NFL Power Rankings: As training camps begin, the Super Bowl contenders and pretenders​

Lindsay Jones Jul 26, 2021


Welcome back to The Athletic’s NFL Power Rankings.

For this edition, we pulled together 31 of our NFL reporters and editors last week and put this question to them: How would you rank each team’s chances to win the Super Bowl, as the roster and coaching staff is constructed now? That certainly leaves room for interpretation, with weight to what happened in 2020 and this offseason, and consideration for what’s to come.

As for the pithy analysis, that’s from me, Lindsay Jones, one of The Athletic’s national NFL reporters. You can complain to me in the comments if your team is too low or if I was too mean. But the order? Our staff had the say.

1. Kansas City Chiefs ​

2020 regular-season/playoff finish: 14-2, Super Bowl loss to Buccaneers

The last time we watched the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes was running for his life and his offense was ineffective in a way we’ve never seen during the Mahomes era. The Super Bowl was a bad day for Kansas City, to be sure, but we shouldn’t let that obscure just how good the Chiefs still should be in 2021. It starts with Mahomes, obviously, but Kansas City still has one of the league’s best collective of skill position players, led by tight end Travis Kelce and receiver Tyreek Hill. And with an offensive coaching staff that has shown its willingness to continue to innovate, there’s no reason to expect the Chiefs won’t be routinely scoring in bunches.

What I’m watching in camp: The Chiefs could have five different starters along the offensive line from those we saw at the Super Bowl, and that would be a good thing. The right tackle, left tackle and center spots are particularly intriguing camp battles.

2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers​

2020 regular-season/playoff finish: 11-5, Super Bowl winner

Winning the offseason doesn’t usually count for much, but when you’re also the defending Super Bowl champions, that earns you a spot near the top of these power rankings. The Bucs were a slow burn in 2020 and peaked at the perfect time in the postseason. Now they have the benefit of continuity, a luxury few champions are afforded. It took some creativity to push some cap pain into future years in order to get all 22 of the 2020 starters back under contract, but the Bucs clearly believe it’ll be worth it.

What I’m watching in camp: It’s bonkers to think that Tom Brady played last season with a knee injury, so it’ll be interesting to see how much more effective he is in Year 2 working with the Bucs’ offensive personnel as well as with coach Bruce Arians and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. I’m not expecting to be looking for signs of Brady’s decline; rather, I think we’ll see signs of improvement.

3. Buffalo Bills ​

2020 regular-season/playoff finish: 13-3, AFC Championship loss to Chiefs

If there’s any team built to become a long-term rival to the Chiefs in the AFC, it’s the Bills. Buffalo had a decent offseason; I particularly liked the signing of veteran Emmanuel Sanders to bolster the receiver group behind Stefon Diggs, and the decisions to bring back free-agent offensive linemen Jon Feliciano and Daryl Williams and re-sign linebacker Matt Milano.

What I’m watching in camp: Other than looking for new wrinkles in the offense for Josh Allen in Year 4, I want to see how much better the Bills’ defensive front might look with the addition of rookies Greg Rousseau and Carlos Basham Jr., whom Buffalo took with its first two draft selections in April. We know the blueprint for beating the Chiefs is to consistently pressure Mahomes. Are the Bills better suited now to do that?

4. Baltimore Ravens ​

2020 regular-season/playoff finish: 11-5, divisional loss to Bills

This time last year, Lamar Jackson was facing what were probably unfair expectations of how he’d follow up his MVP performance from 2019. Now, we’re a year further into the Jackson era in Baltimore, and it’s going to be interesting to see where the Ravens’ offense goes next. Baltimore has overhauled and seemingly improved its receiver corps, with the addition of first-round pick Rashod Bateman and veteran Sammy Watkins, but the offensive line is in flux, too, after the trade that sent tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to Kansas City.

What I’m watching in camp: Seven-on-sevens will be a must-watch to get a sense of what the Ravens’ passing game looks like after these significant changes.

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5. Los Angeles Rams​

2020 regular-season/playoff finish: 10-6, divisional loss to Packers

Another whirlwind offseason for the Rams, starting with the mega-trade for quarterback Matthew Stafford. His arrival and whatever changes Sean McVay will make to the offense after the move away from Jared Goff will be one of the most intriguing schematic storylines of the season.

What I’m watching in camp: The Rams’ running back situation is worth watching, and not just for fantasy football reasons. It seemed like the team was ready to go all-in on lead back Cam Akers, and now it’s starting over after Akers suffered a torn Achilles tendon this month. He’ll likely miss the entire season. Will Darrell Henderson be able to move into that role? Will it be another running back-by-committee season? Or could general manager Les Snead find someone else to add to the mix after camp starts?

