I am going crazy right now trying to figure out bizarre behavior of a relative from 106 years ago. His name was Eugene and he purposefully misspelled his last name with two extra letters before he married a woman and served in World War One. He was a literate guy and had a 10th grade education when many people dropped from school by 8th grade to get a job.

His father, my great uncle, was a constable and ran the county jail for years. In fact, Eugene was born in a apartment above the jail in 1893 And his mother used to cook meals for inmates and so he and the rest of the family had contact with those awaiting trial. His father was always in the newspapers for being involved with arrests and prisoner transportation from the jail to the court house. Point being, Eugene saw his fathers name in newsprint so often that I can’t believe he didn’t know how to spell it. On his draft registration card, he signed it that way and so it was no mistake. What scam was he running?

He married Mabel, using the incorrectly spelled name and the three kids that they had together over their 5 year marriage all had this incorrect name. She was pregnant with his first child when they got married and she was born when he was away getting trained at Ft Cody near Demming, NM for WW1. After returning from France, there was a post war depression and so that couldn’t have been easy. He deserted Mabel and the kids and moved to Oakland, CA. She was granted a divorce back in South Dakota and two of the kids were adopted out. Meanwhile, Eugene’s last name is back to the correct spelling in California and he married a gal and had several kids with her and was considered a great grandpa. His 2nd wife must have known about the first marriag, but their kids and grand kids never knew until we discovered it (Gene’s granddaughter and myself) through dna matching.

Did he think that contracts were invalid if his name was misspelled? What really gets me is that incorrect signature. NO ONE misspells a signature by accident.

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10 things with Van Jefferson

1: Room for improvement

Sarina:You wrapped up your first year in the NFL…how do you feel about it all now that you've had some time to reflect?

Van: My first year in the NFL was a learning experience. I feel as if I learned a lot of things that will help me in year two. I expected a lot more out of myself, but everything is all about timing and being ready. Overall, I thought it was good, but a lot of room for improvement.

2: Family

Sarina: I couldn't help but notice the "Family" tattoo you have on your arm here. When did you get it? Is there a story behind you getting the tattoo?

Van: My family tattoo was just an idea I had in my head. I'm very big on family and it's something that means a lot to me.

3: One of his first friends

Sarina: I have seen you working out with John Wolford this offseason. You two are buddies. What do love the most about JW?

Van: What I love about John is that he works his tail off. Not matter the circumstances, he will just put his head down and work. John is one of the guys I became really cool with when I first arrived. He is a team player and makes everyone better around him.

4: His number one fan

Sarina: Your daughter is one of the cutest kids on the planet. No exaggeration. How does she get ready for game day? Will we see her in the stands at SoFi this coming season?

Van: Hahaha my daughter pumps her father up before every game, making sure my mind is right and ready. She is the best thing to ever happen to me! And yes, SoFi will definitely be seeing her.

5: Gators

Sarina: With the draft coming up, any former teammates you are excited to see get the call? Who should we look out for?

Van: I'm excited for the draft! I can't wait to hear Kyle Pitts, Kyle Trask, Kadarius Toney, Tre Grimes and Stone Foresight. I'm just so happy for all of those guys. Hoping that at least one of them becomes my teammate.

6: Lay it all on the line.

Sarina: Matthew Stafford says he's excited to work with you and the rest of the wide receiver group… how excited are you to work with him? What are your thoughts on the veteran QB?

Van: I'm very excited to work with Matt. He's a great quarterback and someone I have been watching for a while. I know he is a guy who is going to lay it all on the line for his team. He plays through injuries just to make sure he is out there for his team. I can't wait to get started.

7: Get him to Greece

Sarina: Country you want to travel to and why?

Van: Country I really want to travel to is Greece. Places like Santorini, Athens and Sparta. I'm really into learning about traditions and the Spartan army, so I really just want to explore. I think that'll be my next vacation.

8: Proud pops

Sarina: How did pops [Shawn Jefferson, Cardinals wide receivers coach] think you did this season? And how do you feel about him being in the same division now?!

Van: Pops expected a lot more out of me. He is very hard on me and wants to see me succeed. But in the end, he was very proud of me and said he expects more of me in season two. It's going to be fun. I get to see him twice a year now. I'm excited to play against him and compete. I know he'll be talking and making his noise.

9: Best show on the planet

Sarina: You put me on Snowfall! Thank you for changing my life… what is the next show I should start watching?

Van: Snowfall is the best show on the planet. Hahaha It's only going to get better. A show that I'm starting to get into is Money Heist and a show called For Life, give those two a try.

10: Hit the books

Sarina: What do wish you knew more about that has nothing to do with football?

Van: I wish I knew more about law. I know a few things, but I want to study it more so that I can use what I learn in a time of need. I actually want to go back to school and study law when football is done and learn more about prison reform.

First there was there com device which the flip phone seemed to mimick. They walked around with computer pads long before the iPad. Wireless connectivity is normal in Star Trek when it was virtually unknown to the general public. The list goes on and on.

But perhaps the most interesting is transparent aluminum. It is real, as it's a combination of powdered aluminum, powdered oxygen and nitrogen. About an inch of it can stop a .50 caliber bullet when 6" of armored glass can't stop a .50 cal round. It's just a matter of getting the production price down and I think that will be done as well.

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I think Morris will play a more standard 3-4 hybrid scheme. In reality, if played the way that scheme is originally designed it many times will only play one ILB. Both edge rushers would be OLB (JACK) with a MIKE and a SAM (OLB) that is what Phillips played here. He didn't have the players to do it correctly, but Morris does. If Morris plays a more conventional hybrid scheme he will need a SAM OLB which is the position Ebukam played under Phillips and plays in the Niner 4-3. I think Jonah Williams might be someone they look at and a reason Ebukam might have become expendable. Although I also expect them to address this positional loss in the draft, which is why I think there first pick will be an OLB/edge (in this defense they want more than just a pass rusher which is why I think Okoronkwo isn't a starter here).

