Not good at all. We’ll see who knew what I’m sure soon. The team has hired a legal team to investigate the allegations and see who knew and did what.

Can Aaron Donald ever win MVP?
If it didn’t happen in 2018, why would it ever happen?

A year ago, Aaron Donald and Lamar Jackson had the same MVP odds at “+10,000” per Action Network. Odds for Patrick Mahomes were at +400, Russell Wilson was at +1400, for greater perspective. As the season wore on, Jackson’s odds got better and better, finally becoming the favorite on Nov. 20 and not relinquishing. Jackson had the longest preseason odds of any MVP winner since at least 2009.

Betting on Jackson would’ve yielded a great reward though I don’t think you would need access to a time diamond — a fictional prediction device that I’ve now created for the purposes of this sentence — to have foreseen potential success. Jackson was a 2018 first round pick, a star in college, and had gone 6-1 with 556 rushing yards over his seven starts as a rookie.

Betting on Donald however would make me question what you’re laundering your money for and if purposefully losing money on a bet could somehow be tied to money laundering. Because there’s zero reason to believe that a non-quarterback or non-running back is going to win the award.

Even if he’s the best player in the NFL, why the hell would anyone bet on Aaron Donald to win MVP when something like that has never happened?

Since 2007, every winner except Adrian Peterson in 2012 was a quarterback. Since 1987, the winners are comprised of 28 quarterbacks and seven running backs. The winner in 1986 was New York Giants pass rusher Lawrence Taylor, the most recent non-QB or non-RB to win the award. The only other defensive player to do that was Alan Page of the Minnesota Vikings in 1971.

But as years pass, the league and the media become more and more obsessed with the idea that the entire game and success within it is predicated around the quarterback position.

Many seem to examine and ponder what making the Super Bowl meant for a player like Jared Goff and yet few of those same people seem to have spent a lot of time thinking about the credit that Aaron Donald deserved for the LA Rams winning the NFC two seasons ago.

The 2018 Rams were absolutely led by their offense but where would they have been without an average defense? And where would their average defense have been without that season’s best defensive player? Donald led the NFL with 20.5 sacks in 2018 and was named Defensive Player of the Year but nobody other than Patrick Mahomes was allowed into the MVP conversation.

This is what seems to be happening every year with the MVP narrative: no discussions, no debate, no conversation. If a quarterback is on a hot streak and his team is winning in November and December that seems to be the deciding factor in many cases. “A well-deserved and obvious choice” tweeted Ian Rapoport. “Shouldn’t surprise anyone” said Larry Holder.

People want you to know very clearly, “Hey, I am not going against the grain. I’m not stupid, I know who the MVP is because everyone’s saying who the MVP is and I’m not the dumb one who doesn’t see what is so obvious to Rap Sheet and everyone else.”

Except that it wasn’t that obvious to everyone. Drew Brees got nine of the 50 first place votes. If not him, Philip Rivers and the LA Chargers were 12-4 and his numbers were about as good. And if you turned to the Rams, you’d have to first mention Todd Gurley or Goff, in most cases.

A choice of a defensive tackle is not seen as a reasonable choice by most people. Understandably there is a lot of inherent value in playing quarterback already. The quarterback touches the ball on virtually every offensive play. The decisions made, the execution of the throws, the leadership, being the bridge oftentimes between the coaches and the players, the responsibility — there is so much about being the quarterback that makes it so important to each team.

If that is true to the degree that people talk about quarterbacks though, then there is no point in having an MVP award that is allegedly an open competition to all positions. The fact that the only other position that gets considered for MVP eligibility is the position that is the lowest-paid and shortest in the league only emphasizes the farce of the award to begin with.

So why can’t Aaron Donald win MVP?

“It’s time for a change” said Donald at the Super Bowl about 18 months ago when asked about a non-QB winning MVP. Fair enough, as I mentioned he had 20.5 sacks that season. He actually had zero in the first three games, so he averaged 1.6 sacks per game over the final 13. If Donald did that for 16 games, he’d have 25 sacks, 31 tackles for a loss, and 49 QB hits based on his pace after Week 4.

The Rams won six games in 2018 by a touchdown or less and Donald had at least one sack in each of those contests.

In a 38-31 win over the Vikings, Donald sacked Kirk Cousins twice in the fourth quarter, both of which were potential drive killers during a close game.
Sacked Russell Wilson in 33-31 win over Seahawks.
Killed a Broncos drive at midfield, up 10, with a third quarter sack in Week 6.
In Week 7, sacked Aaron Rodgers to force a field goal rather than let Packers into red zone, sacked Rodgers with 5:30 left to force punt that setup Greg Zuerlein for game-winning field goal.
Down 14-10 in second quarter, sacked Wilson to force punt twice in a period of five minutes. Paired with Ndamukong Suh for sack to force field goal instead of touchdown in 36-31 win to sweep Seattle.
In historic 54-51 win over Chiefs, sacked Mahomes to force a fumble that was recovered for a touchdown by Samson Ebukam. At start of third quarter, again strip-sacked Mahomes to give his team the ball back.
That is simply me looking at sacks and not QB hits, disruptions, tackles for a loss, plays that Donald is creating moment-to-moment. In these cases though it’s not that hard to see how Donald’s play helped the 2018 Rams potentially go from 10-6 or 11-5 and losing the division to Seattle with a loss to Kansas City to being the 13-3 team that they were.

That’s just cherrypicking a few moments in order to build my own narrative though. But what’s the alternative to a Rams team without Aaron Donald? The 2018 Rams were 22nd in net yards per pass attempt allowed and 32nd in yards per carry allowed and they still went to the Super Bowl. If they didn’t have Donald, as they were streaking down the field and putting up all these points, how many yards per carry would they allow above the 5.1 that they did?

If not for Donald, would they have accumulated 41 sacks (like they did) or more like 25 sacks?

Patrick Mahomes threw 50 touchdowns and the Chiefs went 12-4 and the MVP discussion was over because it was an “obvious” choice to honor the best QB. Some people did feel that Brees (32 TD, five INT, NFL-best 115.7 rating, NFL-best 74.4% completions) was the better of the two QBs but they all agreed that it had to be a QB. After all, if they had even been looking at Donald’s 20.5 sacks and attributing any of LA’s 13-3 record to him, surely the conversation would have gone a little differently.

So can Donald do anything to win MVP award in 2020 or beyond? The answer by now has to be “Absolutely not.” I don’t understand how anyone could bet on Donald to win MVP — or even come close — if he hasn’t already. If you can be the best player in the league, directly help your team win a few close games late in the contest, go 13-3, and not get serious consideration, what more can Donald do?

He can’t do anything. The media’s narrative is what needs to change for that to become a possibility.

2020 Team tight end rankings

The tight end units are top-heavy this season, as there are many teams with strong options but also many with massive question marks. It’s crucial to have playmakers at tight end in today’s NFL, and it’s clear that some teams were lacking dynamism and overall speed last season. To rank these units, we balanced star players along with depth at the position. Here are the top tight end units heading into 2020.

1. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

George Kittle has become the new standard for multi-faceted, all-around tight ends. He’s finished with the top grade in the league in each of the last two seasons and last year posted a 94.4 mark, earning the coveted PFF Dwight Stephenson Award as the best player in the NFL regardless of position.

Kittle has burst, quickness and an after-the-catch mean streak as a receiver, and he has led tight ends in yards after the catch in each of the last two seasons. Far from just a weapon in the receiving game, Kittle also brings it as a run-blocker, where he recorded a top-six run-blocking grade in both 2018 and 2019.

Ross Dwelley is the backup behind Kittle, though he graded at only 57.0 overall last season. Keep an eye on rookie sixth-rounder Charlie Woerner, too, because he could earn snaps in the run game. Woerner graded at an impressive 82.9 in the run game last season at Georgia while showing off the ability to effectively block on the move, which is a must for tight ends in San Francisco’s offense.

Kittle makes this unit the best in the league, though they could use more depth to take at least some pressure off.

2. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Travis Kelce finished with an 88.5 receiving grade during the 2019 regular season, finishing in the top four among tight ends for the fourth consecutive year. Kelce can do it all in the passing game, from route running to making defenders miss to making the tough catches over the middle. He is also used all over the offensive formation to create mismatches, and when paired with Tyreek Hill, there’s not a more difficult duo to defend in the league.

The backup tight end spot has not been a high-volume one, and this season it will be a battle between Deon Yelder and Ricky Seals-Jones. Yelder has four career receptions, while Seals-Jones might be the more intriguing option as a former college wide receiver who is still relatively young at the position. Seals-Jones has averaged 12.9 yards per reception during his career, and even though he’s earned receiving grades in the 50s in each of the last two seasons, he’s still the kind of player the Chiefs could put in a position to succeed.

As long as Kelce is in the mix, the Chiefs will have one of the best tight end units in the league.

3. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

The Eagles have one of the best tight end duos in the league in Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, and they helped keep the offense afloat throughout all the injuries suffered by the team’s wide receivers a year ago.

Ertz is a difficult cover for any linebacker or safety, and he was open on 73.1% of his targets against single coverage last season, the best rate in the league among tight ends. He’s one of the most effective receiving tight ends in the entire NFL, grading above 75.0 as a receiver in all but one of his seven years in the league.

Goedert, on the other hand, was a first-round-caliber prospect in 2018 but was drafted in the second round, at 49th overall. He had a strong rookie season and followed it up with an 82.7 overall grade last year that ranked 10th in the league. Goedert has a good combination of downfield speed and ball skills, and he can also block, as his 78.9 run-blocking grade ranked second in the league in 2019. We may see Goedert steal more of Ertz’s production as he heads into Year 3.

The Eagles have two legitimate top-15-caliber tight ends, giving them one of the best pairs in the league.

4. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

The Bucs already had one of the NFL’s best 1-2 punches at the tight end position in O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate, but adding WWE superstar Rob Gronkowski just makes the team even more dangerous.

While Gronkowski sat out the 2019 season and wasn’t even the same dominant player when he did play in 2018, his nine-year career was perhaps the best stretch of tight end play in NFL history. He has six seasons with 90.0-plus receiving grades, he’s an excellent blocker and even if he’s not the same Hall of Fame-caliber talent, just having his familiarity with quarterback Tom Brady is a huge win for the Bucs.

Howard has had a roller-coaster start to his career, grading at 61.4 as a rookie, 89.1 in his second year and 54.7 last season. He has the size, speed and long frame to win up the seam, and even with the ups and downs, Howard is still averaging an impressive 15.5 yards per reception over his career.

Meanwhile, Brate has seen his production decrease after two strong years in 2016 and 2017, but he’s a solid backup receiving option, especially if Gronkowski and Howard return to form. The potential is through the roof for this tight end corps, but it will all depend on Gronkowski’s condition and Howard looking like his 2018 self.

5. LOS ANGELES RAMS

The tight ends became a huge part of the Rams’ passing attack last season, finishing with 1,168 receiving yards, fifth-most of any tight end group in the league.

