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13 XFL players LA Rams should call on Monday March 23

The XFL has canceled its season, the NFL will allow the LA Rams to sign XFL players as of 6:00 am PT on Monday, March 23

The LA Rams have plenty of roster roles to fill for the 2020 NFL season. Perhaps a stroke of good fortune, the NFL has authorized teams to sign former XFL players beginning 6:00 am PT on Monday, March 23. The only trouble is, who should they sign, or even vet for signing?

Well, the LA Rams certainly have plenty of roster holes to fill, but not all roles transition from the XFL to the NFL equally. Some roles do have strong similarities, and those are the positions we’ll focus upon.

On the offense, players who equate are the skill players. Quarterbacks pass the ball. Running backs rush the ball. And wide receivers catch the ball. The LA Rams have a rather solid offensive brain trust on the team right now with the combination of head coach Sean McVay and offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell. Between those two, the Rams can be confident in making use of an offensive player’s skillsets if the team brings them aboard.

So who should the LA Rams kick the tires? Well, let’s look at offense and defense separately. Keep in mind that any statistics were based on just five games. And we’re talking signing these players to the 90 man roster. That will give the coaches a chance to observe the players, train them, and determine their potential for NFL Play.

Even if “cut”, this helps out some players who have learned recently that their exciting new XFL league ended their season.

XFL Offensive Players

Houston Roughnecks quarterback PJ Walker is the talk of the XFL. Even if you are not a fan of the sport, you had to be fairly isolated to avoid seeing his highlights on either televised sports broadcasts or highlight clips on social media. Walker is a 6-foot-0 207-pound quarterback out of Temple University. In just five XFL Games, he hurled the football 1,338 yards, for 15 touchdowns and just four interceptions. He is the best-in-slot from the XFL, so he will no doubt hear from some NFL teams interested in adding an electric personality to their roster.

Los Angeles Wildcats quarterback Josh Johnson has a more hometown hero feel to him. He stands taller at 6-foot-2 and weighs in at 213-pounds. While he may not be an XFL highlight guy, he is nearly as adept. In just five games, he tossed for 1,076 yards, 11 touchdowns, and a mere two interceptions. The two advantages I find with Johnson is that he is right in the Rams’ backyard, and he is a sturdier physique. Since the Rams have a need for more depth at quarterback, I would have no problem if the Rams give Johnson a contract to see how he might fit in their offense.

Tampa Bay Vipers running back DeVeon Smith is the right build and weight for what the LA Rams are looking for. Standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 223 pounds, Smith brings a load with him. His workload in an XFL game is fairly light in NFL terms, as he’s carried the ball just 90 times in five games, for 365 yards with 0 touchdowns. Since the XFL has only played five games, it’s impossible to get a good assessment of a player’s durability. But Smith has certainly earned a tryout.

Saint Louis Battlehawks running back Matt Jones another running back with the right dimensions for the NFL backfield. Standing 6-foot-2 and weighing a solid 231-pounds, Jones brings a very physical style of running the ball from the University of Florida. He rushed the ball just 80 times in five games for 314 yards and a touchdown. A big bruising body back is just what the LA Rams need right now. Jones is just a jingle away.

Houston Roughnecks wide receiver Cam Phillips is difficult for me to project to the XFL. It’s almost as though he feels like a “mirage”. Standing 6-foot-0 and weighing 201-pounds, he is certainly large enough to fit an NFL role of wide receiver. So far, he’s been lights out in the XFL so far. In just five games, he has hauled in 31 passes for 455 yards and an outstanding nine touchdowns. That’s a touchdown in four receptions! That’s the “too good to be true” element to me. He’s certainly good enough to warrant a hard look. But caveat emptor on those stats.

Los Angeles Wildcats wide receiver Tre McBride is another hometown XFL hero who is doing very well in the new football league. Standing 6-foot-0 and weighing 210 pounds, he is a solid prospect for the NFL and the LA Rams. He too has been very productive, pulling in 16 receptions for 271 yards and 4 touchdowns. He also has an incredible score per four catches ratio going. A player out of William and Mary, he would be a solid prospect to sign for the 90 man roster.

XFL Defensive Players

Seattle Dragons outside linebacker Steven Johnson is a tackling machine. His original NFL draft profile suggested that the 6-foot-0 239-pound outside linebacker indicated that he simply was not athletic enough to succeed at the next level. I’m not certain that holds true today. He is the XFL tackling leader, racking up 48 tackles in 5 games. Projecting into a 16 game NFL season, that equates to 154 tackles. That’s impressive. He plays outside, but he could slide to an inside linebacker role as well. He gobbles up runners, and that is certainly an area the LA Rams would like to improve.

