• To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.

LB Depth Chart?

I’ve looked at a few sites for “Rams depth charts”, and at the LB position, they’re all over the map. I’ve seen no less than 8 guys penciled in at various configurations for the four spots.
They are:
Young, Obo, Floyd, Kiser, Reeder, Ebu, Howard, and Lawler.
(Other LBs include Patrick, Polite, Holland, and Carraway.)

Who do you guys see as the leaders (pre-draft) to start, and at what spots? Would Floyd be ILB or OLB?

We lost a huge amount of talent and production in Fowler, Matthews, and Littleton. Are others concerned the remaining LB corps looks high in quantity but low in quality? On paper, I don’t see one single LB as a surefire above-average starter. Ebu is solid but not spectacular. Obo is unproven as an every down player. Kiser hasn’t taken a single D snap yet. And Floyd is a wildcard.

Will Rams be compelled to take 2 LBs in their first four picks? Discuss.

Jrry32 Penultimate Mock Draft of 2020

Well, here is my second-to-last mock of the year. I'll try to put out my final mock after the first round of the draft (assuming we don't trade into the first). Trades are always a crapshoot, so I'm just trying to make trades that are realistic in terms of value. There's no way to project what will happen on draft day, but I tried to embrace my inner Les Snead with all the trades (and hopefully didn't confuse myself and end up making a mistake on which picks are ours). Also want to note that all NFL comparisons assume the player develops.

Trades
Rams trade Round 2 Pick #25 and Round 3 Pick #20
Jets trade Round 3 Pick #4, Round 3 Pick #15, and Round 4 Pick #14

Rams trade Round 3 Pick #40
Jaguars trade Round 4 Pick #10 and Round 5 Pick #19

Rams trade Round 4 Pick #20 and Round 5 Pick #19
Jaguars trade Round 4 Pick #31 and Round 4 Pick #34

Rams trade Round 4 Pick #34
Bears trade Round 5 Pick #17 and Round 6 Pick #17

Rams trade Round 6 Pick #17 and Round 6 Pick #20
Texans trade Round 5 Pick #25 and Round 7 Pick #36

NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #20 - Laviska Shenault WR Colorado
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLdox2cEGKE

Analysis: Laviska Shenault is the definition of a boom/bust prospect. If I didn't have faith in Sean McVay, I wouldn't draft him. At 6'1" 227 pounds, Shenault is built more like Todd Gurley than a WR. However, what is apparent to me watching his tape is that he has rare athleticism. Shenault has the separation quickness you typically see in 6'0" 195 pound WRs. It's unreal that he can cut and explode the way he does at nearly 230 pounds. But while the kid has the quickness to separate, he also understands that he's bigger and stronger than the CB he's facing and is happy to use that to create separation. Simply put, he's a bully. In terms of YAC, he's the best player in this class. He's elusive but also runs like a power HB when he can't evade defenders. To top it all off, he has quality hands. Why is he risky? He plays a physical style of football and has legitimate durability questions, and he's a very raw WR. He's more an athlete than WR right now. But he has all the traits and a natural feel for the position. As a rookie, this kid can contribute on returns, can play any of the WR slots, and can line up in the backfield as a HB or wildcat QB.

NFL Comparison: Anquan Boldin with more explosiveness

Round 3 Pick #4 - Matt Hennessy C Temple
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPyzS70PXh4

Analysis: Well, I took a risky player with our first pick, so I'll circle back with a guy I think is a very safe pick. At 6'4" 307 pounds, Hennessy is the prototypical size for a NFL Center. That was good to see for me because I thought he looked lighter on tape. While he only possesses average power, Hennessy is an athletic, heady Center who easily qualifies as a technician. He has the mobility to make all the blocks our scheme asks of him and the smarts and technique to contribute early. There's an open question as to whether he can play Guard. I'm not too concerned about that because I think he'll make a quality starting Center. He is steady and reliable in every sense of the word. He may lack the power to ever qualify as an elite Center, but his mobility, grip strength, leverage, flexibility, balance, and football IQ will make him a mainstay in the middle of our OL for years. It's also worth noting that Hennessy posted the best Wonderlic score (34) of any OL in this class.

NFL Comparison: J.C Tretter

Round 3 Pick #15 - Zack Moss HB Utah
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tU24goTDhE

Analysis: Moss has a lot of mileage, some durability questions, and ran a 4.6 40. That's why he's still on the board. I don't care. He's a 5'10" 225 pound HB who runs with violence and does not go down easy. He has great contact balance due to his low center of gravity and does not shy away from any contact. If anything, his violent, physical style puts him at injury risk. He also sees the field well. His instincts are top notch. He'll be an effective runner in both the outside-zone and the inside-zone concepts. But most importantly for me, Moss is a superb pass blocker and pass catcher. I think having a versatile HB is absolutely necessary in McVay's scheme. You need a guy who can play all three downs. You don't want to tip your hand to the defense. Moss is a guy who can stay on the field no matter the down. This kid is the perfect sort of player to pair with Darrell Henderson.

NFL Comparison: Kareem Hunt

Round 4 Pick #10 - Troy Dye ILB Oregon
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQfVpEj0BHY

Analysis: It's funny that in the off-season where we lose Littleton that we draft an ILB who compares so well to him. At 6'3" 231 pounds, Dye is a long kid who is a smooth athlete with sideline-to-sideline range. There are concerns about his ability to keep on weight and his play strength. But there's no denying that he's a three-down LB with legitimate cover skills. While Dye may have some trouble with the ultra-quick HBs if left on an island in M2M coverage, he is quite effective against TEs and a heady, athletic zone defender. He's the sort of guy you can trust to carry a TE up the seam. In the running game, Dye has good instincts and is a proficient tackler. He's also effective at avoiding blockers and getting into gaps. However, he's not very effective at getting off blocks when a blocker gets his hands on him. And while Dye will rack up tackle production, he's not a big hitter. Ultimately, his upside is that of Cory Littleton, a very good ILB in coverage but a pretty average run defender.

