Is the impact of all this corona business on the players doing their workouts and much of their prep on their own. Across the NFL you have teams trying to best-utilize remote approach on all the things they usually do this time of year, and I would guess that there will be an enormous disparity in the end result thanks to a few different elements.

1. To what extent are your players self starters?

This one to me is a big deal. People in general mean well, but they're also inherently lazy. Guys who get paid tend to put their feet up, most are not Aaron Donald. How does the Rams' roster stack up against the other teams in this regard? I do think the jettisoning of Gurley and Cooks will affect this too btw, it reminds guys of the tenuous nature of a job in the NFL and also of what the Rams' standards are. On a scale of 1 to 10 where are the Rams among their peer teams? We will never really know this of course but I think they're in that top group of teams so I'd go with 8.

2. How smart and flexible is your Head Coach and staff?

This is another really important thing this season IMO. Teams with the old school type head coaches probably are at a disadvantage compared to McVay. But McVay has also added young coordinators on both sides of the ball. Looking at this realistically and even trying my best to be objective I'd say the Rams are at the top of the pile. There's no other way for me to look at it tbh. So I'd go with 9 here and say that if there are any teams in a better situation for this current environment at the head coach and staff positions it is a miniscule list.

3. How intelligent and motivated are your rookies and new additions?

Looking at each of the Rams' draft picks with an eye toward the above, only one of them is a concern (Lewis). That is not to say he's going to squander his time or that he's a bad guy, but I don't think he's a shining example of what you want in this type of environment. He strikes me as a massively talented type who has never really tapped into it to where he can get the consistency going and that's a bad mix with today's situation. The rest of the draft picks, however, look like top shelf options for this current climate.

The vets, meanwhile, are probably on the lesser side of the ledger in what you'd ideally want. Robinson is a big boy and those guys you're always going to be worried about what they'll weigh when they show up to camp. If you have a camp. Floyd is an underachiever who has yet to live up to his exalted draft status. So in the final total for this I think the vets weigh the final score down. I'd go with a 7 here for that reason, largely based on a draft that has a lot of good locker room types that seem to have good motors.

Totalling it all up and I'd say the Rams are without a doubt in the top 5-10 teams in terms of being on the plus side of the impact of this corona era.

Continuing our casual offseason vibe;

The Conversation Thread

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

Why not use the chat room? Well, this isn’t exactly in realtime... Just chime in like you‘ve dropped by a friends house.

It’s just chat. Post whatever. Ask a question. Tell us what your up to. Comment.

Randomness encouraged. Thoughts. Pics. Gifs.

BYOB.

Tomorrow we’ll move this thread to off topic. But for now... It’s Saturday night!

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Got this in my glass. One more in fridge.



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First round on; @den-the-coach

10 things with Travin Howard

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, linebacker, Travin Howard, spoke to Sarina about his new clothing line, what virtual meetings have been like and who he thinks is better than Michael Jordan.

1: Show your face

Sarina: How have the virtual team meetings gone? What do you like about them?

Travin: Meetings have been going well. Everyone is being professional, and we are getting good above-the-neck work. I like that you can see everyone's faces, plus we have some characters on the team.

2: Sharing is caring

Sarina: I saw you celebrated your birthday recently. Do anything special?

Travin: Yeah, my birthday was actually the same day as Mother's Day, so I had a small crawfish boil at my house the day before so mama could have her day.

3: Can't wait!

Sarina: What do you like about the new uniforms?

Travin: I really like how the uniforms turned out. They are a new, more up-to-date style, as opposed to a more traditional style. I can't wait to put them on!

4: Small city, big dreams

Sarina: What influences your style?

Travin: I would have to say where I'm from. A small city in Texas, Longview. It's the culture where we don't really care who you are or who we are going against, but whoever it is, best believe they're going to feel us. As for my swag, I just kind of piece things together here and there, taking what I see and like from other people and kind of mix it with a little bit of Longview, Texas.

