I love making avatars. I think im decent at it. But, I've seen some folks that are next level.

I make them for all my friends on Playstation. As well as for myself. I dont draw the stuff. I just edit the originals. I can't draw very well.

Let's display our work and show off a bit. My psn is My_Sinister_Self and on my discord I'm Mister Sin.

Cooooooooper Kupp. And Robert Woods isn't far off.

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I was just at a local Savers thrift store and saw this Rams Sammy Watkins jersey. It's autographed and looking at the way it's tailored and being an "On Field" jersey, I'm really thinking that it's a legit game worn or at the very least an authentic jersey of his that he gave to someone. They wanted $155 for it. I didn't ask if they had any kind of Authentication. What say you?

Last time I travelled to Europe on Luthtansa, it was THE MOST uncomfortable 13 hours (Chicago to Frrankfurt, Frankfurt to Tblisi, Georgia) I have ever spent travelling. I hated it so much so, that either I fly business or first class going anywhere, or I'm driving....and I don't give a crap how long it takes.

Except.....

I've said it many times that I served in the real Navy (surface fleet, eh @thirteen28 ?). I was an electronic technician back in the day and so I could wander in the upper levels or walk the main deck near the guard rails and watch the ship cut through the ocean. I loved it when porpoises would race alongside us and then cross under the keel and back again. I also thrilled at knowing my life was dependent on a platform 500 ft long by 40 ft wide in the vast ocean.....a thousand miles or more from anywhere. I am also a history nerd and I thrill over the Titanic and Lusitania disaster stories and particular the Titanic. The Ship of Dreams...the Ship that "God Himself Could Not Sink!" and then did in the North Atlantic. They said it was a moonlit sky and a glassy surface just before impact, and very cold on her only voyage. It was the finest way to travel in those days in full luxury and the best food. People walked the decks and watched the ocean go by, just as I had 70 plus years later in the 80's. No television and no internet and certainly no cell phones and that sounds wonderful to me. Read a book on a deck chair and watch the ship cut through the North Atlantic. It would be a dream trip for me to retrace that transatlantic journey, in reverse, from New York to Southhampton, minus the sinking!

Welp, Titanic II is being built to exaactly replicate the original famous ship for transatlantic voyages. I believe an Australian billionaire is funding the project and it is being built in China, which I'm not too thrilled with. I'd rather it be built in Belfast, Ireland like the first one, but no matter. The route since the Titanic disaster drifted south to avoid iceberg fields in Winter, so that wouldn't be the same, but the grand staircase and all of the various salons, parlors, dining rooms, suites are supposed to be exactly the same. I would love to wear my coat against the cold of January, looking over the rails of Titanic II in a full moon, with utterly calm water, watching closely for ice....

Examples…
@RamsOfCastamere posts amazing pictures
@IowaRam posts on Marvel
@Selassie I on living the good life


Who else is know just by topic?

Nothing mean please, as to keep the thread open….TY

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id...arrested-domestic-violence-charge-denied-bail

Not sure if this has been posted

1.4 Tutus here.

So Therams.com has a link to the parking passes on their web site...

UCI Rams TC Parking

I just bought the full parking pass. Covers every day of camp for $135. You can save $15 over buying them daily. If you pre-buy daily its $15 or $18 at the gate. Oversize vehicles are more.

Wanted to start a thread for putting things I come across as I look a bit deeper at what they were doing last season. So right out the gate Morris is a very interesting hire because he's the antithesis of Brandon Staley. Brandon ran a brilliant mix of defensive calls (probably the most Quarters or Cover 4 in the league with pre-snap disguising on top of that) that stood out from the rest of the league and dare I say wasn't really figured out until Green Bay in the playoffs. Now we did give up points in key games like for example Buffalo. But that was to my eye at least moreso due to the QB extending plays and making throws that were beyond most QBs' skill level to make, with some poor coverages by the Rams at times mixed in so I'm not sure that it was Staley moreso than the players. Green Bay we got beat by scheme in considerable part. IMO. But that's a different conversation.

Enter Atlanta who (as an antithesis of Staley) ran an extremely low amount of Cover 4. Which was Staley's bread and butter. Which is also our base approach in the secondary in 2020. They basically ran a shit ton of Cover 2 prevent and they ran it poorly. Cover 2 is considered archaic in the NFL for good reason, that being that teams will underneath your ass all day long and mash the run vs that light front. To run it you do need plus safeties who can get into the box on the fly, and a great MLB doesn't hurt either lol. You also need team tackling and they sure as F didn't have that. Now Jones is one of those MLBs who can go apeshit in a given game (like he did vs us in the playoffs in '17), but overall he's light in the pants and not a guy with good physicality. Their secondary at large was quite bad, particularly given that they don't have a lot of skill at breaking on the ball it's like watching dudes thinking when you turn on their games.

And now Morris is going to be taking over a defense that has specialized into the back end look that he's probably weakest at. So call me crazy or paranoid or whatever but it seems to me that this is a big deal. I know Morris is an experienced coach and all that and I readily admit he was dealing with some serious weaknesses (their DL was shit, their secondary was too, pretty much everyone but Jarrett played like ass). But man am I paranoid about this hire.

Gonna link a PFF article next which I do think might have been linked before, but this is a slow period pre-camp so maybe some will want to pick through it. I find it really helpful in combination with what I'm seeing on tape, to ensure that I'm not misconstruing what the calls are because I am certainly no expert. But by God they ran some serious Cover 2. And this hire... In spite of the fact that I think Morris is a head coach in the future, the nuts and bolts of it smack of friend hire to me. It's a bad fit. IMO and I hope I'm wrong.

Pretty good listen if you have an hour. I love me some Jalen and Talib.

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Don't know how many of you have a Reddit account, but she'll be doing a little Q&A on Friday over there, so probably worth checking out/asking questions.

Ranking the eight NFL divisions by quarterback​

It's my favorite ranking of the year! An annual tradition: the quarterbacking pecking order of the NFL divisions.

This is not an overriding power ranking of the divisions. It's a rundown of how the league's eight foursomes stack up when it comes to the game's marquee position. This is not a historical ranking. It's based on what I think about each team's starting signal-caller at this very moment in time, just a couple months away from the 2021 season.

Of course, this offseason has significantly reshaped the quarterback landscape, which leads to less certainty and more fun in this exercise. So, let's get to it!

1. NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray
Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Stafford
San Francisco 49ers: Jimmy Garoppolo/Trey Lance
Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson

No surprise here: The NFL's most competitive division reigns supreme at the sport's most important position. Stafford changes everything for the Rams -- and the Rams change everything for Stafford. He's a spectacular quarterback who's finally going to get his due at age 33. With Sean McVay and the surrounding talent in Los Angeles, the former No. 1 overall pick's a legit MVP candidate and could be a Super Bowl champion. Wilson, of course, already has a ring. He's also a first-ballot Hall of Famer playing at the top of his game, having just set career-highs in touchdown passes (40) and completion percentage (68.8). Sure, he clearly has some issues with team brass, given the drama earlier this offseason. And the O-line still looks a little troublesome to these eyes. But Wilson is a star who makes the most out of what he has, both in terms of his own skill set and the surrounding talent. After petering out down the stretch last season, I think he comes out in 2021 as a man on a mission.

I expect Murray, another former No. 1 overall pick, to become truly great in 2021. It's Year 3 in Kliff Kingsbury's offense and the surrounding pieces are in place, especially at the receiver position. This cat's dynamic as a passer and runner, a modern playmaker at the position. That's not exactly the case with Jimmy G, who brings this group down. That said, he's obviously been solid when healthy, as evidenced by his 22-8 record in San Francisco. Not to mention, Lance -- a true dual-threat with serious arm talent -- waits in the wings. His lack of experience could keep him on the bench longer than some 49ers fans would like, but once the No. 3 overall pick gets comfy in Kyle Shanahan's scheme ... Watch out!

2. AFC WEST
Denver Broncos: Teddy Bridgewater/Drew Lock
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes
Las Vegas Raiders: Derek Carr
Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert

Mahomes is the best quarterback in the game bar none. It's crazy to think that, of his three seasons as an NFL starting quarterback, 2020 ranks as his worst. I'm laughing as I type that. That's just how it goes when you win league MVP in Year 1 and Super Bowl MVP in Year 2. But yeah, the guy still posted a 38:6 TD-to-INT ratio and made it right back to Super Bowl Sunday, so "worst" is a relative term there. Herbert is fresh off one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history -- I'd call it the best at the quarterback position. Despite playing behind an offensive line that Pro Football Focus ranked dead last at season's end, the Oregon product set a rookie record with 31 touchdown passes while completing 66.6 percent of his passes with a 98.3 passer rating. With the arm, the athletic ability, the size, Herbert's the total package. Scary to think he's only going to get better. Speaking of which, the Raiders' quarterback just continues to improve, despite what some people seem to think. I've been a card-carrying member of the Derek Carr fan club for years, and last season was quite satisfying, as the seven-year veteran set career-highs in passing yards (4,103) and passer rating (101.4). Carr's legit. Bag it, haters.

Now, Denver's situation is the glaring "Yeah, but ..." in this division's rundown. I'm not exactly head over heels for Bridgewater or Lock. But could that QB room add a certain somebody in the coming weeks? Somebody who, um, just won MVP? Stay tuned!

3. AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson
Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow
Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield
Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger

I thought it was close between the AFC West and AFC North, but Mahomes raised the bar and Roethlisberger lowered it. Big Ben is pushing 40 and his arm shows it. Obviously, he's a Hall of Famer, but remember: This ranking is based on my expectations for the 2021 season. And those aren't too high when it comes to Roethlisberger, especially behind Pittsburgh's patchwork offensive line. In 2021, Ben's the fourth-best quarterback in his own division. On the other end of the career spectrum ... Burrow is going to shine. Fresh off a promising -- albeit injury-abbreviated -- rookie campaign, the 2020 No. 1 overall pick now has his No. 1 receiver from back at LSU. With Ja'Marr Chase joining Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd in Cincy, Burrow has a legit Big Three. Burrow also has it -- you know, of the indefinable sort.

Jackson is a flat-out stud and the best quarterback in this division, breaking ankles, throwing darts and generally taking breaths away. He's a former MVP who will be in the mix for the award every year for the foreseeable future. As for the guy who went No. 1 overall in Jackson's draft class? The light went on for Baker last year under savvy coach Kevin Stefanski. As long as Odell Beckham Jr.'s return to the lineup doesn't disrupt things, Mayfield will have the best full season yet in 2021.

4. NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan
Carolina Panthers: Sam Darnold
New Orleans Saints: Jameis Winston/Taysom Hill
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tom Brady

Despite the fact that he's about to turn 44, Brady is still playing brilliant, elite, winning football, having just captured his seventh ring in his first year with the Buccaneers. With a full season under his belt -- and the accompanying familiarity with his receivers and the Byron Leftwich/Bruce Arians offense -- there's reason to believe Brady will be even better this regular season than last. The G.O.A.T. is still playing like it in his mid-40s. Crazy. Ryan's carved out a fine career of his own, and he's still going strong at a youthful -- well, compared to Mr. Brady -- 36 years old. He certainly wasn't the problem in Atlanta during last year's 4-12 debacle, piling up 4,581 passing yards and 26 touchdowns (against 11 picks). That said, I think new head coach/play caller Arthur Smith and freak rookie Kyle Pitts will take Ryan's game to a different level in the back nine of his career.

I believe Jameis can blossom into a great player under Asshole Face. The head coach said as much to me on SiriusXM Radio earlier this year. Now, Saints GM Mickey Loomis told me last week on The Adam Schein Podcast that there will be a legit quarterback competition this summer between Winston and Hill. I'd put my money on Jameis, who can represent a true upgrade on the 2020 version of Drew Brees. I love Darnold getting a second lease on NFL life under Matt Rhule and Joe Brady. I'm still a huge believer in the quarterback's talent. Rhule and Brady will maximize it -- as opposed to the Jets, who surrounded the former No. 3 overall pick with bad players and worse coaching.

5. AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans: Tyrod Taylor
Indianapolis Colts: Carson Wentz
Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence
Tennessee Titans: Ryan Tannehill

For this exercise, I'm not including Deshaun Watson. Yes, he was a top-four quarterback in the NFL last season. But back in January, Watson was obviously unhappy with the Texans, asking to be traded. And then, of course, a series of sexual assault allegations against Watson became public in the spring. Consequently, his status is completely up in the air for 2021. Personally, I don't think he'll take another snap for Houston. Thus, I'm not including him in this drill. That brings the division down, obviously. Though I have always liked Tyrod more than most. He's solid.