NFL Comparison: Cory Littleton

Round 4 Pick #14 - Devin Asiasi TE UCLA
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgn1JYgWcRQ

Analysis: I am a huge fan of Devin Asiasi, and I hope the Rams draft him. I think he's going to be one of the best value picks in this draft. Asiasi is an old-school Y (inline-blocking TE) who will contribute in the passing game as a possession target in the short-to-intermediate ranges. At 6'3" 260 pounds, Asiasi's separation quickness for his size is shocking. As he polishes his routes, he has the potential to be a real mismatch against LBs due to his quickness in and out of his breaks and large frame. He has natural hands and shows no issues snatching the ball away from his frame or making catches in traffic. Asiasi lacks the top-end speed to be a major vertical threat at the position, but he'll do plenty of damage inside 20 yards. In addition to his receiving talent, Asiasi has all the traits to be a legitimately good inline blocker. He's big, he's long, he's strong, and he's willing. Once he polishes his technique, he's a guy you can trust to hold his own against edge rushers and LBs. He actually held his own quite well against Bradlee Anae this year. Ultimately, I see Asiasi's potential as a well-rounded TE who can be trusted as a blocker and is capable of putting up 600 to 700 yards per year as a chain-moving, possession receiver.

NFL Comparison: Alge Crumpler

Round 4 Pick #31 - Joe Bachie LB Michigan State
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKnxAT1ver0

Analysis: I think Joe Bachie is flying way under the radar right now because of his PED suspension during his final year at MSU. He tested much better than expected at the Combine (including a 4.67 40). I think a lot of people saw him as a try-hard dude with great instincts, but I think he plays to his athleticism. Bachie is a master of reading keys and watching film. He's one of the few guys I've seen overrun plays because he beats the HB to the gap he's supposed to run through. Bachie is a heady defender who plays balls to the wall every down he's on the field. He's very much an emotional leader sort of guy at the Mike. As a run defender, he has the strength and contact balance to meet pulling OLs in the hole and stonewall them. However, due to his lack of length, he struggles to disengage once OLs get their hands on him. But he's strong enough to keep them from running over him. In coverage, Bachie is a heady and effective zone defender. That all said, he doesn't have the quick-twitch athleticism to stick with agile HBs. At a minimum, he's good depth and a heck of a special teamer, but I think Bachie could quickly earn his way onto the field.

NFL Comparison: Paul Posluszny

Round 5 Pick #17 - J.R. Reed S Georgia
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DSZ36a4apg

Analysis: On Day 3, I have always leaned towards drafting really good football players over projects with huge athletic potential. That has served me well in some cases and not so well in others. Reed is another case of me seeing a really good football player and thinking he's worth a shot. He actually tested better than expected at the Combine (running a 4.54 40 and jumping fairly well). At 6'1" 202 pounds, he's not the biggest safety, and he doesn't have the range to be a single-high FS. However, he's an instinctive defender who has the tackling ability and smarts to play in the box and the cover skills to play as a split safety deep. He also has sufficient man coverage ability to cover TEs and HBs. Reed is a good third safety to have and could play well enough to earn a starting job if there's an injury or we eventually let one of our starting safeties go.

NFL Comparison: Bradley McDougald

Round 5 Pick #25 - Anfernee Jennings OLB Alabama
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2vE28WwPrps

Analysis: Anfernee is the definition of a glue guy on defense. He does all of the little things well and brings the physicality and effort you need out there. The problem with Anfernee is that he doesn't show a lot of pass rush potential. He isn't explosive off the LOS, doesn't have the speed/flexibility to make NFL OTs sweat on the edge, and doesn't have the explosive quickness to burn them inside. Instead, if Anfernee is to be anything more than an effort rusher, he's going to have to become more savvy and technical. He has an effective stab move and enough power to do some damage if harnessed properly. He's also flashed the savvy footwork to make things more difficult on OTs. But ultimately, I wouldn't count on him to be anything more than a JAG as a pass rusher. What Anfernee does well is defend the run. He sets a hard edge, he plays physically when taking on pullers, he's adept at finding the football, he's assignment sound, and he has great instincts. That also makes him very effective at sniffing out screens and deflecting passes when he can't get home with his rushes. Finally, Anfernee is competent in coverage. He is a smart and aware zone defender and has the ability to man up when needed against slower TEs. All in all, he's a solid edge defender who will contribute in non-flashy ways.

NFL Comparison: Ryan Anderson

Round 7 Pick #20 - Lavert Hill CB Michigan
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLC8OTKEZtw

Analysis: Lavert Hill is missing a lot of things. He's short. He doesn't have great speed. He's fairly light. But the man can stick to a WR. He's strong for his size and very physical. This can cause him problems on the outside when matched up against fast WRs and asked to cover them on vertical routes. He gets grabby. But in the slot, he has a lot of upside. He plays the game a lot like former teammates David Long and Jourdan Lewis. He's not the athlete that Long is, but he has that similar natural, sticky coverage ability. He's very physical with WRs at the LOS and disrupts throughout the route. He'll have to be a little careful in the NFL to not get penalized, but I think he could develop into an effective slot CB given the time.

NFL Comparison: Brian Poole

Round 7 Pick #36 - Khaleke Hudson ILB/S Michigan
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tACMOXsu0ak

Analysis: Yes, I am selecting former Ram Daren Bates as Hudson's comparison because I think Hudson will be a dynamite special teamer. He blocked a total of five kicks/punts during his career at Michigan and offers the same sort of special teams demon skill-set that Bates once did for us. However, Hudson is also an intriguing LB/S hybrid. He doesn't have the deep coverage skills to be a full-time safety or the length to fit as your prototypical LB. At 5'11" 225 pounds, Hudson is the definition of a tweener. But what's interesting watching him is his speed, quickness, physicality, and underrated strength allow him to absolutely pester TEs in coverage, and he's a surprisingly instinctive run defender as a LB. Despite his strength, Hudson isn't going to get off blocks at the NFL level because he's short with short arms, but he might have some upside as a box safety in subpackages or even a chase LB behind a big DL that can keep bodies off of him. He's an intriguing player because he has some really nice athletic traits combined with good instincts. He just has the wrong body for a LB.

NFL Comparison: Daren Bates

Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Darrell Henderson
WR: Josh Reynolds
WR: Robert Woods
WR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Tyler Higbee
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Bobby Evans
C: Matt Hennessy
RG: David Edwards
RT: Rob Havenstein

SDE: Michael Brockers
NT: A'Shawn Robinson
UT: Aaron Donald
OLB: Samson Ebukam
ILB: Travin Howard
ILB: Micah Kiser
OLB: Leonard Floyd
LCB: Jalen Ramsey
RCB: Troy Hill
SLCB: David Long Jr.
FS: John Johnson III
SS: Taylor Rapp

K: Lirim the Leg
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide

Leonard Fournette a great solve at RB

A couple hours ago their are rumors that Fournette is on the trading blocks.