5: Wanna Be Startin' Something

Sarina: I saw you started a clothing brand. What made you decide to do that?

Travin: My friends and I started out wearing the merch amongst ourselves. The idea originated in high school while we were playing sports. It was originally eight of us, so we coined it after the "Elite 8" in college basketball and made it our own.

6: ELITE

Sarina: I like the name Every Little Inch Takes Effort. What is behind that?

Travin: We had to define what Elite meant to us. Something that didn't just pertain to sports but everyday life, which is where Every Little Inch Takes Effort came from, and the rest is history.

7. Second to none

Sarina: Texas football is…

Travin: Second to none, a known FACT.

8: King James

Sarina: I know you are a huge LeBron James fan, but what did you think of The Last Dance and watching MJ's best years?

Travin: Watching the documentary was much needed. Getting to actually see what the generation before me saw. Seeing the hard work, skill and his attitude, I can see why people crown him the GOAT! That being said, LeBron is still the GOAT. I don't care.

9: Light and sweet

Sarina: How do you take your coffee?

Travin: Cream and sugar. I don't see how people drink it any other way. I think they just become immune to the taste.

10: Teleportation FTW

Sarina: What is a superpower you would want to have?

Travin: Probably to teleport. The time it takes to travel and all you have to go through is not cool.

Darious Williams has caught the eye of Rams' new defensive coordinator

Cameron DaSilva

No position group has undergone more changes for the Rams in recent years than the secondary. In Sean McVay’s first season, Kayvon Webster and Trumaine Johnson were the primary corners with Lamarcus Joyner, Maurice Alexander and John Johnson at safety.

In 2018, Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib arrived. Last year, both players were traded and replaced by Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill. At safety, Taylor Rapp, Eric Weddle and Johnson all started games.

More changes are on the horizon in 2020 with Nickell Robey-Coleman gone and Weddle retired. David Long Jr. would seem like a logical replacement for Robey-Coleman in the slot, since he was a third-round pick a year ago, but don’t count out Darious Williams.

Full Article--
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Predicting who will win Rams' biggest position battles this offseason

Cameron DaSilva

The Los Angeles Rams will have more position battles than usual this offseason, which isn’t ideal considering the coronavirus pandemic has prevented teams from getting on the practice field thus far. It’s not yet known when training camp will take place or in what capacity, but at some point, players will be practicing and competing together.

There are important battles to be sorted out along the offensive line, at linebacker and in the secondary, as well as at the voids left by Todd Gurley and Brandin Cooks.

It’s still early in the offseason and the competition won’t heat up until camp, but here are our predictions for which players will win each positional battle before the 2020 season.

Full Article--
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

15 minutes of football joy.

HD highlights of Robert Woods 2019/2020 season.

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Defensive Coordinator Brandon Staley's approach, scheme energizing Rams players

Even from a distance and via digital means, new Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is making his presence felt with a new, yet familiar attitude.

"I mean, the energy (Staley) brings, it's just new. It's kind of like a (Sean) McVay of the defense almost, with the way he talks, how smart he is and things like that," Hill said, referring to the Rams head coach. "Thinking outside the box, I feel like that's what I needed. He's younger in a sense that he can relate to the players a lot."

Staley has held his current position since early February. One month into his tenure, the COVID-19 pandemic shut down NFL teams' facilities, which means Hill and other defensive players have been getting to know him and his scheme through remote meetings during the Rams' virtual offseason program.

Despite the absence of interpersonal interaction, Staley's attitude and vision for the defense are generating excitement.

Hill, who emerged as a starter last season, said the Rams defensive backs had certain ideas they felt they might be able to incorporate into their defense but it wouldn't be taught throughout the whole unit. Consequently, Los Angeles' defensive players wouldn't be able to get in syc.

"But when (Staley's) coaching some of these things, it's like, ok, we was trying to do that last yeah and get that done, but you already coaching it," Hill said. "So now we are all going to be on the same page and it's going to be even easier. These ideas, it's going to make the scheme a lot easier in being able to play different routes and everybody's going to be on the same page."

