State of the 2021 Seattle Seahawks: Will Russell Wilson drama remain in the rearview?​

Members of the Seahawks organization, 12s around the world and those who would like to bring back the Boz haircut:

Well, that was quite an offseason. Here Seahawks fans were, thinking they were in a committed relationship with their quarterback, and then the next thing you knew, there was talk of Russell Wilson flirting with other teams (most notably the Chicago Bears, the team of which I happen to be a fan). Nothing came of it, and Wilson recently denied ever requesting a trade, vowing he's "here to win it all." So everyone is back on board.

At least for this season.

How the Seahawks got here

Let's take a quick look back at the highs and lows of the 2020 season.

The highs:

Letting Russ cook. The Seahawks had one of the best starts in the NFL, jumping out to five quick wins, as Wilson (19:3 TD-to-INT ratio through Week 5) looked like he was going to run away with the MVP award (and possibly the single-season touchdown record).

Closing out the regular season with four consecutive wins to take the NFC West and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs. This stretch was punctuated by a huge win over the Rams in Week 16, then the team pushed to 12-4 with a victory over the Niners in the regular-season finale.

This. DK Metcalf was amazing last season. Nothing was better than this, however:
The lows:

Losing a weird one at home to the Giants in Week 13. The 4-7 Giants, starting backup QB Colt McCoy, rolled into Seattle and won behind Alfred Morris' first multi-TD game since 2014, really hurting the Seahawks' chance at the No. 1 seed in the NFC. I swear, the 'Hawks seem to have one inexplicable loss like this every year.

Getting handled by the injury-riddled Rams in the opening round of the playoffs. It was a disappointing end to the season against a team Seattle had beaten in Week 16. Not to mention, Los Angeles won despite being without Aaron Donald for most of the second half and losing QB John Wolford injured his neck. Like, you got beaten by Jared Goff and his surgically repaired thumb.

Head coach: Pete Carroll. I'm a huge Pete Carroll guy. Love his energy. Love his enthusiasm. He's the kind of coach you would want to play for. More importantly, he's one of the best to ever do it. He achieved so much on the field at USC. Then, when he came to Seattle, people roasted him for his previous stints in the NFL. (He won six games in one season with the Jets and was the guy before the guy in New England, where he served three mostly forgettable -- though all non-losing -- seasons as Bill Belichick's predecessor.) All he did in response was build a dominant team that beat one of the all-time greats in one of the most-lopsided Super Bowls ever. I mean, if it weren't for Vince Young (in the 2006 Rose Bowl) and Tom Brady (in Super Bowl XLIX), Pete would have quite a résumé for all "greatest coaches ever" discussions.

All that said, the highlights of Carroll's CV are starting to get further in the rearview mirror. That Super Bowl win came seven years ago. I don't want to come off as harsh here; it's not like Pete is akin to one of those bands still touring off its one great album from a decade ago (you know who you are). The Seahawks are still winners who are in the mix every season. They should have been in the conference title game two years ago, and don't get me started on last year. But getting that second Super Bowl win is so huge for coaches. It's like winning one Lombardi Trophy gets you into the VIP lounge; winning two gets you bottle service. And I want that for Pete.

Quarterback: Russell Wilson. Back to that rough patch we were talking about, where it seemed like Wilson might have been on his way out of Seattle. When I learned that one of the four teams he would theoretically consider playing for was Chicago, I, as a Bears fan, handled it about as well as I would have handled learning I was on a short list of candidates Gal Gadot would theoretically date if she were not married. Chicago even put in an offer for Wilson, but Seahawks management apparently decided to keep its generational talent. (Bummer for me.)

Again, everyone appears to be all in on 2021. Carroll dismissed the apparent friction last month as "old news." Wilson said he's "ready to roll" and "more focused than ever." Even if this is as much about saying the right things as anything, teams should get along with talents like Wilson. Since Wilson entered the NFL in 2012, only Brady has more QB wins (106) than Wilson's 98. Seattle should do whatever it can to keep him committed for life.

Of course, it's still possible that Wilson will end up playing elsewhere before his career is over. Plenty of greats finish up in other uniforms. Joe Montana played for the Chiefs. Peyton Manning played for the Broncos. Heck, Jay Cutler played for the Dolphins. (Fine. And Tom Brady went to the Bucs.) Wilson is under contract through 2023, but who knows what next offseason will bring?

Which brings me to one more thing Wilson said:

"You know what heals all things? Winning."

So, yeah, 2021 is looking pretty important.

Projected 2021 MVP: Jamal Adams, safety. Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner are the obvious answer; if the Seahawks were on NBA Jam, those two would be the players. (Sorry, Seattle fans; I didn't mean to mention that sport.) But let's talk about Adams, because the Seahawks gave up a lot when they traded for him -- or, some might say, rescued him from the Jets. Adams was great in his first Seattle season, getting close to 10 sacks despite being limited by injuries. He underwent offseason shoulder surgery, had his left hand repaired and is fully healthy and ready to go. The key here, though, is that Adams' rookie contract has just one more year left on it, meaning it's time for an extension. The Seahawks obviously plan to keep him long-term, given how much they spent last year to get him. He's not some gym membership that you throw significant money at ... and then use for a month before never returning again. (Seriously, you're not even working out, and then you notice you're getting charged $35 a month?) The point is, the Seahawks need Adams to be healthy and re-signed over the next nine months.

2021 breakout star: Poona Ford, nose tackle. I know, it's not a glamorous position, nose tackle. But the fourth-year pro seems like the kind of player set to break out and become a known commodity. I mean, it's not easy to get buzz as an interior D-lineman in a division that includes Aaron Donald, but Ford finished strong last year, totaling 12 pressures in his last six games to give him 23 on the season. The Seahawks noticed and gave Ford a multi-year contract this spring.

New face to know: Gabe Jackson, right guard. One of the things that frustrated Wilson was having to run around in the backfield with little to no protection. If I'm being completely honest (not that I was lying previously), ensuring protection for your generational quarterback shouldn't be too big of an ask. Well, acquiring Jackson in a trade with Las Vegas should help out immensely. The guy just doesn't give up sacks -- according to Pro Football Focus, he didn't surrender one all last season.

The competitive urgency index is: HIGH. Look, you have Russell Wilson for however long you have him -- and if we can say the Packers have wasted Aaron Rodgers by only winning one Super Bowl with him, well, the Seahawks are in danger of being in the same boat. I say that as a friend, Seahawks fans.

Will the Seahawks be able to …

Keep Russell Wilson happy? Let's not overlook one other key element that might explain Wilson's unhappiness with the Seahawks this season: the firing of offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. The Seahawks' fan base -- or, at least, the people I hang out with -- were kind of over Schottenheimer's play-calling, but Wilson wasn't pleased with the firing at the time. He even posted in support of his former offensive coordinator:

Schotty... I’m grateful for how much you meant to me over the past three years. God blessed me with you, we won a lot of games, threw a lot of touchdowns and had a blast in meetings and our bible studies. The best days are ahead for you. Go be Great. God first.

Love. 3. pic.twitter.com/rMtDd7YJUt

— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) January 13, 2021
Shane Waldron will take over as offensive coordinator -- having served previously as the Los Angeles Rams' passing-game coordinator -- with Wilson's apparent approval. DK Metcalf recently called the offense "very intricate," which is sort of damning of Schottenheimer. Kind of like if you complimented your new bae by describing them as "very smart and in shape," implying the last one wasn't. And I promise never to use "bae" again, because I'm way too old for that. At any rate, we'll see how this works out for Wilson this year.

Stop people through the air? County fairs are filled every summer with bands that you might remember as a child (or, fine, that your parents liked). And those bands generally have no original members. Maybe the bassist was the cousin of the original lead singer. Even so, they're still out there, claiming to be that band and doing all of the hits (or the one hit), living off the band's name. Well, that's what the 2021 Seahawks secondary feels like. Forget about Richard Sherman leaving a couple years ago -- the unit that just gave up more air yards than anyone but the Falcons also lost cornerbacks Shaquill Griffin and Quinton Dunbar, leaving Seattle to put a lot of faith in players like rookie Tre Brown and D.J. Reed. At least Reed has that Seahawks swagger. Even so, this is going to be a tough division, with Kyler Murray, Matthew Stafford and Jimmy Garoppolo (or Trey Lance) slinging the football around. And the "Legion of Boom" is now a distant memory.

Get some of the other young defenders to step up? You've got Bobby Wagner and Jamal Adams. If this was an NBA team, you could win with just those two. (Oh, shoot, Seattle; I did it again.) But in terms of some young players working their way up, one to keep an eye on is Jordyn Brooks, the 2020 first-round pick out of Texas Tech who started his rookie season on the bench but became a valuable contributor by the end, thrust into the starting lineup because of injury. He was all over the field, putting up the kind of head-turning performance that makes it a little easier to think about him replacing a Seahawks legend like K.J. Wright. Now Brooks has to go out and do it.

… people are overlooking: Tyler Lockett getting a long-term extension. The Seahawks were reportedly in on Julio Jones before the Falcons traded him to the Titans. But I don't really believe it was necessary. I mean, yes, DK and Julio would have been a pretty menacing duo, but I kind of like the Seahawks receivers room as presently constituted, especially when it comes to the newly extended Lockett. Metcalf gets a lot of deserved publicity, but Lockett had 100 receptions last season and scored 10 touchdowns for the second time in three years. Add in rookie burner D'Wayne Eskridge, and the Seahawks are just fine at receiver. Not that you wouldn't mind having Julio. But after sending off a bunch of picks for Adams last year, it was likely wise to stand pat.

… people are also overlooking: Russell Wilson is already working on his revenge body.