Ebukam is a perfect fit for the Niners and is an underrated signing by them. The problem with Staley's scheme is that it was pretty complicated which led to breakdowns in the secondary on occasions particularly when the play went off schedule. His scheme was a hybrid zone/man coverage. It will be interesting to see how Morris plays his secondary. The advantage he has vs Phillips is that the Ram front 4 now is much better and can get pressure without blitzes.

Morris played both a 4-3 and 3-4 hybrid schemes while at Atlanta. They originally ran a 4-3 under scheme fairly similar to what the Sea Hawks run. But in 2019 they switched to a 3-4 hybrid attacking scheme and had much more success. The advantage of the 4-3 under scheme is that it is a gap control scheme that allows the d-line to play faster as it eliminates some of the reads. The 3-4 hybrid is played much the same way by the defensive front. The difference is the hybrid gives the DC more options on how to play that front as most of it is made up of LBs which can confuse the o-line blocking scheme.

What I liked about Morris is Atlanta is he was able to get the most out of the players he had. He's never had a roster stacked with this much talent before which is why I'm anxious to see how he intends to use that talent. I would expect this defense barring roster losses to injury or COVID to stay ranked in the top 5 in the NFL. That would be good enough for this team to be a legit SB contender as I feel this offense can also be a top 5 unit.

Too many times this team lost games last year because the offense stalled. As long as Stafford stays healthy I don't see that happening again. There is a new sheriff in LA and he's a gunslinger.

“No it’s not fun. It’s really not a fun pool,” McVay replied. “It’s a pool I wouldn’t mind not being in, to be honest with you. It sure makes it fun for you to say, ‘Hey, how’s it swimming in the deep end six times a year, Sean?’”

That comment came after Eisen and McVay discussed the 49ers’ bold move to trade all the way up to No. 3 overall, giving up their first-round pick this year and two future firsts, as well as a third-rounder.






Yeah, the least these guys could do would be to lay down for a couple of decades like the old NFCW did in the 80's and 90's and the entire AFCE did for Brady's run.

Jerks.

Cameron DaSilva

April 15, 2021 2:43 pm

Going undefeated in the NFL is difficult enough, and it just got even tougher with the league expanding to a 17-game regular season starting in 2021. The Los Angeles Rams have the talent to make a deep playoff run with Matthew Stafford at quarterback and both Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey on defense, but do they have a chance to go 17-0?

Mark Lane of Touchdown Wire picked five teams with the best chance to go undefeated next season and the Rams were among them. Lane’s main argument is that the Rams went 13-3 in 2018 with Jared Goff at quarterback, and now that Stafford is taking over, they have a chance to recreate some of their magic from three seasons ago.

Los Angeles also plays the NFC North, which has one dominant team in the Green Bay Packers, the AFC South, which has two really bad teams in the Jacksonville Jaguars and Houston Texans. Furthermore, the Tennessee Titans will visit Los Angeles.
If the Rams are able to recreate the same success that they had in 2018, they will have a decent shot at perfection. The schedule is doing them some favors, too.

Click to expand...

The Rams’ schedule is no cake walk, though. They’ll play six games against the Cardinals, 49ers and Seahawks, all of which could make the playoffs. They’ll also face the Ravens as part of the 17-game schedule, with the Titans, Packers, Bucs and Colts also on their schedule.
Getting through that slate of games without a loss will be extremely difficult, but on paper, the Rams look like one of the best teams in football. Just don’t set your expectations at 17-0 because it’s highly unlikely anyone will go undefeated in 2021.

I usually follow the Rams Draft a LOT more than I have this year so I am wondering/hoping some other Rams fans can share with me some of your opinions on who you think or would like to see the Rams select (Within Reason!) with their picks this year! I have no clues other than I would like to see them get a Center somewhere in this Draft!

Thanks In Advance!!!

2021 NFL Draft interior offensive lineman rankings

While the interior offensive line class may not be quite as strong as the tackle class for the 2021 NFL Draft, it’s still much stronger than the group we saw a year ago and one of the better classes since we started grading. It’s also one that could also get helped out by a number of tackle converts. Whatever the case, it’s a good year to be in need of offensive linemen.

SUPERLATIVES
Best Feet: Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC

Most Physical: Landon Dickerson, Alabama

Best Pass Sets: Wyatt Davis, Ohio State

Best Gap Scheme: Deonte Brown, Alabama

Best Zone Scheme: Alijah Vera-Tucker, USC

1. LANDON DICKERSON, ALABAMA
Dickerson is going to come with some serious medical red flags. He tore his ACL as a freshman at Florida State, had an ankle injury that caused him to miss nine games as a sophomore and then tore his ACL in his right knee once again in the SEC title game this season.

If it weren’t for that serious injury history, Dickerson may very well be the top interior offensive lineman in this class. He plays with unmatched physicality that is almost comical to watch on tape. The pleasure he takes in destroying defenders is a joy to watch.

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He’s also remarkably consistent for a man who loves to go for the big hit. He earned a 91.3 overall grade this past season to lead all centers and tied for the Power Five lead with 14 big-time blocks. You don’t have to watch his tape long to find those pancakes, and he’d even get multiple on a single play.

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Dickerson is the definition of a tone-setter and will be a fan favorite wherever he goes.

2. QUINN MEINERZ, WISCONSIN-WHITEWATER
Meinerz was the single biggest draft board riser for pretty much everyone in his time at Mobile during the Senior Bowl. That’s because, coming from Division III and having not played all fall, Meinerz wasn’t even ranked on a lot of boards. He not only proved he belonged at the Senior Bowl, but he also dominated at times. His 58% win rate in the one-on-ones was the second-best rate of any interior offensive lineman in attendance.