The player who can best speak to Staley's impact is new outside linebacker Leonard Floyd, whom Staley coached in Chicago in 2017 and 2018.

"He's very energetic," Floyd said. "Like, I can't think of a day where he wasn't ready to get out and go play. He'll have you ready to play. Basically every day we've been having virtual meetings, he's been having guys ready to get on the field and go play. It's just the way words come out of his mouth, he uses it the right way and it motivates everybody."

Players feed off that approach, according to Hill, seeing how in tune the players are with him. And as the Rams' virtual offense program continues, their defense stands to benefit from it.

"The defense that he's bringing in, the scheme that he's bringing in, I think there's a lot of opportunity to make a lot of plays for everybody," Hill said. "I like him a lot, to be honest."

Staley said in times like this, it's important to create that energy.

"We've all been in classes or conferences or seminars where a lot of it's depending on how good the teacher or presenter is for how you really learn the material," Staley said on a video conference with reporters Thursday. "So what we've tried to do as coaches is be on fire every day, to prepare something that is really going to help them get better, making as like being in the office or on the field as possible."

Just wondering if a: Peters would be interested in signing to a team friendly deal to stay in the league? b: work with whitworth as another mentor for the young group? c: is our cap situation even in position to entertain this idea? d: would we even be interested in him?

Thoughts?

In my opinion, it seems like you can never have enough veteran presence in the locker room.

Just sat back and re-watched the Vikings at Saints in the wildcard round last year. Have to say it was glorious to see the Saints drop another tight playoff game, almost as fulfilling as watching the 9ers lose in the Super Bowl.

They sort of died a slow death there in overtime on that last Vikings drive. Saints' defense could not get off the field. So enjoyable.

One minute, 48 seconds. That's how long Brandon Staley waxed poetic about Jalen Ramsey this week, when asked about his All-Pro corner.
"I love coaching this guy," the Rams new defensive coordinator told reporters in a virtual media session. "It has been one of the unique parts about this whole thing, the relationship that I've been able to form with him in a short time."

Acquired from Jacksonville for a pair of first round picks last October, Ramsey has been on Staley's radar since his freshman year at Florida State. Staley had multiple connections with that Seminoles staff, and combined with his observations of Ramsey's NFL career, held an informed opinion about the cornerstone he was inheriting when Sean McVay hired him.

"(Jalen) has been really, really fun to work with. He has got high capacity to learn; he's got a high capacity to lead."
Settle in, because Staley was just getting started . "He's got command of all the positions in the defensive backfield," the first-time NFL defensive coordinator continued. "You know, I do not look at him just as a corner. I look at him as a (defensive back). This guy can do anything. He thinks like a quarterback. This game means a lot to him. His craft, his focus, his commitment… I couldn't be more impressed with this guy."

Not that we doubted Ramsey would be wearing Horns for many seasons to come, but Staley's affinity certainly can't hurt.
And from a coach's standpoint, not a bad idea to invest heavily in one of the new pillars of this roster. Next to Aaron Donald, there's a case to be made for Ramsey as the next-best player on the roster.

"He and I talk two, three times a day," Staley volunteered. "We FaceTime after every meeting." That's right. After meetings, they have additional break-out sessions to talk ball one-on-one. Or at least that's the intention. Here's where the challenges of connecting through a pandemic have been accompanied by plenty of silver linings. Staley reports that his relationship with Ramsey has already been enhanced by the interruptions of the next generation. Inevitably, their extra talk time is derailed by cameos from the star player's two daughters and the defensive coordinator's three sons. Those meaningful interactions would be unlikely to occur during a normal offseason program at the facility. That's how Staley – finally – wound down his discourse on Ramsey, who is set for his first full season with Los Angeles in 2020.

But later, when asked about the rest of the defensive backfield and how they might complement the Pro Bowler, Staley picked up right where he left off. "With Jalen, what's awesome about him is he can play anywhere. He can play outside or inside or safety. So we can move him around if we need to. Safety?