Los Angeles Wildcats safety Ahmad Dixon is a player I love. If it were up to me, I would have his agent on the phone at 6:01 am Monday. He oozes next-door neighbor, who just happens to rip into football ball-carriers for a living. The 6-foot-0 212-pound Baylor brawler has racked up 44 tackles in just five games. He would be an ideal hybrid safety/linebacker for new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. The LA Rams are down two linebackers in Cory Littleton and Bryce Hager, and two safeties in Eric Weddle and Marqui Christian. Ahmad Dixon is in our backyard. Sign him up.

Los Angeles Wildcats defensive end Cedric Reed fills the void (in part, anyway) that is concerning nearly everyone. Edge rusher walked away when OLB Dante Fowler Jr. signed with the Atlanta Falcons. Reed was an undrafted late bloomer for the Buffalo Bills in 2015, and the Miami Dolphins in 2016. He has stayed in shape so far and has become a fast-rising star player in the XFL. Standing 6-foot-5 and dropping from 269 (draft weight) to 259-pounds (XFL weight), he has recorded three sacks in just 5 games so far. While that’s on pace for just 10 sacks over a 16 game NFL season, that remains impressive for a rookie. He is another hometown XFL hero and would be an ideal signing for the Rams 90 man roster.

New York Guardians defensive tackle Cavon Walker is a defensive lineman who can rush the passer. The LA Rams need to stop right here, pick up the phone, and sign him to the 90 man roster on that alone. He is a powerful defensive lineman, standing 6-foot-2 and tipping the scales at 284 pounds. The big man can move, having racked up 19 tackles, 9 QB hits, 5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks in just five games. It makes sense, as he was recruited to the University of Maryland as a linebacker. He never received an invitation to the NFL Scouting Combine, nor did he hear his name called at the 2018 NFL Draft. He was an undrafted free agent for the Chicago Bears and therefore is connected to defensive coordinator Brandon Staley. He’s young, powerful, has a mean streak, and can get to the passer. His 4.5 sacks lead the XFL, and projects to 14 sacks in an NFL season. I love the DL/LB potential of this guy.

Houston Roughnecks cornerback Deatrick Nichols is a 5-foot-9 185 cornerback out of South Florida who has already become a bit of a ballhawk in the adolescent XFL. In five games, he’s racked up 24 tackles, one quarterback sack, and three interceptions. With the loss of Nickell Robey-Coleman, the Rams need depth at the slot and Nichols would give nice competition for the role. He picked right up where he left off in college, where he pulled in 11 interceptions. He has a strong background in track and field and projected as a 6th round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft. Since he is coming out of the XFL, the Rams could sign him to the 90 man roster, and earn the equivalent of an extra draft pick from the 2020 NFL Draft

Los Angeles Wildcats cornerback Mike Stevens is another local XFL player who has earned a tryout with the LA Rams based on his XFL production so far. Standing 5-foot-10 and weighing 185-pounds, the former North Carolina State Wolfpack has gotten busy in his five-game XFL career. So far, he’d recorded 23 tackles, one quarterback sack, and two interceptions.

Los Angeles Wildcats cornerback Jack Tocho is a bonus player added because he is big, productive and local. He is a 6-foot-0 202-pound thumper, also hailing from North Carolina State. Tocho was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2017 NFL Draft, but his early results in the XFL shows he has remained active in football.

10 things with Johnny Mundt

Each week during the season, 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, tight end, Johnny Mundt spoke to Sarina about playing for the Rams this coming season, vinyl records and how being Batman would make morning coffee runs better.

1: Here for 2020

Sarina: Congrats. Looks like you are here to stay for the 2020 season. How does that feel?

Johnny: It feels great. Having another year in this system gives me a lot of confidence. I feel grateful for the opportunity to compete another season here in LA.

2: Say it ain't so, Tommy!

Sarina: What has been the biggest shock to you so far around free agency?

Johnny: The Tom Brady headlines have been fun to follow.

3: Whatcha doing?

Sarina:How have you spent this off-season? And perhaps more recently, the past week?

Johnny: Cooking/Eating with Mariah (Johnny's wife), binge watching TV, video games, occasional guitar.

4: Higbee Doe

Sarina: Tyler Higbee is…

Johnny: An enigma.

5: Vinyl records

Sarina: You got married last year! I remember you telling me for a present, you bought your wife a vinyl record of your first dance at your wedding. What was the song?

Johnny:Yeah! Well, she bought me a really cool record player for my birthday back in November. So, one of the first records I went out and got was Coming Home by Leon Bridges. Our first dance was to the first song on the record. We both have always liked his lyrics and classic sound, so when we had to pick a song together it felt like the perfect choice.