With all that said, there's a lot to like across the rest of the AFC South. Lawrence is one of the greatest quarterback prospects in NFL history. The tools, the winning, the calm demeanor -- it's all there. I expect his talents to be on display immediately in Jacksonville under Urban Meyer. Of course, my expectations don't always come to light. I was absolutely floored watching Wentz become the worst quarterback in the NFL last season, but I firmly believe he will be reborn with Frank Reich back in his corner. Indianapolis is the perfect change of scenery for the 28-year-old. Not only does Wentz get away from the pressure cooker of the Philly sports scene, but he gets an ultra-talented roster (especially up front) and spectacular coaching. I think Wentz bounces back with a brilliant effort, playing like the 2017 MVP favorite he was before tearing up his knee. On the Tannehill front, forget about the Miami days. He has become excellent in Tennessee. Two seasons, two passer ratings north of 105 and two playoff appearances. And now, with Julio Jones to go alongside A.J. Brown, Tannehill's poised to enjoy his finest season yet.

6. NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears: Justin Fields/Andy Dalton
Detroit Lions: Jared Goff
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers?
Minnesota Vikings: Kirk Cousins

Rodgers is the reigning MVP and, in my opinion, the most talented quarterback ever. Yep, count me among those on Team Rodgers, as I've written and said many times before. I think the disdain he has for certain people in the Packers organization is beyond real and beyond repair. A no-show at OTAs, Rodgers also just skipped minicamp for the first time in his career. And his public comments in recent weeks give you no reason to believe he'll be back in Green Bay. Honestly, I don't really blame him, given how the trade up for Jordan Love went down. I pondered removing Rodgers from this exercise -- because I'm not planning on seeing him play for the Packers again -- but ultimately decided to leave him in. For now. If Love has to take the field, the Packers instantly have the No. 32 starting QB in football.

I want Fields to beat out Dalton in the worst way. And I hope Fields is given every opportunity to do so from Day 1. Chicago wisely pounced when the Ohio State quarterback started to slide in April's draft. He has an electric skill set that represents hope at a position that's long been a nightmare for Bears fans. And it's not like Dalton has a history with the franchise -- he's yet to take his first snap in the Windy City -- so please don't compare this to the Alex Smith/Patrick Mahomes setup in Kansas City when Matt Nagy was the offensive coordinator. On the Lions front, I think Goff needed a change of scenery in the worst way, coming off of a year where he played hot potato with the football. He can be solid. I like the former No. 1 overall pick. But it's a downgrade at the position for Detroit. Kirk Cousins is Kirk Cousins. He's a top-16 NFL QB who can float higher in the rankings when he gets hot.

7. AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen
Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa
New England Patriots: Mac Jones/Cam Newton
New York Jets: Zach Wilson

Allen got my AP vote for Offensive Player of the Year last season. He's a bona fide star. And yet, with him just heading into Year 4, we haven't even seen his peak yet. The sky's the limit for this spectacular athlete with a cannon arm -- who, by the way, just completed nearly 70 percent of his passes last season. I won't be at all surprised if he delivers Buffalo its first Lombardi Trophy. I also won't be surprised if Tua flips the script in Year 2. OK, let's get it out of the way: The Dolphins should've taken Justin Herbert instead. Yes, this is true. But that doesn't mean Tagovailoa is destined for doom. Especially now that Miami has significantly upgraded his weaponry -- and now that he's enjoying a real offseason. People seem to conveniently forget that he joined the NFL in the midst of a global pandemic, fresh off major hip surgery. Can we give the kid a chance?

In New England, I'd favor Mac over Cam. What does Bill Belichick think? Well, he's heaped plenty of praise on Newton during his time in New England, but the NFL is a bottom-line business and The Hoodie's a bottom-line guy. In New York, the Jets are smitten with Wilson. And Joe Douglas drafted smartly around the No. 2 overall pick, immediately snatching a blocker (Alijah Vera-Tucker), receiver (Elijah Moore) and running back (Michael Carter) with his next three picks. Wilson will face a learning curve, but the Jets are establishing an environment that's infinitely better than the one which buried Sam Darnold.

8. NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott
New York Giants: Daniel Jones
Philadelphia Eagles: Jalen Hurts
Washington Football Team: Ryan Fitzpatrick

I'm obsessed with Dak. That's well documented. Healthy and financially secure with a stellar receiving trio at his disposal (Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup, oh my!), Prescott will put up MVP-type numbers, lead the Cowboys to a division title and win in the playoffs.

I love Dak. I loathe the rest of the division. Heck, I won't be surprised if Hurts is the second-best quarterback in the NFC East this year, especially with the addition of Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith. But Hurts remains raw as an NFL signal-caller. Meanwhile, I think the Washington quarterback situation is terrible. I'm sorry, but Ryan Fitzpatrick is not the answer. And I still haven't seen anything all that encouraging from Jones, whose most consistent contribution is turning the ball over.

If This Is Andrew Whitworth’s Last Ride, Where Will He Rank Among Franchise Linemen​

Only three of the 256 players selected in the 2006 draft are currently on NFL rosters; tight end Marcedes Lewis, Punter Sam Koch, and Andrew Whitworth. What is made abundantly clear by this is that these guys have figured out how to keep themselves on the field. But as we all know, father time is ultimately undefeated and Andrew Whitworth is aware of this. He recently told Chris Long of the Green Light podcast that the 2021 season feels “…like this will probably be the end.”

If he does indeed end up retiring, it certainly will be the end of an era. 224 games played, and over 1,500 snaps. He was with Sean McVay at the beginning and he has been the linchpin and the best member of the Rams offensive line ever since 2017.

It is difficult to really quantify the legacy of an offensive lineman. For one, they work as a cohesive unit. The offensive line is only as strong as the weakest link and the success of the line relies heavily on the performance of the so-called skill players on offense. Even the individual stats applied to linemen lack context. How many of Whitworths 11 sacks allowed as a Ram are coverage sacks, versus getting blown out by a defensive end, for instance.

It should be pointed out that Whitworth has only allowed 1 sack in his last two seasons.

Whatsmore, when a lineman is playing his best only the keenest football view, appreciates it.

One keen pigskin observer, Pro Football Focus, wrote “Whitworth has been among the best tackles PFF has seen,” continuing, “His 84.7 pass-block grade was the seventh-best at the position, making it 11 straight years in which he has produced a top 10 pass-block grade (every year since he moved to full-time tackle with the Bengals in 2009).”

So to sum up Whitworth’s legacy; He’s very good and he has been good for a long time. But where does he rank among the best linemen in the Rams franchise.

There are a few names that are untouchable in the pantheon of Rams franchise linemen; Orlando Pace, Jackie Slater, and Tom Mack. It’s hard to argue with a man in a gold jacket, and despite how good Whitworth has been, he won’t crack the holy trinity of the trenches.

But before we just move on from the best of the best, a few words about the only three Rams HOF’er linemen.

