Yeah I know it’s Tom Brady, but news is slow…

When Tom Brady was a free agent; What team do you think he’s talking about? 49’ers?


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https://www.espn.com/college-sports...ides-former-players-dispute-ncaa-compensation

Tried to post the article too. May have been to lengthy. We may be seeing the end of “amateur“ sports as we know it. IMO it’s beaded solely off the greed of the NCAA and Universities.

In honor of Father's everywhere. I saw an interesting bit on Social Media and thought it could be fun.

Time to snitch on yourselves. As a Father, tell us about a time or times that you and your child had to keep a secret to avoid the wife getting pissed off.

Apologies if this has already been posted.

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. Plus, how the NFL and NFLPA arrived at new COVID-19 protocols, a look at the 2022 draft, quarterbacks up for more deals and more.

ALBERT BREER

Sean McVay hasn’t given the Rams much to worry about over the four-plus years since his January 2017 hire, but there has been one thing on their—and his—radar for a while now.

And hanging over his head in his Thousand Oaks, Calif. office is a constant reminder of it.
In yellow and white letters above a couple sets of shelves are the words Urgent Enjoyment.

If it sounds like a hokey T-shirt slogan drummed up by a football coach to you, well, McVay’s probably not going to argue on that point. But to him, it’s as much about where he got to at a young age, where he’s been since and where he wants to take the Rams from here. Even more so, it’s about how he thinks he needs to get them there.

“That, to me, is the balance. Hey, we want to be urgent about everything we do. I want to be urgent; that’s who I am. But you want to do it with an enjoyment,” McVay said, from his place near L.A. on Saturday morning. “You want to have an urgent enjoyment. It kind of came to me one day where, Hey, there’s an urgency, but there’s a joy in the way you attack every day.

“I remember Zac Taylor was going through all his head coaching interviews, he had the pick of the litter, and he was telling me, and it was in a complimentary way, basically without saying I was a d--- or hard on people, ‘You got a good urgency.’ And I said, I like that. You’re urgent, and I think that is natural to the core that we have and a lot of the people that are in our building possess it. But the enjoyment is the biggest thing.”

McVay needs that reminder now, because of that one thing that others in the organization, and then he, started to watch as he and the team worked through in the weeks, months and now years following the Rams’ loss to the Patriots in Super LIII—burnout.

While the speed with which McVay turned the Rams around might be rare, his story arc over the last four years really hasn’t been. Young coach comes in, energizes an organization through the honeymoon phase of Year 1 and breaks through with a program established in Year 2. Then, staff and player attrition hit, expectations rise, pressure builds and that hard-driving young coach combats the changing landscape by driving harder and harder.

Eventually, through the blur of Years 1 and 2, then the pressure to follow, the coach finds a point of diminishing returns. Which is what McVay’s been trying to confront.

“Especially the last two years, you can let those expectations get in the way when you’re not as inside-out, and you’re letting an outside-in approach affect your daily enjoyment,” McVay explained. “When I reflect on it, I think there’s a lot of times where you are what you want to be, as far as being a leader and the guy that the players want to be around, that’s who I’d like to think I am. I’m enjoyable, positive, intentional about building and developing relationships in an authentic way.

“And then, I think sometimes you can get a little bit caught up in an outside-in approach, and say, Man, here’s these expectations, if I don’t do it, maybe you’re not living up to what we did as a team the first couple years. You gotta constantly remind yourself of it.”

So going into a big year for his organization—with fans’ coming into the team’s $6 billion palace for the first time, to see a roster aggressively built to give them a show—McVay’s trying to make sure he won’t ever forget it again. And he doesn’t have to look far for a reminder.https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/06/21/mmqb-sean-mcvay-expectations-burnout-covid-protocol-vaccines

Top five 2021 NFL Comeback Player of the Year candidates​

The NFL is getting closer to training camp, and then the first preseason games since 2019 will follow. It is also the beginning of a comeback journey for several of the league’s biggest stars.

More than a handful of players will vy for this year’s NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award, but these five superstars have the best odds to win that piece of hardware.

5. Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Cleveland Browns

Unfortunately for Odell Beckham Jr., he’s a regular on “Comeback Player of the Year” lists. Injuries just seem to follow him the past few seasons. The hope is OBJ will remind us all why he was once considered the most gifted wide receiver in football. Could 2021 finally be that season? Beckham suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 last year. Because of the timeline, he may not be able to start off the upcoming season at full strength. For that reason, OBJ appears further down on this list than he otherwise would have. Still, don’t put anything past the 28-year-old, whose motivation can not be questioned.

4. Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

Christian McCaffrey missed 13 games a season ago due to shoulder, ankle and thigh injuries. It was the first time in McCaffrey’s NFL career that he missed time and just the second time dating back to his college career at Stanford. The good news for the RB and the Panthers? In the few games he did play during the 2020 season, McCaffrey looked every bit as dominant as he had in years prior. That also means he’ll return more comfortably and confidently in the role offensive coordinator Joe Brady has carved out for him. So long as he can return to the standard of health he had previously set for himself, McCaffrey should pick up where he had left off and re-establish himself as one of the league’s most dynamic backs.