Tyler Higbee broke out to produce the third-best receiving grade among tight ends (90.1) while catching over 80% of his targets and averaging 5.8 yards after the catch per reception. Gerald Everett finished with the ninth-best receiving grade (78.9), making the duo the only teammates to rank within the top 10. Everett is also one of the most elusive tight ends in the league, as he forced 13 missed tackles on just 37 receptions last season.

Johnny Mundt played 170 snaps for the Rams, as well, doing his best work in the run game where his 72.4 grade ranked seventh among tight ends. The Rams also added Brycen Hopkins to the mix this offseason, and the fourth-rounder adds even more speed to the unit — he was the best vertical tight end threat in the 2020 NFL Draft, and he ran a 4.66 at the scouting combine.

Hopkins is more of a big slot receiver with “move” tight end potential, but he adds a nice depth and is more of a long-term play. The Rams have one of the best pass-catching tight end units in the league, and they may be called upon even more given the team’s uncertainty at the outside wide receiver position.

6. BALTIMORE RAVENS

Only Philadelphia’s tight ends caught more passes than Baltimore’s group, as the Ravens featured the position heavily and got 30-plus catches from three different players.

Mark Andrews broke out to post the position’s second-best receiving grade during the regular season (90.2), and he’s now averaged an impressive 14.0 yards per reception in his two years in the league.

While Andrews established himself as one of the best receiving weapons at the position, Nick Boyle also set career highs with 31 catches for 321 yards and posted the fifth-best run-blocking grade in the league, at 75.4.

With Hayden Hurst and his 500 snaps moving on to Atlanta, there’s room for a third tight end to emerge from a remaining group that contains Charles Scarff, Eli Wolf and Jacob Breeland, though these three players have yet to take an NFL snap.

7. MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Minnesota has one of the best one-two punches in the league at tight end, with Kyle Rudolph and Irv Smith. Rudolph has a huge frame, and while there always feels like there should be more production in there, he’s had a solid nine-year career for the Vikings. Last season, Rudolph had the No. 13 receiving grade during the regular season (76.9), though his run blocking has tapered off in recent years, given that he has graded in the 50s in this department for four consecutive seasons.

Smith brings a different skill set to the unit as more of an oversized receiver who can line up in the slot and make plays in space. He caught 39 passes for 350 yards as a rookie to go with a solid run-blocking grade of 65.4. Then there is 2018 fifth-rounder Tyler Conklin — and his 14 career catches — who will add depth to the group.

With so many question marks in the receiving corps and Minnesota’s penchant for two-tight end sets, expect even more production out of Rudolph and another step forward from Smith this season.

8. LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

One of the biggest stories of 2019 was Darren Waller emerging to produce the sixth-best receiving grade among tight ends, at 86.8. The college wide receiver showed flashes in 2018, but he put it all together last season, winning from various alignments and picking up 594 of his 1,146 yards after the catch to rank second at the position. Waller ranked just 40th with a run-blocking grade of 58.2, but his main role is creating mismatches, and he’s been one of the best value steals in the league in recent years.

The Raiders also signed Jason Witten this offseason, though he was a step slow in his return in 2019, averaging a career-low 8.4 yards per reception and posting a 60.1 run-blocking grade — his lowest mark since 2006. Witton is set to battle Foster Moreau for those short-area targets after Moreau caught 21 of his 23 targets while averaging 8.3 yards per reception last year as a rookie.

Derek Carrier also returns after producing the top run-blocking grade among the Raiders’ tight ends, at 68.7. As long as Waller continues his ascent to one of the NFL's most dangerous tight ends, the Raiders will rank near the top of the league, though they could use more juice among the backups.

9. LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

If Hunter Henry can stay healthy, he has top-five potential among tight ends. Henry posted an 85.7 receiving grade as a rookie in 2016, an 86.7 mark in his second season and then played just 14 snaps in 2018. He was then limited again last year, playing just 12 games.

Henry still graded at 73.2 overall, good for 14th in the league. He wins at all levels of the field and quarterbacks have a passer rating of 132.3 when targeting him, which is more than 10 points better than any tight end in the league since 2016.

The backup is Virgil Green, a run-blocking specialist who takes on the more difficult, in-line blocking assignments. Green is not much of a threat in the passing game — he’s never caught more than 22 passes in a season — but he’s performed his backup role well during his nine years in the league.

The rest of the depth chart includes Stephen Anderson, more of a “move,” H-back type, and 6-foot-8 Donald Parham, a third-year project out of Stetson College. The Chargers need a full year of Henry to maximize their pass-game potential, and if he stays healthy, they’ll have one of the more productive tight end units in the league.

10. CLEVELAND BROWNS

It’s clear that the Browns want to feature the tight end position in their offense, and they took the first steps toward that by signing free agent Austin Hooper to a $42 million contract this offseason.

Hooper is a solid all-around player, but he’s not a mismatch creator offensively. Since 2016, more than 75% of Hooper’s production has come either against zone or underneath the coverage, by far the highest rate in the league, but that should make him a productive part of the Browns’ offense. Hooper is a reasonable blocker, as well, though he is coming off a career-low 56.2 run-blocking grade.

The acquisition of Hooper raised questions about 2017 first-rounder David Njoku’s future with the team, but he should have plenty of opportunities in this tight end-heavy system. Njoku posted good receiving grades of 71.1 and 65.3, respectively, in his first two years in the league, and he complements Hooper well as more of a “move” option in this offense.

The Browns also drafted Harrison Bryant from Florida Atlantic in the fourth round. Bryant is a productive player and strong route-runner who posted the top receiving grade in the nation last year at 92.7, though his combine workout showed a below-average athlete.

Hooper should produce in Cleveland’s new offense, but it is Njoku’s development that could put this unit over the top and make it one of the league’s best.

I apologize if I missed a discussion on this already - but have we thought about what teams would suffer the most - or gain the most - if the NFL season is played in empty or mostly empty stadiums?

The SeaChickens come to mind right away. As to the Saints.

I wonder if the field might be so quiet that the players can hear the coaches yelling all the way up to the snap. Would a quiet environment mean more audibles just before the snap? Less miscommunication? Fewer false starts?

If I could find tape on him, Doug Smith would have been the pick here. But since linemen aren’t as fun to watch, we’re going to go with Dante Fowler.
Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/PZ3VAc6fYwA


Hopefully we don’t regret letting him go.

Jared Goff has history on his side in 2020

When Jared Goff takes his next regular-season snap for the Rams, he’ll begin his fifth year as the team’s starting quarterback.

One reason this is notable is that the list of Rams who’ve held the position for five years is short and glamorous: Hall of Famers Bob Waterfield and Norm Van Brocklin, onetime MVP Roman Gabriel, and the franchise’s top two in career passing yardage.

Another reason is that the milestone seems to bring out the best in Rams pass-throwers.

Waterfield: In between leading the Cleveland Rams to the NFL title as a rookie in 1945 and combining with Van Brocklin to lead the Los Angeles Rams to the city’s first pro sports title in 1951, Waterfield actually had his most prolific season as a passer with a then-franchise-record 2,168 passing yards in 1949. It was his fifth year as starter.

Van Brocklin: Before he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958, Van Brocklin helped to define the L.A. Rams’ first great era and set a franchise record for career passing yards that stood for 15 years. The biggest chunk of those yards came in 1954, when his 2,637 yards led the league. It was his fifth year as starter.

Gabriel: His biggest season yards-wise was 1967, his third year after finally winning the battle for the full-time starting job. But his greatest season overall was 1969, when the offensive hero of the Fearsome Foursome-era Rams led them to an 11-0 start and was named the NFL MVP. If you need math help: It was his fifth year as full-time starter.

Jim Everett: In his fifth year as starter, 1990, Everett tried hard, maybe too hard. But the Rams’ franchise leader in passing yardage couldn’t carry a team that was falling apart after a strong decade. Ironically, while Rams finished the season 5-11, Everett finished it in the only Pro Bowl of his career as replacement for injured Joe Montana.

Marc Bulger: The quarterback who followed Kurt Warner in St. Louis ended up second to Everett on the Rams’ all-time passing list. He had his biggest year in, you guessed it, his fifth season as starter in 2006. He earned one of his two trips to the Pro Bowl by throwing for 4,301 yards, in the process becoming the fastest NFL passer to reach 1,000 career completions.

To sum up: All five were Pro Bowlers or All-Pros in their fifth year as Rams starting quarterback.

(Some other big-name Rams quarterbacks didn’t hold the job for five straight years, including Super Bowl quarterbacks Warner and Vince Ferragamo.)

One difference between the Rams quarterback constants of the past and Goff: While they reached their fifth year in the starting role at the peak athletic ages of 27, 28 and 29, Goff is getting there at age 26 after leaving Cal following his junior year and winning the job midway through his rookie season in 2016. Goff might still have more room to mature than his predecessors did.

It wasn’t clear that new offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell knew the potential significance of having a starting quarterback in his fifth year when he told reporters in May that Goff should show improvements in technique, leadership and command of X’s and O’s in “his fifth year of offensive ownership.”

But Rams fans can hope that their quarterback will benefit from the combination of physical youth and mental seasoning that a player in his fifth year at the helm of an offense should enjoy.

It has happened before.

How much difference is there between Troy Hill and Marcus Peters?

USA TODAY’s ranking of the best outside cornerbacks in the NFL this week highlighted a Rams front office decision from 2019 that looks pretty astute in hindsight.

USA TODAY analyst Doug Farrar, who is known for taking deep looks at players and who is not afraid to rank lesser-known players ahead of household names if their play merits it, ranked the top 11 outside corners in the league. The Rams’ Troy Hill was ranked No. 9. Marcus Peters was ranked just ahead of him, at No. 8.

Yes, that’s the same Marcus Peters the Rams swapped to the Baltimore Ravens last October for backup linebacker Kenny Young and a draft pick.

The Rams’ decision to trade Peters (who carries a heftier price tag than Hill) for some value was a wise move. It also set them up for the long haul, as the Rams acquired star cornerback Jalen Ramsey — the focal point of the secondary — last October and plan to give him a huge contract at some point in the near future. Paying both Ramsey and Peters would not have been feasible.

Hill plays the Peters’ role with much less fanfare, but has more than gotten the job done while flying under the radar. Hill, who has been with the Rams since 2016, had 43 tackles and two interceptions last year. Here is some of what Farrar wrote about Hill:

Hill may be one of the lesser-known names on this list, but the former undrafted free agent out of Oregon made a real impact for the Rams’ defense in his fifth NFL season — especially as a cornerback in zone coverage, where he allowed seven receptions on 20 targets for 118 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, and a Positive Play Rate of 35% — the fifth-best rate in the NFL for cornerbacks targeted 20 or more times.
Hill is a much safer player than Peters, who is explosive, but often gets burned. Here are some of Farrar’s thoughts on Peters:

Peters is the ultimate boom-and-bust cornerback of his era, and nobody else comes close. Since his rookie season, he has outpaced the rest of the league with 29 interceptions, but he’s also allowed 26 touchdowns. In 2018 for the Rams, he allowed six touchdowns to three interceptions, and for the Rams and the Ravens following an October trade, he allowed five touchdowns to his five interceptions.
Farrar’s story illustrates that football is deeper than simple name recognition. The Rams are getting big production out of Hill, who is getting paid $1.6 million a year. Peters is being paid an average of $14 million a season.

