Giannis Antetokounmpo goes for 50 and they knock off the Suns in 6

A RB move coming?

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Frank Gore?

Free agent
Needs a ring
Would be a great mentor to RB room
Can block
Can still grind out yards when needed as we learned the hard way last year
Great team player
McVay can find a way to get the most out of him for 1 more year
Who here doesn't appreciate him despite his time in SF?

Any thoughts or interest here?

So we have input. it’s time for a poll.

Much has been noted about how acquiring an NFL head coaching gig simply requires a cup of coffee with Sean McVay. The promise of instant success by replicating the Rams turnaround since 2017 is just too much "hope for gain" for general managers to ignore. As of 2021, the movement continues to grow. Brandon Staley's ascension from relatively unknown defensive assistant under Vic Fangio to Charger's HC is the latest example from a list that also includes Matt LaFluer and Zac Taylor. Even Greg Olsen and Shane Waldron have been elevated to OC's from the titles of passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach respectively.

While other veteran head coaches like Bill Belichick and Andy Reid have coaching trees with deeper roots and more plentiful branches, the suddenness of how quickly McVay's assistants have been poached is telling. But what does it tell? Isn't there value in continuity within a staff? Won't the team miss the contributions of Joe Barry, Ejiro Evero, Greg Olsen, Aubrey Pleasant, Brad Holmes, and Ray Agnew? And what are we to make of the departures that weren't opportunities for advancement like Wade Phillips, Aaron Kromer, and "Bones" Fassel?

Sean regularly praises the contributions of his assistants by name in his press conferences. This is intentional. If asked about it, he would point to his experience of being given opportunities to grow by Jon Gruden and Mike Shanahan. If the WHY behind how one does his job within the organization is a love for the game combined with the opportunity to climb the ladder of success, chances are one will do an excellent job. The standards of excellence, the culture of a winning attitude, the selfless nature of teaching to help others grow, and the ability to authentically communicate effectively are prized values that Sean consistently repeats in mantra like fashion. By developing this with new blood, the values are retained while the message is refreshed by unique voices. As for the lateral or retiring departures, I contend that the NFL is a game of change that requires a unified direction in the mold of a singular vision that, while it's a collaborative effort, must be the responsibility of one man at the top. McVay has too much respect for his co workers to allow a negative narrative be leaked to the press about coaches and players alike. While it's natural to speculate disappointment or conflict (both of which are inevitable), there is little to be gained from it being vocalized by a leader. Yet how many coaches have been criticized for not being able to separate loyalty from advancing performance? If the injuries or limitations of players like Gurley and Goff can be jettisoned for the good of the team at great financial cost, why would the standards be any different for the coaches? What if John Bonamego was still the special teams coach after last year's *ahem* performance?

Raheem Morris will be an interesting case study in this regard. Sean knows him well after working with him in Tampa and Washington. While many believe McVay's "better mood" has to do with an upgraded QB, I doubt he would feel that way if there was an inclination that the defense would not move forward under Morris. For those who believe McVay isn't intensely involved in the concepts that make the defense operate efficiently, they haven't been paying attention to the Flying Coach Podcast. While Sean entrusts and empowers his assistants to do their jobs, it doesn't mean he doesn't evaluate their results. Rest assured the two will have many hours together behind closed doors as they collaborate and develop the defense on a weekly basis.

In summary, Sean McVay is much more than a terrific offensive coordinator. He is a leader with a clear vision of what he wants in every phase of the team, including his relationship with Les Snead. The addition of Matthew Stafford allows him the ability to devote a bit more time to his other responsibilities (although he will be tempted to spend most of his time with Stafford in the first half of the season). I personally believe this is the best team McVay has had in his career from top to bottom--even as he has empowered others to find success elsewhere. Maybe, in part, because he has.

Rams training camp position battle preview: Who is Justin Hollins?​

Justin Hollins was a three-star recruit out of Martin High School in Arlington, Texas in 2014, choosing to go to Oregon over schools like Baylor and Colorado. He was not nationally ranked by Rivals and didn’t get much attention as a future pro even though he did get a number of Division-I offers. This may have had something to do with his high school teammate drawing away most of the credit for his success: future number one overall pick Myles Garrett.

Hollins played as a true freshman, mostly on special teams, then redshirted the next year. Moving positions from outside linebacker to defensive line in 2016, Hollins led his position group with 51 tackles, including 9.5 for a loss. He improved in each successive season, totaling 59 tackles, 11 TFL, and 4.5 sacks as a junior, then 64 tackles, 14.5 TFL, and 6.5 sacks as a senior.

Justin Hollins’ college accolades were stellar.

Hollins also added an interception in each of his final two campaigns, plus five forced fumbles as a senior.

Though he had good measurables at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine — 6’5, 248 lbs, 4.5 40-yard dash, 36.5” vertical — Hollins fell to the fifth round and was selected by the Denver Broncos with a pick they acquired in exchange for quarterback Trevor Siemian. He made the team out of training camp but rarely played on defense in the first half of the season, mostly making it on the field for special teams duties.

Hollins saw more playing time in December and coincidentally or not, the Broncos actually won four of those five games after a wretched start to the season. And trust me, I am saying that it is a coincidence. Hollins played more in those games but he was still a part time player and he didn’t collect many statistics in those contests.

The Broncos could not really find a place for Hollins following 2020 training camp and they sent him to waivers. He was picked up by the LA Rams, where defensive coordinator Brandon Staley had familiarity with Hollins after coaching Denver’s linebackers the previous season.

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Hollins appeared in all 16 games for the LA Rams in 2020, making no starts but seeing the field for 349 defensive snaps. He played in 189 special teams snaps as well. There seems to be disagreement on Hollins’ best position ever since he was recruited out of high school and it has not stopped yet. This could be for positive reasons but it may also be that you can’t find a good position for a player because there are critical errors being made no matter where you place him.

He may not be big enough to play on the edge full-time but he might also lack something when placed inside. The Rams are currently looking for players to step up and win starting jobs at both inside and outside linebacker though, so Hollins has nothing but opportunity when it comes to looking for a job in 2021.

Will he fit into Raheem Morris’s puzzle at linebacker or are there are other players in training camp competing against him who will be better suited for one of those three open jobs alongside Leonard Floyd?

Competition: Micah Kiser, Troy Reeder, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Kenny Young, Travin Howard, Ernest Jones, Christian Rozeboom, Terrell Lewis

Position battle preview: Nickel defensive back​

A handful of offseason departures have created openings for multiple key roles on both the Rams' offense and their defense that will be closely monitored during Rams Training Camp presented by UNIFY Financial Credit Union.

TheRams.com will be previewing the candidates for each ahead of camp, beginning with nickel defensive back.

The skinny

According to scouting service Pro Football Focus, Troy Hill was the NFL's highest-graded slot cornerback last year with an 87.8 grade off of 620 snaps inside. During free agency, he signed a four-year deal with the Browns as an unrestricted free agent.

The most crucial component to determining his replacement will be new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris' vision for the position.

It has been said the Rams will keep last year's defense deployed by former defensive coordinator Brandon Staley in place, with Morris adding his own twist – so does Morris view the nickel cornerback as a hybrid defensive back like his predecessor did with the star position, and line up different players inside, regardless of each player's size? Or is he looking for just one player to man the position while keeping Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams outside?

The candidates (in alphabetical order)

Terrell Burgess
Experience: One season

Notes: Burgess is a wildcard because of his versatile background. He's listed as a safety, but he also played every position in Utah's secondary, which would make him a fit at safety or nickel. The 2020 third-round pick mainly contributed on special teams as a rookie, producing eight total tackles and one pass breakup in eight games prior to a season-ending ankle injury in the eighth contest.

Dont’e Deayon
Experience: Three seasons (two with Rams)

Notes: Deayon's second season with the Rams was spent on their practice squad, but he later appeared in their divisional round playoff game against the Packers in Green Bay. He has contributed on defense and special teams before, though, doing so across three games in 2019.

Bronte Harris
Experience: Rookie

Notes: Playing cornerback at UAB, Harris tallied 27 total tackles (four for loss), one sack, four pass breakups and one interception en route to Second Team All-Conference USA recognition last fall before signing with the Rams as an undrafted free agent this spring.