6: So excited about SoFi Stadium

Sarina: What are you most excited for when thinking about the new season at SoFi Stadium?

Johnny: I believe there is going to be a new sense of energy in the stadium come game day. I am really looking forward to that.

7: That is nuts

Sarina: You come from a walnut farming family. That is super unique. What is a unique fact about walnuts? 

Johnny: Walnuts are considered superfoods! They are rich in Omega-3s and fatty acids. They are great for mind and heart health.

8: Bear Valley

Sarina: I know in your free time, you enjoy mountain biking. Where is the wildest place you've gone mountain biking?

Johnny: I grew up skiing and mountain biking at a place called Bear Valley, which is south of Tahoe. That is where I find the best views and the occasional wildlife along the trail.

9: Batman and coffee

Sarina: Batman or Robin, which one would you be?

Johnny: Batman. The bat-mobile would make my morning coffee runs a little bit more exciting.

10: Does hot sauce go bad?

Sarina: How old is the most expired item in your fridge?

Johnny: I actually worry about that kind of stuff, so ours is pretty clean…but we have a family-sized bottle of hot sauce that is looking a little too aged.

Well, losing Todd Gurley hurt a lot of us. It sucks that his knee went bad so quickly. He had all the makings of being such a great Ram for the foreseeable future. But it's time to move forward. FA has been a bit of a surprise. We'll see if they have any moves left. I'm hoping they add a veteran at ILB.

Trades
Rams trade Round 2 Pick #20 and Round 3 Pick #40
Jets trade Round 3 Pick #4, Round 3 Pick #15, and Round 6 Pick #12

Rams trade Round 3 Pick #20 and Round 6 Pick #20
Giants trade Round 3 Pick #35, Round 4 Pick #4, and Round 7 Pick #4

NFL Draft
Round 3 Pick #4 - Robert Hunt OL Louisiana
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Analysis: As a four year starter at Louisiana, Hunt started his first two years at LG (with a couple starts at LT) and his final two years at RT. I see Hunt sliding inside and playing LG for the Rams. He has the size (6'5" 325), length (33.5" arms and 10.75" hands), and quickness to stick at RT, but I think he has the potential to be a Brandon Brooks/Kelechi Osemele/Rodger Saffold type of guard. At RT, his kickslide needs work and his lateral quickness would limit him some against the twitchiest edge rushers, so he'd likely top out as a merely above average or good RT. Basically, I see his potential at LG to be very good to elite.

In addition to his size and length, Hunt is mauling run blocker with imposing power. He is arguably the best run blocker in this Draft. He has the athleticism to make difficult blocks, the power to block defenders off the LOS, and the mauler mentality to put his man on the ground and keep him there. However, he needs to watch his pad level and play with better leverage, as NFL defenders won't be so easy to uproot. In pass protection, he has a jarring punch and truly impressive grip strength. When he gets his hands on his man, it's usually game over. At tackle, though, his kickslide needs work, as he oversets and can be beat inside by quicker speed rushers. At guard, he'll need to be quicker and more precise with his punches. He shoots his hands wide, which exposes his chest, and he can be a tick late firing his punch. All in all, though, Hunt has the potential to be one of the best LGs in the NFL with development and a game-changing run blocker.

NFL Comparison: Carl Nicks

Round 3 Pick #15 - Tyler Biadasz OL Wisconsin
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Analysis: I struggled choosing between Hunt and Biadasz with our first pick. I went Hunt because I think he has more upside and I felt we might prefer a guard with Blythe returning. I originally slotted in Zack Moss here, but I decided that I couldn't pass on Biadasz if he's available (and he's expected to be). Teams have some medical concerns about Biadasz after he had hip surgery in 2019 and shoulder surgery following 2020. Biadasz also is an average athlete. He definitely does not have the foot quickness that Hunt does. However, Biadasz has started the past 41 games at Center for Wisconsin and is the sort of man we need in the middle at 6'4" 315.

As a run blocker, Biadasz doesn't blow his man off the ball. He doesn't have overwhelming power. But he is a phenomenal technician who consistently executes his blocks and creates seams for the running back. He's also a very effective second-level blocker due to his body control and savvy. Our schemes uses the Center on a lot of combo blocks, Biadasz would be very effective at that. As a pass blocker, Biadasz's average foot quickness should limit him, but it doesn't to the extent one would expect due to his intelligence and technical mastery of the position. I watched a number of his game, and the only guy I saw embarrass him with quickness was Kayvon Thibodeau (who is a future first round pick at DE/OLB who was aligned over Biadasz and faked attacking one gap before jumping into another; while he managed to beat Biadasz, Biadasz recovered enough to get his hands on him and slow him down). Nonetheless, the next time Biadasz went up against Thibodeau on the same alignment, he stoned him. I did notice that Biadasz was leaning a bit more in 2019 than he was in 2018 and wonder if the hip surgery played a role in that (that's one of the few technical issues he needs to fix). That all said, Biadasz is a country strong Center with a quality anchor, out of this world grip strength, intelligence, and precise hand placement and punch timing. He rarely gets beat in pass protection. He's the sort of guy who could step in and handle the Center position from Day 1, and we all know that Les Snead loves himself some Wisconsin OLs.