So yes; nice work, Les Snead and company.

Rams boast 5 players ripe for Pro Bowl seasons

The LA Rams have plenty of talented players. Both on offense and defense, established veterans who are perennial stars are projected to put in another season of sustaining their NFL star status. Over the years, the Rams have been an incubation chamber of NFL talent. The team has an uncanny knack of finding prospects ripe with NFL potential, and then patiently developing those players over the course of several years into talented players.

But every now and then, a player comes along who just “gets it”. When that happens, the chemistry between players and coaching staff shows up in a big way on the field. For many reasons, those special types of connections convert into special types of players. After all, it makes sense, doesn’t it? If a player is so finely attuned to the methods taught by position coaches and coordinators, they’ll most likely deliver that same comprehension more quickly and thoroughly than their teammates.

Spotlights vs. Stars

We’ve seen it happen for the Rams before. Players who are average to above average on other teams suddenly emerge into football stars when they wear the horns. Perfect examples are that of former Rams stars Dante Fowler Jr. and Cory Littleton. While Fowler was an above-average defender with the Jacksonville Jaguars, he didn’t unleash his full potential until he signed on with the LA Rams in 2018. From that point on, he played at an entirely different level.

A different path awaited Cory Littleton. He was an undrafted inside linebacker for the Rams who impressed coaches so well on special teams that he was given an opportunity to play defensive snaps. From that moment on, he never looked back. And so, the Rams have a new season, and we’re left wondering who will step up in a big way. Who might that be? We have five players who are well-positioned to play at a pro-bowl level in 2020.

OG Edwards

The LA Rams offensive line was about as an unlucky group of professional football players in the NFL in 2019. The squad ran through how many players last season? Including the five starters who ended the season, the team had nine starters in various combinations in 2019. Of the nine, five had either post-season surgery, significant injuries, or both. That’s a difficult way to play a football season.

But it’s a good way to find future stars for the team. Trial by fire, throwing young offensive linemen out into NFL games and observing which players perform well, tread water, or simply collapse under the pressure. Right offensive guard David Edwards performed very well. Let’s pause and frame that performance for a moment. Edwards was drafted as an offensive tackle. He trained as an offensive lineman. But he started as an offensive guard for the Rams, and he did an admirable job.

Focus on proficiency

Now he has benefitted from an entire season of zeroing in on one offensive line position, he needn’t try to study the plays and scripts of all positions on the offensive line. The other four positions may or may not be up for grabs, but the right guard position is all about David Edwards this season. It’s a well-deserved promotion over last year’s status. But that’s only the beginning for Edwards in 2020. After all, the coaching staff won’t place the offensive linemen in overmatched situations this season, which will allow Edwards to grow exponentially this season.

The weakest link in the LA Rams offense was the center position and the two gaps to either side of the center. That weak spot proved to be difficult to fix last season, most likely due to the stream of new players starting in any given week. But the Rams will fix that weakness in 2020, which will give Edwards a much better opportunity to improve his run blocking and blitz pickups. And the scare of ranking as only the 31st offensive line in the NFL has pushed all linemen to work even harder for this year. The Rams recorded some good chemistry with starters Andrew Whitworth, Austin Corbett, Austin Blythe, David Edwards, and Bobby Evans to finish off 2019. While the competition between veteran Rob Havenstein and second-year player Evans may be a photo finish, the Rams will likely start 2020 where 2019 left off. That is ideal for Edwards.

ILB Kiser

The plan for the linebacker position appears at first glance to be no plan at all, doesn’t it? The Rams had a number of players cycle through the role in 2019, in terms of injuries, rotations, and production. While the clear best linebacker of the bunch, Cory Littleton, has signed on to play for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, his teammate Micah Kiser was set to play next to him as a starter in 2019. Can he start without Littleton? We’ll likely find out soon.

On a linebacking squad with no clear favorite, Kiser is about as much of a sure thing on the team as possible. He was ready to start in 2019 before a pectoral injury ended his season. Now he’ll be counted on to start for the Rams at a position where veteran leadership is at an all-time low. While the competition may not be at a high level, the perception about where Kiser, and the roster, stand at linebacker is not a very high bar either.

Pro-bowl status wide open

The NFC pro bowl designation is wide open for 2020. Former perennial pro-bowler Luke Kuechly retired during the off-season, and his partner Bobby Wagner is entering his ninth season. Rams LB Cory Littleton signed in the AFC. So what will it take for Kiser to put up Pro Bowl numbers? Well, the number of tackles for interior linebackers runs high, so expect a minimum of 120 tackles. On a per-game basis, that averages out to 7.5 tackles per game. Sacks are not critical, but showing up in the quarterback’s face would be a plus, so recording two sacks would be good. Finally, defending passes is a must, so a minimum of eight passes defended, converting two into interceptions, would be the icing on the cake.

Littleton played in that range. His two seasons starting on the inside found his average of 130 tackles, four sacks, 11 passes defended, and 2.5 interceptions. If Kiser can land in that range, he would be a strong candidate for a Pro Bowl nomination. So it’s simply a question of whether Kiser can step up for the Rams this year. I believe he can, and will. He is a bona fide thumper, a big-hitting linebacker who savors the chance to make a big stop on defense.

NT Robinson

The LA Rams found that freeing up defensive lineman Aaron Donald from nose tackle duties benefited his production. But what about the player who takes over at the center of the defense? Will newcomer A’Shawn Robinson be diminished in the Rams defense? Or will he find himself playing at an entirely new level? Since he will be lining up next to Aaron Donald, and between Donald and Brockers, you can lean towards a career-high season out of him.

What might that be? In his rookie season of 2016, he converted 408 defensive snaps into 30 tackles, eight for a loss, and two quarterback sacks. Double that to an 800 defensive snap season, and he comes in at four sack and 60 tackles. Alongside Donald, he could play 700 snaps for five sacks and 50 tackles. That type of play from the nose tackle spot is in the All-Pro ballpark.

So no Suh, Say yay A’Shawn

In his one season as an LA Ram, Ndamukong Suh almost put up pro-bowl numbers. The cut-off seems to be five quarterback sacks, and Suh only recorded 4.5 with the Rams. While Robinson has not yet generated that level of quarterback pressure, he will certainly have his opportunities on a defense designed to keep offenses guessing. That, his own powerful size and strength, and lining up between Brockers and Donald will be in the best opportunity of his NFL career.

Robinson is still growing, developing, and getting stronger. Entering just his fifth NFL season, he will peak in another 2-3 years. So the Rams acquired him at the right time to realize his full potential. Will he realize that potential in 2020? It will take some effort, but that is the same story to all NFL players who break into the Pro Bowl. Robinson has plenty of raw talent. He finally lands on a roster that surrounds him with the right mix to complement his strengths.

WR Jefferson

It’s easy to look past LA Rams rookie wide receiver Van Jefferson and not expect much. After all, if it’s not broken, why fix it? Well, that’s all well and good if nothing changes in the NFL. But we know all too well that rookies who perform well circle the date when they enter the NFL free agency market. When that happens, teams either ante up or wave farewell. So the LA Rams face two players who could sign elsewhere – Cooper Kupp and/or Josh Reynolds. In their place? The Rams hope that rookie Van Jefferson will be ready to fill the roster void.

And he could prove to be even more in 2020. Even should the offense emphasize running the ball more frequently this season, the offense will pass over 600 times. From that total, the team will likely feature the combination of Kupp, Robert Woods, and Tyler Higbee in 360 pass attempts. That will mean 240 passes go to “all others”. If the Rams are willing to throw 150 passes at the combination of Jefferson and Reynolds as a minimum, Jefferson may not see much action.

Play today, plan for tomorrow

If the team held a completely myopic view, that would restrict Jefferson’s upside. But we know that the Rams run risks of injury. We also know that Washington Redskins WR Terry McLaurin needed just 93 targets to rack up 919 yards and seven touchdowns in his rookie season. Now that McLaurin’s offensive coordinator, Kevin O’ Connell, has signed on with the Rams, it makes sense to project similar results from his 2020 version. That happens to be Van Jefferson.

Jefferson stands 6-foot-1 and weighs 200-pounds. Compare that to 6-foot-0 210-pound McLaurin, 6-foot-0 195-pound Woods, or 6-foot-2 208-pound, Kupp, because Jefferson has been compared to all three receivers numerous times. When Jefferson lines up on the field, he will bring all that potential to the NFL. Will he record over 1000 yards receiving in 2020? With so many great receivers, nobody believes it is even possible. But the numbers work, and the talent is there. Let them sleep on Van Jefferson this season.

OLB Floyd

The LA Rams acquired the services of OLB Dante Fowler Jr. in 2018 and then benefitted from a huge upgrade in his production. Since Fowler left for a big payday elsewhere, why not try that again? Perhaps that was the logic behind the Rams signing up outside linebacker Leonard Floyd to a one-year prove-it deal. That could prove to be quite costly, as Floyd has the potential to be just as good, if not better, than Dante Fowler Jr. on the Rams defense.

Fowler arrived at the Rams mid-season in 2018 via a trade in which the Rams surrendered a 2019 third-round and 2020 fifth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for Fowler. In his 2.5 seasons with the Jaguars, Fowler recorded just 14 sacks and 62 tackles. In his 1.5 seasons with the LA Rams, Fowler recorded 13.5 sacks and 79 tackles. Comparing Floyd’s numbers, his first 2.5 seasons registered 13.5 sacks and 90 tackles, while the last 1.5 seasons were just 5.0 sacks and 64 tackles. Can the Rams hope to jumpstart his career as well? There are reasons to believe the team can do exactly that.

Right player, the right fit, the right opportunity

From the moment the LA Rams chose Brandon Staley as the team’s new defensive coordinator, the wheels of motion began to turn. Staley was the former position coach for Floyd when he coached at Chicago. Floyd is also the only player arriving who has a jumpstart to the type of defense Floyd intends to run with the Rams. Finally, Floyd is familiar with Staley, and Staley is familiar with Floyd. So signing Floyd to the Rams defense was virtually predestined to happen.

Floyd can do it all from the edge. He can cover, set the edge, rush the passer, and defend the run. In fact, he may be stronger at covering passes and defending the run than Fowler. He has a lengthy 6-foot-5 frame to set a huge pass defense and is also entering his fifth NFL season. The Bears wanted to sign defensive end Robert Quinn, so Floyd was a cap casualty. That’s just fine for the Rams, who can convert Floyd into an upgraded Dante Fowler Jr. on the edge in 2020.