This is a trade I would be all over if I am Snead. I don't know how we make it work, but to me he is the perfect fitting RB for the Rams.

Fournette had his best statistical year last year with over 1152 yards rushing and a 76 catches for 522 yards out of the backfield. Being almost 230 lbs he is a inside the tackle runner as well as a strong goal line runner. Perfect compliment to Henderson.

Draft wise this would be amazing, because it is one area that must be addressed with one of our 6 picks and by taking him he eliminates that scenario with a proven commodity vs a maybe.

He is young 3 years in the league didn't get overused at LSU like Jonathan Taylor has at Wisconsin averaging over 300 carries per season. We would only need to pay him just a little over 4m a total win win.

Guys he has a combined almost 1700 yards from scrimmage. McVay would love this guy. You get him out of the Jville sewer no one wants to be there and put him with McVay he could have a couple seasons of 2000 combined yards. Truthfully he is literally the perfect solve for us and takes away from worrying about how our RVs will fare to being a great combo top tier RB duo in the league.

Masks of Distinction

Just a little plug for something that seems timely. My wife's art is being printed on face masks. Have a look and if you feel the need or are required to wear masks, these are pretty cool.

10 things with Johnny Hekker

10 things with Johnny Hekker

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, punter, Johnny Hekker spoke to Sarina about PB&J sandwiches, trampolines and being selected to the 2010s All-Decade team.

1: Helping Out Those Helping Out

Sarina: I saw you and Makayla leave treats for your delivery peeps. What a kind gesture. When did you start doing that? What do you leave out?

Johnny: We have been relying heavily on our online distributing friends; so being able to say thank you to the people making online shopping possible, means a lot to us. We leave some of my favorite granola bars, rice crispy treats, packs of gum, and some ice-cold water. Any way we can brighten their day and make them feel appreciated, we're gonna do it!

2: Still on Schedule

Sarina: What have you learned about yourself during this time of being home and social distancing?

Johnny: I've learned that I thrive under a schedule. The first couple weeks were ok, just because we didn't know how long this was going to be. Once I started getting a little crazy, the Mrs. and I sat down and made a list and a tentative schedule for us both with our responsibilities for daily life. The list helped out a ton and has gotten us into a nice daily routine.

3. Jumping Jett

Sarina: What recent purchase has greatly exceeded your expectations?

Johnny: My son's little trampoline in our back yard has blown me away. Makayla begged me to get a trampoline for Jett and I finally cracked and put together his little personal heaven. He begs us to go outside and jump on his trampoline while I try and chip whiffle balls up over the net into it. It's a great time.

4: 2010s All-Decade Team

Sarina: You and Aaron Donald were selected to the 2010s All-Decade team. These kinds of acknowledgments must be special?

Johnny: It is definitely a huge honor. Receiving any sort of recognition from Hall of Fame members and people that have played this game at an elite level for long periods of time, is very humbling. It was also awesome to take some time and just think of the people that have sacrificed a ton of themselves for me to be able to have success. I thought of all my special teams brothers that made plays in coverage and caught the occasional fake, as well as coaches, trainers, strength staff and the countless other people that make our facility a place I enjoyed being around. It is absolutely an honor that they should take pride in having a part in it.

5: Special Upcoming Season

Sarina: As one of the leaders on this team, how do you see this special teams group evolving this coming season?

Johnny: I see huge potential for growth with our special teams unit this coming season. With new leadership, a new kicker, and a new stable of young talent that will be joining us in the coming weeks, we will all have the opportunity to grow together. With any change, there is going to be a premium on improvement and focusing on your craft. I believe the best is yet to come.

6: 2010 vs. 2020

Sarina: Give me Johnny Hekker in 2010 vs 2020.

Johnny: Woooooow, haha! Johnny in 2010 was a Junior in college, so I would definitely say 2020 Johnny is a "Glow Up"! 2010 me had a crush on this super talented gymnast at OSU who is now my wife and mother of soon-to-be two children! I am also now closing in on a decade of playing in the NFL which was such a dream and seemingly far-off aspiration at that time, so I am blessed beyond belief.

7: It's a GIRL

Sarina: You have a little one on the way! What are you most excited for when it comes to adding a new family member?

Johnny: We are super blessed to be adding our second child this coming August. The fun part will be that it is a little GIRL! I grew up in a house of 5 boys, with no sisters, so I definitely have some learning to do before she gets here. I am thrilled to get to have another bundle of joy to chase around and seeing Jett being a big brother will be very sweet.

8: Daddy Football

Sarina: What does Jett think of the new colors and uniform?

Johnny: Jett absolutely loves the new logo and colors. He loves pointing to the logo on my shirt and hat and saying "daddy football" so he knows what's up.

9: PB&J

Sarina: You have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches before games…crunchy or smooth? What kinda toast? What kinda jelly? All the details!

Johnny: The pregame PB&J is usually whatever they have at the stadium, so I'm really at the mercy of Joey Blake (Rams Head Team Dietician) and whatever he orders. I am usually not picky on the bread, but definitely love smooth peanut butter with strawberry jam, with a solid ratio of 40% peanut butter to 60% jelly. Nobody likes a dry mouthful of sandwich.

10: Ramen and Sushi all day

Sarina: What food have you never eaten but would really like to try?

Johnny: I loooove to eat and really have tried everything that I am interested in, for the most part. I don't turn down most of what comes across my plate. One thing I would love to do would be to go to Japan and eat authentic Ramen and Sushi all day.

2020 NFL Draft Schedule

When is the 2020 NFL Draft?

This year's draft starts on Thursday, April 23, and runs through Saturday, April 25.

The entire weekend schedule is as follows (Eastern time):

Thursday, April 23: Round 1 (8 p.m.)
Friday, April 24: Rounds 2-3 (7 p.m.)
Saturday, April 25: Rounds 4-7 (12 p.m.)

Where is the 2020 NFL Draft?