NFL Comparison: Travis Frederick

Round 3 Pick #35 - Akeem Davis-Gaither ILB Appalachian State
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Analysis: ADG is an undersized linebacker at 6'1" 225, but he's very athletic and gifted overall. Appalachian State usage of him was quite interesting. On some downs, he rushed off the edge as if he were a DE. On some downs, he went out to the slot and dropped in coverage. On some downs, he played inside like a middle linebacker. Ultimately, I see him slotting in as the "Jack" in our scheme, which will give him the freedom to use his speed and avoid blockers. ADG is quite gifted at slipping and avoiding blocks in the running game, but while he has the physicality to take blocks on, he needs to improve his technique there. His size will always pose concerns, so he needs to get better at using his hands to fend off blocks. As a pass defender, ADG has the speed and quickness to be a very effective coverage linebacker. He didn't play a lot of M2M in college, so there might be some growing pains, but he has the skill-set to thrive at it. Ultimately, while ADG has some warts and developing to do (lack of size, cleaning up bad angles, and polishing coverage skills), he has a lot of upside and the athleticism and instincts to play now if we need him.

NFL Comparison: Mark Barron

Round 4 Pick #4 - Eno Benjamin HB Arizona State
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Analysis: I gotta tell you that Eno is a lot of fun to watch. At 5'9" 207, he's not the biggest guy, but he runs very hard. He plays with a chip on his shoulders and looks to dish out punishment wherever he can. His stats dipped a bit in 2019 due to worse blocking, but he remained a very effective all-around HB. In the running game, Eno is a bit of a human joystick out there. He's very quick and elusive, has great contact balance, and seemingly finds ways to teleport out of tackles. While he lacks breakaway speed, he has plenty of acceleration, which makes him dangerous with all the starting and stopping he does. His running style is a bit unorthodox, which results in him sometimes not getting everything that is blocked but also leads to some big gains on plays that should have went for very little. But one thing he'll learn in the NFL is to plant and go a bit more often. In the passing game, he's an outstanding pass catcher who is a true weapon out of the backfield and in space. Due to his quickness, he also has the potential to be a real weapon as a route runner. As a blocker, Eno has some developing to do with his technique, but he is plenty willing, plenty physical, and plenty intelligent enough to do it well.

NFL Comparison: Austin Ekeler

Round 4 Pick #20 - Anfernee Jennings OLB Alabama
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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 6 Pick #12 - David Woodward ILB Utah State
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Analysis: Woodward is a guy whose film I absolutely loved. He was incredibly productive, he looked great in all phases of the game on the field, and even places like PFF loved him. However, Woodward tested poorly at the Combine, and I've fallen for LBs in the past who looked great on the field, tested poorly at the Combine, and then did nothing in the NFL. So while I had Woodward as a Day 2 pick based on his film, I had to bump him down to late Day 3 after his Combine performance. That all said, I'd still love for us to get him. He's a super instinctive kid who plays balls to the wall on every down and is just a tackling machine. He hits hard, he is opportunistic with forced fumbles, and he has a lot of film out there showing cover skills. As a run defender, he's one of the few guys in the class I've seen consistently play through blocks and make tackles with OLs on him. Hopefully, he'll prove to be a better football player than athlete.

NFL Comparison: Danny Trevathan

Round 7 Pick #4 - Broderick Washington Jr. DL Texas Tech
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Analysis: I like Broderick Washington because of how versatile he can be in our front. At 6'2" 305, he's squatty and strong enough to play behind Gaines at NT, but he also has the arm length, hand usage, and ability to find the football to play outside as a 5-Tech. Washington doesn't offer a lot as a pass rusher. He has a decent bull rush and will occasionally put some pressure on the QB, but that's not going to be his calling card in the NFL. He's a stout run defender who can handle double teams inside, can set the edge against tackles, and plays with the dogged determination and violence you need out of rotational run stuffer. Washington should provide solid depth on running downs when we need to get one of our big guys a breather.

