mind like Andy Reid's are surely factors there. But so, too, is Mahomes under center. If Mahomes' receivers consistently have more separation when targeted, that speaks to his ability to see and target the correct option more often. -- Walder

Any Day Can Be Draft Day​

With our live draft lobby, you can be drafting a team in minutes. Jump into a draft >>

Riser to watch: Justin Herbert should continue to improve in his awareness as he continues to develop in an offense much more diverse than the one he played in at Oregon. And Baker Mayfield has clearly benefited from playing in Kevin Stefanski's scheme with Cleveland; he should be in the top 10 in this category next year. -- Tannenbaum

Snubbed: The Ravens' Lamar Jackson may never get the credit he deserves as a processor, but few handle the quick game the way he does. Not only does Jackson excel with general vision and decision-making specifically to that area, but he understands defenders' leverage in such a way that helps him locate the ball away from them, which is the same thing veterans such as Brady and (in years past) Philip Rivers get credit for. The clunkiness of Baltimore's passing game last season is much more a product of the lackluster receiving talent and Greg Roman's stale concepts than Jackson's inability to see the field. -- Schatz/Klassen


Others who received at least one vote: Ryan Tannehill, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Kirk Cousins, Jimmy Garoppolo, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Justin Herbert and Baker Mayfield

Decision-making with the football​

This one is pretty straightforward. Avoiding turnovers, protecting the football, not taking unnecessary risks and keeping an offense out of harm's way lead to better efficiency. Forcing a pass into double coverage or attempting too many low-percentage plays can get you into trouble in a hurry. Strong decision-making means less opportunities for the other team -- and likely more points for yours.

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
2. Tom Brady, Buccaneers
3. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
4. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
5. Deshaun Watson, Texans*
6. Ryan Tannehill, Titans
7. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
8. Derek Carr, Raiders
9. Justin Herbert, Chargers
10. Kyler Murray, Cardinals

Best of the best: Protecting the football and not giving it to the other team via bad decision-making is priority No. 1 for a QB, and nobody was better at making sure the opposition didn't receive extra possessions in 2020 than Rodgers. His 48 passing touchdowns led the NFL, and his 1.0% interception rate (five all season) was tied for the best in the NFL with Mahomes. -- Riddick

Biggest surprise: I personally had Carr at No. 3 here, given his ability to play within the structure of Jon Gruden's system in Las Vegas. With the amount of defined reads there, Carr can be smart with the football and attack the windows that Gruden dials up. Plus, Carr was much more willing to cut it loose on schemed verticals last season, registering a QBR of 99.6 on passes of 20 or more air yards, with 11 touchdowns and only one interception. -- Bowen

Stat to know: Mahomes had the second-lowest interception per dropback rate and fourth-lowest sack rate last season. And he ranked first in third-down pass attempts beyond the sticks at 70%, so he didn't have too many empty completions on third down, a sign he is being smart with the football. -- Walder

ESPN Illustration
Riser to watch: A lot is asked of Murray, including nearly 560 pass attempts and more than 130 rushes last season. He's an aggressive player. That's certainly true for him as a runner, but it's also true with his willingness to make tight-window throws, push the ball down the field or throw a receiver open. I see a player who is learning what he can get away with and when, and I think that shows itself during this upcoming season and beyond. -- Hasselbeck

Snubbed: Though Matt Ryan's arm strength and mobility have waned, he remains among the sharpest decision-makers in the league, particularly with his shot selection over the middle. Few quarterbacks toe the line with "risky" throws without actually putting the ball in danger as effectively as Ryan. Hopefully some new guidance under coach Arthur Smith unlocks Ryan for a late-career surge. -- Schatz/Klassen


Others who received at least one vote: Ben Roethlisberger, Lamar Jackson, Matt Ryan, Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Kirk Cousins, Matthew Stafford, Baker Mayfield, Andy Dalton and Jimmy Garoppolo

Compete level​

The words that come to mind with this category are competitiveness and leadership. Who has the most desire to win? It also speaks to a quarterback's command of his offense and his ability to deliver in the clutch. You can never count out the players who made this top 10.