6. Green Bay Packers ​

2020 regular-season/playoff finish: 13-3, NFC Championship loss to Buccaneers

It feels almost silly to do a pre-camp ranking for the Packers, because the variance between Green Bay with Aaron Rodgers and without him is so great. So for the purpose of this exercise, we’re going to (perhaps naively) assume that some point soon, he and the team will come to some sort of understanding that they both need each other, he’ll return to Green Bay and all will be right, at least for a few more months, in Wisconsin. With Rodgers, the Packers should once again have one of the best offenses in the NFL. The addition of rookie receiver Amari Rodgers is intriguing, and the eventual healthy return of left tackle David Bakhtiari would help fix a lot of things that went wrong in the NFC Championship Game.

What I’m watching in camp: All eyes on Rodgers or, if he’s MIA, on Jordan Love. Green Bay’s quarterback will be the No. 1 storyline all year long, but especially so as camp begins.

7. Cleveland Browns ​

2020 regular-season/playoff finish: 11-5, divisional loss to Chiefs

One of the things I weigh heavily when evaluating teams this time of year is whether they have a plan. With the Browns, there is no question they know who they are and who they want to be. And for a team that has gone through as much drama as Cleveland has over the past, oh, two decades, that’s encouraging. GM Andrew Berry and his staff were able to look at their 2020 roster and results and know what issues they needed to address. That turned into free-agent additions like safety John Johnson and cornerback Troy Hill, both formerly of the Rams, and defensive line depth, with veteran free agents like Jadeveon Clowney and Malik Jackson.

What I’m watching in camp: Odell Beckham Jr. missed the Browns’ playoff run because of an ACL injury, but after hearing quarterback Baker Mayfield talk up his star receiver recently, I am looking forward to seeing Beckham back at full strength and what the Browns’ run-heavy offense looks like with him in the lineup.

8. Seattle Seahawks ​

2020 regular-season/playoff finish: 12-4, wild-card loss to Rams

For now, it seems Russell Wilson has quashed whatever drama was brewing this offseason, and that’s good news for a Seattle team that needs him to be at his best. Our collective belief in Wilson is the reason so many of our panelists picked the Seahawks as a top-10 team. But there are still plenty of questions left unanswered, from the composition and quality of the offensive line to defensive holes, particularly at cornerback after the departure of Shaquill Griffin in free agency.

What I’m watching in camp: The Seahawks made a major offensive change by hiring new coordinator and play-caller Shane Waldon away from the Rams. What will this change mean for Wilson, who is one of the NFL’s best deep-ball throwers and improvisational passers?

9. San Francisco 49ers​

2020 regular-season finish: 6-10

Our voters were all over the place with the 49ers. One picked them at No. 3; two others ranked them at No. 20. So, let’s look at both cases: The optimistic view is that San Francisco was decimated by injuries last year. Perhaps with a healthy QB and Nick Bosa, a full-strength George Kittle and a deep running back corps, the 49ers can return to their 2019 form. The pessimistic view? Quarterback remains a major question, no matter if Jimmy Garoppolo retains his starting job or if the team winds up starting rookie first-round pick Trey Lance.

What I’m watching in camp: The quarterbacks, again — from carefully counting how many reps Lance gets with the first-team offense to evaluating how effective Garoppolo is when he’s with the starters, and what sort of differences we can see between the two.

10. Indianapolis Colts ​

2020 regular-season/playoff finish: 11-5, wild-card loss to Bills

Teams going through a major quarterback change are always the hardest to gauge this time of year, and the Colts feel like an especially complicated case. They made the major move to trade for Carson Wentz following Philip Rivers’ retirement, and while there is plenty to like about their roster and their young core of skill position players (like running back Jonathan Taylor and receiver Michael Pittman Jr.), it’s hard to get too excited about them as a potential playoff team until we see tangible results from Wentz.

What I’m watching in camp: Wentz will overshadow everything else in Indianapolis. How comfortable does he look now that he’s reunited with Frank Reich? What is his pocket presence? Is he making mental errors and committing turnovers?

11. Tennessee Titans ​

2020 regular-season/playoff finish: 11-5, wild-card loss to Ravens

The Titans pulled off one of the biggest moves of the offseason in trading for wide receiver Julio Jones from the Falcons. Even after the departure of offensive coordinator Arthur Smith (the new head coach in Atlanta), it’s exciting to think about the offensive possibilities in Tennessee. Will Jones’ addition be enough to push the Titans into the top tier of AFC teams? If nothing else, it should help their scoring output, and that’s a start.

What I’m watching in camp: The Titans are going through some significant defensive changes, but they will open camp without two of their biggest additions. Defensive end Bud Dupree is recovering from a torn ACL suffered with the Steelers and first-round cornerback pick Caleb Farley is rehabbing from back surgery. These are critical pieces for the Titans’ defense, so the sooner they can get on the field, the better.