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Having played only guard in his time at Wisconsin-Whitewater, Meinerz took his first reps at center in his career that week and more than impressed.

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While you can’t glean much from the competition he faced on his tape, what he did against future NFL players makes him more than deserving of a spot.

3. WYATT DAVIS, OHIO STATE
It wasn’t quite the leap to dominance we were hoping for, but Davis was still arguably the best pass-protecting guard in the country. His 11 pressures allowed don’t do him justice, as almost all of them came against unblocked blitzes or stunts. When he went one-on-one with 3-techniques, there was no one better. He boasts a do-it-all body type at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds to run any scheme or assignment you could want.

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It will be worth monitoring Davis’ knee issue that was never fully disclosed but caused him to go down in multiple games this past season. It quite obviously hampered his play, as his grade declined from 82.6 in 2019 to 66.3 this past year.

4. KENDRICK GREEN, ILLINOIS
I mentioned earlier that Landon Dickerson was tied for the Power Five lead with 14 big-time blocks this past season. I bet if you didn’t know it previously, you wouldn’t have guessed that Green is the guy he’s tied with. Making that fact all the more impressive is that Green played only eight games this past season. His tape is littered with high-level plays — and not only of the pancake variety but also in sheer difficulty of assignment.

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I’m not sure there’s another interior lineman in this class who can match Green’s explosiveness off the line of scrimmage. He flies out of his stance. While he’s still a work in progress in pass protection, Green has the foot quicks to get it done in time.

5. CREED HUMPHREY, OKLAHOMA
Humphrey has been one of the most consistent centers in the country for the past three years. He’s allowed only 28 pressures over that span on nearly 1,300 pass-blocking snaps. He boasts a versatile body type for the interior at 6-foot-5, 320 pounds and isn’t likely limited to only center at the next level.

When Humphrey gets his hand placement down, he’s not letting go. He flashes some of the best hand usage in the draft class, and it’s why he’s excelled in pass protection over his career.

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His issues come with consistently playing with leverage. He’s had massive issues with squatty nose tackles and can get walked back into the pocket. Because of that, Humphrey’s best position may even be guard at the next level.

6. TREY SMITH, TENNESSEE
Smith has a very similar strengths/weaknesses profile to the man above him on this list. He possesses people-moving ability from top to bottom and some nastiness to go along with it.

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But he never quite lived up to the potential he flashed as a true freshman, which earned him a 71.3 overall grade across multiple positions after he was a five-star recruit. Some of that was out of his control, as he missed multiple offseasons of development between blood clots in his lungs and now COVID-19.

That has really shown through in pass protection, where he’s still very inconsistent. Smith struggled in that regard at the Senior Bowl and earned a tough 16.2 pass-blocking grade throughout the week of practices and the game.


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Over the past two seasons at guard, Smith has earned only a 65.8 pass-blocking grade on true pass sets.

7. BEN CLEVELAND, GEORGIA
Cleveland possesses one of the freakiest builds not only among offensive linemen but among the entire draft class. He checked in at the Senior Bowl at 6-foot-6 and a whopping 354 pounds. And when you look at his arms and gut, he’s not fat. He’s built more like a World’s Strongest Man competitor than an offensive lineman.

In fact, his weight room antics are stuff of legend at Georgia. A few years ago, Cleveland repped 225 pounds 50 times in the Georgia weight room testing (49 is the NFL combine record). That would be one thing if it was just in the weight room, but it translates to the field, as well.

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Unlike most guys who tip the scales at 350-plus pounds, Cleveland is still agile enough to get the job done in pass protection. He allowed only six pressures this past season on 283 pass-blocking snaps for an 86.2 grade. While his week ended early, Cleveland still showed out well in limited time at the Senior Bowl.

8. DEONTE BROWN, ALABAMA
Brown is listed as the best gap-scheme guard for a reason. It’s because when the 364-pounder gets his paws on you, he is moving you and not the other way around. His ability to unlock his hips and move at his size is truly incredible to watch.

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While he can still play on the move and in a diverse scheme, Brown is undeniably better in a phone booth. That shows up all too frequently in pass protection, where his ability to recover is sorely lacking. That's why he’s not higher on this list. He earned an unsightly 32.8 pass-blocking grade on 66 pass-blocking snaps throughout the week of practices and the game itself at the Senior Bowl.

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9. AARON BANKS, NOTRE DAME
Banks broke into the starting lineup for the Irish midway through the 2018 season and was a mainstay at left guard ever since. He’s a big boy who’s going to be a guard only at the NFL level despite being Notre Dame’s emergency tackle. While he has three years of quality pass protection under his belt, he doesn’t have the foot speed or anchor to think that will continue at the NFL level. Even at his size, you rarely see him moving guys off the line of scrimmage. I struggle to call anyone capped out, but with as technically sound as Banks is already, I’m not sure where he goes from here.

10. JOSH MEYERS, OHIO STATE
Myers was a two-year starter for the Buckeyes who took all 1,539 of his snaps in his college career at center. However, the 6-foot-5, 312-pounder could very likely kick out to guard with little issue. What is an issue is the lack of improvement we saw on tape this season. Myers can deliver a crushing blow on contact, but he all too often goes for the “home run,” so to speak. That led to far too many whiffs on his tape, and it’s a big reason why he allowed six sacks and 27 total pressures over the past two seasons. That would give me pause from an interior lineman.

Three-Round 2021 NFL Mock Draft: NFC West



The San Francisco 49ers are not that far removed from a place in the Super Bowl, so Niners fans will soon be looking at the quarterback John Lynch picks at No. 3 in the 2021 NFL Draft as the savior who can get them back to the pinnacle of the sport.