For the first time ever, this year's draft will be held exclusively online. Due to local and national restrictions stemming from the pandemic, the planned physical Las Vegas location was scrapped in favor of a remote, virtual selection process that will see all 32 NFL teams operating from their homes. Commissioner Goodell is set to announce picks from his home in New York.

After 50 straight years in New York City, where it was most recently held at Radio City Music Hall, the draft has been physically held in Chicago (Auditorium Theatre), Philadelphia (Museum of Art), Arlington (AT&T Stadium) and Nashville (Lower Broadway) since 2015.

How do I watch the draft?

Here are all your options to catch the draft on TV or via live stream:

Thursday: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio
Friday: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio
Saturday: ABC, ESPN, NFL Network, ESPN Deportes, ESPN Radio

Live stream: fuboTV (try for free)

You can also catch live coverage on CBS Sports HQ and CBSSports.com, where we'll accompany our draft trackers with grades on each and every pick as they're made.

Live coverage: CBS Sports HQ

Radio coverage: SiriusXM, Westwood One, ESPN Radio

So, what should we reasonably expect coming out of this draft?

Here’s my best guess, fwiw.

Well, Snead has already hit a HR with our 1st round pick Ramsey.

Even without any Snead trade downs, which I consider HIGHLY unlikely, I expect solid and quality football players through at least 104 and probably our 4th rounder, too. They may not be ‘blue chippers’, but they will be very solid. In fact, Snead has stated that this might be the year to make ‘safer’ picks.

Remember some of the Snead/McVay 2nd/3rd round picks of the past 3 years? I see no reason not to expect more of the same from this deep draft.

May not get Kupp or JJ lucky, then again they might.

Check this out. [www.nfl.com]

In 2019

Rapp
Henderson
Long
Evans
Edwards

That’s 5 likely starters in ‘20, 3 started in their rookie years.

In 2018

Noteboom
Kiser
Obo
Joseph-Day
Howard
Lawler

Kiser and Howard likely ‘20 starters, Joseph-Day started his rookie year, and there are high hopes for Boom and Obo for near term possible starting status.

In 2017

Everett
Kupp
Johnson
Reynolds
Ebukam

What can I say? A classic Exhibit A for quality football players in rounds 2-5, huh?

So, to extrapolate? I expect another 4-5 solid football players will be added, one or two more if Snead can trade down, as expected.

Look for the following as soon as the end of Day 2:

A WR that will seriously challenge Reynolds for ‘20 snaps and likely become our 3rd WR by ‘21.

A RB that will seriously challenge Hendo for starter status in’20 and a significant contributor at the very least.

A C that will seriously challenge Blythe for starter status in ‘20 and will become starter in ‘21.

An Edge player to seriously compete for snaps if not starter status in ‘20. Will be a possible starter in ‘21.

An ILB that will seriously compete for starter status in ‘20 with Young and Howard. Might take over there by midseason and beyond.

Other developmental players at FS and CB will likely be added on Day 3. Should be ST contributors this year and might be ready, if needed, to fill in in ‘21.

Wish I knew the exact names of all these kids, but that’s unknowable. I do, however, feel reasonably certain that Snead/McVay will accomplish most of those Day 2 goals, especially if Snead gets his trade down(s).

Kudos to Snead for extending Blythe and signing those 2 PK’s, removing the necessity of reaching in this draft at either position.

I love it when a plan comes together.

Trent Green says that 1999 Rams squad is the only team that can compare to the Super Bowl champion Chiefs

I didnt become a Chief fan until 2016, ya know. Though as a kid I casually liked them and had Chiefs gear. Then came the 99 Rams. When Nick Foles went to KC (the last STL QB), I was just sure he'd unseat Alex Smith who stunk in SF for years. Being I was gonna watch every game anyway, I decided to have an invested interest via being a Chiefs fan!!! And we all know the story between 2016-2020. (I was actually at the JAX game when he started. I was also at the Eagles game when he was on the bench and won it all that year.)

But I ran into this article than ties it all together. I'm very proud to say I've been a fan of the two greatest offenses the America's Game has ever seen. Truly amazing they were both Missouri teams.

Little fun fact: Chiefs broke the team record of most points over a 2 year span. Rams 99-01 hold the three year record. I'd just love to break it and we got the team to do it.

But I must say, the greatest championship team I've ever witnessed in sports is the 99 Rams. Perinial 4-12 team loses their starting QB in preseason and goes all the way with a no-name 28 year old QB and revolutionize the way the game is played. 20 years later I'm still stunned by it. (Once Torry gets in that offense will have FIVE Hall of Fame players to it's credit. FIVE! Warner, Faulk, Pace, Bruce, and soon to be Torry. Amazing.)

Everything works out for the better, my friends.

Countdown to the Draft: Trading up in 2004 to get RB Steven Jackson

Countdown to the Draft: Trading up in 2004 to get RB Steven Jackson

Leading up to this year's NFL Draft, scheduled to take place April 23-25, theRams.com will revisit notable draft moments in team history. In the third installment of the four-part series, we take a look at 2004 when the Rams traded up to get their running back of the future, Steven Jackson.

Background

One of the centerpieces to The Greatest Show on Turf, starting running back Marshall Faulk just finished his sixth season with the the Rams in 2003. He posted a respectable 1,108 total yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns at age 30 that season, but he had also entered what is historically considered the "line of demarcation" for a running back's production, according to a June 2003 story by Peter King in Sports Illustrated.

Given that context, it likely would not have been a surprise if the Rams used a high draft pick on an eventual successor in the 2004 NFL Draft with Faulk turning 31 in February.

Per Football Outsiders' Sean McCormick, Oregon State's Steven Jackson was a consensus No. 1 running back in that year's class "who was considered a franchise back and worthy of a high first-round pick." One look at Jackson's credentials, and it wasn't difficult to see why.

NFL scouts first took notice of Jackson after he rushed for 1,690 yards and 17 touchdowns in 13 games as a sophomore in college. He followed it up with 1,545 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns as a junior, then decided to forgo his senior season and declare for the draft.

According to a story posted on Jackson's website, he underwent minor knee surgery to clear up some discomfort after his junior season. Although the procedure forced him to miss the 2004 NFL Scouting Combine, the 6-foot-2, 233-pounder later ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at his pro day.

A video on Jackson's YouTube channel from 2011 said he was expected to be a top-five pick. One mock draft had Jackson going as high as No. 6 overall to the Detroit Lions, another No. 17 overall to the Denver Broncos.