3. Nick Bosa, DE, San Francisco 49ers

As a rookie in 2019, Nick Bosa erupted onto the scene with nine sacks and 25 QB hits en route to his first Pro Bowl. He also won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award. Many believed that was just the tip of the iceberg and that in Year 2 Joey Bosa’s younger brother would establish himself as one of the elite pass rushers in football. Instead, Bosa went down with a torn ACL in Week 2. He missed nearly the entire season. However, he’s been quick to recover, and with no setbacks to date, the expectation is that he may actually participate in training camp when the 49ers begin their practices in late July. If he can step onto the field in Week 1 without limitations, watch out. Bosa is easily the strongest defensive candidate for Comeback Player of the Year in 2021.

2. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants

After erupting onto the scene as a rookie in 2018, Barkley has suffered back-to-back injury-plagued seasons. In 2019, he dealt with a high ankle sprain that limited him for much of the year. In Week 2 of last season, Barkley suffered a torn ACL that shut him down. Despite concerns over the severity of his knee injury, Barkley’s rehab has gone smoothly, and he has not suffered setbacks. While the Giants intend to ease him back slowly, including a very limited training camp, he should be 100 percent come Week 1 of this season. That’s good news for Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who built his entire scheme around Barkley and once again intends to feature him in 2021. With more playmakers lining up for the offense, the 24-year-old could be in position for his best statistical output as a pro.

1. Dak Prescott, QB, Dallas Cowboys

After starting off the 2020 regular season hot, Dak Prescott went down with a stomach-churning ankle fracture in Week 5 against the New York Giants. That didn’t stop Dallas from (finally) signing Prescott to a four-year, $160 million deal this offseason, ensuring that he returns with one of the league’s top wide receiver trios, a two-time NFL rushing champion and one of the better offensive lines in football. Assuming that Prescott is at full health — something he has guaranteed — he should be the favorite to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

5 players whose stock is on the rise after OTAs​

The LA Rams have held their first wave of organized team activities, and the first reports are expectedly optimistic. After all, it’s an almost sure thing that the word out of camp will highlight the positives, even if the overall experience was not all on the plus side. Still, the Rams rookies are no different than any other NFL rookies in the sense that no rookie arrives at the NFL and looks the part of Pro Bowler in shorts and sneakers.

Even second-year players or veterans who are promoted from the ranks of reserve players into starting roles get a grace period where their early performances in OTAs are viewed within the proper framework. This is early for any type for any full-fledged analysis, and in many cases, is simply the first encounters of coaches and players.

The objectives for the initial Organized Team Activities (OTAs) are to run through the installation of new offensive and defensive plays, refresh the basic data of players, renew or tweak any nutritional, exercise, or conditioning regiments, revisit the team’s plans for using that player in the upcoming season.

For younger players, this period also includes a host of introductions of basic routines that will become the foundation of their NFL future with that organization. Some players adjust and adapt quite quickly, while others take more time to process the overwhelming influx of new everything into their lives. Regardless of the pace, players all share the sole objective of contributing to the team, earning a spot on the roster, improving each day, and enjoying a long and lauded NFL career.

OT Jackson

Iowa Hawkeye and LA Rams UDFA rookie offensive tackle Alaric Jackson, a.k.a. A.J. Jackson, may not have heard his name called out during the 2021 NFL Draft, but he should be considered as a drafted offensive lineman after signing on with the Rams. After all, he had been projected anywhere from the third to the sixth round of the draft, and he most certainly fills a developmental need on this roster.

Both head coach Sean McVay and GM Les Snead faced continual scrutiny over the plans to address the offensive line this off-season. While the Rams lost starting offensive center Austin Blythe, the roster truly experiences a mass exodus next year as five of the team’s offensive linemen face expiring contracts. Snead himself mentioned Jackson by name when faced with those recurring questions from media at a post-draft press conference.

Rams head coach Sean McVay and GM Les Snead basically said they like the talent, depth and experience they have on OL currently n the roster better than prospects in the draft. Snead said they do have an agreement with Iowa OT Alaric Jackson to add as a rookie free agent.

— Eric Williams (@eric_d_williams) May 1, 2021

To be honest, the buzz about A.J. Jackson started as soon as he signed with the LA Rams. All of the factors that lead to optimism and buzz over the player are present. He was a draftable player who fell out of the draft. He was signed by a team with a clear need for his talent in one year’s time. He has the right dimensions and collegiate pedigree to have a solid chance of becoming a starter in the NFL. He even is playing for a position coach who coached up a former player from his alma mater into an All-Pro player.

There is no guarantee that lightning such as that will strike twice in the same spot. But it’s enough to poke at healthy imaginations to move to a far more optimistic and hopeful spot.

DT Brown III

You may not have expected the LA Rams to target a defensive lineman early in the 2021 NFL Draft. In fact, based on reports that the class of 2021 was neither particularly talented nor deep on interior defensive linemen, you would have been well-within-your-rights to conclude that the organization would not draft any interior defensive linemen this year. After all, wasn’t that the logic of carrying three undrafted rookie defensive linemen on the practice squad all season?

But Texas A&M defensive lineman Bobby Brown III was worth the trouble. Standing 6-foot 4 and weighing 325 pounds (ignore the 235-pound typo on the Rams official roster), Brown arrives at the NFL already looking the part of a player worthy of lining up next to teammate Aaron Donald.

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Brown is a force to be reckoned with, a true monster from college football, to the NFL to terrorize quarterbacks and ball-carriers for years to come. He has already demonstrated an incredible knack to apply pressure on the quarterback from an interior defensive lineman’s position. That is huge and is a tremendous raw skill set for defensive line coach Eric Henderson to work with as he tempers the raw power and ability of Brown into a savvy NFL defensive lineman.