JuJu Hughes
Experience: One season

Notes: Having played both nickel and safety in college, Hughes also offers versatility Los Angeles could potentially utilize at nickel. An undrafted free agent signee out of Fresno State in 2020, he made L.A.'s 53-man roster as a rookie and went on to appear in 12 regular season games and both playoff games, making three total tackles as a special teams contributor.

Dayan Lake
Experience: One season

Notes: Originally an undrafted free agent signee by the Rams last year, Lake was among the final round of players waived by the team ahead of the 53-man roster deadline. In October, he was chosen by the Conquerors of The Spring League – a football developmental league – but its 2020 season was postponed to the spring. He later spent time on the Patriots practice squad in December before rejoining the Rams in early June. Lake posted 62 total tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups, two sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries during his final season at BYU in 2019.

David Long
Experience: Two seasons

Notes: Under former cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant, Long's versatile skillset allowed him to play an "inside-out" role as rookie in 2019, so he's another hybrid option to consider should Morris go that route. Long appeared in all 16 games in 2020, logging six tackles and one tackle on special teams.

Kareem Orr
Experience: Two seasons

Notes: Originally an undrafted free agent signing out of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga by the Titans in 2019, Orr spent his first two NFL seasons with that franchise. He spent most of that time on their practice squad but did appear in seven games. He played cornerback for the Titans, but also has experience playing safety – he was a freshman All-American at that position at Arizona State, where he spent his first two collegiate seasons before transferring to Chattanooga.

JR Reed
Experience: One season

Notes: Similar to Burgess and Long, Reed also offers versatility having played star in Georgia's defense. A free agent signing in early September last year, he appeared in seven regular season games on special teams and two playoff games, making two tackles in the regular season and three tackles in the postseason.

Robert Rochell
Experience: Rookie

Notes: The fourth-round pick out of Central Arkansas will need time to develop – Rams general manager Les Snead said after Day 3 of the draft that Rochell is still "raw" – but his athleticism and upside could provide value at nickel if Los Angeles were to use him there down the road. Rochell tallied 27 total tackles, three pass breakups, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in seven games during his final season at UCA.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...ine-alternate-monday-night-football-broadcast

Peyton Manning, Eli Manning to headline alternate Monday Night Football broadcast​

Former NFL quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Eli Manning will take part in an alternate Monday Night Football broadcast over the next three seasons, ESPN announced Monday.

The Monday Night Football MegaCast will air on ESPN2 for 10 games in each of the next three seasons and will include current and former NFL players and celebrities joining the Manning brothers on the broadcast. A host has not been named.

"This partnership with ESPN and The Walt Disney Company reflects an ongoing, shared commitment to offering fans fun, innovative content," Peyton Manning said in a statement. "ESPN+ has been a terrific partner for Omaha Productions [Manning's production company] as we built out The Places franchise and we're excited to co-create a new MegaCast format that will have something for everyone."

The MegaCast will debut the first three weeks of the 2021 season, including the Sept. 13 Monday Night Football opener between the Baltimore Ravens and Las Vegas Raiders, with the remaining seven weeks to be announced.

Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick, Lisa Salters and John Parry will remain on the traditional Monday Night Football broadcast for the second straight season in 2021.

"Offering multiple Monday Night Football viewing options for the next three seasons continues our innovation efforts and provides additional value for our fans," Jimmy Pitaro, chairman of ESPN and sports content, said in a statement. "Peyton and Eli will bring a different approach, delving into conversation about broader, big-picture topics while also honing in on the game, much like fans do when watching with their family and friends."

The Mannings each won two Super Bowls during their careers. Peyton Manning, who retired in 2016, is set for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame next month. Eli Manning retired in 2019 after 16 seasons with the New York Giants.

Peyton Manning's working history with ESPN includes his Peyton's Places series on ESPN+, which is in its third season. The franchise has expanded to include Places series involving Abby Wambach (soccer), Eli Manning (college football), David Ortiz (MLB), Ronda Rousey (combat sports) and Vince Carter (NBA). Wambach's series premiered this month.

"Matthew Stafford"



With NFL training camps right around the corner for the upcoming 2021 season, I thought I would list some Matthew Stafford "Stats, Facts & Tidbits.


The Rams have made several big offseason splashes since Sean McVay was hired as their head coach on Jan 12, 2017.

The organization has also been aggressive during the regular season when they traded for OLB Dante Fowler in 2018 (for a 3nd round pick in 2019 & 5th round pick in 2020).

They pulled the trigger again in 2019 trading for All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey giving up two first round picks in (2020 & 2021).

On Jan 30, 2021, during an unexpected vacationing night in Cabo San Lucas, the Detroit Lions agreed to trade their starting quarterback (Matthew Stafford) to the Los Angeles Rams.

Practically nobody projected the Rams to be a front runner in the trade market for Stafford and it caught the NFL world by surprise.

To acquire the Lions seasoned starting quarterback, the Rams shipped their own former number one overall pick in 2016 (quarterback) Jared Goff, a 2021 3rd round draft pick, and two future first round picks in 2022 and 2023.

For the Rams, it was a handsome and heavy price to obtain the Lions QB that has never won a playoff game.

When the Stafford trade became official, it instantly became the biggest blockbuster offseason acquisition the Rams have made during the Sean McVay era.

For the duration of his career, Stafford played on mostly bad teams in Detroit. By his own metrics though, he wasn't as consistent as he could've been.

Stafford has put up some gaudy stats during his 12 seasons in the NFL, but there are question marks on his resume.

He never showed he could carry a Lions team on his shoulders and make those around him better enough to deliver a playoff victory.

For legitimate reasons, there is still a skeptical crowd of NFL talking heads and fans that believe Matthew lacks the (intangibles) of a winner and they need to see it in 2021 before they are willing to get on board.

If the Rams are able to carry over their 2020 season accomplishments to the 2021 season, Stafford will be expected to win a playoff game or two. He inherits a top heavy talented roster, a top 5 defense, and up and coming star running back Cam Akers.

Stafford will be under center for one of the NFL's best organizations in the 2021. For many, there will be little to no excuses if he doesn't deliver playoff victories.

Unless there are major injuries and the Rams some some how crumble this season, he will be one of the most talked about QB's all season.

A large of number of us fans believe Stafford will thrive in 2021 and beyond under the guidance of McVay, and the Rams unorthodox ways of NFL roster building.

No level headed Rams fans are going to guarantee Stafford is a lock to have an MVP super star season, and bet their life savings on it.

After Stafford was traded the Rams, the fanbase was ignited and Las Vegas bumped the Rams to a top 5 Super Bowl favorite.

In 2021, Stafford and McVay will be heavily scrutinized under the bright lights of Hollywood.

They have some big shoes to fill after what Ariens and Brady pulled off last season in Tampa Bay.

Count me all in with you folks that believe the McVay and Stafford tandem are capable of elevating the Rams from a good playoff caliber team, to a legitimate Super Bowl winning contender. And not just this coming season, but over the next few years.


(Megatron) Former Lions WR Calvin Johnson on on Matthew Stafford Going to the Rams: ‘I’m Happy For Him’

"You know what, it sucked that they didn’t let me go but they let Matthew go. But, hey, you know, it is what it is," he said.

"I’m not back in the family with the Lions or anything like that," Johnson said.

"It would be nice if they try to resolve things, but that’s neither here nor there."

“I’m happy for him,” Johnson said of Stafford.

“He’s happy that he’s out in California. Him and his beautiful family, they’re loving their time out there.

When he’s comfortable, he’s good where he’s at. You can only expect good things from him. I look forward to seeing him out there.”


T.J. Hockenson (TE for the Lions) expressed how the Lions players want Matthew Stafford to win a ring.

“There’s not a guy in our locker room that’s not rooting for that guy to get a ring.

I mean, all of us loved him.” “He’s one of those guys, again, for the boys, for all of us, he was like, ‘Y’all do all this during the week.

Y’all do everything I ask of you, and I’m going to go out there and do everything I can for you guys,’” Hockenson said. “Everybody on our team respected that guy. Like everybody loved him.

He will forever put a stamp on my career and in the city of Detroit.