San Francisco does get a quarterback in this three-round NFC West mock draft, but it's not the quarterback many will expect. Elsewhere in the division, the Seattle Seahawks came out on top last season but have almost no draft capital to get younger and better for 2021, while the Los Angeles Rams go another season without a first-round pick but do have a few middle-round picks to work with. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals continue to believe in their tremendous upside but are yet to put it all together on the field in the Kliff Kingsbury/Kyler Murray era.

With little in the way of prime draft capital for these NFC West teams, it will be crucial that each franchise finds early value when the draft kicks off on April 29.


Because we are trying to create the perfect environment and picks for every team, we refresh the mock draft simulator after each team has picked. You can try your hand at building the perfect roster by clicking here.

We'll start our three-round mock draft with a pick that could go a long way toward deciding the NFC West champion in 2021.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS


Pick No. 3: QB ZACH WILSON, BYU
The whole world believes that the New York Jets are taking Zach Wilson at No. 2, but if I've learned just one thing over the years of watching the NFL draft, it is that where there is smoke there is only a 50% chance there is fire.

We hear these rumors every season leading up to the draft, then draft day comes and nothing we thought would happen actually happens. When I fired up the PFF Mock Draft Simulator, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Trevor Lawrence — as expected — but then the New York Jets selected Justin Fields at No. 2.

And it’s not just a glitch in the system. There is a very real chance that we have been fed and will continue to be fed the proverbial serving of draft-related bull excrement. So, in this scenario, the Niners select BYU QB Zach Wilson.

Wilson fits Shanahan’s outside-zone boot scheme to a certain degree because he played in a similar system last season. The 49ers have run the sixth-most outside-zone play-action plays in the league over the previous two seasons, while BYU ran by far the most in college football last season. It’s a like-for-like match.

Related: The Zach Wilson Dilemma via Seth Galina

Pick 43: CB ASANTE SAMUEL JR., FSU
The Niners use the 43rd overall pick on FSU cornerback Asante Samuel Jr., who would step in to replace veteran Richard Sherman.

Samuel is a slightly different cornerback than Sherman is, and I think the Niners will like that. When we think of Sherman, he is the prototype press corner who has excelled in that press-bail zone style. However, he adapted his style to what the 49ers wanted, which was more of an off-coverage corner, and Asante Samuel Jr. happens to be just that.

It ends up being a pretty solid replacement. Samuel Jr. loves to bait quarterbacks by making it look like receivers are open before coming down and getting his hands on passes. He forced an incompletion on just over 20% of the passes thrown his way over the last two years, tied for 14th in the country among players who saw at least 50 targets in coverage.

Simply put, Samuel is a ballhawk. As PFF's Sam Monson wrote when dissecting the FSU product's tape, “OK, this is the kind of play you need to offset that size with. Against Georgia Tech, Samuel reads a route combination so absurdly early in his zone that he’s ready and waiting for the pass way before the quarterback ever knows he’s attempting it. Samuel is moving to jump the route when the quarterback is still two reads away in his progression.

That’s elite mental processing and instincts — the kind of play his father made a career out of in the NFL. This is one of the most impressive plays I’ve seen from a cornerback so far in this process, even if the end result looks like a pick gifted to him.”

If he falls to No. 43, this is excellent value for San Francisco.

Related — 2021 NFL Draft Profile: Florida State CB Asante Samuel Jr. via Sam Monson

Pick 102: WR IHMIR SMITH-MARSETTE, IOWA
The Iowa receiver has been slowly climbing back up draft boards. His average draft position on the PFF mock draft simulator was around 240 from about the middle of February to the end of March, but he has climbed to 125 in recent weeks.



Analysts and mock drafters alike are coming around to the fact that he played with an inaccurate quarterback in college, and we shouldn’t let his lack of production affect his draft stock too much. He gets off the ball in a hurry and is someone the 49ers can use down the field right away. Only 12 of his 32 deep targets over the last two seasons were charted as accurate. He will get much more opportunity to make plays in the NFL.



ARIZONA CARDINALS


Pick 16: DI CHRISTIAN BARMORE, ALABAMA
It’s not the best interior defensive line class of all time, but Barmore is the best of the bunch in terms of NFL projection, and his production metrics are off the charts. Barmore is nimble-footed, allowing him to perform pass-rush moves that other people his size wouldn’t dare attempt. He is athletic as they come on the inside, as Aaron Donald’s influence continues to loom large at the future of the position.

Here’s Anthony Treash on Barmore’s best trait, his bend:

“Barmore is an all-around great interior defensive lineman prospect. His 6-foot-4, 310-pound frame and 34 ⅝-inch arms form the ideal body type, and he additionally boasts great hand usage, burst, power and bend. He has no issue getting low at that size, routinely cornering interior offensive linemen to get to the quarterback]. Over the past two years, Barmore rushed the passer just shy of 500 times, recording a 92.2 pass-rush grade and a 19.7% win rate — both of which led Power 5 interior defensive linemen by a significant margin. He shouldn’t slide out of the top 20 in April's draft.”

Barmore would be a Day 1 starter for the Cardinals and would join a defensive line that already boasts Chandler Jones and J.J. Watt.

Related: 2021 NFL Draft: Biggest pro and con for each of PFF’s top DL prospects via Anthony Treash

Pick 49: CB ERIC STOKES, GEORGIA
Stokes has played so many high-level snaps over the past few seasons at Georgia using techniques that will help him at the next level. He’s a perfectly technical cornerback, which helps because he’s neither the biggest nor the most athletic player in this CB class.

PFF’s 2021 NFL



LOS ANGELES RAMS


Pick 57: G WYATT DAVIS, OHIO STATE
Now that the Rams have Matthew Stafford playing quarterback, one would assume that they will transition to more of a dropback-passing team. Of course, they'll still base out of their outside-zone boot scheme, but you will see more straight dropbacks and fewer rollouts.