Why would a coach take an elite talent at one of the most important positions in sports and move him around to other positions?
Could be just to mess with opposing quarterbacks. Could be to maximize the speed in the back end, get more corners on the field, potentially if the Cardinals go four-wide.

My guess? George Kittle. Ramsey has a history of matching with tight ends, and the top tight end in the game is going to be a twice-a-year problem for Staley and the Rams. Even with the investments San Francisco has made at wide receiver, Kittle remains their most troublesome target. Perhaps that's where floating the idea of Ramsey as a "safety" comes in. After all, he's the size of John Johnson, not Troy Hill.

But that's speculation for another day (and Week 6, specifically). For now, in mid-May, the fact that shutdown orders have somehow helped a shutdown corner bond with his new defensive coordinator should bode well for the future of Ramsey and the Rams defense."I think there's a lot more in him than he's shown in the NFL. I mean, he's shown himself to be one of the premier guys. But I know there's a lot more in him for him to showcase," Staley said. "Certainly, looking for him to provide a lot of leadership and production in that defensive backfield."

DC Brandon Staley's approach, scheme energizing Rams players

Rams like Micah Kiser, but linebacker will be 'an open competition'

[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Cameron DaSilva

There may not be a position group in the NFL with less proven talent than the Rams’ inside linebacker unit. After losing Cory Littleton in free agency, they’ve been left with a host of players who barely have any starting experience in the NFL.

In fact, Troy Reeder and Travin Howard are the only two linebackers left who took a single defensive snap for the Rams last season, though neither of them played more than 300 individually.

In a normal offseason, they’d be getting ready to compete for starting jobs during OTAs next week, but that competition will have to wait until minicamp and training camp eventually take place at some point.

And when the Rams do hit the field, it’s going to be “an open competition,” according to defensive coordinator Brandon Staley.

“I think it’s competitive. You’ve got to let things play out. Inside linebacker, in particular, there aren’t very many guys that have played a lot of football there, so that’s going to be an open competition,” Staley said on a conference call with reporters Thursday. “You’ve gotten glimpses of those guys. Troy Reeder, T-Howard and Kenny Young, you’ve gotten glimpses of them as pro players. I know we have high regard for Micah Kiser within our building. He had that unfortunate injury in the preseason. We’ve just got to let the position sort itself out when things go live.”

It’s not surprising that Staley singled out Kiser as someone the Rams like. He was supposed to be a starter next to Littleton last season, but he suffered a pectoral injury in the preseason, which landed him on IR and forced him to miss his second season in the NFL.

Kiser has still never taken a defensive snap as a pro, but he should be considered the frontrunner to win one of the two inside linebacker jobs. Howard would be a nice complement next to him, given his range and coverage ability as a former safety. But as Staley said, things will sort themselves out when practices start.

As for the outside linebacker spot, Staley didn’t share as many details. He did say that players such as Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Samson Ebukam, Jachai Polite, Natrez Patrick and Justin Lawler will be fighting for spots on defense. Staley also said he was excited to reunite with Leonard Floyd and add Terrell Lewis in the draft, both of whom fit the mold of his prototypical edge rusher.

“On the edge, excited to add Leonard and Terrell Lewis. And then you’ve got Obo and Samson, Jachai Polite, Natrez Patrick, Justin Lawler – those guys will be fighting for positions,” he said.

With a shortened and modified offseason, it’s going to be hard to sort out these positions on defense because players are only meeting on Zoom and working out individually. So when practices do resume, the Rams will have to study their linebackers quickly and determine who the best players are.

I remember reading on here a few of our members have access to pff. There is an article on ranking rookie running backs by their situation I’d love to see if someone could post!

Sean McVay: Rams have three good RBs, still deciding how many carries they’ll get

Rams coach Sean McVay hasn’t determined who will fill the role of departed running back Todd Gurley, but he has no doubts that there are players on the roster who can do it.

McVay said that Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson and Cam Akers are all up to the task.