Tom Mack was the second overall pick in the 1966 draft. In his 13 seasons with the Rams, he never missed a game. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl 11 times and was named to the first-team All-Pro in 1969. At 6’3” 250 lbs, Mack wasn’t the biggest guy on the field, but he felt his biggest advantage was his speed. The Rams won their division eight times during his tenure.

Jackie Slater had a long career, 20 years to be exact. The big difference between him and Whitworth being Slater started in 1976. This was when the most advanced recovery methods were rubbing dirt on it and a six-pack of beer. The Rams went to the playoffs 12 times in his career, including one trip to the Super Bowl. Slater blocked for seven different 1,000-yard rushers, including Lawrence McCutcheon, Wendell Tyler, Eric Dickerson, Charles White, Greg Bell, Cleveland Gary, and Jerome Bettis, as well as 27 games that his QB threw for over 300 yards. Slater went to the Pro-Bowl seven times in his career.

Orlando Pace was highly touted coming out of Ohio State in 1997 and for good reason. He was a beast, coming into the league at 6’7” 320 LBS. He wasn’t just big. He was fast too. The combination of the two earned him the first overall selection in the draft, but he reshaped the expectation for tackles going forward. Pace was the beginning of the end of lumbering big men. He made an immediate impact on the team which culminated in the Greatest Show on Turf and the Rams only Super Bowl victory. He blocked for the NFL MVP three years running, twice for Kurt Warner and also for Marshall Faulk. Pace was named All-Pro in 1999, 2001, and 2003. He was also selected to seven consecutive Pro Bowls.

Andrew Whitworth has a case for making the Hall of Fame and that would vault him into the conversation with the first tier, but for now, his story is ongoing. As of right now, he is solidly among the second tier of great Rams franchise linemen. This tier consists of Dennis Harrah, Rich Saul, Doug Smith , and Charlie Cowan.

Here is a quick rundown of the accolades of this tier:


At a glance, Whitworth pulls ahead of the pack, especially with the two first-team AP All-Pro selections. His longevity and relative health over time stands out, as well. But each of these guys brings something different to the table that makes him great. Rich Saul played all positions on the line including tight end. Missing zero games over seven seasons is also very impressive.

Dennis Harrah won a starting spot in just his second season and was named team captain for six seasons and he earned his spot on the first-team All-Pro in what would be his last full season in the league.

Charlie Cowan was one of the better leaders of his era. He took both Tom Mack, Rich Saul, and John Williams under his wing. Williams called him his mentor. Saul called him a real teacher.

In that, Whitworth has emerged as one of the better leaders of this generation. There are numerous stories of Rams players that point to Whitworth as a teacher and a mentor. Which has been vital to the success of the Rams offensive line. They have, in part, pinched pennies and relied on younger players because Whitworth has been there to coach and teach them into quality starters and potential starters. During last year’s covid affected offseason, he filled his garage with gym equipment and invited teammates over to train with him.

His leadership extends to his philanthropic efforts as well. He has been the Walter Payton Man of the Year award nomination since 2018.

With all these things taken into consideration, it is hard not to put Big Whit into the fourth position. If he only has one more year in him there are only a few things he can do to bolster his position.

He must bounce back from the most significant injury of his career and play at a level that meets or exceeds last season. What would seal his place above the rest of the second tier would be to bring the Lombardi trophy to LA for the first time. Not only would he solidify his standing, but it would also strengthen his case as a Hall of Famer.

Better, worse or the same? How the Los Angeles Rams' defense has changed this offseason​

Here one season, gone the next. That's the story of former Los Angeles Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who inherited the NFL's ninth-ranked defense and turned it into the best in the league in only one season.

But now Staley has departed to become the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, with 18-year NFL coaching veteran Raheem Morris taking his place.

"He has that fire," defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson said about Morris, "that intensity."

But it remains to be seen whether Morris can spur an encore performance from the defense. It will be a tall task after several key playmakers departed in free agency, including defensive lineman Michael Brockers, cornerback Troy Hill and safety John Johnson III.

With free agency mostly complete and three months removed from the NFL draft, it's time to look at the Rams' roster to determine if, based on personnel changes, the defense made any gains this offseason.

So, better, worse or the same?

That's the question facing each defensive position group as the Rams attempt to improve on a 10-6 season that ended with a divisional playoff loss to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.

Defensive line

Additions: Bobby Brown III (fourth-round pick), Earnest Brown IV (fifth-round pick)

Losses: Michael Brockers (Detroit Lions), Morgan Fox (Carolina Panthers), Derek Rivers (Houston Texans)

These guys are back: Aaron Donald, Sebastian Joseph-Day, A'Shawn Robinson, Greg Gaines, Eric Banks, Marquise Copeland, Michael Hoecht, Jonah Williams

Better, worse or the same: Worse

Bottom line, any group that has Donald, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is going to be spectacular. But this group could take small step back in 2021 after the Rams traded Brockers to Detroit to clear salary cap and cash space and since Fox, a role player who tallied six sacks last season, departed for Carolina.

A first-round pick in 2012, Brockers played seven seasons alongside Donald, who often said Brockers' ability went well beyond what appeared on the stat sheet.

So who will replace Donald's wingman?

Robinson arrived to the offseason program in the best shape of his career and is on pace to play the season at 305 pounds, down from 330 a year ago.

"I really invested a lot of time in my body so I can be ready for the team," said Robinson, a second-round pick in 2016 who the Rams signed to two-year, $17 million deal in free agency last year. "I just wanted to be the best for these guys ... I'm not going to go out here and slack and let any of these guys down."

Brown played three seasons at Texas A&M and also will compete for time.

Outside linebackers

Additions: Chris Garrett (seventh-round pick)

Losses: Samson Ebukam (San Francisco 49ers)

These guys are back: Leonard Floyd (four-year, $64 million), Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Justin Hollins, Terrell Lewis, Justin Lawler

Better, worse or the same: Same.

Entering free agency, the top priority was to re-sign Floyd, who was coming off a career-best 10.5-sack season. They got the job done with a four-year, $64-million deal. "I wanted to play with AD and Jalen Ramsey," Floyd said. "I wanted to run it back."

The question is who will play opposite of Floyd following Ebukam's free agency departure.

In 16 games last season, Hollins had three sacks, a forced fumble and a pass deflection. He appears to be a frontrunner to win the starting role.

Okoronkwo, Lewis and Lawler also are options, though each has had difficulty remaining on the field because of injury issues.

Inside linebackers

Additions: Ernest Jones (third-round pick)

Losses: None

These guys are back: Micah Kiser, Kenny Young, Travin Howard, Troy Reeder

Better, worse or the same: Better

Depth and experience, a concern for this group over the past couple seasons, is no longer an issue.

