DeSean Jackson sees clear connection between him and Matthew Stafford, Rams and championship-caliber teams​

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – For a wide receiver who has made a living quickly getting from Point A to Point B on a football field, making connections hasn't been too difficult for DeSean Jackson.

In that vein, it didn't take him long to figure out how to get on the same page with quarterback Matthew Stafford, or connect the Rams with championship-caliber team's he played on previously.

In both instances, it comes down to knowing his role.

Having developed a reputation as one of the NFL's premiere deep threats during his 13-year career with a career average of 17.4 yards per reception, Jackson knows that if he continues to do what he does best, he'll get in sync with Stafford, whose arm talent should help Jackson continue making the big plays he's accustomed to. Last season, Stafford tied with the Browns' Baker Mayfield and the Texans' Deshaun Watson for for the sixth-highest average intended air yards with 9.0.

"You continue to be great and just throw the ball, and I'm going to continue to be great and run past everybody and use my speed," Jackson said during a June 8 video conference. "I think that's the good niche about it. We're just going to be dialed in and continuously learn the plays, and once the season starts, we'll be in rare form."

Speaking of connectedness, Jackson witnessed it first hand on a broader scale in his first day with the team, noting the group's demeanor "from the top down" with people like head coach Sean McVay, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, defensive lineman Aaron Donald, quarterback Matthew Stafford, and wide receivers Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp setting the tone. It was one of the earliest signs to Jackson that the Rams have what it takes to compete for a championship this season.

"I've been on teams where certain individuals had contract issues or personal issues, or had a situation with a GM or a player, (but) when you come here, you don't feel none of that," Jackson said. "You feel like everyone's on the same page, everybody has one common goal, and all the personal stuff, outside of the football world, none of that stuff matters. When you come here, we're worried about football, we're having fun, we're going to get the most out of it and guys are fired up about coming into this building."

In some ways, it reminds Jackson of the team he first entered the NFL with.

The 2008 second-round pick out of Cal landed with the Eagles, which had veterans Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and Brian Dawkins in their locker room. Dawkins had just completed his 12th season in Philadelphia, McNabb his ninth, Westbrook his sixth when Jackson arrived. The Eagles later advanced to the NFC Championship game that season.

"It was a certain persona those guys upheld," Jackson said. "The main guys on the team, the head coach was Andy Reid, they had a demeanor where, all these young guys, I don't care if you were a first-rounder or a big-time free agent, you knew when you stepped into that room or on that field there was certain guys you respected. And those guys you respected held accountability to every player, from top to bottom."

The ingredients are there for a potential Super Bowl run back home for Jackson, not to mention SoFi Stadium hosting Super Bowl 56. Between connecting with Stafford and the established culture, as well as the veterans he learned from as a young player, Jackson knows what it will take to make that happen.

"For me, it doesn't even really come down to the stats and the statistics anymore, man," Jackson said. "Because at the end of the day, I've accomplished a lot of great things. These last few years, I've been giving (it) my all to being a guy that's not a self guy, to being a guy that's about the team and really putting in on the line. Whatever it is I need to do, in addition to me still getting my plays and still scoring them long touchdowns, it can all be worked out. I'm just happy and excited, and hopefully my role, whatever my role is, I can do it to the best of my abilities."

If you could have a "inside access" opportunity with the Rams, which one would you choose?

How Rams' supporting cast for Aaron Donald looks, sounds different​

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- An almost eerie quiet swept over the Los Angeles Rams defensive line while they stretched before a recent voluntary practice session.

The silence was broken when a player hollered, "Dang, I miss Brock, it's quiet as hell!" defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day recalled.

NFL roster turnover is inevitable, and the 2021 Rams defensive line is not immune. After he was selected 14th overall in 2012 and played nine seasons with the Rams, defensive lineman Michael Brockers was traded to the Detroit Lions in March in an effort to create salary cap space.

Brockers' departure means not only less noise, but a gaping hole along the front of the NFL's defending top-ranked defense and marks the end of a seven-year run playing alongside three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, who often praised Brockers' efforts that helped but did not appear on the stat sheet.

"It's different for sure and definitely an adjustment," Joseph-Day said about the group's dynamic sans Brockers. "But in this business it's kind of what's expected."

The amount of turnover on the Rams' defense has been significant since the unit led the NFL last season, allowing an average of 18 points per game.

The Rams hired Raheem Morris as defensive coordinator to take over for Brandon Staley after he departed following one season to become the Chargers head coach. The Rams also lost their cornerbacks and linebackers coaches to promotions elsewhere, and saw starting cornerback Troy Hill, outside linebacker Samson Ebukam and safety John Johnson III depart in free agency.

Fifth-year pro Morgan Fox, a rotation player on the defensive line who had six sacks last season, also departed in free agency, signing a two-year deal with the Carolina Panthers.

"We have the right kind of guys in this building to be able to pick up the slack or pick up exactly where those guys left off," said Joseph-Day, a sixth-round pick in 2018 who is entering his third season as starter. "I think that's going to be the story of what's going on here."

Donald, who attended a portion of the voluntary offseason workouts but was not made available to reporters, will now lead a group that includes Joseph-Day, A'Shawn Robinson and Greg Gaines.

The Rams also added depth in the draft, selecting Bobby Brown III in the fourth round from Texas A&M and Earnest Brown IV in the fifth round from Northwestern.

"There's a lot for me to learn," said Bobby Brown, who was the first defensive lineman drafted by the Rams since Gaines was selected in the fourth round in 2019. "I don't think I've completely made the transition yet but also I would say it just shows me that I'm not a premier defensive lineman no more. I have to learn all over again and I have to be just as humble as I was pretty much my freshmen year again."

Gaines has played in 26 games the past two seasons and has recorded 31 tackles and two sacks.

Robinson reported to the offseason program in the best shape of his career after dedicating himself a new diet and workout regimen. Listed at 330 pounds last season, Robinson says his goal is to play this season between 300 and 305 pounds.

"I just wanted to be the best for these guys," said Robinson, a second-round pick by the Lions in 2016. "I'm not going to go out here and slack and let any of these guys down."

A sixth-year pro, Robinson was signed to a two-year, $17 million free-agent contract during the 2020 offseason to take over for Brockers, who at the time agreed to terms in free agency with the Baltimore Ravens but ultimately returned to Los Angeles. after the deal fell through.

Robinson spent the first half of last season sidelined due to unspecified health issues and played in eight games. Through organized team activities and mandatory minicamp, teammates noticed his readiness to step up.

"He's really locked in," Joseph-Day said. "I think a lot of guys are locked in especially with the departure of Brock. A lot of guys are locked in, a lot of guys are ready to step up and that's a huge, positive."

As for how quickly the group can come together, Robinson emphasized the importance of the offseason program, which wrapped up last week with a three-day mandatory minicamp that Donald did not attend (Rams coach Sean McVay indicated the two communicated and it was an excused absence) and Joseph-Day did not fully participate in.

"That's what OTAs is for, the foundation, you build the ground up," Robinson said. "... Everyone has been seeing how everyone needs to do this, how everything comes together and putting the puzzle pieces together."

Hollywood Park announces new milestone, reaching over 50 percent completion​

Hollywood Park, the largest urban mixed-use mega development under construction in the Western United States, is set to bring a new level of retail, office, residential and entertainment to Inglewood starting in 2021. As phase one of construction continues for its retail, office, and residential districts, the development announces 50 percent completion, along with releases new renderings showcasing Hollywood Park's vast 300-acre project, which includes SoFi Stadium, the newly completed 70,000-seat stadium, home to the National Football League's (NFL) Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers.

Conceived by real estate developer and Los Angeles Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke, Hollywood Park will become a city within a city with its recreational outdoor plaza as its social heart. Going beyond SoFi Stadium, Hollywood Park will include up to five million square feet of creative office space, an exceptional retail district reaching up to 890,000 square feet, a 6,000-seat performance venue, a 300-room hotel, and up to 2,500 new sophisticated residences. The expansive outdoor-oriented districts will border a six-acre artificial lake while being interlaced with 25 acres of tree-lined public parks and grand plazas.

"It is exciting to witness this new destination take shape into what has become one of Los Angeles' most profound and architecturally significant landmarks," said Jason Gannon, managing director of SoFi Stadium and Hollywood Park. "The entire 300-acre development encapsulates world-class design and architectural elements that present an incredible experience unlike any other development in the country. We look forward to continue bringing the destination to life and further realizing Stan Kroenke's vision for Los Angeles' newest destination."

"Hollywood Park's vibrant outdoor plazas connect the varied uses of this regional destination," said Chris Meany of Wilson Meany, development manager of Hollywood Park. "It responds to Stan Kroenke's mandate that Hollywood Park succeed on two levels: as a global entertainment destination and as an urban village that delivers what so many of us seek today – high quality residences, environmentally superior offices, in a walkable neighborhood that enriches our quality of life."