And yet, surprisingly, he fell out of each of those ranges. The Dallas Cowboys – which, according to that same video, were Jackson's father's favorite team – even passed on him, trading their first round pick to the Buffalo Bills, who used the No. 22 selection on Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman.

"I mean, it was like being punched in the stomach. I couldn't believe it at that point," Jackson said in the video. "I scrambled, looked back to see what teams were still drafting. In my opinion, the teams that were left in the first round didn't really need a running back."

Ultimately, his doubts would be erased and things would work out for him. Two picks later, the Rams traded the No. 26 overall pick and their fourth-round pick to the Bengals for the No. 24 overall pick, scooping up Jackson.

"To me, there's not too many franchises that have had the success at running back like the St. Louis Rams or the Rams franchise when they were in L.A.," Jackson said in the video. "So many great backs have worn that helmet."

Rams highlights

Jackson made an immediate impact as a rookie in 2004, rushing for 673 yards and four touchdowns while playing behind Faulk. The Rams earned a spot in the playoffs that season, defeating the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card round.

From 2005-12, he posted eight-consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, highlighted by winning the NFC rushing title in 2009. Perhaps coincidentally, one of the best games of his career came against the Cowboys – 25 carries, 160 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a 34-14 Rams win in Week 7 of the 2008 season.

That string of success paved the way for Jackson to become the Rams' all-time leading rusher with 10,138 yards in 131 games, and he is also tied with Eric Dickerson for second on the franchise's career rushing touchdowns list with 56.

Would You Pay For...

Assuming that we start playing real games with no audience, would you pay for your voice to be heard? I've seen some teams offering the idea that fans could pay for their cardboard cut out image to occupy a fan's seat at their stadium. Yeah, I'm not paying for that. But I might pay something for my voice at home projecting from that seat somehow where Jimmy G. and Russell Wilson could hear my insults! Maybe also let opposing fans be able to do it, except at twice the price and half the volume:LOL:

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah talks possible targets at No. 52 and No. 57 overall

NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah talks possible targets at No. 52 and No. 57 overall

Though the Rams do not have a first-round pick in this year's draft – barring an unforeseen trade, of course – their pair of selections in the second round still put them in a good position to address some of their roster's needs.

"That's a good place to be at in this draft," NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah said on a conference call Thursday afternoon. "When you look at where they're sitting now, that's a sweet spot."

When asked by theRams.com about potential options for Los Angeles at No. 52 and 57 overall, Jeremiah pointed to inside linebacker as a position where it could get good value at either spot.

Texas Tech's Jordyn Brooks is a prospect Jeremiah likes for the Rams in that range, namely as a potential replacement for Cory Littleton. Brooks collected Second-Team All-American recognition and First-Team All-Big 12 honors after posting a team-high 108 total tackles plus three sacks in 11 starts, and fellow NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein views Brooks as a potential starter at inside linebacker for whichever team drafts him.

"A guy like Jordyn Brooks from Texas Tech who can fly, I think he would be a great replacement when you lose Littleton," Jeremiah said. "To be able to plug him in right there, I think he'd be a great fit and somebody that kind of plays with high, high tempo, which I know they appreciate there in that organization."

Jeremiah also said fans should keep an eye on the tackle position, as he thinks the Rams could potentially look to find another candidate to eventually succeed to 38-year-old starting left tackle Andrew Whitworth with one of the two picks.

"An interesting player for me is Saahdiq Charles, the big tackle from LSU who is ultra talented, has some suspensions there due to some marijuana, but that's a challenge now for the league, and you're scouting with the way this has changed and the new CBA, I don't know that you penalize him as much," Jeremiah said.

Houston's Josh Jones, who was named to the American Athletic All-Conference Second Team after allowing just one sack last season, is another tackle to watch in this range, according to Jeremiah.

Elsewhere on offense, this year's running back class could also present the Rams with a pair of intriguing options if they chose to add to their backfield via the draft next week, with Jeremiah identifying Ohio State's J.K. Dobbins and LSU's Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

One of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, Dobbins became the first running back in school history to surpass the 2,000-yard mark, finishing with 2,003 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns. He also finished sixth in Heisman Trophy voting and was a First Team All-America selection by the Football Writers Association of America.

A 2019 All-SEC First Team selection and LSU's team MVP, Edwards-Helaire led the Tigers with 215 carries for 1,414 yards and 16 touchdowns, adding 55 receptions for 453 yards and one touchdown to help his team to an undefeated national championship season. The Baton Rouge (La.) Catholic High product led the SEC in rushing touchdowns and finished second in rushing yards last season en route to being a finalist for the Paul Hornung Award, given annually to the most versatile player in college football.

"If they wanted to go running back, I mean, gosh, you might be staring at one of the top four guys," Jeremiah said. "If J.K. Dobbins was there, (that) would be a great fit. I would love to see Clyde Edwards-Helaire because of what he can do with the passing game with Sean McVay. I think that would be a fun pairing, as well."

Will Rams pick more players on O or on D through pick #104?

Good question given apparent Ram needs, huh?

Let’s assume that Snead makes just one trade down out of 52 and that we wind up with 5 picks among the top 104, okay? Gives us an odd number for tiebreaker purposes.

Given the talent depth at positions such as WR and various Rams needs, which side of the ball gets the most picks?

Here’s my guess:

RB
C
WR

Edge
ILB

Not necessarily in that order, of course. I listed them in that way for simplicity’s sake. So, as you can see, I give the slight edge to the O. And that only because of the depth of the WR position which should provide good value through at least 104.

The funny thing is that a month or more ago I felt that the D was gonna get the lions share of new blood because of possibly losing Fowler and Littleton. But then we lost Gurley and Cooks followed by the signings of Floyd and ARob.

Funny how things can flip flop in a shirt period of time, huh?

What do y’all think?

SI: How Sean McVay and the Rams are Handling an Offseason of Transition


How Sean McVay and the Rams are Handling an Offseason of Transition
In an unusual offseason for all 32 teams, the Rams are saying goodbye to some veterans and hello to some new coordinators. Here's how Sean McVay's staff is managing. Plus, ranking the deepest positions in the draft, the questions about Tua, the Browns' uniform tweak and more.

