QB Duck Hodges seeks landing spot with Rams​

IRVINE — In his many appearances on the NFL transaction wire, he is known as Devlin Hodges. Devlin Hodges, signed. Devlin Hodges, waived. Devlin Hodges, signed to the practice squad.

And, most recently, Devlin Hodges, signed to a reserve/future contract with the Rams.

But you can call him Duck, his nickname since his freshman year at Samford University, where a coach picked up on the Alabama native’s constant talk of duck hunting and duck calling.

“Anyone that calls me Devlin, I’m kind of like, ‘Do I know you?’” he said.

At 25, Hodges is working on making a name for himself in the NFL for the second time.

Two years ago, as an undrafted rookie, he had a Cinderella rise from the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad to starting quarterback for six games after injuries to Ben Roethlisberger and second-stringer Mason Rudolph. The Steelers went 4-4 in the eight games he played. He led a game-winning drive against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Hodges spent all of 2020 on the Pittsburgh practice squad. The day his contract expired last January, the Rams called his agent. He jumped at the chance to compete to back up, at the time, Jared Goff.

Now the 6-foot-1, 210-pounder wearing number 19 is competing to be one of Matthew Stafford’s backups, and with John Wolford expected to miss at least another week following an appendectomy, Hodges and Bryce Perkins are getting more chances to prove themselves.

“I’ve always been a guy, in my two years so far in this league, who’s gotten limited opportunities,” Hodges said Monday after the Rams’ second-to-last practice of the two weeks of training camp at UC Irvine. “With those limited opportunities, I’m making the most out of it.”

While Stafford played most of the downs in Saturday’s scrimmage against the Dallas Cowboys, Hodges got in to complete 7 of 9 passes by an unofficial count, while Perkins went 6 for 6.

With Rams starters sitting out exhibition games, Hodges and Perkins are expected to split playing time in this Saturday’s preseason opener against the Chargers at SoFi Stadium.

The Rams know Perkins from his year on the practice squad. They’re getting to know Hodges now.

They know he can play. He set an NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision career passing record with 14,584 yards at Samford, and won the Walter Payton Award as a senior as the outstanding offensive player at the FCS level. It was his biggest individual honor, unless you count his victory in the 2018 Alabama State Duck Calling Championship.

The question is how fast and well Hodges can learn to adjust to his new team’s play-calling system, which doesn’t involve quarterbacks reading wristbands as the Steelers’ did.

“There’s a lot of different things in terms of the vernacular, the verbiage that’s new to him (from) his previous background in Pittsburgh,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “But he’s a natural thrower, he’s got just a natural feel, he’s got good command in the huddle.”

Said Hodges: “Once I get the ball in my hands, I’m very confident in what’s going on.”

That confidence has been tested, such as when the Steelers waived him in 2019, and he spent a week on the couch wondering what kind of job he could get, before the team recalled him to the practice squad.

Hodges is only two years into his NFL career, and he already calls it “crazy.”

“It’s just been up and down. I will say this, I’ve kind of really gotten a good picture of how it all works on the business side (of football),” he said.

“Any day I get a chance to come out here, whether it be for third (quarterback), backup, starter, it’s a blessing.”

He’s Devlin Hodges on the Rams’ 90-man training camp roster. Maybe they’ll get more familiar if he makes the 53-man.

NOTES

Brian Allen has been getting more first-unit practice reps at center, suggesting Austin Corbett’s shift to center and Bobby Evans’ installation at right guard isn’t official yet. “It’s really a reflection of how well Brian’s played, and we’re going to continue to evaluate that,” McVay said. Allen began 2019 as the Rams’ starting center, but a knee injury cost him the past season and a half. … Outside linebacker Terrell Lewis was out of pads and on the sideline for the second time in the past five practice sessions. “Terrell’s knee is kind of acting up again, so we’re going to see what that looks like as we move forward,” McVay said of the 2020 third-round draft pick. … Nose tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day sat out practice after rolling an ankle in the scrimmage against the Cowboys on Saturday.

Had about 400 pics to sort through, sorry it took me so long.
Enjoy!