Brown is an ideal rookie to be granted a unique opportunity to learn from one of the best to play next to one of the best. I mean, seriously, Brown has the chance to train alongside Donald, Sebastian Joseph Day, A’Shawn Robinson, Greg Gaines, and ultimately showcase his own tremendous talents on the football field among that group.

WR Jefferson

While LA Rams wide receiver Van Jefferson is the only non-rookie on this list, he is every bit deserving of showing up on a list of players whose stock is on the rise after early OTAs. After all, his 2020 rookie season was so close to being a redshirt season, it’s hard to gauge what his potential might be in 2021 without a bit of faith and guesswork.

The 6-foot-2 197-pound receiver out of Florida had all the promise of a star rookie, but his ability to get onto the football field behind Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Josh Reynolds proved to be nearly insurmountable. As a result, he only saw action on 256 offensive snaps, was thrown to 31 times for 19 completion, 220 yards, and one regular-season touchdown.

His true chance to showcase his worth came in the Divisional Round of the 2020 NFL Playoffs when he hauled in six of seven passes thrown his way for 46 yards and one touchdown. Now keep in mind that Jefferson is the son of Shawn Jefferson, the former receiver coach of HOFer Calvin Johnson. Johnson is the former teammate of Matthew Stafford and gave a shout out to Van Jefferson during a recent interview on The Hook:

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While all of that is positive, the real buzz comes from Rams head coach Sean McVay himself.

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That is a huge endorsement from McVay. McVay doesn’t praise players needlessly, and putting this out there this early in the season is a soft way of saying “Show up big” to his young receiver.

ILB Jones

The LA Rams have run two seasons with almost no nurturing or caretaking over their inside linebacker position. Perhaps the expectation that developing undrafted players into Pro Bowl talent like the team managed to do with Cory Littleton nudged the organization into a bit of overconfidence. However the team intended their track to go over the position, they attempted to draft a developmental player at inside linebacker, waive the player to re-sign to the practice squad and were poached by another NFL team who signed their player.

In 2021, the organization finally was fed up, and committed a far-more valued pick to select South Carolina inside linebacker Ernest Jones. Although a rookie, Jones possesses all of the attributes that the team seeks in a starting inside linebacker, including the ability to track the offense, be fully aware of the defensive countermeasures, and call the appropriate play. In fact, he has already been calling defenses in OTAs.

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In any normal season or defense, the opportunity for Jones to earn a starting role would be less than 50/50 at this point. His circumstances are better than that for two reasons: No single inside linebacker stood out in 2020 for the Rams, which leaves the door of opportunity slightly more ajar for the rookie this year. Meanwhile, four of the Rams returning veterans are all on the last year of their contracts in 2021. For continuity’s sake, Jones would be the best choice.

TE Harris

The LA Rams may not be certain of exactly what they have in their new rookie tight end Jacob Harris, but they are feeling more and more confident that he could prove to be something very special in the NFL. In fact, there are messages between the lines already of what the Rams coaches are saying about the rookie:

Sean McVay on Jacob Harris as an all-over tight end or in-line tight end: “It’s a little bit too soon (to determine), but what would I would say is the smart thing would be if he can play in a variety of spots, that’s going to be the way we can put the most pressure on people.”

— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) June 11, 2021

That places an awful lot of pressure on a rookie who truly hasn’t had a robust amount of football experience prior to being drafted by the Rams. In fact, that is one of the main reasons why he fell in the draft. His potential boasts an incredibly high ceiling. But he arrived as a very inexperienced and positionless NFL rookie. That allows the organization the opportunity to develop and mold the young man in several directions.

Sean McVay didn’t blink in providing his rationale when I asked about TE Jacob Harris taking ones reps all week since Tyler Higbee is not practicing – rare air for a rookie fourth-rounder even with a starter’s absence. Of Harris, he says, “He’s earned it.”

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) June 11, 2021

We were out there stating that this guy could someday develop into Megatron 2.0 from his measurables alone, and now others are following suit. Does he deserve it? You bet. He’s got great potential. But he’s not there just yet. In fact, his journey towards that lofty level of NFL production is only on the first steps.

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But Harris has so much potential in this Rams offense. His height, his speed, his ability to adjust to the ball in the air, and the fact that he is catching passes from Matthew Stafford, all have the promise of a very adept scoring threat in the offense that is desperate to find a red-zone weapon.

Now, don’t come all apart because we are daring to point to the apex of a young hugely talented rookie long before he has earned his place in the NFL record books. Yes, he could falter and never develop. But we expect that to be part of the reader’s filter. Could be is not anywhere close to being Will be. But realistically speaking, how many rookies have this type of welcome into the NFL?

On Jacob Harris:

“Harris has become a “special project” player for both tight ends coach Wes Phillips — with whom Harris is constantly in orbit receiving instruction — and head coach Sean McVay, who has taken extra time with the rookie during drills on more than one occasion. “ https://t.co/ZsqbdR4nBW

— Derek Brown (@DBro_FFB) June 15, 2021

It’s safe to say that the Rams organization believes that tight end Jacob Harris is a special player.

How will Harris handle all of this hype, attention, optimism, and lofty expectations? Well, there is the rub, isn’t it? He has to earn the coaches’ and his teammates’ respect, crack the roster, earn offensive snaps, demonstrate his ability to make plays, earn the trust of these coaches and teammates, and then go out and produce well and meet or exceed those lofty expectations. Easy? Not in the least.

But it can be done, Emerging from OTAs, that is about all you can take away. Positive buzz.