He’s, I mean, he was, like I said, one of the best — the best player I’ve ever.” Hockenson called Stafford “probably the best dude, the best player” he’s ever been around and told a story of how the QB threw a no-look pass to him in practice one time, which caught him off-guard.

It’s not something Stafford does often, but it is a little wrinkle Rams receivers should be ready for.

“He no-looked passed me, and I’m like, I double caught it. I got my feet down and everything. I looked at him and I was like, ‘Dude, did you just no-look me?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, I saw it caught you off guard.’ I was like, ‘Yup. It did.’ He would do anything for his dudes, too,” the tight end said.
theramswire.usatoday.com





Detroit Lions: QB Matthew Stafford (University of Georgia) selected number one overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.


Stafford chose to forgo his senior season and entered the 2009 NFL Draft.

Stafford made his first start in the NFL at New Orleans on September 13, 2009. Completed 16 of 37 passes for 205 yards, 0 TD, 3 INT


Matthew Stafford "Stats, Facts & Tidbits"

2009: signed a six-year, $72 million contract with the Lions.

2013: agreed to a three-year, $53 million extension with the Lions.

2017: signed a five-year, $135 million contract extension with the Lions.

Stafford is 33 years old. (Born 02/07/1988)

Career Detroit Lions (12 seasons)
Games 165, Comp 3,898, Att 6,224, Comp% 62.63, YDS 45,109, YPC 7.3, TD's 282, INT's 144, Rating 89.9

Stafford was born to John and Margaret Stafford. He has a sister named Page. He married Kelly Stafford in 2015.

Stafford's name on his birth certificate is (John Matthew Stafford)

Stafford was traded to the Rams on Jan 30, 2021 for QB Jared Goff, a 2021 3rd round draft pick and 2022 & 2023 first round picks.

Stafford has played in 165 out of a possible 192 games. (12 seasons).

Stafford (missed (6) games in 2009, (13) games in 2010 and (8) games in 2019)

Stafford has missed (8 games) in the last 10 seasons (2011 through 2020). All 8 games he missed in that time frame was in 2019 (fractured bones in his back).

Stafford played in all (16 games) in 2020 after his back injury in 2019.

Stafford in the 2020 season posted his 5th best career QB rating (96.3)

Stafford was named Pro Bowl MVP on 01/25/2015. Comp 15, Att 25, Comp% 60.0, YDS 316, TD 2, INT 1, Rating 114.2

Stafford is the sixth fastest in NFL history to (200) passing touchdowns, accomplishing the feat in just (117) games.

Only Dan Marino (89), Aaron Rodgers (99), Peyton Manning (106), Brett Favre (107) and Tom Brady (116) reached that milestone quicker than Stafford.

Stafford, is the fourth player to throw 200 touchdowns before the age of 30, joining Favre (218), Manning (244) and Marino (245).

Stafford on Oct 20, 2019, became the fastest NFL QB to throw for 40,000 passing yards.

Stafford made NFL history when he threw a pass to a wide-open Danny Amendola. With this completion, the former number one overall pick from 2009 reached 40,000 yards in his career. He reached this milestone in only (147) games, making him the fastest in NFL history to do so.

By reaching this mark in only (147) games, Stafford knocked Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Ryan (151 games) out of the top spot. He also topped Drew Brees (152), Dan Marino (153), and Peyton Manning (154).

Stafford is the third fastest QB to throw for 5,000 yards. In his 3rd season (2011), he threw for 5,038 yards.

Only Dan Marino and Patrick Mayhomes reached the 5,000 yard barrier faster.

Marino threw for the 5,084 yards in his second season (1984).

Mayhomes threw for 5,097 it in his second season (2018).

Stafford’s career OT numbers: 26-of-44, 406 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 9.2 Y/A.

Stafford has at least one victory against 25 of the 32 NFL teams.

Stafford has beaten every team in the NFC except the only team he's ever played for (Lions), which happens to be on the Rams 2021 schedule.

Stafford has a winning record vs the Bears, Bucs, Washington, Eagles, Giants, Jaguars, Browns, Raiders & Chargers.

Stafford has never beaten the Texans, Titans, Bengals, Steelers, Ravens, Bills or Lions.

Stafford will get an opportunity in (2021) to play 5 of the 7 teams he's never beaten.

Stafford after the 2020 season ended, has the most 4th quarter comebacks in the NFL since 2009 with (31).

Stafford will turn 34 years old one day after the 2022 Super Bowl hosted in Los Angeles on 02/06/2022.


Stafford is 0-3 in the playoffs.
(3 Games) Comp 74, Att 117, Comp% 63.2, YDS 908, YPC 7.8, TD 4, INT 3, Rating 87.8

2016 Wildcard at SEA 26-6 L (Comp 18, Att 32, Comp% 56.2, YDS 205, TD 0, INT 0, Rating 75.7)
2014 Wildcard at DAL 24-20 L (Comp 28, Att 42, Comp% 66.6, YDS 323, TD 1, INT 1, Rating 87.7)
2011 Wildcard at NO 45-23 L (Comp 28, Att 43, Comp% 65.1, YDS 380, TD 3, INT 2, Rating 97.0)


Stafford has only played in (Wild Card) games during the postseason.

Stafford has never had a home playoff game (0-3 in first round Wild Card games on the road).

Stafford's first postseason loss came in a 2012 Wild Card game against the New Orleans Saints, in which Stafford threw for 380 yards and tallied four total touchdowns. He also threw two fourth-quarter interceptions in the 45–28 defeat.

At the end of the 2014 season, Stafford met the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round and fell, 24-20. At one point, Detroit held a 20-7 lead but surrendered 17 unanswered points in an eventual 24-20 loss.

Stafford's most recent playoff loss was against the Seattle Seahawks. On Jan. 7, 2017. The sixth-seeded Lions lost, 26-6, to the third seeded Seahawks.





Stafford has missed (27) games due to injuries during his 12 seasons in Detroit.

Stafford has a history of various injuries, but he's played through a lot of them.

What injuries caused him to miss games or required surgery?

2020 Right thumb UCL - (missed no games in 2020.) Had thumb (UCL) surgery in March of 2021.
2019 Back and tailbone Fracture - (missed 8 games in 2019.) No surgery was required.
2010 Right shoulder A/C joint separation - (missed 13 games in 2010.) Had shoulder surgery in January of 2011.
2009 Right knee patella & dislocated right shoulder - (missed 6 games in 2009) Had knee patella surgery in December of 2009.


Stafford Career Regular Season Rating (all 12 seasons) 2009 through 2020
Games 165, Comp 3,898, Att 6,224, Comp% 62.63, YDS 45,109, YPC 7.3, TD's 282, INT's 144, Rating 89.9

Stafford Regular Season Rating (last 10 seasons) 2011 through 2020
Games 152, Comp 3,640, Att 5,751, Comp% 63.3, YDS 42,307, YPC 7.4, TD's 263, INT's 123, Rating 91.8

Stafford Regular Season Rating (last 5 seasons) 2016 through 2020
Games 72, Comp 1652, Att 2533, Comp% 65.2, YDS 19,133, YPC 7.7, TD 119, INT 46, Rating 96.0

Stafford Regular Season Rating (last 3 seasons) 2018 through 2020
Games 40, Comp 893, Att 1374, Comp% 65.0, YDS 10,360, YPC 7.5, TD 66, INT 26, Rating 95.8


(Stafford's 5 best single seasons based on QB rating)

2019 Comp 187, Att 291, Comp% 64.26, YDS 2499, YPC 8.6, TD 19, INT 5, Rating (106.0) (*played in only 8 games)

2017 Comp 371, Att 565, Comp% 65.66, YDS 4446, YPC 7.9, TD 29, INT 10, Rating (99.3)

2011 Comp 421, Att 663, Comp% 63.05, YDS 5038, YPC 7.6, TD 41, INT 16, Rating (97.2)

2015 Comp 398, Att 592, Comp% 67.23, YDS 4262, YPC 7.2, TD 32, INT 13, Rating (97.0)

2020 Comp 339, Att 528, Comp% 64.02, YDS 4084, YPC 7.7, TD 26, INT 10, Rating (96.3)


Stafford regular season record vs the NFL (74-90-1) 165 games


Stafford career record vs the NFC (57-65-1)


Stafford vs NFC Central (26-35)

NFC Central
Chicago Bears 11-9 (at LA 09/12/21)
Minnesota Vikings 8-13 (at MIN 12/26/21)
Green Bay Packers 7-13 (at GB 11/28/21)
Detroit Lions N/A (at LA 10/24/21)


Stafford vs NFC West (7-13-1)

NFC West
Arizona Cardinals 3-4-1 (2x in 2021)
Los Angeles Rams 2-3
San Francisco 49ers 1-3 (2x in 2021)
Seattle Seahawks 1-3 (2x in 2021)


Stafford vs NFC South (10-12)

NFC South
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3-2 (at LA 09/26/21)
New Orleans Saints 3-4
Atlanta Falcons 2-3
Carolina Panthers 2-3


Stafford vs NFC East (14-5)

NFC East
Washington Football Team 5-0
Philadelphia Eagles 4-1
New York Giants 3-2 (at NY 10/17/21)
Dallas Cowboys 2-2


Stafford career record vs the AFC (17-25) 12 seasons.