NFL Comparison: Domata Peko

Round 7 Pick #20 - Levonta Taylor DB Florida State
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Analysis: Levonta Taylor was the top rated CB recruit coming out of high school and burst onto the scene in 2017. Many people were projecting him to go in the first few rounds after the 2017 season. However, after Willie Taggart came in, Taylor's play fell off. He dealt with injuries and just didn't look like a good fit in the new scheme. Taylor bounced between safety and CB at FSU. Ultimately, I think he fits best as a slot CB in the NFL. He's undersized at 5'10" 190 (and I think that listed size is generous), but Taylor possesses all the athleticism needed to be an effective slot CB. He has quick feet, fluid hips, good speed, and natural cover skills. He's very stick in coverage and hard to shake coming out of breaks. However, Taylor's lack of size and play strength will limit his ability to play outside (big WRs will push him around/body him up in the passing game and dominate him in the running game). That all said, I think he can be a productive slot CB if he stays healthy.

NFL Comparison: Avonte Maddox

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

SDE: A'Shawn Robinson
NT: Greg Gaines
UT: Aaron Donald
OLB: Samson Ebukam
ILB: Akeem Davis-Gaither
ILB: Micah Kiser
OLB: Leonard Floyd
LCB: Jalen Ramsey
RCB: Troy Hill
SLCB: David Long Jr.
FS: John Johnson III
SS: Taylor Rapp

K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide

I am guessing that Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown are the Rams top 2 Options. Can you give me your opinions on those two players and are there any other RB’s available that you would like to see the Rams pursue or do you look for them to draft one? And, Is John Kelly still on the Rams roster (I thought he had some potential when he was drafted by the Rams!?)?

1 year 2 million...

not a lot of money.. was assuming we'd keep him.

What's the plan here? We've lost almost 20 sacks combined in Matthews and Fowler and replaced it with a guy who's career high in sacks, seven, was in his rookie season four years ago. We have Okoronkwo and Ebukam who will probably start opposite Floyd as of right now but they haven't shown me enough to think they're the type to get 10+ sacks either.

Do they draft a edge guy with the second rounder or move up for one? Or hope for the best with what we have.

Snead has made some good moves over the years, but enough is enough ........ I'm done !!! 2 years in a row of horse shit free agency : the Gurley & Cooks contracts : getting screwed by Ravens, nothing in return for Peters : STILL hasn't fixed the O-line: currently in cap hell : overpaying for Ramsey etc etc etc Let Sean bring in his own G.M. and cap guys. Don't like Demoff and Pastoors either/ has to be some better financial guys around the league that can be brought in as well. We all know that the recent turn around these last 3 years, is 100% due to Sean McVAY. He's more than earned a bigger say in the FO. It's been a continual slide since the Super Bowl & they better make these changes, before this mother fuckin' train ride completely falls off the track.

XFL cancels rest of season because of coronavirus pandemic, vows to return in 2021

The XFL officially called a halt to its season Friday because of the coronavirus pandemic but says it will be back in 2021.

"This decision has been made with the health and safety of the entire XFL family as our top priority," XFL commissioner Oliver Luck and president Jeffrey Pollack said in a joint statement.

The league, a reboot of the one that played one season in 2001, had indefinitely suspended play on March 12, following the lead of other team sports. Two days later, the league said an unidentified player from the Seattle Dragons had tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The eight-team XFL had played five games of its 10-game schedule, with the Houston Roughnecks emerging as the top team at 5-0.

The league featured innovative rules on kickoffs and the point after touchdowns.

"When our teams return to the field, we’ll make every effort to ensure your faith in us is rewarded with even more fun and excitement," Luck and Pollack said.

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Just got this from the Rams:

On Monday, March 23 at noon PST, we will host a live stream on therams.com and our social channels during which we will reveal our new logos and colors to our fans.  We have loved seeing all of the creative ideas and feedback on social media throughout this process and are excited for you to continue this journey with us.  Giving back to our community and inspiring Angelenos is at the heart of our organization, so it is fitting that we will showcase our new look as part of the Te”LA”thon. Furthermore, anyone who donates to the Te”LA”thon has a chance to win a Rams hat donning our new brand, while supplies last. And don’t worry – it's not the hat that you saw on social media a few weeks ago.

Green is a positive change from 2018 to 2019, Red is a negative change from 2018 to 2019.