… people are overthinking: Chris Carson's injury history. The running back has the reputation for being a bit injury-prone, but I'm tired of the slander. I know he missed four games last season. But he did play in 12. And he only missed one game in 2019 and two in 2018. So you can miss me with that "oft-injured" label. People act like he's as fragile as an iPhone. (Seriously, do you know anybody who doesn't have a busted screen?) But he's a reliable back who also showed some receiving chops last year. Getting Carson on the field again in Week 12 was huge for this team. The Seahawks felt good enough about the 26-year-old to sign him to a two-year deal this offseason. When you look at the depth chart -- and consider that Seattle just declined to exercise Rashaad Penny's fifth-year option -- I don't know who is going to challenge Carson for touches.

For 2021 to be a success, the Seahawks MUST:

Make a deep run in the playoffs. I'm talking about a deep run. I'm not saying that Pete's job is on the line or anything like that. But the 'Hawks need to show Wilson that they're on the cusp of being a Super Bowl team. I mean, if they want to keep him happy and whatnot.
This is going to be a pivotal year for the Seahawks, not only when it comes to trying to win that elusive second championship, but also in terms of proving to your quarterback that this is where he wants to be long term. Wilson has said that he views this as the first year of the second half of his career -- and the good news is, at least he's showing up. Which is more than some teams can say about their stars. The key is to keep him wanting to come back.

NFL will open up hosting of the Scouting Combine to a bidding process beginning in 2023​

Indianapolis has been the home of the NFL Scouting Combine for the past 34 years, but that run of hosting one of the league's marquee offseason events may be nearing its end. According to Mickey Shuey of the Indianapolis Business Journal, the NFL told all 32 of its teams on Wednesday morning that they will be accepting bids from any franchise that would like to host the event. Specifically, the first non-Indianapolis combine could be as early as 2023, as that is when Shuey reports the league is looking to make the change as they are receiving bids for that year and up to 2028.

The combine has been been in Indy since 1987 but has grown in prominence exponentially over that stretch of time. Now, the five-day event is a fully produced television spectacle for viewers at home to get a taste of NFL action during the doldrums of the offseason.

Of course, the main purpose of the combine is for clubs to get an up-close look at that year's draft prospects in what -- in its most basics terms -- is a job interview. Hundreds of the top college prospects have descended into Lucas Oil Stadium over the past few years and gone through medical evaluations, various drills, and oftentimes individual team interviews. A wrench was thrown into last year's combine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced only the medical portion of the event to be held in Indy.

On top of scouting some of the game's top prospects, the combine has grown into an offseason watering hole where trade discussion and potential free-agent pursuits often begin sprouting up through the rumor mill.

The NFL Scouting Combine also brings with it a boom to the local economy, which could be a driving force for the league to open it up across its franchises, allowing the opportunity for the game as a whole to reach an even bigger audience. Per Shuey, local hospitality officials estimated that the combine generated $8.4 million in economic impact in 2019 and up to $10 million in media exposure, so this is quite the boost to whatever city attempts to host it.

On top of the combine, the Business Journal reports that the NFL is also planning to accept bids for the NFL Draft for 2025 through at least 2028, which is a similar process to how the league handles Super Bowls.

Don’t Sleep On David Long Jr., Or Else​

Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams are firmly entrenched as the Los Angeles Rams starting cornerbacks. In fact, the duo makes up arguably the best duo in the NFL. But who is going to replace Troy Hill at nickelback? All I can say is don’t sleep on David Long Jr.

Ann Arbor To Los Angeles

Long Jr. was drafted in the third round with the 79th overall pick in 2019. He was praised for his press-man ability and his ability to offer inside/outside versatility. Listed at 5’11” and 196 lbs., he definitely has the requisite size to play in either role. With just 158 total snaps in coverage going into his third season it’s easy to see why he has been forgotten.

Replacing Troy Hill

The Rams seem to be impressed with Long Jr. this offseason even if he isn’t Troy Hill. Long Jr. was never going to be a day one starter. The Rams employ a lot of zone coverage schemes in their defense. Long Jr. played almost zero zone coverage during his time as a Michigan Wolverine. He was a press-man corner who was consistently in the hip pockets of receivers. Not to mention, corner is one of the hardest positions to transition to in all of sports. However, Sean McVay’s comments this offseason seem to point towards Long Jr. finally getting his shot to make some plays.

Not An Easy Transition

In two years as a starter at Michigan, Long Jr. only gave up 18 total catches on 60 total targets for a measly 30% completion percentage. He only gave up 130 total yards. Quarterbacks didn’t even want to throw his way as his allowed passer rating was just 24.3. The talent is there and the Rams have shown a propensity for developing talent in the secondary. Long Jr. was almost exclusively an outside, press-man corner in college and the Rams have transitioned him into a primarily slot corner in a heavy zone scheme.

Long Jr. should be the heavy favorite to win the third cornerback spot, in my opinion. He has a very good skill set and has been able to develop the last two years and is part of an extremely talented secondary overall. Don’t sleep on David Long Jr. If you are, you better wake up before he re-routes you.

Ranking top 10 cornerbacks in NFL for 2021: Jalen Ramsey leads pack that includes talented newcomers​

1. Jalen Ramsey, Rams

Ramsey is perennial problem for wide receivers and quarterbacks, and will be again in 2021.

The hiccup for Ramsey obviously has nothing to do with talent, but rather a stumble in 2019 thanks to his public and tumultuous divorce with the Jacksonville Jaguars that led to missed games (was he truly injured?) and an overall unsettled season as he tried to quickly acclimate to what Sean McVay and the Rams needed him to immediately be. His lone interception was a career-worst -- as was his tally of 50 combined tackles and 66.2 completion percentage allowed -- but with a full training camp to come (after having been absent a traditional one in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), it stands to reason he'll regain true form this coming season, after already bouncing back to another All-Pro nod and fourth Pro Bowl honor last year. Ramsey is a game-changer of the highest order, as evidenced by his mammoth contract in Los Angeles and the film to back it up.

THE REST OF THE LIST

Ranking all 32 NFL offensive line units ahead of the 2021 season​

8. LOS ANGELES RAMS

Last year at this time, we were trying to figure out how the Rams' offensive line fell so flat in 2019. Regardless, the unit rectified things in 2020 and finished third in PFF's final rankings.

Left tackle Andrew Whitworth is still going strong, even at 39 years old heading into the 2021 season. He graded out at 86.8 last season, the sixth-best mark in the NFL, though he did miss seven weeks of action and struggled in the playoff loss to the Packers. Whitworth is one of the best tackles of his generation, still performing at a high level when many of his peers have been retired for years.

Right tackle Rob Havenstein enjoyed a bounceback 2020 after an uncharacteristically poor 2019. His 80.6 overall grade tied for 14th, which is more in line with his 83.3 mark that was posted in 2018. It’s his 50.9 grade in 2019 that is the outlier at this point.

David Edwards had a strong second season at left guard, grading out at 70.5 overall — 18th-best among guards. Right guard Austin Corbett experienced the classic third-year breakout en route to a 73.4 overall grade that ranked 11th in the league. He still has room to improve in pass protection, where his 61.5 grade ranked just 43rd.

Brian Allen returns as the starting center. We last saw him in 2019 when he graded out at just 58.6 overall, including a 45.4 grade in pass protection. He’s replacing the departed Austin Blythe, who was solid in 2020.

The Rams have the pieces to rank as one of the league’s best offensive lines as long as they stay healthy.

REST OF THE LIST

Where are They Now? Mike Lansford​

A kicking tee, the small piece of plastic that holds a football in place, is what disrupted Mike Lansford's path to the Rams.

"I kicked off a tee, but they take it away when you go pro, and that was the biggest obstacle for me," said Lansford, who played at the University of Washington and was chosen in the 1980 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. "So I'm no longer using a tee and I wasn't adapting quick enough. The Giants cut me, and then the next year, the Niners cut me, and then the Raiders cut me. I was still determined to try and figure it out. I just couldn't put my brain on what it was.

"And one day I was working out with a bunch of existing pros, and I threw on some old mud-stained shoes and they created a blister on my heel. I didn't want to waste this opportunity to work out with these guys, so after the first kick I just took my shoe off and that was it. By doing that, I lowered my foot on the ball just enough to get great height on the ball.

"It hadn't been easy to keep my confidence. Getting tryouts wasn't the problem, but once I got there, I wasn't very impressive. I was rapidly becoming the guy that couldn't make the transition out of college. I don't know whether I was just overly confident or just afraid of working for a living. One of the two. And it ended up being as simple as just taking my shoe off."

Growing up as a Rams fan, Lansford's dream came true when he went to training camp with the team in 1982 to compete against their four-year veteran and one-time Pro Bowler Frank Corral.

"Frank Corral kicked and punted, so that made things even worse. I couldn't just go in and beat him out as a kicker, someone had to beat him out as a punter," Lansford said. "And the guy that came in at the same time was John Misko from Oregon State.

"He and I struck up a great friendship at the time and just kind of encouraged each other as best we could. We had some great preseason games, and when it came down to making a change, the Rams did it."

After everything Lansford had gone through to make it to the NFL, his first season in Los Angeles was shortened because of a player's strike. And his second season was shortened because of a knee injury. But with the way that season began, it actually could have been worse for him.

"John Robinson came in and took over (as the head coach) for Ray Malavasi, and ended up drafting Chuck Nelson, who was my backup at the University of Washington. Once I left Washington, Chuck went on to set all these college records," Lansford said. "We were in training camp, and Chuck was struggling kicking off the grass, as well. He was going through the same thing I had been going through for the previous couple years. But I'd overcome it.

"And the second or third week, I blew my knee out. I ended up rehabbing and Chuck continued to kick the center in the butt like I probably would have had I made the Giants. The Rams looked around with like four games to go in that season and brought me back.

"We were 8-7 and the Saints were 8-7, and we were in New Orleans (for the season finale). The Saints had never been to the playoffs, and we hadn't been in the playoffs for a while, and the winner of the game goes to the Wild Card (Game). I hit a 42-yard field goal with two seconds left to put us over the top (26-24). That still remains the biggest kick of my life."

Lansford had game-tying or game-winning field goals peppered throughout his nine seasons with the Rams, including in a 1986 game against Chicago.