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By all accounts, Brandon Staley was the catalyst for the Rams D leading the league in every major category.
This season with Raheem Morris filling Staley's absence, the Rams are expected to have a very good D again, but the best in the league for a second straight season? Not really a popular prediction.

Perhaps it should be. Perhaps the Rams are clearly the best Defense in the league and it should be more obvious to everyone.
Maybe it's because of the loss of Staley, JJ3 and guys like Troy Hill and Morgan Fox. Maybe it's because the Rams under McVay are more widely known as an offensive team...

But what if last years Defense had less to do with Brandon Staley and John Johnson and a whole hell of a lot more to do with Jalen Ramsey and Aaron Donald having their first season together. Maybe Leonard Floyd was the missing link between tying the leagues most disruptive pass rush (AD) to the leagues best pass coverage (JR).

This will be the first time Donald and Ramsey and Floyd and Co will actually have a real offseason together - Maybe that results in even better defense this year? Maybe Darious Williams is the hidden gem that took us over the top last year? Could Robinson offer a big upgrade after his first full year too?

There are lots of people whose performance last season can be rightfully credited for our Defense last year. Ultimately though, it comes down to those two guys in the header, the 2 best players at their position in the NFL and the 2 best defenders in the league. Not since Ray Lewis and Ed Reed has the league seen a defensive duo of a similar comparison in talent and impact. That pairing made so many other players around them into probowlers and fronted the leagues best defense for several seasons. I believe Ramsey and Donald are completely deserving of these comparisons and the highest expectations.

This was addicting. Several NFC West ones.

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Happy Father's Day to all the ROD family being the best parents we can be.

I do yardwork and I feel it the next day.

Even when younger, active in sports, I was never physically tested like an NFL player.

Steven Jackson always had a specific routine after a game... Involving an ice bath and oxygen tent.

But... Yeah... It's got to be incredibly painful next day. I guess in some way you train and build tolerance to it... But... Damn.

Football players are tough MF's.

ODDS TO WIN SUPER BOWL 56 (2/6/22)

Kansas City Chiefs 5/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 13/2

Buffalo Bills 12/1
Los Angeles Rams 13/1

Baltimore Ravens 14/1
San Francisco 49ers 14/1
Cleveland Browns 16/1
Green Bay Packers 16/1

Denver Broncos 25/1
Indianapolis Colts 25/1
Seattle Seahawks 25/1

Dallas Cowboys 28/1
New Orleans Saints 28/1
Tennessee Titans 28/1

Miami Dolphins 30/1
Los Angeles Chargers 33/1
New England Patriots 33/1

Arizona Cardinals 40/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 40/1
Minnesota Vikings 40/1

Chicago Bears 50/1
Washington Football Team 50/1
Atlanta Falcons 60/1
New York Giants 66/1

Carolina Panthers 70/1
Las Vegas Raiders 70/1
Philadephia Eagles 70/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 80/1

Cincinnati Bengals 100/1
New York Jets 100/1
Detroit Lions 150/1
Houston Texans 175/1

2021 NFL win totals, odds, predictions, best bets: Dialed-in expert picks over 10.5 wins for Los Angeles Rams

CBS Sports

The NFL offseason began with many notable players changing teams, including Matthew Stafford, Carson Wentz and Kenny Golladay. Movement then calmed down until recently, when the biggest name of them all was traded.

Julio Jones was shipped to the Titans to pair with A.J. Brown and give Tennessee a formidable offense along with Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry. William Hill Sportsbook pegs the Titans for 9.5 victories, one of the highest 2021 NFL win totals, while their 11-10 odds to win the AFC South are tied with the Colts.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons' win total is listed at seven in the latest 2021 NFL odds after they lost arguably the best player in franchise history.

Even with the NFL moving to a 17-game schedule, seven wins would be an improvement over last season's 4-12 record.

Before making any NFL picks on 2021 season-long win totals on those teams or any others, be sure to see the latest NFL predictions from SportsLine's top NFL handicapper, R.J. White.

CBS Sports' Fantasy and gambling editor, White ended the 2020 season on an 80-59 run on all NFL picks, returning more than $1,400 during that span. It's no surprise, as White has cashed huge twice in the world's most prestigious football handicapping competition, the Las Vegas SuperContest.

Now, White has targeted five 2021 NFL win totals with his best bets. You can head to SportsLine to see them.

It's no surprise, as White has cashed huge twice in the world's most prestigious football handicapping competition, the Las Vegas SuperContest.

Beyond his weekly SuperContest column, While consistently crushes the NFL. Along with ending the 2020 season as SportsLine's No. 1 NFL expert, he went 354-295-22 on NFL picks against the spread from 2017-20, returning $2,613 to $100 players.

White has many years of experience analyzing NFL statistics and trends, beginning with Super Bowl XXV, and it shows in his insightful writeups and winning NFL picks.

Now, White has targeted five 2021 NFL win totals with his best bets. You can head to SportsLine to see them.

Top 2021 NFL win total predictions

White says you should go over 10.5 wins for the Los Angeles Rams.

The team's upgrade to Matthew Stafford cannot be understated.

Stafford performed better than Goff despite having less talent in Detroit and now will have a deep stable of receivers and running backs to work with in L.A.

Goff's struggles last year overshadowed the fact that the Rams had the league's top defense, led by stars Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey.

They allowed the fewest points and fewest yards and will now have a more capable offense not putting them in bad situations.

White isn't just bullish on the Rams surpassing 10.5 wins, but he also has them as one of the potential 2022 Super Bowl contenders.