I recently saw something where PFF was downgrading the Rams, particularly on offense due to the loss of Brandon Cooks. Once again it shows how little they seem to follow what is going on in the NFL. They ignore how many games wholly or partially missed due to injury. The addition of Jefferson elevates the WR corps above what it was with Cooks. Cooks was all about speed, but he also struggled at times with his route running. Van Johnson has breakaway speed, absolutely better in routes than Cooks, and with Jefferson's physical metrics and good hands, the Rams are improved not degraded. It's also why there is no way I see Reynolds starting ahead of Jefferson. To put it into an even stronger perspective I thought I'd post an article talking about how the Ram's new OC is simply raving about the addition of Jefferson.

FROM 24/7 SPORTS:

In a receiver-heavy 2020 NFL Draft, the Los Angeles Rams selected Van Jefferson, using a late-second-round pick on the former Florida Gators star at No. 57 overall. From the front office to the coaching staff, the Rams have been vocal about Jefferson's immediate-impact ability and long-term potential.

Kevin O'Connell became the latest to provide a perspective on Jefferson's upside. Breaking down the Rams' offensive additions from the draft, the first-year offensive coordinator opened up on Jefferson's trajectory.

"There's no secret to our love as a coaching staff for him," O'Connell said of Jefferson. "His ability to run routes and understand the next-level element of running routes and separating at the top, I think he'll fit right in from a personality and a skillset standpoint with the guys we have in that room. The great thing about rooms like that, where there's depth but there's also accountability and guys pushing each other, (is) they're all going to raise their games continually to another level."

The 6-foot-1, 200-pound Jefferson caught 49 passes for 657 yards (13.4 average) and six touchdowns over the course of 12 games at UF in 2019. As a fourth-year junior in 2018, his first at Florida, he recorded 35 receptions for 503 yards (14.4 average) and six touchdowns through all 13 games.

Previously at Ole Miss from 2015-17, Jefferson competed alongside receivers A.J. Brown and DK Metcalf, whom the Tennessee Titans (No. 51 overall) and Seattle Seahawks (No. 64 overall) respectively picked in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

With the Rebels, a redshirt-freshman Jefferson was the second-leading receiver with 49 catches. Brown (29) and Metcalf (two) produced less as true freshmen, but they broke out their sophomore and junior seasons from 2017-18.

"Van Jefferson out-produced both of those players while serving on the same roster in 2016 at Ole Miss," said James Gladstone, Rams director of scouting strategy, in a June 20 article on therams.com that traced Jefferson's pre-draft process from Los Angeles' vantage point.

As a third-year sophomore with the Rebels in 2017, Jefferson caught 42 passes for 456 yards (10.8 average) and one touchdown. Jefferson was second on the team in receptions behind Brown, who made 75 catches for 1,252 yards (16.7 average) and 11 touchdowns over the course of 11 games.

Metcalf, meanwhile, caught 39 passes for 646 yards (16.6 average) and seven touchdowns in 12 games. Jefferson finished out his career at Florida from 2018-19, where he recorded 84 receptions for 1,16o yards (13.8 average) and 12 touchdowns in 23 games with the Gators.

A four-star recruit, Jefferson originally went to Ole Miss from Brentwood (Tenn.) Ravenwood. He took his talents to the Rebels initially as the 247Sports Composite's No. 106 overall prospect, No. 11 wide receiver and No. 3 player in Tennessee for the 2015 recruiting class.

“A guy that I think is the Terry McLaurin of this class is Van Jefferson from Florida," said Senior Bowl executive director and former NFL scout Nagy in a pre-draft interview with 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C. "Terry went 76th overall last year. If you had a redraft of last year's draft, he would have been a first-round pick. Outside of some of the quarterback play on the team, he could have won rookie of the year. The guy had almost 1,000 yards with some spotty quarterback play.

"Van is similar ... Last year, Terry was our fastest guy in the game. This year it was Van Jefferson. Van's dad coaches in the league, Sean Jefferson former NFL player, really good wide receivers coach. You watch (Van) on tape and he's an awesome route runner. He always gets open. I just thought he was a really crafty player and I didn't give him enough credit for having as much juice as he has. I saw him play live twice, but I didn't feel that speed from the press box like I felt on the field in Mobile (at the Senior Bowl)."
*********************************************************************************************************************************************

This is why I've been saying this offense is going to be far better than the 2018 version that dominated in most games. The 3 WRs along with the 2 headed monsters of Akers and Henderson running the ball, now add in the TEs of Higbee and Everett this offense is absolutely loaded. Now, look at the improved defense that IMO will be a top 10 unit and this is a championship-caliber team.

Titans, Derrick Henry agree to a four-year, $50 million extension just before deadline, per report

In a shocking turn of events, Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry will not play out the 2020 season on the franchise tag. Just yesterday, it was reported that the two sides were having trouble on agreeing to terms on an extension, and that Henry was likely to play under the tag this upcoming season. But shortly after the deadline, ESPN's Adam Schefter broke the news that Henry had secured a four-year, $50 million deal that includes $25.5 million guaranteed.

In 2019, Henry led the NFL with 1,540 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging 18.9 carries a game -- even though he averaged a whopping 24.7 carries over the final nine games. The Titans averaged 30.9 points per game over this stretch, but Henry paid the price by recording 25-plus carries four times, including three consecutive games recording 30-plus rushing attempts (96 total). Overall, Henry recorded 386 carries in 2020, which ranks among the top 25 all-time for rushing attempts in a combined regular and postseason. He was the main reason the Titans made it all the way to the AFC Championship game last season, and the Titans are making sure he will be a part of their long-term plans.

Recent history indicates that resetting the running back market is not in the best interest of teams. In April, the Carolina Panthers reset the market by signing Christian McCaffrey to a four-year deal worth $16 million per season. His prowess as both a runner and pass-catcher has made him one of the most elite offensive weapons in the NFL, but it's hard to argue against the fact that while Henry isn't an elite receiver, his 446 rushing yards and two touchdowns in the playoffs last year made up one of the most impressive postseason performances in recent memory. Henry's average of $12.5 million per year ranks fifth in the NFL in average salary for running backs behind McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott, Le'Veon Bell and David Johnson, per Spotrac.

Henry was originally drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Titans out of the University of Alabama, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2015. In 62 career regular-season games, he has rushed for 3,833 yards and 38 touchdowns while averaging 4.8 yards per attempt.

I have the coolest mask in this place...just wanna say. I only wear this thing to work...because they make us. Got to bust it out this morning and show up all these old people and their lame masks! Lol

Rams camp battle preview: Who will be RB1 in L.A.?

Training camp is just two weeks away for the Los Angeles Rams, and there will be plenty to sort out once players finally get on the field together for the first time this offseason. Running back will undergo one of the biggest changes on the roster after the Rams cut Todd Gurley and selected Cam Akers with their first pick in the draft.

Understandably, Sean McVay has not committed to one player as the starting running back, and he may never do so. But there are clear contenders and fading longshots in the mix.

Continuing our training camp preview series, let’s look at the competition at running back this summer.

The favorite: Cam Akers

Akers might only be a rookie and at a disadvantage during this limited offseason, but he remains the favorite to handle the bulk of the touches for the Rams in 2020. Sean McVay, Les Snead and Kevin O’Connell have all spoken highly of the Florida State product, specifically pointing to his easier transition to the NFL after running behind a terrible FSU offensive line.

He’s built like a starting running back and is well-rounded enough to both run between the tackles, to the outside and catch passes as a receiver. The Rams haven’t committed to one player as their bell cow and they may not all season, but Akers should get the nod as the No. 1 running back on the depth chart and in the carries column.

The contenders: Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown

Henderson and Brown are completely different players from each other, but one of them could head into the season as RB1 ahead of Akers. Henderson is more of a slasher and change-of-pace back, while Brown is a between-the-tackles runner who’s best in short-yardage and goal line situations.

Henderson’s rookie season was quieter than some expected after being a third-round pick, but the door is open for him to break through as a starting running back. Even if he’s just an Alvin Kamara-type of player as Snead indicated last year, he can be a highly productive complementary piece to Akers.

Brown’s path to a starting job is less clear because he’s a career backup who has done well in limited opportunities, but he doesn’t have the upside that Henderson does. And, the Rams nearly let him get away last offseason after the Lions signed him to an offer sheet.

What makes Akers the lead candidate is that he’s a mix of both Henderson and Brown, showing the ability to run between the tackles and still break long runs when he finds a hole.

The longshots: John Kelly, James Gilbert and Xavier Jones

It would be a complete and utter surprise if any of these players went into the season as the Rams’ No. 1 running back, just given the current landscape at this position. Kelly has done next to nothing in the NFL thus far after being a late-round pick a couple of years ago, while the other two are undrafted rookies just hoping to make the roster.

With Akers, Henderson and Brown all likely to be on the 53-man roster, at least one of these long shots will certainly be cut. Jones’ skill set is intriguing and he was highly productive at SMU, even looking like a prospect who deserved to be drafted this year. Gilbert has a steeper climb to the roster because he’s on the smaller side and doesn’t have much receiving production.

Prediction: Akers is RB1

Akers has the makings of a true workhorse back in the NFL. He handled those duties at Florida State despite getting little help from the rest of the offense, and there’s little reason to believe he can’t become a No. 1 back as a pro.

Whether it’s in Week 1 or by Week 8, Akers will pull ahead as the clear choice to get most of the handoffs from Jared Goff. Henderson and Brown will still be in the mix, but probably not as guys who will get 15-plus carries a game.

Henderson will be a third-down weapon and receiving threat, while Brown could handle short-yardage and goal-line duties.

The Rams haven’t had really anyone wear 57 that was spectacular(that I could find). So we’re going with a guy who wore it the most, Doug Woodlief. I could not for the life of me find any highlights of this dude. So here’s a picture lol

6 pro bowls, 2 all pros and the 1971 ROY, Isiah Robertson.
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I mean, this is almost too difficult to even type the words.

But, what if Snead/McVay are so confident in their CB corps that they are actually considering allowing Ramsey to play out his contract this year in a kinda ‘prove it’ move?

Bear with me for just a moment here. In this scenario, if Ramsey really blows it up (AD like, I mean), then they could extend him at market price at that time.

But if Ramsey has just a ‘very good’ kinda year? Well, maybe the Rams would prefer to take their chances with their current other CB’s?

Hill
Long
Williams
Burgess (slot)

There are other promising kids, too. Plus Snead has a good track record bringing in secondary players so maybe he brings in another CB via draft?

This could potentially save $18-20M in cap savings annually if Ramsey doesn’t have a dominating, truly no kidding All Pro season.

I might point out at this point that the Rams do have a recent history of willingness to part with former stars when circumstances made these departures in the best long term interests of the team.

I could understand this strategic thinking, tbh. Ramsey has a great reputation, but have we seen Top 2-3 CB play from him as a Ram? Not really, at least not yet if we’re being honest. And we DO have a ton of quality CB’s just waiting for an opportunity to showcase their skills.