2018 Offense

Scoring: 2nd (30.8)
Redzone TD Scoring Percentage: 19th (56.82%)
QB Blitzed: 10th (151)
QB Hurried: 11th (66)
QB Hit: 15th (34)
QB Passer Rating: 10th (96.2)
Yards Per Pass Attempt: 3rd (7.7)
Yards Per Rush Attempt: T-4th (4.8)
RB Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average: 1st (23.6%)
RB Success Rate: 4th (57%)

2019 Offense

Scoring: T-10th (24.6)
Redzone TD Scoring Percentage: 6th (64.41%)
QB Blitzed: 3rd (219)
QB Hurried: 15th (52)
QB Hit: 10th (48)
QB Passer Rating: 20th (85.6)
Yards Per Pass Attempt: 13th (7.1)
Yards Per Rush Attempt: 27th (3.7)
RB Defense-Adjusted Value Over Average: 25th (-3.3%)
RB Success Rate: 26th (48%)

Offense Notes

QB Performance: we can see a significant increase in amount blitzed with a smaller amount of hurries but more hits on the QB. The way I interpret this data is defenses played a lot of games on the back end vs Jared Goff and confused him, and I am guessing that over the course of the entire season he saw a lot more zone with extra DBs as well as unbalanced blitzes due to defenses not fearing our run game (I reviewed the entire season's tape but did not count secondary totals per play over the past two years so this has to remain a guess). Also the hits on Goff going up but not the hurries I don't read too much into because McVay is so good at moving the pocket, so to my eye the increased hits correspond to so many more blitzes.

Run Game: the run game is the single largest dip in our offense in 2019, a disastrous and monumental fall from elite levels of RB production (our 2018 run game DVoA showed explosive/big plays and the SR showed high average of achieving successful runs, with both at the elite production level which is a very rare combination) to the bottom of the league. Absolute and total disaster.

Reading the two together I feel like Jared doesn't get enough respect for managing to get this offense to a top 10 scoring finish. Our offense was ALL JARED and everyone knew it, but still the offense finished top third with zero run game balance. Extrapolate this out and the team's decision to cut bait with Gurley is a bit easier to understand. Not that I like it mind you. But still.

2018 Defense

Scoring: 18th (23.3)
Redzone TD Allowed: 15th (58.3%)
QB Pressures Per Dropback: 1st (30.2%)
Blitz Percentage: 20th (21.1%)
QB Passer Rating Allowed: 14th (92.3%)
RB Yards Per Rush Allowed: T-26th (4.8)

2019 Defense

Scoring: 17th (22.8)
Redzone TD Allowed: 29th (63.4%)
QB Pressures Per Dropback: 3rd (27.9%)
Blitz Percentage: 16th (28%)
QB Passer Rating Allowed: 11th (86.8%)
RB Yards Per Rush Allowed: T-8th (4.1)

Defense Notes

Run Defense: lost in a rough season was the mini-storyline of one of our best run stopping performances in many years (going off memory here not gonna look that up lol). I can't recall the last time we played the run as well as we did last season, outside of the absolutely terrible performances vs a few teams like Baltimore. In fact had our defense just played a few of those bad games even a little better we would have had a clear top 5 run defense. I attribute this to a few things, but the largest improvement was at NT where we had a young player step up in SJD and Gaines played quite well subbing him in a small sample size. We also saw quite a bit of some ILB players changed up with guys like Reeder mixed in who did a good job vs the run. And lastly I think there was a team focus on freelancing particularly among the DL that helped enormously (ahem AD and Brock). Also to consider is that while AD freelances more with the lateral movement on the DL he does make a lot of plays that counter that, whereas Brock does not.

OVERALL

Our fall from grace in 2019 where we missed the playoffs at 9-7 after a Super Bowl season can be directly traced to a failure to produce a good running game. While Goff shouldered all the BS in the media (some of it deserved of course) and the OL shouldered the remainder of it (much of it rightly so) the bottom line is our offense was hitting on half cylinders which is particularly worrisome given the way McVay marries the run & pass game together in his attack.

Defensively we were not good enough once again. But perhaps the biggest change for the defense was that it was given an opportunity to save our season given the fall of our offense but could not do the job, being exposed as a middling unit that is best served protecting a big lead.

So far, Arthur Blank is outpacing all the other owners:
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Guess who's coming in last??

LOL the Chargers -- $250k

Alright, I've let 24 hrs or so pass before commenting but there's some stuff I need to say on this sordid affair.

Look, I get that the cap played a significant role in his being released but I am very disappointed that Coach Mac and crew didn't give him an opportunity to work with our new OC K. McConnell and our new RB coach (forgot his name.....)
There's not a doubt in my mind that McVay needed an OC and last years declining offensive production is far more a result of that than any decline in T Gurley's performance.
I had big hopes that Coach McConnell could scheme Todd more effectively and keep McVay balanced in the play calling. I was really hoping that our new OC/RB coach could carve out a significant role for both Todd Gurley and Darryl Henderson. I liked to idea of a two-headed RB monster to smash defenses with.
I was hoping that Sean's increased use of the 12 formation and of Tyler Higbee would actually help Gurley to elevate his game as the extra TE would be a more effective blocker in the run game.

I think the major cause of TG's decline last year falls squarely on the shoulders of Sean McVay. He never figured out what role Gurley was to play. He had him in games and then just used him as a decoy or to block. As if somehow those actions wouldn't cause wear and tear and stress on his knee. I don't get that at all.