He told SportsLine, "If the key guys on both sides of the ball stay healthy, this team could challenge for a trip to the Super Bowl."

White also has unearthed major discrepancies for four other NFL clubs, including a shocking forecast for a team that made a major change at quarterback this offseason.

You can see all five of White's 2021 NFL win total bets here.

Which 2021 NFL win totals should you target?

Which team is in for a rude awakening? Visit SportsLine now to see the 2021 NFL win total picks from R.J. White, the SuperContest veteran who ended last year on a scorching 80-59 run against the spread.

TEAM WIN TOTAL OVER/UNDER ODDS

Chiefs 12
Buccaneers 11.5

Packers 11
Ravens 11

Rams 10.5
Bills 10.5

Seahawks 10
49ers 10
Colts 10
Browns 10

Titans 9.5
Saints 9.5
Cowboys 9.5

Steelers 9
Patriots 9
Dolphins 9
Chargers 9

Vikings 8.5
Washington 8
Raiders 8
Cardinals 8

Broncos 7.5
Bears 7.5
Panthers 7.5

Eagles 7
Giants 7
Falcons 7

Bengals 6.5
Jets 6
Jaguars 6

Texans 5
Lions 5

Three ways the team’s playoff hopes could derail in 2021​

It’s June 2021, and the LA Rams are girding their loins for the upcoming NFL season. This is a year where the LA Rams are once more expected to play very well. Many analysts are predicting the Rams to win the NFC West, and some are already on record claiming that the team will represent the NFC in Super Bowl LVI. Whew! Pretty lofty expectations before a single NFL snap. How do you feel about all of that?

Okay, if you have bothered to look at the calendar, you’ll notice that we are in the dog days of the NFL season. The only news to report right now are first-blush impressions out of a few days of OTAs. If you expect some hard-hitting news at this time of year, you’ve set your sights way too high. There is a limit over what we can report as facts. Instead, this is a time of year to measure out expectations, get a feel of the team’s potential, and layout the reasons for these projections.

With newly refurbished rosters, plenty of practices, preseason games, and training camp sessions between now and the NFL season, it’s a time of hope and optimism. It’s a time to condense the difficult arduous career path of rookies and point to the distant finish line of success, sharing that tale now without the struggles, stumbles, and stymied efforts along the way.

It’s that time of year where anticipation is the order of the day, and the nature of football fans is to presume the most optimistic of outlooks when facing hard data of historic trends. Analysts feed that desire to anticipate what might happen. But there are two sides to the coin here. The Rams face a double-edged sword, a path of fortune or failure. So let’s pause a moment to discuss three ways that this team’s playoff hopes might derail.

Too long to get on track

If you haven’t noticed, the Rams have a lot of moving parts this year. From players to coaches to the fact that fans will finally be able to cheer for the team from the stands of SoFi Stadium, there are a great number of changes this year. That’s exciting in many ways. But also adds a bit of uncertainty.

You see, NFL teams are loaded with any number of variables that seldom are discussed. Two of the key elements of success for an NFL team are the players’ familiarity and continuity with one another and with the coaches’ game planning. For any plan to work, the players must know their role, understand their teammates’ roles, and trust the system to work. That allows players on the backside of a play to stay home and defend against a reverse. It gives offensive linemen the certainty to focus on their man and trust that other defenders will be blocked by other offensive linemen.

Just on first blush, the LA Rams will start a new quarterback, a new offensive center, a new defensive signal-caller, a new deep threat wide receiver, two new secondary starters, and a new second tight end starter. While you may think that they are all NFL players, many as veterans, who should be able to handle playing in the Rams offense, it will require synching up the quarterback to all of the receivers, the offensive line to work out blocking assignments, pass coverages to be relearned and communicated, and the defense to rely upon a new signal-caller.

Will it all just click from the moment the football is snapped in the home opener? It seems unlikely. While there is no reason to expect that everything will go to hell in a handbasket, the team will likely require a few games to work through gaffes, miscues, and miscommunications. If the Rams haven’t solved the majority of those issues quickly enough, and are still trying to find the range on deep passes in October, or are still working on finding the right defensive plays, the Rams could falter out of the gates and struggle to overcome a poor start over the rest of the 17 game season.

Defense regresses too much

The LA Rams would get incredibly hard-pressed to repeat as the number-one ranked defense in the NFL even if defensive coordinator Brandon Staley had returned. His exodus has made repeating even more difficult. It’s not that the LA Rams are suddenly devoid of playmakers. It’s simply that the history of the NFL has not had a top-ranked defense repeat that performance on the following year for a very long time.

Even as the Green Bay Packers defeated the LA Rams with a strong offensive showing, there was a larger story than simply the injury to Aaron Donald. The Packers succeeded by remaining patient against a Rams defense designed to stop big plays. Instead, the Packers dinked and dunked a constant stream of running plays mixed with short and intermediate route pass plays.

Word of that success against the Rams’ top-ranked defense travels fast. All three NFC West teams no doubt studied the Packers’ offense over and over and over this offseason, and added a number of formations and plays that frustrated the Rams. The team can expect a steady diet of Packer plays until the defense demonstrates the ability to force 3-and-outs.