Camp Pics Aug 9th

Snead added another fast DB to the roster. Tyler Hall out of Wyoming is 5'8" but has timed as low as 4.38 in the 40. Has experience as a returner and gunner. He played inside at SCB and also as a boundary CB. More insurance in case they lose Williams next year and if Long doesn't pan out. This Rams team is track team fast now. If Hall pans out at SCB this will be one incredibly fast secondary. Ramsey, Rochell outside and Hall at SCB? WOW

Click the link and watch the video about new NFL rules in 2021.

No sure how I feel about it. One thing I do know is that if you don't like it, stop their play on the field...

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& Veteran Ram 4 Representing
STRONG!! Whose House ?

You guys did an excellent job of
Giving us Rod Rams Solid INFO!

Wish I would have bought U Both A
beer. They were closed as the chant went on.
Giving thanks & last scrimmage 10.
I can’t embrace though,so maybe I take some time to reflect.

Rhanks 2 All.

Rams Camp Daily 8/10: Day 10 marks final open practice of 2021 Training Camp​

Gates open at 2 p.m.; practice begins at 3:30 p.m.

Activities

• A Fan Activation Area, featuring Legends autograph signings, live music & performances, enter to win prizes, merchandise & customization station and special stage performances
• A Kids Zone, featuring inflatables, a 50-yard football field and football skills stations.
• A Concession Area, featuring Food Trucks with vegetarian options included, Kettle Corn and Funnel Cake, Burritos, Tacos, Carne Asada Fries and more.

come on , greatest decade eva !!!!

SONY Walkman

Boom Boxes

the original Nintendo NES

Video Camera's and VCR's

First Computers

Mullet haircuts and Parachute pants

tie tied jeans with rips in them that you bought at the mall , and didn't actually earn

hanging out at the arcade at the Mall

first cell phones , kinda

aerobic work out tapes

women with shoulder pads

teenage girls all dressed like Madonna

members always jackets

alligator preppy shirts with the collar turned up

wearing penny loafers with no socks

bright colors

bright colors

Some surprises here.
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LA Rams: Creating a new role for DB Jake Gervase at ILB​

Are the LA Rams getting desperate, or just very creative? To be honest, is there a distinguishable difference? After all, the truth could be that the LA Rams are just so desperate to retain the special team tackling specialist of Jake Gervase that the front office is willing to do just about anything to keep him, including negotiating with the coaching staff to find the most probable way of keeping the young man on the roster.

On the other hand, it could be a simple gamble by the much-maligned Gervase to switch lanes out of a deep and talented safety room, and into a soon-to-thin-out inside linebacker room. A strategic and calculated risk of earning a spot on the practice squad in 2021, and then springboard from there to a starting or rotational role on the team in 2022.

Of course, it could simply be an extension of infusing athleticism across the roster.

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Why move from safety to inside linebacker?

Well, to be honest, that is one of the premium defensive roles nowadays. And we’ve talked about how the new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris loves that Super-Saiyan role in his defense. Part-backer-part-safety, this role is the modern NFL defense’s solution to quicker-paced offenses that disguise their multiple receiver formations. The problem is that college defenses are not producing enough of that type of player to meet the NFL demand. So some teams are cross-training their own hybrid ILB/S players.

At 6-foot-1 and 212-pounds, Gervase is a big defensive back, a small inside linebacker, or an ideal Super Saiyan type player. He has been working with the LA Rams, albeit in a special teams capacity in the offseason, and practice squad player when the season starts. This year, it appears even tighter than ever, with Gervase competing with eight other players for what could be as few as four safety spots on the 53-man roster.

Whatever the underlying cause, it’s certainly an intriguing placement. In fact, it’s one more box to check when viewing preseason games.

Since another group is talking about the "good ole days", lets have our own party for everyone that grew up in the greatest decade ever, the 1990s.

Let's go to school with plastic lunch box and a thermos that was disguised as dino bio matter! I really had this one, in fact I still do somewhere.

I think this guy needs some attention because of his TC to date. Jackson has lost a ton of weight, going from about 318 lbs to around 285 lbs. This will allow him to pack on muscle weight and not have it degrade his ability. His scouting reports all pointed to how raw he was, and how bad his feet were in terms of a OT slide.