12. Arizona Cardinals ​

2020 regular-season finish: 8-8

We’re not hearing much (if any) dark-horse MVP buzz for Kyler Murray right now, which is different from this time last year. Yet he’s better set up for success in Year 3, thanks to a trade for veteran center Rodney Hudson, the addition of rookie receiver Rondale Moore and the benefit of just more time. Still, our voting panel picked Arizona last in the NFC West (even if all four division teams are ranked in the top 12), a reminder that even if the Cardinals are on the rise, they have a tough path to the postseason.

What I’m watching in camp: I mentioned Moore already, but I’m very curious to see Arizona’s receiving corps in the post-Larry Fitzgerald era. We all know how insanely talented DeAndre Hopkins is, but for Murray and the Cardinals’ offense to make a jump this year, they’ll need more explosive and consistent play from the rest of the group, including veteran free-agent addition A.J. Green.

I maintain that the worst movies out there are those that get high marks from critics and awards shows, but actually suck.

Here are a few:

Birdman: A movie about the irony that, itself, became ironic by winning awards despite being, for the most part, unwatchable.

La La Land: People inexplicably and annoyingly sing and dance on the freeway, boy meets girl, boy and girl sort of fall in love, nobody cares.

Anomalisa: Puppet sex in irreverent comedy (Team America: World Police) - hilarious. Puppet sex in self-indulgent, one note, psycho-drama about disconnectivity in society - cringeworthy.

Inception: There were parts of the film that were entertaining, but if you give the plot any thought, you either laugh or your head explodes from the utter stupidity.

I'll get this started as it's easier for me on the desktop then using my iPhone.

To all of you who replied to our reports from yesterday, I'm sure I can speak for @bubbaramfan and @theduke by saying thank you for the likes, loves, laughs and thread winners. Of course the personal comments are much appreciated. I know it will make us want to do better today.

I'm going to try and focus on the people in the trenches today. Numbers are hard to read when so far away and if you are abreast of the line, well forget reading any numbers! This is where my photos will come in handy as they can capture things the eyes miss.

Looking forward to todays camp and will be getting back to your guys!

VRF

Today I go back to work after being away for quite a while due to health issues.

Problem is, I got talked into taking my old job back. I legit hate these mf. Like, I'm bitter as fuck about how it ended here. But they got ahold of me and offered me more than I was making before and two more weeks vacation. I simply couldn't say no.

I'm not sure how long I'll last. My anxiety is thru the fucking roof. Wish me luck, y'all.

Camp pics day one

I took over 300 pics today (normal for me at training camp). I selected about 65 of the best.

Please select the link to my Google Photos album. It's safe.

Thought this would be the best method to share.

Living in Chiefs country I hear more about them than I really care to but listening to a breakdown of the upcoming season the other day, I heard a lot about Humphrey and no mention of Blythe. Is this just preseason talk or is this something of substance? Is it possible Blythe has been overtaken already?

2021 NFL Quarterback Tiers: 50 coaches and evaluators rank the league’s starters

Mike Sando Jul 28, 2021

T-7. Matthew Stafford​

Tier 1 votes: 4 | Tier 2 votes: 38 | Tier 3 votes: 8 | 2020 Tier: 2

Stafford rose two spots from last year after Drew Brees retired and Ben Roethlisberger fell into Tier 3. The vote distribution for the Lions-turned-Rams starter was virtually unchanged. Quite a few think he can ascend under coach Sean McVay, but durability concerns persist.

“McVay’s system will play to his strengths,” an NFC North coach said. “Stafford played some of his better football when they did more under-center stuff at Detroit. Before that, they were so much gun, dropback pass game and you saw the gunslinger in him, where he had his up-and-down games.”

The Lions during Stafford’s starting tenure ranked among the NFL’s top half in combined defensive and special-teams EPA three times. The team won nine, 10 and 11 games in those seasons, but only 5.7 on average in the other seasons in which Stafford started at least 10 games. The Rams in 2018 reached the Super Bowl despite ranking 19th in that combined category. They were third last season on the strength of a top-ranked defense, which offset a 31st-ranked special teams.

“Stafford is significantly better than Goff, and he changes the ceiling of that team from an offensive standpoint,” a defensive coach said, “but they were also No. 1 defensively last year and lost their coordinator. One of Stafford’s issues has been trusting his arm too much. The system just by play-calling will limit some of those opportunities. It is blended into the play-action and the boots and the set-up shots where Matt can still uncork stuff.”

The Lions were 0-3 in postseason play with Stafford. The Rams won a playoff game with Goff just last season. A former GM compared dumping Goff to a team firing its coach after an 8-8 season. Any team making such a move had better win more than eight games the next year.