"The year after we lost to the Bears in the NFC Championship Game, we played them on Monday Night Football and it was a different game," Lansford said. "It ends up coming down to me. I hit a 50-yard field goal to not make up for us losing the year before, but it was the last kick of the game (to win 20-17) and it led us to another successful season."

Earning the reputation of being a clutch kicker, Lansford connected on 158 of 217 field goal attempts and 315 of 325 extra points. How rewarding was it to know that his teammates had faith in his longtime reliability?

"It was great, it really was," Lansford said. "You're strutting around the locker room with some of the world's best athletes, and just that you're a part of them, and you have their respect and they can count on you, you feel it. You feel it from them. It just makes a better-than-average kicker even better."

What made Lansford, who retired in 1991 as the Rams' all-time leading scorer with 789 points, and still ranks third on the list, most proud of his career?

"I think it's how it started," he said. "The fact that I overcame all the obstacles is probably the one thing I'm most proud of. And once I got into that position, I was a good pro. But the best part, I think, was I got to do all this in front of my family and friends. People I grew up with and loved."

Lansford, who has two adult children: McCall and Chase; makes his home near where he grew up in Orange County. For the past 20 years, he has been an independent contractor.

"I've been in payroll, work comp, insurance. Right now, I'm more of, for lack of a better word, a dealmaker," Lansford said. "I put rich guys together with great products and then I work my way into a position with those products and get paid accordingly. So I guess when you're around long enough in one spot, you get to know everybody, and that job seems to work for me.

"Plus, I don't think I'm employable. But I am good at it. I'm good at managing people and getting along. Those are my strengths. And I'm in the same area that I grew up in. I'm real close to my kids. Those are the things I really like about it."

Slow news so figured any kind of news is worth a thread even if it's practice squad depth. Competition for the return job though so you never know he might make it on special teams.



Charean Williams
Wed, June 23, 2021, 3:43 PM·1 min read


The Rams have signed undrafted free agent Otis Anderson Jr., he and his representation announced on social media Wednesday.
Anderson, who is not related to Super Bowl XXV MVP Ottis “O.J.” Anderson, played running back and receiver at the University of Central Florida. He also was a kick returner in his sophomore and junior seasons.
He finished his college career with 358 carries for 2,182 yards and 17 touchdowns, while adding 91 catches for 1,025 yards and nine touchdowns. Anderson also returned a kickoff for a touchdown.
His 6.1 yards per carry ranks second all-time at UCF and his 3,708 all-purpose yards and 27 total touchdowns both rank eighth in school annals.
Anderson earned second-team all-conference honors last season when he rushed for 687 yards and scored four touchdowns in nine games. He made five starts at running back.

Rams' Matthew Stafford taking it slow, but making progress with new team​

• 
  
  Lindsey ThiryESPN

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Matthew Stafford took snap after snap, dropping back each time to scan the field.

And that was the extent of the 11-on-11 action for the new Los Angeles Rams quarterback, who did not throw the ball during full-team periods at mandatory minicamp.


Entering his 13th NFL season, but his first with a team outside of the Detroit Lions, the plan for the offseason program was to familiarize Stafford and other newcomers with teammates and Rams coach Sean McVay's scheme.

"We're not moving extremely fast, not really trying to get open or make great throws in that period," Stafford explained. "It's more, let's get the protections adjusted, let's get the runs going off in the right direction and get all the above-the-neck stuff going."



How the Rams' offense will appear with Stafford when the season opens Sept. 12 against the Chicago Bears remains mostly a mystery after an offseason program dominated by one-on-one work and some 7-on-7 action.

It could also remain something of a mystery through training camp after McVay acknowledged that he is likely to keep in step with his past approaches to preseason games and not play starters.

But if McVay's good mood this offseason is any indication, his once-prolific offense that struggled to find consistency the past two seasons with quarterback Jared Goff is trending positive with Stafford.

"He's done outstanding," McVay said about Stafford, whom the Rams acquired from Detroit in exchange for Goff, two first-round picks and a third-round pick in January. "He's only going to continue to grow and we're going to continue to get better."

McVay raved about Stafford's leadership, ability as a natural thrower and his football savvy -- including his knack to recognize and manipulate a defense.

Stafford underwent surgery on his right thumb in March. He described it as "a quick little fix" and said that he felt "way better." The procedure did not affect his participation in voluntary workouts or mandatory minicamp.

The goal of the offseason program for the 33-year-old Stafford was to stress himself mentally as he integrates into McVay's system.

"I'm just trying to learn as much as I possibly can about not only our playbook and the way we want to operate as an offense," said Stafford, But also [learn] my teammates as well."

The Rams return eight offensive starters from last season's 10-6 team, including four linemen, receivers Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, tight end Tyler Higbee and running back Cam Akers.

Woods and Kupp spent the past four seasons with Goff, but have quickly began to adapt to their new signal caller after numerous one-on-one drills and time spent between action communicating nuances.

"He's a vet quarterback [who's] really honing in on picking up this offense very fast because we all got plans, we need him to learn it and be ready to go right away," said Woods, who fell 64 yards shy in 2020 of a third-consecutive 1,000-receiving yard season. "I would say his attention to listen to receivers, wanting to still get better at his level and at his year is super big."

Rams general manager Les Snead also added firepower for Stafford over the offseason, signing veteran receiver DeSean Jackson in free agency and selecting Louisville receiver Tutu Atwell in the second round of the NFL draft. Both are considered speedy receivers who can provide deep targets and stretch the field.

"It's been awesome with Matt, having a veteran quarterback that's played a lot of ball in this league," said Jackson, "It's definitely going to be a scary group for defenses and defenders 'cause Sean McVay, one thing about it, he's going to figure out how to get you open, so we just look forward to having a lot of fun doing it."


Stafford said each receiver brings a unique skillset. He described Woods as smooth in and out of his breaks, Kupp as one of the smartest he's played with, Jackson and Atwell for their long speed, and second-year pro Van Jefferson as good separator.

"It's a really talented group, top to bottom," Stafford said.

Stafford also is expected to have support in the backfield from Akers, who emerged late in his rookie season as a feature back after playing in a committee most of the year.


"It's been fun getting to know Matt," said Akers, who rushed for 625 yards in five starts and 13 games last season. "Gaining chemistry, catching balls, getting handoffs from him. Feeling the way he likes to lead, just learning each other. That's what this time that we've been spending together has been, we've been learning each other and just getting comfortable."

There's no exact science, Stafford and teammates said, as to when they will jell and establish an exact chemistry. But Stafford expressed confidence about his progress before the Rams broke for the offseason.

"I definitely have learned quite a bit," Stafford said. "I feel like my knowledge is a lot broader now than it was when we started that's for sure. I've been exposed to a lot both from Sean and our offense and our defense as well, so it's been a good learning experience for me."

Quarterbacks report to training camp on July 25th.

State of the 2021 San Francisco 49ers: Super Bowl or bust in Kyle Shanahan's fifth season​

Members of the 49ers organization, Faithful fans around the world and those who hope I'm picking San Francisco to win just three games this season:

Last year is behind us. There is no use looking back at what happened in the past, but instead, just looking toward the future. The proud 49ers franchise is once again loaded with one of the most complete rosters in the NFL and should be regarded as one of the front-runners to reach the Super Bowl.

Let's take a quick look back at the highs and lows of the 2020 season.

The highs:

Starting the season 4-3 despite a number of injuries. The 49ers were beset by numerous ailments early on, but back-to-back wins over the hated Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots moved San Francisco to 4-3. This was the last time the 49ers were above .500 for the rest of the season.

Knocking off the Arizona Cardinals in Week 16 to keep the Birds out of the playoffs. As a Bears fan, I sort of appreciated that. And for you Niners fans, it's always fun to keep a divisional rival out of the playoffs. Also, I started Jeff Wilson, who rushed for 183 yards and caught a TD in that game, in my fantasy championship. Unfortunately, I was going against Alvin Kamara, who scored six -- SIX! -- touchdowns one day prior. Yes, I lost.
The lows:

Pretty much the entire season. Nick Bosa tore his ACL in Week 2 against the Jets. After that, nearly every prominent 49ers player was injured at one time or another. I would list them all here. But it seems excessively cruel. Let's just say it was a bad season. It's almost a miracle the 49ers won six games.

Head coach: Kyle Shanahan. I think most people would agree that Shanahan is one of the bright young minds in the NFL today, but it's weird to think about how his career record is just 29-35. In four seasons as coach of the 49ers, he's produced just one winning campaign: in 2019, when San Francisco went 13-3 and hit the Super Bowl. To me, it's kind of like looking at Cody Rhodes in AEW. He might not have the best win-loss record in the company, but there is no doubt he is among the very best at his craft. And maybe that analogy was just for George Kittle and me, but you can't tell me that Shanahan isn't an offensive savant.

All that being said, this feels like a pretty big year for Shanahan. I mean, he's not in danger of losing his job. And injuries really derailed the team last season. But at some point, you have to start consistently putting victories up on the board. And I feel like he can do that; he just needs to show us. His biggest test this coming season will be navigating the quarterback situation. Speaking of which …

Quarterback: Jimmy Garoppolo. You know, the Rams and 49ers weren't exactly thrilled with their quarterbacks last season. Two guys who recently took them to Super Bowls. The Rams addressed their displeasure more directly, shipping Jared Goff to Detroit in a trade for Matthew Stafford. The 49ers are not quite there yet, apparently willing to keep Jimmy G around after spending the No. 3 overall pick on Trey Lance. I'm not sure if it's fair or not. I'd say Jimmy G was much more present in his Super Bowl appearance. I mean, if the vaunted 49ers defense had been able to hold on to a lead, then we'd be talking about Super Bowl champ Jimmy Garoppolo. And Lance probably isn't even on the roster. But, you know, Garoppolo also missed Emmanuel Sanders late in the fourth quarter, which could've made the defensive collapse moot.