Kiser, Young, and Reeder all have starting experience, while Howard was on track to start last season before he suffered a season-ending knee injury in training camp. Howard returned to action during the offseason program and flashed throughout drills.

But how this position battle will shake out will be intriguing with the addition of Jones, a three-year starter at South Carolina who the Rams snagged with their second pick in the NFL draft.

"He's just got that knack to go find the ball, avoid blockers," Rams general manager Les Snead said after selecting Jones. "He's got some interesting traits where he's a longer-armed human being, so that allows him to blitz, use his hands to probably bat those longer tackles, those arms down and get the QB."

Defensive backs

Additions: CB Robert Rochell (fourth-round pick)

Losses: S John Johnson III (Cleveland Browns), CB Troy Hill (Cleveland Browns)

These guys are back: CB Jalen Ramsey, CB Darious Williams, CB David Long Jr., CB Dont'e Deayon, CB J.R. Reed, S Taylor Rapp, S Jordan Fuller, S Nick Scott, S Terrell Burgess, S Jake Gervase, S JuJu Hughes

Better, worse or the same: Worse

Expect growing pains following the departures of Hill and Johnson, who served as the defensive signal-caller last season.

But any secondary that features the All-Pro Ramsey can't be expected to take too big of a step back. Expect Ramsey to elevate the play of those around him, including Long, a third-year pro who will play an increased role following Hill's departure.

Williams returns for an encore performance after a breakout season that included four interceptions and led to a first-round tender for the undrafted free agent, amounting in a $4.76 million, one-year deal.

With Rapp slowed and sidelined during training camp last season, Fuller seized the opportunity to earn a starting role as a rookie and made an immediate impact. He finished the season with four interceptions and the sixth-round pick from Ohio State is only expected to improve in Year 2.

Rapp, now healthy, will take over for the departed Johnson. A third-year pro, Rapp has plenty of experience after starting 10 games as a rookie and intercepting two passes, returning one for a touchdown.

"I'm feeling really good," said Rapp, who played in nine games last season. "I'm moving really well, feeling really well so I'm excited for this next year."

Posted today on TheRams.com site.

I am struggling to upload a pic but they are a combination of old school and the future.

I kind of like them.

Very Awesome video here. Be careful may cause eye leakage.

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Well, the season looks to be a bust. A lot of players (Jack Flaherty, Yadier Molina, Jordan Hicks, Tyler O'Neill, Harrison Bader, Paul DeJong, and many many others) have been injured, including almost all of our starting rotation (we literally have only four starters left in the Major League system, not that Miles Mikolas and Carlos Martinez have been any good), and only Johan Oviedo, Jake Woodford, and Angel Rondon are on the 40 man roster and not injured. Matthew Liberatore and Zack Thompson aren't ready yet. I don't want to see Wade LeBlanc, Brandon Waddell, Justin Miller, or Luis Garcia pitch another game for us, but they're the best we have. And to top it all off, Nolan Arenado may end up opting out.

But there are a lot of bright spots. Alex Reyes is one of the best closers in baseball (although they may end up shutting him down to preserve his arm, which, given the state of this year, I hope they do, and he becomes a starter next year.). O'Neill has emerged in left, while Dylan Carlson continues to grow and show potential from the leadoff spot with his power, speed, and approach. Flaherty was pitching extremely well before the injury during an at bat (that's why I want a DH, mostly; I'm sick of seeing pitchers get hurt during at bats and running bases). Oviedo's pitched well, but hasn't gotten a win at the Major League level yet. Ryan Helsley and Genesis Cabrera are flamethrowers out of the pen, and if Hicks comes back healthy and we add some good players in relief (maybe Thompson next year?), we could end up having a solid pen.

And then we have the prospects! The fact that Liberatore and Thompson are already at Triple-A Memphis is awesome. Gorman killed it in Double-A Springfield and is currently killing it in Triple-A. Jordan Walker, at nineteen, has been an absolute revelation. He outhit Low-A Palm Beach (a hard park to hit at) and is currently crushing High-A Peoria. Nick Plummer and Delvin Perez, our first round picks in 2015 and 2016, are dominating Double-A. Ivan Herrera, the catcher of the future has started most of the games at Double-A, and while he hasn't been hitting well, he's walked a lot, and has been rock-solid defensively. Alec Burleson's hit across two leagues and been nothing short of amazing. Malcom Nunez has regained the form of his Triple-Crown winning in the Dominican League, and has been great. Edwin Nunez, a nineteen-year-old flamethrower from the DR, has started in Low-A, along with left-handed pitcher (and overall strikeout leader) Levi Prater and two-way player (though only shortstop this year) Masyn Winn. Jhon Torres, Tink Hence, Tre Fletcher, Brady Whalen, Juan Yepez, Michael YaSenka, Lars Nootbaar, Brendan Donovan, Todd Lott, Andre Pallante, Connor Thomas, the list literally goes on and on.

And then there's the first two picks of the draft (if we sign them): Michael McGreevy and Joshua Baez, both of whom are great prospects. I don't know what'll happen at the trade deadline, but the future is bright.

New unofficial sack totals highlight dominance of Deacon Jones and Jack Youngblood​

Longtime Rams fans know just how good the team’s defensive line was in the 1960s and ‘70s thanks to the sheer dominance of Deacon Jones and Jack Youngblood. However, younger fans may not fully appreciate just how good those two Hall of Famers were in their primes.

Pro Football Reference is thankfully here to provide some context, though.

Thanks to nearly 30 years of research, Pro Football Reference has added sack totals for players who suited up before 1982, when sacks became an official NFL stat. Up to this point, there have been estimates of how many sacks some of the game’s best pass rushers had, but PFR did the work to find out their exact totals.

According to their decades of research and film work, Jones is now unofficially credited with 173.5 career sacks – third-most in NFL history. His teammate with the Rams, Youngblood, recorded 151.5 career sacks, which is good for sixth-most all-time.

As a result of this newfound data, three former Rams rank in the top six of career sacks, with Kevin Greene ranking fourth in league history (160.0 sacks). His total is official, since he played from 1985-1999.

Here’s a look at PFR’s new top-20 unofficial leaderboard for career sacks.

Unofficial Leaders Table

Between Jones, Greene, Youngblood and Aaron Donald, four of the game’s best pass rushers ever suited up for the Rams at one point or another. Donald has 85.5 career sacks in seven seasons, so he would need to keep up that exact pace for another seven years in order to crack the top four ahead of Greene.