New defensive coordinator Raheem Morris inherits the same elite defensive players that Brandon Staley was given: Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. Staley amplified both All-Pro defenders’ abilities to impact the game by unleashing them from a traditional defensive role. Donald was able to pick his spot along the line of scrimmage, while Ramsey was able to pick his receiver in pass coverage. Will Morris replicate that, or will the Rams resume the script of a more traditional defense? The Rams will likely backslide somewhat on defense this year. But if the Rams defense falls out of the top-five ranking, the team’s hopes to appear in Super Bowl LVI could derail.

Injury bug

The LA Rams have invested both picks and salary to obtain and retain some of the most elite talented players in the NFL. While that has created a lot of excitement for the fans when the team adds a new game-changer to the roster, it also brings with it vulnerability as well. You may have noticed that the Rams defense was not nearly as stout against the Green Bay Packers offense as expected. Of course, Aaron Donald played injured in that game and the results were less than spectacular.

While a lot of chatter has been made about the San Francisco injuries in 2020, analysts failed to acknowledge that the Rams downturn in 2019 was due in large part to a wave of injuries that affected the offensive line, the defensive secondary, and migrated all across the Rams roster. Even as the Rams front office acted with speed and precision to compensate, the team was simply overcome with too many injuries that happened too quickly.

Even the 2020 season, much like that of 2018, was tarnished by untimely injuries to critical players. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp seems to be injured whenever the Rams play in the post-season. Veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth missed half of the NFL season and returned to play at partial strength for the playoffs. Injuries to running backs, linebackers, and defensive backs forced the Rams to rotate players less rapidly or promote depth players into a starting role. Which each promotion, the overall performance of the Rams declines slightly.

Winning it all requires the Rams to remain healthy for the duration of the season. That will be even more difficult in a 17-game season. Still, the Rams have elite players who are counted on to lift the play of everyone. That includes Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey, Andrew Whitworth, Leonard Floyd, Matthew Stafford, and more. Can they all stay healthy throughout a 17-game season, plus playoff games? To win the Super Bowl, they need to do exactly that.

Players see energetic, relatable coach in defensive coordinator Raheem Morris​

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – What quickly became apparent during stints with the Buccaneers, Washington Football Team and Falcons has been established again in shorter order with the Rams.

Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris brings an energetic approach to the job, but he also knows how to effectively connect with his players.

"Raheem is an amazing coach," safety Taylor Rapp said during a June 9 video conference. "He knows how to get to his guys. He's very high-energy. You can feel his energy from across the field, probably across this whole state. Super excited to work with him."

With on-field workouts returning this bring, Rams players got to witness this approach beyond the constraints of a computer screen – in many cases, up close and personal.

It wasn't uncommon to see Morris take a hands-on approach to drills for every defensive position group. Sometimes it was watching outside linebackers Leonard Floyd and Chris Garrett as they worked on their hand technique. Other times, it was watching the inside linebackers and holding one of them accountable if they didn't do a drill correctly. Morris would also be seen throwing passes to linebackers and defensive backs during drills to help them work on their hands.

"It's like home. It's funny. Him and I get along really well. I love it," said defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day during a June 1 video conference, noting their shared New Jersey background between Morris' high school playing days and Joseph-Day's college playing days. "But he's also very intense and intentional about what he's trying to do. He knows how to turn it on and off, but he also knows how to have fun with it."

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As seen in the clip above, linebacker Kenny Young experienced this first-hand during one of the Rams' organized team activities practices. However, Young knows that coaching comes from the right place.

"The way he relates to guys, the way he relates to me, it just comes from an area of, 'Hey man, look, you're not too far off where you're trying to hit. Let me give you a pointer or something on how to be a step closer or a thought faster on something,'" Young said during a June 8 video conference.

Just because Young responds to that type of coaching doesn't mean the rest of his teammates do, too. Safety Taylor Rapp said this is something Morris recognizes, similar to the approach predecessor Brandon Staley took to the job.

"He knows how to get to certain players," Rapp said during a June 9 video conference. "Certain players respond to different types of coaching differently, and I think he's really doing a good job in figuring how to get to each player, how to coach each player, and stuff like that."

The sample size from the four-week offseason program has Rapp excited about continuing to work with Morris during training camp later this summer.

"Really looking forward to getting back here for camp and getting ramped up for the season with him," Rapp said.

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if this guy can play football as well as he bowls then look out nfl.

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DL Greg Gaines poised for a career-high season​

The LA Rams defensive line will certainly have a new look in 2021. You see, the Rams will no longer benefit from the presence of the venerable defensive lineman Michael Brockers, who was traded away in the off-season for almost no return. The defensive line will not benefit from the production of up-and-coming NFL sack-master Morgan Fox, who has signed on with the Carolina Panthers for a tidy sum of money.

Those events have left the LA Rams defensive front with a bit of a void in terms of production. So let’s start assembling a list of names from the roster who could up their game and recoup some of the team’s lost production for 2021. For starters, we know that Sebastian Joseph Day has quietly improved each season, and 2021 will likely be his career-best year for several reasons. For starters, he was one of the Rams’ most dependable staters last year. Perhaps even more importantly, Joseph Day is in the last year of his rookie contract. Quite frequently, veterans have career years when they play for their next contract.

For now, let’s take a look at the other guy who is quietly improving, defensive lineman Greg Gaines. While he is a rather stout defensive lineman at 6-foot-1 and 312-pounds, he is making great strides for the team’s defensive line. After his 134th selection in the 2019 NFL Draft, Gaines has appeared in 26 NFL games.

Gaines earned more playing time

He can play multiple defensive line positions, but he is ideally suited to play close to the offensive nature due to his shorter stature. A bit of a fireplug, he is difficult to move off his mark, even in a double-team. Still, do not make the mistake of underestimating his agility.

