https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id...la-jokic-wins-first-nba-mvp-award-sources-say

1st Nugget to win it, 6th international player to win it, and 1st 2nd round pick to win it. AMAZING

I know must of us have turned the page and wish Goff luck.

Here he is on the Rich Eisen show today.


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Inside Rams’ scouting of Robert Rochell: Matching ‘eye-popping’ data with film, projections with Jalen Ramsey​

By Jourdan Rodrigue Jun 7, 2021

31

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. — The Los Angeles Rams drafted cornerback Robert Rochell at No. 130 this spring, 611 days and 30 completed evaluation reports after they first began scouting him at Central Arkansas.
“We were doing some summer work, especially on guys from FCS schools — small schools. Usually, there is going to be some word of mouth and he came on my radar,” said area scout Cedric Jones, who was a lead on Rochell for the last two years.

“We turned on the film, and (first up) was Western Kentucky. Right away, you could see those physical traits.” Jones said. “And then you start seeing his ball skills.”

Rochell used to play quarterback and receiver in high school, at Fair Park in Shreveport, La., and Jones said it was pretty clear that Rochell is “used to having the ball in his hands.” The Rams, under general manager Les Snead, love drafting former quarterbacks who switched positions (Cooper Kupp, Cam Akers, Tutu Atwell among others). Jones was hooked. He dug deeper.

On one play, Western Kentucky tried to draw Rochell across the field via a dragging receiver. Jones planted, flipped and adjusted to the intended receiver, then closed on the ball and hit the receiver so hard the ball came loose. Excitedly, Jones scribbled something down in his notes for later — something that would come up in meetings about Rochell, as the scouting personnel and data analysts began to match and cross-reference their notes on 2021 prospects in collaborative meetings the following year.

In fact, behind the scenes, the Rams were about to draw up a pretty huge comparison for Rochell, specifically where his athletic traits and how they match them in their system were concerned — a comparison reserved for only a few players over their last five years of analysis. That comparison would, in the month or so leading up to the draft, get defensive coordinator Raheem Morris so excited about Rochell as a prospect that he deemed the rookie corner as one of his “pool party” picks (and one of the few non-front-7 guys on his personal list) — or, a pick who, should the Rams draft him, prompt Morris to dive into the pool at the Malibu draft house.

“Since 2015 — that’s when we started our internal scouting system, called ‘JARS’, we have 5,000 different defensive backs that we have (measurables) on,” said Jake Temme, who is a data and analytics manager for the Rams. “And within our internal mechanism for doing weight-adjusted/athleticism (measurements) — called RSDI (Rams Standard Deviation Index) — he was in the top 10 percent for the cornerback position.”

In that five-year data span, the Rams, said Temme, found there were just four players who satisfied all of the following conditions they use to evaluate defensive backs within their database (which Temme discovered by programming a query of these conditions into the system): The player was drafted, the player was 5-foot-10 or taller, the player was equal to or heavier than 180 pounds, the player jumped 40-plus inches vertically in testing and the player broad-jumped 10 feet or more and the player ran a 4.40-second-or-less 40-yard-dash when averaged between six different times collected between official and unofficial recordings.

“Those four players are Jalen Ramsey, Obi Melifonwu, Derwin James and Robert Rochell,” Temme said. “Pretty rare guy, athletically, to get that late in the draft … I think, in particular, when you’re talking about a guy who we had a ton of scouting on, who then satisfies the physical conditions that we’re talking about — he was really exciting to be a Day 3 guy, a guy who we had basically circled after taking Ernest (Jones) at No. 103, saying, ‘This is a guy we’re going to target tomorrow.'”

Before we get carried away at the comparison to Ramsey, remember: The Rams’ data process combines specific measurables, some of which are pulled from athletic traits, some from testing numbers and some from other variables to basically build a numerical model of a player, then they collaborate with scouts to match those data points to what is on tape and in a player’s background (including Snead’s favorite “intangibles”). They aren’t at all saying Rochell is “the next Jalen Ramsey” but …

“Jalen is elite,” Jones said. “And when you put (the numbers) side by side, Robert has some of those similar physical traits that Jalen has.”
One interesting detail, though, was a similarity they saw between how Rochell, who is 6-foot-2, and Ramsey, who is 6-foot-1, use their frames to add length when playing either a receiver or the ball.

“You’re looking on film and sometimes it’s kind of hard to tell — you’re looking, and (suddenly) you’re like, ‘Damn, that kid looks long,” Jones said. “He measured in at right about that 6-foot-range. But looking on tape, he looks every bit of 6-foot-3-ish. You see those long arms. … He uses every bit of his length.

“He’s able to disrupt releases on the line of scrimmage from receivers. You see those arms there. All of the sudden, you see the fluidity he moves with up in space. So you’re like, ‘Whoa.’ Then, when the ball is in the air, you see that vertical leap — and he elevates the play above the rim to pluck the ball out of the air. That’s when it’s eye-poppin’, and those traits really start playing.”

To describe how Rochell can operate in a vertical space, national scout Marty Barrett borrowed a phrase from his wife and daughters, who all either coach or play competitive volleyball: “Touch point” or the highest point a person can reach when height, jump, arm, fingertip and spatial awareness are all taken into consideration.

“I think you saw the measures play out, with Robert,” Temme said. “Whenever you watched him play, if you watched him go up for, like, a 50/50 ball — and he won a ton of those, got his hands on a ton of footballs — I think you start to … (believe) that this guy is a special athlete because of what you saw on film, because of how you saw him go sideline to sideline and be able to reach stuff that you didn’t necessarily feel like other corners could.

“He’s really good at isolating the boundary, raising up and getting his hands on the football.”
As the analysts, scouts and various cross-checkers and personnel people held prospect meetings, Temme got a kick out of the fact that Rochell and Ramsey were “comped” via many of their measurables and had some fun with the presentation of those findings.

“We were (meeting) over Zoom, and so I can just throw a picture in the chat,” he laughed. “So I could just throw a picture of those measurables — put Jalen next to Robert and stack them together. Someone will end up seeing it in the chat and pulling it up, having it resonate — maybe somebody’s all jacked-up because of the Jalen comp.”

Rochell was invited to the Senior Bowl but did not draw glowing reviews from analysts when matched up against a few of the top receivers there. Jones says that Rochell was dealing with an injury during that time and believes that Rochell would have been drafted a lot higher if he were healthy/competitive during that all-star event. Being a small-school prospect also likely limited his reach within draft rooms. Only nine non-FBS players were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft; the Rams picked up two of them.

So, as the third day of the draft unfolded, Rochell was still on the board. Jones and Temme were off-site (as was Snead), while head coach Sean McVay and Morris were at the draft house.
The scout and the data analyst anxiously watched the Rams’ draft board materialize as the fourth round continued. After picking defensive tackle Bobby Brown III at No. 117, Snead traded back with the Jaguars from No. 121 to No. 130.
Temme chewed on his nails. Finally, the Rams sent in Rochell’s card at about 10:10 a.m.

