10 things with David Long Jr.

Each week, we interview a different Rams player to find out about their lives on the field as well as off of it. Team Reporter, Sarina Morales, asks the questions fans want to know, in a fun and conversational interview. This week, defensive back, David Long Jr., spoke to Sarina about his year two goals, hover boards and what he would be if not for football.

1: Gains

Sarina: How are you doing?

David: I'm doing well. Hanging in there amidst this pandemic. I haven't done much except work out and study, honestly. With the surplus of time I've found ways to maximize my physical gains, as well as make great strides in the mental department.

2: Coach Staley FTW

Sarina: What has been the biggest learning for you from virtual meetings?

David: Virtual meetings have been great. Coach Staley is very energetic and interactive with the entire unit, and great with creating a picture for guys to plug themselves into the defense where they fit. So even though we're not with each other physically, I believe guys have a good idea of his philosophy of the defense.

3: A name amongst numbers

Sarina: Going into year two as a Ram...what is your goal this season?

David: My goal this season is be the best player I can be and really bring everything together. Last season I had a learning curve and progressed well, but I feel I now have the experience and skill set to be the player others have envisioned me to be and more. I also have a better understanding of what to expect, having a year under my belt. Things like lifting, workouts, diets…I just know what my body needs and what I need to get going. I also have a better understanding of the game of football spending a year with Eric Weddle and a good deal of time with Aqib and Marcus in the meeting room. I had a lot of these things last year, but I had to endure a learning curve and get my feet under me. So now I feel ready to make my splash and become a name amongst numbers.

4: T-Rapp is a beast

Sarina: What do you think of your buddy Taylor Rapp and his insane 10,000 calorie workout day?

David: Lol, T-Rapp is a beast for taking on that 10,000-calorie challenge. While it was super wild, I would expect him to attack something like that, and ultimately succeed. That's a dope accomplishment and experience, but I don't think we will ever share that experience, lol.

5: SoFi will be SoFire

Sarina: SoFi stadium is almost complete! What are you excited about when it comes to the new stadium?

David: Most exciting thing about the new stadium is the atmosphere and makeup. I've played in some of the best college and professional stadiums in the country, and I always enjoy the energy at different stadiums and different cities. Hopefully we can mold our home field into one of those stadiums people talk about and how it's a tough crowd!

6: Friends in the league

Sarina: Have any games circled on the schedule this season? Any games stand out to you?

David: No games circled. I'm just ready to get after it with the opportunities given. I am excited to see some of my friends. This past draft class would have been my draft class so a lot of my friends I graduated with or played in college with are now in the league as well. So, while no games are circled, I'm excited for those moments and the start of their journey.

7: Catch him on the couch

Sarina: What is an underrated object in your home right now? Why?

David: My coach in my film room. I can get a nap in, play games, and get some film in all within arm's reach.

8: Tell Perry, David sent you!

Sarina: Favorite LA restaurant you've ordered from a lot these days?

David: Perry's Joint. Perry's Joint is actually in Pasadena, where I'm from, but it's amazing food and excellent service. If anyone is ever in the area, they should check it out. Let Perry know I sent you, lol!!! And get the Hip Bird!

9: Bring Back to the Future

Sarina: What piece of technology do you want invented in your lifetime? Why?

David: A piece of technology that I want invented in my lifetime would be those hover boards from Back to the Future. They kind of have similar things, but nothing like that exact board from the movie.

10: The architect

Sarina: If not football...what would you be doing?

David: If I didn't play football, I think I would've pursued my dream of becoming an architect/structural engineer. I spent a good deal of high school working on civil engineering and a lot of my friend's dads and grandparents were involved in that exact field.

A team that won only one game by more than a TD and barely was able to squeak into the playoffs. Did little to improve themselves in the off season and are in likely the toughest division. Add to that they haven't won the division in three years and missed the playoffs the year after that.

NFL.com makes bold prediction that Seahawks will miss playoffs

Two years ago, it was a popular prediction that the Seattle Seahawks would fall to pieces and miss the playoffs for a second consecutive season. Many of the pundits even had Seattle finishing below .500 for the first time under Russell Wilson.

Now that Seattle is coming off consecutive 10+ win seasons and playoff appearances, but admittedly they have not won the NFC West since 2016. They had to make a serious second-half surge to make the playoffs in 2018 and rode historically great success in close games to get into the postseason in 2019.

With the 2020 regular season (tentatively) just over three months away, NFL.com columnist Adam Schein has rolled in with his nine bold predictions, and one of them is that the Seahawks won’t be good enough to make even the expanded playoff field.

Read it and weep:

I know that the Seahawks have been one of the most consistent teams in the NFL over the last decade, posting a winning record in each of the past eight seasons, with double-digit wins in seven of them. I know that Russell Wilson is a first-ballot Hall of Famer. And I never want to bet against fellow future gold-jacket wearers Bobby Wagner and Pete Carroll. But I have serious questions about the overall quality of this roster — especially when compared to a host of rosters across the NFC.

San Francisco, last year’s NFC champs, look even better right now. Tampa Bay won the offseason, with Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski joining a talented young roster and Jason Licht adding some key pieces in the draft. New Orleans will be squarely in the Lombardi hunt for the fourth straight season. The Cowboys and Eagles both upgraded their rosters. I have already declared the Cardinals this year’s Cinderella team. And Aaron Rodgers is still Aaron Rodgers.

Don’t get me wrong: I don’t expect the Seahawks to fall apart. But they’ll lose a few more games than usual, especially in this year’s highly competitive NFC West.

Based on what he’s written, presumably has the 49ers, Cowboys, Eagles, Cardinals, Buccaneers, Saints, and Packers in the playoffs. In fact we know he has the Cowboys in the playoffs because one of his other bold predictions was that Dallas would be the #1 seed.

Even as a Seahawks fan, I do not think it’s a bold prediction that they miss the playoffs, but I also still back them to make it anyway. I was among those who didn’t predict a postseason berth for Seattle in 2018 — I had them finishing 8-8 — but the lesson learned is that any team with Russell Wilson at QB should not be discounted from the playoff picture.

That said, I don’t think Schein is necessarily wrong to be concerned about the overall roster. It is not bad, per se, but unless the recent and current draft classes start becoming consistently positive contributors, I don’t think you can make a good argument that this is a particularly deep team. There are still serious question marks about wide receiver depth below Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, a defensive line still without a proven #1 pass rusher, the largely retooled offensive line, and the development of young secondary players like Tre Flowers, Ugo Amadi, and Marquise Blair.

In conclusion, Adam Schein also called Buffalo Bills YOLO quarterback Josh Allen a darkhorse MVP candidate so you can pretty much rubber stamp a Seahawks playoff berth.

Kind of ironic that this is posted at skid mark Florio's site tbh. But you tell em Cooper we don't care about the media parrots.

Cooper Kupp: Outside narratives don’t matter to us

It’s been an offseason of goodbyes for the Rams.

Players like Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks, Dante Fowler, Cory Littleton, Greg Zuerlein, Nickell Robey-Coleman and Clay Matthews have moved on since the end of a disappointing 2019 season and the Rams will look very different from the team that head coach Sean McVay piloted to the playoffs in his first two seasons on the job.

In the view of some outside of the organization, the departures haven’t been offset by enough additions for the Rams to mount a challenge in what looks like a deep NFC West this season. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp said that the changes to the roster haven’t done anything to alter the internal view, however.

“Our expectations haven’t changed; our standards haven’t changed. If anything, they’re continuing to elevate,” Kupp said, via the team’s website. “We judge ourselves within the walls we go to work in. . . . Any narrative that can be created outside of those walls doesn’t matter to us.”