Then McVay channeled his inner Mike Martz and became pass-happy and made the entire offense predictable and much easier to defend. Heck, he didn't even incorporate Todd in the passing game. Whatever happened to those devastating screen passes and passes to Gurley in the flat and whatnot?

At any rate I could go on and on but suffice to say it's not accurate to use numbers as the sole criteria for TG's decline. It's not accurate because he was not given enough of an opportunity to prove he could still perform at a high level. Maybe not the Todd Gurley of a few years ago but I am certain that a Todd Gurley at 75% is still a force to be reckoned with.

Well I'm done for now. No doubt a lot of fellow Rams fans will tell me to get over it and move on because that's the way it is. And there's a level of truth to that....but I can't help thinking about what could have been. I keep thinking that we let Todd Gurley go one year too early. One year that could have proven once and for all what he had left to give to the Rams.
And now we'll never know.....

Just my .02

~ArkyRamsFan~

incessantly refreshing the "Draft" forum, anxiously waiting for Jrry, Memento, OS and others to provide an updated mock? With the lack of sports news right now, I need something!

He will be entering year 2 and hopefully this is his time to shine. He was explosive at Memphis and was projected to be a great compliment to Gurley last year. The way the season played out did not work to his advantage, as he was used sparingly and we didn’t get a large sample size.

What do you all think?

California Gov. just ordered a "stay at home" order until Apr 19, effectively stopping construction of Sofi stadium and delaying its opening in time for the NFL season. Rams OTA's are in jeoprody and will almost certainly be delayed or cancelled..

I fear the NFL season is in jeprody also. Talking heads discussing it this morning on Foxsports 570am here in LA. Not looking good.

I understand that there is a lot of turnover and we have lost some important players but that's life in the NFL.

I fully expect this organization to prove the doubters wrong.

This team's success the last few years has been built around its offense.

We still have:

-A young and developing Goff at QB who has shown flashes of being an All-Pro at the position when supported.

-A very good corps of receivers with or without Cooks. Woods, Kupp, Reynolds, Higbee and Everett give Goff a bunch of familiar targets.

-A young and developing OL with a leader at LT.

-A solid RB prospect in Henderson.

So the offense should still be quite good even without Gurley and maybe Cooks.

On the defensive side, there's more turnover but we still have Donald and Ramsey who are elite. We have JJ3 amd some good young players.

Let's see who we draft.

I trust in McVey and Snead.

We'll still be a very good team moving forward.

less than 24 hours later he signs and heads back to the state of Georgia where he played his college ball. I will still be a fan from afar

I can go on about what I think about him for a long time.Try to stay positive.

1. I’ll start with he means well, and loves The Rams organization.
2. He has been put in difficult situations over the years.
3. He stepped up in the Fisher firing.
4.Signing of Mcvay & having Wade Phillips tied to the deal.
5.Knows The Rams personal as good as anyone.
6.Try’s to make The Rams experience a special one.

I can go on a Rant & put 100 more good things he has done as well.

My point is he has his hands on everything & the NUMBER ONE thing I’m MAD about is
he is more like his DAD when it comes to CONTRACTS!! THINKs more as a AGENT than the King Dog

Hello all.

I thought to bring you into a research paper topic for one of my final MA classes before earning the MA degree. This is a dark subject for me and the last time I explored this period of German history, I became lost in the inhumanity of the Nazis. But after Hitler and Eva Braun committed suicide in the bunker and all of Germany was vanquished, I was disturbed by how the Allies themselves, acted.

There were reasons why Gramps didn't want to talk about the war.

Extrajudicial executions, mass rape of the vanquished, enforced hunger of the common Germans, seizure of property without recompense and generally the victors covering all of their actions under same idea: The Nazi's started it and deserved what they got.

That sentiment was felt from FDR/Truman, throughout the military from Eisenhower on down to the private. Those feelings intensified when the death camps were uncovered. I've been to the Eisenhower Presidential Library for primary source documents, to track the sentiments of the victors.

As racially centered as the Nazi's were, it was after the war that Europe became more homogeneous. Poland, Czechoslovakia, and a other countries ethnically cleansed themselves of Germans. East Prussia was swept of its residents by the brutal USSR, with transplanted Poles finding farm houses with meals still on the table, months after the war ended. Ethnic German's who's family may have lived in the Sudetenland for a 100 years, were given ten minutes to pack bags to leave their homes forever, and then were robbed by the soldiers forcing them out. They were sent on trains to a destroyed Berlin. Berlin was utterly devastated at the end, and the smell of corpses was all pervasive, emanating from the rubble. These refugees arrived in mostly the American zone because all feared being caught on the USSR side, but the farm land was held by the Soviets. The Allied Psychological Warfare Division told the Germans how they should react when Allied troops marched into their towns. They told businessmen and other white collar workers that they needed to plant crops while they could, because no food/help was coming for them. Consequently, the real amount of calories each German in Berlin and other cities was 800 calories a day, about what the inmates of Buchenwald received from the Nazis during the war.