Integrated, Flexible Office Spaces for the Future of Innovation

Hollywood Park will be a significant new office submarket on the south side of Los Angeles bringing a total of approximately five million square feet of commercial space. Hollywood Park's first 380,000 square feet Class A office building, the NFL Building at Hollywood Park, is under construction and will open in 2021. Design is underway for an additional 500,000 square feet of office space. Designed to accommodate even the world's largest organizations, Hollywood Park will come equipped with one of the most sophisticated technologically advanced infrastructures in the world. Buildings are designed to address the flexibility and scale most critical for media, technology, and entertainment firms in the years ahead. Future office tenants will benefit from SoFi Stadium's revolutionary emerging technologies, including a robust dark fiber network with best-in-class 24/7 security, access to the industry's newest and ultra-fast 5G network, and the largest-ever Wi-Fi 6 implementation for immersive-experience applications. Unlike any other open-campus setting, Hollywood Park's creative office spaces will bring various roof decks and generous terraces allowing for views of SoFi Stadium amidst the bustling, pedestrian-friendly 300 acres.

Starting summer 2021, the NFL will relocate its West Coast headquarters from Culver City to Hollywood Park occupying 214,063 square feet of office space within the NFL Building at Hollywood Park. A custom-built NFL studio and studio support space totaling 74,922 square feet has also been leased. As Hollywood Park's first signed office tenant, the NFL will serve as the anchor tenant for the Gensler-designed innovative office campus. Designed to meet LEED Gold standards, the NFL Building at Hollywood Park will offer a stunning ground floor lobby with high-end finishes, a shared roof top garden for all tenants and generous terraces on each floor. Each 55,000-square-foot floor will feature large, open floorplates with ample natural light and expansive floor-to-floor heights of over 13 feet high. Each private terrace will provide exclusive vantage points into SoFi Stadium and the adjacent demo field in front of the NFL Studio Building that is designed for outdoor broadcasting experiences and made open to the public when not in use by the NFL. An additional 165,000 square feet, encompassing floors five through seven, currently remains available for lease.

Located near major freeways, only six miles from the California coast and four miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Hollywood Park will allow employers to draw in highly sought talent from surrounding regional areas, including Los Angeles, Orange County, South Bay, the San Fernando Valley and beyond. Integrated with the incredible retail hub, first-class dining and entertainment, and views of SoFi Stadium's breathtaking architectural design, there is carte blanche for companies to reimagine their future workspaces and make Hollywood Park their own.

Reshaping Los Angeles' Retail Scene

The first phase of Hollywood Park's dynamic retail district will total 500,000 square feet, with 320,000 square feet currently under construction and scheduled to open spring 2022. Starting next year, Hollywood Park will bring local businesses and big-name international brands stretching across multiple blocks and walkable courtyards. With an emphasis in diversity and inclusion, Hollywood Park's newest tenants will feature local concepts including LUVFUL led by South Los Angeles' Peace Love Reedburg, a new location for Los Angeles' own Sky's Gourmet Tacos, founded by female entrepreneur Barbara Burrell, a second location for family-owned, Inglewood-based juice bar Antojitos Martin, and a second Inglewood location for Residency Art Gallery, a platform for artists of color. These new retailers will be joined by global luxury cinema company Cinépolis, the latest venture from Lynne Weaver, founder of Inglewood's Three Weavers Brewing Company, and Long Beach's Iconix Fitness.

As a smart city, Hollywood Park will offer all retail tenants access to a robust security and infrastructure network that is cross connected with the sophisticated offering at SoFi Stadium. Through a connected mobile application, residents, tenants and visitors will enjoy a series of benefits that will enhance their experiences onsite. Future Hollywood Park guests will enjoy experiential retail programming such as lakefront dining and cocktails; summer movies and local music in the park; art shows; a 20,000-square-foot international culinary marketplace, and more.

New Elevated Apartment Residences Within Thriving Retail and Entertainment Community

The first 314 residences at Hollywood Park will reach completion a few months following Super Bowl LVI in 2022. A new collection of sophisticated residences will offer easy access to dynamic retail, a range of restaurants, shops and entertainment venues and miles of greenery, sidewalks and bike lanes. Designed to appeal to the most discerning renter, the residences at Hollywood Park will offer bright and airy living spaces with private balconies, expansive ceilings and timeless design. A forward-thinking amenity collection will consist of ample work-from-home spaces, outdoor dining areas, large sky decks, a landscaped pool with private cabanas and spa terraces, clubroom, screening rooms, fitness studios, pet spas, secure bicycle and vehicle parking, and more.

Rookies Robert Rochell, Bobby Brown III became fast friends​

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – A connection that formed during the pre-draft process has continued as Rams teammates for cornerback Robert Rochell and defensive lineman Bobby Brown III.

The pair of newcomers to Los Angeles' defense first linked up and became fast friends while training at EXOS ahead of this year's NFL Draft, bonding over similar upbringings and close relationships with their moms. Both were later drafted by the Rams in the fourth round of this year's draft.

"Me and Scoot – I don't call him Robert, I call him Scoot – we kind of got a similar background," Brown said during a June 4 video conference. "He's from Louisiana, I'm from Mississippi, kind of hard upbringing, real close-knit to our moms and everything. So like, it's crazy that I've been training with him since EXOS for the draft and everything, we got cool there and then we both get drafted here. And he's been my friend since then."

On the field, Brown and Rochell are joining the NFL's No. 1-ranked defense in 2020 and aiming to help L.A. repeat the feat. When not working together to help their new team accomplish that goal, they're hanging out off the field as well.

"That's a funny guy, man," Rochell said during a June 4 video conference. "A guy that can make you laugh all day. Big character. A guy that loves this game just as me, so he's a guy that I be with both on the field and off the field. Just having a guy around that's similar to me in characteristics is everything. We enjoy the game together, we live life outside of this together, so having him around is great."

While it's still very early in their careers and the Rams' preparation for the 2021 season, both made positive first impressions during the Rams' offseason program this spring.

"I really like the way that Bobby Brown has worked with that defensive line group," Rams head coach Sean McVay said during a June 4 video conference. "(Run game coordinator and defensive line) coach (Eric) Henderson and (assistant defensive line) coach (Marcus) Dixon do a great job of really challenging them. I like the attention to detail Bobby has displayed in those drills."

As for Rochell, McVay was pleased with the progress displayed during team drills.

"I like what I'm seeing from Rochell in terms of the improvement, where you do get a little bit better feel for some of our perimeter skill players when you're seeing routes, (and) you're really seeing these guys play coverage concepts, his understanding (of) where his play-offs fit within the different coverages that we're activating with him playing that corner spot," McVay said. "He's gotten more and more confident over these last couple of weeks since we've actually been able to compete against one another, offense versus defense in those seven on seven settings."

Brown said the two of them have gotten closer since becoming teammates. He's also rooting for Rochell to succeed.

"Man, that's a great guy, honestly," Brown said. "He got his head on right. I can't wait to see what he'll be able to do later in his career because he loves football, for real."

Guessing the feeling is mutual.

I know a lot of people around here don't like Chris Simms. IMO a big part of it was his criticism of Goff. The same concerns many people around here shared as well, but I never found him as insufferable as Mike Florio who is just a total idiot. Simms has actually been pretty spot on in his QB draft evaluations the last 5 years or so.

Anyways, he's in the process of ranking his top 40 NFL QBs, and today Stafford came in at #8. Definitely worth a listen as he gives Matt a ton of praise many around here should hear.

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Simms' list so far and today he announced: 8) Matthew Stafford, 7) Kyler Murray, 6) Lamar Jackson, 5) Russell Wilson

Rams COO Kevin Demoff: ‘The new uniforms are coming’, shares exclusive details and time frame​

By Jourdan Rodrigue Jun 15, 2021




It’s the No. 1 question on the hearts and minds of Los Angeles Rams fans.

No, it’s not “How will new quarterback Matthew Stafford look in head coach Sean McVay’s offense?” or, “who will step up to replace (insert player lost in free agency here)?”

It’s the uniforms, man. The uniforms.

When the Rams released their brand-new threads and logos in 2020, the door was intentionally left open for an additional combination/alternate uniform outside of the two main concepts (and three colorways) worn throughout the season. But so far this spring and summer, little has been shared about the release of it. Until now.

Chief operating officer Kevin Demoff joined The Athletic’s “11 Personnel” podcast on Tuesday afternoon, and finally let loose a few tasty details about when Rams fans can expect the release of the alternates, and why there has been a bit of a holdup in doing so to this point.

“Our goal is before training camp,” he said, additionally citing a little-known rule as to the reason for the delay: The NFL, he said, only allows alternate jersey releases to be available for sale after July 1.