McVay made similar comments earlier this week and every season sees teams that have been undervalued in the offseason outpace those expectations on the field. If the Rams can follow suit, it will be another feather in McVay’s cap after a step backward last year.

We've seen this before with DE/Edge even DT/DE and now it looks like it will go to Kittle who it seems feels he should be paid more than TE's. How do you think this turns out? Or do you care as long as it creates headaches for them and he leaves for a bigger payday?

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I really wanted the Rams to draft Butt, but we'dprobably wind up kicking him.

The Conversation Thread



Continuing the casual offseason vibe... The Conversation Thread.

Think a thread, that goes like a “Chat Room”.

Tell us what you are up to. Anything cool or interesting going on? Cooking anything special? Ask a question. Comment. Chat.

EASY

Randomness encouraged. Pics. Gifs. Music. Make us laugh. Whatever hits you.

BYOB.

Tomorrow we’ll move this thread to off topic. But for now...




A little rain here, got some ribs in the oven, a beer opened... this playing;

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2020 Offseason Opponent Breakdown: Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Now that the Rams' 2020 schedule is officially out, it's time to resume our offseason opponent breakdowns on theRams.com. Up next is Los Angeles' Week 11 Monday Night Football road opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

2019

After three seasons with Dirk Koetter as their head coach, Tampa Bay parted ways with him and brought former Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians out of retirement to succeed him.

The Buccaneers lost six of their first eight games last season, and although a 5-3 record across the second half of the season was enough to earn them a second-place finish in the NFC South, their early slide ultimately prevented them from qualifying from the playoffs for the 12th consecutive year.

Changes

The biggest moves came on offense, moving on from starting quarterback and former No. 1 overall pick Jameis Winston and replacing him former Patriots quarterback Tom Brady via a reported two-year deal in late March.

A little over a month later, they brought Brady's top target in New England, tight end Rob Gronkowski, out of retirement by trading a fourth-round pick in this year's draft to the Patriots. The Buccaneers also received a seventh-round pick from the Patriots in the deal.

Other offensive reinforcements included signing former Colts offensive tackle Joe Haeg to a one-year deal and drafting former Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs with the 13th overall pick in this year's draft.
On special teams, they claimed former Carolina Panthers kicker Elliott Fry off waivers earlier this month to compete with incumbent Matt Gay for the starting job.

Head coach

Arians enters his second season as head coach of the Buccaneers after holding the same position for the Arizona Cardinals from 2013-17. Including playoff appearances with the Cardinals and his stint as the interim head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2012, Arians' overall coaching record is 59-35-1 in six seasons.

What to watch for

Rams offense vs. Buccaneers offense

On paper, the talent on both clubs' rosters suggest fans could be in for a reprisal of 2018's Monday Night Football showdown between the Rams and the Chiefs.

A refresher on the records set that night in November, in addition to being the highest scoring game in Monday Night Football history:

• First game in league history in which both teams scored more than 50 points (Rams won 54-51).
• Third-most combined points scored in a game.
• Second-most combined touchdowns scored (14).

When the Rams and the Bucs met last September – pre-Brady and Gronkowski – they scored a combined 95 points at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It's possible they reach or surpass that total this November.

This is a cool story.

That play was pivotal to their Superbowl win... they almost used it earlier in playoffs...

Nick Foles: Eagles almost spoiled Philly Special by running it in NFC title game

The Philly Special is arguably one of the most iconic plays in NFL history, and Nick Foles recently revealed that the Philadelphia Eagles nearly spoiled the opportunity to run the spectacularly clever trick play in Super Bowl LII.

Foles of course was the star of the Philly Special, which was called on a 4th-and-goal play during the second quarter of the Eagles’ 41-33 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.

The Eagles signal-caller became the first player in NFL history to both throw and catch a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl when wide receiver Trey Burton found him wide open for a huge TD.

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Speaking on his “Mission of Truth” podcast alongside Chris Maragos, Foles revealed that the Eagles almost ran the play in the team’s 38-7 drubbing of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field two weeks prior.

“There’s a lot of detail in the book ‘Believe It’ but this is one I don’t think is there,” Foles said, via NBC Sports Philadelphia. “We were going to run the Philly Special vs. the Minnesota Vikings and Doug called the play.”

It turns out that Foles was reluctant to run it because of a sore rib caused by a hard hit by Vikings linebacker Anthony Bar earlier in the game. Not only that, Foles questioned the wisdom of running the play when the Eagles were already beating up on the Vikings at the time.

“We were already up, I think, 31-7, something like that,” Foles said. “I talked to Doug and I was like, ‘ah, we don’t need it. We’re up by so much, let’s not waste it.’ But in reality, another reason was I was worried about turning and running out and trying to catch the ball. I didn’t know if I would be able to lift my arm up and turn and catch it because of the rib shot earlier in the game.”

Things obviously worked out ideally for the Eagles, as having the Philly Special in the team’s back pocket paid off big time in their Super Bowl victory thanks to the gutsiness and timing of the call.

And the eventual Super Bowl LII MVP is understandably relieved that the Eagles wisely saved the Philly Special for another day, a grander stage and a more critical time.

“It almost happened and it was one of those moments honestly it probably does happen if my ribs aren’t killing me,” Foles said. “Because it would have just lit the Linc on fire. It was already insane. Obviously, the Philly Special became a legendary play. I’m glad we didn’t use it then.”

Watch: Rams kicker Lirim Hajrullahu drills FGs from 75 and 77 yards

Cameron DaSilva

There are a lot of position battles that will need to be sorted out this summer in training camp, one of which is at kicker. It’s not a marquee competition like inside linebacker and guard will be, but it’s an important one after the departure of Greg Zuerlein.

The Rams currently have three kickers on the roster, two of which hailed from other football leagues, and another who was a seventh-round pick. Lirim Hajrullahu was signed by the Rams out of the CFL, and he’ll be competing against former XFL kicker Austin MacGinnis and rookie Sam Sloman out of Miami (Ohio).

Full Article--
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Rams looking to write their own story in 2020

I forget at what point I started pocketing predictions about the 2020 Rams, but I've been collecting for over a month, now.

Less than a year removed from reigning atop the NFC and being pegged as a favorite to return to the Super Bowl, it's been jarring to find the perception of the 2020 Rams closer to where Sean McVay found them when he arrived in early 2017: cast as an underdog in their own division.

We'll get to whether the Rams agree with that assessment in a moment. (Spoiler alert: They don't.)

But first, I want to underscore that with very few exceptions, the Rams are still widely respected. Various power rankings have them slotted in the top half of the league.

This is largely a reflection of how strong the West has become, and more simplistically, how the division stacked up a year ago.

To my knowledge, no credible pundit has gone so far as to pick the Rams last in 2020. Still, I suspect someone might be bold enough eventually. After all, Patrick Peterson believes his Cardinals are the "best football team (he's) been a part of on paper."

But according to the consensus, Los Angeles has been safely ensconced in third for much of the spring, impervious to the tides of the Draft and free agency.

Overlooked is the nuance of the Rams finishing a missed 44-yard field goal away from sweeping Seattle last season, giving the eventual NFC Champions everything they wanted in Week 16 in Santa Clara, and having yet to lose to Arizona under Sean McVay.

Nonetheless, it's understandable after another April without a first-round selection, plus the departures of recognizable talents like Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks, Dante Fowler, and Cory Littleton.

"Los Angeles took its shot at a Super Bowl, and the bill is coming due," goes the prevailing narrative.
The league's official site concurred, citing "several roster holes and not enough cap space or draft picks to fix everything in one offseason."

An ESPN.com columnist put a finer point on that matter.