“I’m going to say he’s a 3,” an evaluator from an NFC West rival said. “Durability is the issue, and then he has those one-off, what-the-hell-was-that type decision making. But that level of talent with McVay, trust me, I wish it wasn’t in our division.”

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I guess I can start the thread for today. @bubbaramfan care to post in here?
Im headed that way now!!! We

Since Akers has gone down, I've been thinking about how the Rams offense will look.

Then it hit me - in terms of talent, without Akers were right there next to one of the best offenses from last season: the Bills.

Diggs is better than all our WRs - but our top 5 all would have been there #2 last year. Henderson and the unprovens are right there with what the Bills had at RB.

Offensive lines are tougher to evaluate, but I think it's close. Both teams have the whole performing better than the sum of the parts type of thing going on.

Which brings us to QB. In a lot of places, Stafford is seemed to be viewed similarly to Allen. If he has a season like Allen did last year....

Well, just imagine that the Bills were the Bills last year, only with Aaron Donald.

Super Bowl.

Ok so I have never been a huge fan of baseball but I have watched a lot more of it recently and I am really starting to enjoy it.

I would describe myself as a cardinals 'fan' just because when they had good runs with Pujols and Yadier etc I liked keeping an eye on them. The Rams were in St Louis at the time so it fit. Now that i am starting to properly get into it though i am thinking that i should either commit to the cardinals or go in a totally new direction.

This will be sacrilege for cardinals fans but i love watching the Cubs at Wrigley, the 7th inning stretch thing and when that place is bouncing it looks cool.

I also like the idea of the Dodgers because LA.

Teams that are not acceptable are those in seattle, San Francisco or Arizona. I want a team with a chance of winning but not the Yankees. And I dont want a team that are no hopers - sorry Colorado. Anyone else I will consider.

In exchange I will recommend European soccer teams for anyone who wants one, any criteria considered. Cheers!

Rams Receiver Van Jefferson is Carving His Own Path​

It’s now mostly known and expected that Los Angeles Rams receiver Van Jefferson is considerably more likely to establish his services in the NFL for years to come with his 2021-2022 campaign. Sean McVay, recently expressing big expectations for the third receiver drafted in his tenure, would just as soon it be under his tutelage.

The Josh Reynolds departure certainly opens the door of opportunity a bit wider. However, it should also be known that Jefferson’s desire to succeed runs deeper than mere NFL accolades –— not an uncommon story in itself.

Yet in this day and age, young men so easily connect and confuse respect with love and acceptance. Jefferson might be the perfect example that it’s possible to carry a chip on your shoulder without bitterness.

Los Angeles Rams Receiver Van Jefferson is Carving His Own Path

Sports fans see it all the time these days. It’s quite prominent in the NBA and NFL. The chip went wrong. We all remember then-Seattle Seahawks Richard Sherman’s excessive pride-filled post-game rant that included the infamous, “don’t you ever talk about me!” soundbite. Sherman had simply deflected a Michael Crabtree-intended pass that directly led to a Seahawks interception and victory.

Then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick also received Sherman’s disrespect in the form of a gestured throat-chocking. The night’s tasteless actions took attention away from the city of Seattle’s NFC Conference championship win. He may have apologized in his own way the next day but the damage was done. In time, largely forgotten until his latest episode.

This ‘me against the world’ mentality often appears to be a motivating vehicle to reach personal goals. Nothing completely wrong with that, in fact, in most cases. But when a person lacks a mature and reliable social structure, the mental maneuvering needed through various life obstacles some paths demand over time can suffer.

His Path Made Him Born to Separate

Being a son choosing to follow in the footsteps of a successful NFL veteran can be tough. It often adds pressure to what these young men are already trying to accomplish for themselves. For young men such as Van, the amount of pressure might have been multiplied. His father, Shawn Jefferson Jr., not only made it to the NFL but carved his own thirteen-year receiver history into it. He accomplished it all via hard work and self-discipline. The discipline got passed down to his son.

With preexisting insecurities possibly already firmly entrenched in his psyche, his father’s tough love may not have been timely. One such insecurity was growing up with the embarrassment of having a name he despised, Vanchi LaShawn Jefferson Jr. Reportedly, father Jefferson Jr., going by Shawn himself, handed his burden down against his own will.

Back then, it’s how things were done regularly. Vanchi III ultimately shortened it in 5th grade after sinking at his school desk once too many times. The name stuck. He’s since moved on without changing his name out of respect and appreciation for his father.

Usually, the appreciation grows with age. Good fathers always want what’s best for their children and with sons the push can be excessive. Van himself has admitted his father was stern. He remembers how some practices felt like they would never end. There were times when he could have easily given up, especially with basketball being his first love back then. These days, many around his age would have.