“Unless you are debuting a completely new primary set of uniforms, NFL rules basically stipulate (that) it’s post-July 1,” he said. “First and foremost, that’s probably an unknown NFL uniform rule. There are multiple teams this year that are all waiting to (present) an alternate, a classic, a throwback — whatever you want to call it. (Those are) coming post-July 1.”

So, the estimated window — if all goes according to plan — will be a release sometime between July 2, and when players report to camp on July 25-28.

“That is our goal. It could slide back, if some issues present,” he said. “I get asked every day on Twitter, ‘When are they coming?’ and I think someone actually has a countdown on a day-by-day basis. … Unfortunately, it’s still a little fluid …

“The new uniforms are coming. They can be worn up to three, two or three times (but we believe they can be worn up to three times) this year, and we expect to have them certainly by the start of the season, but likely training camp.”

Aside from the NFL’s own guidelines on the matter, the Rams additionally had to wait on other factors, including players’ official number changes, Demoff said.

“When the NFL voted (this spring) to allow everybody to change numbers,” he said, “most of the players we would go to market (the jerseys) with have all changed their numbers. And so you then you have to get back into the global supply chain and say, ‘All of these Jalen Ramsey No. 20 jerseys you made are now useless. When can I get Jalen Ramsey No. 5 jerseys?'”

Finally, Demoff said that certain pandemic-related economic variables also stalled some of the process in releasing the new alternates.

“Given the pandemic, factories and shipping, everything across the world is challenged,” he said. “If you’re trying to make sure that you have product available to sell, and for fans to buy — the later this year, the better, just given some of the global supply chains. I know that global supply chain was probably not a topic that we wanted to get into on this podcast, but it does factor in to making sure that someone can go get a Matthew Stafford jersey.”

The Rams looked at the possibility of releasing the alternates at the Rams’ open practice at SoFi Stadium last week, but the above variables made it next to impossible to have updated numbers for some of the alternates. They also have no fixed date just yet, again, because of the above and to help prevent any leaks of the alternate itself.

“We’re trying to make sure that we can get people the jerseys they want, with the right number on it, when they’re available,” he said. “That’s when we can actually go out and say, ‘Here’s when it is.”

The latest episode of “11 Personnel”, featuring an hour-and-a-half interview with Demoff, will be released on Wednesday, and available wherever you get your podcasts.

(Photo: Robert Hanashiro / USA Today)

So, I am what I would consider a "Manly Man". I think a lot of us are. But I have noticed, that as I've gotten older, shit hits different. I can't be the only one. Tell me a story about something that caught you unexpectedly and ended with tears.

Dude has a 1.60 ERA in 33 innings.

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Inside Rams’ scouting of Jacob Harris: From ‘unicorn’ measurables to an ‘analytics pick’ — how he’ll be molded​

By Jourdan Rodrigue Jun 14, 2021

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The third day of the draft is usually a big dart-throwing project, as teams try to add players who may — or may not — one day be contributors on their roster. But for the Rams, establishing a rate of success when picking these later-round prospects — and then developing them from fourth-rounder or later to role-player in the lineup — is crucial to their team-building model. How do they identify these prospects — and how do they match their data and analytics team’s findings with what their scouts are watching on film and experiencing when interacting with players in person?

In this three-part series, The Athletic goes behind the scenes of the Rams’ process, focusing on their first three draft picks of Day 3: Defensive tackle Bobby Brown III, cornerback Robert Rochell and tight end Jacob Harris.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Two years ago, Rams’ Southeastern scout Michael Pierce was on a routine visit to the University of Central Florida and had positioned himself near the corner of the end zone as the Knights worked through their red zone period.
Then-redshirt junior receiver Jacob Harris ran a fade, and the quarterback lofted up a pass — perhaps too high, it first appeared. But suddenly, Harris’ cleats were nearly even with Pierce’s head. He pulled down the catch inbounds, and Pierce tracked him closely from that day until the Rams drafted him at No. 141 in April.

“I’m like, ‘Man, this guy is jumping — his feet are at my head!” Pierce said. “That was a first exposure. Of course, seeing his long frame and seeing him move — that jumped out early. But (that play) was my first exposure.

“Even (the year before he declared for the draft), I can remember thinking, ‘I would love to have this guy on our team.'”
After he was drafted, Harris was described by a source to The Athletic as a “total analytics pick,” a raw prospect offensively who would certainly make the 53-man roster because, outside of his status as a fourth-rounder, he would be expected to activate even to the game day roster each week as a key special-teams contributor. Harris, who is 6-foot-5 and about 215 pounds, technically has just about one full year of relevant live offensive snaps under his belt but was special-teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis’ favorite player in the draft because of his vigor in that phase.

But between then and the Rams’ conclusion of minicamp last week, something notable has been unfolding: Where young players often seem to develop in increments almost too minimal for the untrained eye to track, Harris has seemed to chew off large chunks of the learning curve. In fact, it seems 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. With veteran No. 1 tight end Tyler Higbee not practicing, McVay also placed Harris into the first-team reps in seven-on-sevens through the entirety of minicamp after building his workload in OTAs the two weeks prior. Seven-on-sevens are run at nearly full speed and built to test mental dexterity in a semi-live situation and stress the mind at a faster rate. To see a rookie not only jump over more veteran players on the roster for those reps — and then thrive in them — is rare air, even without the pads on yet.

“I think he’s just earned it,” said McVay of Harris’ increased role over a rapid period. “I think he’s a guy that has a tremendous amount of upside. Wes Phillips has done a really nice job of getting him up to speed. His natural range, catch radius, body control for a player of his size is pretty rare. I think you guys can see — for NFL guys to stand out the way that he has done, in some of these limited settings, in shorts and in helmets, he’s definitely made a positive impression.”

McVay added that he plans to align Harris in a variety of positions along the line of scrimmage, which means he’ll be in less of the “traditional” tight end role and more of a mismatch option specifically in the passing game. That’s also what Pierce saw in Harris throughout his two years of scouting him.

“If you think that he can be a tight end — which, I think he can be a tight end — then you say, ‘Let him develop, and he’ll win a spot at tight end because he’s so athletic, so fast, he can jump so high and he has that determination that you want out of the position,'” Pierce said. “But then you think, ‘OK, he can be a receiver’ because he’s got that top-shelf speed, he can really get to the top of coverage, he can jump and attack the ball — at the same time, he has some development (needed) … he’s an interesting one.

“I know everyone will (look at) the position and say, ‘What is he?’ but we’ll figure that out.”
In fact, the Rams’ analysts believe that by throwing him in the tight ends room (yet still aligning him virtually everywhere in the passing game) instead of keeping him at strictly wide receiver, Harris’ probability of contributing earlier in his career increases.

“I have done some studies over the past few years, looking at positions where, in those later rounds, what is going to give you the most success?” said Sarah Bailey, who is a manager in the Rams’ football analytics department. “And tight end is one of those positions where the athlete has more probability of actually making it.

“I look at probability of playing, and when he switched his position from wideout to tight end, he actually increased his probability of playing by almost 20 percent. From my perspective, that was a huge ‘Whoa.’ Take it with a grain of salt — you’re still that (fourth-rounder) — but to have that big of an increase, and then you look at his play style and his body type and he could actually fit that mold, too, it doesn’t seem like it might just be an outlier.”

The Rams’ data piles for speed testing (including within its various combinations that match speed with weight, speed with wingspan, etc.) are color-coded. Harris’ data was “all blue,” which means his measurables ranked in the top 10 percent of their overall data pool.

“(Our system) puts him into a percentile of where current pro players are,” Bailey said. “So that’s the top of the percentile … What really stood out was not only his long speed, but his short speed … his three-cone immediately and some of his jumping.”

The Rams’ own measurement systems and evaluation programming aren’t public information (for example, while the public has access to things like 40-times and testing numbers filed at pro days or the NFL combine, the Rams also weigh those against privately-obtained measurables such as GPS tracking data, long-term body composition projections and more), but Harris’ public testing numbers also resulted in a RAS (Relative Athletic Score) of 9.88 out of a possible 10.0 as a receiver — No. 31 out of 2,517 receivers publicly tested since 1987. When his position is switched to tight end in the scoring system, Harris’ speed composite is 9.71, his explosiveness composite is 9.945 and his agility composite is 8.84 — all categorized as either “great” or “elite” via the RAS system.

For reference, No. 4 overall pick Kyle Pitts — lauded as one of the best tight end and overall receiving prospects in a draft class in years — had a RAS of 9.66. Pitts, of course, has the added polish of experience and acumen specifically as a pass catcher, while Harris is considered “moldable” because he has only a few years of football experience after switching over from soccer in college.