Losing that weight has seemed to improve the area of most concern his lateral movement. He appears quicker and smoother in his movement. What I personally like about him is his mauler mentality, a real trench warrior type of guy. Even with his film with him being heavier, it was clear this kid has potential on the right side as an RT or RG. I think his future is on the right side because of his ability to play the run and make second-level blocks, a must for a RG and especially a RT. His length would suggest RG but his experience as an OT would equally suggest his ability to play RT.

Reports are he is playing RT and isn't as raw as scouting reports had suggested. I think two things are at play here. He's motivated and he has worked hard at an outside performance academy to improve his game. Also, he's being coached up by Carberry who is known for his ability to develop young talent. Losing the weight IMO has helped his foot quickness. His practicing has been largely at RT and would suggest he could be in play as Havenstein's replacement. Also, since he played LT in college he is showing his value as a swing OT.

When people bemoaned the lack of an OL pick in this draft and McVay quipped that getting Brewer back off the COVID opt-out list was their draft pick. I also thought Jackson was an underrated signing. At the very least I saw quality depth in him. Reports from camp are very positive about his performance. There have been writeups in some publications about his surprising performance.

With his camp film, it might be hard to slip him through waivers to get to the PS. It's why I think the Rams will carry 10 not the 9 on the OL they usually do. It's why I don't think they will carry 7 WRs or 4 TE's to carry Mundt at the expense of a RT replacement for Havenstein or future swing OT. If he keeps on impressing this year I can see him in play as the Ram's RT of the future starting next year.

LA Rams training camp: Stock up, stock down​

By Kenneth Arthur@KennethArthuRS Aug 9, 2021, 1:53pm CDT

The LA Rams play their first preseason game on Saturday against the LA Chargers. We know from Sean McVay that we won’t see Matthew Stafford or Darrell Henderson at any point in a preseason game, but these are fantastic opportunities for others to prove themselves as worthy of a starting role or a spot on the 53-man roster.

It can be difficult to assess where players and coaches are at after less than a dozen training camp practices and yet, it’s human nature to want to “know” what’s going on and what developments have happened already. Especially with a Rams team that is great at holding information close to the vest.

Here are 11 players on LA’s 90-man roster who’ve maybe had the needle shift a little bit during the last two weeks: 7 stock up, 4 stock down.

Stock Up​

WR DeSean Jackson​

The Rams are super pleased with what they’ve seen in camp from the 34-year-old wideout, and Jackson is expected to be a considerable deep threat for Matthew Stafford this season.
TE Kendall Blanton
Though Blanton has gotten some positive reports out of camp, I am mostly adding him here because we’ve heard so little about 2020 fourth round pick Brycen Hopkins. Blanton seems to have a chance to rise from being TE4 or TE5 to possibly being TE3 or better.
CB Donte Deayon
If the 2020 Hard Knocks star doesn’t make the Rams roster out of camp, he could probably sneak through to the practice squad again and would have a real opportunity to be activated during the regular season. Based on what little we’ve seen in practices so far, Deayon might be able to leapfrog David Long, Jr. on the depth chart and finally hold onto a spot on the 53.
DB Kareem Orr
LA’s roster is too talented to allow for many “deep cuts” to make headlines. If you want to see young players, day three picks, and UDFAs star in training camp, might I suggest the Detroit Lions or New York Jets? They have a TON of exciting rookies and lesser known names. Orr is one of the few Rams who seems to have made a name for himself in training camp and he might be able to snag a place on the 53 if he continues it in the preseason.
LB Justin Hollins
I think we’ve all been hoping for a linebacker to step up and prove himself as “necessary” to the defense for at least 90% of the snaps in 2021. Other than the obvious suspect, Leonard Floyd, I’m not sure we’ve seen that yet. But Hollins, a player who wasn’t on the roster last training camp, could be the best bet to start alongside Floyd.
DT Greg Gaines
I’m not sure if many other Rams writers are saying this or not, but I simply believe in Gaines and think he’s having a good camp. LA has A’Shawn Robinson and Sebastian Joseph-Day ahead of him, plus two drafted rookies competing against, but I think he’s proven he can be a regular in the rotation.
OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Another linebacker who might be able to take that step forward, Okoronkwo has been mentioned for his progress in camp this year, the final one of his rookie contract.