Mix in one of the most challenging schedules in the NFL according to multiple outlets, and there you have it. Los Angeles may still be one of the better teams in football, but they're looking up at the 49ers and Seahawks until proven otherwise.

Unsurprisingly, the Rams aren't ready to concede that point, here in late May.

"I don't really care what the narrative is, I care about the belief I have in our players, our coaches, and how excited I am for us to attack this opportunity and to write our own story," McVay said this week.

"Our goal and expectation is to prepare to win every single game," was his reply to whether 2020 might be categorized as a rebuilding year. "We didn't do what we needed to do last year. I own that. I take full responsibility for it."

Ask Cooper Kupp about returning to the role of hunter rather than hunted, and he echoes McVay's sentiments.

"Our expectations haven't changed; our standards haven't changed. If anything, they're continuing to elevate," the fourth-year receiver said on the Rams Revealed podcast.

There may come a time this fall when a doubting or disparaging word might appear on the proverbial bulletin board. But for now – unlike this writer – Kupp and the Rams don't seem interested in collecting receipts.

"We judge ourselves within the walls we go to work in," Kupp said. "…Any narrative that can be created outside of those walls doesn't matter to us."

Sorry if this has already been posted, didn't see it. I think this is a somewhat accurate piece.....





State of the Franchise: Rams, Sean McVay must reverse 2019 slide

Adam Rank
NFL.COM WRITER

Schrager: McVay may have division's 'secret weapon'
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• 49ERS
• CARDINALS
• SEAHAWKS
• RAMS

Where does your franchise stand heading into 2020? Adam Rank sets the table by providing a State of the Franchise look at all 32 teams, zeroing in on the key figures to watch and setting the stakes for the season to come.
Members of the Los Angeles Rams organization, Rams fans around the world and those who think the Rams' new logo really isn't as bad as everyone is making it out to be:
In Hollywood, your luck can turn just that fast. One minute, you're an A-lister turning down all of the top roles. One year later, you're begging TMZ to "stalk" you picking up your drying cleaning on Santa Monica Boulevard. And while Sean McVay is far from doing infomercials to make money, the Rams are in a quite different spot than they were heading into the 2019 season, as the darlings of the NFL coming off a Super Bowl appearance. Every team with a head coach vacancy was trying to find the next McVay, like when the USA Network struck it big with Psych and CBS responded with The Mentalist. (Hey, at least Zac Taylor hasn't been canceled.)
This is kind of a prove-it year for McVay. The Rams are in need of a soft reboot -- and adding to the pressure is the fact that they're set to open up SoFi Stadium. McVay has shown he can do it in the past. But will he be able to produce another runaway hit this season?
How the Rams got here
Let's take a quick look at the ups and downs of 2019:

The highs:

• Starting off 3-0, including a convincing home win against the Saints. L.A. trounced New Orleans in a kind of "ball don't lie" performance to follow up the Rams' Nickell Robey-Coleman no-call win over the Saints in the previous season's playoffs. And you started to think this team was going to overcome the dreaded Super Bowl hangover after losing the Lombardi Trophy to the Patriots. Even as things began to look very rocky and they started to struggle, there was still the Week 14 win over the Seahawks that pushed them to 8-5. It seemed like the Rams had everything figured out.
• Cooper Kupp scoring 35 fantasy points for me against the Bengals in Week 8.

The lows:

• Losing at home to the Bucs in Week 4. This commenced a three-game losing streak that dropped L.A. to 3-3.
• Losing to the Steelers and Mason Rudolph after the Week 9 bye. And, to top it off, Kupp didn't catch a single pass in that game. I knew I should have traded him when his fantasy value was at an all-time high.
• Dropping back-to-back games to the Cowboys and 49ers in Weeks 15 and 16. This took the Rams out of the playoff race.

2020 VIPs
Head coach: Sean McVay. It would be easy to say the shine is off McVay right now; it feels kind of like when a band follows a killer first album with a meh second effort. (I know this is sort of a reach, because McVay is a millennial, and you guys don't listen to full albums. But please, play along.) Like, when so much work and energy goes into getting the sound right on that debut, it can be hard to duplicate that success. Maybe that's what's happening here with McVay. He took the NFL by storm as an innovator in his first two seasons, but after the league had a few looks at him, he became easier to solve. Now the Rams are hoping that he's as smart as everybody thinks he is.
But here's the thing: The Rams were 9-7 last year in the NFC West, one of the best divisions in football. McVay's won 33 games during his first three years, and he's never had a losing season. So let's not act like 2019 was a total disaster. The Rams ranked seventh in total offense and eighth in big plays, and they finished in the top five in red-zone touchdown percentage. The final results just weren't what was expected. Take Off Your Pants and Jacket wasn't Enema of the State. But it was still pretty good. (And ardent Blink-182 fans will tell you the self-titled album was great, too.)
Quarterback: Jared Goff. This is a tough one right here. On one hand, Goff led the Rams to Super Bowl LIII. Which is great. On the other, his final ranking of 20 in NFL.com's Quarterback Index seemed about right. There are times when Goff looks like a high-end quarterback, like after he throws for 4,500-plus yards in a season (4,638 in 2019). And then there are times when he looks like West Coast Mitchell Trubisky, like when he barely produces more touchdowns than turnovers in a season (22 to 16 in 2019).

Goff has a lot to prove this year, even more than McVay. In fact, it wouldn't have been the worst idea for the Rams to take a page out of the Titans' 2019 playbook and bring in a guy like Jameis Winston or Andy Dalton to push Goff -- alas, the Saints and Cowboys beat them to the punch on those vets. I guess Cam Newton is still out there to fulfill that role if he's willing, but it seems like the Rams are content with Goff. I just wonder if the team will end up regretting its commitment to him.
Projected 2020 MVP: Aaron Donald, defensive tackle. He's starting to get some competition for the title of top non-quarterback in the NFL, but Donald is still one of the best in the business. The Rams' defense piled up 50 sacks (fourth-most in the NFL) last season, their most since they returned to Los Angeles in 2017. Donald's personal sack total fell from 20.5 in 2018 to 12.5, but he was just as dominant as ever for the Rams.
New face to know: Michael Brockers, defensive end. The Rams scored here, landing Brockers from the Ravens. Yes, I'm just kidding. I know the Rams nearly lost Brockers to Baltimore in free-agency before some weirdness led Brockers to return to the Rams for his ninth season with the only franchise he's ever known. (It made Aaron Donald happy!) The team also added former first-rounder Leonard Floyd to the mix. Floyd never really became the pass-rusher the Bears wanted him to be, but he's a solid football player, for sure.
2020 breakout star: Tyler Higbee, tight end. While Kupp led the Rams in receiving yards last year, he never topped more than 100 yards in any one game after that 220-yard outing against the Bengals in Week 8. Instead, Higbee became the go-to guy for the Rams' offense, topping 100 receiving yards in four consecutive games from Week 13 through Week 16 before "struggling" in Week 17 to 84 yards and a touchdown. Higbee finished the season with 734 receiving yards, the most by a tight end in Rams' history. OK, so Higbee's breakout might have already happened. But we might also look back at last season as Phase 1, seeing as how McVay has "big plans" for him this year.

Game Theory: NFC's most underappreciated players entering 2020
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The 2020 roadmap
The competitive urgency is: HIGH.
The Rams are still a talented team. You don't trade away first-round picks if you're rebuilding. So the Rams need to remain competitive in a division that is likely to be the toughest in the NFL.