Harris’ size composite, however, ranks well-under average for the tight end position (“poor” per RAS). But this is where the Rams will try to blend data with coaching and development — because even though Harris is undersized for a tight end, by placing him in that position group they believe they are increasing his contribution probability as long as they are also able to scheme him in accordance with his athletic traits as a receiver. And, it seems, they are less concerned with “traditional” tight end traits (such as blocking) than they are impressed with Harris’ measurables as they translate into specifically the passing game and his special-teams ability.

Jacob Harris. (Jasen Vinlove / USA Today)


“We can be creative with Jacob,” Pierce said. “If you put him at tight end, you could say he’s one of the most athletic tight ends you would look at coming out. He’s as athletic as Pitts if you look at him at tight end. And then at wide receiver, you see maybe one of the most dynamic deep-ball threats as well. My emphasis (in presenting Harris as a prospect) was, ‘He’s moldable.'”

“You say these guys, you have ‘high ceilings and low floors,'” Bailey added, “but he doesn’t have a low floor. His ceiling is high enough to compensate for the risk that you take. … He had the right attributes at that pick. You’re not getting a second-round guy where you’re like, ‘he’s for sure a tight end, he’s for sure this (or that).’ You’re a (fourth-round) guy, you have a really good ceiling.”

Bailey and Pierce also alluded to Harris’ above-average scoring in mental tests and personality evaluations. Pierce said that throughout the evaluation process, Harris was a prospect who, if a coach or scout reached out wanting to have a conversation, he’d call them immediately.

“He’s mature, he has it figured out. He has a why, he’s a genuine person,” Pierce said. “You see all of those things (and) hear all of those things. You get a feel for it when you speak to him. It just really checks the box … (Reports on) him in school, with coaches and all of the staff, it checks off when you talk to him as well. He was an easy interview.”

Harris will still have a long developmental journey ahead and especially so when the pads finally go on in training camp and the real work begins. But Pierce has been scouting and evaluating players for the Rams for over six years, and from that first red zone play over two years ago until the Rams sent in the draft card at about 10:44 a.m. on that Saturday, he has had a feeling in his gut about Harris and his potential.

“You study thousands of players, and you look back 10 years from now and you automatically know those guys,” Pierce said. “In essence, sometimes I call them ‘unicorns.'”
Said Bailey, “I have (drawn) stars on my notes, like, ‘This is the guy you want to bet on.’ It’s really been, the last two years, (about) emphasizing: ‘Hey, if you’re gonna bet on a guy, bet on an athlete.’
“This is what we have with this guy. We have an athlete.”


(Photo: Conor Kvatek / Collegiate Images / Getty Images)

Jourdan Rodrigue selected as PFWA 2021 Terez A. Paylor Emerging Writer Award winner https://t.co/byHy7dMFnd

Jourdan Rodrigue, Rams beatwriter at the Athletic, has been awarded an emerging writer award by the Pro Football Writers of America. I know I am not the only person here who really appreciates and values Jourdans incredible rams writing which is always interesting and informative, and is never gossip or nonsense. What a refreshing change from hacks like Bernie Miklasz that we had to endure for so long.

Well done Jourdan, keep up the good work.

For those that are married. Was wondering what kind you wear.

I have a sensory issue...can't have tags on my shirts or hard seems. Can't wear necklaces or hard rings. I will freak out about the feeling of them touching me.

I tried a silicone ring. Even though I was told I was allergic to silicone after trying silicone contact lenses. I thought it was a fluke. The damn thing ate the skin around my finger. I truly am allergic. Lol

So, I got a tattoo of a K on my ring finger. My wife's name is Kasey. I have to go back this week and get it touched up. The finger is a shitty spot for tattoo ink to stay.

Coach Sean McVay feeling super about Rams despite unanswered questions​

His team’s offseason program complete, Rams coach Sean McVay plans to vacation in New York, Greece and Monaco before training camp begins.

“I’ll be able to live a little, enjoy myself — and then I’ll come back stressed and ready to roll,” McVay joked.

When the Rams report to UC Irvine in late July, the pressure will be on McVay.

The Rams ended the Jared Goff era by trading the quarterback — and two first-round draft picks — to the Detroit Lions for quarterback Matthew Stafford. General manager Les Snead gave Stafford the potential deep threat the team denied Goff last season by signing veteran receiver DeSean Jackson.

Those additions, combined with players such as receivers Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, and defensive stars Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, could make the Rams one of the favorites to contend for a berth in Super Bowl LVI, which will be played Feb. 13, 2022 in SoFi Stadium.

McVay said he embraces expectations.

“This job is about pressure day in and day out,” he said. “I think that’s what you want. If you start avoiding pressure, if you don’t like it, this is not for you.”

The Rams have made the playoffs three times in four seasons under McVay. They lost in the NFC wild-card round in 2017, advanced to the Super Bowl in 2018, missed the postseason the next year and advanced to the divisional-round last season.

McVay and Snead are banking that Stafford, a 12-year veteran, will provide the missing piece for another Super Bowl run.

“He’s one of those guys that I think is a true igniter,” McVay said of Stafford. “He makes everybody around him better.

“I feel like I’ve become a better coach in the few months that we’ve been able to spend together and we’re looking forward to do a lot of good things together.”

Throughout offseason workouts, Rams players said they were embracing high expectations.

“Last time we were picked to go to the Super Bowl, we went,” Woods said. “So, I think that’s a good thing. ... We’re a loaded team. We have all the parts. We have all the pieces to get where we need to go.”

Stafford, the receiving corps and the continuing emergence of second-year running back Cam Akers are reason for optimism about the offense. But the line is in flux after the departure of coach Aaron Kromer and center Austin Blythe. Kevin Carberry replaced Kromer. Austin Corbett could move from guard to center to replace Blythe. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth will turn 40 during the season.

Donald and Ramsey anchor a defense now under the direction of coordinator Raheem Morris, who replaced Brandon Staley. Can lineman A’Shawn Robinson fill the void left the departure of Michael Brockers? Who steps up to replace the talent and leadership of safety John Johnson, now earning millions from the Cleveland Browns?

Those are just a few of the questions that might be answered during training camp when the Rams begin preparing for their Sept. 12 opener against the Chicago Bears.

McVay will continue to hold out starters from preseason games. The Rams might add depth to the roster this summer in preparation for joint practices with the Dallas Cowboys and Las Vegas Raiders, and preseason games against the Chargers, Raiders and Denver Broncos.

Whitworth, a 15-year veteran, said big expectations are “a good thing” for a team accustomed to winning. Whitworth pointed to last season’s wild-card playoff victory over the Seattle Seahawks as a “culture-type win.”

“We didn’t go into that game with any expectation other than win, and it really didn’t matter whether it was the playoffs or the next game on the schedule,” he said. “And I think that’s where you really started to see a culture and franchise that just expects to win.

“And, hopefully, we can keep that mentality and that culture strong.”

Rams analysis: What we know, what we don’t after OTAs​

Offseason team workouts made their post-pandemic return this year just in time for the Rams, whose many new players and coaches needed the bonding exercise of in-person chalk talk and on-field practice sessions.

The three weeks of organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp that ended Thursday answered some questions about the Rams but left a lot to be settled at training camp, opening at UC Irvine in late July.

Three months out from the regular-season opener on Sunday night, Sept. 12, against the Chicago Bears at SoFi Stadium, here’s a look at what we know about the Rams and what we still have to find out about.

WHAT WE KNOW AFTER OTAs

The QB is OK

It’s early, but it looks as if the Rams made a winning gamble in replacing NFC championship-winning Jared Goff, 26, with oh-for-the-playoffs Matthew Stafford, 33.

Stafford has impressed teammates and the team staff on and off the practice field.

“I’m just going to try to be myself,” Stafford said.

A clever trick, and it seems to be working.

Expectations are sky-high

Or translucent canopy-high, since the Super Bowl LVI next February will be played at SoFi Stadium.

Coach Sean McVay has done nothing to dampen expectations for Stafford and the Rams as odds against them winning the Super Bowl this season have shortened to 12-1 (among the top four or five teams).

“I think you embrace them,” McVay said Thursday, quickly adding that living up to them is an every-day challenge.

Option plays

This offseason cost the Rams some stars, mostly on defense, but overall trades, signings, the draft and experimentation in spring workouts have given the Rams more options at key positions.

McVay talked up the possibility of raising Cam Akers’ profile in the passing game by moving the running back to wideout and slot positions sometimes. The coach was effusive in praising Van Jefferson, the second-year wide receiver, and Jacob Harris, the fourth-round pick who played wide receiver at Central Florida but might back up Tyler Higbee at tight end. The question of who will replace Austin Blythe at center seems to be Austin Corbett, moving over from right guard, where he’d be replaced by Bobby Evans; but the Rams’ perpetual cross-training on the offensive line could mean more surprises.