Is this heresy? I know that I’m in the minority with this outside-the-box suggestion, but I could see this possibly playing out with Ramsey having to prove he’s worth that humongous ‘21 salary as opposed to quality CB alternatives already on the roster.

What say you?

The Rams’ Next Chapter Will Be Sean McVay’s Toughest Challenge Yet

Sean McVay enters his fourth season with the Rams charting unknown territory. This year, Los Angeles will ditch L.A.’s Memorial Coliseum after four seasons to finally play in the $5 billion SoFi Stadium, in Inglewood. To mark the occasion, the team also underwent a branding makeover, to mixed reviews. But the altered logo and fancy arena don’t mark the most drastic changes McVay’s squad has undergone since last season’s conclusion.

After back-to-back playoff appearances—ending a 12-year franchise drought—and a Super Bowl appearance in McVay’s first two seasons, the Rams fell short of the playoffs last year. Following a 9-7 finish, the team underwent an overhaul in the offseason. Out is a laundry list of names that became staples of McVay’s teams: Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks, Cory Littleton, Dante Fowler Jr., Greg Zuerlein, and Nickell Robey-Coleman. Even vaunted defensive coordinator Wade Phillips was sent packing, as were both the offensive and special teams coordinators. The result is not just a team that will look different this fall, but one that will be different.

The question staring down the 34-year-old McVay is clear: What can he do to make things work as the Rams turn the page on the first phase of his tenure? How can McVay overcome personnel and staff losses while maintaining pace with Los Angeles’s NFC West rivals, not just this year but for the long term?

McVay, who became the youngest NFL coach ever at 31, faces an uphill battle in the 2020 race for the NFC West. The Rams were going to be cash-strapped entering the season after wealthy contracts for star players took up a significant portion of the cap. Gurley, Cooks, quarterback Jared Goff, defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey were due to account for a combined total of more than $103 million; it doesn’t take an economist to figure out that a team committing half of its cap space to just five players isn’t ideal.

So this offseason the Rams cut Gurley, a two-time All-Pro whose knee appeared to betray him less than a year after he signed a four-year, $57.5 million extension. The move rescued $5.5 million in cap space. Los Angeles also jettisoned Cooks—who had cost them 2018 first- and sixth-round picks in a trade with the Patriots—to the Texans, recouping Houston’s 2020 second-round pick and ’22 fourth-round pick. Moving on from Cooks, who logged 42 catches for 583 yards and two touchdowns last season (all the lowest marks of his career since his rookie season), actually cost Los Angeles $5 million in cap space this season.

Several other key contributors were lost for similar reasons. Fowler, the star pass rusher who finished second on the team with 11.5 sacks last season, signed with the Falcons. Gurley joined Atlanta, too. Littleton, a home-grown inside linebacker who led the team in total tackles (134) in 2019, signed with the Raiders. Robey-Coleman, the slot corner who posted a 74.1 pass coverage grade (17th among corners with at least 500 pass coverage snaps), according to Pro Football Focus, signed with the Eagles. Zuerlein, the team’s longtime ace kicker, signed with the Cowboys. Veteran linebacker Clay Matthews was released. And during the 2019 season, Los Angeles traded cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib to the Ravens and Dolphins, respectively, for late-round draft compensation. These departures each followed an offseason in which Los Angeles lost defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, defensive back Lamarcus Joyner, and left guard Rodger Saffold to free agency. Altogether, the depleted 2020 Rams roster shows the aftermath of a team going all in for a Super Bowl.

The roster turnover will further strain continuity, which was already expected to be complicated this year. While the Rams are returning 87.4 percent of offensive snaps (fifth most in the league), they’re returning only 53.8 percent of defensive snaps (31st). That leaves first-year defensive coordinator Brandon Staley in a tough position. Los Angeles signed defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson and linebacker Leonard Floyd—a pair of underperformers from the 2016 draft—on short-term deals to help shore up the front seven. Veteran defensive lineman Michael Brockers is back on a one-year deal, too, though only after a deal with the Ravens fell through.

Offensively, for the first time in the McVay era the Rams won’t tout Gurley as their lead back. Backfield duties could be split between Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson, John Kelly, and Cam Akers, the Florida State rookie whom Los Angeles selected with its first pick of the 2020 draft at no. 52. Akers, a former blue-chip recruit, was rated as the draft’s most elusive running back by PFF, forcing a missed tackle on 32 percent of his touches and registering 3.9 yards after contact per carry.

Still, the Rams will miss Gurley’s pass-catching ability out of the backfield. When healthy, he was one of the league’s most versatile players. And his presence enabled McVay to tailor his offense to fully utilize the play-action game, which remained a key function for Los Angeles last year. According to Sports Info Solutions, Goff executed play-action passes at the league’s fourth-highest frequency (29.7 percent of dropbacks), but ranked only 28th in passer rating (81.8) on such throws.

Play-action probably will still be an integral part of McVay’s offensive scheme. (He’s still the play-caller, after all.) His affection for 11-personnel formations (one running back, one tight end, three receivers) isn’t likely to go away, as the Rams used the grouping on nearly 73 percent of their offensive snaps last year, third most. But the Rams probably won’t lean as heavily on that formation as they once did. Los Angeles also registered the 11th-most snaps in 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends, two receivers), and the Rams accentuated that grouping down the stretch. From Week 13 to Week 17, the Rams used the grouping on 34 percent of their snaps after using it on 14 percent of snaps through the first 12 weeks. The stretch coincided with tight end Tyler Higbee’s fantasy-championship-winning outburst, a five-game period through which he registered 43 catches for 522 yards and two touchdowns on 56 targets (76.8 percent catch rate). Fellow tight end Gerald Everett, a former second-round pick entering the final year of his rookie deal, had a solid campaign, too, but was hampered by a knee injury. He finished the year with 37 catches for 408 yards and two touchdowns total on 60 targets (61.7 percent) across 13 appearances.

Higbee’s late-season performance and Everett’s presence could bolster the Rams’ passing game. The attack still boasts talented outside receivers Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. Second-round receiver Van Jefferson—whom Rams director of scouting strategy James Gladstone described as a “reflection” of Kupp and Woods—could also figure into the rotation, as should veteran wideout Josh Reynolds, especially considering Cooks’s absence.

The whole system, though, relies on the arm of Goff, who regressed in 2019 after strong ’17 and ’18 campaigns. Despite two Pro Bowls and a $134 million contract to his name, it’s still relatively unclear what the Rams have in the former no. 1 pick. Playing behind a banged-up offensive line last season didn’t exactly help his case. The Rams relinquished a league-low 22 sacks, but PFF ranked them 29th in pass blocking and ESPN ranked them 22nd in pass-block win rate. The offensive line also struggled to establish the line of scrimmage in the run game; 21 percent of carries resulted in either no gain or tackles for loss, which ranked 26th. The offensive line’s configuration remains a question mark entering the new season, with 38-year-old left tackle Andrew Whitworth, center Austin Blythe, and right tackle Rob Havenstein the only penciled-in starters.

To sum it all up, for the Rams to win, Goff needs to recapture his 2017-18 form and the offensive line must be consistent. This is perhaps easier said than done, as the offense will be under new coordinator Kevin O’Connell, previously the OC in Washington—which ranked 30th in offensive DVOA in 2019.

With the rival 49ers, stalwart Seahawks, and rising Cardinals all playing in the same division, the Rams are in the mix of the most competitive grouping in the league. Los Angeles, based on current roster construction and cap situation, is facing the most challenges. The Rams—who have not made a first-round draft selection since Goff (2016)—do not hold first-, fourth-, or fifth-round picks in the 2021 draft. Aggressive trading has prevented them from adding cheaper talent in higher rounds. According to Spotrac, the Rams will have more than $30 million in cap space next offseason, which ranks 17th in the league. But they won’t necessarily have the opportunity for much of a spending spree; Kupp, Ramsey, and starting safety John Johnson III are each scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency after this season.

Meanwhile, San Francisco, the reigning NFC champions who faltered late in Super Bowl LIV, appear set to remain dominant for years to come. Seattle is as reliable as ever, with superstar quarterback Russell Wilson under contract through 2023. Arizona, which acquired All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins and drafted highly touted, position-defying defender Isaiah Simmons this offseason, has added intriguing pieces to a roster being constructed around quarterback Kyler Murray, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, which could accelerate their timeline toward contention.

McVay was once the NFL’s coveted wunderkind, and in some ways still is—he’s still the youngest coach in the league by three years. But the shine has come off a bit. The NFC West is a gantlet. The Rams do not boast the full continuity other teams do amid a weird offseason that will give teams with established chemistry a greater edge. Los Angeles is scheduled to play what’s rated as the league’s 10th-most-difficult schedule. Long term, the Rams won’t have a full cupboard of draft choices until 2022, and their salary cap bind could become even worse if league revenues dip this season. Their approach has led to two divisional crowns and the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance in more than a decade. But the sustainability of that success isn’t a given.

Things aren’t dire in Los Angeles just yet. Most teams would love to have a franchise quarterback and a 30-something head coach who has never had a losing season. But the Rams must find a way to regain their edge. Last season, McVay’s squad was eliminated from playoff contention by Week 16. For Los Angeles to avoid a similar fate in 2020, it could perhaps take a master class in coaching from one of the game’s brightest young minds to navigate what will assuredly be his toughest task yet.

Hey guys, I need some help on this lame AF topic. I recently got a new house that came with a pre-planted vegetation garden. It's super nutrient rich soil covered with mulch. I have typical small to medium sized shrubs, bushes, and hedges growing from them. It does grow a shit ton of weeds, and every time I pull them I try to get the roots and rhizomes and other weed whatnot but weeds ya know?

Since I'm a new homeowner, can anyone point to some good weed killer I can buy at like Lowes or Amazon? I know Round Up, but there's, umm issues with them.

Hot and humid for the most part here, if that makes a difference. Thanks.

"Ramblin Fan:
If #LARams QB Jared Goff regresses further (as some expect he will), what other options do the Rams have? "

Who are these idiots? Obviously they don't watch Ram games nor do they have any analytical abilities yet they publish nonsense like this without citing who these so-called experts are? I know of one, in particular, PFF who's analytical abilities are questionable at best not just by me but by probably most of the NFL professionals as well.

Simple statistical analysis is all it takes to show how stupid that statement is.

2016
GS 7
Team Record 0-7
Pass attempts 205 Comp 112 54%
1089 yds 5 TD 7 INT

2017
GS 15
TR 11-4
PA 477 Comp 296 62.1%
3804 yds 28 TD 7 INT

2018
GS 16
TR 13-3
PA 561 Comp 364 64.9%
4688 yds 32 TD 12 INT

2019
GS 16
TR 9-7
PA 629 Comp 394 62.9%
46338 22 TD 16 INT

So these morons are pinning the failure to make the playoffs on Jared. Look at the number of pass attempts in 2019 showing there was no run game what's so ever to support his play. His total yardage compared to 2018 shows he was forced to throw shorter (i.e. more quickly) due to abysmal o-line play. Yet this QB they are denigrating literally carried this team on his back to a winning record. Except for a missed FG (less than 50 yds) this team would have finished at least 10-6 despite the lack of run support or decent o-line play.