Will the Rams be able to ...
Move forward with a revamped cast? Don't get too sentimental about any of your Rams stars. Rams players are like those people you see on those click-bait internet links at the bottom of stories with headlines like, "Rams stars of 2019: Where are they now?" Because the Rams have made a lot of changes. Todd Gurley? Gone. Clay Matthews? Gone. Eric Weddle? Retired. The team is also without Brandin Cooks (traded away), Dante Fowler (free agency) and Cory Littleton (free agency). In other words, if you're ordering a Rams jersey, you're better off going with an all-time great like Jack Youngblood, Eric Dickerson or Jim Everett (underrated). It's the smart move.
But at the same time, I admire the organization for moving forward with some younger and more cost-effective pieces. The Patriots have been able to do this kind of thing for years, locking in Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and a favorite receiver or two for Brady and moving forward. Of course, that plan worked so well because it featured Tom Brady. But still. I like what the Rams are thinking here. That said, there is one loss we really need to talk about ...
Survive without Wade Phillips? The Rams' success during McVay's first three seasons is often cited as evidence of McVay's genius. And while that is accurate to an extent, Phillips deserves a lot of credit. The Rams' defense ranked in the top 10 of Football Outsiders' defensive efficiency ratings twice in Phillips' three years as coordinator, while he helped Donald become one of the best football players on the planet. If you really want to be a jerk, you could point out that it wasn't Phillips' defense that cost them the Super Bowl. But if you've seen enough buddy-cop movies in your lifetime, you will know that the brash youngster with all the answers will always ultimately rebel against the older partner who has helped him along the way. That means the Rams are now all-in on McVay. And a huge burden will fall to new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.
Run the football? The Rams finished 26th in rushing last season. Todd Gurley did not rush for more than 100 yards in a single game in 2019 after posting 12 such games in the previous two seasons. If the Rams are going to be successful again (and let's be real, they were seventh in total offense), they need to strike a balance they just didn't have in 2019, when they ranked 26th in rushing. Not to take a shot at Goff, but he's at his best when the team can run -- as evidenced by their run (pun intended) to the Super Bowl in 2018, when the Rams ranked third on the ground. The key question, though, is who will carry the ball? The Rams spent a third-round pick on Darrell Henderson last year. And the move was curious, because it came even as the Rams were saying everything was cool with Gurley. When Gurley was released, you figured Henderson would be the guy.
But then the Rams went out and drafted Cam Akers in the second round this year. The film on him is great. He looks like a true star and a perfect fit for their zone-blocking scheme. The question remains, though: Why did the Rams use a third-rounder on Henderson last year? Have they given up on him already? The Rams have a history of piling up running backs. The St. Louis version of this team had Tre Mason, Benny Cunningham and Zac Stacy on the roster when Gurley was drafted. That season, Gurley carried the rock 229 times. Different coaching staffs, sure. But I expect Akers to be the guy for the Rams.
Fly under the radar again? Nobody is talking about the Rams anymore. People have moved on. It's like when people really get into a sitcom for a couple of years, then shift their attention to something else. And the Rams totally have that vibe right now. The 49ers are the new hotness. The Cardinals won the offseason by trading for DeAndre Hopkins. And Russell Wilson and Seattle are always consistently good. There are now folks who anticipate the Rams will just fall off the map, football-wise, this season.
Three key dates

Week 1 vs. Dallas: The Rams have a lot of new faces, but this is a huge game for them. The Rams are undefeated in Week 1 openers during the Sean McVay era.
Week 6 at San Francisco: The 49ers swept the season series last year, and if the Rams want to win the NFC West this season (or even make the playoffs), they need to win these tough matchups. (They'll host the 49ers in Week 12.)
Week 11 at Tampa Bay: The Rams get a chance to see Tom Brady for the first time since the Super Bowl. I don't know if you would consider this one a revenge game. But I'm going to go ahead and allow it.
One storyline people are overthinking: The weakness of the offensive line. People looking for reasons behind Jared Goff's occasionally poor performance often hone in on the offensive line, which was ranked 31st by Pro Football Focus last season. That seems terrible.
But note also that the Rams gave up the fewest sacks last season (22) in the league. And a quick check of Next Gen Stats reveals Goff was 17th in terms of time to throw (2.80 seconds) for quarterbacks with at least 150 pass attempts. He had more time than other quarterbacks like Drew Brees and Tom Brady, or division-mates Jimmy Garoppolo and Kyler Murray. The fact is, Goff needs to make better decisions with the football.
Another storyline people are overthinking: The lack of first-round picks until 2040. Or at least, it just seems like 2040. Yeah, it is kind of a bummer when your team doesn't have any picks in the first round of the draft. Trust me, as a Bears fan, I get that. But the Rams traded away their first-round pick this year -- which ended up being No. 20 overall -- as part of the package for Jalen Ramsey. You would love to get someone of Ramsey's caliber at No. 20, or wherever next year's first-rounder (which also went to the Jags as part of the trade) is likely to end up. You're fine. The Rams, to me, have always drafted well. I remember when they took Donald back in the day, even though he'd been mocked to the Bears for months. And even though it wasn't a need pick. My point is: The Rams have done a great job of adding talent. Not having a first-round pick for the next few years also indicates that this team is willing to do what it takes to win. That's a good thing.


Rapoport: Ramsey will 'clearly' be NFL's highest-paid CB with next deal
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For 2020 to be a successful season, the Rams MUST ...

Get their credibility back. You do that by making it to the playoffs. Remember, they were 9-7 last year and missed the playoffs by a game -- if the expanded 14-team postseason set to begin this year had been in place, they would have made it. Sure, it was disappointing, because they had reached a point, at 8-5, where they controlled their playoff fate, to some extent. If the Rams don't want to look like some sort of one-hit wonder, like the NFL version of Brandon Routh -- who went from playing Superman to cameo-in-a-Kevin-Smith-movie status -- they need to keep winning.
In closing
This is a huge year for the Rams. The biggest of McVay's career. What makes it so difficult is that the they are in the toughest division in football, which means there is a very real possibility they could be competitive and one of the best offensive teams in football and still risk failing to make the playoffs once again. Not because McVay is a fraud or the organization isn't good. Instead, it would be a testament to how good the teams in the West really are. Their situation kind of reminds me of Independence Day. Humanity had Will Smith, at the peak of his powers, leading the charge -- and yet, it would have been completely plausible for the monument-destroying aliens to overrun the planet. Well, like Bill Pullman says of Jeff Goldblum upon learning of his plan to bring down the invaders, the Rams have to hope McVay is as smart as we all think he is. I believe McVay is smart enough to get it done.

2020 Offseason Opponent Breakdown: Seattle Seahawks

Now that the Rams' 2020 schedule is officially out, it's time to resume our offseason opponent breakdowns on theRams.com. Up next is Los Angeles' Week 10 home opponent and Week 16 road opponent, the Seattle Seahawks.

2019

The Seahawks won eight of their first 10 games en route to an 11-5 finish which secured them the first NFC Wild Card spot. Seattle defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 17-9 in that round, then fell to the Green Bay Packers 28-23 in the divisional round.

Changes

In March, the Seahawks traded a fifth-round pick in this year's draft to the Washington Redskins for cornerback Quinton Dunbar. However, most of the changes thereafter occurred on the other side of the ball.

On offense, Seattle overhauled its offensive line by releasing starting center Justin Britt and tackle D.J. Fluker. The day before trading for Dunbar, it signed center/guard B.J. Finney and tackle Cedric Ogbuehi. Finney entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Kansas State who signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ogbuehi was a 2015 first-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals who played for the Jacksonville Jaguars last year.

From a coaching staff standpoint, there were no major changes but a few differences.

Head coach

Pete Carroll enters his 11th season as head coach of the Seahawks, compiling a 110-66-1 overall record (regular season and playoffs) through his first 10 years with the franchise.

What to watch for

Another sequence of close games?