Stafford vs AFC South (4-8)

AFC South
Jacksonville Jaguars 3-0 (at LA 12/05/21)
Indianapolis Colts 1-2 (at Colts 09/19/21)
Houston Texans 0-3 (at Texans 10/31/21)
Tennessee Titans 0-3 (at LA 11/07/21)


Stafford vs the AFC Central (3-7)

AFC Central
Cleveland Browns 3-0
Pittsburgh Steelers 0-2
Baltimore Ravens 0-2 (at BAL 01/02/22)
Cincinnati Bengals 0-3


Stafford vs the AFC West (6-5)

AFC West
Las Vegas Raiders 2-1
Los Angeles Chargers 2-1
Denver Broncos 1-1
Kansas City Chiefs 1-2

Stafford vs the AFC East (4-5)

AFC East
Miami Dolphins 2-0
New England Patriots 1-1
New York Jets 1-2
Buffalo Bills 0-2

____________________________________________________________________________

2021 Los Angeles Rams Training camp schedule

Rookies report on July 25.

Veterans report on July 27.

10 open practices for fans at UC Irvine.

Wednesday July 28
Gates Open: 2:30 PM
Practice Begins: 4:00 PM

Thursday, July 29
Gates Open: 2:30 PM
Practice Begins: 4:00 PM

Friday, July 30
Gates Open: 2:00 PM
Practice Begins: 3:00 PM

Saturday, July 31
Gates Open: 2:00 PM
Practice Begins: 4:00 PM

Monday Aug 2
Gates Open: 2:30 PM
Practice Begins: 4:00 PM

Tuesday Aug 3
Gates Open: 2:30 PM
Practice Begins: 4:00 PM

Wednesday Aug 4
Gates Open: 2:30 PM
Practice Begins: 4:00 PM

Friday Aug 6
Gates Open: 1:30 PM
Practice Begins: 3:00 PM

Saturday Aug 7
Scrimmage vs Cowboys (Oxnard)

Monday Aug 9
Gates Open: 2:30 PM
Practice Begins: 4:00 PM

Tuesday Aug 10
Gates Open: 2:30 PM
Practice Begins: 4:00 PM


(2021 Preseason Schedule)

Aug. 14 vs Chargers (SoFi Stadium 7 pm PT)
Aug. 21 vs Raiders (SoFi Stadium 7 pm PT)
Aug. 28 at Broncos (Mile High Stadium 6:05 pm PT)

Where are They Now? Preston Dennard​

When New Mexico wide receiver Preston Dennard wasn't chosen in the 1978 NFL Draft, his Plan B was actually Plan L.A.

"Harold Daniels was my agent, and after that last pick, I got frustrated and went for a walk," Dennard said. "When I got back, Harold said eight teams called (about signing as a free agent), but we're going to go to L.A. and we're going to sign a contract with them.

"So I went out there and met (the Rams' scout) Jack Faulkner and (general manager) Don Klosterman, and I got what was considered the first free agent signing bonus, $1,500."

Clearly not enough to retire on, Dennard went to training camp and put all his money on trying to impress Rams receivers coach Lionel Taylor.

And he did.

"I didn't get drafted I was told because I was very thin and they kind of thought I would maybe break on the first NFL hit," the 6-1, 178-pound Dennard laughed. "He admired my quick feet. He knew I could catch the ball and that's always been my thing. The bottom line, I could run routes."

Injured and released during camp, Dennard was signed by the Rams after the season was underway and played in the last 11 games. During his second season, he'd make 11 starts and help Los Angeles win its seventh consecutive division title, earn the NFC Championship, and meet Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XIV.

Other than the final score, 31-19 Steelers, what's something Dennard hasn't forgotten about the experience?

"That night before the Super Bowl, I had this huge dream. I was going to be the MVP. I was going to make my signature diving catch and be hoisted above Dennis Harrah's and Jackie Slater's shoulders and walk off the field as the champion. Well, of course, none of that happened," he said with a laugh.

"That Super Bowl was the stage for me to introduce me, to show people, and it just turned out to be a beautiful thing. I had a successful day, especially in the first half, running routes, being open. Then for some reason, they didn't get the ball to me. I think I caught like three balls in a row and that was the extent of it. We came up short, but it is still a blessing for me today.

"The stage was set for the rest of my career athletically. It just was a blessing to be a part of it because there were so many stumbling blocks along the way that would have kept me from being there on that stage."

On the Rams' stage for six of his eight seasons in the NFL, Dennard was with Los Angeles from 1978-83, totaling 189 receptions for 3,066 yards and 21 touchdowns. What makes him most proud of his career?

"Being in it. Being there. Being recognized for it. Being told you were a great receiver, we liked seeing you play, you played the game right. All the compliments that people would give you confirms you made an impression on the NFL," said Dennard, who also spent one season each with Buffalo and Green Bay.

"And probably the second, all of my opponents. Just their respect of my game and playing against Hall of Famers who I had success playing against. And guys that I could run routes on that other guys couldn't.

"And to come away from the game with a very respectful career. I think, jumping ahead, it culminated when the Rams moved back to L.A. and they gave me a day at the Coliseum. They introduced me and I was tickled that the crowd remembered and recognized me with great applause."

For the past 16 years, Dennard has enjoyed a great career with Sport Surfaces Distributing Inc. as its Director of Sales and Marketing.

"It's athletic surface applications. We install, market, and sell. We install rubber, wood, track, any kind of athletic surface you can think of. We do everything," Dennard said. "We represent a number of manufacturers, and our biggest one is Mondo. Mondo is the Olympics' main running track material and has been there for the last 13 Olympic Games. But we have other manufacturers that we can go anywhere in the country with turf and track.

"And we are big with the military and medical. We've got jobs in Djibouti, Africa, Okinawa. I've been to Mexico on jobs. So there's certain products we can go and do nationally and internationally, but we really focus on the southwest, West Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and a little bit of Southern Colorado.

"I'm a different kind of sales guy. I'm a relationship seeker. I may not sell something that day, but I know that they'll call me back just because they had a great experience with me. I'm able to really help people look good in their facilities. That's what I'm proud of. I've got what they need and our stuff is really good. It lasts forever."

The father of five and grandfather of seven, Dennard and his wife, Angela, make their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Also a motivational speaker, Dennard is in the process of writing his autobiography – A Walk in My Shoes. Expected to be published early next year, the book will share Dennard's experiences and how they've led him to where he is now.

One example is how even though he got off to a late start participating in youth sports, it helped him overcome a speech impediment – stuttering.

"It was so bad, I couldn't even breathe, I couldn't get words out. And as a young guy in class, I was always up front in the classroom. But you know how our peers are. You raise your hand and you can't get it out, they laugh. I started moving to the back of the room where they couldn't see me, and I lived that as a young guy," Dennard said.

"My dad would always say, 'Son, let's watch a game,' or 'let's go out and catch the ball.' I didn't want to do any of that. So, long story short, and this is relative to athletics, one day I did. And it happened to be the Dallas Cowboys and the Los Angeles Rams. I watched it and it was impressive. And the next thing I know I had a jersey of O.J. Simpson, and I ended playing youth football. The skinniest kid out there and the rookie, so to speak in the eighth grade, it seemed like everybody had played five or six years already.