1. Tom Brady, Buccaneers
2. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
3. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
4. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
5. Josh Allen, Bills
6. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
7. Matthew Stafford, Rams
8. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
9. Ryan Tannehill, Titans
10. Ryan Fitzpatrick, Washington

Best of the best: For someone who could have retired a few years ago and still had a strong case as the greatest ever, Brady refuses to ever lose his edge. He's famous for his mentality that his favorite Super Bowl win is "the next one," as he has dedicated nearly every facet of his life to prolonging the prime years of his career. While Brady's demeanor in front of the camera is collected and measured, he is ferocious on the field and has a short memory on the rare occasions that he does make an error. He never lets a defense feel like it has him figured out. -- Yates

Biggest surprise: I would've put Baker Mayfield in the top 10 here. It's a bit clichéd at this point to talk about his moxie, but his competitive spirit is undeniable -- and it has powered some pretty strong performances late in games, especially of late. -- Kimes

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Greeny has a message for Baker Mayfield detractors​

Mike Greenberg explains why Baker Mayfield deserves credit for turning the Browns into a Super Bowl contender.
Stat to know: It has to say something that Brady has not missed a game due to injury since 2008, right? There's luck involved there, but it's still remarkable and partly why he takes this category. But how about a shoutout for someone who didn't make the cut: Guess who has the most wins over the past five seasons in games in which they at some point had less than a 10% chance of winning? It's Derek Carr, with nine. Now, there's something to be said for avoiding those situations in the first place, but the Raiders fight back. -- Walder

Riser to watch: What Allen did last season to elevate the Bills to the AFC Championship Game for the first time in nearly 30 years was remarkable. He could easily find himself at the top of this list in the next few seasons. This is also a big season for Miami's second-year QB Tua Tagovailoa. He absolutely has all the intangibles to be the leader of the Dolphins and can definitely command a huddle and a locker room, but the only real way to completely win over your teammates is to go out and do it on Sundays. A strong on-field performance this season will have him joining and moving up this list quickly next year. -- McFarland

Snubbed: Carr may not be known as one of the great leaders in the modern NFL, but his performance in late and close situations speaks for itself. Over the past three seasons, Carr has eight fourth-quarter comebacks (tied for third) and 11 game-winning drives (tied for fourth). Since 2018, the Raiders rank eighth in passing DVOA when the score is within a touchdown in the fourth quarter or overtime. -- Schatz/Klassen


Others who received at least one vote: Deshaun Watson*, Joe Burrow, Kyler Murray, Derek Carr, Ben Roethlisberger, Baker Mayfield, Justin Herbert, Matt Ryan, Tua Tagovailoa and Kirk Cousins

Toughness​

Toughness rolls into compete level a bit, but our analysts looked at a quarterback's bounce-back and resilience here, along with how well he can take a hit. Physicality is the big trait in this section.

1. Josh Allen, Bills
2. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
3. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
T4. Deshaun Watson, Texans*
T4. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
6. Matthew Stafford, Rams
7. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
8. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
9. Tom Brady, Buccaneers
10. Cam Newton, Patriots

Best of the best: Every QB on this list is worthy of being at the top of this category, as they will all stand in the pocket and keep firing in the face of pressure, big hits or sacks. Allen, with his physical size, strength and ability as both a runner and thrower, separates himself slightly from the group for me as the one guy who would scare me the most if I had to line up and defend him for a full 60 minutes. -- Riddick

Biggest surprise: Herbert needed to make the cut here. Not only does he bring a physical element to the position, both inside and outside of the pocket, but we can also point to multiple plays on the tape where he had to make a big-time throw with location in the face of pressure. As an ascending talent with upper-tier traits, Herbert's toughness is a key part of his game. -- Bowen



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Stat to know: No quarterback was contacted on more plays than Jackson last season (180). That was actually substantially higher than the winner of this category, Allen, who was contacted 123 times. Going back two seasons, Allen was also contacted the second-most times in 2019 -- again behind Jackson. -- Walder