“We were hopeful that he would last those nine extra picks that we moved back (via Jacksonville) to No. 130,” Temme said. “That’s brutal. There’s a lot of energy, a lot of feeling — it’s palpable … you’re kind of feeling that energy between people.”

The Rams believe that Rochell will quietly grow into one of the leaders in this draft class. Jones, who spent a great deal of time digging into Rochell’s background, says that he’s “a mature kid” whose family leaned on him at a young age after his father passed away, and believes others will similarly gravitate toward him.

But Rochell also needs to adjust to the NFL, a jump that can sometimes be difficult for smaller-school players because of the juxtaposed size, speed and all-around talent of their opponents. Jones believes that putting Rochell in a room with Ramsey will be one of the best things that could happen for him as he develops. Ramsey’s attention to detail is what the Rams will also need from Rochell, who must grow his technique to match his promising traits if he wants to work into the starting rotation at some point.

“He’s going to have some good player models to see how to play the game at a high level,” Jones said. “When you have a guy like (Jalen) … you see day in and day out what it takes to be able to play that position at a high level. He can get the verbal (advice) from Jalen, but he’s going to get real, live examples.”

Rochell demonstrated coverage versatility on tape but did not play a ton of nickel in college — now, he may be asked to learn that position as well as shoulder duties on the perimeter because, within the Rams’ system, all players in the secondary do scheme to unlock Ramsey in some way.

“In particular, we say we have the best in the business with Jalen,” Jones said. “Well, we want to move him around the field for matchups. When you do that, you gotta have other guys back there also who are able to move and interchange.

“Robert is one of those special guys … with both length and those physical traits … we see him being able to move around and be one of those pieces that you can plug in all over the field. Be versatile and show that flexibility that we have.”
Added Temme, “We bet on people, not players. And Robert the person is a guy worth betting on. … The big picture on Robert was that he’s a person worth investing in. When you take that into consideration with the physical traits, he’s a really exciting bet relative to the acquisition cost …

“We have a high belief in our coaching staff, a high belief in our player development infrastructure that the right people are going to translate time and time again. That’s what we put our stock in.”
(Photo: Michael Wade / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

This was posted to the Rams Instagram today.

Posting because he was a part of The Rams family in a (good) way.

Right now I think the Rams have:

3 picks on day 2

2nd x 1 their own
3rd x 2 (their regular pick and a comp for Holmes

4th x 1 comp (Johnson)
5th x 1 their own
6th x 4 own + comps for Everett, Hill & Ebukam
7th x 2 own + Dolphins

That's 11 picks next year as of now. Normally with teams 6th and 7th rounders are flyers, but the way Snead drafts he can restock the bottom of the roster and the PS with 6 picks in those two rounds.

Good thing the cap is going up.

Cam Akers covered a lot of ground in Rams rookie season despite pandemic restrictions​

With the NFL’s offseason program conducted virtually last year, Cam Akers missed out on real-time, on-field opportunities to learn coach Sean McVay’s offense.

Akers, a second-round draft pick from Florida State, proved a quick study, emerging as the starter for the season opener. Injuries sidelined him for three games, but Akers finished with a dynamic second half and established himself as a key player for a team that, following the addition of quarterback Matthew Stafford, is regarded as a Super Bowl contender.

Akers, who turns 22 on June 22, spent the last few weeks participating in organized-team activity workouts. On Tuesday, the Rams begin a three-day minicamp that will conclude Thursday with a practice before fans at SoFi Stadium.

The Rams’ running back corps also includes third-year pro Darrell Henderson, Xavier Jones, Raymond Calais and rookie Jake Funk. But Akers is the lead back — and comfortable with the status.

“The only thing you can do is prepare and make sure you’re doing all you can to be at your best for your team, so that’s what I’ve been focusing on doing — whether that’s being a leader or making plays,” Akers told reporters. “Just doing what I can do to help this team. I don’t make it more than it is.”

Despite suffering a rib injury in the second game and an ankle injury in the 14th, Akers finished the season with 625 yards rushing and three touchdowns. He gained a career-best 171 yards in 29 carries in a victory over the New England Patriots. He rushed for 131 yards and a touchdown in an NFC wild-card playoff victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

Akers said he has worked this offseason to focus on the mental and physical aspects of his game.

“Making sure I know the playbook like the back of my hand,” he said. “Making sure I’m sharp on footwork. Just the little things. Sharpening up the little things.”

Akers showed his running and receiving skills as a rookie. Now, in Year 2, Akers is expected to master “the detail and what his job entails every single snap,” McVay said.

“It’s just continuing to become more and more complete,” McVay said.

Akers’ teammates are confident he will continue to progress.

Left tackle Andrew Whitworth has blocked for many running backs in his 15 seasons. It was apparent “early on” that Akers was “really wired the right way,” Whitworth said. Akers displayed confidence by communicating and encouraging older teammates regardless of whether a play went well or poorly.

“He’s not in any way star-struck,” Whitworth said, adding, “He’s just so relaxed back there, like, ‘Man, just got to give me this or that and I’m going to make a play with it.’… 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.”

Last season Akers wore jersey No. 23, but with the NFL relaxing rules on single-digit jersey numbers for the upcoming season, Akers will don No. 3, the number he wore playing youth and high school football in Mississippi and at Florida State.

Akers welcomes the opportunity to help rookies establish themselves, as he did last season.

“I was just in their shoes, trying to solidify a spot and trying to make a name for myself — so I understand and can relate to it a lot,” he said, adding, “I just want to be somebody they can come to and ask questions, and give great advice.”

Los Angeles Rams Potential Surprise Cuts Heading Into Training Camp​

This is the doldrums period of the NFL off-season. Yes, there was a massive Julio Jones trade but by and large, this is the time of the year where everything else is quiet except behind the scenes. Training camps open up in a little over a month, and spoiler alert, not everyone makes it to camp. Rosters need to be pruned to 53 people and given where most teams are in relation to the salary cap, that always leads to surprise cuts.

For the Rams, this holds especially true as they have a little over $7 million (ish) dollars to work with but they too could make a few surprise cuts to give themselves more roster flexibility. Some of these will be painful but unfortunately, the NFL is a brutal business.

Let’s take a look at five potential surprise cuts.

Rob Havenstein – Offensive Tackle

It’s weird how quickly things change in this league. Back in 2018, Havenstein was given a four-year extension and anointed as the Andrew Whitworth in waiting, and after a tough 2019 which ended in injury, that extension isn’t looking as savvy as it did five years ago. His 2020 campaign was a nice bounce-back type of season but that didn’t stop the Rams from putting him on the trade block. Due to the glut of tackles available in free agency and the draft, there weren’t any takers and Havenstein is the incumbent starter at right tackle again.

That might not be true at the start of the season as the Rams could save around $6 million (ish) if they cut him and they have enough depth on their offensive line to be cool with parting with him. It’s a bummer because he’s an underrated Les Snead second-round find, but such is life.