True to form, last year's Rams-Seahawks matchups played out similarly to previous years. The Rams suffered a narrow 30-29 loss in Seattle in Week 5, then responded with a 28-12 victory in Los Angeles in Week 14.

Historically, though, the results have more closely resembled Week 5's result compared to Week 14.

In the Sean McVay era, four of the six games between the teams have been decided by six or fewer points. The exceptions were Week 14 last season and a 42-7 Rams win in Seattle in December 2017.

Even with the personnel changes on both sides, 2020 still figures to have at least one tightly contested game in store.

By Jourdan Rodrigue and Rich Hammond May 28, 2020 8

You know that great meme that has circulated after “The Last Dance” documentary, of Michael Jordan looking at a tablet with his eyebrows raised and his lips pursed in pleasant surprise? That’s how Rams fans should feel as they consider their receiving corps in 2020.
This could be something, like, really something.
A healthy Cooper Kupp is coming off of his first 1,000-yard season. Veteran Robert Woods is coming off his second — in a row. Josh Reynolds is a little unproven, but with great upside, and provides the situational longer-yards-per-catch factor. And second-round draft pick Van Jefferson offers the do-it-all route-running ability to complement any of these guys very nicely, even as a rookie.
Look, we know it’s a little pointless to do an actual depth chart among the top four guys, because they all will factor in importantly and in complement — and this doesn’t even include pass-catching tight ends (we’ll cover them next week), or guys who can catch out of the backfield. But here’s one anyway:
Projected depth chart: Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson, Josh Reynolds, Nsimba Webster, Earnest Edwards, Greg Dortch, Trishton Jackson, Easop Winston, J.J. Koski, Brandon Polk.

Rich Hammond: The big receiver news of the offseason was the Rams’ trade of Brandin Cooks to Houston, after just one year of the massive five-year contract extension he signed in 2018. This has been seen two ways. Either the Rams made a huge mistake by signing Cooks in the first place, or they were smart to get out of the contract now and get a pretty good return. How did you see it from afar?

Jourdan Rodrigue: I think to me it was a little of both — they realized it wouldn’t be a productive fit for them and the contract was really questionable, so they corrected that quickly while also trying to maximize a return. It just happens sometimes! Certainly Cooks may have felt hindered by the two concussions he suffered in 2019 and multiple in previous years, too.
And as far as the trade itself, I liked what they ended up doing with that No. 57 pick…

Rich: I agree, it’s a combination. What made sense in 2018 didn’t make sense in 2020. That’s just how it goes sometimes. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Rams made a mistake in 2018. Then, they had a dominant offensive line and the most-respected run game in the NFL. Cooks’ skill set as a downfield burner fit perfectly, because Jared Goff had time to execute a play-action game and defenses had to constantly eye Todd Gurley. That changed in 2019, and not for the better. The throws to Cooks just weren’t there, and quite frankly he’s just not as versatile as some of the Rams’ other receivers. Couple that with a concerning injury history, and it made sense.
And yes, Jefferson is an intriguing player. I like the skill set. I’m just wondering where he fits this year, alongside Kupp, Woods and Reynolds, especially if the Rams go to more two-tight-end sets. It makes more sense looking ahead to 2021, but what is Jefferson’s path to the field — and a regular role — in 2020?

Jourdan: I’m so glad you asked — I’ll pay you later — because you know I love talking about complementary receivers (I don’t have a lot going on in my life).
The initial idea of Cooks was a good one: Stretch the field and, as they say, “take the top off” a defense because it had to respect his speed downfield. But it didn’t quite work out like that, because like you said, Gurley’s ability was not able to hold defenses accountable, and what should’ve been two weaponous layers — Cooks downfield, and Gurley helping set up the play-action — each didn’t pan out.
We already know that the longer downfield throws have a low probability success rate — it’s best to use them in moderation, and at the right time. And we saw Sean McVay move more toward getting his multiple tight ends involved, which can tell you something important: The Rams discovered that setting up various layers in the shorter and intermediate portions of the field can have a successful effect on the overall operation of the offense. Meanwhile, a guy like Reynolds can still “take the top off” when needed — and having a guy like that is important, but it’s not the only thing!


Josh Reynolds has totaled 61 catches in three seasons with the Rams. (Kyle Terada / USA Today)
Which is a long way of getting to Jefferson, of course. Jefferson is what I like to call a “technician” because of his ability to run a full route tree, and run it well. He’s got an early advantage in terms of getting on the field because of his extreme attention to detail, his work while at Florida against one of the first-round corners in this draft class (CJ Henderson) and because he knows how to practice and prepare as a coach’s son. This was a great pick. Jefferson is quick, but uses that quickness not as his main weapon, but instead as a tool in his variability. That’s the sign of a 10-year receiver.
Still, he has to work in complement with the other guys on the roster. That’s going to be a main offensive project this spring and summer, I think — figuring out how to work Jefferson in with Woods, Kupp and Reynolds. Lucky for Jefferson — and for most of those guys — it seems like they all are versatile enough to sort of orbit around the center on the field from play to play, and set up the layers McVay wants.

Rich: Many people don’t know this, but that’s actually the first line on your resume: expert on complementary receivers.
I agree that McVay seems to be going for a group here that’s somewhat interchangeable, at least with Kupp, Woods and Jefferson. They’re far from identical, when it comes to body type, foot speed, skill set, etc., but each is versatile enough to do pretty much anything in the Rams’ offense (I’m less certain about Reynolds, but he should get an opportunity to prove himself). Kupp can do anything. He will catch a 6-yard slant in traffic on one play, then beat you deep on the next. Woods is strong on the outside, but when Kupp tore up his knee in 2018, Woods slid inside and the offense didn’t suffer. We’ll see if Jefferson can do the same type of thing.
I push back against the narrative that the Rams no longer have a deep threat in the absence of Cooks. Last season, Kupp had three catches of 50 yards or more. Cooks had two, total, in 2018 and 2019. Kupp can get behind a defense. So can Woods, who was a track star in high school in Gardena. If the line can give Goff time, and if he can make good decisions, there will be some plays to be made down the field.
What all of this means for Reynolds, I’m not sure. McVay has been talking him up during the offseason, and he certainly has had his moments, but Reynolds needs to go out and prove that he must have a role in this offense. He’s lanky and athletic, but the every-down consistency needs to be there.

Jourdan: And speaking of Kupp, who has been doing a lot in the community this offseason, by the way, he’s due for a contract soon. I would assume he will get his money, though with Jalen Ramsey also due, some creativity is needed within the current cap limitations. With “limitations” being the polite word. Ramsey could very well even re-set the stagnant cornerback market. I thought it was interesting that he mentioned he would not hold out of training camp without a deal, and I’d wonder whether Kupp is in that same mindset (he probably is). Sometimes these things are just all about timing. In the Rams’ case, it would have to be about either restructuring others, or cuts, as well as timing. What’s your sense?


Rich: Yeah, at the risk of sounding like the cranky old man, I find it somewhat interesting that we now almost assume a player will hold out entering the final year of his contract unless we’re told otherwise. I didn’t think Ramsey would hold out and I don’t think Kupp will.
That said, I think the Rams are facing a decision soon. As you said, their “limitations” create some big decisions. Kupp is going to be due a big contract. Reynolds also is entering his final year. Woods is signed through 2021, but that final season includes a cap hit of almost $10.2 million, and the Rams could get out of it with a dead-cap penalty of only $1.2 million.
Woods turns 29 during next offseason, so there’s every reason to think he will remain productive and sign another strong contract. Can the Rams afford to keep both him and Kupp in the long term? They helped themselves by getting free of Cooks’ large salary, but I’m not sure. To me, Kupp remains the priority.