That’ll be challenging to do since he’s 30 years old, but no one should ever doubt the three-time Defensive Player of the Year – and the guy who almost never takes a day off.

He needs another 47 sacks to tie for 20th all-time, though other active players could also continue to rise up the list along with him. And while he may never reach the top 20, he’ll be regarded as arguably the best defensive tackle in NFL history.

If your name is Bobby Jones, Rams are drafting you next

This is a old article From a Die hard Lion fan who seems to be as knowledgeable about his Lions as we are about our Rams. There are some interesting tidbits on what Robinson was able to accomplish in Detroit Despite Patricia.​

He and Patricia were not friends to say the least, and according to Robinson, Patricia told
him" he would ruin his career." (Robinson was one of many Detroit players who disliked Patricia.)

Here's Hoping A'Shawn now in an environment of excellence will become what he was about to become before being
derailed by one of the worst HC's in recent memory.

​

Lions lost free agent review: A'Shawn Robinson​

With the season behind us, we can now measure the performance of each of the players the Lions lost last year and the players they brought in to replace them. We would look at if the Lions were in the right or the wrong end of the free-agent class last year. If you missed it, here are the ones we have hit on so far: Graham Glasgow, Devon Kennard. This time we’ll be highlighting the loss of A’Shawn Robinson.

The Lions went through an almost complete rehaul of their defensive line last year. Outside of Trey Flowers, the defensive line was going to unrecognizable to the 2019 squad, who had a down year compared to the impressive 2018 season when the Lions had one of the better run defenses in the league.

Robinson had become a fan favorite due to his tough streak, versatility, and the fact that he looked 10 years older than he really was. He started slowly in his rookie season, but he found his footing in 2017, where he went on to play 68% of the team’s defensive snaps, notching a career-high 27 total pressures and added a pick-six for good measure.

Things were looking up for the young defensive tackle showing he could become a catalyst in the trenches until Matt Patricia came into town. Even though Robinson saw one of the best pro seasons in 2018, earning accolades as a superior run defender, he saw his snaps almost cut in half and only started 16 games in 2018 and 2019.

The Lions decided to go a different direction this past year and not retain the man-child behemoth. Instead, Robinson signed with the Los Angeles Rams for 2 years and $17 million to play along with the NFL’s best defensive tackle, Aaron Donald.

Later it turned out Patricia and Robinson didn’t quite see eye to eye. The generally silent Robinson went on Twitter calling out the former Lions coach.

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Sadly, Robinson dealt with a cardiovascular condition that left him sidelined for half the season. When he returned, he only averaged about 15 snaps a game and notched a career-low 13 tackles. In the playoffs, he a little rejuvenation recording six tackles and a forced fumble.

It is hard to say if Robinson would’ve found success with another stint in Detroit, especially with how poor the defense played in 2020, but what it mostly looks like is he had no ambition to stay with Patricia at the helm.

With Detroit cleaning house on the defensive line, they needed to find someone who could play the multiple roles Robinson used to fill. They didn’t have to look any further than their own division signing former Chicago Bear Nick Williams to 2 years and $10 million contract.

At this point in his career in 2019, Williams had a hard time finding his foot in the NFL, playing mostly part-time roles with the Kansas City Chiefs and the Chicago Bears. When Akiem Hicks landed on injured reserve, the Bears called Williams’ number, and he stepped up to the plate playing in all 16 games and racked up 42 tackles, nine quarterback hits, and six sacks in 2019.

With an impressive year, Detroit was hoping to bring that success to their defense. Williams had the versatility to play anywhere on the defensive line and pass rush and run defend, unlike Robinson, who was mostly a run-stuffer by trade. On the flip side, though, they were getting a player that is five years older than Robinson and only a year of true production; some saw this as overpay.

Williams went to play in 14 games and nearly half of Detroit’s defensive snaps, tallying 16 tackles and one sack in 2020, not exactly what Detroit was hoping for from one of their top free-agent signings. Still, then again, Detroit’s 2020 defense was horrendous. He did grade out at the Lions ninth-best defender according to PFF, and he did bring a better pressure aspect than Robinson, but he only had three more tackles than Robinson, and he missed half the season.

Surely, Detroit was banking how Da’Shawn Hand to fill in those missing pieces, but once again, he found issues with staying healthy. Outside of his stellar rookie season, Hand has found quite a few issues on staying on the field with a multitude of injuries that has landed him on injured reserve every year of his career.

Also, the Lions tagged Jashon Cornell in the seventh round in 2020 to repair the dismantled defensive line and maybe supplement in the vacated spot. Still, he suffered an Achilles injury in training camp before Detroit knew what they hand.

Williams played admirably last year in Detroit, especially with a non-friendly defensive scheme, but with a new regime in place, it is hard to see if he makes it back on the team. With how close Detroit is to the cap, Williams’ cut almost seems inevitable, clearing $4.7 million in cap room. He would be a nice depth piece, but the production and salary make this an easy decision for general manager Brad Holmes.

On the other end, Robinson’s future is up in the air as well with the Rams. He currently carries a $5.25 million cap hit, but the team can save $3.75 million if released with a post-June 1 designation. The Rams could do some cap magic and try to hold to Robinson on a lower price, but they are currently in the hole about $35 million, thanks in large part to Jared Goff’s dead cap hit, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if they move on from Robinson.

With the bad blood between Patricia and Robinson probably being the ultimate decider in Robinson’s departure, it was best for both parties to go their separate ways. Robinson suffered a serious cardiovascular issue, so we cannot completely measure how effective Robinson was with the Rams, but he did show some flashes in the playoffs.

On paper, the Lions tried their best in replacing him with Williams, who came off a career year and could fill in all over the defensive line. It looked like an underrated move to kick off the season. Disappointingly, the scheme wanted their defensive tackles to clog the lanes and contain instead of pressure which was Williams’ specialty, and it clearly did him no favors.

With the case of Robinson’s health and Williams’ status with the new regime, hard to pinpoint if the Lions made the right move or the wrong move. We will be able to tell when the new league year starts later this month.

21 reasons to get excited for Rams 2021 Training Camp​

The Los Angeles Rams have announced their plans for 2021 Training Camp, presented by UNIFY Financial Credit Union.

Starting July 28 and running through August 10 at UC Irvine, there will be 10 practice sessions open to the public.

In anticipation, and in no particular order, here are 21 reasons to join us in person or follow along on social and digital platforms as the Rams gather to prepare for a new season.

1. Only chance to see Matthew Stafford before Week One. The Rams new starting quarterback doesn't figure to dress for any of the three preseason games, so if you want to see him in Horns before Sunday Night Football against the Bears – and do so for free! – #RamsCamp is the place to be.

