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Retired C John Sullivan Looks Like a Safety Now
- By bubbaramfan
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 16 Replies
Former Rams C John Sullivan is unrecognizable after losing more than 70 pounds
John Sullivan joined the Rams in 2017 as part of the team’s makeover when Sean McVay arrived. He spent two years as the starting center, but last offseason, the Rams declined his option for 2019 and he became a free agent. While he didn’t officially announce his…
theramswire.usatoday.com
John Sullivan joined the Rams in 2017 as part of the team’s makeover when Sean McVay arrived. He spent two years as the starting center, but last offseason, the Rams declined his option for 2019 and he became a free agent.
While he didn’t officially announce his retirement from the NFL, it’s safe to say he’s not going back to playing football. Sullivan has slimmed down considerably, shedding more than 70 pounds since the last time he suited up.
He shared this photo on Instagram showing his new physique, saying that he’s down to 240 pounds. He was last listed at 312 pounds when he was with the Rams.
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.instagram.com/p/B7qh02kFAz2/?igshid=fcg53y03xfn4
Here’s a photo of Sullivan before Super Bowl LIII a year ago, just to show his transformation.
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Sullivan isn’t the first player to drop significant weight after leaving the NFL. Joe Thomas did the same, as has former Colts center Jeff Saturday. Both have transitioned to analyst careers.
Some fans were holding out hope last season that Sullivan might re-join the Rams after Brian Allen landed on IR, but it’s now clear that was never going to happen.
———
i gues he doesn't need stroids anymore
Los Angeles Rams RB Darrell Henderson is destined for stardom
- By Riverumbbq
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 44 Replies
Let’s go back and recap Hendo’s rookie season, and project what he can become moving forward.
By Sosa Kremenjas@QBsMVP Jan 24, 2020, 12:22pm CST
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66162608/usa_today_13837903.0.jpg "NFL: Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals")
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Just one offseason ago, everything was all good for the Los Angeles Rams.
They just competed in the Super Bowl, the team was spearheaded by superstar Head Coach Sean McVay, the roster was loaded with talent at all positions, and the franchise was poised to make another deep playoff run in the 2020 NFL Season.
Obviously, things didn’t work out as planned for the Rams as they managed a 9-7 record and missed the playoffs altogether.
In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Rams pinpointed Memphis Tigers RB Darrell Henderson as a guy they were clearly high on, and somebody they had major interest in adding to an already explosive and potent offense. That’s when the Rams packaged two third-round draft picks to move up to the 70th-overall pick in the third round, which they then used to select Henderson.
Henderson’s rookie season didn’t go as planned with the runner touching the ball only 43 times throughout the season, though his per-touch efficiency suggested Henderson deserved much more usage throughout.
Let’s review Henderson’s rookie season in-depth (stats from Pro Football Reference):
Rushing yards:
147 yards
1st downs:
10
Yards before contact/attempt:
2.2 yards
Yards after contact/attempt:
1.6 yards
Rush attempts per broken tackles:
5.6 attempts
The stats aren’t mind-blowing or eye-popping, though one of these stats above prove just how productive Henderson was, and how much talent oozes out of college football’s most explosive runner: the 5.6 rush attempts per broken tackle statistic. Out of all RB’s with 20+ carries this past season, Henderson broke tackles at the highest rate in the league.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Henderson needed 5.6 rushing attempts for every broken tackle of his, and that figure was good enough to place him at first place in the league. Ironically enough, teammate Malcolm Browncame in at second in the NFL, which proves just how tough the duo is and how much they can create post-contact.
Henderson didn’t receive a ton of work, leaving us with only a small sample size to evaluate, though the talent was visible every time #27 touched the field. The rookie surely had some rookie mistakes (like the fumbled pitch against the San Francisco 49ers), but still proved to be an effective RB with a ton of burst, acceleration, and contact balance.