"I migrated from a skinny nose tackle to quarterback. And what does a quarterback have to do? Open his mouth and talk. I was so scared, but it was so natural. As soon as I got off the field, I stuttered horribly, but I was self-conditioned by athletics. It was important. I loved it. It brought self-esteem."

Dennard feels his book will show that anyone can conquer challenges if they are focused and driven. And that anyone can overcome someone else's negativity.

"I always had opinions about me based on my stuttering impediment and was told I couldn't make it. I just want people to realize, it doesn't matter," Dennard said. "Have I been unfairly treated? Has prejudice and racism been an issue in my life? Oh, yeah. Of course. But I either can quit, I can give up, I can run and hide, or I can stand up and prove to people I'm not who you think I am. I'm bigger, greater, stronger than that. I'm a Christian, so I believe Jesus Christ doesn't build any weaklings on this earth. We're a prized gift and possession of his, and so I lived that life.

"The book is going to detail challenges, which everybody's got in their lives. But if there's one young athlete who is hesitant because he feels he's a little overweight or he's been teased or someone doesn't get the chance to prove themselves, and not just young men, young ladies, that's my whole deal. Believe in yourself and put your best foot forward."

One week til TC and anticipation is high after big off-season moves for the Rams. I'm amped up for TC, have all my tix printed out, a new hands free voice recorder for taking notes and my vacination card.

Some matchups I'm interested in seeing:

De'Sean jackson vs Jalen Ramsey is going to be fun to watch.

How well will Corbett stand up to SJD,, Rams DL?

What others?

So I was looking at coming out for this game to see the stadium for the first time. I was looking on VIVID SEATS and I was pretty shocked that seats are going from $300+ (and those are section 500 at the top. Average seats are $600+ EA. Anyone know of a better spot to get tickets or are they just that insane?

Where Does The Rams Secondary Rank In The NFC West?​

Last January Pro Football Focus ranked the Rams secondary as the best in the league. Less than six months later, the Rams fell to number nine. The good news is that means they will still field one of the best secondaries in the league. But how does the Ram’s secondary rank in the NFC West? It’s become an even more interesting question as the West has stacked talent recently, specifically at quarterback and at receiver.

Of course, Russell Wilson has always pushed secondaries to the limit, but now the West also has Kyler Murray, Trey Lance and Matthew Stafford. Along with that, the West has some of the league’s top pass catchers. Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, D.K. Metcalf, DeAndre Hopkins, and George Kittle are all among the league’s best and there are plenty more Westerners that are knocking on the door of the elite group.

The truth is that the Rams have, far and away, the best secondary in the West. According to the PFF rankings, the next best is the 49ers in the 20th spot. But let’s take a look at each group to find out how the Rams have taken such a big lead in the NFC West at this position group.

4. Arizona Cardinals

It doesn’t seem like the Arizona Cardinals know exactly what they want in their secondary. They have invested heavily in the draft over the last few years. They used three of their seven picks in 2021 on defensive backs, picked Isaiah Simmons with their first pick in 2020 (who they view more as a linebacker), and in 2019 they drafted Byron Murphy 33rd overall and added safety Deionte Thompson in the fifth round.

Not only that, but they have also been very active in free agency this offseason. They moved on from their 2011 fifth overall pick Patrick Peterson and signed Malcolm Butler and Robert Alford. Neither Butler nor Alford, who hasn’t played a snap since the 2018 season, have made the case as a starting CB in recent years. They also haven’t re-signed Dre Kirkpatrick who played 750 snaps for the Cardinals last season.

This sort of turnover doesn’t point toward a coaching staff that knows what to do with talented players and that trend will likely continue into the 2021 season. The perfect example of this is Isaiah Simmons. He was one of the most exciting defensive players in the 2020 draft. A highly compelling hybrid safety/linebacker that possessed a rare combination of size and speed. The Cardinals drafted him but had no idea what to do with him once he was in the building.

He was only used on 376 defensive snaps and a shockingly high amount of special teams snaps. As the season progressed they seemed to find a place for Simmons, yet his usage didn’t reflect that.

Furthermore, they also lack depth. In all likelihood, their rookie corners, Marco Wilson and Tay Gowan will have to play a healthy amount of snaps. At least more than the average rookie fourth and sixth-round picks are usually expected to play.

While it is difficult to see bright spots for the Cardinals, there are a few. Budda Baker is coming off the best season of his career and that will likely continue. Also, Byron Murphy has the slot on lockdown. So at the very least, the Cardinals won’t get beat there.

3. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks tried addressing their issues in the secondary this offseason. They added D.J. Reed and Ahkello Witherspoon and used one of their three draft picks on Tre’ Brown out of Oklahoma. But they also lost Shaquill Griffin. Neither Reed nor Witherspoon has played much as a starter, but now they are at the top of the Seahawks depth chart. They both performed better than Tre Flowers last season, but that will be a battle to watch heading into the 2021 season. Flowers also missed four games last season due to a hamstring injury.

Jamal Adams was a big reason the Seahawks had limited draft picks in 2021. They sent the Jets their 2021 first and third-round picks. The trade hasn’t panned out as well as Seattle had hoped. Adams continued to wreak havoc on quarterbacks in the sense that he led all defensive backs in QB pressures, but in coverage, he was a liability. He posted a career-low 52.5 coverage grade according to PFF. He also missed time due to a litany of injuries last season.

Outside of Adams, the biggest questions remain about the quality of starters, but there are questions about the depth behind the starters as well. Ryan Neal provided the best play as a backup last season, picking off two passes and defending five more. The Seahawks also added veteran talent in Pierre Desir. He has posted a few good seasons in his career and has been a dependable backup across the board.

2. San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers have also taken a hit over the last few years. After the 2019 season, PFF ranked the 49ers as having the second-best secondary. Now, the 20th. Of course, injuries ravaged the team in 2020. No starting DB played in all 16 games last season. This exposed the 49ers’ biggest flaw in the secondary; No depth. And they didn’t do a lot to improve that this offseason.

Their best coverage corner from last season was Ahkello Witherspoon who they let walk, along with the veteran Richard Sherman. They added Tavon Wilson which will bolster depth at safety. San Francisco also drafted two corners Ambry Thomas and Deommodore Lenoir and a safety Talanoa Hufanga with later round picks. Thomas would be the most likely to see the field in any significant amount, although they all were productive at the college level.

The injury bug has hit the 49ers’ secondary particularly hard. All five starters have missed significant time due to injuries. Although, Jimmie Ward and Jason Verrett have seemed to be pointing in the right direction.

Emmanuel Moseley, Jaquiski Tartt, and K’waun Williams will round out the starting five. Moseley and Tartt have flashed at times, but neither has shown a high ceiling. Witherspoon has emerged as a top nickel corner in the league. But again, there is a lack of depth behind the starters. This leaves the 49ers hoping that they will stay healthy this season and that some of the depth will rise to meet the moment. Hope is never a good strategy.

1. Los Angeles Rams

The biggest reason PFF dropped the Rams eight spots is because they lost two of their best defensive backs to free agency, Troy Hill and John Johnson III. Hill played the second-most snaps on defense and scored a career-high coverage grade. Johnson also set personal best PFF grades last season and was on the field for all 1,024 defensive snaps last season.

Not only did they lose players, but they also didn’t add much to the secondary in the offseason. They did add one defensive back in Robert Rochell with the 130th overall pick in the fourth round of this year’s draft and they also picked up a handful of undrafted safeties and corners. But because of their well-publicized cap space limits, the Rams didn’t add any high-profile defensive backs in free agency.

But fear not. It’s not all troubles and woes for our Los Angeles Rams secondary. They are still anchored by the best corner in the business;

Jalen Ramsey. Darious Williams also took a big leap forward and is poised to move into Troy Hill’s spot. Jordan Fuller showed a lot of promise last season and is the front runner as a successor to John Johnson. He played at least 99% of snaps in games in which he was healthy, including the two Rams playoff games.

Fuller may be flying under PFF’s radar, as they graded him an overall 63.3 and a dismal 58.6 in coverage. But Rams fans will remember him as the player that stuffed CeeDee Lamb behind the first down mark deep in Rams territory and the player who picked Tom Brady off twice, one of which sealed the victory for the Rams. He also racked up the third-most tackles among defensive backs on the team despite missing several games.