Greg Gaines – Defensive Line

This one would be a bit shocking considering the team already moved on from Michael Brockers but Gaines could be a surprise cut if he can’t take a leap. He’s had limited play in his two seasons with the team and given that he’s a fourth-round pick he’s on a very team-friendly contract, but if a more proven defensive lineman becomes available the Rams could cut Gaines to free up the roster spot. Gaines is likely to remain on the roster as a key depth guy behind A’Shawn Robinson or Sebastian Joeseph-Day, but there isn’t evidence the Rams are set on keeping him and next year he’s in a contract year so the Rams could decide to move on early.

Obo Okoronkwo – Outside Linebacker/Edge

Another surprising cut could come at linebacker where Okoronkwo could be someone that like Gaines needs to make a leap lest they lose their spot to a free-agent veteran. His athleticism has always made him appealing but he’s also been hurt a lot and that could make him a surprise cut come the summer. He has the chance to crack the starting lineup given the only guaranteed starter is Leonard Floyd, but he needs to make a leap.

Micah Kiser – Inside Linebacker

Now here is where a real surprise cut could occur. Micah Kiser was a starter last season but had missed a lot of time due to injury, and aside from Floyd, he’s the most likely starter in the hodgepodge of linebackers. So, why would the Rams cut him? Well, there’s a chance the Rams are in a position to take another pass-rusher and that roster spot would have to come from somewhere and Kiser isn’t so entrenched as a starter that he’s untouchable. It isn’t likely he’s the first linebacker out but the right player could come along and take his job. He’s someone that could be cut down the road as well or allowed to leave in free agency eventually.

Johnny Hekker – Punter

Of all the surprise cuts this one would obviously crush fans the most. Hekker is the highest-paid punter in the league and while he’s done more than enough to earn it, he did struggle mightily in 2020, and so did the rest of the Rams’ special teams. The Rams have their third special teams coach in as many years and they drafted with an eye for future talent and present-day special teams body.

They also brought in a new punter and it is WEIRD to have two punters on the roster. Hekker even sees possible writing on the wall and knows he can’t struggle again because if the Rams need cap space the punter is rarely the untouchable figure on the roster. Hekker is a fan favorite and it would be a mistake to get rid of him because when he’s right he’s a major weapon for the Rams, because not only does he set the defense up for success with great field position, but he can do gadget plays on special teams.

He’s a special talent but on the hierarchy of NFL roster spots the punter is a pin monkey, and as Homer would learn, even the best pin monkey can’t be kept if the money isn’t there.

Surprise cuts are a normal part of the NFL season and the Rams have a lot of places where they can trim the roster so be prepared to get misty as fan favorites might be gone.

It was his birthday a few days ago and the Rams posted this sick video. Happy belated Holt!!

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Nick Scott talks wedding plans and defensive roles on Rams Revealed podcast Ep. 65​

The Rams conclude the off-season program this week with three on-field workouts, including our Open Practice at SoFi Stadium Thursday – the first time the players and coaches will be in front of fans in Inglewood.

From there, the team goes dark for more than a month; the next time we'll see them will be when Training Camp opens in Irvine in late July.

In our most recent Rams Revealed, we examine the safety depth chart with guest, Nick Scott, who was drafted late in 2019 as one of the best special teams prospects in his class.

The Rams first pick that spring was fellow safety Taylor Rapp.

Then in 2020, Los Angeles selected Terrell Burgess and Jordan Fuller, both of whom made great first impressions as rookies.

All that, with the anticipation that John Johnson might play his way into a nice contract with another team, and that's exactly what happened this offseason.

Scott gives us his perspective on the challenge of replacing Johnson, a fan-favorite, as well as retooling the kicking game. As a core special teams performer, he's intent on returning the third phase to elite form in 2021.

The Penn State product also discusses which defenders might rival him for the title of "hardest-hitting Ram."

But most importantly, Scott takes us inside his final wedding preparations as he and his fiancé plan to take their vows later this month.

Which teammate would he trust to make a toast at the reception?

Find out on this episode of Rams Revealed.

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Not all superheroes wear capes | 10 things with Tremayne Anchrum Jr.​

Each week, I interview a different Rams player to find out about their lives on the field as well as off it. This week, offensive lineman, Tremayne Anchrum Jr. talks about the biggest difference between year one and year two in the NFL, how he spends his free time, and Marvel movies.

1. Year two

Sarina: How has OTAs gone for you now that you are in Year 2?

Tremayne: They've been good. Get my feet back in it again. It's been really good seeing how the team is forming.

2. Coffee Calls

Sarina: Biggest difference from Year 1 to Year 2?

Tremayne: [My rookie season] I had to get coffee orders every day. (laughs)

3. What's brewing with the O-line?

Sarina: Who has the craziest coffee order?

Tremayne: I don't think anyone had anything particularly crazy. When it got to the holiday season, I know a couple guys liked white chocolate peppermint. Brian Allen likes just coffee black. [Andrew] Whitworth likes his coffee medium roast with oat milk and cinnamon powder.

4. Working with Whit

Sarina: I remember watching Whitworth work with you a lot during practice last season. What has it been like working with a guy like Whit?

Tremayne: It's been really good learning the ins and outs of how he's approached the game and how that approach has changed over the years. The offensive line has changed a lot in the last 20 years. Football has changed a lot. As far as offensive line and how we do our business has changed a lot and to see how he's grown and developed as a player and [how] his knowledge has grown…it's been pretty, pretty special.

5. Blame AD

Sarina: Do you think Aaron Donald is a reason for changing the way the offensive line works?

Tremayne: Yeah, him and a couple other freaks (Laughs). You got supreme athletes at every position across the D-line, and the game is becoming faster. It's becoming more pass-centric. You know, we're not just big grunts with our hands in the dirt and smashing our heads every play anymore. We got to learn how to block these freaks of nature.

6. Give a little…or a lot?

Sarina: You've been doing a ton this offseason outside of training. You've been volunteering your time in the LA the community. What have you been doing specifically and why?

Tremayne: I got into the Hollywood Food Coalition, which makes meals 364 days a year, about 250 meals for homeless people and people with food insecurity and distribute them to people in the Hollywood area. I do a little bit of tutoring as well, virtually. Just because I have a computer, I went to college. And then I volunteered for the Boys and Girls Club for the first month. But then after that, I worked there for about two and a half months. So, you know, about four hours a day, for four days a week.

7. Age is just a number

Sarina: You've been described as "18 going on 28." You were considered very mature in last year's draft. So, what is the one thing that makes you feel like a kid again?

Tremayne: Going to see new Marvel movies. First one I've seen in theaters was X-Men Two and I was super excited. I was really geeking out. I remember I brought my Wolverine shirt. Anytime I see a new Marvel a superhero movie [it] brings me back to when I was a kid.

8. Groot approves

Sarina: What's your favorite Marvel movie?

Tremayne: Guardians of the Galaxy.

9. Grab the popcorn

Sarina: Would you rather watch a movie or a TV show series?

Tremayne: Watch a movie. TV shows, they're made to leave you on the hook. Every single one of them is made where you're never satisfied. You're like, ah, I need some more. A movie has a beginning, a climax and a conclusion. So, you feel satisfied.

10. A Ram asking a Ram questions

Sarina: If you could ask an actual RAM three questions, what would they be?