If we look at this statistically, the 49ers are 22-8 in games with Garoppolo as the starter -- that's the fourth-highest winning percentage among active quarterbacks since 2017 with at least 10 starts, per NFL Research. San Francisco's 7-27 without him in that same span. Jimmy G also ranks top five in passing yards per attempt (8.3) and completion percentage (67.5) among all quarterbacks with at least 25 starts since 2017.

The biggest rub on the 29-year-old signal-caller is that he's been injured. Missed 10 games last year and 13 in 2018. And we've seen Nick Mullens (16 starts), C.J. Beathard (12) and Brian Hoyer (six) forced into action. Garoppolo has proven he's a winner. He needs to prove he can stay on the field. Because the last time he started all 16, the team went to the Super Bowl. And then there is Lance, whom we'll get to shortly.

Projected 2021 MVP: Nick Bosa, defensive end. Bosa showed up for 49ers workouts earlier this spring, but he couldn't do much because he was still rehabbing. Bosa was amazing during his rookie season, with 16 tackles for loss, nine sacks and 25 quarterback pressures. A true game-changer right off the bat, he played a crucial role in San Francisco's Super Bowl run. Now, the 49ers still did alright defensively last year without Bosa. This isn't a one-man defense. Not even close. But he was the guy who took the defense from good to very good. Like, going to Disneyland is good. Having a fast pass to jump the lines is even better. The 49ers had just 126 quarterback pressures in 2020 -- the fourth-fewest in the league -- and allowed a league-worst 3.3 seconds time to hurry (per Next Gen Stats). Bosa's return to action will turn those lackluster figures around real quick.

2021 breakout star: Brandon Aiyuk, wide receiver. The Arizona State product was one of my favorite receivers coming out of the draft last year and he didn't disappoint. Aiyuk led the team in targets (96), receptions (60), receiving yards (748) and receiving touchdowns (five). He led all rookies in targets per game (8.0) and had the second-highest averages in receptions (5.0) and receiving yards (62.3) per game, behind only Justin Jefferson. Now, some people (i.e. fantasy dorks) are afraid that George Kittle and Deebo Samuel being healthy will cut into the second-year pro's target share. OK, but I believe having Kittle and Samuel on the field will open things up for Aiyuk. He's a dynamic playmaker. If this 49ers offense is cooking and fully healthy, Brandon is going to eat. And then next year, a bunch of you will deny that I said this. And I'll have to take a screen grab and post it on IG. So let's just cut to the chase where you believe what I'm telling you.

New face to know: Alex Mack, center. The 49ers had injuries everywhere, and the offensive line was no exception. The team did lock up Trent Williams on a long-term deal, which was huge. Another move I really liked, though, was bringing in Mack to be the anchor of the offensive line. Mack played under coach Kyle Shanahan in Cleveland and Atlanta, and he'll be a big addition to San Francisco's offensive line. Seriously, this was one of the most underrated moves of the offseason. He's 35 years old, sure, but he had played in 90 consecutive games before missing the last two games of this past season.

The competitive urgency index is: HIGH. Not that Kyle Shanahan is on the hot seat or anything. But this is obviously a crucial campaign for Jimmy Garoppolo, among others. And the 49ers have constructed a really good roster. They are expected to compete. For the Lombardi. So the urgency is high.

Week 3 vs. Packers (Sunday night). I feel like every time I put down something with Green Bay, I have to ask myself who is going to be the Packers' starting quarterback. But let's say it's Aaron Rodgers. Remember that the 49ers dismantled the Pack twice in 2019. And I would say one of the key reasons Green Bay earned the No. 1 seed last year was because San Francisco had so many injuries.
Week 8 at Bears. Another contest where we can only speculate who the quarterbacks are going to be at this point of the season. Justin Fields and Trey Lance will always be tied together.
Week 18 at Rams. The Rams come to Santa Clara in Week 10. To me, these are two of the top three teams in the NFC, along with the world champion Buccaneers. I expect the NFC West race to come down to this final game. No disrespect to the Seahawks or Cardinals, but these are my top two in a brutally tough division.

Will the 49ers be able to …

Leave Trey Lance on the bench? I don't mean this in a negative way at all. Allow me to explain a bit. Lance is definitely an exciting prospect. He had 28 touchdown passes and no interceptions in 2019. NO PICKS!!! His team went 16-0 and won the Division I FCS Championship. Even though he played only one game in 2020, he has a lot of talent. But Lance still lacks experience. And his game is raw in some areas (see: accuracy). Also, as I described earlier, the 49ers have a great record with Jimmy Garoppolo under center. The ideal situation is that Jimmy G starts all 17 (maybe you bench him in Week 18 because you've wrapped up the No. 1 seed) and you cruise to the playoffs. In the meantime, you use this season on the practice field and next offseason to determine if Lance is your guy of the future. Like what the Chiefs did with Patrick Mahomes. Because what you don't want to do is rush the 21-year-old rookie into action before he's ready. Not that Shanahan can't work his magic. But I think many Lance backers would love to see Jimmy do well while the 49ers win and the rookie marinates.

Survive without defensive coordinator Robert Saleh? Allow me to speak for all of us who root for an NFC squad when I say "GOOD RIDDANCE" to Saleh, who is now the head coach of the New York Jets. Over the past two seasons, only one defense allowed fewer than 300 total yards per game: Saleh's 49ers. Amazingly, the unit allowed fewer than 200 passing yards per game during that span -- 188.6, to be exact. And I know they were playing in a division with Jared Goff, but that's still pretty impressive. The 49ers promoted linebackers coach DeMeco Ryans to the position of defensive coordinator. Yes, the former Defensive Rookie of the Year. He joined the team four years ago as a defensive quality control coach. Now he has worked his way up.

The 49ers also lost Kerry Hyder to Seattle. He led the 49ers with 8.5 sacks last season. Richard Sherman is also gone -- well, at least he's still a free agent. That means some other guys are going to need to step up. Dee Ford missed the final 15 games of last season and has missed 20 of 32 possible games with the 49ers. Javon Kinlaw, who faced the unenviable task of replacing DeForest Buckner, posted 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss as a rookie. A whole bunch of defensive players will need to step up and raise their games. Well not you, Fred Warner. You're already great!

Get the most out of George Kittle? Stone Cold Kittle is one of my favorite players in the league. Even though he lives by that Stone Cold mantra of "don't trust anybody" and hits me with the occasional stunner on Twitter. But if you think the 49ers need George this year, give me a HELL YEAH! He had 48 receptions for 634 yards and two touchdowns in eight games last year. That's great production over the course of an entire season for most tight ends, but we're talking about Stone Cold Kittle here. He's averaged 80.6 yards per game since 2018. He had more than 1,000 receiving yards and five touchdowns in both 2018 and '19. Bosa's the defensive MVP, while Kittle plays that role for the offense. And that's the bottom line because, well, everyone agrees on that point.

… people are overlooking: How much George Kittle matters to the running game. I know we are amazed by what Kittle does in the passing game. But he's huge for the running game (and he really does take pride in blocking, which not every pass-catching tight end can say). When Kittle was on the field in 2019, the 49ers faced lighter boxes more often and were a more effective rushing team. The Niners averaged 5.0 yards per carry with 20 rushing touchdowns when George was on the field. They averaged 3.5 yards per carry and scored three touchdowns without him. Those figures come courtesy of Next Gen Stats.

… people are overthinking: Who the RB1 is. The 49ers went from the second-best rushing team in 2019 to 15th last year, dropping from just over 144 rushing yards per game down to 118.1. I mean, they are still going to focus on the run this year. And I'll grant you that the people concerned about who'll be the leading rusher are mostly fantasy dorks. Like me. But last year, Raheem Mostert missed eight games. Jeff Wilson led the team in carries (126), rush yards (600) and rushing touchdowns (seven). But the wild card might be third-round pick Trey Sermon, who was a monster for Ohio State down the stretch last season. And that might make you think of Carlos Hyde, who led the 49ers with 938 rushing yards in Shanahan's first year as head coach.

For 2021 to be a success, the 49ers MUST:

Get to the Super Bowl. A year ago, I talked about the 49ers heading into the season with title aspirations. The biggest thing that hurt them was, well, the injuries. I know it's tough to say that a 6-10 team should have the Super Bowl in its sights, but that's how good this roster is. The 49ers need to at least get back to Super Bowl Sunday or this season will seem like a waste.

This is a very good 49ers team. One that should once again be considered among the top NFC contenders. But again, I put this down last year. The 49ers had a great run under Jim Harbaugh last decade, but never could cash in on their Super Bowl window. Gotta finish the job. And this looks like a special group. Even with a quarterback of the future waiting in the wings, San Francisco needs to take advantage of the present.

State of the 2021 Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray and Co. must learn to close​

Members of the Cardinals' organization, Cardinals fans around the world and my Chicago-affiliated relatives who still root for the Cardinals because they once played their home games at old Comiskey Park:

It's an exciting time in the desert for a team that was built to provide exactly that feeling. The Cardinals took some bold steps just a few years ago, and while they ultimately sputtered to a lackluster finish in 2020, they are now on the cusp of being the kind of high-flying squad we haven't seen in Arizona for quite some time.

How the Cardinals got here

Let's take a quick look back at the highs and lows of the 2020 season.

The highs:

Starting the season off with a 24-20 win over the San Francisco 49ers. Yes, the Niners were decimated by injuries last year -- but they were mostly full-go in Week 1. Beating the defending NFC champs set a tone for the Cards in the early part of 2020.

Securing a huge overtime win over Seattle on Sunday Night Football in Week 7 to go into their bye at 5-2. Arizona rallied from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to force overtime -- and it came a week after the Cards smoked the Cowboys 38-10 on the road on Monday Night Football.