I will explain these details in the paper, but I am more interested in other questions this time around. Western democracies, especially the USA, exist by the rule of law. We pride ourselves on the benefits of this system and call it the best on Earth. Yet, FDR in 1944 decided with the help of Henry Morganthau at Treasury, to reduce a technological, educated German populace to serfdom, working in the fields. The idea was that there was something fundamentally wrong with German culture/civilization that led the world into two World Wars. Yet, Germany was too important of a nation to reduce to nothing. It would cripple all of Europe to do this, yet the USSR and France feared any resurgence of a unified Germany. Truman, Eisenhower, MG Lucius Clay decided that for the good of Europe, Germany must be restored and yet forcibly re-educated/de-nazified. The West used dictatorial powers to make West Germany become a democracy.

The other major reason, which may have been the most powerful reason, is the fear of communism. If the USA did not come up with the Marshall Plan to restore Germany/Europe, then in their desperation, Europeans would have been susceptible to the siren song of communism. This applied to Western Germany in a big way, and so the Germans needed to become our allies after the Berlin airlift and the Marshall plan, and it seems to have worked.

Was it moral to use undemocratic methods to coerce a people to become a democracy? I learned from another historian tonight when she discussed her book about CIA assassinations regarding the questions of morality, or were the actions necessary? Anyway, if you've gotten this far, thanks for reading.

The release of TG today reminded me of some strong words Les Snead said recently. Here’s a few key quotes from Snead from an article back on March 5:

“Sound decision is, at some point you’re going to have to determine what year do you take the pain.”

“I know today, we’re all going to get emotional and go, ‘Oh, no no no, just worry about ’20.’ But when ’20 is gone and it’s over and we’re never getting 2020 back again, then we do know that 2021 will become a priority. And at that point, you’re like, ‘Well, what do you mean? Why’d you do that? That was not the wise, sound thing to do.”


In some ways, I think the Rams are doing the opposite of what they did in 2018. In the 2018 offseason, they went ALL IN and pulled out all the stops to secure a SB run. Extensions for Gurley, Hav, and AD... acquiring Peters, Talib, Cooks, Suh, and later Fowler... holy crap, the Rams went crazy on an all-in gamble. The critics said, “the Rams will have to pay the bill, their SB window will only be open for 2 short years in 2018 and 2019.” And we homers thought the critics were full of shit.

Well, maybe the critics were right. The bill has come due, and it sure seems hard to imagine the Rams will have enough firepower to make a run in 2020.

Now, in 2020, it seems like the Rams’ focus is on the future, not the present. Let the big $ guys walk... goodbye to Littleton and Fowler, not to mention Brockers, Matthews, NRC, and GZ. Gurley? Take an even BIGGER cap hit in 2020 in order to free up $ in 21 and 22. Goff restructure— to free up $ now in exchange for less $ in future? Nope, doesn’t look that way.

From my vantage point, sure looks like the Rams FO has made a strategic decision to “take the pain” in 2020 in exchange for greater cap room in the future.

Hoping as always for a great season... but hoping even more that the long-range plan will allow for even greater success down the road.

Here’s the full article from March 5:

I get that the losses of Gurley, Littleton, Brockers, NRC, and Matthews hurts. Wade and Bones not returning is newsworthy. Cooks may very well go elsewhere. Add to these things the uncertainty of the OLine and LB corps and the labels of this offseason are inevitable by the sensationalists: rebuild, mismanagement, internal conflict, etc.

It seems every news outlet discounts the pieces in place most teams would hope to have at this stage of the offseason. The Rams have a winning HC, a bold and experienced GM, Pro Bowl caliber at DT, Safety, Corner, QB, WR, TE and solid starters throughout the roster. There is still the draft ahead and FA money to spend.

Perhaps we’ve been spoiled by the last three years of big name acquisitions that produced more hype than substance. I believe the best players gained over this span have not been Peters, Talib, Matthews, Cooks, or Suh... they were Kupp, Woods, Rapp, JJ III, Ramsey, and Henderson. I see the development of Hill Evans, Edwards, Joseph-Day and Higbee as progress. I will have to see Floyd and Robinson perform in horns before assessing their value.

Last offseason the Browns gained the spotlight and the 9’ers were forgotten. Pundit hype rarely lacks substance. Let’s see what’s real next autumn.