Jourdan: And that’s a good point — managing personnel with not just the immediate year in mind — and we get a few more clues about what the future may hold from the Jefferson draft pick, I think.
The Rams could’ve well gone with a different type of receiver — a situational or gadget guy, considering they have a full room already. But they went with Jefferson, who can fill a number of roles — and in that sense they have not tied one hand behind their backs as they figure out whether or not to keep some of these receivers beyond this season.

I thought she couldn’t be any more annoying....I was wrong

Now that the 2020 Rams are mostly assembled, I find it interesting that the 3 players competing to be Goff's back-up are all undrafted free agents. As of now, whoever wins out between Wolford, Love, and Perkins will be the number 2 quarterback.

Have the Rams seen something in Wolford to believe he can be elevated from the practice squad? Or are they going to bring Bortles back? Maybe Cam Newton (haha!)? Colin Kaepernick?

Seriously, I liked what I saw from Wolford last preseason. He seemed to have that "it" factor moving the offense. But that's me. However I can't believe McVay would entrust the season to an unproven, undrafted player in Wolford (or another rookie) should Goff go down. But stranger things have happened.

Or are the Rams waiting to clear some cap space to bring in a vet?

Questions. Questions.

Just a heads up. I ordered a new AD jersey for my son a few weeks back. Wondering when I should be expecting it.

After much searching around with no luck on the store site, I finally found the answer using an automated "chat" window with my order number and such.

August 18th!

I know, it's not like it will used much prior to that date, but still chaps my hide nonetheless. It is his birthday in 2 weeks.

PSA for the day.

Okay, I always write long posts so this won't be any exception. I'll break it up so y'all can scroll to the parts you want.

Part One: Why I'm So Excited

Offense: I'm excited for a few reasons. One is clearly Cam Akers. The more film I watch on him, the more from a pattern perspective I see a slightly slower, slightly less jukey, harder to bring down version of Marshall Faulk. He's got wicked soft hands, makes one-handed contested catches and runs legit routes. Having been a QB, that makes sense. He's got that "coach on the field" mentality like Marshall as well. I am fairly certain that when McVay sees up close what he can do, we're going to see him featured in the run game and the pass game. Moreover, with Cam Akers, we will have a legit option for those screen passes that McVay is so enamored with.

Van Jefferson rounds out a WR room that will have Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Josh Reynolds. Van Jefferson as a rookie reminds me a bit of Isaac Bruce. He's a VERY polished route runner who can immediately contribute and like Cooper Kupp, he has elite open field speed. With Cam Akers, who I think will be the feature back by the third game of the season if not sooner, we'll have 7 legit pass catching threats including Higbee and Everett.

When it comes to the OL, I more and more am liking them. Evans was a stud last year (he stoned Khalil Mack in that Bears game so much that Mack was getting noticeably frustrated). With another off-season and more exposure to the offense, I think Evans will beat out Havenstein for the RT spot. I kinda get tired of hearing about RTs that "this guy struggles with speed." Duh. All RTs struggle with speed. If the guy could handle speed easily, he'd be converted to an LT. Otherwise, Evans did well against VERY high level competition. Edwards and Corbett also solidify the OL. I think the Center position will be good enough and Whit is still very good if not elite. The OL overall will be a positive for the Rams this season and with the increased success of the running game, this offense is looking to really explode.

About the running game. Todd Gurley was an All World back in 2018 up until the end. However, in 2019, there was a big difference. He still had straight line speed, but the ability to plant and go, to stick his foot in the turf, pivot and explode through the line just wasn't there and that's what made him special. Gurley became an ordinary back and it showed. Malcolm Brown is a really great backup and even decent as part of a committee, but he's not a feature back and it showed. McVay relies on play action as much as anyone in the league, so if there's not a synergy between the run and pass, then the whole offense grinds to a halt.

What Cam Akers brings in the positive that Gurley didn't is more patience in getting his blocking set up as well as far more sudden lateral movements. Gurley wouldn't have been drafted if he had to run behind that FSU OL as he's an exceptional outside zone runner with his speed and power. He was a home run hitter, to mix sports analogies, but he was never scatty enough to make up for missed blocks and that was at his best. Akers is exceptional at making something from nothing and is used to running against 8 and 9 man fronts. I really think teams are gonna shy away from that 6-1 look once McVay schemes Akers to really burn that look. And rest assured, if there's one thing McVay has worked on, it's defeating that 6-1 look more completely.

So, when you have Goff who can run this offense fully now as well as veterans like Woods, Kupp, and Big Whit along with McVay and the new OC Kevin O'Connell, I see the strong likelihood for strong chemistry on offense among the players as well as more offensive minds to ensure McVay doesn't get so in a rut that he becomes predictable as he has at times over the last two years.

But beyond any individual player or unit within the offense, I can't recall a time since the GSOT when the Rams had so many players of a like mindset. Even the 2018 team had folks who were...kinda there, but this team just looks to be built differently. I think there will be more toughness in the trenches and with us being able to grind out yards with Akers, the play action will once again become the deadliest in the league.

Defense: Hooo boy, is this defense stacked. It's the first time in the McVay era that the D may be stronger than the O and this O has everything it needs to be a top 3 offense in the NFL, competing with KC and NO.

So, do people not realize how tough our DL is? A'Shawn Robinson is a mountain of a man that HAS to be doubled or he's gonna collapse the pocket by himself. Moreover, he's solid as both a 1 gap and 2 gap DL as is Brockers. AD is a mutant who's pod landed just outside Pittsburgh and was raised by a loving family until he realized his destiny as the destroyer of NFL offenses. Our ability to play the run is so much better than last year. Remember when Suh decided to show up in late 2018? How the D all of a sudden became stout? Yeah, well, A'Shawn is a guy who brings it all day, not just when he feels like it. Brockers has always been steady, if not spectacular, and definitely solid in Run D.

Honestly, by the end of the year, people are gonna recognize our LB corps as a unit of strength.

At OLB, we’ve got Ebukam and Floyd, both very stout in the run, Obo looking to break out as a pass rush specialist and Terrell Lewis who I think has the most upside of any Rams draftee. Honestly, if the starts align, we could easily see Akers win OROY and Lewis win DROY. I don’t think that happens with Lewis as there are really good guys ahead of him, but yeah, his ceiling is off the charts.

At ILB, there’s a glut of talented guys waiting for more time. We’ve got Kiser who the coaches like and I’m meh on, but guys who show real promise like Natrez Patrick, Troy Reeder and my dark horse star, Clay Johnston. Without Littleton, I think the ILB jobs are up for grabs and it’s anyone’s guess who comes out on top. This a good, hungry young group that can fly to the ball and get physical in a hurry. Also, both Patrick and Johnston are big thumpers, something this D hasn’t had in awhile. I can see against teams like the 9ers us seeing more of them.

Look, the Ravens figured out a long time ago that you win with football players and few teams drafted better than they have. Well, we’ve focused on football players…Kupp, JJ3, Higbee, etc. these guys don’t have the greatest measureables, but they are very good football players. Such is the case with guys like Van Jefferson and Clay Johnston. He’ll probably play mostly on Special teams at first, but he’ll show up and add that depth that winning teams have.

Our secondary is one of the better ones. Once the guys had a chance to play together, Hill and Ramsey finished as the #1 and #2 rated DBs in all of football from week 12-17 (last third of season). That’s pretty spectacular stuff. With our vastly improved run D (yeah, A’Shawn Robinson is a MASSIVE upgrade over SJD), we should see more passing downs and more chances to watch this unit shine. Rapp looks to be a bonified star and JJ3 is also a stud. Terrell Burgess is gonna contribute as a rookie and he’s the kind of player that gives creative DCs goosebumps.