ALBERT BREER 23 HOURS AGO

With respect to everything going on in our world—and for how small pro football’s place is in it, given the global crisis at hand—there’s part of this that really does suck for Sean McVay.

And that part has smacked him right in the face over the last month. Repeatedly.

Yeah, he’s trying to make the most of circumstances he, the Rams, and the other 31 coaches and teams are facing. But that didn’t make it easier, not getting to invite Todd Gurley—an absolute centerpiece of the facelift he’s performed— into his office to put a bow on the last three years, like he wanted to. Nor did it simplify calls to Brandin Cooks, who he calls “one of my favorite players,” or Clay Matthews, who he grew close to in their year together.

There are certain things you can replicate on the screen of a laptop. There are others you can’t, and it didn’t take long for McVay to realize it, with the Gurley gut punch as a catalyst.

“The one thing, especially this time when you have a lot more time than you’re normally accustomed to, to be reflective, to look back on the three years that we’ve spent together, it gives you nothing but an appreciation,” McVay said, late Wednesday from his house outside L.A. “And that’s the tough part about it. There’s still a human element. People say, ‘It’s not personal, it’s business.’ Well, there’s still a personal relationship, a personal appreciation, and a humanity that exists. …

“Certainly, it’s for the right reasons, as we fight the coronavirus. But it’s been a really difficult collaboration as we’ve made some tough decisions, and it only makes it worse when you can’t look guys in the eye and you have to communicate the information through the phone or on some of these social platforms that isn’t as personal as a face-to-face is.”

It’s also a reminder how much has changed with the Rams. McVay’s got three new coordinators. The way the team is building has, subtly but significantly, shifted. New leaders in the locker room will have to emerge. The new stadium is about to open, even if the pandemic has created uncertainty on when the ribbon will actually be cut.

This is a different offseason for everyone. It remains a very big one in LA.

And maybe you don’t realize how much has changed in L.A. until you start to add it up, because it’s not like there’s a new GM, head coach or quarterback coming in. Consider…

• McVay hired Kevin O’Connell to be offensive coordinator (a title that sat vacant since Matt LaFleur left two years ago), Brandon Staley as defensive coordinator and John Bonamego as special teams coordinator, while saying goodbye to one of the great defensive minds in recent NFL history, in Wade Phillips, and a long-time Rams staple, in John Fassel.

• Cornerstones like Gurley, Cooks, Cory Littleton and Dante Fowler are gone.

• The team was far more restrained in its spending. One series of moves that signaled the change? The Rams took on economical reclamation projects A’Shawn Robinson and Leonard Floyd for the price it would’ve cost to keep Fowler, without yielding the long-term flexibility they would’ve had to in order to re-sign the star edge rusher.

• The Rams are swallowing over $40 million in dead money on the Cooks and Gurley deals, which is a tacit admission of mistakes made, and a price paid for pushing money from today to tomorrow to build the Super Bowl roster of 2018.

It’s not a total rebuild, of course. But there was enough here for McVay to make what, with the benefit of retrospect, wound up being a pivotal decision in the mosaic of the mess of 2020. He kept his coordinators home for the duration of the combine, and only went himself for a day, to try and make sure the identity of his team would be better cemented.

During that week, McVay would spend half the day with O’Connell, going over the team’s scheme, how to best build it for the players on hand, and the trouble areas that they wanted to fix, and the other half of the day doing the same with Staley. The coordinators, then, spent the other halves of their days working through specific position groups in the draft class, and looking at their fit for the team, to make up for the work lost in Indy.

“It was getting a jump on the teaching progression, and working in collaboration with them, being in a really good spot specific to where you typically are in an offseason, especially when it’s a newer system,” McVay said.

McVay says now that, at the time, the idea was “being intentional” about relationship building, and the unintentional benefit since has been obvious. The rapport within a staff working remotely is there now, at least in part, because of the time spent together then. And so just as unfortunate as the way the head coach had to say goodbye to guys was, McVay’s excited about trying to create advantages, in going forward with some purpose.

The age edge. McVay is hesitant to call his age, he’s 34 now, an advantage. And the truth is, in working through Zoom and Microsoft Teams, it hasn’t been all the time.

“I do know sometimes I’ll be looking, and I’ll have the camera still faced on me, and I’m talking about a play I’m narrating,” he said. “And they’ll say, ‘Hey Sean, shut the hell up and flip the camera back around.’ … That’s happened on more than one occasion where you say, ‘OK, so you see this guy right here, see what’s happening on this specific technique?’ The coaches are like, ‘Bro, we’re still seeing your face, we’re not seeing the film.’”.

But the fact that he, Staley (37) and O’Connell (34) grew up with the internet can’t hurt, and it may be why the staff as a whole has plowed forward without trepidation, even with the attendant mishaps factored in (which support staff guys like Billy Nayes, Jeff Graves and Dan Dmystirin have helped them work through).

“How we’re able to be diligent and efficient in our work, that’s been a real positive,” McVay said. “I don’t know if it’s necessarily exclusive to the age, but just how efficient our coaches, our scouts have been with that adaptability on some of these technological platforms that allow you to operate in a very similar manner to what you would if you were present in the building.”

Building an identity. Part of the reason for Staley’s arrival in L.A. was McVay’s respect for, and the trouble he’s had with, the Vic Fangio system—Staley was with Fangio in Denver and Chicago. Part of O’Connell coming aboard was how highly regarded he was with old friends of McVay’s in Washington. But the overarching idea here for McVay was being able to tie together the team’s offensive and defensive identities.

As we talked about that, I brought up how Bill Belichick toggles between sides of the ball to ensure his team has that. Likewise, McVay has spent more time with the defense the last couple years than most people know, and that’s continued with new coordinators aboard.

“One of the things that was exciting about Brandon and a lot of the visions he had, there was a very similar philosophy, in terms of how it’ll best suit our players but also marry with that team approach,” McVay said. “When you look at some of these teams, it’s about winning football as a team, not playing separately as far as offense, defense and special teams. …

“There are different ways to do it. [But] you referenced New England, they’ve done as good a job as anybody being able to adjust and adapt their system specific to their opponents but still have an identity with how they want to operate week in and week out. And I think that’s why they’ve been the most consistent program over the last handful of years.”