Riser to watch: Mahomes is incredibly tough and will be even higher in this category in the future. Looking at the rookies, Trey Lance might be the toughest of the bunch; he'll be rising in this ranking by next year. He doesn't shy away from contact. -- Tannenbaum

Snubbed: One could argue nothing has been more critical to Ryan Fitzpatrick's success than how tough he is in the pocket. His aggressive downfield style requires him to hold the ball a bit longer and take some hits, more so than many other quarterbacks. And after 16 years of taking those beatings, he's still finding starting jobs. FitzMagic is indestructible. -- Schatz/Klassen


Others who received at least one vote: Ryan Tannehill, Taysom Hill, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Justin Herbert, Matt Ryan, Ben Roethlisberger, Trey Lance, Baker Mayfield, Kirk Cousins, Jameis Winston, Joe Burrow, Tyrod Taylor and Kyler Murray

Pocket presence​

Pocket presence refers to how a quarterback operates in the pocket. Some things our analysts looked at here include: ability to sense and avoid pressure, command and mobility within the pocket, calmness under duress and how a QB gets it done from both under center and shotgun formations.

1. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
2. Tom Brady, Buccaneers
3. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
4. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
5. Josh Allen, Bills
6. Deshaun Watson, Texans*
7. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
8. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
9. Kyler Murray, Cardinals
10. Matthew Stafford, Rams

Best of the best: What makes Rodgers such a mad scientist in the pocket is understanding when to break it and when to buy himself time. His ability to pirouette out of pressure, avoid oncoming rushers and side-step a would-be sack turns nothing plays into possible scoring opportunities. On top of his nimble footwork, Rodgers has the arm strength and ability to throw from so many angles that he doesn't need a whole bunch of space to launch the ball downfield. No play should be presumed over with this guy. -- Yates

Biggest surprise: I was surprised, in a good way, to see Jackson at No. 7. He doesn't receive much credit for this attribute, but he's very steady in a clean pocket. -- Kimes

Stat to know: How does one quantify pocket presence? One aspect is sacks taken relative to pressures faced. No one had a lower ratio of sacks to pressures than Mahomes (0.10). That's lower than the top two players on this list; Rodgers and Brady clocked in at 0.17 and 0.19, respectively. -- Walder

Riser to watch: Jackson has clearly proven himself to already be one of the best in the league at avoiding pressure by escaping out of the pocket, and his mobility is unmatched. He also possesses a nice ability to throw with people around him, find throwing lanes with adjusted arm angles and create ways to get the ball out of his hand. As Baltimore explores ways to develop him as a passer from inside the pocket, there is room for growth that I would anticipate Jackson meeting. -- Hasselbeck

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Does Lamar Jackson need to throw more to diversify Ravens' offense?​

Kimberley Martin and Tim Hasselbeck examine the keys to success for Ravens QB Lamar Jackson this season.
Snubbed: Not wanting to put rookies in this category is fair, but Trevor Lawrence's pocket management at Clemson was something to behold. He has a sixth sense for anticipating pass-rushers, knowing exactly how and where it affects the pocket and which areas are safe to move to -- all before the pass rush can get to him. That takes a special blend of understanding protections and defenses, as well as some innate instinct and athletic traits. -- Schatz/Klassen


Others who received at least one vote: Justin Herbert, Ben Roethlisberger, Derek Carr, Ryan Tannehill, Joe Burrow, Matt Ryan, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Daniel Jones, Kirk Cousins, Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield, Teddy Bridgewater and Tua Tagovailoa

Scrambling​

They might not be scripted, but plenty of successful plays happen when a quarterback sees open field and scrambles for a big chunk. And sometimes that includes a forced scramble, when pressure or a broken play leave the quarterback no option but to tuck and run. Creating outside the pocket -- including making some throws on scramble runs -- can be the difference between eventual points on the board and a stalled drive.

1. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
2. Kyler Murray, Cardinals
3. Josh Allen, Bills
4. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
5. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
6. Deshaun Watson, Texans*
7. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
8. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
9. Ryan Tannehill, Titans
10. Daniel Jones, Giants

Best of the best: Jackson is mesmerizing with his elusiveness and big-play speed, making NFL defenses have to defend him in a way that they haven't had to defend quarterbacks maybe ever. -- Riddick

Biggest surprise: I'd actually put Mahomes at No. 1 here. While Jackson is the NFL's most dynamic player when he breaks contain, Mahomes' ability to threaten defenses in scramble situations, both as a runner and a thrower, puts him at the top of my list. Last season, Mahomes converted 66.7% of his third-down scrambles (12 of 18) while also registering a QBR of 82.2, with eight touchdown passes, on scramble-attempt throws. He can pick up the sticks and find open throwing windows when forced to leave the pocket. -- Bowen



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Stat to know: Eleven percent of Jackson's dropbacks resulted in him scrambling last season, the highest rate in the league. But among players with at least 20 scrambles last year, Tannehill was actually the most efficient in terms of expected points added per scramble. -- Walder

Riser to watch: A lot of people were worried about Murray's size coming out of college. Would he really be able to scramble around an NFL field and avoid injury? But in two seasons, he has yet to miss a game. Why? Because he has outstanding football instincts and knows how to avoid taking the big hit. Half the battle with being a great scrambler is having the athletic traits, but the other half is knowing your limits. Murray is winning the battle with both. -- McFarland

Snubbed: There are a lot of areas in which Bills backup Mitchell Trubisky hasn't excelled, but he makes things happen when he uses his legs. Last year with Chicago, Trubisky scrambled 17 times for 166 yards. He scored once and moved the sticks seven other times. In 2018 and 2019, he added another 58 scrambles for 441 yards. And NFL Next Gen Stats clocked his maximum speed last season at 19.5 miles per hour. Buffalo fans can be confident that if Allen gets hurt, Trubisky can at least create on the ground in the same impressive fashion. -- Schatz/Klassen


Others who received at least one vote: Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, Cam Newton, Justin Fields, Trey Lance, Mitchell Trubisky, Sam Darnold, Gardner Minshew II, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Baker Mayfield, Marcus Mariota and Jacoby Brissett

Designed-run ability​

Many modern NFL quarterbacks have the ability to contribute in the run game, and offensive coordinators are looking to their QBs for designed runs and option reads more often. So whose speed, instincts, vision, elusiveness and physicality as a runner are the most impressive?

1. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
2. Kyler Murray, Cardinals
3. Josh Allen, Bills
4. Cam Newton, Patriots
5. Taysom Hill, Saints
6. Jalen Hurts, Eagles
7. Deshaun Watson, Texans*
8. Daniel Jones, Giants
9. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
10. Trey Lance, 49ers

Best of the best: Jackson's career is just getting started, but his trajectory as a runner is obvious: He's on his way to becoming the best rushing quarterback of all time. He already ranks 13th in rushing yards just three seasons into his career and could realistically catapult all the way up to fourth by the end of this upcoming season. His acceleration mirrors a sports car's; he has uncanny agility, and he slithers past tackles as though defenders have butterfingers. While defensive coaches can work tirelessly all week to devise a plan to slow Jackson down, here's the reality: When it's Jackson versus a defender in open space, he comes out on top. -- Yates

Biggest surprise: I know they're unproven, but I think rookies Justin Fields (Bears) and Lance could've been ranked higher -- and in the case of Fields, ranked at all. They're both incredibly explosive and are probably more dangerous in the open field at this point than Newton, who checked in at No. 4. -- Kimes

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0:58

Why Foxworth wants Lance to be QB1 right away​

Domonique Foxworth explains why Trey Lance needs to take over for Jimmy Garoppolo sooner rather than later.
Stat to know: Jackson blew away the field in expected points added on designed rushes in 2019. In 2020, he had a challenger in the form of Murray but still took the crown. The Ravens QB remains the clear top choice on designed carries. -- Walder