The Rams see improvement from David Long, who could replace Troy Hill outside or inside in the cornerback group with Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams. McVay said of Long: “He is a guy that we’re going to count on.”

Health will be an issue

That’s true for every team as the schedule expands from 16 to 17 games.

But the Rams must monitor wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who admitted this month that his January knee problem was worse than the reported bursitis, and older players such as wide receiver DeSean Jackson and left tackle Andrew Whitworth, and figure out how to keep Akers healthier than last year.

WHAT WE HAVE TO FIND OUT

Do they have enough footballs?

Adding Stafford and Jackson and drafting Tutu Atwell promises a more explosive Rams offense, but what will the new passing game look like?

How will Stafford and McVay make use of all those receivers? How often will they follow through on the threat of throwing deep to Jackson or Tutu Atwell? Will Jefferson’s touches grow? Will Kupp’s and Robert Woods’ decline? What changes for Higbee? What is Akers’ pass-catching role?

Real answers will have to wait until the regular season begins, because McVay said he again doesn’t plan to play his starters in preseason games.

Who’s special?

In trying to revive a unit that fell a long way since the Rams’ 2018 Super Bowl run, new special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis must choose a punt returner.

Possibilities include incumbent Nsimba Webster, Atwell, running back Raymond Calais, and undrafted receivers J.J. Koski, Trishton Jackson, Landen Akers and Jeremiah Haydel.

On the other end of fourth downs, punter Johnny Hekker said he approached OTAs as a competition with former Buffalo Bill Corey Bojorquez. It would still be a shock if the Rams moved on from Hekker, a four-time All-Pro. But maybe not a surprise, given what they could save without the biggest contract in puntdom.

Who leads?

Aaron Donald and Ramsey lead the defense by example, but there was a void in vocal leadership after safety and defensive signal-caller John Johnson signed with the Cleveland Browns and defensive lineman Michael Brockers was traded to the Detroit Lions.

“I think every safety on the team kind of has to take on that role of being a great communicator, in the back end and (for) the whole defense,” third-year safety Taylor Rapp said.

That will be an intangible factor in whether the Rams’ defense stays at or near the top of the league.

Who’s THAT?

At least 10 Rams have changed uniform numbers since the NFL expanded the position groups that could wear single digits. One day in minicamp, Ramsey was wearing No. 5 while listed as 20 on the roster given to reporters. And Akers switched back to 23 after speaking emotionally about why he was changing to his boyhood 3.

By Week 1, numbers will be official, and we’ll be able to tell the players with a scorecard.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/MySportsUpdate/status/1404484064359374853?s=19


Don't think it will happen, but for only $7M this year I'd be down. Would be the best starting CB duo in the history of the NFL. We could slide D Will to nickel.

Cam Akers: Winning is primary goal in Year 2, will take care of individual goals​

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cam Akers finished the second half of his rookie year on a statistical tear, but as the Rams running back enters his second NFL season, it is the ultimate team goal that sits at the top of his mind.

The way Akers sees it, if the team is being successful, it will have a domino effect on his individual success.

"(As far as) my personal goals, everything happens when you win," Akers said during a May 27 video conference. "I just want to win, and everything else that comes with it, I feel like it will be great."

That attitude benefitted him last year.

Akers mostly shared carries with Darrell Henderson Jr. and Malcolm Brown in the backfield, but still finished the season as Los Angeles' leading rusher with 625 rushing yards on 145 carries, edging Henderson's 624 on 138 respectively.

When Henderson got hurt late in the season and Akers handled a bigger workload, Akers seized the opportunity and helped guide L.A. to the divisional round with 46 carries for 221 yards and two touchdowns across both of its playoff games. That came on the heels of recording 110 of 145 carries and 477 of those rushing yards 625 over his final seven regular season games.

Offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth witnessed that mindset first-hand, recalling Akers' even-keeled demeanor in huddles last year.

"He's one of the few backs I've been around that has enough to run a play, or have a good play or a bad play or whatever, a game and he's still talking and communicating with the guys," Whitworth said during a June 1 video conference. "Almost kind of a bell-cow in a sense of like, 'Hey, come on guys, let's get this,' or, 'If you guys get a block here, I'm going to make something happen.' He's talking to guys throughout the deal because he's not in any way starstruck, he's just so relaxed back there. ... That's a trait and mentality that shows you he's wired different and he's somebody that expects to perform well, and I think guys are excited to see him do his thing and continue to grow."

Heading into his second season, Akers said he's still putting in the work physically. Mentally, everything has slowed down for him, and he has a better grasp of both the playbook and the blocking schemes incorporated into L.A.'s offense.

According to McVay, the biggest leap Akers can make from Year 1 to Year 2 is "in the detail and what his job entails every single snap."

"The biggest thing that you would talk about is, he's got great natural run instincts, he's really talented as a pass-catcher, it's the nuanced understanding of where you fit in some of the protections when the back is involved," McVay said. "But I think it's just continuing to become more and more complete."

Assuming Akers puts it all together, how might McVay be able to utilize him differently this season compared to last season?

"I think all the ways that you would want to be able to use a running back that doesn't have any limitations," McVay said. "That's, number one, you've got to be able to play on all three downs. He's obviously a great runner, but he's got ability as a pass-catcher coming from the backfield. We can displace and put him in the slot or outside receiver location. And then you know he's got the toughness to stick his face on people in the blitz pick-up face. But understand where you fit and being able to detail up every single snap. There's not any limitations, but we'll see how it comes to life."

Ultimately, the consistency in the focus concentration required snap in and snap out is where McVay said Akers can separate himself as one of the NFL's best running backs.

If Akers establishes that, both he and the Rams will be in good shape this fall.

"I just handle it by taking it day-by-day," Akers said, when asked about going into the season with an anticipated expanded role. "That's the only thing you can do is make sure that you're doing all you can to be at your best for the team. That's what I've been focusing on doing, whether that's being a leader or making plays, just doing what I can do to help this team. Not making it more than what it is."

Let’s talk NFC North…

With a good chunk of free agency complete and draft behind us… Who do you see emerging as the winner?

---

Updates on the NFC North: If Aaron Rodgers isn’t there, what becomes of the division?​

Yes, that is really Jared Goff in a Lions practice uniform. It happened and Goff is now potentially in line to be head and shoulders the second-most experienced quarterback in his division behind Kirk Cousins. And it’s not as though Goff hasn’t had the potential to be a much better quarterback than Cousins, who isn’t at all a bad starting option. It’s just that Goff never reached that level with the Rams, and even if you believe that he did, he wasn’t able to maintain it for long enough to keep Sean McVay happy.

Perhaps he can keep Dan Campbell satisfied during his second chance.

The NFC North has long been owned by Aaron Rodgers — and before that, Brett Favre — but the reigning MVP has thrown the division into chaos by hinting at a holdout that could last for the entire season. If the Packers have Rodgers, I think the team that wins the division should be relatively easy to predict.

If they don’t, then maybe Goff has a chance to lead the Lions to one or two more wins than they had expected.

NFC North

Green Bay Packers - Is Aaron Rodgers coming back?

All you have to do is watch any show on the NFL Network, ESPN, or NBC Sports for longer than two minutes to find out that Aaron Rodgers is holding out. Oh, they’re framing it as something else. That Rodgers is “just a quirky fella” and “he’s unhappy they drafted a quarterback” and “he likes hosting Jeopardy, a job he hasn’t even been offered yet as far as we know.” But I prefer Occam’s Razor:

Aaron Rodgers wants more money.

It behooves Rodgers to frame this as anything other than a holdout because if there’s anything I know for sure, it’s that fans generally don’t support any player who wants a raise and is willing to miss games until he gets one. Not even the reigning MVP. Sure, those same fans will move on once the holdout is over, but some of them will never forget.

And if Rodgers doesn’t want to further damage his reputation prior to hosting Jeopardy or going into broadcasting or doing whatever he chooses to do after his career, maybe he doesn’t this situation to be framed as a “holdout” so that he doesn’t get labeled as “greedy” on top of being “cocky” and all the other unfavorable superlatives. But the Packers are headed for a dire financial situation in 2022 and Rodgers is the most obvious place for them to find savings — which is likely why they drafted Jordan Love to begin with.

It was all setup for Green Bay to trade Rodgers next March, which he may have caught wind of, so he decided to force himself into a situation before then that would allow for him to sign a $200 million contract extension with his next team sooner than that.

But the Packers aren’t really incentivized to trade Rodgers before the season either. They don’t necessarily need the savings — if he holds out, they save money anyway — and they would rather wait and be able to trade him for a guaranteed high draft pick rather than sending him to the Broncos or Raiders and finding out that it is actually pick 31 or 32. Green Bay might need to find a third or fourth team to involve in the trade in order to maximize the total number of 2022 and 2023 first rounders that they would receive.