Part Two: Roster

Okay, when it comes to the roster, I just have no feel for the UDFAs, so honestly, I dunno if any make it. This team is more stacked as you look at each position as well as the likelihood that if the draftees stick, there’s just no positions available. And that would make sense, over the last 2 or 3 years, no team has had more guys picked up after waiving them than the Rams. Some UDFAs will make it, I’m sure, but I just can’t see at this moment which. I’m least sure of this section. The hype and schedule? More sure of those.

Offense 24

QB (2): Goff, Wolford. Love goes to the PS unless they have to put him on the active squad due to him balling out in the PS
RB (3): Akers, Brown, Henderson. I think the shorter off-season helps Kelly stay on the roster.
WR (6): Kupp, Woods, Reynolds, Jefferson, Webster, Koski. I think they still only carry 6 WRs this year. They have the guys they want and others wouldn’t get any chances anyway. It’s more likely that extra TEs, Safeties and LBs get picked for ST duties. Of the UDFAs, I like JJ Koski as someone who can do returns initially and grow as a WR. He looks a bit like Kupp in how he plays. Deceptive speed, soft hands, confident runner with the ball, excellent getting off press man and getting noticed from Cal Poly with his QB? Yeah this kid could be one of our UDFA surprises. That said, he still has to win the returner job or it’ll be one of the others. I don’t think we keep 7 as we don’t need to spell Cooks as often.
TE (3): Higbee, Everett, Hopkins. I think we only go with 3 TEs as there is so much ST talent on the D side that I think the edge goes there.
OL (9): Whitworth, Corbett, Blythe, Edwards, Evans, Havenstein, Noteboom, Allen, Anchrum. I think the last spot will be between Anchrum, Shelton and Demby with whoever wins being the one who picks up the Center spot best, even if they don’t do the OL calls.

Defense 26

DL (6): Brockers, Robinson, Donald, Fox, SJD, Gaines. That’s it. Both SJD and Gaines can play along the line in limited rotations and I think the Rams are glad to have Fox back. A UDFA could push Gaines here, I think.
OLB (6): Ebukam, Floyd, Okoronkwo, Lewis, Patrick, Lawler. This is a young group with TONS of upside, just as fast, but more size. Obo and Lewis have the potential to be special pass rushers and Lewis can be the complete OLB package (obo’s a bit light to be stout in run support). Ebukam is solid and has shown up in big games and Floyd in this system should do similar to Fowler. Floyd actually has better stats coming in than Fowler had. Floyd is also a tad longer than Fowler. After some hand work with AD… yeah, he’s gonna be solid. I still think they try Patrick at OLB and have him as depth for both.
ILB (3): Kiser, Reeder, Howard or Johnston. I think Howard is the odd man out here. They only kept 3 ILBs last year, and I think Staley is gonna want more size among the ILBs since they tend to only be 2 down players these days.
CB (6): Ramsey, Hill, Long, Williams, Deayon, Taylor. HEY A UDFA. The more I looked at Levonta Taylor, the more I like him to make the team. He’s a dog. Played in 2018 with a significant back injury before switching to Safety in 2019. Not great size, but great heart. Willingly and successfully played much bigger WRs and tracks the ball well. Well suited for the slot. He’s played outside, inside and safety, so he has that versatility that Brandon Staley wants and appreciates. If they only carry 5 CBs, I think Taylor def goes to the PS. Do I really need to talk about Ramsey, Hill, Long or Williams? Deayon also showed up in spot play.
Safety (5): Johnson, Rapp, Burgess, Scott, Fuller. I think Scott stays, but Gervase goes as the new ST coach, Bonamego, takes a fresh look. Burgess is a definite as he’s gonna be that hybrid LB/S they like to use in hybrid dime packages.


Special Teams (3): Hekker, McQuaide, some PK. I think Webster is gonna be our PR and the 6th WR likely the KR, so that’s it. Unlike every other position, the PK is gonna come down to consistency and depth of kickoffs. I have this feeling about Hajrullahu, but I think all three are solid kickers. All have enough leg, so, who knows?

I really like this roster and any changes are likely to be depth with little impact on the overall season results.

We’re not playing last year’s schedule or with last year’s players. I could go into why I think, for example, Ebukam and Floyd are an overall upgrade over Fowler and Matthews, but this is already a really long post and I have examples all over the roster. I honestly don’t think we got weaker at any position. Not a single one… well, okay, ILB because Littleton was a standout player. Still, overall, I like that unit.

Part Three: Season

Sept. 13: vs. Dallas, WIN. (1-0) With Mike McCarthy bringing in a new offense, I think this will be the best time to play the Cowboys. If he gets things rolling, they could be very dangerous late in the season, but initially, I think our D will take advantage of offensive miscues and win a relatively close and sometimes sloppy game.

Sept. 20: at Philadelphia, WIN. (2-0) Our front seven off to a fast start turn this into a slugfest. Close win with a big play late making the difference.

Sept. 27: at Buffalo, Loss. (2-1) Historically, winning the 2nd game in a row away is only like a 26% proposition. Add in a healthy Buffalo D and this is tough. It’s possible we win with a defensive score, but this a loss to the schedule more than Buffalo.

Oct. 4: vs. N.Y. Giants, WIN. (3-1) Giants are still a bit of a mess. Their young QB has a ways to go and our DBs will make them one dimensional. With our better run D, their offense is stymied and we win a solid win at home.

Oct. 11: at Washington, WIN. (4-1) This is the get back for McVay. Rest assured, he’s gonna want to win this one and we do. Once again, our D steps up and our O really starts to click. Very solid win on the road.

Oct. 18: at San Francisco, Loss. (4-2) Again, 2nd game in a row on the road, at SF against a solid and confident team. We’ll get them at home, but they take this one on the road. Also, they’re gonna be talking about this game for awhile. Lots of defensive highlights.

Oct. 26: vs Chicago, WIN. (5-2) We know how to deal with the 6-1 defensive front and they still have Trubisky. At home, this is a solid Monday night win.

Nov. 1: at Miami, WIN. (6-2) By this time, we’re likely seeing a Fitzpatrick that’s about to sit or a rookie Tua and either is okay with me. Another solid road win even with a slightly shorter week.

Nov. 15: vs. Seattle, WIN. (7-2) The addition of Duane Brown at LT makes this harder, but no one player changes the dynamic of this epic clash. We’d beat them with Fisher rosters and they’d beat us with Wilson and a ham sandwich. At home in the new digs, we got this. Again, our D shutting down the run changes the dynamic of the game.

Nov. 23: at Tampa Bay, WIN. (8-2) Confident team. Tampa seems loaded, but either they’re gonna install the EP offense or Brady’s gonna have to learn something new. Neither is gonna be smooth. This has all the makings of that Philly “Dream Team” situation a few years ago. Not the pushover they once were, but we win on the road…and AD gets to Brady…twice. Brady no likey.

Nov. 29: vs. San Francisco, WIN. (9-2) Nothing cute. We take our momentum and defend our new home. Ramsey on Kittle as much as possible and stuff the run. Grind it out win at home.

Dec. 6: at Arizona, WIN. (10-2) They flash plays to keep it close, but they can’t sustain against our D or our O. Tougher than expected road win.

Dec. 10: vs. New England, WIN. (11-2) Belichick could bring in the nuns from the Sisters of Perpetual Asthma and still win 9 games in that division. Won’t matter as the Rams are now playing for the #1 seed and are hunting the rest of the schedule. MUCH tougher win on a short week at home than you would expect of a team so outgunned.

Dec. 19 or 20: at N.Y. Jets, WIN. (12-2) This late in the season, the Jets are far out of it and the Rams have the #1 seed in sight. Hasn’t always been pretty, but this Rams team that looked so high-flying has surprised with some really gritty wins. This game isn’t particularly hard, but the team is focused and takes the win.