Tremayne:

Who's your chiropractor? You got to carry those horns, right?
How do you sleep? Do the horns get in the way?
And, I see a lot of rams climbing stuff, so are you really afraid of heights? Like how does that work? That's really scary. I see a lot of rams just run up the side of mountains and I'm like, oh, I have fingers and thumbs and toes, and I don't do that.

Transformed A’Shawn Robinson prepares for important 2021 season​

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Rams defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson knows he has a big season ahead.

And after his first season in Los Angeles didn't go according to plan, he adjusted his offseason routine to get in better shape and be someone his teammates can count on in 2021.

"Honestly, it all started when I came back this past year," Robinson said during a June 2 video conference. "When I first came here, they wanted me to lose some weight. And I thought about how I played in Detroit and how big I was, and how much better I would be if I leaned up some."

A "respiratory situation" – as described by Robinson – landed him on the reserve/non-football injury list prior to the start of the 2020 season. Robinson was eventually activated mid-season, making 12 total tackles and one pass breakup in eight games, then adding another three total tackles and a forced fumble in the Rams' pair of playoff games.

When the offseason arrived, he was inspired to change up his routine in order to maintain a lighter playing weight.

He has already successfully lost weight once before for the team – defensive line coach Eric Henderson confirmed it to theRams.com last August.

To do it again this time around, Robinson switched to a mix of a vegetarian and pescatarian diet and gets his protein through supplements – all to eat "as clean as possible." He also gave up carbs and "anything fried," hired a new chef to cook his meals, started doing pilates and yoga, and took a closer look at his recovery process.

Robinson gives himself a cheat meal – meaning an indulgent one that normally wouldn't fit the parameters of his diet – such as chicken "here and there" when he hangs out with friends, but he said he really doesn't want to do that all the time.

He started seeing results in March.

"I wanted to be the best for these guys," Robinson said. "I'm not going to go around here and just slack and let any of these guys down. I don't want to let AD (Aaron Donald), Bash (Sebastian Joseph-Day), Greg (Gaines), Coach Henny and them down."

The transformation was first revealed by fellow Rams defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph-Day, who said during his June 1 video conference that Robinson showed up to organized team activities looking "thinner" and "more explosive."

"A'Shawn's doing a great job," Joseph-Day said. "A'Shawn's transformed his body. Lost weight, toned up. He's locked in, man. He's really locked in."

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 330 pounds based on last year's biographical information, Robinson said his goal is to reach the 300- to 305-pound range heading into the upcoming season. That weight would be much closer to the 307 he recorded at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine, and lighter than the 315 pounds he played at during his final season at Alabama (2015).

In that final season playing for the Crimson Tide, he tied with safety Eddie Jackson for fifth-most tackles on the team with 46, also chipping in 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 10 QB hits, two pass breakups and a blocked kick.

Meanwhile, he delivered arguably his most productive season as a pro – 53 total tackles (four for loss), six QB hits, six pass breakups, an interception returned for a touchdown and a forced fumble while starting all 16 games for the Lions in 2017 – while playing at 322, according to a Lions weekly release from that season. In other words, a lighter playing weight has led to positive results on the field.

The Rams will need that production this year, especially with defensive linemen Michael Brockers and Morgan Fox departing this offseason ahead of a season with Super Bowl aspirations. If they receive it, both they and Robinson will be on their way to accomplishing their goals.

"I don't want to let anybody down on this team," Robinson said. "It's just me doing my job for the team, so everyone else can do their job."

Just some random BS if you care. I guess today's the day when they try and test Rams players ability to get seizures while standing in a rapidly flashing mirror room. Tutu doesn't look too small when he's not next to anyone else lol.

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just say no to man buns
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Ranking Sean McVay Among NFL Head Coaches​

One must take a litany of factors into consideration when ranking head coaches. Experience, success, where and how much value they add in-game, management, and organizational control.

With those things in mind, tiers of talent quickly emerge and when thinking specifically of Sean McVay, it is clear that he is among the top ten head coaches in the league. Based on that extensive list of criteria here are the top ten active coaches in the NFL. Collectively, this list represents 19 trips to the Super Bowl, 82 trips to the playoffs, and a collective record of 1339-794-4 for a 62.8 winning percentage.

1. Bill Belichick
2. Andy Reid
3. Asshole Face
4. John Harbaugh
5. Mike Tomlin
6. Pete Carroll
7. Sean McVay
8. Bruce Arians
9. Sean McDermott
10. Kyle Shanahan

McVay finds himself sandwiched in the rankings among veteran NFL head coaches. He is still a young coach, but he already has a solid track record of success. That said, He is still somewhat inexperienced compared to the six veteran coaches rated above him. But, he also has a better winning percentage than all but Bill Belichick, and even Belichick only saw one winning season in his first four seasons as a head coach. In fact, only Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh had better-winning percentages than McVay in their first four seasons, 67.6% and 67.1% to McVay’s 65.7%.

Both of those coaches, the argument could be made, landed in more favorable situations with both the Ravens and the Steelers coming off winning seasons in the recent past. The Rams hadn’t posted a winning season in over a decade before McVay took over. He turned a 4-11 team into a playoff team in one season. Asshole Face is the only other coach above McVay on the list that took a perennial loser and turned them into a playoff threat.

Another feather in McVay’s cap is that almost every other higher-rated coach has also had the luxury of coaching with a future hall of fame quarterback on their roster. John Harbaugh may be the only exception. Lamar Jackson could prove to be his HOF’er, but as of today, the jury is still out on him. For Reid, Donovan McNabb hasn’t been voted in, yet, but Patrick Mahomes may be the first player ever given a gold jacket while in mid-throw.

Why being behind these six legendary coaches is an interesting position is it seems like McVay is poised to move up this list. What sanctifies the men ahead of him has been their ability to traverse the NFL landscape over a long period of time. McVay has obviously met the challenges of his first four years head-on and come up the victor in most cases.

What is most impressive about McVay so far is his ability to make smart decisions even when they seem impossible. The decision to move on from Todd Gurley and Cory Littleton come to mind. The decision to hire Brandon Staley is another example of just how smart McVay makes the Rams organization. Furthermore, his most unique and valuable contribution is his ability to develop the people around him. He has turned late-round draft picks and undrafted free agents into legitimate starters. This has allowed the Rams to add elite talent like Jalen Ramsey and now Matthew Stafford.

This will prove to be a pivotal year in McVay’s legacy as a coach. Up until now, he has only had Jared Goff to helm his offense. At times, Goff made the offense look unstoppable. Others, it ground to a halt. Some blamed McVay, claiming the NFL had caught up to him and that he wasn’t the offensive wunderkind the world hailed him as.

Some don’t see Stafford as a big enough upgrade to get the Rams to the next level. But this is where McVay can prove that he is among the best coaches in the NFL. Stafford played at a very high level for Jim Caldwell, but he has never played for an offensive-minded coach quite like McVay. If McVay can unlock Stafford and as a result show that his offense is even more high-powered, as it once seemed, he will prove he can survive long term in the NFL.

Breaking into that top level isn’t the only side of the story for McVay’s ranking among NFL coaches. The NFL is currently engulfed in a seismic change that will decide who ranks where in the near future.