They’ll need a reliably good pass protector at guard, and Wyatt Davis is that.

The Ohio State offensive line had massive communication issues last season on the inside. You don’t like seeing that, especially with the veteran Wyatt Davis there, but that shouldn’t affect how teams view him. He has the potential to be a new wave of guard with his athleticism, balance and toughness. He’s a technical player who rarely loses and would be a great fit in L.A. He allowed just three sacks and one hit across 691 pass-blocking snaps over the last two seasons while earning an 84.1 PFF grade on outside-zone running plays.

Pick 88: LB JUSTIN HILLIARD, OHIO STATE
The Rams linebackers were not great last season, but Brandon Staley’s system utilized them in such a way that made them replaceable. It remains to be seen whether Raheem Morris will run the same system in 2021; the new defensive coordinator might value that position more and want to bring in more competition.

Justin Hilliard is that competition. If he had played as he did in 2020 in prior seasons, there’s no way he falls this late in the draft. He can be that good. With all his recent injuries, we just haven’t seen him play enough to get a feel for how good he is, but the potential is off the charts. The Ohio State linebacker graded above 80.0 in coverage and against the run in 2020.

PFF’s 2021 NFL Draft Guide is loaded

Pick 103. DI KHYIRIS TONGA, BYU
The Rams could use some depth on the defensive line, especially if they go back to a four-down look under Raheem Morris. Tonga is a man mountain who can eat blocks if he wants but is also nimble enough to beat people off the bounce. He graded higher in 2019 (78.0) than he did in 2020 (71.7) despite facing tougher competition in that 2019 campaign.

There are times when he can get driven back but makes up for it with some absurd run stops. He recorded 47 run stops over the last two seasons, mainly from the nose position. Here you are getting someone who can elevate his game whenever he wants — the question is, how often does he want to do it?

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS


Pick 56. Edge RASHAD WEAVER, PITTSBURGH
The Hawks have almost no draft capital, and this is their only pick in the first three rounds. They pick pass-rusher Rashad Weaver from Pitt here.

The Seahawks actually churned out great sack and pressure numbers last season but still finished 26th in team pass-rush grade. That tells you they were able to scheme people to the quarterback but didn’t have enough individuals who could work offensive linemen. They get that in Weaver, who has a lot of mileage on his tires and could come in and play right away. We know he can stop the run and might not be the preferred pass-rushing NFL athlete, but he generated an excellent 21.1% pass-rush win rate in college.
*******************************************************************************************************************************



Thoughts?

Robert Woods says Rams offense is 'looking loaded once again'

Cameron DaSilva

April 15, 2021 9:40 am

After struggling on offense in the last two years, the Los Angeles Rams made a massive change this offseason, trading Jared Goff and three draft picks to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford. The move has just about everyone in Southern California excited, hopefully paving the way for the Rams to win a Super Bowl at their home stadium next February.
After spending four years with Goff as his quarterback, Robert Woods will now have someone new throwing him passes. He was on “Good Morning Football” Thursday discussing the addition of Stafford, saying he hopes to help get some playoff wins for the veteran QB, who has yet to win a postseason game in his career.
Woods says the Rams offense looks loaded once again.

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The Rams finished second in points and yards in 2018 when they made their Super Bowl run, but they’ve declined in each of the last two years: 11th in points in 2019 and 22nd in 2020.
Stafford has a legitimate chance to throw for 5,000-plus yards in the Rams offense next season, especially with there being 17 games. He has a strong offensive line in front of him – save for the center position – and a top group of pass catchers, as well as a brilliant coach in Sean McVay.
The Rams and Stafford are certainly set up for success next season despite their highly competitive division.



Robert Woods will switch to No. 2 'right away' if rule is approved

Cameron DaSilva

April 15, 2021 3:19 pm
If you recently bought a Robert Woods jersey with the number 17 on the back, prepare to be disappointed.
The NFL is considering letting wide receivers (and other skill position players) wear single-digit numbers, which would open the door for Woods and other players to switch back to their college numbers. Woods wore No. 2 at USC and in high school, too, so he fully plans to switch from 17 to 2 if the NFL passes the proposed rule change.
“Yeah, right away. Definitely,” Woods said on Pro Football Talk. “Just being number 2 my whole life, always was the deuce – ‘the deuce is loose – so just being able to get the 2 back, playing in L.A., wore it at USC. All the local fans, it’s really rare. Got to jump on that opportunity to wear the 2 in the hometown. It’s a must.”
There’s just one problem: Jalen Ramsey also wants No. 2. Ramsey currently wears No. 20 and has his eyes on No. 2, saying he’ll also try to switch his jersey number if the rule is passed.
Woods and Ramsey have already exchanged comments on social media about the race to that coveted jersey number, but Woods says it should be his because of the fact that he’s worn it before.
“I know he’s Jalen 2.0, but we might just have to have him wear number zero. Bring that into play,” Woods said with a laugh. “That’ll be a conversation we gotta have, but he knows who’s in it and who’s been rockin’ it.
“It’s too late. He never wore it. He doesn’t know how to wear it.”
Here’s an easy solution: five reps of one-on-one between Ramsey and Woods. Winner gets No. 2.
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“Just being number 2 my whole life, always was the deuce – ‘the deuce is loose

Yea, I like the sound of that.

Andrew Whitworth was willing to play guard if Rams traded for Trent Williams last year

• By Cameron DaSilva | 3:26 pm
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• The Los Angeles Rams’ offensive line was a major weakness in 2019 as the team shuffled through a number of players across every position except left tackle. Andrew Whitworth remained healthy and played at a high level when protecting Jared Goff’s blindside, but the other four spots were almost revolving doors.
  That led to the team making some changes in 2020. But before the Rams landed on their starting five, they explored the possibility of trading for All-Pro Trent Williams, who Washington was looking to deal. According to Mike Garafolo, Sean McVay “dabbled with reuniting with Trent Williams as a guard,” but Washington wound up trading him to the 49ers.
  