Beating the Bills 32-30 in one of the most entertaining games of the season. Kyler Murray hit DeAndre Hopkins on a winning 43-yard desperation heave with 2 seconds left. Must have been refreshing for the home fans to get to enjoy a play like that for a change.
The low:

Slumping out of the playoff picture. After going 6-3 and forcing their way into a three-way-tie for first place in the NFC West, the Cardinals won just two more games -- over the lowly New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles -- before finishing 8-8 and in third place in the division, losing the final spot in the NFC playoff field to the Chicago Bears.

Head coach: Kliff Kingsbury. I know a lot of people were a little concerned about Kingsbury's ability to transition to the NFL after he went 35-40 in six seasons coaching Texas Tech. Now, I've always contended that if you can succeed even a little bit at Texas Tech, you're doing well for yourself. And I want to love Kingsbury. I really do. But he didn't do himself any favors with the late-season collapse I wrote about above. After losing to a San Francisco team whose playoff fate was already sealed in Week 16, the Cards still could have made it to the postseason by beating the Rams in Week 17 -- but they couldn't get the job done, and now Kingsbury is still searching for his first winning season in the NFL. It was like needing to sink a 3-footer to qualify for the U.S. Open and failing to send it home. That's the kind of stuff that can stick with you.

At the same time, we can't look past what Kingsbury has been able to do with this offense in his two years on the job. Remember, when he was hired in 2019, the Cardinals were coming off a season in which they ranked last in the NFL in scoring, total yards, passing yards and rushing yards. He turned this team into one of the most enjoyable to watch in the NFL, with Arizona ranking 13th in scoring, sixth in total yards, 17th in passing yards and seventh in rushing yards in 2020. He's successfully punched up this offense -- like Carrie Fisher, in script doctor mode, helping to turn The Wedding Singer into an all-time classic.

Quarterback: Kyler Murray. Murray has been exciting -- there is no doubt about that. It's unusual when something or someone actually meets or exceeds expectations, but Murray has been great since the Cardinals drafted him first overall in 2019. He racked up 4,614 offensive yards in 2020, which was fourth in the NFL. There were nine games last year in which Murray recorded at least one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown, the most by any quarterback in a single season since at least 1950. He also joined Cam Newton as the only quarterbacks in NFL history with at least 25 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing touchdowns in a single season. The next step for Murray is finishing stronger.

Consider that in Murray's first nine games last season, he accounted for 27 offensive touchdowns -- and in his final seven, he had just 10. (Yes, I know he suffered a shoulder injury, but Murray himself said it didn't impact him that much.) With the NFL season getting longer, it's even more important that Murray learns to finish. I don't want to be a buzzkill or anything, but the former baseball guy needs to really embody that closer's mentality.

Projected 2021 MVP: DeAndre Hopkins, wide receiver. Obviously, the season is going to come down to Murray, but I wanted to give a little bit of love to DeAndre for his awesome debut as a Cardinal last season. The prize in one of the more lopsided trades in recent memory ranked in the top three in the NFL in targets (160), receptions (115) and receiving yards (1,407) in 2020. He also accounted for 33.2 percent of the Cardinals' air yards last season, the 11th-highest percentage in the NFL, per Next Gen Stats. With some receiving help coming via the draft and free agency, Hopkins should thrive again in 2021.

2021 breakout star: Isaiah Simmons, linebacker. I'm not going to lie; Isaiah was one of my favorite players in the 2020 draft class, someone I thought would have a huge impact right from the jump after he was selected eighth overall. And he was ... fine, making seven starts and finishing with a pair of sacks, a pick and four tackles for loss. He just did not meet the high expectations I had for him. I mean, it sort of reminded me when Adam Rose made the jump from NXT to the WWE (I still own his shirt). He was OK, just not as good as I expected him to be. Good news is, Simmons should get his chance this year, especially with linebacker De'Vondre Campbell signing in Green Bay. I foresee him making the leap.

New face to know: Rodney Hudson, center. Hey, I know who you thought I was going to mention right here. But we'll get to him (and him) in a moment. The biggest addition (to me) was this three-time Pro Bowler, acquired from the Raiders in exchange for a third-round pick. Hudson has been Pro Football Focus' highest-graded pass-blocking center since 2016 (with a grade of 92.6). And he's allowed just two sacks in 2,955 pass-block snaps in that time (PFF).

The competitive urgency index is: HIGH. The NFC West is the most competitive division in football. This is not up for debate; it's a fact. The Cardinals won eight games last year and have added veterans to make a push. Kingsbury needs to show he can win, and Murray needs to take another step in Year 3. The stakes are astronomical.

Week 2 vs. Minnesota Vikings. Both teams likely feel like they are going to the playoffs this season. These are the kinds of games the Cardinals need to win -- and they kind of did last year, securing the aforementioned big victories over Dallas and the Bills. But they have to keep doing it. Side note: This is the only home game for the Birds during the first four weeks of the season.

Week 11 at Seattle Seahawks. The Cardinals folded down the stretch last season, and they cannot afford to do that again. The Seahawks have some weird losses late in the season -- although this wouldn't actually be that weird, seeing as how the Cardinals have won four of their last six in Seattle. (OK, maybe that is weird.)

Week 13 at Chicago Bears. Arizona will come out of its late-season bye with a matchup against the team that beat the Cardinals out of an NFC playoff spot last year. Winning this one (plus a Week 14 Monday Night Football showdown with the Rams) will help further establish their ability to perform in crunch time.

Will the Cardinals be able to …

Get to the quarterback? The Cardinals had 48 sacks in 2020, tied for fourth in the NFL. Their leader in the category, Haason Reddick, had a classic breakout season in a contract year, racking up 12.5 sacks -- and they wisely let him walk. (A player who excels in their contract season is like the partner who is lame for the first six months of the relationship, then crushes Valentine's Day -- it's awesome for the one day, but you don't get married on Feb. 15.) The Cardinals brought in J.J. Watt to help fill that void, at least a little bit, and I think he'll make a great tandem with Chandler Jones, who missed most of 2020 with a biceps injury. I know the 30-year-old Jones, who has more sacks (61) than anyone but Aaron Donald (65.5) since joining Arizona in 2016, missed mandatory minicamp as he heads into the final season of his current deal. He could be a holdout, maybe even get traded, but with the Cardinals in win-now mode, I have a feeling this will get worked out. If Jones can return to form on a contract year (like Reddick), he could join with J.J. and Markus Golden (who was traded back to the team that drafted him by the Giants last October and signed a two-year deal to stay in Arizona this offseason, and who I haven't even mentioned until now) to make up a good line.

Get valuable contributions from receiver A.J. Green and running back James Conner? The Cardinals' big-name offensive additions over the past couple of years -- Hopkins, Murray, Hudson, Green, Conner and Brian Winters -- would make for one impressive Madden Ultimate Team. Green made the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons, but last earned that honor in 2017. I'm kind of excited about the 32-year-old, heading into his first NFL season in a uniform other than Cincinnati's. I'm not saying Green is going to have 100 catches and 1,500 receiving yards, but he still has the ability to make some clutch plays. If the 37-year-old Larry Fitzgerald returns, we'll really have a Red situation going on, and I will be into it. Yes, I'm talking about the Bruce Willis movie. Such an obvious tie-in.

As for Conner, things never quite clicked for him during a Pittsburgh tenure marred by injury. But with Kenyan Drake signing in Vegas, Conner will be asked to contribute plenty on a team that ranked sixth in rushing attempts in 2020.

Overcome the loss of longtime CB1 Patrick Peterson? But as all those big names came aboard, the Cardinals parted ways with Double P. (I don't know if anybody calls him that, I should have consulted the Fantasy Footballers.) The Cardinals signed Malcolm Butler, which is a fine backup plan -- kind of like picking up a 12-er of Michelob Ultra on the way to a party. Arizona also added Darqueze Dennard and brought back Robert Alford. The Cards must have confidence in these guys, because they used their first-round pick on Tulsa linebacker Zaven Collins. (Collins, it should be noted, was arrested for excessive speed and reckless driving; it's not known what impact this will have on his availability this season.) They did move up to take corner Marco Wilson in the fourth round and added Tay Gowan in the sixth. But the Cardinals seem a little thin at corner. Especially in a division with receivers like DK Metcalf, Tyler Lockett, Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Deebo Samuel.

... people are overlooking: It was actually the OFFENSE that cost them last year. The Cardinals were 8-2 in games where they scored 24-plus points and 0-6 when they scored less than 24 points last season. It was kind of like they were playing under custom Madden rules: first to 24 points wins! Unfortunately for Arizona, the scoring dried up down the stretch, with the Cardinals averaging 20.6 points per game over their 2-5 finish.

... people are ALSO overlooking: The Cardinals might have found their Tyreek Hill. Second-round pick Rondale Moore has a lot of similar measurables to Hill, as general manager Steve Keim put it. I understand that it's one thing to have the same build and speed as Hill and quite another to produce like the three-time All-Pro receiver on the field. But Moore is going to get his chance in this big-name lineup. The Cardinals used four receivers on 20.3 percent of their snaps last year, which led the league, according to Next Gen Stats.

... people are overthinking: Chase Edmonds' potential limitations in 2021. Sorry, I know that most of the time, it seems like this section is aimed at fantasy dorks, but I just can't take myself out of that space. A lot of people will point to James Conner's signing as an indicator that fourth-year pro Edmonds won't see much uptick in production after ex-RB1 Kenyan Drake's exit, but I am here to remind you that Edmonds was great when given his chances last season. So, yes, fine, you should target him in your fantasy drafts.

For 2021 to be a success, the Cardinals MUST:

Get to the postseason. They can't have any near misses -- even getting above .500 isn't enough. It's got to be playoffs or nothing.

This is a big year for the Cardinals and the plan they've been working on since they made the swift move to start over at coach and quarterback in 2019. Kingsbury and Murray came close to fulfilling that promised (and, probably, providing a more entertaining playoff matchup than Bears-Saints) in 2020, but the pair fell short. Now, though, it's time to take that next step.

Mine is the Bouffant Midgit.