Early on in high school, Van broke his fibula. Not long after his cast was removed, his university of choice growing up, Ohio State, hosted a football camp. Not fully healed, Van attended. Shawn would learn that his son had no quit in him.

Ultimately, a Player’s Choices are Their Own

If you follow Van, you know his personality favors his mother, Marla Jefferson. She was and remains the peace and stability in his make-up. His parents, perhaps, are the perfect blend of drive, determination, encouragement, and balance young people need when real life’s obstacles come calling. He blooms when speaking about her, as well he should. Still, make no mistake, it is because of Shawn Jefferson’s firm direction and attention to detail that his son is as good as he is.

Van thanks and appreciates him every chance he gets. And yet, all that aside, Van is his own man and has made his own critical decisions. The defining one being the choice to transfer from Ole Miss to become a Florida Gator.

Sure, some can say that it was because of his father’s success that Van succeeded. To be taken to all the football facilities where Shawn practiced is indeed inspiring. Van could have easily become cocky or overconfident like others with such advantages in life. However, like his mother, he is more in tune with his feelings –— also known as being sensitive. Sensitive people, especially when young, often experience much more pain and hardship.

Having an embarrassing name through school gives most of us an inferiority complex. It did Van. The overbearing schooling of his father’s ideas of what it takes to make it to the NFL was enough to make an average kid quit. Throw in the exhaustive comparisons to his dad. People constantly dubbing him the son of an NFL player, which he’d question often. It was all enough to wear him down.

But as his father tells it, it has fueled Van to succeed on his own terms. And it’s a testament to his character that he’s done this with such class, grace, and gratitude.

All’s Well That Ends Well

As both parents will tell you, Van is now better than dear dad was. At least, more physically gifted, for sure. He’s listed as 6’1″, 200lbs with 9 1/8″ hands. This to Shawn’s 5’11” and 185lbs (16lbs lighter pre-combine) though it’s interesting that Shawn’s hands are reportedly larger. Overall, not much separation in the area of football between the two. Both are hard workers, both determined to succeed, and very passionate about how they go about it. Shawn Jefferson’s drill sergeant mentality work ethic differs greatly.

Van, admittedly, prefers to joke around and have fun during practices. But Van wouldn’t complain if their careers aligned in the area of longevity.

Where Van would likely love to separate himself from his father is in on-field production. Shawn has never had a 1000-yard season. His best was 841 yards with the Pete Carroll-coached 1997 New England Patriots led by Drew Bledsoe. Additionally, Shawn’s best touchdown output for a single season was only 6 (once, and 4 once). Van could conceivably surpass that under 16 games and well under his thirteenth year as a pro. In fact, under McVay and with Matthew Stafford under center I’d bet on it.

His mother may have initially wished for her son to be drafted by the New York Jets, Shawn being receivers coach there at the time. But it’s fairly safe to say it worked out well for Van. He is in the perfect location for the person he is and part of a pass-first offense. He’s with players of equal maturity as teammates and coming into his own under one lead dog in the twilight of his career.

It will be interesting to see how mom handles his pending success going to division rival Arizona Cardinals in 2021, where dad currently coaches receivers.

.


2021 NFL Preview: After Rams trade, we'll finally find out how good Matthew Stafford is


Frank Schwab
Tue, July 27, 2021, 8:00 PM



Football is a team sport. Quarterbacks are not solely responsible for wins and losses. Assigning a quarterback a personal record is foolish.

And yet, Matthew Stafford's career doesn't really align with what the Los Angeles Rams paid for him. The Rams are hoping that's due to the Detroit Lions being the Detroit Lions.

Stafford started 165 games for the Lions. Detroit was 16 games under .500 in his starts. Stafford started three playoff games in 12 seasons. The Lions lost all three. Maybe no other quarterback could lift the Lions, who have won one playoff game since 1957. But Stafford showed he couldn't.

To read the excited reaction the day the Rams made the biggest trade of the offseason (pending whatever happens to Deshaun Watson), Stafford would have been a Hall of Famer anywhere else. The Rams were instant Super Bowl contenders after the trade. Stafford was an MVP candidate in a better environment. Nobody could have known there were so many secret Stafford fans in the world.

The Rams paid heavily for what a lot of people believe is a huge upgrade from Jared Goff. The Rams traded two future first-round draft picks, a 2021 third-round pick and Goff to Detroit.

Here's what Stafford's resume says: One Pro Bowl in 12 seasons, never led the NFL in anything other than completions (once) and attempts (twice), and an 89.9 career passer rating. Goff has a 91.5 career passer rating. Derek Carr is 92.1. Teddy Bridgewater is 89.5. That's not elite company. Stafford also turned 33 this year.

Watching games matters, and that's how we know Stafford is better than the stats say. Stafford has had some stretches of very good play. He is a coach's dream, a player who can make every throw with his prodigious arm. He's tough and gets good reviews as a leader. It's not hard to figure out why Rams GM Les Snead and coach Sean McVay made a big move to land Stafford, who wanted out of Detroit before another rebuild started.