  Whitworth has only played left tackle with the Rams since 2017, but he told the front office and coaching staff last year that he would move to guard in order to make room for Williams.
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• “When we lost Rodger Saffold, there was an opportunity out there where Trent Williams was still getting the mill of trades and all that stuff,” he told the LA Football Podcast. “I can remember at one point being like, ‘Go trade for the guy. I’ll move to left guard, I don’t care. We would monster mash people.’”
  
  
  
  
  
  A pairing of Williams and Whitworth along the left side of the Rams’ offensive line would’ve been absolutely incredible. Williams is a perennial Pro Bowler, being selected eight times since 2012. Whitworth is still one of the top left tackles in football and certainly has the strength and skill set to play guard.
  
  He remains open to playing guard if the Rams need him to, even at this point in his career.
  
  “I was always open to that throughout my career because I always kept it in the back of my head, like, ‘All right, early in my career I did that and I’m built with the strength to be able to play in there,’” he said. “For me, that fits my game a little better than probably some tackles and edge guys. But I’ve always kept that in my head and it’s one of those things that I prepare myself mentally if that happens. And it could happen, you never know. Right now, that’s the unique thing with the depth we have. You really look at it between our guys with Joseph Noteboom, Bobby Evans, Dave Edwards, (Austin) Corbett, (Rob) Havenstein. Brian Allen has played for us and got injured but is now back healthy. You really look at it, we’ve got an opportunity to create some competition at some positions. Who knows what happens? What if Joe Noteboom all of a sudden in the next six months is the best player we have and he’s a left tackle only? Where can you go beat out somebody and play beside him?
  
  “I’ve got to go earn the position again, and if I don’t, I want to earn another one. So it’s one of those things where that depth helps. We’re gonna be able to create some competition up front and really get to get out there and hopefully if guys stay healthy with our best five, which is going to be an experienced group, finally in Year 3 of this group being together, so I think we’re excited about that.”
  
  
  Whitworth is being modest, of course, because there’s almost no chance he’ll lose his starting left tackle job. Noteboom might be the future, or it could be Evans, but Whitworth remains the team’s best offensive lineman regardless of position.
  
  Hearing him say he’s so open to moving around as needed is great, though, and just goes to show his dedication to helping the Rams any way he can.

NFL unveils structure of 2021 offseason program

The Rams and the NFL's other 31 teams now have a clear picture of what this year's offseason program will look like.

Unveiled by the league Wednesday via a memo sent to each team, the nine-week program will begin Monday, April 19 and run through Friday, June 18. The entire program is voluntary, with the exception of one mandatory minicamp.

Here's a closer look at each of the three phases that will make up the program:

Phase 1 – Four weeks (April 19 to May 14)

• The first phase will include virtual meetings, up to two hours per day at team's discretion.
• No on-field drills or work with coaches
• Facility and weight room capacity limits remain in place.
• Teams will make every effort to have the vaccine available for players, families, and families during the first phase.

Phase 2 – One week (May 17 to May 21)

• Virtual meetings
• On-field drills with coaches allowed, as dictated by CBA rules – meaning no contact/teaching pace
• Rookie Football Development Programs may begin Monday, May 17 – five days per week for a period of seven consecutive weeks; no mandatory or voluntary activities on weekends except for the team's three-day post-draft rookie minicamp. All Rookie Football Development Programs will end Friday, July 2.
• Rookie minicamps can be held the first or second week after the NFL Draft (the draft is scheduled to take place April 29-May 1 in Cleveland, Ohio).

Phase 3 – Four Weeks (May 24 to June 18)

• Ten traditional organized team activities – full speed, but no contact
• Meetings can be conducted virtually or in-person
• Includes mandatory minicamp

COVID-19 protocols for the program include:

• Daily testing with Mesa test
• Staff vaccination protocols
• Other regular season protocols in place, such as masks, distancing, etc.

There is no change in Rookie Football Development Program or post-draft Rookie minicamp.

I'll start. Oprah. She's got a huge "holier than thou" vibe with her and it bothers me when people mindlessly agree with her. Think what broke me was that interview with the royal family. Then today I saw a story about how she got fully vaccinated and throwing a party b/c of that and how she wasn't able to leave her bubble. OK...so did a lot of other people. Narcissism much?

Here is my final projection, barring a trade that alters our draft position:

Round 2(57): Elijah Molden, CB, Washington
Version 1.0: Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma
Version 2.0: Assante Samuel, Jr., CB, Florida State
For me, this selection came down to targeting a center (Josh Myers or Quinn Meinerz) or a CB. My gut tells me that the Rams will prioritize the CB position. Molden would be an outstanding fit. He is a smart, tough player with pedigree (son of Alex Molden) and would excel in the slot, filling the vacancy left by Troy Hill’s departure. (Alternate choice: Eric Stokes, CB, Georgia)

Round 3(88): Victor Dimujeke, EDGE, Duke
Version 1.0: same
Version 2.0: same
Still like this pick. I think Dimukeje would provide a pass rushing threat behind Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd, and has the size (270 lbs) to do so from the DE spot. With the departure of Samson Ebukam and Morgan Fox, his productivity (16 sacks over past two seasons at Duke) and versatility would be welcome. (Alternate choice: Darius Stills, DL, West Virginia)

Round 3(COMP 103): Spencer Brown, OT, Northern Iowa
Version 1.0: Dyami Brown, WR, North Carolina
Version 2.0: Walker Little, OT, Stanford
Both Brown and Little seem to have climbed to a spot in the Top 100, so I’m going with a bit of a flyer on this one. Brown is a bit raw, but his athleticism suggests upside and a strong fit in a zone blocking scheme. He won’t be pressed into action right away with Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein returning, but he could be a future starter. (Alternate choice: David Moore, OG, Grambling)