I know that "midgit' isn't the politically correct term, but "she" existed in my dreams (I think) before that was a thing. My mother had a portrait photo that hung in our hallway with her 60's style beehive hairstyle, piled high. My monster would appear when I was a child at the doorway of my small bedroom. The door was open with a mellow light behind it the sillhouette of a creature with my Mom's beehive hairdo on an adults head, with a small body holding it up. I could see no features, but then it it would begin to move toward me...

I wrote a story about the monster with Pink Floyd lyrics in my mind. The thing skittered impossibly fast in a darkened school locker hallway, just dimly seen by the nighttime janitor. In one scene, the thing scampered up the lockers and then across the ceiling and down the lockers on the other side, maddening metallic, tiny footsteps, with his/my eyes clenched tightly.

My character went insane.

How about you? What personal dream bogeyman do you have? Let's have a nightmare together...

Two edge players on roster that nobody is talking about​

We know that the LA Rams love to get after a quarterback and that much of the defensive success relies upon their ability to do exactly that, but how much do you truly know about the rank and file of the roster at the outside linebacker position? For example, do you know which outside linebacker originally hails from Pottsboro Texas? Which former Boston College Eagle is now a rookie for the LA Rams defense?

The fact is the from the moment you add Justin Hollins (the LA Rams hybrid ILB/OLB) to the team’s ranks at outside linebacker, the Rams have seven players who are competing for a roster spot. That 53-man roster will likely carry four to five players, so the final roster spot is up for grabs. Who on the roster is competing for the final spot?

Well, it’s likely that the Rams will already have Leonard Floyd, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, and Justin Hollins inked in. And for now, second-year player Terrell Lewis, if he can attain and remain full health, is likely the team’s fourth rostered player. So the final spot will fall to either Justin Lawler, Max Roberts, or Chris Garrett.

Even if nobody else has been talking about outside linebacker Chris Garrett, we certainly have been. While he is a player worth the optimism, he doesn’t get more than a passing mention in this article. He likely has an inside track on any final spot on the 53-man roster.

But Max Roberts is not about to concede this early in the process. He is the other edge rusher from the 2021 NFL Draft, albeit he was added after the draft ended. He has a bit of a Morgan Fox feel to him. While his 6-foot-1 height and 256-pound weight are rather compact, he understands how to use his leverage to get under the pads of his opponent in a fashion that is quite similar to All-Pro Aaron Donald. From that position, he can move inside or outside to make a play. He is the former Boston College defensive end, who played just one season after transferring from the University of Maine. In one season, he put up 4.5 sacks for the Eagles. He may struggle a bit in pass coverage, but he has the right instincts and build for a rotational role on an NFL defense.

6-foot-4 262-pound outside linebacker Justin Lawler was the 2018 NFL Draft addition to the pass rush. Hailing from Pottsboro, Texas, this young man put up nearly 10 quarterback sacks in his senior season for Southern Methodist University. He arrived raw to the LA Rams defense in 2018 but has been plagued with injuries ever since. In his rookie year, he played a cameo role on defense but was used far more often on special teams.

This year, both Lawler and Roberts will have the chance to earn a spot on the Rams roster.

49ers' Trey Lance-Jimmy Garoppolo QB battle just starting to heat up

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- In the days after the San Francisco 49ers traded up to No. 3 in the NFL draft and made it clear they intended to use that pick on a quarterback, incumbent starter Jimmy Garoppolo did what any normal human would do: he let his mind wander.

"There's a million emotions that go on throughout your head and you think of all the possible scenarios and things like that," Garoppolo said last month. "But at the end of the day, I want to play football. I want to go out there and win games. That's what I do. ... It took a little while to process everything but once I did, it was just go out there and ball. You have just got to attack it. The NFL is a crazy business."

If the trade and subsequent selection of North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance wasn't wild enough, the attention paid to the Niners' potential quarterback battle is only starting to ramp up.

When the Niners ended their offseason program on June 9, Garoppolo remained atop the depth chart with Lance in the second spot and backups Josh Rosen and Nate Sudfeld jockeying for position and reps. At some point, Lance is expected to surpass Garoppolo but when that will happen is hard to predict.

That's especially true after Garoppolo seemed to respond well to the challenge of Lance's arrival, looking sharp in organized team activities open to media and leaving coach Kyle Shanahan impressed.

"I think Jimmy had his best spring since we've had him," Shanahan said. "I thought Jimmy came in in great shape, really locked in, a good place physically and mentally. And I thought he had as good of OTAs as he's had.”

Garoppolo has been with the 49ers since 2017, but this is only his second full healthy offseason program, and it's it's clear he doesn't intend to roll over and allow Lance to unseat him without a fight.

In fact, Garoppolo is doing his best to ignore the potential for a looming quarterback controversy. He's focusing on things he needs to do, not least of which is finding a way to stay healthy after missing 23 games over the past three seasons.

"If you start thinking about all those things, especially as a quarterback, you're going to be in some trouble," Garoppolo said. "I have got enough things to worry about, just with the offense and things like that, trying to improve things here and there."

For his part, Lance didn't look like he was in over his head during OTAs and took most of his reps with the second team. Although there were no pads or contact, Lance was able to digest all that Shanahan and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel threw at him, though he had his share of ups and downs.

"Some days you do good, some days you do bad, but there's a whole up and down with it that is necessary for a guy to go through," Shanahan said. "So you can get those reps, soak it in, have an idea of what it feels like. Now we have tape to show him, tape to talk to him about, he gets to get away on his own and have an idea of what's expected out of him when he gets back."

When Lance, Garoppolo and the rest of the 49ers return for the start of training camp on July 27, there's no doubt that Garoppolo will be the starter with Lance as the backup. The question that will loom over the Niners in camp and beyond is how long it will stay that way.

Trey Lance is bringing these QB skills to the NFL​

Relive some of the incredible plays from Trey Lance's college career.

Shanahan doesn't intend to rush Lance but has said that if the rookie catches up and looks capable enough to turn it into a competition, that's something he will allow to happen organically.

As for the bond between the rookie and veteran, it's so far so good, though the real test won't come until the heat turns up later this summer.

"The relationship between me and Trey, I think will just happen naturally," Garoppolo said. "It's not something that you want to force too much. You don't want to make it fake. It's just things will happen and that stuff takes time. But I think it's just one of those situations where you don't want to go out of your normalcy and do something that's not you. So, I just let things happen and take it from there."

Which is exactly how Shanahan and the 49ers intend to let it all play out when the preseason arrives.

7 potential new Rams starters: Upgrades or downgrades?​

The LA Rams will look considerably different next season, even if many of the coaches and starters will remain the same. Most of the status quo under Sean McVay should be a good thing for LA’s chances of a 2021 playoff run: Andrew Whitworth, Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, Leonard Floyd are among those returning for another go at the Super Bowl.

But there are many things that won’t be the same as last season and that goes beyond the blockbuster trade at quarterback.

The following six examples are NOT the only examples of new starters that will happen next season. The players who I’m sliding in as “the new starter” are also NOT all players who have won a starting job yet. So this is NOT necessarily me predicting or projecting a starter at the position but even in those cases it is obvious that someone new will be playing with the 1s next year.

Who those players will be is in my cases up for debate. This will be a good place to have such a debate.

QB - Matthew Stafford replaces Jared Goff

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Nobody has really made the argument that the Lions and Rams should have done a straight swap of Stafford for Goff, so nobody appears to actually believe that they are of equal value. The Rams had to include two first round picks to make the trade happen so the consensus opinion would appear to be that LA is getting an upgrade.

WR3 - DeSean Jackson replaces Josh Reynolds

Trending UP or DOWN? Trending UP

Jackson may be 34 and coming off of two injury-plagued seasons, but there should be more optimism in Jackson than there was with Reynolds or Van Jefferson. This is not to say that Reynolds was without value — he served as LA’s deep threat and he often came through when his number was called — but Jackson tends to create more opportunities than the average speed receiver. He has led the NFL in yards per catch four times and all the reports thus far are that he is healthy and explosive again in 2021.

You could argue Tutu Atwell here too, but there’s no question that Jackson will enter training camp as the clear cut number three receiver. We also shouldn’t rule out Jefferson as potentially winning more snaps and targets than Jackson and Atwell.

iOL - C Austin Corbett, RG Bobby Evans replaces C Austin Blythe, RG Austin Corbett

Trending UP or DOWN? UP

I think there’s more reason to be excited about Corbett and Evans than there was last year, when it felt more like the Rams were “giving in” after re-signing Blythe to a one-year deal. Evans is 24, started five games as a rookie in 2019, and the coaching staff has expressed nothing but confidence in the five players who they’ve pre-selected as the starters. This unit feels a lot more solid and put together than the one with Joseph Noteboom at left guard and Blythe at center entering 2020.

DE2 - A’Shawn Robinson replaces Michael Brockers

Trending UP or DOWN? There’s ground to make up

Okay, so here’s another place where an argument might arise: is it even Robinson who will replace Brockers?

We know that Sebastian Joseph-Day could become Donald’s true sidekick and he might explode as the defense’s breakout player of 2021. In that case, then this would be an UPGRADE because LA would be getting a younger version of Brockers. I also won’t dismiss Robinson as a potentially valuable defensive lineman next season, because he’s only 26 and he never got a real shot with the defense amid all the restrictions and health setbacks last year.

The Rams also have Bobby Brown III and Earnest Brown IV and Greg Gaines, so we aren’t quite sure yet how this rotation will play out. But I’d say that the Rams enter 2021 with an UPGRADE for total depth and perhaps a downgrade of the veteran leadership and experience that was traded to the Lions.

FS - Terrell Burgess replaces John Johnson III

Trending UP or DOWN? There’s ground to make up

NCB - David Long, Jr. replaces Troy Hill

Trending UP or DOWN? There’s ground to make up

I have to lump the two secondary players together because Johnson and Hill combined to play in 1,996 snaps in 2020 — they were first and second on the entire defense in playing time, with JJIII playing every single down.