Riser to watch: Lance will be in the top three next year if he plays this season. He is a dynamic player who is big, fast and tough. And Justin Herbert is faster than he appears and should be in the top 10 next year, too. -- Tannenbaum

Snubbed: Herbert's rushing defense-adjusted yards above replacement was third worst in the league last year, but that should be chalked up to a horrific Chargers offensive line. He is a long-strider, which makes him better on the edge and in space rather than dodging defenders at the second level, but he has similar tools to Allen. An improved offensive line should help Herbert better showcase his rushing talent. -- Schatz/Klassen


Others who received at least one vote: Russell Wilson, Justin Herbert, Justin Fields, Ryan Tannehill, Mitchell Trubisky, Sam Darnold, Derek Carr and Patrick Mahomes

Second-reaction ability​

To close, we looked at a trait that leads to so many highlights throughout an NFL season. Quarterbacks won't always be able to sit in the pocket and throw darts. With pressure coming off the edge or up the middle, getting outside the pocket and making off-schedule throws on the run is important in today's game. Those are the off-platform passes from different arm angles and body positions, often on the move.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs
2. Aaron Rodgers, Packers
3. Russell Wilson, Seahawks
4. Josh Allen, Bills
5. Deshaun Watson, Texans*
6. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
7. Dak Prescott, Cowboys
8. Justin Herbert, Chargers
9. Kyler Murray, Cardinals
10. Matthew Stafford, Rams

Best of the best: Mahomes has made off-platform throws look routine since the very first practice he had as a Chiefs rookie, and he is only going to get better there as his confidence continues to grow. Right below Mahomes, it sometimes appears at though every throw from Rodgers is off-platform, as he rarely has his feet set and can deliver the ball however and wherever he needs with a flick of the wrist. But the guy who is going to get his overdue credit in this category in 2021 is Stafford. Wait and see. -- Riddick

Biggest surprise: Sam Darnold needs to see it faster as a pocket thrower, and if he can improve there, he will have an opportunity to deliver the ball with more rhythm in Joe Brady's heavily schemed pass game for the Panthers this season. But in terms of creating outside of structure, I already have Darnold in my personal top 10. The former Jets quarterback has the ability to escape the pocket, extend plays and make second-reaction throws from multiple platforms and arm angles. And that goes back to his tape at USC. -- Bowen

Peyton Manning: Detail | Episodes​

---

• Watch: Russell Wilson
• Watch: Baker Mayfield
• Watch: Patrick Mahomes
• Watch: Tom Brady
• Watch: Andrew Luck
• Watch: Deshaun Watson
• Watch: Philip Rivers
• Watch: Eli Manning

Stat to know: Over the past three seasons combined, Mahomes had the highest total expected points added on throws on the run. But according to NFL Next Gen Stats, another quarterback led the league in expected points added per play and completion percentage over expectation on throws on the run over that span: the Saints' Jameis Winston, who missed our top 10. -- Walder

Riser to watch: Herbert has as much raw talent as nearly anyone else in the league. As his command and confidence grow, I see his willingness to create also increasing. Very few players have the ability to break a 50-plus-yard TD run as well as attack most areas on the field while on the move. Herbert can do both, and I anticipate us seeing that more going forward. -- Hasselbeck

Snubbed: Just because Tom Brady does not often put himself in position to need a second-reaction throw, it does not mean he can no longer do it. Even at 44 years old, he still has a knack for being able to take his feet out of the equation when necessary and make a tough throw with only his upper body, and often with defenders in his face. Brady's second-reaction throws look nothing like those of the younger guys in the league, but he is still among the best at problem-solving when pressured. -- Schatz/Klassen

Others who received at least one vote: Baker Mayfield, Jameis Winston, Derek Carr, Carson Wentz, Cam Newton, Tom Brady, Ryan Tannehill, Sam Darnold, Matt Ryan, Joe Burrow, Zach Wilson, Trevor Lawrence, Jared Goff, Ben Roethlisberger and Ryan Fitzpatrick

* This ballot was completed by our panel earlier this summer, and it includes Deshaun Watson, who faces allegations of sexual assault and inappropriate behavior in 22 active lawsuits. Watson didn't practice with the Texans last week and didn't travel for their game on Saturday against the Cowboys. Watson's lawyer, Rusty Hardin, said last week that the allegations are being investigated by the FBI. Tony Buzbee, who represents the women suing Watson, said last week that the FBI met with him to discuss Watson and spoke with several plaintiffs.