Round 4(COMP 141): Demetric Felton, WR/RB/KR, UCLA
Version 1.0: Rodarius Williams, CB, Oklahoma State
Version 2.0: same (Felton)
I’m still intrigued by Felton, a RB/WR hybrid, and how someone like Sean McVay could use his abilities. Felton is a guy who might not see the ball a lot, but could be impactful when he gets his chances. (Alternate choice: Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn)

Round 6(183): Drew Dalman, C, Stanford
Version 1.0: Reed Blankenship, S, Middle Tennessee
Version 2.0: Reed Blankenship, S, Middle Tennessee
Recent history suggests that the Rams believe that they can find OL starters late in the draft. Dalman, of course, makes a lot of sense due to his connection to the Rams’ new OL coach, Kevin Carberry, who coached Dalman at Stanford. Dalman had some durability issues, and his size makes him less than ideal for some schemes, but if he’s still on the board at this point, I think he’d be a good choice. (Alternate choice: Drake Jackson, C, Kentucky)

Round 7(215): Reed Blankenship, S, Middle Tennessee
Version 1.0: Spencer Brown, RB, UAB
Version 2.0: Spencer Brown, RB, UAB
Had him previously in Round 6. Hopefully, he’ll be available in Round 7 (still like Brown as a possible undrafted FA signing). Showed some promise, and some durability issues in college. If he can stay healthy, could be a value choice here. With John Johnson gone, depth at this spot is need. (Alternate choice: Caden Sterns, S, Texas)

Well, let’s see...

1. Replace/upgrade Jared Goff.

Blockbuster trade was executed bringing in a elite QB in Stafford. Now McVay’s playbook can be fully opened once again. Check.

2. Get a speed deep threat WR for Stafford.

Signed DeSean Jackson on an affordable 1 year rental contract with incentives. Check.

3. Upgrade Center.

Allowed the relatively mediocre Blythe to walk with scarcely any effort to retain him. No FA’s signed, either. Apparently intending to start a player already on the roster at OC this season. Might draft an OC high but probably wouldn’t start him this year, anyway. Result here is still tbd.

4. Maintain a strong Edge presence.

Extended Floyd which definitely solves that problem on one side. Big Check.

5. Keep DW as a starter in ‘21.

Tendered DW with a 1st round offer. Check.


All considered, the above is quite a lot in terms of roster/playcalling impact, although without a lot of FA signings. Rams are counting on several players already on the roster stepping up to replace departed UFA’s, but they’ve been doing this successfully for years.

Still some needs, of course. But they’re mostly ‘next year’ position needs and will be addressed in the draft plus final FA signings. The one position that I think is a ‘21 need is WOLB and it should be a draft priority. I just lack confidence in our current players on that side and that will continue until one of them proves to be at least NFL average AND stays healthy while doing so.

But at this predraft stage of the offseason I have to say that it looks like the Rams have a plan and are executing it rather nicely.

Thoughts?

After quiet rookie year, Brycen Hopkins has golden opportunity to help Rams in 2021

A large contingent of Rams fans were surprised when Los Angeles selected a tight end in the fourth round of last year’s draft. Initially, Brycen Hopkins was a puzzling pick because of the presence of Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett.

But when you zoomed out and looked at it with a multi-year view, it made more sense. Everett was set to be a free agent in 2021 and Hopkins possesses a lot of the same qualities as a tight end. As expected, Hopkins didn’t contribute at all as a rookie. He suited up for just five games, played only two offensive snaps and didn’t catch a pass.

But heading into next season, Hopkins has a perfect opportunity to play a meaningful role for the Rams as the No. 2 tight end. Everett is a member of the Seahawks and Johnny Mundt is the only other threat to Hopkins’ playing time as the second tight end behind Higbee.

This will be a critical offseason for the Purdue product, needing to impress the coaching staff in OTAs and minicamp, assuming they’re held this spring. And then comes training camp in July, as well as three preseason games in August – which Hopkins missed out on last year due to the pandemic.

Like many others, Hopkins has been training hard this offseason and recently shared a video of his workouts.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/itsbhop89/status/1382011688849920000?s=21

Hopkins is an athletic pass-catching tight end, as evidenced by his 4.66 in the 40-yard dash and 116-inch broad jump. He also showed good short-area quickness at the combine with times of 4.28 and 7.25 seconds in the short shuttle and three-cone drill, respectively.

But his hands were unreliable in college and he needs to improve as a blocker. Everyone knew about Everett’s receiving ability, but he was an underrated blocker, too, which was a big reason he played significant snaps behind Higbee in two-tight end sets.

Hopkins doesn’t need to catch 40-plus passes for 400-plus yards like Everett did a year ago, especially with how many weapons Los Angeles has on offense. But he does need to play consistently and show that he can be relied on to haul in passes when targeted.

Because when he does have the ball in his hands, he can be dangerous.

I admit I'm a fan of the UW Huskies, have been since the early '80s. As such I tend to follow their games as much as possible. That said with the obvious connection the Rams have at the university, I'd be surprised if Joe Tryon isn't on their shortlist at 57 to play edge. He's a fit for whatever the scheme Morris will play which IMO will be a more standard 3-4 hybrid.

What I like about Tryon is the same things I saw in Floyd when he first got to LA. Most people dismissed Floyd early on, but I could see from his college and Bear's film it was more a matter of poor usage than talent. Floyd has proved himself a very versatile JACK with speed, power, to pass rush or setting a hard edge, and the ability to drop into coverage. Those are the same things I see in Tryon. What could drop him into the second round would be his opting out of 2020 due to COVID. But there is no denying his range of talent and would be a perfect bookend to Floyd in replacing Brockers.