It's not just Stafford whose legacy is on the line. This is a major move for Snead and McVay, who have done a fine job changing the Rams' trajectory. They felt they reached the end of the line with Goff, who they should not have extended for $134 million (they should have traded him for picks and started over, but NFL teams aren't that brave). By the end of last season, it seemed that the Rams made the decision to voluntarily start unknown John Wolford over Goff, until Wolford got hurt himself.

The Rams believe Stafford is a major upgrade, based on what they paid to get him. With that, there will be heightened expectations. And the Rams have already won a lot. If the Rams don't at least get back to a Super Bowl with Stafford, who they believe is better than his one Pro Bowl and sub-90 passer rating indicate, it won't look good.

The Rams might not need Stafford to be an MVP candidate. They have good receivers in Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, and a potential Pro Bowl tight end in Tyler Higbee. The defense has two of the best players in the NFL, defensive tackle Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The defense finished No. 1 in the NFL last season, though coordinator Brandon Staley moved on to coach the Chargers and defensive success is less likely to repeat than success on offense. A season-ending Achilles injury to running back Cam Akers in July is a blow, but it seems like one the Rams can absorb. This would have been a playoff contender with Goff at quarterback, and maybe more with Stafford.

Even though Stafford won't be the only reason the Rams succeed or fail, it might feel that way. Quarterbacks don't find themselves in mega-trades too often. McVay has been hyped as one of the best offensive coaches in the NFL, a wunderkind who transformed the NFL. Those who fell over themselves to praise Stafford and the trade right after it happened envision the strong-armed quarterback finding an entirely new level with the best offensive coach he's played for, and simply being free of the Lions' chronic losing.

We'll find out.



It's hard to grade the Matthew Stafford trade. There's little doubt he's an upgrade over Jared Goff. Is it a big enough upgrade that it's worth two first-round draft picks and a third? Stafford needs to be a top 8-10 NFL quarterback for that price to be worth it, and it's fair to wonder if Stafford can be that player.

The Rams, who like trading first-round picks and giving out big contracts, lost significant talent in the offseason: safety John Johnson, outside linebacker Samson Ebukam, cornerback Troy Hill, defensive end Morgan Fox and tight end Gerald Everett. All of those players got at least $4 million per season from their new teams. Los Angeles also traded defensive lineman Michael Brockers to the Lions in a deal separate from the Stafford trade. The biggest addition the Rams made was receiver DeSean Jackson, who signed a one-year, $4.5 million deal. Jackson will turn 35 this season, has played only eight games the past two seasons due to injuries and hasn't played a full 16 games since 2013. The Rams had just one top-100 pick due to trades and used it on undersized receiver Tutu Atwell, who weighed 149 pounds before the draft. The quarterback upgrade is significant, but the Rams paid a lot for it and the rest of their offseason wasn't good.

Grade: B-



How is Matthew Stafford fitting in? His coach, Sean McVay, told SI's Albert Breer, "this dude’s a bad MF-er."

“Whatever people say about him, as good as it can be, he’s even better than advertised," McVay told SI. "It makes sense to him. The guy’s ability to see the game, his ability to draw on his experiences, the feel that he has, it’s pretty special and unique. And man, his feel for people, his authentic way of connecting with his teammates, his coaches, this guy, it’s great being around him.”

Stafford has been praised by teammates already. He's just trying to find how to fit in, having switched teams for the first time in his NFL career.

"It takes some time to figure out what makes guys tick, and I just enjoy competing, getting out there with these guys," Stafford said, according to the team's site. "But the biggest thing is just be myself, let those things happen, and understand that there's been a high standard of success here and really quarterback play, as well, so I've got to come in here in do my part."


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The Rams' win total at BetMGM is a lofty 10.5. It's hard for me to take the over whenever it gets that high, and I'll lean under on the Rams. A lot more can go wrong in a season-long future bet than can go right. Given that the NFC West has some tough competition, maybe the best value bet is to fade the Matthew Stafford optimism and take the Rams to not make the playoffs at +150.


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From Yahoo's Scott Pianowski: "A narrow passing tree can be your best friend in fantasy, and the Rams should have one in 2021. Robert Woods (ADP: 49.1) and Cooper Kupp (ADP: 56.8) are both affordable in early Yahoo drafts, and there isn’t much chasing them in this offense.

"Third receiver Van Jefferson has an ADP outside 200, and the Rams have already lost their bell-cow running back, Cam Akers. Tight end Tyler Higbee has his own sleeper case, but his upside isn’t as high as Woods or Kupp. Add in some Matthew Stafford, mix well.