It's obvious these no nothing morons never watched a single Ram game in 2019. If they did it is clear they had no clue what they were seeing. 2018 showed how good this team can be and how good Jared is. Poor play in the Ram secondary, o-line, and run attack ruined their chances in 2019. But this team in 2020 is far and away better than the 2018 squad. This secondary IMO will be one of the best in the NFL this year. Their D-line is better now than in 2018 with better pass rushing.

Bottom line is that Jared has not regressed. In fact, his play proves he has steadily improved. Goff showed toughness and adaptability when things didn't go his way. He hung in and competed in every game, and was their entire offense for an entire season. That is not regression, far from it. It shows he is continuing to improve and his stats support it. When you factor in the number of INTs directly attributed to the atrocious o-line blocking his numbers compare well with 2018 and bode well for his future growth.

But Ramblin Rams is advocating finding a new QB? These jerks don't know mierda because they simply don't know how to interpret data, much less analyze actual NFL play.

Not gunna lie, I’m glad the linemen are done. It was hard to find highlights for them lol today we look at a guy who never should have been let go, London Fletcher. He was our defensive leader from 98-01. It’s a travesty he didn’t make the pro bowl in 2000. He was absurd that year.
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Rams camp battle preview: Who emerges at ILB?

The Los Angeles Rams are just a few weeks away from the expected start of training camp, which means position battles will be heating up, too. This is a roster that features a lot of uncertainty at several positions, including inside linebacker after the departure of Cory Littleton.

It’s one of the weakest groups on the roster, and one of the least proven in the NFL. But there is some upside with players such as Micah Kiser, Travin Howard and Kenny Young.

Let’s dive into this position battle ahead of training camp and lay out the candidates to start.

The favorite: Micah Kiser

Kiser was in line to start next to Cory Littleton last year before he suffered a pectoral injury in the preseason, which landed him on season-ending IR. Now, he’s fully recovered and ready to compete for a starting spot again, and he’s pretty clearly the favorite to replace Littleton as the Rams’ primary inside linebacker.

While he has yet to play a single defensive snap in the regular season, he looked good in the preseason and was a reliable tackler in college at Virginia. He’s someone Les Snead said he’d buy stock in, too, which is a nice vote of confidence.

The contenders: Travin Howard, Kenny Young, Troy Reeder

Howard is a former college safety who now plays linebacker, possessing good speed, range and athleticism in the middle of the defense. While he did have a few lapses in coverage late last season, he also broke up a few passes and prevented a touchdown against the Seahawks.

Young was a starter for the Ravens before being benched and eventually traded last year, returning to Southern California where he played his college ball (UCLA). The Rams are intrigued by his talent, but not enough to give him any defensive snaps last season. He’s athletic enough to play sideline to sideline and cover tight ends, but he missed 13.6% of his tackle attempts in 2018 and doesn’t pop off the screen.

Reeder filled in when Bryce Hager got hurt last season, starting eight games for the Rams. He was a liability in coverage – he allowed 16 completions on 17 attempts for 246 yards and two touchdowns – and missed 13.4% of his tackle attempts. So he was neither good against the run nor the pass. Though plenty big and physical, Reeder needs to improve his instincts and tackling.

The longshots: Clay Johnston, Daniel Bituli, Christian Rozeboom

All rookies, these three players will all need to fight just to make the 53-man roster. Johnston is the likeliest to make it as a seventh-round pick, but it’ll take a huge training camp and preseason (if it happens) in order for him to be named a starter. His work ethic and intensity will make him a fan favorite and will catch the eyes of coaches, but he has to prove himself on the field, too.

Bituli and Rozeboom both went undrafted, which makes them extreme longshots to become starters as rookies. Bituli is more of a thumper at 6-foot-4, 246 pounds with 4.84 speed, but there’s still a role for that type of linebacker on first and second down in today’s NFL.

Rozeboom doesn’t have great speed, either, but he was a tackling machine at South Dakota State and could make the team as a special teams player and reserve linebacker.

Prediction: Kiser and Howard start

Ultimately, Kiser and Howard give the Rams a nice combination of range, tackling and coverage ability. Kiser would play on the strong side with Howard free to run on the weak side, getting help from his defensive linemen. It would probably be the least proven linebacker tandem in the NFL, but also one with some upside thanks to their athleticism.

The Rams have options at linebacker, but none have a proven track record or will instill much confidence. But if one player or another falters, there will be someone there to step up if given the opportunity to do so – even if it’s in a somewhat limited role.

NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates: Chase Young in front

The phrase "generational talent" is being used way too often these days, but I do feel like it's a potentially deserved tag for Washington Redskins rookie Chase Young. First-year edge rushers have a good shot to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award, as long as they get to the quarterback on a regular basis. That is something Young appears ready and able to do.

Inside linebackers are also frequently in the mix if they step into a starting job and have the speed and versatility to stay on the field for all three downs. Patrick Queen and Kenneth Murray could fit that bill this season.

Let's take a glance at some historical notes and trends that could help piece the DROY puzzle together.
No safety has won the award since Mark Carrier did it for the Chicago Bears in 1990.

Only three DROY recipients over the last 31 seasons were not drafted in the first round: Darius Leonard (2018), DeMeco Ryans (2006) and Kendrell Bell (2001).

Ohio State alums have won this award in three of the last four seasons.

Since 2002, six edge rushers have won it with season sack totals ranging from nine to 12.

Below are my top eight candidates (plus, one dark horse) to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award for the 2020 season.

1) Chase Young, edge rusher, Washington Redskins

With the Buckeyes producing winners of this award in three of the last four years, I guess it shouldn't be a surprise to see Young positioned as the favorite to take home the hardware this season. He has great size and length to transition to playing against NFL tackles. He's also shown a consistent pattern of growth as a rusher. He has the quickness and disruptive qualities to become an early factor as a run defender, too, which should bolster his production portfolio as a rookie.

2) Patrick Queen, LB, Baltimore Ravens

While just two DROY winners over the last 10 seasons were off-ball linebackers, both players (Darius Leonard and Luke Kuechly) played fast and offered coverage versatility on third downs. Queen is not only fast in a straight line, but his scrape explosiveness is extremely impressive and he can cover both tight ends and running backs down the field. He plays with an alpha mentality and should stack plenty of tackles for a proven defense in Year 1.

3) Kenneth Murray, LB, Los Angeles Chargers

Murray was one of the fastest linebackers in 2020 NFL Draft, with the ability to move around the field like a big running back once he diagnoses the play. He's very comfortable matching up man-to-man on passing downs. He's also a voracious competitor and film-eater who figures to be as prepared as any rookie defender we will see in 2020. If he can improve his ability to leverage gaps and take on blocks, he could end up as this season's DROY.

4) Isaiah Simmons, LB, Arizona Cardinals

Simmons is a tremendous athletic specimen with rare versatility to go with impressive height, length and speed. His ability to operate as a hybrid defender could allow Arizona to move him around the field as a matchup neutralizer. There's risk in asking him to do too much too soon -- something the Cardinals appear to be aiming to avoid -- but he has the potential to shine in a manner similar to Darius Leonard.

5) Jeff Okudah, CB, Detroit Lions

Given the difficulty of his position and his relatively low ball production in college (three INTs, 18 passes defensed in three seasons), perhaps I've ranked Okudah too high on this list. Here's the thing, though: He's a terrific athlete with great length and the physical ability to twitch and explode on throws. He hasn't learned to fully trust his eyes, but if it starts to click for him in that area as a rookie and if he's allowed to play a little more off-man coverage, those explosive traits could pay early dividends.

6) K'Lavon Chaisson, edge rusher, Jacksonville Jaguars

I had the Jaguars' Josh Allen in this exact spot in last year's edition of this list, but he ended up finishing fourth in DROY voting. With Allen likely to take another step in Year 2 -- not to mention the possibility of Yannick Ngakoue returning to the team if he has a change of heart about his future with the franchise -- there could be loads of opportunities for the ascending Chaisson to slither his way around one-on-one matchups with offenses paying attention to his more proven fellow pass rushers. In a division full of offenses that could be at least somewhat hit or miss, Chaisson has a chance to sneak up on people who aren't expecting him to be a hit in 2020.

7) CJ Henderson, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Yes, that's right. I'm doubling down on Jacksonville Jaguars. And this shouldn't come as a big surprise. After all, by the end of the pre-draft process this spring, I kept hearing from NFL executives who actually preferred Henderson over Okudah as the draft's CB1. Henderson ended up being selected six picks after Okudah was chosen third overall, but Henderson's combination of size, speed and fluidity are exceptional by NFL standards. Plus, he possesses decent ball skills despite failing to record an interception in his final season at Florida. It's rare for cornerbacks to win this award (only two have done so in the last 21 seasons), but Henderson has talent and a solid pass rush in front of him, which could help him see a higher percentage of rushed throws.

8) Derrick Brown, DT, Carolina Panthers

I know Brown doesn't play the sexiest position, but over the last decade, three interior linemen have won the DROY award (Aaron Donald, 2014; Sheldon Richardson, 2013; Ndamukong Suh, 2010). So, I don't see any reason to keep Brown off this list. He was one of my top-rated players in the 2020 draft thanks to his size, power and disruptive effort inside. While he plays a dominant brand of football, Brown doesn't generate consistent pocket pressure, which could ultimately keep him from rising to the top tier of contenders for this award.

TOP DARK-HORSE CANDIDATE

Jeff Gladney, CB, Minnesota Vikings: He's not the biggest or fastest rookie cornerback, but he might be the most consistently competitive on-the-ball defender in this draft. Gladney is twitchy and instinctive. He should get on the field right away for the cornerback-needy Vikings. He will take his lumps, to be sure, but look for Gladney to make more plays on the football than most rookie starters.

So we're swimming in a lake and we saw a little bird swimming along looking like it was struggling. My wife picks it up out of the water and I shout at her to put that thing down. Did I mention she didn't have her glasses on?

Have you guys seen this movie? If you have a bit of free time it's pretty damn amazing to watch. The criminal organization, the corruption, the continuation of the cover ups. Anybody else know much or have experiences about this or any other things? Most if not all of the members on this board are older and have a lot more life experiences and knowledge than I have. ( especially those that remain open minded and continuously learning even in your older years).


Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShkxbjqYorM&t=1560s


Any of you have any unique stories or experiences?! A ton of old school Ram stories about our organization or games I would never know about without some members here that google isn't going to tell you.