Being ready for the players. On April 27, two days after the draft wraps, the Rams offseason program will start under the same sort of circumstances that McVay’s coaching meetings have taken place. And McVay hopes that going through the former, and having to put together a revised scheme on one side of the ball, and a new one on the other, will prove a good dry run for the latter.

But there are pieces of it he acknowledges will be touch and go, under the NFL’s new rules. One will be the normal give and take—McVay likes his players to take ownership of what they’re being taught—that happens in meetings. It’s possible, to be sure, players will be more hesitant to speak up into their laptops than they would be in a meeting room. And with new coaches in the mix, it may be complicated even further. Which means that there’ll probably be adjustments and tweaks along what’s clearly an uncharted path.

“What’s going to be interesting to see is when you get into those larger quantity meetings where you’ve got 35 or 40 guys in a unit meeting, and the team meetings, those will certainly be a challenge,” McVay said. “We’ve practiced on one another, and we’ve tried to be intentional to make sure our time is spent where it’s efficient, it’s engaging, it’s entertaining for the guys, it’s educational. You don’t want it to get monotonous.

“You’ve got this time allotted. We want to make sure it’s maximized and it’s something that keeps these guys knowing you always have an intent in what you’re trying to get done.”

All this time has given McVay plenty of space to think too, and that’s where we got back to Gurley. Before the Rams cut him, McVay remembered Gurley’s incredible stretch run in 2017—he went over 100 scrimmage yards in nine of his final 10 games that regular season, as the Rams improbably won the division—and his important role in the Super Bowl season of 2018, and it came back to him again, how much Gurley meant to him personally.

“How fortunate and blessed I feel to have gotten a contract extension after my first deal, he’s been as instrumental and influential on the success that we’ve had as anybody,” McVay said. “He’s helped set me up, and my family up, for a lot of really nice things. You don’t get those opportunities and you don’t achieve a level of success without getting to work with players like him. I mean, it’s really special. … His resume for the five years he played as a Ram, and I was with him for three of those, it’s up there with the all-time greats.”

And just the same as McVay missed the chance to give Gurley the send-off he deserved, he is missing being at the facility, around his staff, and it’ll hit him again, he’s sure, in a week and a half, when he’s staring at his players in Brady Bunch-style boxes on a laptop, instead of addressing them in an auditorium.
But that’s where he, the Rams and we all are right now.

“I heard [L.A. Clippers coach] Doc Rivers, I’ve gotten to be friends with him, and he’s talking to his team about winning the wait right now,” McVay said. “It’s a little bit different, they’re waiting, they’re in a holding pattern. But it’s the same in that it’s winning the moment.”

And if that means just remembering to flip the camera on the laptop, then McVay will try to do that too.

Stay at home with the Rams: David Long Jr.

Stay at home with the Rams: David Long Jr.

What are you currently binge-watching?
Stranger Things and I just finished All American.

Most random thing you did this week?
Help my girlfriend make a ceramic teapot for her online ceramic class. Had to wrap the kitchen in plastic and paper bags and get crafty!

How are you getting ready for year two while social distancing?
I have been working out in my house as well as using public open space(Parks/Hills) to run and work my pedaling and footwork.

What's your favorite read currently?
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

Go-to movie?
Paid in Full

What app are you spending the most time on?
Probably Twitter, it's pretty much a search engine and social app in one.

Draft selections from Top 100 in McVay era: RB Darrell Henderson

Draft selections from Top 100 in McVay era: RB Darrell Henderson

As part of theRams.com's coverage leading into this year's NFL Draft, we will be examining selections from the Top 100 in the Sean McVay era. The series continues with a look at running back Darrell Henderson.

Before joining the Rams...

Henderson became more involved in Memphis' offense as his college career wore on:

As a freshman: 719 yards from scrimmage (482 rushing, 237 receiving) and eight total touchdowns (five rushing, two receiving, one kickoff return).

As a sophomore: 1,380 yards from scrimmage (1,154 rushing, 226 receiving) and 11 total touchdowns (nine rushing, two receiving).

As a junior: 2,204 yards from scrimmage (1,909 rushing, 295 receiving) and 25 total touchdowns (22 rushing, three receiving).

Besides establishing himself as a running back capable of making plays in the passing game, he also earned a reputation as one of the most explosive players in college football. He averaged 8.9 yards per rushing attempt as a sophomore and junior, and his rushing total of 1,909 in 2018 was second nationally to Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor, who had 2,194.

Henderson's strong junior season also coincided with First Team All-American honors from the Associated Press as well as First Team All-Conference USA honors. He was one of three finalists for the Doak Walker Award, given to the most outstanding running back in the country, along with Taylor and Clemson's Travis Etienne.

After a decorated three years at Memphis, Henderson declared for the NFL Draft and later received a Round 2-3 projection from NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein. Another NFL Media analyst, Daniel Jeremiah, regarded Henderson as one of the Top 100 prospects in the 2019 class.

Eventually, that pedigree led to the Rams scooping up Henderson in the third round with the No. 70 overall pick.

Rams highlights

Though he saw limited action across the 13 games he appeared in, Henderson still showed he could be a valuable contributor to the Rams' offense and special teams.

At running back, Henderson finished with 39 carries for 147 yards, adding four receptions for 37 yards. The bulk of that production came in Weeks 6, 7 and 8 when he stepped into the No. 2 running back role after Malcolm Brown, the primary backup to starter Todd Gurley, injured his ankle against the 49ers in Week 6 and missed the next two games.

Henderson tallied 11 carries for 40 yards against the 49ers, then 11 for 31 plus one reception for nine yards against the Falcons in Week 7. Week 8 produced Henderson's best outing of the season: 11 carries for 49 yards and two receptions for 20 yards against the Bengals in London.

When starting kick returner JoJo Natson landed on injured reserve in early December, Henderson took over those duties and averaged 19.3 yards on three returns.

Following Gurley's release, Henderson could potentially take on an expanded role in the Rams' backfield in 2020.

Cooper Kupp hasn’t had discussions with Rams on new contract

Cooper Kupp hasn’t had discussions with Rams on new contract

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Cooper Kupp is in the final year of his contract with the team, but the two sides have yet to begin discussions on an extension.