You will hear a lot of fluff around Jordan Love in the coming months if Rodgers doesn’t return, but what he does in practice — and especially how it is reported by the media — is MEANINGLESS. Either he’s good or he’s not, but we won’t find that out until the regular season.

If Love is good, maybe Green Bay’s not so bad. If he’s not, I believe the Packers could be more like the 6-9-1 team that they were in 2018, or the 7-9 finish they had in 2017 when Rodgers missed half of the season. And if Rodgers isn’t there, the backup becomes Blake Bortles.

Most interesting free agent addition: None

Most interesting draft pick: WR Amari Rodgers

There are only two “A. Rodgers” in NFL history and it now looks as though they will barely miss becoming a duo. Previously, the Packers had Richard Rodgers. Now it is Amari, a third round pick out of Clemson and one of the highest-drafted Green Bay receivers of the last decade.

The Packers never tend to do a lot in free agency.

Recent Story: None of Green Bay’s top five receivers showed up for OTAs

Chicago Bears - Will Justin Fields — QB4 in the 2021 NFL Draft — really beat out Andy Dalton and Nick Foles to start Week 1 vs Rams?

There has rarely ever been any excitement over the fourth quarterback taken in a given draft, one who was passed over by QB-needy teams in San Francisco, Atlanta, Detroit, Carolina, Denver, and Philadelphia, to say the least, but Justin Fields is already being treated like an established franchise quarterback in Chicago. It’s not just remarkable confidence in a rookie quarterback, or in a player who will be defying the odds if he becomes a star, but especially so for the Bears franchise and a fanbase that has never known what a franchise quarterback really looks like.

The best quarterback in Bears history actually is Jay Cutler. The Bears have been around for over 100 years. (The best quarterback in team history is Sid Luckman, but I’m gonna have a hard time comparing him to players of the last 70 years.)

I’ll root for Fields just like I’ll root for any player because more than anything else I love talented football players, but I’m not sure where this immediate confidence comes from. He’s not the first quarterback with a strong arm. He’s not the first with dual-threat ability. He’s not the first with fantastic college production. He wouldn’t be the first to possess all of those things and to still not turn in an NFL career worthy of praise. Certainly not the first from Ohio State and I do think there are critiques of his game that deserve attention.

The media has piled onto anything that sounds like praise of Fields through OTAs, but things like “confidence” and “leadership” and “strong arm” are not attributes that I ever doubted from Fields before. I am not surprised when I hear a coach or a teammate say something positive about Fields. What I’d prefer to hear from coaches, if I was a Bears fan, is that he’s “way fucking better than Andy Dalton.”

It might be early to expect that but it is definitely what you want to have heard by September. So far, Fields has had some problems taking snaps under center — something he did zero times in college — and that’s part of the reason that I’ll be surprised if he does beat out Dalton for the job. At least, when it comes to playing the Rams at SoFi Stadium in Week 1.

I think Dalton will be starting Week 1, but Matt Nagy will probably tire of that decision a few weeks into the season — just like he did with Mitchell Trubisky a year earlier — and he’ll give Fields a chance whether he’s ready or not. I think Bears fans should be praying for patience with Fields instead of hoping that Nagy throws him out there as soon as possible. He might not be better than Dalton, or even Foles, as of today. That doesn’t mean that he can’t get there in time.

I hope that he does. I’m skeptical that he’s already there.

Most interesting free agent addition: RB Damien Williams

Most interesting draft pick other than Fields: OT Teven Jenkins

Chicago is relying more on in-house growth than anything else. Receiver Darnell Mooney, tight end Cole Kmet, nose tackle Bilal Nichols could be those who emerge as notable starters this season. The Bears will look a lot the same as last season, which could win them division if Rodgers isn’t there, but they could also implode and Nagy could be the first coach fired.

Minnesota Vikings - Is continuity going to be a good thing for Mike Zimmer?

The Vikings are going into their ninth season under head coach Mike Zimmer (three playoff appearances, zero seasons with 10+ losses) and their fourth with quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Dalvin Cook, but they only went 7-9 in 2020 and missed the playoffs. They intend to look pretty much the same as they did a year ago and the -45 point differential was their worst as a franchise since Leslie Frazier was in charge.

Is “more of the same” going to be good for Minnesota?

How much better can Justin Jefferson really do than 88 catches for 1,400 yards? How much better can Cook do than 1,557 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns? Who was added to the defense that is going to make them elite?

It seems as though the Vikings are banking on Rodgers holding out, same as the Bears. Otherwise, Cousins, Cook, and Jefferson will need to be just as good as they were a year ago while also hoping that the defense is twice as good with almost all of the same parts.

Most interesting free agent addition: DT Dalvin Tomlinson

Most interesting draft pick: OT Christian Darrisaw

The Vikings also added CB Patrick Peterson, S Xavier Woods, NT Michael Pierce, but Tomlinson could be the most ready to make an impact. Minnesota is changing around some names on defense, but there aren’t any clear improvements and some of these players would have been fighting for jobs on their old teams.

Quarterback Kellen Mond will draw attention because of the position he plays, but there probably isn’t any competition. Rookie linebacker Chazz Surratt is also interesting.

Recent Story: Andrew DePaola’s career is a modern miracle

Detroit Lions - What is Brad Holmes’ ceiling as a general manager?

I think Holmes has the much likelier path to a long career in Detroit and that’s not to disparage Jared Goff, but that is the reality for a new GM vs a quarterback who just got traded away from another team.

I would also say that Holmes’ first offseason has been a good one: He never appeared to panic.

Holmes didn’t panic when Matthew Stafford wanted a trade, but he did move swiftly and receive two first round picks in a deal while also bringing in a quarterback who could potentially keep the bottom from falling out next season.

He didn’t panic with Kenny Golladay, letting the receiver leave in free agency rather than guaranteeing him a big salary on the franchise tag when the team doesn’t really need him right now. Instead, they’ll get a 2022 compensatory pick.

And he didn’t panic in the draft to trade up for Penei Sewell, instead waiting until the top-rated tackle of the class fell into Deroit’s lap at pick seven.

The Lions might have the worst team in the NFL in 2021 but that could have been true even if they still had Stafford and Golladay. Instead, Detroit is setting themselves up nicely to build a team around the QB position for when the Lions are likely picking in the top-three in 2022. They’ll also have LA’s first rounders in 2022 and 2023 and by then players like T.J. Hockenson, D’Andre Swift, Sewell, fourth round pick Amon-Ra St. Brown, and a pair of young guards could have developed into a strong supporting cast.

On defense there appear to be a lot more holes, if not at least “opportunities for improvement or a star to step up” and that might be a bigger concern for Holmes than whatever is happening at quarterback.

Most interesting free agent signing/trade: Michael Brockers

Most interesting draft pick: DT Alim McNeil

McNeil was the player who drew physical comparisons to Aaron Donald and while that is certainly not believed to be his ceiling, there is a pattern here. The Lions also drafted defensive tackle Levi Onwuzurike in round two and it’s obvious that they had a lot of work to do on the side of the ball.

Detroit used a third round pick on corner Ifeatu Melifonwu and a fourth on linebacker Derrick Barnes. What will become of cornerback Jeffrey Okudah, a rare top-three pick at the position in 2020 but one who seemed to struggle as a rookie.

Recent Story: Brockers doing well in his role as a mentor to Detroit’s young defensive line

Rams need whatever OLB Terrell Lewis can deliver this year​

When the LA Rams chose Alabama outside linebacker Terrell Lews with the 84th pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, they were taking a pretty risky gamble that the medical flags that scared other teams off were too conservative. What can I say? I, like many of the fans of the LA Rams, loved the pick. If healthy, he had a first-round grade. If unhealthy, he was a deep risk with just a part-time NFL future. I believed he could pull it all together. When he’s healthy, he can certainly be a dominating force to be reckoned with.

In his rookie NFL season, the Rams played 18 games, but the lofty-ceiling edge rusher suited up for just nine of those games. He was on the field for just 124 defensive snaps or just over 12 percent of the defensive workload. Even with that light work, he managed to record five tackles and two quarterback sacks. In fact, he flashed some promise by getting to the quarterback often enough, even as a rookie. He recorded two quarterback knockdowns and pressured the quarterback four times.

Durability. It’s the single most important quality of any NFL player. Well, durability and availability. That is so true when it comes to Lewis.

Take whatever Lewis can give

The LA Rams lost some veterans who were significant contributors to putting pressure and sacks on the quarterback in 2020. Gone are DL Michael Brockers, DE Morgan Fox, and OLB Samson Ebukam. They accounted for 15.5 quarterback sacks, and 109 tackles. Someone has to step up for the team in 2021. Terrell Lewis could be that someone.