While McVay is at the bottom of a list of coaches that have long sustained track records of winning football, he is also at the top of the list of young up-and-coming head coaches (Not that Bruce Arians is young*). Just outside the top ten are names like Kevin Stefanski, Matt LeFleur, and Brian Flores. Of course, Shanahan is lurking at 10. He is the only coach on the list with a sub .500 record, but his offensive acumen keeps him in the conversation. All of these coaches are trying to be the new guard and looking to supplant McVay and those legends that precede him.

Meanwhile, the old guard is feeling the brunt of the seismic change. Belichick, Payton, and Tomlin are all in various stages of transitioning away from the quarterbacks that have helped make them legends. Pete Carroll also finds himself precariously close to the same edge with Russell Wilson becoming increasingly disgruntled with the Seahawks organization. Part of the rift with Wilson is that he isn’t feeling supported by his protection, nor by the playmakers, nor with playcalling. Carroll hopes that new offensive coordinator, and McVay acolyte, Shane Waldron, will be the cure to what ails that relationship.

Being a top-ranked coach with a Hall of Fame quarterback is one thing, rebuilding a team once that QB is gone is wholly another. How these four coaches manage the next few seasons will shed light on just how great they are. If any can maintain the level of success they have had in the past they will cement their legacy among the best ever. Belichick discovered what life without Tom Brady was like and promptly drafted Brady’s body double, in Mac Jones. While the future’s for Payton and Tomlin are left dubious.

The opposite is happening among most of the remaining coaches in the top 10. Reid, Harbaugh, McDermott, and maybe Shanahan are shepherding the next class of potential Hall of Fame quarterbacks. The near future for these coaches will propel these coaches to higher heights, (Again Arians is an outlier. Brady has shown no signs of slowing, and Arians’ Buccaneers are a favorite to repeat. But, Brandy will age eventually. Right?) Reid already has an unimpeachable record as a head coach, but how he finishes his career alongside Patrick Mahomes in his prime and has the potential to solidify his standing among the very best. John Harbaugh is in a similar position with Jackson.

McVay once again finds himself sandwiched between the new guard and the old guard. He doesn’t have a fresh face QB on a rookie deal, but he himself is still a young innovative coach with many years of proving ground ahead of him. But because there is so much amazing up-and-coming QB talent with equally good coaching, McVay has to win now and win big with Stafford to prove he is ranked among the elite coaches and still beats out the new guard.

*Bruce Arians is a curious case for rating. Of course, he won the Super Bowl after helping put the finishing touches on an already good team. His ability to turn that particular team into a well-oiled machine by the later part of the season is very impressive.

He also built a good team in Arizona around Carson Palmer, which is also impressive. He also didn’t get his first head coaching gig until he was 60. So Arians has never been a young head coach, per se, but only has three more seasons than McVay under his belt.

Rams OTAs: WR Cooper Kupp’s knee, tough realities at punter, DL A’Shawn Robinson’s transformation and more​

By Jourdan Rodrigue Jun 3, 2021

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Rams receiver Cooper Kupp left the team’s 2020 wild-card win against Seattle in the fourth quarter after suffering a knee injury, which was then described by head coach Sean McVay the following week as bursitis.

This week, Kupp opened up about the serious injury that actually occurred, which sidelined him for the Rams’ divisional-round loss against Green Bay: A Morel-Lavallee lesion, which known more commonly as an internal de-gloving — or, when skin and tissue separate from the underlying fascia.
While Kupp did indeed have bursitis, he managed it throughout the season effectively enough so that it never caused him to miss time (he had 92 catches and 974 yards in 2020). But the de-gloving was a far more serious (and, he hopes, singular) incident that required what Kupp described as a pretty intense recovery program.
“I dealt with bursitis earlier that year, but I was playing through that just fine,” said Kupp, who still tried to play against Green Bay but was ruled as a last-second inactive.
“I think we had, I don’t know, 12 to 15 needles put in my knee that week just trying to figure out how to either numb the pain or pulling fluid out,” he said. “All the different things, trying to just get back on the field.”

Kupp underwent a daily treatment process after the season to heal from the injury, and now says his knee “feels great” and that he’s not experiencing any issues. He added that the Rams will have a management program for him (and all players) as the NFL prepares for its inaugural 17-game season.
As mentioned before, many of the veteran players are trickling in and out of the workouts (because they are voluntary, and most players are also following their own offseason training regimen). But from the highlights offered by the Rams’ social media team, it appears as though Kupp has been involved in most, if not all of the practices — which means that he’s been as active as could be expected under the mandatorily lighter workouts, which is a good sign for his clearance from the de-gloving incident.
The Rams open access back up to media on Friday, so I’ll have more live observations from that day’s practice. Meanwhile, there were a couple other notable items (and important context) from other players offered this week:

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Andrew Whitworth’s contract, thoughts entering Year 16​

Last season, Rams star left tackle Andrew Whitworth — who will turn 40 this season — was pretty open about returning for the playoffs from a knee injury suffered in Week 9, and how risking further injury by playing might affect his upcoming contract negotiation.

This spring, Whitworth agreed to a contract restructure that reduced his 2021 cap hit (and therefore his initial salary) as the Rams worked to get under a salary cap shrunken by the COVID-19 pandemic. Other players took restructures as well, but in the cases of receivers Robert Woods and Kupp, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the restructure language was as simple as an auto-conversion of base salary into bonus dollars, as opposed to Whitworth having to negotiate through the process.
“Really, you get to sit down and say, ‘Hey, let’s try to make this work for everybody,'” he said. “And there are a couple of things that are important for everybody. Obviously, No. 1 was that they really wanted me back. No. 2 was obviously that I wanted to be back. I think that really was a good place to start from, and we kind of figured it out from there.

“You’re sitting there, and you’re trying to figure out how to fit yourself in the salary cap — and at the same time, I’m joking like, ‘Hey, if I had stayed healthy I’d be asking you guys to double my salary.’ Unfortunately, I didn’t. So let’s figure it out.”

Whitworth signed a three-year deal in March 2020, the 2021 base salary of which was reduced to $4 million (with a $1.6 million prorated bonus). He also has an “out” in his deal after 2021.
But, he said, feeling the hunger of wanting to get back onto the field after suffering the injury last season was a sure sign to him that he’s not ready to hang up his cleats just yet.
“I keep saying, like a repeating song, that I’m just going to take it year by year and think about it after the season,” he said. “Usually, I don’t think very long. … I knew when I had that much hunger to get back on the field (after injury) that I wanted to still play football. As soon as I realized in the offseason (with) rehab going really well, I felt like I was in a good spot and I knew I wanted to play the game — mentally, and in my heart. It was a pretty easy decision, as far as that goes.”

A’Shawn Robinson (Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)

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DL A’Shawn Robinson’s transformation​

A’Shawn Robinson signed with the Rams in 2020 at 330 pounds but will play at 300-305, he said Wednesday.
“They wanted me to lose weight, and I thought about how I played in Detroit, how much bigger I was and how much better I would be if I leaned up some,” he said. “So I got my chef in place, I got my workout regimen in place, I started pilates and yoga, really just harnessing my body and working every bit of it.”