2. Does DeSean Jackson still have speed to burn? Back in Southern California, potentially to finish his career, the Long Beach Poly product was signed to offer Sean McVay an element that was lacking in 2020 – a vertical threat who can strike fear in opposing defenses. Whether or not he still boasts the 4.3-speed he once possessed, his teammates have indicated that a healthy Jackson is still a force to be reckoned with.

3. Tutu versus the Ones. We had the opportunity to see Tutu Atwell, the Rams first selection of their 2021 Draft, in person during OTAs. But the Rams starting corners Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams were not on the field for those reps. I'm really looking forward to seeing if-and-how-soon Atwell can threaten what figures to be the Rams starting secondary.

4. No traffic jams. I expect the primary beneficiary of the Jackson-Atwell tandem to be Cooper Kupp, whose supply channels from the slot and underneath should be decongested. A healthy Kupp was one of the most welcome sights in Thousand Oaks this spring. He and Stafford already have a marvelous connection.

5. Featured groups. After several seasons of 11-personnel and predominant trios (with Sammy Watkins, then Brandin Cooks, and lastly Josh Reynolds joining the duo of Kupp and Robert Woods, the snap counts at receiver this season are less predictable. In addition to the aforementioned names, Van Jefferson has earned more downs. And with turnover at tight end, the personnel packages and receiver groupings should be fascinating to monitor.

6. Will Brycen Hopkins make his presence felt? Described as a luxury pick in 2020, Hopkins effectively redshirted as a rookie behind Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, and Johnny Mundt. Now, opportunity is knocking… but so is competition. With 2021 fourth-round selection Jacob Harris name-dropped as the standout of OTAs, this is a critical moment for Hopkins.

7. Akers of yards. There may not be a nugget that hit harder this offseason than Stafford having a 100-yard running back just 11 times in 165 games as a Detroit Lion. For sure, I'm higher on Cam Akers than most – seriously, what's with the running back rankings this summer? – so I'll call my shot right now: Akers and the Rams will deliver at least that many for Stafford over the next two seasons (that are currently on the QB's contract).

8. X-Men: We Got the Funk. If Akers and Darrell Henderson Jr. are 1A and 1B, then who is the Rams critical third back? Facing a 17-game gauntlet, that player is going to factor significantly into the team's fate. Perhaps not to the extent that veteran Malcolm Brown did last season (124 touches, 581 scrimmage yards, 5 touchdowns); we might see the Rams revert more toward the Todd Gurley model if Akers continues to demonstrate every-down ability. Nonetheless, 2019 NCAA scoring leader Xavier Jones and rookie Jake Funk deserve close scrutiny as position coach Thomas Brown sets his depth chart next month.

9. New line coach on the block. While change was expected along the offensive line this offseason, it didn't come in the form many expected. All but one player (Austin Blythe signed with Kansas City in free agency) returns to the roster, including 39-year-old Andrew Whitworth. However, Aaron Kromer is replaced by Kevin Carberry at the front of the offensive line room. And as Austin Corbett slides from guard to center, the Rams become a bit bigger up front. I'll be interested to see how their blocking schemes change, if at all.

10. Rah-rah atmosphere. Speaking of new coaches, Raheem Morris takes over the top unit in the NFL as the Rams' third defensive coordinator in as many seasons. For three years, we watched the incomparable Wade Phillips match wits with McVay in Irvine. Then last summer, those of us who could peer behind the closed COVID gates at Cal Lutheran got a glimpse of a special talent, Brandon Staley. As fans are welcomed back later this month, I predict that one of the more enjoyable takeaways will be the high-energy interactions between good friends, Morris and McVay, and their respective sides of the football.

11. Who takes over the green dot? As for whose ear Morris will be in when the Rams defense takes the field against the Bears, L.A. needs to identify an every-down player to take over for safety John Johnson. The answer could be Jordan Fuller on the back end of the defense, or more traditionally, whichever linebacker earns the right to patrol the middle.

12. Long lines at linebacker. Suddenly, the Rams have more returning starters at middle linebacker than gigs, plus a drafted rookie in Ernest Jones, and last year's projected starter Travin Howard returning from injury. It's a great problem to have and makes for the most interesting position battle of training camp.

13. Can Terrell Lewis overcome his nagging knee injury? Not only do the Rams need similar-or-greater production from edge Leonard Floyd in 2021, they also must have viable and complementary options opposite him. I still believe the best candidate is Lewis. But entering his second professional season, the Alabama product remained sidelined through OTAs. This training camp could be the key to his NFL future, and meaningful snaps for Lewis could be the key to sustaining the Rams dominance on defense.

14. Aaron Donald's urgency. Now a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Donald doesn't have much left to accomplish individually. Newly 30-years-old, the future Hall of Famer is suddenly one of the longest-tenured Rams. And he needs rings. Just about every move the franchise makes, including the trade for Stafford, ties back to this generational talent and how to maximize the rest of his prime.

15. How does one overlook a 330-pound defensive tackle? I must admit, I've been guilty of it a few times in the past 12 months. A'Shawn Robinson remains a unique and accomplished talent. Lighter, healthier, and able to report for camp this time around, Robinson's impact has a chance to be as mountainous as his presence. Teaming with Sebastian Joseph-Day, Greg Gaines, and rookies Bobby Brown III and Earnest Brown IV, the Rams have the Roman numerals and defensive line depth to endure a grueling schedule.

16. Safety in numbers. There isn't an individual who'll be missed more this July than Johnson. A great performer with a brilliant personality, he leaves a void in the secondary. Thankfully, the Rams draft that position very well and have two promising talents returning from missed time. Taylor Rapp never truly found his footing in 2020 after a summer injury undermined his training camp, and Terrell Burgess was just coming on when he had to be carted off in Week 7 against the Bears. How those two are deployed in conjunction with the centerfielder Fuller gives secondary coach Ejiro Evero and Morris terrific optionality.

17. Turning the corner. The Rams have the top corner tandem in the league, but it takes three to contend in the modern NFL. And it's all the more important for the Rams, in order to fully leverage Ramsey's versatility inside. Los Angeles native David Long Jr. is one potential replacement for Troy Hill. Rookie Robert Rochell certainly has the measurables. And Dont'e Deayon is valuable insurance as he awaits greater opportunity.

18. Kicking game gets a shot of Vitamin D. If the biggest area for growth year-to-year is at quarterback, next on the list has to be special teams. Spoiled by one of the best units in the league for years, the Rams lost yards, possessions, and points in the third phase in 2020. In comes veteran coach Joe DeCamillis to put things back in order, and one item on his to-do list is selecting return men from a group that ranges from the veteran Jackson to the rookie Atwell and roster candidates like Nsimba Webster and Raymond Calais.