“We feel we’ve got three really good backs,” McVay said, via ESPN. “What does that mean in terms of the distribution of carries? I think that’s to be determined based on how things play themselves out and when we get a chance to actually compete in practice and in those live opportunities.”
McVay said his offense doesn’t need to identify one bell cow running back, but that he does feel good about the depth he has at the position.

“What we wanted to do was get a group that we felt really good about,” McVay said. “This enables us to say, ‘We’re not necessarily committed to any approach, it’s a feel for the flow of the game.’ But you’d like everybody to create a role for themselves, and we’ll see what ends up happening then.”

It’s anyone’s guess who will lead the Rams in rushing, but McVay sounds confident that all three backs are capable.

Aaron Donald staying busy in quarantine

When Aaron Donald logged on to meet with local media for a video conference call Thursday afternoon, reporters were greeted not only by him, but a recent shirtless photo of himself as his virtual background.

"I don't want y'all to think I'm slacking," he said with a smile.

Even in quarantine, the Rams defensive tackle is still getting plenty of work done. The video conference background isn't the only evidence either.

Like he's done in past offseasons, he is spending time back home in the city of Pittsburgh. He stays active by working out in "the dungeon," also known as the small home gym in the basement of his dad's house which he's been using since he was 12 years old.

These days, he has been conducting workouts there with his nephew Elliot, a consensus four-star defensive line recruit in the class of 2021 who has accumulated 18 scholarship offers so far. Beyond exercising in his childhood home, Donald is also working with his speed trainer.

Donald normally works out in Pitt's football performance center which bears his name, but those facilities have been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"For me, it's been good," he said. "It's been a little bit different here and there because I ain't got as much as I got at Pitt, but I feel like I've been getting great work in still."

Donald has also been sharpening the minds of others as well as his own.

Back in mid-April, his AD99 Solutions Foundation created a free, 8-week virtual education series for 13- to 18-year-old student athletes called Mental Flex Forums. The opportunities were designed to help them "maintain a winner's mindset off-the-field," according to the foundation's official Twitter page.

Donald also fulfilled a post-draft promise to his parents by completing his Pitt communications degree this spring, taking online classes over the last two years as part of the process.

"They were proud of me, they're happy," Donald said. "It was a process, but it was worth it at the end of the day."

In a sense, this offseason hasn't been too different from what Donald is used to – he was working out in Pittsburgh and working toward finishing his degree last year, too.

Still, the biggest adjustment has been having to learn new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley's scheme and philosophies after being in the same defense since 2017.

"I'm definitely starting to like it a lot," Donald said. "I'm anxious to actually get on the grass and get to play and see how this thing plays out."

When that time comes, a certain virtual background suggests he'll be ready.

I was really surprised to find this. I got a rush of the ole days. I can't remember what game or year this is from. Maybe one of you guys was at that game. They use to hand out the coolest freebies.

((And KC has nothing on the dance routines of the STL cheerleaders. OMG they make KC look bland in that department. The half time shows so amazing in STL. They actually were the best too. They won the cheerleading Super Bowl thing like three years in a row a buddy told me. Very talented and hot as all get out. It was special. I loved it. I loved the dome too. It had the energy of a basketball gym. Our D played blazing fast on it. So did the GSOT back in the day, which I never actually attended.))

Good times, boys. Good times. So much fun.

2020 Offseason Opponent Breakdown: San Francisco 49ers

Now that the Rams' 2020 schedule is officially out, it's time to resume our offseason opponent breakdowns on theRams.com. Up next is the San Francisco 49ers, who the Rams will travel to in Week 6 and host in Week 12.

2019

Last season was a transformative one for the 49ers. It began with selecting future AP Defensive Rookie of the Year Nick Bosa No. 2 overall in the draft and ended with a 31-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV in Miami. The defending NFC champions also finished with a 13-3 regular season record.

While San Francisco's defense deserves credit for the team's turnaround – it held opposing offenses to the second-fewest total yards per game – its run game also played an important role. The 49ers produced the No. 2 rushing offense in the NFL, averaging 144.1 yards per game on the ground.