The Rams secondary will also see the return of Terrell Burgess and Taylor Rapp. Burgess was getting a good share of playing time last season and will likely seem even more this season. Rapp has established himself as a force to be reckoned with as a playmaker in the defensive backfield. He is a big hitter and often comes up with big plays.

The Rams will be looking for Nick Scott and David Long Jr. to take a jump forward to really round out this squad. There is no guarantee that they will but the Rams have had a track record of developing talent in the secondary and adding Raheem Morris to the mix will only help them along. Morris spent a good time of this coaching career working with DB’s after playing safety while at Hofstra.

How rookie Rochell fits into all of this remains to be seen. What we do know about Rochell is he has some freakish athletic traits. He posted the best vertical among all defensive backs last season, 43 inches. That’s over three and a half feet. And! He already stands 6’2”. He was also near the top in the broad jump, the three-cone, and the shuttle. He also posted a 4.41 40. According to JARS, an internal scouting system, Rochell’s size, and athleticism put him in a category with three other defensive backs that they have collected data on. They are; Obi Melifonwu, Derwin James, and none other than Ramsey himself.

Obviously, this doesn’t guarantee Rochell will be the next Jalen Ramsey, (Case in point Melifonwu) but it is time to get excited about Rochell. If he is able to apply his raw physicality to the pro game, he will likely play outside cornerback opposite Ramsey with Darious Williams covering the slot. It’s hard to imagine a deep threat in the league that can beat two outside corners who are over 6 feet tall with 40+ verticals.

This should make it apparent why the Rams secondary ranks number one in the NFC West. The Rams prioritized (with significant draft capital) landing an elite corner in Ramsey. They also have spotted underrated draft talent in the secondary and consistently developed that talent into quality contributors and even starters.

https://www.espn.com/golf/story/_/i...wa-yet-again-proved-fast-learner-winning-open

If you enjoy golf, or watching it. Morikawa is definitely worth the tv time. Guy is rock steady, no bogeys the last 31 holes of the open.

He’s won The PGA Championship & The Open (British) on his first attempt. We may be seeing the rising of a great here.

Aaron Donald is the best NFL player in the league for 5 years running. He may end up being the best NFL defensive player of all time. “The Man” deserves a nickname worthy of his dominance.

I’ll start the conversation with:

Aaron “A-Bomb” Donald
Aaron “D-Day” Donald

What say you Rams Nstion?

There’s something about rookie RB Otis Anderson​

The lessons learned about the way that the LA Rams approach building their roster have helped us refine the way we view the roster additions who arrive towards the end of the process. Rather than just slapping someone in there, the Rams seem to become even more determined to find that one last gold nugget from the draft class teeming with rookie talent.

The LA Rams did not need running back help, and yet they made it a point to sign up rookie running back Otis Anderson Jr. who hails from the University of Central Florida Knights (formerly Golden Knights before 2007). He’s 5-foot-8 and 179-pounds, so the initial thought is that he was brought into the Rams training camp to round out the roster and field some kickoffs and punts.

In terms of size, he falls into the ‘microburst’ section of the team rushers, in the same group as running backs Raymond Calais (5-foot-8 188-pounds) and Darrell Henderson (5-foot-8 208-pounds). That’s pretty stiff competition folks, and at first blush, you may wonder (just like we did) why even bother with him. Ah, that would be the cheap and easy conclusion.

So we do what we do, and began digging for some answers.

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Clearly, Otis Anderson is thrilled to be a member of the LA Rams. It’s a lifelong dream and at the last possible moment, there is a new life to become an NFL player. You can bet that he will not give up this chance without his best effort. Now, why should we be thrilled that he is on the Rams roster? So glad you asked…

More than meets the eye

He is immensely versatile. A young man who has a background as a wide receiver, running back, kick returner, punt returner, and even as a speedy guy who can cover instantly. Yeah, that isn’t somebody the LA Rams will want to take a hard look at? Think again. Otis Anderson is the type of player who will find a way to contribute, will take any avenue to do so, and will deliver to the best of his ability if given the chance.

Just for the record, the LA Rams love to give out chances for a player like that.

Now don’t get me wrong. The competition for any role in the LA Rams backfield is ultimately competitive. The Rams backfield will likely carry no more than three running backs, and two spots are claimed by Darrell Henderson and Cam Akers. One spot remaining for Xavier Jones, Raymond Calais, Jake Funk, and now Otis Anderson.

He is among the smallish players in the NFL, so he’s obviously freakishly fast, right? Well, not exactly. He tested at 4.63 seconds on his 40-yard dash. While that is not Terrapin slow, it’s not lightning fast either. Henderson put up a 4.49-second 40 time. Akers put up 4.47-seconds. Jones at 4.66-seconds. Jake Funk put up an amazing 4.38-second 40 time. Finally, Raymond Calais rolls in at 4.42-seconds for his 40-yard dash time.

Neither the biggest, the baddest, the fastest, or the most powerful rusher. So why did the Rams sign him up? A huge mistake? A favor owed to some friend of the family? A crutch to aid UCF Jacob Harris’s transition to the pros?

Trust the front office, young padawan

The University of Central Florida Knights is a blossoming college football program and continues to draw ever-increasing interest from NFL teams each year. The fact is that the program delivers NFL-capable talent on a regular basis, and forgoes national championships at times to optimize players’ chances in the pros.

Per his 2021 NFL Draft profile, Anderson was given shiny compliments, with the only drawback being the size that doesn’t scream every-down running back. Well here’s a newsflash, folks. That smaller version of versatile player seems to be a niche that holds great interest for the LA Rams. After all, the Rams have Darrell Henderson and Raymond Calais, so why go back to the well for a third time if durability was ever a concern? These Rams have been at this a while, and clearly trust what their data says over the general data at play.

The Rams envision Anderson as a strong competitor on special teams, a plug-n-play return specialist who has enough chops all over the offense to deliver reasons for offensive snaps as well. It’s pretty clear that the LA Rams are rethinking their entire roster strategy, and infusing versatility and athleticism whenever and wherever possible. But this young man is not the fastest in the RB room, so what gives?

Don’t stand on track meets to define who can play. There is a path for those running backs/wide receivers/return specialists who can carve an impressive career path by being good at multiple roles. New York Giants’ Dave Meggett is one such player, Darren Sproles is another such player. Meggett scored 27 touchdowns over 10 seasons, while Sproles put up 64 touchdowns over 14 seasons. So yes, it can work.

In four seasons with UCF, Anderson rushed 358 times for 2,182 yards and 17 touchdowns and caught 91 passes for 1,025 yards and nine touchdowns. He also returned 39 punts for 478 yards and one touchdown. That’s a very solid production for a young man who rotated into various roles. Can he develop further in the NFL? The LA Rams seem to think so.

Still unconvinced? That’s okay. We just put this out there to let anyone interested in doing so keep Otis Anderson on the radar screen. And if you don’t? Just remember that you heard it here first. That will come in handy when he lights it up in a preseason game, and you are scrambling to answer the question “Who is that guy?”

Big predictions for the NFL's reigning No. 1 defense | 10 things with Justin Hollins​

1. Go with the flow

Sarina: During the offseason, how do you manage your time? You go from crazy regimented to...do you even set an alarm?

Justin: In the offseason I kind of go with the flow. I'll work out, but it doesn't matter what time I'm working out. Go get the workout, but that's about it. It doesn't really matter. I got to just go with the flow in the offseason.

2. No question

Sarina: Last year's number one defense will be __ this season.

Justin: Will be number one this season as well.

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3. New coach, new ideas

Sarina: What has it been like working with new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris?

Justin: He's a player's coach. He relates to the players a lot. Definitely comes with a lot of different schemes and you could tell he's going to dial up some great things.

4. Waffles

Sarina: What is your favorite local restaurant or location in Los Angeles?

Justin: & Waffles. There is one in West Hollywood and one in Woodland Hills. [My go-to is] the chorizo burrito and then a waffle.

5. Get him hyped

Sarina: I saw you went to the Dodgers game with some of your teammates. If you could have a walk-up song, what would it be?

Justin: "Earned It" by Chief Keef.

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6. Back to the future

Sarina: Would you rather go back in time and meet your great-great grandparents, or would you rather go to the future and meet your great-great grandchildren?