Rams linebacker Chris Garrett wins the confidence game​

Skepticism was natural when the Rams used a seventh-round draft pick last spring to select an outside linebacker from a Division II college that canceled its 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Among those without much faith in Chris Garrett going into his first Rams training camp was Chris Garrett.

“It was a little shaky, I’ll be honest,” Garrett said of his confidence then. “I just hadn’t played in such a long time.”

Consider his confidence restored.

Saturday night, the 23-year-old from Concordia University in St. Paul, Minn., had a breakthrough game in the Rams’ 17-16 preseason loss to the Raiders at SoFi Stadium. Really, he had a breakthrough five minutes.

In a span of six Raiders snaps over two series in the second quarter, Garrett tipped a Nathan Peterman pass that ended up intercepted by safety J.R. Reed, threw running back Trey Ragas for a 6-yard loss, teamed with defensive end Jonah Williams on a sack, got his hand on an incomplete pass, and recorded a strip sack to force a punt.

Deep breath.

“My mentality is ‘next play, next play.’ I was tired. I almost tapped,” Garrett, 6-foot-4, 245 pounds, said later. “But it was just ‘go.’ “

Garrett started and played 60% of defensive downs, most among Rams linebackers, and had team highs in sacks (1-1/2), quarterback hits (three) and passes defended (two). This, after he played 42% of snaps and failed to dent the stat sheet in the Rams’ preseason-opening loss to the Chargers.

The performance can’t hurt Garrett’s chances of winning a spot on the roster. He started the preseason behind outside linebackers Leonard Floyd, Justin Hollins, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo and Justin Lawler on the depth chart. Terrell Lewis continues to miss practice with knee problems.

“He did a great job. Made a big impact,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of Garrett on Saturday. “And really you’ve seen him start to make steady improvements (in practice).”

Garrett, the 252nd of 259 players taken in this year’s draft, caught the Rams’ attention with 36 1/2 sacks in college. Those broke a school record set by defensive end Zach Moore, Concordia’s only previous NFL player. Moore played for four NFL teams from 2014-18.

“You know, the biggest thing wasn’t that I came from Concordia-St. Paul, a small school. It was more that I missed the 2020 season, and getting adjusted to (playing again),” Garrett said of his challenge in training camp. “Every day, it was a big emphasis (to) just do better than the day before. I slowly got better.”

His first breakthrough came in practice about two weeks ago when he won his first one-on-one pass-rushing drill.

“I just couldn’t win a one-on-one, and I’m just like ‘What is going on?’ ” he said. “I used some hands and speed and won a live rep in practice, and I’m like, ‘I’m back! Let’s go.’

“I was super confident coming into this game.”

His second breakthrough, Saturday night, showed how far he has come in a month.

“I got in a little zone there, made a bunch of plays. It was fun just getting out there, getting that adrenaline back,” Garrett said. “It was nice.”

NOTES

The Rams said running back/kick returner Raymond Calais sustained a Lisfranc injury Saturday, a foot fracture. Calais will need surgery, worsening the depth problem at running back. Active are Darrell Henderson, Xavier Jones, Jake Funk and Otis Anderson. The Rams opened last season with five backs.

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Figured this would've been posted already. This is the top 100 voted on by the players only.



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it was interesting to see Kiser and Jones get some run together yesterday. Travin Howard has been getting some run as well..

I'm not sure if they're planning on going with Reeder and Young as the starters...but honestly Kiser and Jones may be the group with the most upside. Kiser wasn't a world better last year but when he was healthy, we had a pretty solid run..and we were the #1 defense....