Stock Down​

QB John Wolford​

An unfortunately-timed appendectomy (when are they ever appropriately timed?) will cost Wolford a little bit of practice time and preseason action, and that’s not great for a guy who didn’t get any preseason action in 2020. It is good news for Brycen Hopkins and Devlin Hodges, who are getting more chances now to prove themselves in camp.
TE Brycen Hopkins
This was supposed to be the year he replaced Gerald Everett, but we’ve heard hardly anything about Hopkins through two weeks.

CB David Long​

Long seemed to be the target of nearly every completion against the LA defense when facing off against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday. Though he did have a couple of nice pass breakups, Long needs to prove capable of handling 6+ targets per game, knowing he’ll be playing alongside Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams in coverage. Or will he?

LB Terrell Lewis​

What’s been the deal with Lewis? It could just be that the knee concerns will never go away and the Rams will “load manage” his snaps all season. I guess that could be considered normal for some players but Lewis might just be falling out of favor in a sea of talented linebackers who are eager for an opportunity. You don’t want to lose availability in this league.

Only 2 more days where fans are allowed. After my failed attempt to watch the scrimmage in Oxnard, I plan to be at Irvine today and tomorrow. Don't know if they'll be in pads today.

With Wolford out we'll get to see more of Perkins and Hodges with the twos. I will keep an eye on OL and DL 2nd team as I think back up OL still isn;t decided. I think Anchrum, Noteboom and Allen are safe. They normally keep 8 or 9 so maybe one slot left. Still have to see how they do in 3 pre-season games.

Anyway hopefully they'll let me in.

Are we having any Leagues this year?

Behind The Grind Ep. 1: On the practice field with Rams S Nick Scott​

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There are a lot of you old bastids out there who can participate in this one. Tell us of the fads you did back in the day. Fess up!

*Earth Shoes
*Bell Bottom pants
*Mood Ring
*Puka shell necklace/bracelet
*Clackers
*CB Radio
*8 Track Players
*Cal Worthington and his Dog Spot

We know @Merlin loved to Streak, when not wearing a leisure suit. gold medallion and platform shoes....

Sean McVay on Rams' inside linebackers: 'I love the depth of that group'​

Cameron DaSilva

August 8, 2021 11:30 am PT



Unlike most teams, the Los Angeles Rams don’t have a surefire middle linebacker to lead the defense. Micah Kiser and Troy Reeder both held that role at different points last season, while Kenny Young also contributed as a second inside linebacker when the Rams were in their base defense.

Heading into this season, Kiser, Reeder, Young and two other young players – Travin Howard and Ernest Jones – will be competing for the starting jobs, but all of them will have to earn their roster spots, too. It’s an underwhelming group that probably won’t blow anyone away on defense, but Sean McVay likes the way his inside linebackers have come together.

“I think when you look at the confidence that those guys gained in that group, I mean you talk about a really deep group,” he said after practice Saturday. “Kenny is really building on a great campaign last year, Micah and Troy have played really high-caliber football and it’s great to have T-Howard back and healthy, so I love the depth of that group.”

Young especially needs a strong finish to camp and the preseason. The Rams can cut him and save $2.2 million in cap space, which puts him in a tough spot with roster cuts coming up in the next couple of weeks.

Jones is the safest bet to make the team as a third-round rookie, while Kiser, Reeder and Howard will all be fighting for roster spots like Young. Christian Rozeboom shouldn’t be forgotten, either, though as a second-year player who went undrafted in 2020, he really needs to shine the rest of the way.

***************************************************************************************************************************************************************
I have my two guys with Travin Howard and Ernest Jones –
I thought Howard was coming on prior to injury last year and I think Jones may be the most physically complete
LB of the group and has leadership qualities that are head and shoulders above the rest.

Tell me who your liking of the group.
If I'm wrong in my assessment, tell me why.
Lot's of depth to choose from.

Could DeSean Jackson win Comeback Player of the Year in 2021?​

The 34-year-old has been one of the top stars at Rams camp already
By Kenneth Arthur@KennethArthuRS Aug 8, 2021, 12:31pm CDT
6 Comments

​

For DeSean Jackson to have a successful season in 2021, he must overcome the odds for a multitude of reasons. Number one, Jackson will be turning 35 in December, making him one of the oldest skill position players in the NFL. Number two, he must carve out a role for himself in a brand new offense, surrounded by younger players who have all been more productive than him over the last five years. And number three, Jackson must prove that he can stay healthy after missing 13 games in 2019 and 11 games in 2020.