Kupp told Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times his camp have yet to discuss terms with the team, but also noted a new contract was not a “priority” amid the craziness of the coronavirus pandemic. He also believes something will get done in due time (via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk):
Kupp, 26, heads into the final year of his rookie deal unconcerned about the future. He will make a $2.13 million base salary this season and expects a new deal to take care of itself.
The sides, though, have not begun talks on an extension.
“We haven’t done anything yet,” Kupp said, via Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. “There’s so much going on in the world right now. It’s really not a priority at this time.”
The 26-year-old burst onto the scene with 62 receptions for 869 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie season, and Kupp also tallied over 566 yards receiving despite missing half of the 2018 campaign due to injury.

Kupp put it all together last year, hauling in 94 catches for 1,161 yards and 10 touchdowns while also leading the Rams in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.

The Rams might be wary of doling out massive contracts to receivers after they shippedBrandin Cooks off to the Houston Texans. But Kupp has been very impressive in his first three seasons, and the Rams will likely do everything they can to extend before he reaches free agency.

Listening to SiriusXM 9:30pm Trade talk

Rams are considering to move up into round 1. I believe it was the 10th pick Browns for both 2nds. Target is said to be OT Cleveland

Not B.S. here. Just saying I heard this driving to work. It was on the update segment

So stay tuned Rams fans.

6. EZRA CLEVELAND, Boise State (6-6, 311, 4.97, 1-2): Cleveland is a three-year starter at LT. “He’s a really good athlete,” said one scout. “He’ll be a solid pass protector. I think he’s steady. He tested out really well. He’ll be close to the first (round). Tackles go.” Lightly recruited out of Spanaway, Wash. “He reminds me of some of the guys Green Bay has had over the years,” said a second scout. “(Bryan) Bulaga, (David) Bakhtiari, guys that kind of are just functional and get the job done. They’re not spectacular, just steady … if Cleveland didn’t have to interview people would really like him. But his interview was so low energy and just kind of flat line that it kind of just scared people. He’s so Steady Eddie. It’s not that he’s a bad guy at all. Cleveland … he’s Boise, he’s a junior, he’s got to get stronger. But he is athletic.” He played most of 2019 with turf toe injury. Led tackles in five categories: the 40, Wonderlic (30), bench press (30), short shuttle (4.46) and 3-cone (7.26). Arms were just 33 3/8, hands were a tiny 9. “Everybody’s high on him,” said another scout. “Why am I not that high on him? There’s a degree of tightness in his hips. Has balance issues. I question his lower-body strength. Not going to beat point-of-attack defenders. Finesse guy that uses his size. Size defenders knock him around. I question his lateral adjust. But guys like him.”

A few random thoughts as we are inside one week from the draft...

Tip of the hat to Snead for addressing our Kicker vacancy ‘problem’. Color me VERY impressed. Greg who? Lol.

Gotta compliment Snead on the 1 year Blythe signing, too. Probably not a long term solution but it does provide an adequate starting C for this year and removes a screaming need from the ‘20 draft ‘must have’ list. That’s no small thing, strategically.

Speaking of C, I suspect that only Ruiz might be capable of starting ahead of Blythe this year. But I’m told that this is the best C draft in years so drafting a quality C would make a ton of sense for the future.

Edge is another position where a drafted rookie MIGHT have a chance to start this year. Even then it would require a stud type to fall into Snead’s lap unexpectedly at 52 so that even Snead wouldn’t trade down.

RB is the 3rd and probably final position that might provide a rookie starter. And again, a stud would have to fall right into Snead’s lap by pick 84 for that to happen.

Therefore, I think that getting even 2 starters out of this draft might be a bit optimistic and certainly the most we can hope for. Bummer, huh? Then again, what a crop for quality depth/ future development this could be.

I continue to believe that Snead will trade down at least once out of the 2nd round and maybe out of both 2nds. All depends on how the draft is falling and who he’s targeted below that he knows will still be there. It’s a great top 120 draft to do so and take full advantage. I’m thinking that at least one trade down is 75% likely. So, expect 5, maybe 6 picks by 104. Could be a VERY busy Day 2 for the Rams this year.

A WR will be drafted but who knows where and when? Trade downs make this more likely early on, don’t you think? Will be an investment in the future kinda thing.

Rams seem set at TE. In fact, I think our TE corps is gonna be beastly and a huge part of McVay’s ‘20 O.

I continue to be a big Boom fan and predict that he will be 100% sooner than most believe. But I also think Whit will be the starter early on. Wouldn’t surprise me though to see Boom being phased in by midseason in games where the outcome has already been decided.

Can’t wait to see if Hav can reclaim his starting RT spot. Won’t be easy because I think Evans will continue ascending, himself. It’s probably a win-win for the Rams, anyway. If Hav wins out then the Rams are a stronger OL. If Evans beats out Hav then maybe Snead can trade Hav away for a future pick and some slight cap relief.

I’m anxious to see this ‘new’ Staley D unfolding. I’m hoping to see excitement, unpredictability, more consistency, better run D, and some very antsy opposing QB’s. Hot Damn!

Can’t wait to see how Staley utilizes Floyd. I suspect that he might be moving Floyd around quite a bit depending on situation. I’ve got a sneaky suspicion that Floyd might exceed the expectations of most Ram fans. Just a hunch.

I’m thinking that AD might just have a monster year alongside ARob and Brockers, some new LB’s both inside and outside, and all under the direction of Staley. Wouldn’t that be great to see? I’m gonna watch carefully in this draft to see how the Rams might address their front 7. AD could be the biggest beneficiary of all these changes. Gonna spend another Hot Damn here. Lol.

I’ve got a real good feeling about David Long’s prospects this year. ‘Mr 3-cone’ might just open some eyes at nickel.

I’ve become a big Darius Williams fan and wouldn’t be one bit unhappy or surprised to see him win a starting spot outside opposite Ramsey.

Speaking of Ramsey, he will be extended. It will be at a time of mutual convenience, but it will be done. I mean, it’s inevitable.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Snead could have another 3rd-4th round series of hits like he did in ‘17? Well, the Ram picks and the draft talent level seem to be lined up quite nicely for him this year. Wow!

Did I mention that McVay seems even more driven to bounce back this year? He’s cleaned house with coaches and players alike. I expect a laser focus in getting this O back to top 5 or better status. Don’t think he wants to ever see any more of that ‘9-7 BS’. See what I did there? Lol.

Well, that was more than I thought it would be when I first started, but the thoughts just kept on coming.

Filter