I think we have a talented group...but I'm curious which two are going to start the season as starters...

Perkins threw 39 passes and ran 9 times. Some of those were scrambles.
The rest of the team had 18 rushing attempts.

Should we be concerned about the imbalance or is it just preseason fodder??

I'm a little shocked in myself. I just couldn't say no once I saw it. I'm a sucker. My boy Winston is gonna be my good luck charm.

In today's game between Tampa and Chicago, Rays announcer Brian Anderson said, "The White Sox are going to win the Central but they've really beat up on bad teams". A graphic was displayed showing they are 31-30 vs teams .500 or better, while they are 41-22 against sub .500 teams. Anderson then said, "people up there in Chicago are asking, 'how about beating the better teams'?"
Anderson's partner in the booth said, "isn't that what they say? 'Beat the teams you should beat, at least split with the better teams and you'll have a good record?' ".
Anderson, "well sure, but they've really beat up on some bad teams".
A little research shows the Rays are 35-33 against teams .500 or better and 31-15 vs sub .500 teams.
People watching that broadcast may be asking, "and he gets paid for that great analysis?"

Best way to help this team in 2021: get good at returns holmes.

A lot to say about this group I think it deserves its own thread.

First off, Evans is a mess. Pretty telling that when Anchrum went down, they replace him with Brewer instead of putting Evans there at his natural RT position. Brewer didn't help, he got constantly beat. Evans in the 3rd and 4th qtr couldn't even block Raider 3rd stringer DL.

I think part of the reason McVay left Perkins in the whole game was for his scrambling ability. Hodges would have been ate up behind Rams OL.

Holding, false starts, hands to the face, awful.

Some positives: Shelton looked OK at C, Anchrum looked solid again at RT. Aleric Jackson pass blocking looked better.

I'd like to see more Jordan Merideth at G.

The final estimated tally is as follows: second round – 1 (one)
third round – 2 (two)
fourth-round – 1 (one)
fifth round – 1 (one)
sixth round – 4 (four)
seventh round – 2 (two)
Total – 11 (eleven)

Well some decent ammo this next year up.

What was it, something like 10 OL penalties with more than half of them coming in the 1'st quarter ? That was indeed ugly, but overall the OL ended up playing better than last week once we get beyond those penalties. Both Funk & Jones ran far better behind today's Rams OL than they did against the Chargers. The first half began with the same personnel at OL as last week, so you might want to attribute some of that improvement to building chemistry, but those penalties kind of dismantle that theory. It's easy to wonder how well Funk & Jones might perform behind the first team offense, but it's not enough for me to stop desiring a waivered/traded/or cut veteran RB for a team making a potential Super Bowl run. Funk had 7 carries for 56 yards and an 8 ypc average while Xavier Jones had 7 carries for 29 yards and a 4.1 ypc average.
It seems to me that Alaric Jackson has won the LT#3 job and will be impossible to hang on to if we were to attempt to waiver him to the practice squad, he's really become the surprise of the unit. On the other hand, it appears that Chandler Brewer is becoming the sacrificial lamb, so to speak, as he's been moved out of his former LT role and had to play two different positions in two weeks, positions he hasn't played since pre-season of 2019. He may have improved slightly over last week, but he still struggled while dividing time between LG & RT. Anchrum also had his own struggles at RT during the first half today and was kept out of returning to the game after what was hopefully a minor leg or foot injury. Shelton seemingly held is own while splitting time with Kolone again, and seems to be solidifying his #3 Center role. Meredith split time at RG last week and split time at LG tonight, so his trajectory as a potential swing OG/Center continues. Evans continues to disappoint at RG and I struggle trying to understand why management still tries to force this square peg through a round hole, why are they so focused on this rather than allow him to try to regain some confidence at the one position he had a modicum of success at, RT ?

I believe the entire OL is safe from the next round of roster cuts, game # 3 in Denver next week is going to be decisive for settling the future for a few of these players, so bring your 'A' game boys, you're going to need it. jmo.