"The Rams box score should be tidy, and fruitful, in 2021. Sometimes boring veterans prove to be profitable fantasy assets, and this offense is providing two perfect candidates."



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Every year, Pro Football Focus ranks all NFL players. For five straight years, Aaron Donald ranked No. 1. He led the NFL with 98 quarterback pressures last season, according to PFF, and is also the top-graded run defender among interior linemen over the past three seasons. And Donald is doing it all while being double-teamed at a far, far higher rate than any other defensive lineman, as shown by this chart from ESPN's Seth Walder:

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Donald is the best defensive player in the game today, he is probably the best player period and it's not crazy to start wondering if he's the best ever defensive player. He has been that dominant.


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How much does the Cam Akers injury hurt the Rams?​

Akers was fantastic late in his rookie season. He emerged as a true No. 1 back as the Rams rode him down the stretch. He played 96 percent of the offensive snaps in a divisional round game against the Packers. Akers entered 2021 with the chance to become one of the best backs in the game. Then Akers tore his Achilles right before training camp.

The Rams will go back to Darrell Henderson as their top running back, and likely look into adding a veteran since Malcolm Brown is off to Miami. Henderson has had stretches of good play but has had more than 15 carries in a game only once (he did rush for 114 yards that game) and is looking more like a part of a committee rather than a lead back.

Running backs are easier to find than practically any other position, but that doesn't mean the offense won't miss Akers. Akers had a few huge games late in the season that showed he can carry an offense. Without him, more stress goes to Matthew Stafford and the passing game.


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It's not like all of the post-trade optimism was totally unfounded. Matthew Stafford could win an MVP and the Rams could win the Super Bowl. If Jared Goff was just a below-average quarterback propped up by Sean McVay's system, Stafford could thrive. There's a realistic scenario in which the Rams are a top-five offense and a top-five defense. The Rams paid big for Stafford. There was a reason for that.


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The Rams' devil-may-care attitude toward first-round picks is fascinating, and it is also risky. What if Stafford is basically the same quarterback he was in Detroit? There's nothing wrong with Stafford's career, but that wouldn't be a massive upgrade worth all the picks the Rams gave up. Los Angeles plays in a tough division and could easily finish third. Maybe fourth if the Arizona Cardinals take a big step. By the end of the year, we could wonder why the Rams paid so much for Stafford when there was a long track record of him being a good-not-great quarterback.


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I think the Matthew Stafford trade works out, to a degree. I don't believe he'll be a top-five QB this season, but he will be better than Jared Goff. The defense will regress a bit without Brandon Staley, but it will still be a solid unit. I like another team in the NFC West a little more, but the Rams can settle nicely into a wild-card spot and win a playoff game, like last season. And we won't have a definitive answer on whether the Stafford trade was the right move.

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This afternoon Joey Jordison, aka #1, passed away. For those less familiar with the drumming icon, he was the heart thumping mastermind of the percussion, instrumentalist, and a founding member of Slipknot. When major bands like Korn, Metallica, Rob Zombie and others were down a drummer, they called on #1 to sub in.

Rest In Power:
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Hey guys,

I am a huge Rams fan and I was a sports photographer in college. I live within walking distance of the Training Camp in Irvine, so I am planning to go to all but one of the training camps.

I don't have the setup I used to in college, but I could probably rent a 300 2.8 or 70-200 2.8 lens to take photos and share them with you guys.
Would anyone be interested in helping to chip in for a lens rental to do this?

My idea is that I would just upload the photos to a Dropbox or something for everyone to be able to download the RAW images.

If there’s no interest in that, that’s cool. I just wanted to offer it if people were interested.

Rentals are between $25-45 per day.

Near Estes Park CO

What kind of dog food do yall use?

Some of you know, I got myself a wonderful Havanese pup a couple months ago. This little guy is my world right now. And I wanna make sure I'm doing it right.

Right now he is eating Purina Pro Plan Puppy Food. It's all he has ever had.


I just dont know if I can be doing better. I've never had a dog that I cared enough to give him different food. I've always had outside dogs that ate anything you gave them.

I know that Blue Buffalo is good. I believe it's comparable to the Purina Pro Plan. But wasn't sure if I should switch him over.

Any input is appreciated.

Actually , I'm still surprised the BIG 12 has lasted as long as it has

and now today with both Texas and Oklahoma announcing their intent to leave for the SEC in 2025

can the Big 12 survive without them

possible ,, but not probable

it's been reported today that Iowa State , Kansas and Oklahoma State has discussed the possibility of joining the Big 10

and both the ACC and Pac 12 come calling for the rest

it'll all come down to money

and with the BIG 10 having their own TV network , and equal profit sharing through all the schools

will the Big 10 even want to allow expansion

two teams , maybe ?

four teams , that might be a stretch

Iowa State , Oklahoma State , Kansas , Kansas State to the the Big 10 ?