A healthy Jimmy Garoppolo starting at quarterback also provided stability. After a season-ending torn ACL limited him to just three games in 2018, Garoppolo did not miss a single contest – regular season or postseason – in 2019.

Changes

There were several.

On defense, the 49ers traded Pro Bowl defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for the Colts' first-round pick (No. 13 overall) in this year's draft. Bucker's 7.5 sacks were third-most on the team last season. On Day 1 of the draft, San Francisco then traded back one spot, sending the 13th overall pick and 244th overall pick to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the 14th overall pick and 117th overall pick. The 14th overall pick was used to draft South Carolina defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw.

On Day 3 of the draft, the 49ers traded Matt Breida – one of their three runnings backs who rushed for more than 500 yards last season – to the Miami Dolphins for the 153rd overall pick. They also dealt wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and a sixth-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a sixth-round pick.

Day 3 also included acquiring seven-time Pro Bowl tackle Trent Williams from the Washington Redskins in exchange for a fifth-round pick (156th overall) in this year's draft and a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Pro Bowl left tackle and 13-year veteran Joe Staley retired, two days later, and San Francisco already had his replacement in tow.

Head coach

Kyle Shanahan enters his fourth season as head coach of the 49ers. Including last year's playoff run, he has compiled a 25-26 overall record through his first three years with the franchise.

What to watch for

Impact of rookies on both teams' offenses

The 49ers had a dominant run game last season and added new, dynamic piece to their passing game for this season in former Arizona State wide receiver pick Brandon Aiyuk.

Meanwhile, the Rams had an explosive passing game last season and added new, dynamic pieces to both their passing game and run game for this season in former Florida State running back Cam Akers and former Florida wide receiver Van Jefferson.

It's difficult to predict what their roles will look like for their respective teams five months out, but all three were selected in the top 60 picks of this year's draft and figure to have at least some impact in the game.

First; Terrible for anyone impacted.

These are incredible videos from the perspective of the force of nature.

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The end of this one shows people walking on the near empty lake bed.

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LOL. What a different era.

If you have or haven’t seen before... What an amazing workout.

Phil Simms' NFL Workout From 1987 is Amazing, Something We Should All Be Doing

Phil Simms had a stellar career as quarterback of the New York Giants. He managed to excel in the toughest media market imaginable and captained a win in Super Bowl XXI. Then he established himself as one of the most formidable analysts covering games in media. But, obviously, the first thing anyone thinks about when they hear his name is at-home fitness videos -- and for good reason.

Simms' classic 1987 workout tape pops up online from time to time. For instance, here's something from Christmas Eve 2012. It really cannot be covered enough because each and every time, a new and delighted audience discovers it for the first time.

Without further ado:

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There's so much going on there. And no matter how many times you watch and assurances are given, the immediate fear that this is an adult film creeps in as soon as it begins. What follows is either great release or disappointment.

The cast of characters simply keep on coming. America's youth may be horrified to know that this was basically our version of the Avengers. One just rarely saw such a concentration of mega-watt star power. Gary Anderson. Todd Christensen. Eric Dickerson. Tony Dorsett. Rulon Jones. Linebacker McBackerface. Reggie Williams. One of those is fake.

It would be natural to feel nervous that the NFL stars would go about a regimen far too intense for the Average Joe. That is simply not the case. In fact, there's not much sweat to be found.

On the bright side, it's a fantastic companion to any in-home workout plan. It can be done in even a cramped apartment and requires no equipment. It'd be reasonable to responsibly socially distance with a group class. Under no circumstances, however, should the prolonged and exaggerated high-five celebration be emulated.

If football ever comes back, it is absolute imperative that his studiomates replicate this thing for the masses. Another free idea for others to execute there.

Rookie TE Brycen Hopkins always working to get better on the field

It was the refrain caroming around Brycen Hopkins NFL Draft preparations.