Robinson also got bloodwork done to determine which foods to eat and which to stay away from. He said he has gone toward more of a pescatarian cuisine and also much heavier on the vegetables, while still ensuring that he’s getting the protein he needs.
“I really invested a lot of time in my body to start getting ready for the team,” he said. “I feel great … I first started seeing results in the beginning of March, (when) I switched chefs … I just wanted to be the best for these guys. I’m not going to go out here and slack and let any of these guys down.”
If needed, Robinson added, he could get down to 290 pounds and maintain that as a playing weight — which could point toward some of the versatility that may be asked of him on the interior defensive line, similar to Michael Brockers (who the Rams traded this spring after they were unable to agree on a contract restructure). At a lighter weight and presumably with that translating into more mobility, Robinson may be asked to play more positions than just nose tackle.

Last offseason, Robinson was nearly a COVID-19 opt-out due to a high-risk medical situation — but was able to work out a revised contract with the Rams to where he would simply spend the first half of the season on the non-football injury list. Because he missed so much of the team workouts through the summer and fall, using this offseason to try to make up for lost time was crucial. Robinson’s teammates have certainly noticed the difference.

“A’Shawn’s done a great job, transformed his body and lost weight,” said defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day, who should be featured alongside Robinson and three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald in the starting rotation. “Toned up, he’s locked in, man. He’s really locked in. I think a lot of guys are — especially with the departure of Brock. A lot of guys are ready to step up.”

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Punter competition? Johnny Hekker’s not naive​

Just before the draft in April, as the Rams added punter Corey Bojorquez to their 90-man roster, McVay and general manager Les Snead responded with a firm “no” when asked whether veteran punter Johnny Hekker would enter into a competition at his position this spring and summer — especially with a new special teams coordinator in town, and after an uncharacteristic season from Hekker.

“I’m my own biggest critic, so I’m never going to really be happy with my performance. I think last season, I definitely did not perform to the best of my abilities,” Hekker said Thursday. “There were a few games … I just kind of got, maybe, ahead of myself mentally and I wasn’t focusing on the little things, the little areas of my game that are what (contribute) to myself going out there and help me be smooth. … Last season, there were definitely some kicks out there that I would have liked to have seen go better for the team and for myself — but mostly for the team.”
Hekker also made it clear that he wasn’t going to get complacent even after hearing those public comments from Snead and McVay — and indicated that he’s operating under the assumption that he is indeed in a competition.

“I think that the things we say in press conferences can be just things that are said,” he said. “When push comes to shove, they have to make the best decision for this roster — and there’s no running around the financial aspect of it too — so you gotta do what you gotta do to put together the best roster that you can.

“Corey is wildly talented. So I think for me to, for a second, not think that this is a competition and not prepare myself every day like it is a competition would be doing myself and this team a disservice. I think every time we step on the field, or are in the weight room or in a meeting, that it’s a competition. I’m just doing what I can to make sure it doesn’t change my preparation in how I approach every day out here.

“It’s the kind of stuff that keeps you young, I think … I think the second that you take something for granted or for certainty in this league is the day you get surprised.”
Hekker has a $4.93 million cap number in 2021 with a $3.75 million base salary (all of which the Rams would save against the cap if they cut him now that the June 1 term has passed, with a $1.8 million dead-money hit). He also has perennially been one of the top punters in the NFL, and at times has acted as a player-coach for the unit. The Rams parted ways with veteran long snapper Jake McQuaide in free agency and brought in two players to compete for the role, and will feature their third new special teams coordinator in as many seasons in Joe DeCamillis.

Here is the split at the end of 2020…

Who do you move to the top half, who do you move to the bottom half?

Not a ranking. Just who moves from one half to the other?

Brewing anxiety in Seahawks nation?

Has their championship window closed? Or… does Waldron bring some degree of revigoration?

JULIO JONES WONT WIN US A SUPERBOWL:

IS WILSON ON THE DOWNSLOPE OF HIS CAREER?

Is Seahawks QB Russell Wilson now on downslope of his career?​

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is entering his 10th season in the NFL. (Getty)

We won’t see a better version of Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson than the one we see right now. And that’s not a bad thing.

He’s been playing at a top-five QB level for the past two seasons. But he’s probably reached his peak, right? And he plays a style that to me says he’s approaching those dreaded downward slopes.

So how far is Wilson – 32 years old now, 33 in November – from the inevitable decline that every quarterback not named Tom Brady experiences?

Don’t get mad. This is a fair question to ask, even if he’s coming off of back-to-back incredible statistical seasons. That’s because there’s been some troubling trends of late.

Russ must adjust his playing style going forward. It’s natural. He’s getting older. And while he’s still athletic, he certainly isn’t what he once was in terms of mobility. That’s not going to suddenly improve. Worse, the fact that he’s been sacked 40-plus times just about every season of his career (you can’t blame that all on the offensive line) shows how reliant he’s been on that mobility.

In a year where Wilson learns a largely – if not entirely – new Seahawks offense, how likely is it that he’d cut back on something he’s been dependent on in the past? Instincts and old habits might be his best friend during a transition like that, unless they’ve diminished a bit.

Last November, I scoffed when former NFL player Marcellus Wiley shared his opinion on FS1’s Speak For Yourself that Wilson finds a way to lose the MVP race down the stretch every year. Did he remember that final stretch that Russ had in 2015? But… he’s actually right.

Over the last two seasons, we’ve seen Wilson’s yards per attempt dramatically decline over the final month of the regular season (6.32 in December 2020 compared to 7.55 on the season, 7.15 in December 2019 compared to 7.97 on the season). We ripped Drew Brees when we witnessed a similar trend over the final seasons of his career, though it was a much more visible one. Isn’t it possible we’re witnessing that trend with Wilson now?

Sure, we’ve also criticized Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady for those same down-the-stretch issues, but look where they are now. There’s a difference for Russ, however: his height – something that he has in common with Brees. Brees figured out how to operate from the pocket in spite of his height, but it was out of necessity and early in his career. Can Russ get better at that in the middle of his career? And again, while learning a new offense?

I’m not ruling out the possibility that someone who grinds the way that Russ does can adapt his game. He certainly can become a better pocket passer. And on top of all that, the athleticism that he still has dwarfs what Brees and Brady brought to the table for the entirety of their careers. It’ll always be a weapon. But in a season last year where the Seahawks gave him more offensive weight to lift, Russ turned the ball over more than he ever had in his career and simply struggled down the stretch.

So perhaps we’re on the downslope after all.

Anybody got a cool collectable(s) to share?

This topic was inspired by the awesome gift @Selassie I got recently;


I don’t know if I’ve shared this story…

I bought these two photos off the St. Louis Post Dispatch website right after winning Superbowl 34… Paid maybe $20 per print, something like that.

These were two of my favorite moments from that magical season... and the photos captured them perfectly.

At the time I was living in St. Louis and was able to take them to Ram’s camp in McComb Illinois to get them autographed by Bruce and Proehl.

That Proehl picture… I love that one. Its not an easy image to find if you Google search for it.