There is an argument to be made that Taylor Rapp, not Burgess, will be starting at safety. You could also make a case for Robert Rochell or Burgess to be the new starter at nickel. No matter which players you believe will replace Johnson and Hill, they will have so much ground to make up as far as the value that was put on display by those two players last season.

Burgess will have a difficult time being as valuable as Johnson, whereas Hill had more valleys to go along with his peaks, but the Rams no doubt lack NFL experience when it comes to whoever will replace him at cornerback. Hill often played on the outside and took over for Darious Williams, so anybody who replaces him will have to do more than just cover the slot.

We can’t say yet if any of these players are “downgrades” but we can say that they have big shoes to fill.

Rams' Matthew Stafford taking it slow, but making progress with new team​

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Matthew Stafford took snap after snap, dropping back each time to scan the field.

And that was the extent of the 11-on-11 action for the new Los Angeles Rams quarterback, who did not throw the ball during full-team periods at mandatory minicamp.

Entering his 13th NFL season, but his first with a team outside of the Detroit Lions, the plan for the offseason program was to familiarize Stafford and other newcomers with teammates and Rams coach Sean McVay's scheme.

"We're not moving extremely fast, not really trying to get open or make great throws in that period," Stafford explained. "It's more, let's get the protections adjusted, let's get the runs going off in the right direction and get all the above-the-neck stuff going."

How the Rams' offense will appear with Stafford when the season opens Sept. 12 against the Chicago Bears remains mostly a mystery after an offseason program dominated by one-on-one work and some 7-on-7 action.

It could also remain something of a mystery through training camp after McVay acknowledged that he is likely to keep in step with his past approaches to preseason games and not play starters.

But if McVay's good mood this offseason is any indication, his once-prolific offense that struggled to find consistency the past two seasons with quarterback Jared Goff is trending positive with Stafford.

"He's done outstanding," McVay said about Stafford, whom the Rams acquired from Detroit in exchange for Goff, two first-round picks and a third-round pick in January. "He's only going to continue to grow and we're going to continue to get better."

McVay raved about Stafford's leadership, ability as a natural thrower and his football savvy -- including his knack to recognize and manipulate a defense.

Stafford underwent surgery on his right thumb in March. He described it as "a quick little fix" and said that he felt "way better." The procedure did not affect his participation in voluntary workouts or mandatory minicamp.

The goal of the offseason program for the 33-year-old Stafford was to stress himself mentally as he integrates into McVay's system.

"I'm just trying to learn as much as I possibly can about not only our playbook and the way we want to operate as an offense," said Stafford, who departed Detroit as the all-time leader in every passing category but never won a playoff game in three attempts. "But also [learn] my teammates as well."

The Rams return eight offensive starters from last season's 10-6 team, including four linemen, receivers Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, tight end Tyler Higbee and running back Cam Akers.

Woods and Kupp spent the past four seasons with Goff, but have quickly began to adapt to their new signal caller after numerous one-on-one drills and time spent between action communicating nuances.

"He's a vet quarterback [who's] really honing in on picking up this offense very fast because we all got plans, we need him to learn it and be ready to go right away," said Woods, who fell 64 yards shy in 2020 of a third-consecutive 1,000-receiving yard season. "I would say his attention to listen to receivers, wanting to still get better at his level and at his year is super big."

Rams general manager Les Snead also added firepower for Stafford over the offseason, signing veteran receiver DeSean Jackson in free agency and selecting Louisville receiver Tutu Atwell in the second round of the NFL draft. Both are considered speedy receivers who can provide deep targets and stretch the field.

"It's been awesome with Matt, having a veteran quarterback that's played a lot of ball in this league," said Jackson, who has been slowed because of injuries the past two seasons but has recorded the most 60-plus-yard touchdowns (24) in NFL history. "It's definitely going to be a scary group for defenses and defenders 'cause Sean McVay, one thing about it, he's going to figure out how to get you open, so we just look forward to having a lot of fun doing it."

Stafford said each receiver brings a unique skillset. He described Woods as smooth in and out of his breaks, Kupp as one of the smartest he's played with, Jackson and Atwell for their long speed, and second-year pro Van Jefferson as good separator.

"It's a really talented group, top to bottom," Stafford said.

Stafford also is expected to have support in the backfield from Akers, who emerged late in his rookie season as a feature back after playing in a committee most of the year.

"It's been fun getting to know Matt," said Akers, who rushed for 625 yards in five starts and 13 games last season. "Gaining chemistry, catching balls, getting handoffs from him. Feeling the way he likes to lead, just learning each other. That's what this time that we've been spending together has been, we've been learning each other and just getting comfortable."

There's no exact science, Stafford and teammates said, as to when they will jell and establish an exact chemistry. But Stafford expressed confidence about his progress before the Rams broke for the offseason.

"I definitely have learned quite a bit," Stafford said. "I feel like my knowledge is a lot broader now than it was when we started that's for sure. I've been exposed to a lot both from Sean and our offense and our defense as well, so it's been a good learning experience for me."

Quarterbacks report to training camp on July 25th.

Jourdan Rodrigue - How has Rams QB Matthew Stafford established timing, rapport with top WRs in Sean McVay’s offense?


By Jourdan Rodrigue Jun 22, 2021



THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — For new Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, timing has lately been everything.
Seizing upon opportune timing is a big part of the reason Stafford is in Los Angeles in the first place, after 12 years in Detroit — he requested a trade around the same time the Rams were deeply assessing their options at quarterback, then he and Rams coach Sean McVay happened to be at the same resort in Cabo, and the rest is history.

Now, Stafford’s timing will need to apply to how he runs the offense — especially one that depends on the quarterback and receivers falling into total rhythm with each other before, during and after every snap.

“The only way a guy in my position can play ‘on time’ and ‘in rhythm’ is understanding exactly what’s going on around him at all times and feeling comfortable with it,” Stafford said. “To get that, in my opinion, you can definitely look at it on a screen, look at it on a piece of paper and take your notes, but until you get out there and watch Cooper Kupp run this route or Robert Woods run that route, that’s something that takes time and in-person repetition.”

The details that need to be accounted for within a single passing play — between just the quarterback and the receiver — can feel endless, but must become automatic. Further, all of the little things the quarterback does between the snap and the moment the ball leaves his hand happen essentially as the receiver’s back is toward him.

“Within a drop, a quarterback has a lot of tools in terms of his eyes, his shoulders — where he’s trying to move guys,” Kupp said. “I think that’s the big thing, is understanding on plays: You might have two windows, you have the tight first window or you can hang on for the second window. And you have the conversation, ‘Would you rather hold this hook player away and try to zip this into the first window — or are you thinking you’re going to take him to me and hit this thing behind him?’
“So it’s kind of understanding just things like that. When am I really trying to get my eyes down? When can I anticipate the ball to get out versus certain looks? How (is he) manipulating coverages and what he feels comfortable with? Even within his drops, just seeing the nuance of using his shoulders and eyes to move guys and anticipate throws — that helps us out at receiver because now we’re really able to anticipate when that ball is coming and also get into those windows — or (move with tempo) into the windows he’s really trying to get to.”

Stafford and the Rams receivers were quite apparently stacking the building blocks of this process throughout the spring — not only increasing the amount of processing required between the two groups but also shifting at times from an emphasis on the live reps to focus on the communication between plays and how the various elements of the passing game complement each other when the rhythm is correct.

For example, veteran receivers Woods and Kupp were present for the voluntary OTAs sessions in May — which was notable because it was the first opportunity for Stafford to work in-depth with teammates after offseason thumb surgery and his cross-country move with his family. These practices were half-speed and could be stopped halfway through a play so that McVay and Stafford, and Stafford and his receivers and offensive line, could talk through the concepts. Though the sessions were not mandatory and many players trickled in and out through the two-week period, Kupp was active each day in order to build the necessary on-field rapport with Stafford, while Woods added that he often sat next to Stafford during film sessions to whisper live notes about certain throws as they watched. Rotating through the practices and reps also meant that when they weren’t working into the live action, receivers were able to watch Stafford’s movements more closely.

“Invaluable reps, really,” Kupp said. “Obviously as an offense, having a new signal caller out there — just being able to see the field with him, trying to understand the things that he’s seeing and how he’s analyzing things on the go. … Everyone has a different nuance to how (he) wants to play certain concepts, the throws that (he) leans on, the throws (he) wants to make, things you want to see and how you want to dictate certain things. (We were) able to have great conversations, (able) to see the field through his lens and understand what Matthew wants us to do at receiver and how he wants us to run our routes, the holes he wants us to find.”

In some seven-on-sevens and 11-on-11s, Stafford didn’t throw the ball as the route concepts unfolded before him and he mentally worked through his progressions and then workshopped the scenarios with Kupp, Woods, Desean Jackson, Van Jefferson and others. Where do his feet need to be in his dropback at a specific point in the receiver’s route? How about when they turn to present a target? What about boot action, play-action, the motions that McVay uses so often and more — how does the quarterback match his timing and movement with the receivers’ own as they progress through their route?

While the live reps are certainly the most valuable tool for both a quarterback and a receiver during this process, the required level of collaboration, communication and sharing of techniques and ideas can’t be understated.

“We’re collaborating to put the most efficient offense on the field,” Kupp said. “Whatever it takes for me, however he wants (us) to run routes … however he wants to throw the ball and manipulate coverage, whatever it’s going to look like to be the best offense we can possibly be when we step onto the field, that’s what we want to do. … It’s collaboration and being able to make sure that we’re on the same page with each other, that we’re working in tandem with each other — and that I’m doing the things that I need to do so that he’s seeing the field exactly how I’m seeing it, and we’re in those spots together.”

From Stafford’s lens, figuring out receivers’ preferences within their route tree is a part of that collaboration. Kupp, for example, has several “choice” routes built into his tree, so his decision-making in tandem with Stafford on those particular plays becomes not only crucial to Kupp’s own route run but also to the various leverage possibilities and assignments for the rest of the receivers in turn.
“We’re just trying to have dialogue,” Stafford said. “As we’re watching other guys (take second- and third-team reps), (we talk) about what we might have done in that situation — what he would expect from me, what I would expect from him. Just constantly trying to make sure that we’re on the same page and able to execute.”