Justin: Go to the future. I want to see what the world is like. Are they going to have hover cars? And I want to see where the legacy went.

7. Love the gram

Sarina: What's that one app you can't delete from your phone?

Justin: Instagram. I'm not a big TikTok(er), I'm not a big Twitter guy.

8. Ghostly home

Sarina: You're from Arlington, Texas and I looked it up. There are a lot of haunted houses in Arlington. Do you believe in ghosts?

Justin: I do believe in ghosts. Okay, this makes sense. That makes sense because apparently, we lived in a semi-haunted house in my childhood at one point. I kind of got weird vibes but as a child you don't really pay much attention to stuff. There was weird stuff happening in that house now that I think about it. My parents told me stories. [For example] I'd be in the living room and my mom just cleaned the room. She'll walk out the room, I'm still sitting there watching TV in the living room, and she'll walk right back by that room and the room would be completely messed up again. Like she didn't just clean it. The covers would be all messed up. Stuff like that.

9. H2O

Sarina: To the young kid in Arlington, Texas who wants to make it to the NFL, what do you tell this young athlete?

Justin: Don't have any doubt, and just keep pushing for longevity. Take care of your body early on, drink your water. Stretch. Take care of your legs.

10. Ready already!

Sarina: What games do you have circled on the schedule this season, and why?

Justin: I want the Chicago game. I have that one circled because it's the first game. And the Tennessee game because I became friends with Rodger [Saffold] and he plays with Tennessee. And it'd be fun to play against them and play against him, and Julio Jones. They got AJ Brown. Derrick Henry, of course, and it'd be a great test for the defense.

Finally hit 5k post! Lol damn that took a while

I don't know about the rest of ya, but this kid pegged my O face meter during the second half of the season. This is a great breakdown and I highly recommend you watch it. This kid is special. That jab step....

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I was recently banned for a "personal attack on a mod". It was never a personal attack. It was a joke really. I was just messing around.

I've been a Rams fan 43 years and they are like my family. I get into some heated arguments with other posters but at the end of the day, we are all here for the same thing, Rams football.

So again, my apologies to who ever it was I offended. It was never intended.

Dave

Will this be Sebastian Joseph Day’s curtain call?​

The LA Rams have a lot of important decisions to make, and 2022 is a huge year for what to do about expiring contracts. We know that the Rams must be a bit tight-fisted now, as the salary cap ceiling dropped precipitously rather than continue its steady climb as the team had hoped. Salary cap dollars suddenly became quite scarce for the team in 2020, and then again for 2021. Now, the team must decide who, if any, will be offered a contract extension to play for the team in 2022. One such player whose fate hangs in the balance is Sebastian Joseph Day.

Sebastian Joseph Day is a young and promising player for the LA Rams. He plays the nose tackle position but is versatile enough to play anywhere along either a 3-4 or 4-3 defensive front. His performance has improved steadily each season, to the point where he is likely expected to put up a career-high season for the Rams this year.

He, like all defensive linemen for the Rams, gets the Aaron-Donald effect. So one of the first questions that the LA Rams must answer in planning their 2022 roster strategy is to determine how much of SJD’s performance is SJD, and how much is Aaron Donald? Of course, some of his steady climb to NFL performance must be attributable to Bash (his high school nickname), as he has become entrenched in the nose tackle position, his off-season training has focused exclusively upon that role.

That’s critical to know because the Rams must commit to either defensive back Darious Williams, interior offensive lineman Austin Corbett, reserve offensive lineman Joseph Noteboom (who is the primary backup to the expected-to-retire offensive left tackle Andrew Whitworth), or any number of players whose contracts expire at the end of this season. Who is the team’s priority?

Steady improvement

Joseph-Day is not unique in his career for the LA Rams so far. Rather, his story is rather mainstream for this team. He arrived on the team in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, hearing his name with the 195th overall pick. At 6-foot-4 and 310-pounds, he arrived with the right size, but with a rawness that his draft profile concluded would require more muscle mass. Of course, he was given the opportunity to develop. That’s the Rams way it seems.

Although he made the cut and remained on the team’s 53-man roster, he was inactive for all 16 games. Of course, that was not wasted time in the least. He was watching and learning. He was constantly asking questions of veterans Michael Brockers, Ndamukong Suh, and yes, even Aaron Donald. Asking, and learning, and practicing, and training. By the end of the 2018 season, the Rams did not bring back Suh. Instead, the team tapped Bash to take over on the defensive line.

While he was the starting defensive lineman in both 2019 and 2020, he was not pulling the majority of defensive snaps. The Rams run a 3-4 defensive front. The toll taken on the front three is tremendous, so the Rams compensate by a rapid rotation. The result is that Sebastian Joseph Day pulls fewer than half of the defensive snaps in one season. Still, he has managed to put up respectable production despite the limits to his on-field time.

His role for the team, at the nose tackle position, is not to sack the quarterback. With the growth of mobile quarterbacks, the nose tackle is tasked with maintaining an even pocket that will collapse on the quarterback. As soon as Bash dislodges from the offensive linemen, a mobile quarterback can break to the running lane where he is no longer located. Sometimes, the key to the defense is not to play selfishly, but rather to maintain the responsibility of the assigned role.

He exceeds expectations

There are reasons to believe that the 2021 defense may be ever so slightly different. For starters, the third new defensive coordinator in three years is a good clue. Raheem Morris will give the Rams defense a new coat of paint, and that could affect several roles. The inside linebacker and nose tackle roles are the most likely to be impacted.

With the Rams investing at inside linebacker, it’s clear that the Rams want a more forceful and impactful player in that role. That includes all three phases of defense: Run-stuffing, pass coverage and pressuring the quarterback. While there are no guarantees that the Rams rookie inside linebacker Ernest Jones will start, it will come as no surprise if he has claimed the starting role this year. And with a move active player at the linebacker role, the nose tackle role will change as well.

Sebastian Joseph Day is working feverishly to improve his pass rush, the one area that has remained a vulnerability. In fact, Pro Football Focus considers him a break-out candidate for 2021. It’s pretty clear that a young NFL player’s career trajectory shows improvement for a number of years. With his redshirted rookie season, this is likely SJD’s third active year. That’s a good year to see a huge burst out of a defensive lineman.

Whatever the expectations of fans, he has consistently exceeded the expectations of the Rams coaching staff. Aaron Donald, much like Jalen Ramsey, influences his part of the football field. The Rams defense needs players like SJD in order to be completely effective. He’s young and stout and has plenty of great football in his future. He need not pull down the quarterback 10 times to have a great season. Will the Rams bring him back? If he has the type of year that he is capable of, and that some expect him to, he could be too expensive for the team’s budget.

Sean McVay talks coaching with Joe Judge on 'Flying Coach' podcast​

Sean McVay has kept busy during this quiet part of the offseason, starting to host a podcast with Peter Schrager on The Ringer. If you haven’t listened tuned in already, it’s called “Flying Coach” and is one of the best football podcasts around right now.

Each week, McVay and Schrager have a new guest coach on the podcast, and for the latest episode, Joe Judge was invited. It was almost an hour-long conversation with Judge, as the Giants coach talked about working under Nick Saban and Bill Belichick, Daniel Jones’ progression heading into Year 3 and his favorite player to coach, Julian Edelman.

At the end of the show, McVay talked about his former coaches who have gone onto new teams, led by Chargers head coach Brandon Staley. He’s confident all of them will succeed in their new roles, even though he’s disappointed not to have them on the Rams anymore.

“I think Brandon Staley’s gonna do a great job with the Chargers. This is a guy that’s got great command and capacity in all three phases. Spending a year with him, when you understand the intricate knowledge of the game, the details, the way he’s able to see the game through the lens of his background as a quarterback, understanding and being around some really good coaches to where you’re saying, ‘All right, I know what I want it to look like when I’m leading. I’m surrounding myself with great coaches that are leading on all three phases, while also having an ownership ability to develop a relationship with (Justin) Herbert, I think Brandon will do a really nice job.”

McVay said he’s excited to see “how he activates the Derwin James of the world, the Joey Bosas, Kenneth Murray,” saying the Chargers have some “exciting pieces.”

Listen to the full episode below.