It’s a game of inches! Look at that football right before he got his second hand on the ball... Really cool moment captured there.

In the middle of the 1987 season, Rams CB Leroy Irvin was so disgruntled with his contract, he asked to get traded. It was looking so likely, the Rams cleaned out his locker. The only problem? Irvin never got traded.

This is the crazy story behind the 1987 Rams drama between HC John Robinson, Leroy Irvin, and the Front Office.

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Rams OTAs: Which rookie impressed Sean McVay, injury updates for Terrell Lewis and Darrell Henderson​

By Jourdan Rodrigue Jun 4, 2021 13
The Rams officially wrapped up their voluntary spring workouts Friday afternoon and are preparing for mandatory minicamp June 8-10 — complete with an open practice at SoFi Stadium on June 10, which fans will be able to attend.
One point of update: Per the protocol established by Rams public relations, I am not able to report which players got first-team or second-team reps unless it’s directly addressed by head coach Sean McVay or the player himself (a policy that is pretty standard across the league). In video call interview sessions, there’s not always the opportunity to follow up on more granular details such as, “Hey, Sean, how much comfort do you have in rotating between Brian Allen and Coleman Shelton at second- and third-string center?” when there are also major storylines to get covered and about which to get commentary and context. So, please bear with me as I’ll do the best I can within these parameters, and please especially pay close attention to when depth charts and position outlooks are released in the coming weeks.
That said, here are notes and observations from Friday’s OTAs:
• Cornerback Robert Rochell, a fourth-round draft pick this spring, is getting thrown right into the mix with the first-team defense out of necessity with Darious Williams and Jalen Ramsey absent from the voluntary programming. It’s a credit to Rochell that he sees this small window as an opportunity. Once minicamp and training camp begin, he’ll be moved back with the second-teamers and will really dig into more special-teams work. He matched up several times against receivers Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson, who have been the lead receivers for quarterback Matthew Stafford with other veteran players trickling in and out of the workouts.
“That’s probably the best part about it, being thrown right into the mix,” Rochell said. “Just being able to transition and learn the speed of the game — seeing the guys full speed and the guys who do start, being able to just be there and go head-to-head with those guys is great. I’m taking advantage of each day … and just grateful that I am thrown in there a lot and getting those reps.
“I’m most definitely seizing the opportunity because it could have been granted to somebody else. They entrusted me to say that I could potentially be there. Just being able to rotate with guys and get practice reps at that position helps me out in all ways.”
• Running back Darrell Henderson is half-in, half-out of on-field work as he recovers from an unspecified injury, and he worked with vice president of sports medicine and performance Reggie Scott on the side of the field for about 50 percent of Friday’s practice. He did get some on-field work in with the offense, and McVay said he is “making good progress.”
“He’s feeling better and better, and we expect him to be full speed by the time training camp rolls around,” he said.
However, McVay was not able to provide any update on outside linebacker Terrell Lewis, who got a workout in with trainers but stood to the side with teammates during on-field work and did not participate in drills or installation. Lewis has been working through a recurring situation with his knee for the past year or so.
• McVay was asked if a rookie has stood out in the limited capacity of OTAs, and he quickly named Jacob Harris — the raw but explosively athletic tight end drafted in the fourth round this year. Harris has been working almost exclusively with tight ends coach Wes Phillips, who also communicated with him throughout the pre-draft process, so that should provide a clue as to where the Rams will slot him on the roster (although he clearly will be trained as more of a pass-catching and mismatch tight end).
“Jacob Harris is a guy who has definitely stood out,” McVay said. “Just his overall speed, athleticism — you kind of feel him on the field. That’s been in some of the limited seven-on-sevens and kind of running routes on air, and that’s not how you really play football. So there is a real variance when you actually include the offensive and defensive lines.”
With Tyler Higbee absent from the media-viewed portion of OTAs, Harris and second-year tight end Brycen Hopkins have gotten a lot of reps with Stafford.
• Defensive tackle Bobby Brown III’s attention to detail in his note-taking has drawn attention from the staff. Brown attributes his diligence to an interest in writing and his pursuit of the craft as a hobby. He added that his favorite writing and literature topic is mythology.
• Second-year running back Cam Akers took extra time to work on pass protection blocking drills with running backs coach/assistant head coach Thomas Brown between drilling sessions. Akers wants to be an every-down back in 2021 and is preparing for the lead back’s share of snaps, so continuing to hone his blocking and pass protection ability will be important so that the Rams feel they can keep him in the game on passing downs. McVay has high expectations for Akers.
“The biggest thing is that he’s got great natural run instincts, he’s really talented as a pass catcher,” McVay said. “It’s the nuanced understanding of where you fit in some of the protections where the back’s involved, and I think (for Akers) that it’s about continuing to become more and more complete. He’s got the skill set, he’s capable. We really feel the same way about Darrell Henderson as well. Under Coach Brown’s leadership and guidance, I expect that group to really grow.”
• Veteran outside linebacker Leonard Floyd was present for Friday’s workouts and led off the pass rush drills throughout the day. It was interesting to compare his length of frame alongside rookie outside linebacker Chris Garrett — Floyd is 6-foot-6 and Garrett is listed at 6-foot-4, but similarly to Floyd, Garrett seems to have the ability to use his frame (particularly his arms and wingspan) in a way that almost seems to give him a bit of extra length. Obo Okoronkwo, who has dealt with injuries the past two seasons, looked healthy and explosive — and may see a growing role in speed rush packages opposite Floyd if he can stay healthy. Justin Lawler worked his way into the No. 3 spot in drills, as Lewis was not participating in practice.

Rams' Sean McVay once pranked Kliff Kingsbury into thinking he'd lose Kyler Murray in NFL Draft​

The NFL is a business, but that doesn't mean players and coaches can't have fun — especially at each other's expense.

That was the case ahead of the 2019 NFL Draft, when third-year Rams coach Sean McVay pranked first-year Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury. The former Texas Tech coach had just been hired in January and was still learning the ropes of NFL rules — something his NFC West counterpart took advantage of.

"He had done his due diligence of saying, 'OK I know there's some tampering rules in the NFL,'" McVay said during an appearance on The Ringer's "Flying Coach" podcast. "He's been doing his thing in college, played in the league, but he's never dealt with some of these rules in the NFL.

"I'm sure Kliff and (Cardinals GM Steve Keim) already had it figured out, they're taking Kyler Murray No. 1. This guy was walking around like he was 7 foot, he was feeling so good about taking Kyler. And that was the big story. It was probably less than a month away from the draft. So he's so confident about it."

McVay pulled the prank in Los Angeles, where he, Kingsbury and former Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes (whom Kingsbury coached in college) were eating dinner. The Rams coach changed one of his friend's contact info in his own phone to read, "Roger Goodell," then had them text his phone as if he were the NFL commissioner.

"So he texts me, 'Hey, you know better than this. You and Kingsbury are both in deep trouble for tampering,'" McVay said.

He showed the exchange to the Cardinals coach, saying Goodell never texted him and that meant it must be serious.