If he can pull that off, then we’ll know for sure that Jackson’s miracle work can stretch far beyond the Meadowlands. Through the first two weeks of training camp, Jackson has been a star attraction for the LA Rams, a favorite target of Matthew Stafford’s, and a much closer version to the player he was in the late aughts and early 2000s with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Stafford’s name has been thrown around for Comeback Player of the Year simply because he’s coming back from having to play for the Detroit Lions. If Jackson can come even close to 1,000 yards, then he needs to be in the heart of that conversation too.

1. Does that seem possible?
   Looking at other receivers from the 2000s, Jackson being healthy and productive at 35 would be a rarity:
   • Torry Holt and Chad Johnson retired after their age-33 seasons. Roddy White retired after his age-34 season. Randy Moss retired after his age-33 season, then returned at 35 to catch 28 passes for 434 yards in 16 games with the San Francisco 49ers. Andre Johnson had nine catches for 85 yards in eight games during his age-35 season.
   • Marvin Harrison, an all-pro at 34, missed 11 games during his age-35 season. He caught 60 passes for 636 yards when he was 36, then retired. His former Indianapolis Colts teammate Reggie Wayne was a Pro Bowl player at 34, then missed nine games the next year. At 36, Wayne had 64 catches for 779 yards in his final season. Wes Welker had 49 catches for 464 yards at age 33, then signed with the Rams and had 13 catches for 102 yards in eight games before retiring.
   Plaxico Burress was suspended from the league during his age 32 and 33 seasons, then returned at 34 to catch 45 passes for 612 yards with the New York Jets. He played in four games with the Pittsburgh Steelers at age 35, then was finished. Brandon Marshall missed 11 games after he signed with the Giants for his age-33 season, then went to the Seattle Seahawks at 34 and played in seven games, catching 11 passes for 136 yards.
   Certainly it’s no surprise that most good players are not as good after turning 34, but there are some exceptions to the rule.
   • Terrell Owens caught 69 passes for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns with the Dallas Cowboys at age 35, though he needed 140 targets to get there. He had 55 catches for 829 yards with the Buffalo Bills at age 36, then 72 catches for 983 yards and nine touchdowns with the Cincinnati Bengals at age 37. Owens bounced around the league and managed to be somewhat effective in his mid-thirties.
   • Derrick Mason had over 1,000 yards at age 34 and age 35, then 802 yards and seven touchdowns at age 36.
   • Steve Smith went to the Baltimore Ravens when he turned 35 and he caught 79 passes for 1,065 yards. He played two more seasons with the Ravens and caught 70 passes for 799 yards at age 37.
   • Anquan Boldin had 1,062 yards at age 34, then 69 catches for 789 yards and four touchdowns at age 35. Boldin also caught eight touchdowns at age 36, playing one year with Stafford and the Detroit Lions.
   • Isaac Bruce had 1,098 yards at age 34, then 55 catches for 733 yards in his final season with the Rams. Bruce had 61 catches for 835 yards with the 49ers at age 36.
   • We could go on and on with examples and given the current era presence of players like Andrew Whitworth and Tom Brady, who knows what the new normal for age will be in the future. But as easy as it is to find examples of receivers who were finished by the time they turned 33 or 34, it’s also not hard to find examples of ones who had plenty more to give.
   • So far, it seems like Jackson has plenty to give and that Stafford has plenty to give him.

---

Pretty much anybody that watched Night Court loved her. First however saw her in a 2 episode run in Buck Rodgers Third one of these we've posted in a few days. Sad to see people pass on.

Was able to watch them last night. Giving kudos to Lovie (him in the red long sleeve shirt). Brandin is still a good player; you don't really appreciate his speed until you see him in person. If you want to take a shot on a WR in fantasy drafts, The Archer is a good safety net.





Also this is a shot of Lonnie Johnson, nothing special but it's probably one of my favorite pics I've ever taken.