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How Italy native Max Pircher became an NFL-caliber player​

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The unlikeliest of teachable moments began in one of Max Pircher's high school classes.

He was watching an American football video during teacher Matteo Braghini's lesson and got caught. However, rather than punishing Pircher, Braghini – a former tight end for the 2009 Italian Bowl-winning Giants Bolzano – instead decided to take him to a Swarco Raiders game in Innsbruck, Austria and introduce him to the sport.

"I was really lucky, I would say, that I met him, because he took me to a game, and without him, I wouldn't have even known there is some (American) football back home," Pircher, a native of northern Italy, said during a video conference with local and international media in early June.

The experience set Pircher, now a Rams offensive lineman, on his path to professional football.

While with the Swarco Raiders, then-head coach Shuan Fatah started "Rookie Mondays" – the chance for players from other sports backgrounds to be seen by his staff, he told European League of Football commissioner Patrick Esume.

Pircher fit that category, having played handball. He enjoyed that Swarco Raiders game Braghini took him to so much, he decided to try out for the team at age 19.

Then-Swarco offensive line coach Lee Rowland, who spent time coaching with Fatah in NFL Europe, told Esume in the same interview that Pircher's size stood out right away, but he wanted to see him run. The latter showed Rowland that Pircher had good mobility, so they progressed to individual and position drills, with Rowland working him out every day.

At that point, Fatah said they weren't thinking about the NFL. They were just hoping Pircher would return next Monday, because when it comes to the best athletes in Europe who show up for those workouts, sometimes they don't come back.

Fortunately, Pircher did.

"I saw what Lee saw, and then obviously we just prayed he was coming back into the program," Fatah told Esume. "And after a while, we moved him into the program."

After one season with the Raiders in which he helped the club win the Australian Football League championship, Pircher was called up to the Italian national team to play a pair of important games against Austria and Switzerland – both victories that helped Italy reach the semifinal round of the International Federation of American Football's European tournament. When Fatah and Rowland were hired by the Hildesheim Invaders of the German Football League in the fall of 2019, they gave Pircher a contract to play for the Invaders.

The work he put in through 2019 would pay off. While training for the 2020 season in Germany, he was contacted by James Cook of the NFL's International Player Pathway Program.

Established in 2017 at the league's London office, the NFL's International Player Pathway Program canvases various amateur sports leagues around the world to identify prospects who are NFL caliber-athletes.

Sometimes they are amateur American football players. Other times, according to Cook, a member of the league's London staff who assists in international football development through the pathway program and NFL Academy, they can be "crossover athletes" who come from other sports like rugby or basketball, like Chilean tight end and former basketball player Sammis Reyes of the Washington Football Team.

The 6-foot-7 1/2, 300-pound Pircher fell into the former category, having played at the highest level of American football in Austria in the Austrian Football League. He also came from an athletic background, having played soccer growing up in additional to handball and other sports.

"Every sport I did helped me a lot, because my parents made me do sports since I was in kindergarten," Pircher said. "Every kind of sport, like, swimming, climbing. I skied a lot. Obviously soccer, handball. You can take from every sport something away, and the most important thing you get from all the sports is the feeling for your body, and learning how your body works and how to use which muscle. It helped me a lot. The handball work, the hand-eye coordination is for sure something that will help me. All of it effects together and brought me here also."

Cook and his NFL colleagues agreed, seeing a player who fit the mold of the type of NFL-caliber athletes they're looking for.

"You've got this really big athlete that has kind of grown up his whole life playing a sport like handball, so he's light on his feet, he has good hand eye coordination, he has this an athletic makeup, you don't often find in guys that size, because they just don't play sports like that generally," Cook said.

Though Pircher was raw when they discovered him, his collection of traits and intangibles projected positively, so much so that he became one of 11 players selected to compete for a spot in the 2021 NFL International Player Pathway Program in January.

"Exceptional size, some really raw developmental traits, some natural strength," Cook said. "Don't get me wrong, he was very raw when we first found him, and there's things to work on, but when you move forward with a prospect like Max, you have to believe that a lot of that is coachable. And fortunately with him, it was and is, and he's going to continue to learn. But he is very coachable, he's intelligent – things that have to be in your favor when you're trying to play catch up like Max is at this point."

Once those players are chosen for the program, they are brought over to the United States, where they stay from January to April to develop their skills, or work with positional and strength and conditioning coaches at a U.S.-based training facility, similar to a college prospect's timeline.

For Pircher, that brought him to IMG Academy in Florida, where he trained alongside current and prospective NFL players. He and the program's 11 other selections then worked out in front of NFL scouts at the University of Florida's Pro Day.

Cook said he and his colleagues are in communication with teams throughout that process. Every team will receive film from the Pro Day and their time at IMG Academy, as well as verified measurables recorded at the Pro Day. Once teams receive the film and data, they'll come back to the IPP staff and rank the prospects it has put forward.

"They'll discuss, who's the best fit? Why are they a good fit?'" Cook said. "And then we'll of course meet internally as well. We'll discuss who we think could be a great fit as well, and just work with the team to make sure that ultimately the player is being put in the best situation they can to develop, and that also the team is receiving a quality athlete that can hopefully develop, learn and contribute for them within the next three years."

In that vein, Pircher couldn't have landed in a better spot than the Rams.

Four of Los Angeles' five starters from last year's offensive line return this season in 16-year veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth, seven-year veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein, fourth-year offensive lineman Austin Corbett and third-year offensive lineman David Edwards. Pircher will also get to learn from new Rams offensive line coach Kevin Carberry, who learned under one of the NFL's best offensive line coaches in Bill Callahan.

"I was really impressed when we started practicing here, how the vets are treating the rookies," Pircher said. "They're very patient with us, they teach us everything. If they see something that you could do better, they immediately teach it and they also take the time. Rob Havenstein, Whitworth, Corbs, they're all helping us a lot and they take you (to) the side and show you how you can do those steps better. So we're really thankful for that and we know that's not obvious."

Pircher will remain on the Rams' roster until the end of training camp. At that time, he is eligible for an international player practice squad exemption, providing L.A. an extra practice squad member who is ineligible to be activated this season.

Even if he won't see action in a game this season, he will still have a strong learning environment to continue helping him develop as a player.

Some of the notable players who have come through the program and are currently on NFL rosters include Patriots fullback Jakob Johnson (Germany), Eagles offensive tackle Jordan Mailata (Australia) and Bills defensive end Efe Obada (U.K.). Their success in turn has paved the way for players like Pircher to get a chance.

If Pircher and the Rams both have a positive experience, it could help NFL International create more of those opportunities in the future.

NFL International Chief Operating Officer Damani Leech told theRams.com in a phone interview Thursday that they're currently working on enhancing their scouting capabilities to bring more prospects into the top of the evaluation funnel. They also want to make their annual international combine – first held in Australia in 2018, then Germany in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit – a bigger part of the international calendar.

"How do we get more players in there so that then we have a larger number of players coming in at the end as an output?" Leech said. "Right now we've been doing four players per year being allocated, and that's largely driven by the quality of talent. We want to make sure when the Rams get a player like Max, that their first impression of him is, 'Okay, we see some talent here that we can develop.' Getting to a point where we can allocate eight players instead of four in a given year would be great, and continuing to expand that to the point where one day maybe we're doing one player per team every year. I don't know how feasible that is, but we do want to try to enhance and expand every stage of the process."

Pircher – who said in May he is now at 315 pounds – is working to do his part. For the time being, he said his goal this year is to become the best football player he can and learn as much as possible from his veteran Rams teammates and coaches, while also improving and working to play as soon as possible.

Training camp is the next phase in showing what he can do.

"I've heard really good things (about Pircher). You see the movement, the natural athleticism," Rams head coach Sean McVay said during a June 4 video conference. "From a competitiveness (standpoint), when you go offense versus defense, training camp will really serve as the best opportunity to truly give Maximus, as you would say, a full evaluation. And (I've) so been pleased. He's got a great demeanor about himself. Really like the way he's got that good look in his eye, and looking forward to probably having a better evaluation when we can really physically see these guys compete amongst one another. He's done a nice job with Coach Carberry, Coach (Nick) Jones, and Coach (Zak) Kromer."

He had what I need.