And before it appears as though I am singling out one defensive player, outside linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo was a reserve who only deliver 10 games to the Rams defense in 2020. So it’s not on Lewis. But to be truthful, I would like nothing better than witnessing 17 games out of Terrell Lewis for the 2021 NFL season. I think if he can stay healthy, he will be something special. But staying healthy? That’s where it gets a bit dicey.

Keep in mind that Lewis ended the 2020 season with an ankle injury. So the positive takeaway is that it was not an old knew injury flaring up again.

Rams banking on returning players to step up

The team didn’t exactly pile on the talent at the edge position in this offseason. The roster was boosted by two rookies: Chris Garrett and Max Roberts. Although there is reason enough for optimism regarding the two rookie additions, the team is in a bit of a pinch over who will start the season opposite Leonard Floyd.

If Terrell Lewis is healthy enough to do so, that gives this defense a completely different look than if he is not on the field. What will Lewis deliver in terms of defensive snaps in 2021? Whatever the number, the Rams will need all of it. Lewis has the potential to change the course of the Rams defense, and in doing so, the course of the Rams team, if he plays to his full potential in 2021.

But whatever he can muster, the Rams will take it.

https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/ned-beatty-deliverance-network-dies-83

RIP Sir. Amazing in so many movies. Deliverance, Superman, Network…on & on.

They just ran rough shot all over my favorite team the Nuggets. They look ready for prime time. Booker teaming with Chris Paul looks unstoppable right now.

Nine NFL bandwagons to hop on in 2021: Tennessee Titans, Joe Burrow and Brandon Staley top the list​

Published: Jun 08, 2021 at 03:24 PM

Adam Schein
NFL.com Contributing Columnist


In the dog days of the NFL offseason, hope springs eternal. Optimism reigns across the league. Contending teams are bullish on their prospects for 2021. Rebuilding teams are keen on the new direction of the franchise. Individual players and coaches become the subjects of flowery profiles.
In short, this is Bandwagon Season.
So, with hype emerging from every NFL nook and cranny, what can we truly believe in? Here's my annual rundown of bandwagons you should hop on, Schein Nine style:

1
Tennessee Titans
2020 record: 11-5
In a BOLD PREDICITONS installment of the Schein Nine a couple weeks ago, I wrote that Julio Jones would be traded to Tennessee and the Titans would win 11 games. Well, the trade happened. And now those 11 wins -- along with a third consecutive playoff berth -- are on the way.

This was a fantastic deal for the Titans, a monster transaction. Jones is a future Hall of Famer. He's one of the most talented receivers in the last 30 years. Yes, he's 32 years old and missed seven games last year due to thigh and hamstring injuries. But he still produced at a high level when he played, as evidenced by his average of 2.60 yards per route run -- the fourth-highest figure in the league, per Pro Football Focus. I think he has plenty of gas left in the tank. And in Tennessee, he's the third wheel of the Titans' offensive weaponry.

This is still Derrick Henry's show. And all A.J. Brown has done in his first two NFL seasons is post a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns, averaging a robust 17.4 yards per catch and scoring 20 touchdowns in the process. With Jones joining Brown on the outside, opponents can't stack the box like they used to against Henry, which feels unfair. In the wake of this transaction -- and on the verge of the league's first 17-game regular season -- a second consecutive 2,000-yard season from Henry doesn't feel bold, it feels right. And Jones will see more single coverage than he has since Roddy White was in his prime. That's frightening. Brown and Jones could be THE elite receiver duo in 2021. The key is to continue forgetting what you thought about the Miami version of Ryan Tannehill. I'm guilty of living in the past on that front at times, but Tannehill's been undeniably terrific in Nashville. And after the veteran quarterback lost Corey Davis and Jonnu Smith in free agency, this trade is a huge offseason savior.

Mike Vrabel is a fabulous coach. This offseason, the defense added some needed pass-rushing juice (free agents Bud Dupree and Denico Autry) and swapped in two notable cover men (first-round pick Caleb Farley and veteran Janoris Jenkins). Kansas City is the best team in the AFC, and the Chiefs' opponent in last season's conference title game, Buffalo, is No. 2. But after that? Well, this trade tosses Tennessee into the conversation with Cleveland, Baltimore and Indianapolis. Hop on board now. This bandwagon's gonna fill up quickly once the season kicks off.

2
Joe Burrow
Cincinnati Bengals · QB
The Justin Herbert bandwagon is full. I've been riding since before the 2020 NFL Draft. And now, in the wake of perhaps the most impressive rookie season ever by a quarterback, there's just no vacancy. Sorry.

But don't forget about the No. 1 overall pick from last year's draft. Burrow was rocking and rolling before last November's season-ending knee injury. Fortunately, it appears Burrow's humming right along on the road to recovery, throwing bombs at OTAs earlier this month. Looks like he'll be ready for Week 1, and I can't wait. This cat has "it." He's what you want in a franchise quarterback, and he's going to be a superstar, especially with the weapons at his disposal. Burrow showed a nice rapport with Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd in Year 1, and now old friend Ja'Marr Chase joins the fun. I loved the pick at No. 5 overall. Chase is going to be in the mix for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Remember what Burrow and Chase did together two years ago? They owned college football, guiding LSU to a national title, with Burrow winning the Heisman Trophy and Chase nabbing the Biletnikoff Award. I can't wait to watch their swagger in Cincy. And I think Joe Mixon's due for a major bounceback after an injury-riddled 2020 campaign.
Questions remain on Cincy's defense, but the offense is going to put points on the board with Burrow and his cavalcade of playmakers.

3
Brandon Staley
Los Angeles Chargers · HC
Like I said just above, the Justin Herbert bandwagon currently has a waiting list. But you can still get in on his new coach!

As I wrote back in March, the Chargers are my Cinderella squad for the 2021 NFL season. A lot of that is indeed due to Herbert, a special talent fresh off a record-setting debut. Still, I'm bullish on Los Angeles' first-time head coach. He's just SO well-regarded by everyone who has been around him. Last season with the Rams, in Staley's first year as an NFL defensive coordinator, he churned out the No. 1 scoring and total defense in the league. That unit undoubtedly had special talents in Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey, but what do you call Joey Bosa and -- when healthy -- Derwin James? The offense will keep rolling with Herbert under center, and the defense will maximize its talent with Staley at the controls.
Historically, attention to detail and culture have let the Chargers down. That's about to change. The Bolts were wise to invest in Staley. You should, too.

4
CeeDee Lamb
Dallas Cowboys · WR
The second-year wideout is poised for a BIG season with a healthy jump in production. Fittingly, he's practicing with a bracelet featuring the catch phrase Terrell Owens liked to utter during his own days in Dallas:
"Get your popcorn ready."

Consider it done -- and give me a little butter and salt with that aforementioned output bounce. Lamb has star written all over him. His 2020 was quite good, with 74 catches for 935 yards and five touchdowns, but he's about to be great. With a full season of Dak Prescott under center, Lamb can blow past those figures. That's the kind of talent we're dealing with here.

Justin Jefferson rightly got the bulk of the love in last year's receiver class. After all, he set a rookie record with 1,400 receiving yards. He was terrific -- and will be for a long time. I still love Jerry Jeudy, too. I think he'll iron out the drops, and with better quarterback play, his supreme route-running will torch defenses. But Lamb will be the best of the bunch. Buy stock. NOW.


5
Chase Young
Washington Football Team · DE
Young was the Defensive Rookie of the Year, and I still don't think he got enough love. This dude is an absolute force of nature off the edge. This coming season, he's going to be one of the top five defensive players in the league. Young sacked the quarterback 7.5 times last year. He will double that -- at least -- in 2021.
With Young headlining a ferocious front, Washington has a true identity. Opposing teams -- and especially opposing quarterbacks -- are not going to enjoy games against this group.

6
Arizona Cardinals
2020 record: 8-8
Playoffs! And this time, I mean it.

I predicted big things for the Cardinals prior to last season. And that premonition looked pretty good when Arizona was 5-2. But the Cards petered out down the stretch, at least partially because injuries -- most notably, the season-ending injury to Chandler Jones and the nagging ailments for Kyler Murray -- began to take their toll.

But I think it all comes together in 2021. Kyler is ready to burst into legit MVP candidacy in Year 3. He's comfy in Kliff Kingsbury's offense, and Arizona has the right personnel for the attack. J.J. Watt teaming up with Jones is going to be special on the defensive front. And Steve Keim cleaned up in the draft, nabbing players who will make instant impacts on both sides of the ball.

7
Miami Dolphins
2020 record: 10-6
Don't jump off the Tua Tagovailoa bandwagon! Sure, he's no Herbert. Miami should've drafted Herbert. But that's water under the bridge. And I remain a staunch supporter in Tua's ability. Last year, he was A) coming off a major hip injury; B) entering the NFL amid a global pandemic that erased normal offseason workouts and preseason games; and C) surrounded by a lackluster offensive cast. The humble signal-caller was very disappointed with his rookie season when he spoke to me on SiriusXM Radio before the Super Bowl, but all things considered, I thought it was a pretty typical first-year campaign, with ups and downs. It was normal. Now, he knows the deal. He knows the offense. He gets a full offseason. And he can lead.