Sorry guys, I’ve just been really busy lately. I didn’t have time to put videos together but tomorrow I will restart. Anyway, here’s the last 4 days worth of Rams players

Joe Corollo


Adam Timmerman



Rich Saul


Dennis Harrah

NFL's 20 greatest coach-quarterback duos

Earlier this month, Patrick Mahomes signed a 10-year extension that will keep him in Kansas City through the 2031 season. With his quarterback secured for the longterm, Chiefs coach Andy Reid did not rule out coaching for the duration of Mahomes' contract. That's great news for Chiefs fans but not so great news for opposing NFL defenses that will have to face against Kansas City's dynamic duo in the years to come.

If what they did during the past two seasons is any indication of what's to come, Reid and Mahomes appear destined to eventually be on the Mount Rushmore of the greatest coach/quarterback duos in NFL history. The league has had a slew of great coach/quarterback pairings over the years, partnerships that have helped shape dynasties while changing the way the game is played today.

Given Reid's desire to coach well into the 2020s (at least), we decided to take a look at the greatest coach/quarterback duos in NFL history, a list that Reid and Mahomes will surely join sometime in the near future.

Here is the criteria used to make this list:

• Championships won together
• Other notable achievements/accolades won during their time together
• Number of years spent working with one another
• The level of impact each coach/quarterback had on the other's career
• Their combined legacy within the NFL

Where does your favorite coach/quarterback duo rank on the all-time list? Let's find out.

20. Tom Coughlin/Eli Manning

Championships won together: 2
Greatest moment: Super Bowl XLII

While they had more non-playoff seasons than playoff seasons together, Coughlin and Manning helped orchestrate two of the most improbable postseason runs in NFL history. In 2007, the Giants upset the Cowboys and Packers in the playoffs before shocking the previously undefeated Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. Four years later, Manning helped lead the Giants back to the Super Bowl, where they again upset the Patriots in dramatic fashion.

A two-time Super Bowl MVP, each of Manning's five Pro Bowl seasons came under Coughlin, who served as Manning's coach during his first 12 seasons with the Giants. During that span, the Giants won 102 games despite playing in one of the NFL's most competitive divisions.

19. Tom Flores/Jim Plunkett

Championships won together: 2
Greatest moment: Super Bowl XV

Flores, the first Latino quarterback in NFL history, got the most out of Plunkett, the first Latino player to win the Heisman Trophy and, to this day, the only Latino player selected No. 1 overall in the NFL draft. After failing to live up to expectations in New England, Plunkett thrived with the Raiders after taking over as the team's starting quarterback in 1980. During their first four seasons together, the duo helped lead the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories. Plunkett earned MVP honors in Super Bowl XV, throwing for 261 yards and three touchdowns in Oakland's 27-10 win over the Eagles. Plunkett became the first Latino player to win Super Bowl MVP, while Flores became the first Latino coach to win the Super Bowl.

"As you look back, I think we're both proud of the fact that we came from, at that time, a minority group of people, who could take a lot of pride of what we accomplished," Plunkett said during an interview with NFL Films. "We're proud of the fact that we are Mexican American, where we came from, what we accomplished. And people can look up to that and strive to achieve for success in their own right, and that's all good."

18. Weeb Ewbank/Joe Namath

Championships won together: 1
Greatest moment: Super Bowl III

Despite being drafted by the NFL's Cardinals at No. 12 overall, Namath chose to play in the Jets after being the AFL team's No. 1 overall pick in the 1965 draft on the same day. Namath's decision proved to be the right one, earning a Pro Bowl selection during his rookie season. Two years later, Namath became the first player to throw for over 4,000 yards in a season. The following year, Namath helped lead the Jets past the Raiders in the AFL title game. New York's reward was a showdown with the heavily favored Jets in Super Bowl III. The game was personal for Ewbank, who won two titles with the Colts before Baltimore fired him after the 1962 season.

In Super Bowl III, Ewbank's coaching and Namath's mastery of the Jets' offense helped propel New York to a shocking 16-7 victory. Namath, who shortened his drop back in order to beat the Colts' formidable pass rush, completed 17 passes while not throwing an interception. He did not throw a single pass during the fourth quarter while instead choosing to hand the ball to Matt Snell, who pushed Baltimore's defense to the tune of 121 yards and a touchdown on 30 carries. The win not only gave the AFL much needed legitimacy, it helped turn the Super Bowl into the spectacle that it is today. It also punched Namath and Ewbank's eventual ticket to the Hall of Fame.

17. Don Coryell/Dan Fouts

Championships won together: 0
Greatest moment: 1981 divisional round

The Chargers literally caught lightning in a bottle in 1978, when the team hired offensive mastermind Don Coryell the same year the league made several rule changes that helped open things up for the quarterbacks. Coryell immediately took advantage of the new rules while allowing Dan Fouts (who won just 12 games during his first five years as the Chargers' quarterback) the freedom to throw the ball downfield at his leisure.

The result was one of the most explosive passing offenses the league has ever seen. From 1979-82, Fouts led the league in passing each season while leading the Chargers to a 39-18 regular season record. In the divisional round of the 1981 playoffs, Fouts threw for 433 yards and three touchdowns while helping the Chargers escape Miami with a 41-38 overtime win over the Dolphins. The following season, Fouts, the 1982 Offensive Player of the Year, led the Chargers to a thrilling come-from-behind win over the Steelers in the wild card round. The Chargers were never able to get to the Super Bowl, however, as San Diego lost consecutive AFC title games in 1980 and '81.

"We'll be judged base upon our failures but also upon our entrainment value and how people remember us," Fouts told NFL Films in a documentary on the '81 Chargers. "People remember the San Diego Chargers as a team that they enjoyed watching.

"All I care about is the fans. If they liked it, great. Some will be critical. Some will say, 'Ah, they never one the big one.' But you know what? We tried, and we had fun trying. We did leave our mark. We will not be forgotten."

16. Marv Levy/Jim Kelly

Championships won together: 0
Greatest moment: 1990 AFC Championship

They never won the big one, but Levy and Kelly are the only coach/quarterback duo in NFL history to appear in four consecutive Super Bowls. In their first of four AFC championship game victories, the Bills routed the Raiders, 51-3, behind a 300-yard passing performance by Kelly, who, along with his coach, has a bronze bust in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Kelly was the perfect quarterback to run Levy's fast-paced system, which was appropriately known as the "K-Gun" offense.

"Marv is such a great, great man," Kelly recently told USA Today. "When you talk about leadership, it starts at the top, but for us Marv Levy knew how to treat us. He knew how to massage our egos to a point where we knew that if we didn't come together as a team we were going to be just like any other team."

15. Hank Stram/Len Dawson

Championships won together: 3 (2 AFL, 1 Super Bowl)
Greatest moment: Super Bowl IV

Dawson toiled in Pittsburgh and Cleveland for a combined five years before joining the Dallas Texans in 1962. With Stram as his coach, Dawson earned All-Pro honors that season while guiding the Texans to an AFL title. Four years later, the duo of Stram and Dawson helped the Chiefs (the franchise changed names and cities in 1963) win another AFL title to earn the right to face the Packers in Super Bowl I. While the Chiefs came up short in that game, they made up for it three years later, with Dawson earning MVP honors in Kansas City's 23-7 win over the Vikings in Super Bowl IV, the final game played before the AFL-NFL merger.

Dawson put together a Hall of Fame career while playing for Stram, who has also earned a bronze bust in Canton. A seven-time Pro Bowler, Dawson led the league in completion percentage eight times and touchdown passes on four different occasions.

14. Mike Shanahan/John Elway

Championships won together: 2
Greatest moment: Super Bowl XXXIII

Elway had already put together a Hall of Fame career by the time Shanahan (who won a Super Bowl with the 49ers as Steve Young's offensive coordinator) came to Denver in 1995. But with Shanahan's help, Elway finally became a champion, as the Broncos won back-to-back Super Bowls during Elway's final two seasons. Elway, after playing second fiddle to Terrell Davis in Super Bowl XXXII, was unleashed by Shanahan during Super Bowl XXXIII, throwing for 336 yards and scoring two touchdowns in his final NFL game.

While Shanahan had a significant influence on Elway, Elway also made an influence on Shanahan. With the Broncos holding a slim lead over the Chiefs in the divisional round of the 1997 playoffs, Shanahan was debating whether or not to send out his offense on fourth and short. But after Elway told Shanahan to "beat Marty [Schottenheimer] at his own game," the Broncos punted, and eventually edged the Chiefs in route to the franchise's first Super Bowl win.

13. Tony Dungy/Peyton Manning

Championships won together: 1
Greatest moment: 2006 AFC Championship

While he was already performing at an All-Pro level, Manning's career went to another level after Dungy (following a successful run in Tampa Bay) arrived in Indianapolis in 2002. During their second season together, Manning led a dominant Colts offensive attack that did not punt one time during their divisional round playoff victory over the Chiefs. The following season, Manning broke Dan Marino's single season touchdown passes mark en route to winning his second consecutive MVP award.

Two years later, Manning and Dungy finally bested the Patriots (who had defeated the Colts in two of the previous three postseasons) in the 2006 AFC Championship Game. Two weeks later, the duo won their first and only Super Bowl together, as Manning took home the MVP trophy after the Colts defeated the Bears in Super Bowl XLI. Manning would go onto win his third MVP award in 2008, Dungy's final season as the Colts' head coach.

12. Weeb Ewbank/Johnny Unitas

Championships won: 2
Greatest moments: 1958 NFL Championship

Before becoming the first head coach to lead an NFL and an AFL team to championships, Ewbank spent 13 years as a high school head coach before getting his first NFL head coaching job in 1954. In 1956, the Colts acquired Johnny Unitas, who quickly developed into one of the greatest quarterbacks in league history. Faced off against the Giants in the 1958 NFL Championship Game, Unitas' 349 passing yards helped Baltimore defeat New York in the first overtime game in league history. The Colts again defeated the Giants in the following year's NFL title game, as Unitas threw for 264 yards and two scores in Baltimore's 31-16 victory.

During his seven seasons with Ewbank, Unitas was selected to six Pro Bowls while winning the first of his three league MVP awards in 1959. The two faced off against each other in Super Bowl III, with Ewbank's Jets coming out on top in the greatest upset in Super Bowl history.

11. Mike Holmgren/Brett Favre

Championships won together: 1
Greatest moment: Super Bowl XXXI

After serving as Joe Montana and Steve Young's offensive coordinator in San Francisco, Holmgren was tasked with molding the raw talents of Favre, who was traded from Atlanta to Green Bay before the 1992 season. While they certainly had their growing pains, Holmgren and Favre won a Super Bowl and two NFC titles during their seven seasons together. Favre, who scored three total touchdowns in Green Bay's win over New England in Super Bowl XXXI, won three consecutive league MVP awards from 1995-97. The two also grew an affinity for one another that was on display during Favre's jersey retirement ceremony.

"People think that we didn't get along very well and that I was probably too hard on him," Holmgren said. "And, at times, I was. But the reason I was was [that] I recognized how talented he was and what he could do. I wasn't right about everything, but I was right about that. And I knew it was my job to harness that energy a little bit, to teach him the offense and help him be a better player.