Dec. 27: at Seattle, Loss. (12-3) Heartbreaking loss on the road in December where we’ve played I think the last or 2nd to last game of the season in 5 of the last 7 seasons? Something like that. Crappy conditions and Seattle battling for that 7 seed send us home to regroup.

Jan. 3: vs. Arizona, WIN. (13-3) We win to lock up the #1 seed and home field advantage throughout. AZ was tough in their crib, but we are much tougher in ours and finish the right way.

The folks who see us going 10-6 or worse think we’re gonna lose both games to both the Seahawks and the 9ers and split with the Cards. Some think we go 0-6 in our own division.

That’s not happening.

Teams will not be able to stack the box and turn us one dimensional. They will not be able to dial the offense back to the 80s and beat us with John Robinson’s ghost. Nope. This year we finish 13-3 and finish the job.

This year we hoist the Lombardi.

I am so psyched for this season!!!

The Rams have had some on-field success in recent years. Off the field, they’ve struggled to handle their business in an ideal way, doing contracts they shouldn’t have done (with Todd Gurley, Jared Goff, Brandin Cooks) and failing to do contracts they should have done.

Into the latter category falls defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who had to wait far too long for his financial reward (and who has more than lived up to it), and cornerback Jalen Ramsey. The Rams gave the Jaguars two first-round picks and a fourth-round pick without securing a long-term commitment from Ramsey. This instantly gave Ramsey extra leverage in the inevitable negotiations on a new deal, since the Rams won’t want to see the product of their 2019 all-in impulse buy walk away in free agency.

With Ramsey already having all the leverage, coach Sean McVay gave Ramsey even more of it on Tuesday, acknowledging that Ramsey “could reset the cornerback market.” While that may indeed be true, it’s the kind of statement that Ramsey’s agent will use to not just reset the market but to push the bar as high as he possibly can.

On one hand, it doesn’t really matter, because the draft capital already gives Ramsey so much leverage that nothing McVay says will change it. On the other hand, it’s an example of McVay’s tendency to take the good-cop routine a bit too far, creating a sense that every guy is “my guy” until he’s not, abruptly discarding players like Gurley or Cooks or Clay Matthews. Throw in the fact that both Gurley and Matthews believe the team has stiffed them out of payments their contracts promised, and the Rams are dancing dangerously close to the line that separates dysfunctional franchises from the contenders.

McVay remains one of the best coaches in the league, but there’s a sense that the rest of the NFL quickly has caught up with him. As he gets older and secures more experience, McVay will need to ensure that the team does a better job of exercising restraint when needed, and of writing big checks to only the right players at precisely the right time.

Rams keep surrendering leverage to Jalen Ramsey originally appeared on Pro Football Talk

Not a bad off season watch during this slow period.

Sorry if it has been previously posted .

I have been a somewhat spotty visitor over the past several weeks


Be well Ramily

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Sean McVay discusses team offseason plans

At the beginning of the Rams' nine-week offseason program, head coach Sean McVay said his best-case scenario was to have the first six weeks take place virtually and the final three weeks at the facility.

While it remains to be seen if that scenario comes to fruition, McVay has a plan in the event on-field instruction can be resumed for a minicamp and eventually training camp.

"We kind of have a model that we will operate off of," McVay said on a video conference with reporters Tuesday afternoon. "A lot of it will be predicated on, what will be the parameters around that?"
The answer to McVay's question will come from both internal and external sources, including conversations with Rams Senior Director of Sports Medicine and Performance Reggie Scott and his staff as well as league protocols.

The first phase of the NFL's re-opening plan began May 19, according to a memo NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent to club executives, with team facilities allowed to do so if governing state and local regulations permit it.

Facilities cannot operate at higher than 50 percent capacity, meaning no more than 75 people can be inside them. No coaches and players can return to facilities just yet, either – other than those rehabilitating injuries – for the sake of competitive equity. There is currently no timetable for when the second phase will begin.

"When we do get back on the field, we'll probably have to onboard these guys in a smart way, where you can't just jump into it like what we would like to as coaches, just getting excited," McVay said. "So there will be a progressive build. We'll be ready to handle if we're able to do anything, if we've got to accelerate our training camp."

Even with those current limitations, though, it's understandable why McVay would want to plan ahead.

The Rams' Thousand Oaks facility is located in Ventura County, which is one of the counties that advanced to Stage 3 of California's reopening plan yesterday. Large gathering venues will not open until Stage 4, or the end of the stay-at-home-order.

However, as shown with Ventura County's accelerated Stage 2 reopening last week, modifications are possible if critical indicators tell the state it can alter the scope of reopening without jeopardizing public health and safety. Gov. Gavin Newsom also said last week pro sports could potentially return in California "in that first week or so of June without spectators and modifications and very prescriptive conditions."

This week marks Week 4 of the Rams' virtual offseason program. It's difficult to predict whether they will be able to practice on the field in three weeks, but behind a foundation established by experiences in previous years, they'll be prepared just in case.

Here are the dates for the preseason games.




Here's the full preseason schedule:

Week 1 vs. New Orleans Saints: Friday, Aug. 14, 7 p.m. PT | TICKETS
Week 2 at Los Angeles Chargers: Saturday, Aug. 22, 7 p.m. PT
Week 3 vs. Denver Broncos: Saturday, Aug. 29 7 p.m. PT | TICKETS
Week 4 at Las Vegas Raiders: Thursday, Sept. 3, 7 p.m. PT

Watch: Rams scout highlights Clay Johnston's explosion, intelligence pre-draft

Cameron DaSilva

The Los Angeles Rams made it clear this offseason that inside linebacker isn’t a premium position on defense. After losing Cory Littleton, the team didn’t add a single linebacker in free agency and waited until the seventh round to select one in the draft.

That player was Clay Johnston out of Baylor, who the Rams grabbed at No. 234 overall. Johnston is coming off a torn ACL suffered in October, which undoubtedly hurt his draft stock. He was limited to just six games in 2019, but still managed to earn second-team All-Big 12 honors.

Full Article--
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

XFL Could Return In 2021

The XFL just might not be dead yet.

World Wrestling Entertainment chairman Vince McMahon revealed on Tuesday that he is not looking to reacquire the XFL despite recent reports to the contrary. McMahon described accusations that he using Chapter 11 process as a means to cheaply retain the XFL as “inflammatory” and “unsubstantiated.”

“I don’t know why that’s out there, making me out to be the bad guy, [that] I’m going to buy the XFL back for pennies on the dollar, basically,” McMahon said. “That helped me move into the direction of, ‘I’m not going to be a bidder, not going to have anything to do with it.’ I do hope that someone will pay a lot of money for it, and I do hope that it will survive.”

In April, the XFL filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection shortly after the start-up league suspended operations due to the coronavirus pandemic.

According to The Athletic, “dozens of bidders are looking over the league’s financials and interested in relaunching it next February.”

“The Debtor’s investment banker, Houlihan Lokey, is currently in active discussions with dozens of potential purchasers, and substantially all potential purchasers have indicated that the potential for an XFL season in spring 2021 is important to them.”

XFL President, Jeffery Pollack also commented as part of today’s court filing:

“f we are to resume playing in 2021, we would need to be in a go mode ideally by August 1st of this year, and I think there is the chance for us to be in a position to play next year, and so doing would, I think, be good for the business on an ongoing basis.”

Since the premature end of the reboot of the XFL, former XFL commissioner Oliver Luck has sued McMahon, the spring season American football league’s majority owner, for alleged wrongful dismissal, a lawsuit McMahon is fighting.