This would eliminate the Rams hoping Lewis stays healthy allowing him to simply play a rotational role behind Floyd and Tryon. I believe whether it's Joe or someone else, he is indicative of the type of player they will look for. If he's on the board I will find it hard for the Rams to pass on him and in fact he's the type of player they might try to move up to get. With their 57 and 2 third round picks as well as trade bait in Havenstein and Sebas it's not like they don't have the trade bait to move up should they want to.

While the Rams have certainly surprised me in the past, I feel fairly confident that their top draft priority won't be QB, RB, WR, TE or S. I also doubt that the Rams would take an ILB with their first pick, unless a particularly attractive prospect fell to them at #57. That leaves four areas which I think could be the focus. Here's my case for each:

Cornerback
You can never have too many quality CBs in this league. Right now, the Rams have a great starting 2 with Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams. The depth, however, is questionable. Troy Hill is gone. David Long has not proven he is ready for a key role. Terrell Burgess (who can play nickel) may need to take more of a role as a SS. Add to that the fact that Williams is not locked in long term, and CB could be a very good place to start. If the Rams can find a high quality player in the second round, and have him for 4 years on a rookie contract, that would be a great thing for the defense.

Offensive Line
Right now, the center position seems to be the most glaring hole in the starting lineup. While there are candidates, there is no clear starter at the position. As a result, part of me thinks that center would be the clear target (Creed Humphrey, Josh Myers and Quinn Meinerz being potential selections). However, another part of me thinks that the Rams' philosophy might prompt them to wait Round 3 or later to find a guy who fits their zone blocking system with the idea of "coaching him up." The Rams could also consider an OT to prepare for the post-Whitworth era.

EDGE Rusher
The Rams have a formidable pass rushing duo in Aaron Donald and Leonard Floyd. It would be great to make this at trio. The question is, is the third guy already on the roster (Lewis, Obo), or is this a position that could be a primary draft target. Certainly, the degree of difficulty for a rookie EDGE rusher will be low in L.A., as he might never see a double team.

Defensive Line
Personally, I think the Rams have enough in their rotation with Donald, SJD, Robinson and Gaines to form a foundation, and may not need to add another guy until later in the draft. That said, it would not shock me if the highest rated player on the board at #57 is a DL, which could lead the Rams to take a guy to replace Michael Brockers sooner, rather than later.

If I'm giving % odds, I'd break it down as follows in terms of likelihood:

Cornerback: 40%
Offensive Line: 35%
EDGE Rusher: 10%
Defensive Line: 10%
Other Position: 5%

Rams don’t care that much about 40 times - Turf Show Times
Rams don’t care that much about 40 times
How much of the rest of the NFL is also past caring about 40 times?
By Kenneth Arthur


In talking with The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue recently, Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead provided some information on how the organization has been approaching the draft recently given the unusual circumstances since 2020. On Monday, Rodrigue posted an article in which other members of the Rams front office also chimed in about how LA is approaching the draft in its own unique way. That included Rams’ director of draft management J.W. Jordan, who says that the most popular measurement among fans and media — the 40-yard dash — does not “truly matter.”

“Does it matter whether (a receiver) runs a 4.48 or a 4.56? No,” said J.W. Jordan, the Rams’ director of draft management. “That’s where you use tape, GPS, all the information and data you have on him. Does (the 40) really and truly matter? No.”

Click to expand...

In mentioning 2020 draftees like Jordan Fuller, who may have fallen to the sixth round in part because of a 40-yard dash that was north of a 4.6, Snead and Jordan and company prefer the use of GPS technology used during live game action.

Ever since colleges began providing teams with GPS data for players, the Rams have been among the NFL teams to use and apply the data to what they see on film. By doing this, they are not watching how fast a player runs in a straight line — they are projecting how fast he gets into position on a field, in a variety of live-action scenarios. They can see how his play speed matches up against his opponents and how well he can move at the opening of a play, versus when it breaks down and he has to freestyle.
“If you’re looking for a Cooper Kupp, a guy who can do the stuff over the middle, can be a great route runner and get separation with quickness,” Jordan said, “if that’s what you need in a given year, you wouldn’t weight that 40 time as heavily and you might have guys like that (on your board) ahead of guys with faster times.”

Click to expand...

It’s also a concept that Brad Holmes, a longtime member of the Rams’ front office who is now the general manager of the Detroit Lions, is expected to bring with him to his new job. Over at Pride of Detroit last month, Alabama receiver Jaylen Waddle’s speed on GPS — which was called the fastest in the country by NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah — was highlighted as a reason he could go to the Lions later this month.

Other teams may need to follow suit as 40-yard dash times at pro days this year have been hard to believe. At least four players have clocked a sub-4.3, while some larger players have recorded record times at their weight and would similarly be “too fast to be believed without verification.”

ESPN’s Jeff Legwold said as much last week, nothing that teams are wary of times this year.

There’s no question these guys are fast. And you can get deep in the weeds with metrics, running surfaces, reaction times, shoes worn, splits and the fact that elite 100-meter sprinters are still building speed at the halfway point of the race. But even Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt was estimated to run a 4.20 over the first 40 yards in the 9.58 electronically timed 100-meter record he set in 2009.
Given that prospects have almost always run faster in pro days than at the combine through the years, they might not actually move the needle much when the picks get made.

Click to expand...

That verification can come from watching film, something that most fans and media and some draft analysts do not do. The Rams seem to be content with sticking with the film and only using measurements as guideposts for where they might want to look again.

2020 was a Tough Year For All.

Reflecting back though & entering The NFL 2021 Draft in Cleveland you can just see the changes.Just The NFL draft starting on Thursday & now saying it’s Normal ?