"I've had the privilege of coaching some great quarterbacks in my career, but I gotta tell you, he was like the son I never had."

10. John Madden/Ken Stalber

Championships won together: 1
Greatest moment: Super Bowl XI

With "The Snake" as his quarterback, Madden's Raiders appeared in five consecutive AFC championships games from 1973-77. In 1976, Oakland lost just one game en route to its first championship, a 32-14 win over the Vikings in Super Bowl XI. During that span, Stabler developed into one of the league's top players, earning four Pro Bowl selections while winning league MVP in 1974. While Stalber's athleticism and bravery in the pocket played a significant role in his success, the freedom he received from Madden truly allowed him and his teammates to reach their potential.

"He basically pitched the playbook to me and said, 'Go win,'" Stalber told NFL Films in 2006. "He made me a better player to have that responsibility. What comes out of your mouth is going to dictate a lot of success. You have the ability to take people from a two car garage to a three car garage from what you call in the huddle."

Together, the duo achieved immortality. Madden was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006. Stalber, who died in 2015, posthumously joined him in Canton in 2016.

9. Jimmy Johnson/Troy Aikman

Championships won together: 2
Greatest moment: Super Bowl XXVII

Aikman's reaction to Johnson receiving his 2020 Hall of Fame induction news tells you everything you need to know about the impact Johnson had on Aikman's career. After choosing not to play for Johnson (twice) during his college years, Aikman was finally paired with the former University of Miami coach in 1989. After going winless as a rookie, Aikman would quickly blossom into one of the NFL's best passers, earning six consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1991-96. Aikman's best two seasons (1992-93) were under Johnson, who left the Cowboys after leading Dallas to back-to-back Super Bowl wins.

After defeating the 49ers in the NFC title game, Johnson's Cowboys overwhelmed the Bills in Super Bowl XXVII. Johnson's team was spearheaded by Aikman, who threw for 273 yards and four touchdowns while completing 70% of his pass attempts. The following season, Aikman, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006, led the NFL in completion percentage, as Dallas successfully defended its title.

8. Don Shula/Dan Marino

Championships won together: 0
Greatest moment: 1984 AFC Championship

While they weren't able to win a Super Bowl together, Shula and Marino enjoyed a highly successful partnership during their 13 seasons together. With Shula as his coach, Marino was selected to nine Pro Bowls and was named an All-Pro on three different occasions. In 1995 (Shula's last season as the Dolphins' coach), Marino passed Fran Tarkenton as the NFL's all-time career passing leader.

Their best season together took place in 1984. Marino, coming off a successful rookie season, won league MVP honors after throwing for then single season records 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns. Facing his childhood team -- the Pittsburgh Steelers -- in the AFC Championship Game, Marino threw for 421 yards and four touchdowns in the Dolphins' 45-28 victory. Marino and Shula's careers have both been immortalized in the Hall of Fame.

7. Tom Landry/Roger Staubach

Championships won together: 2
Greatest moment: Super Bowl VI

Staubach didn't become a full-time starter until age 29, but quickly made up for lost time, leading Dallas to its first Super Bowl title at the end of his first season as the team's starting quarterback. Staubach, who won Super Bowl MVP honors in the Cowboys' 24-3 win over the Dolphins, thrived under Landry's revolutionary offensive system, which featured an array of pre-snap motions while operating primarily out of the shotgun, a first in professional football.

Landry may have been the unquestioned leader of the Cowboys, but he was willing to compromise as it related to his Staubach's desire to make plays with his feet. Landry's system, along with having the freedom to take advantage of some of his peerless athleticism, made Staubach arguably the greatest quarterback of his era.

"He put up with my running, and I learned a lot from him as far as my preparation and reading keys," Staubach said of Landry, via Sports Illustrated. "He was a master at keying the defense and looking at the weak safety. (He'd say) 'If the weak safety goes strong, throw to the other side.' We had these different keys all the time. So he really taught me a lot about preparation and reading defenses, and I taught him that quarterbacks can make first downs."

6. Paul Brown/Otto Graham

Championships won together: 7 (3 in the NFL, 4 in the AAFL)
Greatest moment: 1950 NFL Championship

After winning four consecutive AAFL titles, the Browns joined the NFL before the start of the 1950 season. Despite playing in a considerably tougher league, Cleveland continued to dominate the competition, going 10-2 during the regular season before edging out the Giants in the first round of the playoffs. Facing the Rams (who had lost the previous year's championship game) in the NFL title game, Graham threw for 298 yards and four touchdowns, as the Browns bested the Rams, 30-28. The Browns would lose the next three championship games before winning back-to-back titles in 1954 and '55.

During their six seasons together in the NFL, the duo of Brown and Graham posted an overall record of 61-13-1. Graham, a seven-time All-Pro, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1965. Brown, whose 213 wins is the sixth highest total in NFL history, was enshrined in 1967.

5. Vince Lombardi/Bart Starr

Championships won together: 5
Greatest moment: 1967 NFL Championship

The first coach/quarterback duo to win the Super Bowl, Lombardi and Starr won five championships together that included three straight from 1965-67. Starr claimed MVP honors in Green Bay's wins over Kansas City and Oakland in Super Bowls I and II, while the Packers' success in those games ultimately led to Super Bowl championship trophy being named in Lombardi's honor.

The duo's greatest moment came in the 1967 NFL title game, a game that is better known as the "Ice Bowl." Trailing 17-14 with less than five minutes remaining, Starr methodically moved the Packers 67 yards to the Cowboys' 1-yard-line with 16 seconds remaining. After using his final timeout to talk things over with Lombardi, Starr called "31 Wedge," a running play for running back Chuck Mercein. But instead of handing off, Starr decided to keep the ball on a quarterback sneak. Following Hall of Fame guard Jerry Kramer's blocking, Starr barreled his way over the goal line, giving the Packers a second consecutive championship game victory over Dallas.

While Starr had great admiration for Lombardi, his ability to confront his coach when defending his teammates endeared him to his teammates.

"Bart was the only player that I ever saw — and Bart doesn't like to talk about this — stand up in front of team and say [to Lombardi], 'Wait a minute, Coach. Don't be criticizing us about that because that's not true. Let's get it right,'" former Packers' offensive lineman Bill Curry said during a 2006 interview with NFL Films. "And Coach Lombardi would actually concede to him."

4. Chuck Noll/Terry Bradshaw

Championships won together: 4
Greatest moment: Super Bowl XIII

Noll, when asked years later about working with Bradshaw, defined it as "businesslike." Bradshaw, whose growing pains during his time in Pittsburgh are well documented, didn't always appreciate the way he was coached by Noll, who made a conscious effort not to get too close to his players. But while their relationship was complicated, the results are prolific, as the duo won four Super Bowls in a six-year span between 1974-79. Bradshaw, after being known more for his athleticism earlier in his career, developed into a extremely proficient passer during Pittsburgh's second run of Super Bowl wins during the '70s.

The league's MVP in 1978, Bradshaw cemented his legacy as a big game quarterback in Super Bowl XIII, when he threw for then Super Bowl records 318 yards and four touchdowns in Pittsburgh's 35-31 win over the Cowboys. He won his second consecutive Super Bowl MVP the following season, throwing a pair of second half touchdowns in the Steelers' come-from-behind win over the Rams in Super Bowl XIV. Four decades removed from his last Super Bowl win, Bradshaw has come to appreciate the way he was coached by Noll, who joined his quarterback in Canton three years after Bradshaw was inducted in 1989.

"There's a lot of unanswered questions as to our relationship," Bradshaw recently told NFL Films. "As a football coach, he was just incredible ... When I think about Chuck, he made me tough."

3. Asshole Face/Drew Brees

Championships won together: 1
Greatest moment: Super Bowl XLIV

As far as individual statistics are concerned, no quarterback has enjoyed as much success as Brees has had -- over an extended period of time -- with Payton. With Payton as his coach, Brees has become the NFL's all-time career leader in passing yards (77,416) and touchdown passes (547). Brees has won seven passing titles while also leading the league in touchdown passes on four different occasions. He has also led the league in completion percentage six times that includes each of the past three seasons.

The duo's greatest moment together took place in Super Bowl XLIV. While Payton made history by executing the earliest attempted onside kick in Super Bowl history, Brees out-dueled Peyton Manning, throwing for 288 yards and two scores while completing 82% of his passes in the Saints' 31-17 victory over the Colts.

2. Bill Walsh/Joe Montana

Championships won together: 3
Greatest moment: Super Bowl XXIII

The perfect coach/quarterback duo, Montana executed Walsh's West Coast Offense to near perfection during the 1980s. Fittingly, the 49ers' dynasty began with Montana capping off an 89-yard drive with his game-winning pass to Dwight Clark in the 1981 NFC title game. Thee years later, Walsh's offense put on a clinic in Super Bowl XIX, with Montana passing for a then Super Bowl record 333 yards. He also rushed for 59 yards while leading the 49ers to a 38-16 win over the Dolphins.

With the 49ers trailing 16-13 late in Super Bowl XXIII, Montana again ran Walsh's offense to perfection, as he moved San Francisco's offense 92 games for the game-winning score. Montana's 10-yard touchdown pass to John Taylor -- on a play that was titled "20 halfback curl X up" -- was the final play call of Walsh's NFL career. Walsh received his gold jacket in 1993, while Montana followed suit in 2000.

"He was just a great coach, a great man and a great person," Montana recently said of Walsh, who died in 2007. "I wish I had a lot more time with him."

1. Bill Belichick/Tom Brady

Championships won together: 6
Greatest moment: Super Bowl XXXVI

The most successful partnership in NFL history, Belichick and Brady won six Super Bowls and nine AFC titles during their 20 seasons together. Belichick has become the first coach to win six Super Bowls, while Brady, the first four-time Super Bowl MVP, is on the Mount Rushmore as it relates to the greatest quarterbacks in NFL history. Many would argue that Brady, a three-time league MVP, is the greatest quarterback that's ever played.

While the two have shared many memorable moments, their first Super Bowl still takes the cake as Brady and Belichick's signature moment. With the score tied and the Patriots backed up on their own 17-yard-line with 1:21 remaining, Belichick opted not to play for overtime and instead put the game into the hands of his second-year quarterback. Brady, as he would do time and time again over the next 18 seasons, rose to the challenge, completing five passes for 53 yards to set up Adam Vinateri's game-winning field goal. The Patriots' 20-17 win over the Rams was the start of a dynasty, a dynasty that was capped off with Belichick and Brady sitting beside each other after being named to the NFL's 100th Anniversary Team.

"We have a great relationship," Brady said during the NFL Network's NFL 100 All-Time Team show. "We always have. It's been about winning. That's why I'm still playing today, it's because I want to win. There's nothing that's going to get in the way of that, and I feel like that's the same thing for him. And I know it appears that we differ in ways, but we're so similar in many ways that people would probably never see."