19. Oh snap. It's been a long time since Jake McQuaide wasn't a sure thing going into a Rams training camp. Now Steven Wirtel and Matthew Orzech vie for the right to replace him in the role that's probably the most taken for granted in major sports: long snapper.

20. Can Gay go from good to great? Last summer's kicking competition may have delivered some intrigue, but stability is preferable. And Matt Gay provided some hope that he might be the long-term answer for the Rams at that position. In speaking with him during that stretch of success, I was reminded just how new to the game he is as a converted soccer player, and how much room for refinement he thought he had ahead of him this offseason. Gay has the leg to be a real weapon for this team, and perhaps join the ranks of elite NFL kickers in 2021.

21. Open practices will feature live entertainment, giveaways, Legend autograph opportunities, family-friendly activations and more. For details on how to join us, click here. If you are unable to attend in person, we invite you to follow all of our coverage, including Rams Camp Live, with daily look-ins and interviews.

What say you?

My favorite National chip is the Sun Chip Garden Salsa.

But nothing compares to our local chip. Old Vienna's Red Hot Riplets. These things are about twice as spicy as flaming hot cheetos. They have a sweet BBQ flavor as well. The flavor is absolutely amazing.

(I don't like posting paywalled articles but this topic is too important)

By Jourdan Rodrigue 3h ago 4

The Los Angeles Rams’ rookies and quarterbacks report to training camp on July 25, and the veteran players arrive shortly afterward. In the weeks leading up to the return of football — and a “normal” preseason, we’re taking a position-by-position look at the team, so we can tide you over with football tidbits until we get there. Previously, we talked about quarterbacks. Today, we’re talking about the Rams’ offensive line.
If the Rams’ offseason bet on quarterback Matthew Stafford gets all the flash and headlines, the one they made on their offensive line entering 2021 might quietly be just as important. With one position change — moving former right guard Austin Corbett to center — they have created two questions, in Corbett and in Bobby Evans, who is slated to take over Corbett’s old spot.
They also have a new offensive line coach in Kevin Carberry, who previously held the same role at Stanford. Head coach Sean McVay has been blending more power concepts with his trademark outside zone scheme for the past couple of years, and in part that has meant shifting the physical prototype of his interior offensive linemen to be a little more stout, and have a little bit more downhill strength, as opposed to the lighter-framed and perhaps quicker guys previously in the position. Between that — seeing his role lose its long-term sustainability — and a low offer from the Rams last spring, former starter Austin Blythe actually took an even lower offer from Kansas City in free agency, setting up the position shift before a training camp competition could have potentially happened.
The Rams clearly had decided to go all-in on their offensive line bet with Corbett in the early spring because despite a lauded 2021 draft class of interior offensive linemen, they didn’t draft one. While Corbett, who was a really solid right guard, could be the answer at center despite never playing a snap at the position in a Rams jersey, the simple fact is that we just don’t know whether this move will work or not — and without a draft pick developing in-house, there’s not a huge range of viable options as a contingency plan.
Additions: (wind whistles through the trees)
In all seriousness, the Rams did add a couple of undrafted free agents, tackle Alaric Jackson and guard/center Jordan Meredith, as well as International Pathways Program player Max Pircher, who is learning the tackle position. These players aren’t likely to make an impact in their rookie season, however, since they’re in need of some development.
Subtractions: Austin Blythe (center)
Projected starters (not reflective of a 53-man cutdown): Andrew Whitworth (LT), David Edwards (LG), Austin Corbett (C), Bobby Evans (RG), Rob Havenstein (RT)
One neat detail, and probably a pretty important one, was that all of the offensive linemen — yes, even the grizzled veterans — were present through the voluntary portions of the spring workouts. This was a good head start that the Rams didn’t have last season (granted, they weren’t featuring new names at two positions) because they will need to build as much continuity as possible and develop an innate sense for how Stafford operates and communicates behind them.
Projected backups (in order, and not reflective of a 53-man cutdown): Joe Noteboom (LT), Chandler Brewer (LG), Brian Allen (C)/Coleman Shelton (C), Jamil Demby (RG)/Allen (RG), Tremayne Anchrum (RT)
I’m not a total downer — I do think that the Rams’ starting offensive line, on paper, has a ton of potential. But the big concern is a lack of trusted depth at a couple of positions, and particularly at center — where Allen spent the entirety of last season rehabilitating a serious leg injury (plus is more in the mold of the centers McVay and the Rams previously slated for the role, versus their new schematic direction), and Shelton has no meaningful experience.
When I advocated for the Rams to draft a center, that player certainly was unlikely to start in his first season (it’s a hard job!) — but could have been good depth, and an heir to the position should the Corbett experiment not work out.
2021 outlook: If this offensive line can stay healthy, there is a lot of upside here because of the general continuity between players (outside of the position change). But it all predicates on the invaluable reps Corbett gets with Stafford in training camp, when the Rams are actually practicing against guys in pads (and Aaron Donald arrives on the scene). The spotlight won’t just be on them in pass protection, either — the Rams’ offensive line was consistently solid in its run-blocking last season, and will welcome back second-year running back Cam Akers into the lead role.
Long-term outlook: Whitworth will turn 40 during the 2021 season, which is simply … remarkable. Even after the knee injury that sidelined him for eight games last season, there’s no reason to think that Whitworth’s excellent play will slip. But it bears repeating that he has an “out” in his contract after this season and has recently remarked on former Rams defensive end Chris Long’s “Green Light” podcast that this season could be his last (the caveat being that he’s felt that way for the past seven years or so, but kept playing).
“I was like, if I get through this, I want to try to play until 40,” Whitworth said while discussing a 2013 knee injury with Long. “And that was just like — I didn’t think that was realistic or that it’d ever happen. But I was like, I want to try to do that.
“So this year, to me, it feels like this is it. This is like, I’ve put everything into trying to play this season and play at the level I want to. I feel like this will probably be the end, but I mean, all my closest friends would tell you that I’ve said that for about seven straight years. So I don’t know how believable that is, but it feels like it is.”
The Rams could entrust Noteboom with taking over once the AW era begins (“After Whitworth”), but they face a bit of a complication there, too — he’s in the last year of his contract. If he’s slated for that role in the future, he and his agent have all of the leverage — and good left tackles are hard to draft with no first-round picks, or to find in free agency, as the Rams have known very well since the year they, well, signed Whitworth.