Tiny details and tweaks made for the comfort of both the receiver and quarterback as they establish a feel for one another can turn into major moments in live action. At one point in the spring, Woods said Stafford approached him because he was feeling a little off about the steps in a passing concept and felt as if he might look to throw a little bit earlier than what they had practiced. Woods told him that he could adjust accordingly and would get his eyes back around for the ball without a problem. Conversely, throughout the offseason, Woods would record pieces of his own film study and send little cut-ups to Stafford that communicated Woods’ preferred catch window in which to specifically maximize yards after the catch.

“(Stafford’s) intention to listen to his receivers, wanting to still get better at his level and at his year is super big,” Woods said. “I think, from a receiver standpoint, your quarterback asking you ‘What do you want from this?’ or ‘What do you see in this route’ is super big. He’s come into our offense with some receivers who have made plays — but (is) really just trying to make us feel comfortable.”

In June, as the Rams held their minicamp — the last series of practices before breaking for the summer — Kupp and Woods especially orbited around Stafford at alternating times and in between his reps in seven-on-seven and 11-on-11 drills, play cards in their hands.

They were not practicing live but were in near-constant communication with Stafford — troubleshooting plays and concepts, pointing out different preferences and alignments and getting feedback from the quarterback on what he felt and saw as the plays unfolded.

“The dialogue amongst one another — there’s so many things that go on in the absence of coaches and in between those white lines that is so beneficial,” McVay said. “The best teams that I’ve been a part of is where the players lead it. That’s where you have a chance to be great. We’ve got the guys in this building to be able to do those things. … I think Matthew’s natural ability to communicate with everybody … that’s a valuable thing. That’s sometimes where (my) best is to give a little bit of guidelines and then get the hell out of their way.”

Here is something I think people are overlooking. Having the D practice against an elite-level QB is only going to make them so much better. His ability to read the secondary play IMO will have an effect upon how Morris plays them. Having the defensive secondary which already is a strength of the team going against guys like Woods, Kupp, Jefferson, and Jackson with Stafford throwing to them is only going to sharpen their skills. They will understand there is no room for error when facing an elite-level QB.

The old adage of steel (iron) sharpens steel (iron) couldn't be more appropriate. Stafford's passing threat is only going to pay big dividends in the run game. Teams won't be able to simply load the box. Akers and Henderson are going to be facing light boxes and 11 personnel is going to be even more efffective. I can't imagine that Stafford won't have run/pass audible options on virtually every play. Once this offense gets rolling it's going to be a dominant force. I think 30 points per game will return to be the norm as it was in 2018. I simply don't see the offensive dead games the Rams suffered through.

But on the flip side having the Ram D face this level of competition every week in practice is only going to make this unit better. That is why I still expect this D to be a top 5 defense this year no matter what scheme Morris chooses to run.

I thought it would be a good idea to have a thread regarding ROD members attending away games (for meet-ups, tailgating, comparing notes re: parking, logistics, etc.).

I'll start...

Just got tickets so my son, who lives just outside Madison, and I can go to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field to watch the Rams (hopefully) get their revenge against the Green Bay Packers!

(Two Florida guys in Green Bay in late November? Will I regret this? )

The silly season of speculation is all we fans have in the long offseason of Pro Football so why not dare to dream?

There are 5 reasons I would enjoy watching the Rams play the Browns in SoFi that extend beyond simply wanting them to make it that far and win.

1. John Johnson and Troy Hill were integral to the rise of the Rams' defense and will always carry a special place in my heart as a fan. JJIII was an underrated leader and T Hill rose from relative obscurity through hard work and perseverance, I hated losing players like Hacksaw and The Bus to other teams but that doesn't diminish my love of what they did for the Rams when they wore the Horns.
2. Those many years of futility in Cleveland forged a fan base that died hard and often for decades. We long term Ram fans know what that feels like even though we've enjoyed several epic seasons along the way. When Mike Jones made "The Tackle", I felt more relief than elation. Those fans deserve some reward for their perseverance.
3. The Rams were born in Cleveland long before I was born but the history of our franchise deserves to be recognized and that would happen if this game occurred.
4. The matchups and storylines would be plentiful, making the number of quality articles before and after the game even more enjoyable. Donald over Garrett. Stafford and Mayfield careers contrasted. The Brown's locomotive running game v the Rams' immovable object-like defense.
5. Living in Springfield Missouri, I suffered all those years surrounded by Chiefs fans and not seeing Rams apparel in stores and many games not televised on Sundays in the third largest city of this state. I like their team but would enjoy the vindication of seeing them fall to the Browns. I suppose a Rams/Chiefs Super Bowl with the Rams winning would be a close second for me but the aforementioned reasons give the Browns my nod.

Outside linebacker is sure to be one of the Rams' most important camp battles​

By signing Leonard Floyd to a four-year deal worth $64 million back in March, the Los Angeles Rams were able to keep their top edge rusher from last season. But in their 3-4 scheme, there are typically two outside linebackers on the field together.

Samson Ebukam was the No. 2 edge rusher for Los Angeles in 2020, though he only played 35.5% of the defensive snaps. Behind him were Justin Hollins (34.1%), Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (15.4%) and Terrell Lewis (12.1%).

Ebukam signed with the 49ers in free agency, which leaves the Rams with the question of who will be the primary edge rusher opposite Floyd.

Floyd will rarely come off the field, but the Rams still need another starting outside linebacker to step up and at this point in time, it’s anyone’s guess as to who that will be. Hollins seems like the top candidate after playing 349 snaps last season, but he was also playing under Brandon Staley, who coached him in Denver in 2019.

Will new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris have different ideas at this spot in 2021? Lewis missed significant time as a rookie with a couple of injuries, but if he can stay healthy, he has more upside than any of the Rams’ edge rushers besides Floyd. He’s 6-foot-5 and has a rare combination of size and explosiveness for the position. Durability is just a major concern.

Okoronkwo has missed 28 games in three NFL seasons, making this a pivotal season in his career. With just 2.5 sacks to his name, Okoronkwo has disappointed with the Rams up to this point.

Then there are rookie Chris Garrett and veteran Justin Lawler. Garrett absolutely dominated the Division II level in 2019, but he has a steep learning curve going from a lower level of competition in college to the NFL. Lawler has been around for a few years, but he hasn’t played since 2018.

Sean McVay and Morris will have to keep a close eye on the outside linebackers when training camp kicks off in late July because this is a critical position on defense. If the Rams are once again forced to rely on Aaron Donald and Floyd to generate pressure, teams will send extra blockers Donald’s way and chip Floyd with tight ends at the line.

Floyd will pressure the quarterback from his spot on the left side of the defensive front, but rushing the passer from the right side against left tackles is paramount for the Rams. In an ideal world, Lewis steps up and has a strong second season in the NFL. But in all likelihood, it will continue to be a rotation between Hollins, Lewis and Okoronkwo.

Whether that will be good enough remains to be seen.

Maybe this thread will end up getting locked, but IMHO this subject needn't be "controversial." Finally, an active NFL player announces he is gay.

A link to Nassib's announcement is below. At first glance, Nassib looks like he handled it quite well. Kinda had a matter-of-fact "no big deal" attitude about it. Made it clear he wasn't looking for attention, he was just trying to do the right thing and be authentic. And donating 100k to the anti-suicide group was an admirable move.

The Rams were the first team to sign an African American player (Kenny Washington) back in 1946. Now of course nobody gives a crap about the color of a player's skin.

Here's hoping that Nassib's announcement helps pave the way for a time when players won't have to "hide" their sexual orientation--because no one really cares about it anymore.

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This may be a short thread, but maybe you all will come up with more than I'm thinking. My offering is from the movie School of Rock, called "Teacher's Pet." I think Jack Black could have been a legit 70's style rocker if he had followed that path. In this one, he leads a class of rich kids to become a rock and roll band, against the wishes of almost everyone else outside of the class.... "kick some ass..."

I present, "Teacher's Pet"

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

MMQB: Sean McVay on Turnover, Expectations and Fighting Burnout

The Rams' coach is still the youngest in the NFL, as he enters what's unofficially the second phase of his career.

www.si.com

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Marcus Spears's Top Pass-Rush duos: No.1 Montez Sweat & Chase Young​

Yes Spears is a genius.. his number one pass rushing duo combined for 16.5 sacks
meanwhile AD and Floyd combine for 24 and added 4 more in the playoffs ranked number 4 in Spears Rankings.
Spears reasoning is that all of Floyds stats were directly due to AD.

If I'm not mistaken none of the pass rushers listed ahead of rams had double digit sacks as both AD and Floyd did.
and the 32 year old Von Miller hasn't played since 2019 and had 8 sacks that year.

I think Spears has earned the Rod stamp of approval and he is the honoree




Cued at 3:01

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WR Golden Tate wants to join Rams?​

Free-agent wide receiver Golden Tate spent roughly four and a half seasons playing alongside quarterback Matthew Stafford while with the Detroit Lions but was traded in the fall of 2018. Tate spent the last two campaigns with the New York Giants and was unsurprisingly released in March, and he told SiriusXM NFL Radio he wouldn't mind a reunion with his former signal-caller.

"I would love to go back home to Tennessee," Tate explained, per Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk. "Indy, over with Carson Wentz. Obviously, the L.A. Rams would be fantastic with Stafford. I had my best years with Stafford. I really like the entire NFC West, to be honest."

Tate tallied only 35 receptions for 388 yards and two touchdowns during the 2020 season, and he may find that he has to sign a one-year "prove it" deal with a club such as the Rams if he wishes to play for a presumed contender this fall. He and Stafford have established chemistry, and the veteran who turns 33 years old in August was right in saying he produced his best overall numbers catching passes from the new Rams starter.