Oh, and did I mention that the Dolphins just drafted his old Alabama teammate, Jaylen Waddle? The explosive playmaker will have a Tyreek Hill-like impact on the offense. And Miami also added Will Fuller in free agency; when healthy, the guy's a true home run hitter. Put those two alongside DeVante Parker, and suddenly, Tua's cooking with gas in the passing game.

Brian Flores received my vote for Coach of the Year last season. And his defense, which allowed the sixth-fewest points in football in 2020, will be stingy once again. First-round pick Jaelan Phillips could be just what the doctor ordered on the edge-rushing front.

The division is tough. The conference is tougher. But I warn you: Never sell a Flores-led team short.



8
Cam Akers
Los Angeles Rams · RB
I am very high on the Rams this year, believing they will represent the NFC in the L.A. Super Bowl. Akers is a huge part of that. He became the guy at running back down the stretch last season, and it changed the Rams' offense. While Jared Goff was morphing into a double agent at quarterback -- giving the ball to the other team at an alarming rate -- Akers was emerging as a star.

Everyone took notice during his boffo effort in the Week 14 win over the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football. Twenty-nine carries for 171 yards against Bill Belichick's defense turns heads. But that wasn't a one-off. The guy was a stud in L.A.'s two playoff games, piling up 221 rushing yards and two touchdowns, along with 51 receiving yards.

I spoke with Sean McVay on SiriusXM Radio a few weeks ago, and the Rams coach raved about his running back's versatility. He's clearly excited about what Akers can offer in Year 2. I think the former second-round pick can become a legit top-10 running back this year for a championship-caliber team. I loved Jonathan Taylor and D'Andre Swift at running back in the 2020 draft. I'm still on board, especially with Taylor. But don't sleep on Akers.

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9
Dan Campbell
Detroit Lions · HC
This is a future play. But I'm in. I love Campbell's toughness and general approach. It's contagious. And the Lions, who have been rebuilding since 1957, needed this kind of figure. Campbell also put together a sensational coaching staff, featuring gems like Duce Staley, Aaron Glenn and Anthony Lynn. It's gold. And I couldn't stop watching the reaction from Campbell and new GM Brad Holmes when they drafted offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who will represent toughness and greatness. Campbell and Holmes are culture-changers -- and Sewell's a culture-changing player.
The 2021 season won't be easy, but I think we'll see the seeds of change with the franchise. Campbell will run the ball with D'Andre Swift and try to win games in the trenches, where the Lions are pretty stout on both sides of the football. Jared Goff was undoubtedly subpar last season, but he can still play when he's well-protected and stays within himself.

Will any Rams go from practice squad to 53-man roster?​

Donte Deayon hopes the sixth year is the charm

By Kenneth Arthur@KennethArthuRS Jun 13, 2021, 11:53am CDT



Donte Deayon isn’t going away easily. The Rams cornerback went undrafted out of Boise State in 2016 and thus far he has only appeared in 11 NFL games — eight with the Giants, three with the Rams — and he’s recorded 19 tackles with three passes defensed over 252 career defensive and 70 career special teams snaps.

Will his sixth attempt to make an NFL roster be the one where the stars finally align in just the right way?
New practice squad rules allow teams to carry two veterans who have any number of accrued seasons and that could mean that players like Deayon will extend their careers well beyond what was previously possible. He may not make seven figures, but that doesn’t sound like a bad job — or bad pay — for those who fit the bill as strong in practice, good teammates, but maybe not quite stout enough for Sundays.

Or maybe Deayon will make it in a year in which cornerback experience on the roster is scarce anyway.
Deayon returns and he was one of 15 players on the practice squad as of 1/1/2021:

The only players who don’t appear to still be around are linebacker Jachai Polite and defensive back Tyrique McGhee. Will any of the other 13 make it over the hurdle to become members of the final 53-man roster in September?

Donte Deayon, CB​

Deayon, 27, first joined the Rams in December of 2018, so this will be his third training camp under Sean McVay. Not that it is a fair comp, because Troy Hill played a lot of snaps prior to becoming a regular, but that didn’t really happen to him until he was 27. And Hill didn’t become a true every-snap player until last season.
Nobody doubts Deayon’s confidence or personality, but he’s listed around the same weight as new teammate Tutu Atwell.

Marquise Copeland, DT​

Copeland, 24, was signed by the Rams following the 2019 draft and so this is also his third training camp with McVay. Barring injury, it could be difficult to crack LA’s roster as a defensive lineman this season following the picks of Bobby Brown and Earnest Brown, but the losses of Michael Brockers and Morgan Fox should open opportunities.

Jake Gervase, FS​

Gervase will turn 26 in December. This is his third training camp with McVay also. He’s made a few sparse appearances on special teams over the last two seasons and LA’s current situation at safety is crowded, but opportunities seem to be there.

Jonah Williams, DE​

An All-American at Weber State in 2019, Williams signed with the Rams after going undrafted last year. He was listed at 6’5, 280, with a 4.65 40-yard dash at his pro day, which was sparsely attended. He could compete to fill the Fox role.

Michael Hoecht, DT​

Another signee from the 2020 undrafted free agent pool, Hoecht reportedly ran a 4.6 at 310 lbs (or maybe up to 20 lbs less than that) and he hung around the roster as a practice squad player last season. Hoecht played at Brown.

Derrick Moncrief, LB​

A surprise activation against the Dolphins last season (played 15 special teams snaps), Moncrief went undrafted out of Oklahoma State in 2017 (his third college program) and played in the CFL for three years. He had a brief stint on the Raiders practice squad and so this will be his first full offseason as a member of the Rams. Moncrief turns 28 this month.

Austin MacGinnis, K​

He was competing to be the kicker last year and ultimately lost out to Sam Sloman. The team never turned to MacGinnis, instead signing Kai Forbath, then Matt Gay, who is likely to keep him on the practice squad this year, at best. But it’s the story we don’t really talk about: What if Gay struggles? The kicker position is far from settled, though Gay looked the part for most of his trial run in 2020.

Kendall Blanton, TE​

Blanton’s father Jerry was a linebacker for the Chiefs from 1979 to 1985. Kendall, 25, is going into his third Rams training camp and is hoping to surprise somebody like Johnny Mundt by making the final roster. Given the way that the team has talked up Jacob Harris already, it seems that the team might need to keep four tight ends in order to give Blanton a real shot.

Bryce Perkins, QB​

Similar to the kicking competition, the Rams backup QB competition didn’t have any heavy hitters last year. That included Perkins, an undrafted free agent out of Virginia, but he did win the job on the practice squad. Is there any chance that John Wolford won’t be the backup or that Perkins will be so good that the team must keep three? He also must beat out Devlin Hodges, a player who had multiple starts for the Steelers two years ago.

Christian Rozeboom, LB​

Rozeboom was an undrafted free agent in 2020 who “beat out” seventh rounder Clay Johnston for a spot on LA’s practice squad and a shot at making the team some day. The Rams have a lot of linebackers going into camp and maybe every spot is up for grabs except for Leonard Floyd’s. All Rozeboom has to do is win one.

J.J. Koski, WR​

Another 2020 undrafted free agent, Koski was a four-year starter at Pomona State and he caught 42 passes for 868 yards and eight touchdowns during his senior campaign. The 6’1, 195 lbs receiver hung on the Rams practice squad but he has a tall order to beat out anybody for the fifth or sixth wideout spot on the roster. He’d need to be undeniable on special teams.

Brandon Wright, P​

We know about Johnny Hekker and we’ve talked about Corey Bojorquez, but there is a third punter on the roster: Brandon Wright came out of Georgia State in 2020 and actually went 1-of-2 on extra points for the Jaguars last season. (Yes, Jacksonville was the worst team in the NFL.) Brandon Wright being the Rams punter for any reason other than injuries would be the most shocking outcome of the offseason.

Eric Banks, DE​

Banks was signed after the 2020 draft but that didn’t stop him from working at a Pet and Lawn Supply story last summer. He hung around on the practice squad all year long and the 6’4, 270 lb defensive lineman is also hoping that Fox’s departure is his gain.

​

Rams had the top rated D in 2020.
I don't expect them to be anywhere close in 2021.

That said, it does not mean to me that the Rams D will be worse in 2021.

Statistically D's are helped by run first/conservative O's.
The Rams O will be less conservative and more aggressive in 2021.

For me, even if the Rams D is better in 2021 than 2020 they will be worse statiscally, based on offensive game plan.

Is this just me or do others feel the same way.