Do the Rams carry 3 QBs this year? It's obvious how much McVay likes Perkins. There is another reason as well. If you watched the AZ game, it's clear to me they would grab Perkins because he's what Murray would like to be. Murray continues to struggle reading defenses. Perkins is improving in that regard. In many ways, Perkins is better even as a #2 than anyone else on the Cards roster.

The other option might be to release Wolford at the last cutdown. He stands a much better chance of clearing waivers than Perkins right now. There is too much positive film on Perkins now that IMO he wouldn't clear waivers.

Wolford will be an ERFA next year meaning the Rams control whether they keep him. Perkins would be an ERFA in 2023 meaning they control him for 3 years as opposed to Wolford's 2 years. Perkins would also, make pretty good trade bait as well. I wasn't overly enthused with Perkins after last week. But he showed me something tonight. In another year Perkins will be a better QB than Wolford. He's simply got more upsides. Perkins has starter potential. I'm not sure Wolford does.

Perkins would provide the Rams with a long terms alternative to Stafford. They control Bryce for the next 3 years. A lot can happen to Stafford in that time. Perkins would potentially offer McVay a homegrown solution at QB as a follow-up to Stafford.

Right now Perkins' timing is many times slow. Many of his passes to Tutu were inaccurate and late. But those are things that are correctable by good coaching. Perkins isn't a running QB but he has the ability to run well when he needs to. He has shown an ability to extend plays. What Perkins gives the Rams is the potential of having a true starting quality QB behind Stafford, not just a good bandaid which Wolford brings to the table.

There was a time teams carried 3 QBs as their normal roster. The idea being a true developmental future starter is worth more than the lowest player on the roster. In the Ram's case this year that may in fact be what McVay is thinking. The rumor is that Perkins was going to be Goff's eventual replacement. I think the Ram FO may still have that perspective. Perkins may give the Rams an option 5 years from now. They realistically could keep Perkins for at least 4 more years maybe 5 if Perkins knew he was going to be the next starting QB, i.e. much like the Saints and Hill. This will give them an option to extending a QB who would be 38 or 39 years old.

IMO that is why Sean played Perkins this entire game and why he was smiling at the end of it. I think we just saw Perkins become the #2 QB. The only question now is do they keep Wolford? I think they do simply because finding good backup QBs isn't as easy as some think. It's why I think why not carry 3 QBs for 2 years? Then let Wolford walk when he's a UFA three years from now. Until then the Rams have true depth at the most important position on the team.

New York has always had a hold of the sports world. The Yankees, Dodgers and Giants until the late 50's. The Knicks, Rangers and Football Giants. Now it's the Yanks, Mets, Giants, Jets (if you group North Jersey with NYC....I don't), Knicks, Nets, Islanders and Rangers. That's a lot of history there. Chicago with the Cubs, White Sox, Bears, Bulls and Blackhawks. A whole lotta history there too. Los Angeles has had the Rams, Chargers, Raiders, Dodgers, Angels, Lakers, Kings and Clippers.

Where would we look next? Philadelphia? The Phillies, Eagles, Sixers and Flyers? Atlanta? The Braves, Falcons and Hawks? They had the Flames for a while in the NHL. Washington? The Redskins, Senators (twice), Bullets, Wizards, Capitals and Nationals. But how about Boston? Now that the Patriots have become the ultimate football franchise, Beantown has some historical franchises. The Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins. Man, it doesn't get much better than that. What say you? What cities have I missed?

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Could be interesting

Hey guys. You have to watch this video of a genius 22 year old kid who just discovered a trading algorithm pattern. It matches up perfectly between AMC & GME. The price movements match perfectly.

Watch this now, as you may want to buy in Monday morning, because the algorithm is in its final stage before it blows. Maybe this is bullshit. I'm 54, and I've seen a ton of bullshit, but this seems wild to be honest.

Here's the link. It's 1 1/2 hours. You can skip up to 9 minutes, and within 20 minutes of that you'll start to get it, then keep watching to the end. Hope you watch!

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Anyone know how to use a VPN to watch in market/ nationally televised games?

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