He proved his cat-like prowess on several plays in 2020 that have forced me to reconsider his full upside potential. To see what I mean, his Pro Football Focus grade for the 2020 regular season came in at a respectable 65.0. But in the NFL Playoffs, he was a completely different player and vaulted his production to an eyebrow-raising grade of 75.2.

So why hasn’t he shown up yet? Well, the Rams have a rather robust defensive line roster, and Gaines has been coming up with a smaller portion of available defensive snaps. In 2019, he played just 183 snaps but generated 13 tackles and 0.5 quarterback sacks. In 2020, he played 201 defensive snaps, resulting in 18 tackles and 1.5 quarterback sacks.

He truly showed up against the Green Bay Packers, where he converted 26 defensive snaps into two tackles and one tackle for a loss. But he was effective in that game even when he wasn’t making the tackle, forcing the Packers’ stable of running backs to opt towards a secondary rushing lane and into the waiting arms of a teammate.

That gutsy performance by Gaines certainly caught my eye and should prod the coaching staff to give him more opportunity to replicate those heroics in the 2021 NFL season. More opportunities, and a more mature player, are a solid recipe for a breakout season. Keep an eye on Gaines this year, because he could play a significant role towards the Rams’ defense reclaiming the NFL’s Top-spot this year.

Good to see someone speaking out against baloney.

We all understand the hype, but it seems McVay and Wes Phillips are on a mission to fast track this kid's development.

Your spirit lives on forever | 10 things with Kenny Young​

1. Good morning

Sarina: Morning or night person?

Kenny: A little bit more of a morning person. I love to start my mornings when it allows me to set my mood for the day. It allows me to set my energy for the day and allows me to attack what I need to attack. It's quiet. Everybody's sleeping. So, I have some time to write and to plan.

2. Dish it out

Sarina: Best thing to eat to start the day?

Kenny: A great breakfast for me is peanut butter on toast, wheat. Then cut bananas over the top. Have a side of maple brown sugar oatmeal with strawberries and blueberries. Add some honey on the top.

3. My dawg… dog

Sarina: I see your dog Rocco sitting next to you, what kind of dog is he?

Kenny: Cane Corso. 9 months old.

4. Seeing Green

Sarina: Most played song in your music library?

Kenny: Seeing Green with Nicki Minaj, Drake & Lil Wayne.

5. Family funds

Sarina: What was the last thing you splurged on?

Kenny: I bought clothes for the family.

6. Tackle Young

Sarina: I know you've been working on your foundation Tackle Young. Why start something like this and why is it important to you?

Kenny: I started the Tackle Young foundation because the simple fact that I'm from a community that helped raise me from different sorts of people outside of my family. That's helped guide me to where I'm at today. Whether it be working at my character, how I perform, how I treat people…that comes from Louisiana, so I want to give back. So, for me, "Tackle Young" stands for tackle youth early. Maybe they need some financial literacy lessons on savings. Maybe they need a football camp…whatever it may be, maybe it's books! I've donated over 400 books to kids in first to third grade in Watts. Man, I'm so glad I did that because somebody said, 70% of kids there just don't have the advantage of the reading comprehension that they need.

7. Plan ahead

Sarina: With all the financial literacy you've been doing with your foundation, what's the best way to save money?

Kenny: Best way to save money is if you want to save, save with a plan.

8. The last 42

Sarina: An interesting factoid about you, you are apparently the last player in any sport to wear 42 at UCLA. Your alma mater retired Jackie Robinson's number at the school. How does it make if you're the last person to wear 42 at UCLA?

Kenny: You have some unreal moments as an athlete in your life. Honestly, I didn't realize the magnitude of it, but now that I get to look back at it, man, I'm so glad that I made the sacrifices of not going out, not eating bad food, taking care of my body, getting rest, going to school, and being really locked. Jim Mora told me after my sophomore year 'Hey, I got some good news and some bad news for you', so bad news is about to retire 42. The good news is, I made sure you could wear it for the rest of your career.' I said it's so dope. I've tried my best to put that jersey in a better place than I found it. I have tremendous respect for Jackie for doing what he did for playing four sports and for being a scholar at UCLA.

9. Keep it casual

Sarina: You're one of the more fashionable guys on the team. When you walk into a clothing store., where do your eyes go first?

Kenny: The hoodies.

10. Happy Father's Day

Sarina: Anything you want to say this Father's Day? I know your father passed in 2018.

Kenny: Your spirit lives on forever. Even though my dad's life ended in the physical sense, I don't think he's ever died. I think that he was meant to pass the baton, at an early age to me, meaning me be responsible for the family and all of his worries and stuff that he had. I strongly feel like dad is somehow living through me right now. Honestly, [he would say] I like the way my son does it. Why? Because the energy. The drive of everything that I bring to sports, work whatever it is…that's my dad. My dad was an outstanding guy. He always enjoyed work. He always enjoyed people. Always enjoyed his own company. I think dad is very proud of me leading the charge of my family. He didn't do sports, but as far as taking care of family, I think I'm doing that. I don't know who would do that if he wasn't here, or if I wasn't here so, his spirit does live on.

Rams 25-and-under team: Jordan Fuller​

In this series we take a look at 14 players for the Los Angeles Rams 25 years old or younger who could be considered foundational or impact players.