"This guy looked like he was going to throw up," McVay said. "I mean, he's always got a good tan and a nice glow. He was as white as my walls behind me. He was ready to puke. And I wanted to let it go. ... It was probably 30 seconds that probably felt like three hours to him. I said, 'I'm just kidding.' I don't think he ate the rest of the meal."

Kingsbury, who was also on the podcast, chimed in: "I didn't eat the rest of the trip."
Here's a video of McVay detailing the prank:

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Luckily for Kingsbury, he got to keep the team's No. 1 overall pick, which the Cardinals used to select Murray. But how's that for a "welcome to the NFL" moment?

Saw this tweet... Pretty cool. Around 50 until training camp!

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Rookies Bobby Brown III, Robert Rochell are kindred spirits on Rams’ defense​

During the run-up to the NFL draft, defensive lineman Bobby Brown III and cornerback Robert Rochell got to know each other while working out at the same training facility.

The Rams selected both Brown, who played at Texas A&M, and Rochell, from Central Arkansas, in the fourth round.

The rookie teammates have spent the last few weeks working to make an impression on coach Sean McVay and his staff during organized team activity workouts. The Rams finish their offseason program next week with a three-day minicamp.

Brown and Rochell said Friday that their friendship has grown through the process.

“That’s a funny guy, man, a guy that can make you laugh all day,” Rochell said during a videoconference with reporters. “Big character, a guy that loves this game just as much me. ... Just having a guy around that’s similar to me in characteristics is everything, so we enjoy the game together.”

“That’s a great guy,” he said of Rochell. “He’s got his head on right. I can’t wait to see what he’ll be able to do later on in his career because he loves football.”

Brown is trying to find a role on a remade defensive line that includes veterans such as three-time NFL defensive player of the year Aaron Donald, A’Shawn Robinson and Sebastian Joseph-Day, younger players such as Greg Gaines and fellow rookies Earnest Brown IV among others.

Rochell is part of a cornerback group that includes starters Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams and others such as David Long.

McVay said Brown’s attention to detail during drills has caught his eye. Rochell’s movement and improvement in the last few weeks also has been noteworthy.

“Been pleased with those two young guys and looking forward to seeing them wrap it up the right way next week,” McVay said.

McVay also said that tight end Jacob Harris, a fourth-round pick from Central Florida, has stood out among rookies.

“Just his overall speed and athleticism,” McVay said of the 6-foot-5, 211-pound Harris, “you kind of feel him on the field.”

Next week’s minicamp, which concludes with a workout on Thursday before fans at SoFi Stadium, will be the final opportunity for McVay to observe and evaluate new quarterback Matthew Stafford on the field before the Rams reconvene for training camp in late July at UC Irvine.

During Friday’s workout, which was open to reporters, Stafford continued to show command of the offense.

“Things come to him quickly,” McVay said of the 12-year veteran. “He’s got so many experiences to draw on. ... He’s only going to continue to grow and we’re going to continue to get better.”

Donald, Ramsey, Williams, receiver DeSean Jackson and tight end Tyler Higbee did not attend Friday’s workout, which was voluntary, and McVay reiterated that he had been in communication with players.

Next week’s minicamp is technically mandatory, but McVay hinted a few players might be absent with permission.

“I’ve been extremely pleased with the leadership from our veterans that have really guided an opportunity for us to get a great month of work, in person, and next week will represent the finality of that.”

Etc.
Running back Darrell Henderson, who is recovering from ankle surgery, continues to work with the training staff during workouts but also has participated in some drills. McVay said he expected Henderson would be at full speed by training camp. Outside linebacker Terrell Lewis, who was sidelined part of last season because of a knee issue, attended practice but did not participate. McVay said he did not have an update on Lewis.

Rams look for a more complete Cam Akers this season​

THOUSAND OAKS — Cam Akers’ rookie year with the Rams was a mix of pain and promise.

The pain: The running back fell on the ball awkwardly on a red zone carry in his second game and missed most of the next month, and he had to play through an ankle sprain late in the season.

The promise: He finished on fire, rushing for 92.1 yards per game over the final two months, an average that would be third-best in the NFL if he kept it up over a full schedule.

How much of that promise Akers can fulfill in his second season has been a topic during the Rams’ organized team activities (OTAs) the past two weeks.

Last year’s second-round draft pick from Florida State, who turns 22 on June 22, notices his own improvement.

“Mentally, everything has just slowed down, everything is easier for me,” Akers said recently. “I understand the playbook a lot more, I understand blocking schemes, I understand who I need to block.”

That’s vital if true. If Akers is a more reliable blocker on passing plays, Coach Sean McVay will trust him to be on the field for every down.

“I think it’s just continuing to become more and more complete,” McVay said Friday. “He’s got the skill set. He’s capable.”

Akers began 2020 alongside Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown in a three-man running-back committee trying to replace Todd Gurley, and ended up as the Rams’ leading rusher (625 yards), topping Henderson by 1 yard, while trailing Henderson in yards from scrimmage (rushing plus receiving), 783-748.

His production should increase. It usually does for good running backs in their second season. The seven backs drafted in the second round from 2016-19 – starting with Derrick Henry – saw their yards from scrimmage go from an average of 770 in year 1 to 1,094 in year 2.

Akers said that going into OTAs as the Rams’ No. 1 back doesn’t change his thinking.

“Mentally, I just take it day by day and prepare,” he said. “I don’t make it more than what it is.”

But the Rams naturally dream of seeing more of what Akers gave them in a December victory over the Patriots (29 carries for 171 yards, 2 catches for 23) and the playoff victory over the Seahawks (28 for 131, 2 for 45).

“(If) a young, talented back (is) on the field more often and with more of the playbook available to them, I think that’s when you really see them take that leap,” Rams tackle Andrew Whitworth, who’s going into his 16th season, said of players going into their second.

Said cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Akers’ fellow Florida State alum: “I can’t wait to see him grow from here. I just pray that he can remain healthy and can help lead the offense, because we need him.”

Ramsey said that in January before the Rams traded for quarterback Matthew Stafford to try to improve their passing game.

But the importance of revving up the running game remains the same for McVay, who preaches that a good offense needs balance.

“He’s obviously a great runner, but he’s got ability as a pass-catcher coming from the backfield, and we can displace him and put him in the slot or the outside receiver location,” McVay said of Akers. “There’s not any limitations, but we’ll see how it comes to life.”

ON THE CALENDAR

Friday marked the end of the Rams’ two weeks of OTAs and, coincidentally, 100 days until the regular-season opener on Sunday night, Sept. 12 against the Chicago Bears at SoFi Stadium.

The Rams will wrap up spring workouts next week with a three-day mandatory minicamp.

McVay said he expects no unexcused absences from minicamp, the team’s last practice sessions until training camp opens at UC Irvine the week of July 25.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

It’s never too soon to ask which rookies look good. McVay said it can be hard to tell in OTAs. Linemen are especially hard to evaluate without 11-on-11 scrimmages.

But the coach singled out tight end Jacob Harris, a fourth-round pick from Central Florida, for praise.

“Just his overall speed, athleticism, you kind of feel him on the field,” McVay said of the 6-foot-5 Harris, who played mostly wide receiver in college.