Iowa State and Kansas seems the most likely

the NCAA really is gonna come down to just have like ,2 or 3 major confrences

Sean McVay treating Darrell Henderson like RB1, promises he won't play in preseason​

Cameron DaSilva

July 26, 2021 12:14 pm PT


Darrell Henderson Jr. is getting the full-blown RB1 treatment from Sean McVay in the lead up to Week 1. With Cam Akers sidelined by a torn Achilles, Henderson is set to be the Rams’ starting running back.
And as a projected starter, he won’t step foot on the field during the preseason.

“No, Darrell will not play in a preseason game. I can promise you, you’re not seeing Darrell Henderson in the preseason,” McVay said Monday to open camp.

The coach made it clear that he’s taking no chances with Henderson this offseason as the Rams prepare for the regular season, attempting to keep him healthy after already losing one starting running back.
Injuries have limited Henderson in the past, too, as he’s missed six of a possible 34 games in two years (including the postseason). He has now finished the last two seasons on injured reserve, something no player ever wants to do.
When healthy, Henderson has shown an abundance of potential. And in McVay’s mind, it’s never been a question of his talent. It’s about his availability.

“If you look through the first half of the year last year, this has never been an ability question for Darrell Henderson,” McVay said. “This is, all right, how do we find a strategic and structured way to keep him available for all these games and what does that workload look like? Because he is the established guy in that room. You can see, when he gets the ball in his hand and he puts that foot in the ground, there’s a burst and he’s sturdy, too. … I think he is a complete back, very similar to how you’ve heard me talk about Cam. What

our biggest challenge is, is not figuring out if he’s capable of doing it, it’s finding that sweet spot of how do we maximize Darrell Henderson? While also getting some of these other guys involved and figuring out, what is that touch point to keep him healthy throughout the season and a big part of our offense? Which he’s gonna be. It’s never been an ability. It’s just, all right, is he available? Because the guy’s a baller and I’m excited to see what he’ll do with this.”

McVay mentioned getting Raymond Calais, Xavier Jones and Jake Funk work behind Henderson at running back, with this being a great opportunity for those three young backs to emerge and establish themselves as role players.
Jones should get a ton of work in the preseason and is the favorite to be the RB2, but Funk is explosive and Calais is a guy McVay likes, too.

As most know, the best investment is one you can buy low, then sell high.

With that in mind, which player who is currently a big question mark or, perhaps, just a guy few are talking about, could you see having a breakout season and a significant impact in 2021?

Here are three guys I'm "buying":

Jake Funk: He's a penny stock at this point, but I think he could be a real value. His college career was marred by injuries, but he has been healthy of late, and followed a productive 2021 (shortened) campaign with a very nice Pro Day. Looking at his tape, he's a no-nonsense, cut and go, type runner with good vision and balance. I think he could become a complimentary player to Darrell Henderson and make a real difference.

A'Shawn Robinson: Last year, he was unable to play for the first several games, then was thrown into the mix mid-season. He's now reportedly in great shape, and will have a full training camp. And, of course, he'll rarely face double-teams playing next to a certain game wrecker. I think he'll have Rams fans quickly forgetting Michael Brockers, and carving a reputation for himself.

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo: Maybe its because I really liked the guy coming out of college... Maybe its because I don't trust that Terrell Lewis (who is a more gifted athlete) will stay healthy... But my guy tells me that Obo will emerge as a bookend for Leonard Floyd and the newest member of the "Aaron Donald made me a star" club.

Which bargain are you investing in?

Hey everyone. The family and I relocated to the East Coast (Hilton Head Island, SC) last year. And, yes...I'm keeping my handle Alaskan Ram. haha.

But, on a more serious note, I killed my DIRECTV account after last season...and am now in a pickle on how to watch all the games.
I haven't missed a live game in several years.

The way I see it, the only guaranteed games I can watch in the comfort of my own living room are the Sunday/Monday/Thursday primetime games. And the irony there, is those games are past my bedtime. Seriously East Coast folks, how the hell you stay up that late? I miss a lot of things about Alaska - - including cracking open a frosty beer in the middle of the Sunday early games that started at 9am. Hell, the night games starting at 4pm and ending at 7pm didn't suck either.

But I digress....



I'll watch the primetime games....I'll just be dog shit at work the next day.
I'm estimating half of the remaining 12 out of market games will get televised in my area if the Rams stay contenders. That leaves me sharpening my pencil on if it is worth it to do the Sunday Ticket Max at $395. Fuck that's a ton of money. But so is a bunch of $100 + bar tabs at one of the local sports bars.

Anybody else crunching numbers with the season starting soon?

What in the cornbread hell is a guy supposed to do?

Please advise.
Oh, and go Rams!