And by the time he became a Day Three selection of the Los Angeles Rams, Hopkins had heard enough about his unreliable hands.

"Man! I don't want to come up with excuses," the former Purdue tight end told us when we asked how sick he was of being asked about the drops.

"They don't like to give me any credibility for the catches, for any of the good catches I had. It's all about drops. It's something I'm working on. It's all concentration. It's not like I don't have hands. I've shown everybody that I can catch. It's just something I will be working on; I will get better at."

Ted Monago ran point on evaluating the Big Ten Tight End of the Year and offered this statistical context.

"It's kind of like missed tackles with defensive players," the Rams assistant director of college scouting said. "His drops went from 4 to 7, but his targets went from 54 in 2018 to 91 in 2019… and his receptions went up (from 34 to 61)."

"We tend to nitpick those things as scouts," Monago added.

According to Rams general manager Les Snead, when you're the top-targeted player on your team, it's a healthy sign the offensive coordinator – and more importantly, the quarterback – trust you. Perhaps that's why 40 of his receptions went for first-downs.

"Sometimes you let the quarterback tell you," the Rams general manager said of the reputation Hopkins had carved out in West Lafayette.

Hopkins spent five campaigns at Purdue and is 23-years old, but relatively young in football seasons, having started his competitive career as a junior in high school. His father, Brad, was an All-Pro left tackle and lined up for the Titans against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV.

Going into the 2020 Draft, he was position coach Wes Phillips' "number one player" and the most fun tight end to watch according to Pro Football Focus.

Nonetheless, Snead described adding to the tight end room as a luxury, and as a result, the Rams felt comfortable trading down in the fourth round, acquiring two additional seventh-round picks from Houston in the process. That would later enable them to select kicker Sam Sloman and their only offensive lineman of the 2020 Draft, Tremayne Anchrum.

Fortunately, their preferred tight end was still on the board 10 picks later when Los Angeles was back on the clock. And they're hoping the move from 126 to 136 overall is remembered as the most significant "drop" of Hopkins' career as a Ram.

Leonard Floyd happy to be working with Brandon Staley again

Preparation is important for any coach to succeed in the NFL. New Rams defensive coordinator Brandon Staley's thoroughness, however, sets him apart, and it's one of the reasons why new outside linebacker Leonard Floyd is excited to work with him again.

"He's a guy who's very intelligent," Floyd said on a video conference call with local media last week. "He works hard, he really studies the game and I know we're going to be prepared for every game, because he'll have us ready."

The former top 10 draft pick by the Bears reunites with Staley by way of a one-year deal signed with Los Angeles late last month. They previously worked together when Staley was Chicago's outside linebackers coach in 2017 and 2018.

Floyd made 81 combined tackles, 8.5 sacks, six pass breakups and one interception (pick-six against the Bills) during that span, but what Floyd valued most from his time learning under Staley was the way Staley taught him to prepare.

"When he first got there, he made sure that I knew my job well (so) on Sundays I wouldn't have to think as much," Floyd said.

L.A. hopes that partnership flourishes again this upcoming season, since Floyd is being tasked with helping replace former outside linebacker Dante Fowler.

Fowler parlayed a season of career highs in sacks (11.5), total tackles (54) and pass breakups (6) into a lucrative three-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons.

"I don't feel the pressure to match his level," Floyd said. "I just want to come in and play at my level, try to help the team win games and dominate on defense."

Playing in a front seven featuring two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year and 2010s all-decade team selection Aaron Donald should help with that.

"Come in and just try to be there at the right time, if he gives me one. Because you know he's coming (laughs)," Floyd said, when asked what playing alongside Donald could do for his pass rush. "Hopefully a couple of them fall in my lap."

Whether Donald gives him one or not, this much is certain: When Floyd does make a play this season, it will most likely be because he was prepared and consequently in position to do so, thanks to both Donald and Staley's help.

We have not only good guys on the roster but a good community outreach organization.

I love our QB just a good dude. Happy Birthday Auntie Coop.