Player: Safety Jordan Fuller
Age: 23

The skinny: Selected in the sixth round of the 2020 draft, Fuller had a productive rookie season. The Ohio State product earned a starting job at safety out of training camp, finishing with 55 combined tackles, five pass break-up and three interceptions in 12 starts. With defensive play caller from last season in safety John Johnson III joining the Cleveland Browns in free agency, Fuller will be counted on to take on more of a leadership role. With Johnson gone, Fuller said he’s working on strengthening his mental approach to the game this offseason. Fuller also switched to his college No. 4 from No. 32 this year. “I definitely take that on my shoulders and all the DBs as a group have to take that on,” Fuller said about the loss of Johnson. “He was a great leader, a great communicator and really, really smart. That’s kind of the reason I want to work on my Football 101, learning the ins and outs of the game because John was great at that.”

Reason for optimism: At 6-2 and 205 pounds, Fuller’s strength is his playmaking ability and versatility. According to Pro Football Focus, played 450 defensive snaps as a deep safety and 258 defensive snaps near the line of scrimmage, so new defensive coordinator Raheem Morris has some flexibility to move him around. Fuller said this offseason he’s studied other safeties from around the league on film to sharpen his skills, watching their body movement and understanding what they are seeing pre-snap. Fuller said he’s using that film study as motivation in his journey to become one of the best safeties in the NFL. “I played next to one of the best safeties in the game in John Johnson last year, so it’s kind of easy to find someone to look at,” Fuller said. “But then I’m also looking at Justin Simmons a little bit. Also, Jessie Bates, who isn’t in our scheme but is a great safety to watch.”

Reason for concern: Fuller missed four games during the regular season due to a shoulder injury. So, making sure he’s fully healthy and can withstand the rigors of a marathon NFL season is one of the things Fuller is working on in the lead up to training camp. “Physically, I’m just trying to get stronger,” Fuller said. “Obviously, I got a little banged up during the season, so for my upper-body I’m just trying to build a little more armor for myself. It’s a long season, so I’m trying to build up for that.”

Darrell Henderson Is Poised For A Productive 2021​

The 2021 Los Angeles Rams come with a lot of questions but one of the more under-the-radar queries is when will Darrell Henderson deliver? Some related questions are; is he a bust, will Cam Akers starting keep Henderson from being productive, and does the Rams selection of Jake Funk as well as Xavier Jones being on the roster spell doom for Henderson? The answer to those questions is a resounding No!

Henderson is not a bust, Akers might be a starter but that doesn’t REALLY mean anything, and Jones is a depth guy while Funk will live on special teams. Darrell Henderson might not have become the immediate breakout hit Akers was but he’s poised for a major season in 2021.

Darrell Henderson enters his third year a bit of an enigma wrapped in potential wrapped in a vest. When he was taken in the third round after a trade-up he was looked at as the heir apparent to Todd Gurley. That didn’t quite happen in his rookie season but it wasn’t entirely his fault. The entire 2019 offense was off-kilter due in large part to injury/inconsistency along the offensive line, Todd Gurley still being the starter despite his own injury concerns, and inconsistent play-calling from Sean McVay. He could only muster 147 yards and no touchdowns, but like Akers pre-breakout, there were flashes.

In year two he more than tripled that with 624 yards and one touchdown. He did so while both dealing with injuries and the emergence of Cam Akers (who had 625 yards and two touchdowns). Henderson couldn’t stay healthy and that meant Malcolm Brown had to cover for him in the playoffs, to the Rams detriment.

Akers emerged as the starting running back but that doesn’t mean Darrell Henderson is an afterthought. Now that Malcolm Brown made like Will Smith and went to Miami, Henderson doesn’t really have anyone taking his non-Akers carries away. Yes, Xavier Jones has developed a cult of curiosity but if healthy (admittedly a sizeable if), Henderson shouldn’t worry. This is especially true if Henderson can improve his pass blocking which is part of why Brown got a lion’s share of carries last year.

Henderson and Akers are likely to not just be the primary running backs but will also receive a fair amount of catches. The Rams no longer have to worry about their quarterback being a second too slow on jet sweeps and end arounds. They should get a lot of opportunities to catch passes in the backfield and even run deeper routes. The playbook is WIDE OPEN this season and that could mean Henderson can truly thrive.

The line won’t have as many questions as it had the last two seasons (Corbett at center notwithstanding) and that means the holes should be there. Akers might start every game but McVay clearly learned from his mistake with Gurley and will be inclined to make sure Akers isn’t run into the ground. That’s more good news for Henderson.

McVay is also likely to implement more dual back sets because now he can! The Rams will be more personnel flexible than they’ve ever been so again the opportunities for Henderson will be plentiful. Matthew Stafford hasn’t had a reliable running back in his entire nine-year career in Detroit and only five times did he enjoy a 100-yard rusher. Now he has two guys that can rip off 100 yards a game no problem so he’ll be dying to utilize his running backs.

From a fantasy perspective, Darrell Henderson might be risky and you could probably get him for a dollar in auction leagues but in real life, the sky is the limit. He has a great line and a coach that will be eager to fire all the weapons in his arsenal. Cam Akers is the starting back in name only and as long as Henderson is healthy he shouldn’t be begging for scraps. They have a quarterback that is quicker off the snap and the handoff than his predecessor, as well as a great offensive line. The situation could not be better for Darrell Henderson and on top of that, he still has one more year under his rookie contract so the Rams don’t have to worry about losing him just yet. But seriously, Henderson’s stock might not be AMC level high at the moment but buy while it’s low everyone because he’s about to explode!

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