Using Warren Sharp’s Sharp Football Stats, we can further break down Henderson’s performance with charts displaying his success rate by direction (top-left chart), comparing it to the league average success rate by direction (bottom-left chart), and Henderson’s success rate over the average (chart on the right).
As you can see below, Henderson was most productive behind RG, LT, and the far boundaries to the right and left, in that order. Comparing that to the league average, Hendo was far more productive running behind RG and LT, slightly more productive on boundary runs to the left, and far less productive behind RT and to the right boundary.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19626607/hendo_1.png)
Some of these stats are more indicative than others, though it’s hard to come to any conclusion based off the small sample size. For example, I used the same directional charts for teammate RB Todd Gurley, and ironically enough, Gurley also struggled mightily running behind RT and to the right boundary, yet had plenty of success behind RG. These charts display a lot of where the Rams were productive — and lack thereof — along the offensive line.
Looking at this chart below, you can compare the rushing success rate by down between the trio of Rams running backs:
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19626608/hendo_2.png)
As you can see, Henderson was by far the most productive on first downs, yet the least productive on second and third downs (tied with Brown). In total (far right), Henderson actually had the greatest success rate of all the runners coming in at 47%, just nearly edging out Gurley.
You’re probably asking what the hell all of this means and why it’s relevant... well, let me explain.
Henderson’s lack of usage makes it incredibly hard to pinpoint any one conclusion, but we can attempt to extrapolate his usage and make a far more educated guess on his potential impact moving forward because of these in-depth stats and his per-touch efficiency. Henderson didn’t touch the ball much, but when he did, he proved to be a weapon capable of making guys miss (and often).
It’s hard to come to any further conclusions than that, but Henderson was the most explosive CFB running back in his final year in college (and even his sophomore season) when he averaged 8.9-yards-per-rushing attempt and totaled 22 rushing touchdowns.
The Rams have had trouble — particularly with Gurley — breaking off long runs and scoring long rushing touchdowns on the ground, though Henderson has shown plenty of ability in that regard, which is likely why the Rams elected to pursue his talents even after handing Gurley a massive contract extension and re-signing Brown after the Detroit Lions attempted to vulture him.
The best idea moving forward is to continue to scale back Gurley’s workload (or potentially offload him if possible), and to increase Henderson’s workload tenfold, both as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield.
Sean McVay is smart enough to make it work in a creative manner, and new Offensive Coordinator Kevin O’Connell will be tasked with bringing new and innovative ideas to keep the stable of running backs happy and involved in a timeshare. A timeshare is inevitable due to the amount of resources the Rams invested in both Gurley and Henderson, and is likely the smartest idea moving forward in a league that rarely deploys the “workhorse” running back any longer.
www.turfshowtimes.com
By Sosa Kremenjas@QBsMVP Jan 24, 2020, 12:22pm CST
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Just one offseason ago, everything was all good for the Los Angeles Rams.
They just competed in the Super Bowl, the team was spearheaded by superstar Head Coach Sean McVay, the roster was loaded with talent at all positions, and the franchise was poised to make another deep playoff run in the 2020 NFL Season.
Obviously, things didn’t work out as planned for the Rams as they managed a 9-7 record and missed the playoffs altogether.
In the 2019 NFL Draft, the Rams pinpointed Memphis Tigers RB Darrell Henderson as a guy they were clearly high on, and somebody they had major interest in adding to an already explosive and potent offense. That’s when the Rams packaged two third-round draft picks to move up to the 70th-overall pick in the third round, which they then used to select Henderson.
Henderson’s rookie season didn’t go as planned with the runner touching the ball only 43 times throughout the season, though his per-touch efficiency suggested Henderson deserved much more usage throughout.
Let’s review Henderson’s rookie season in-depth (stats from Pro Football Reference):
Rushing yards:
147 yards
1st downs:
10
Yards before contact/attempt:
2.2 yards
Yards after contact/attempt:
1.6 yards
Rush attempts per broken tackles:
5.6 attempts
The stats aren’t mind-blowing or eye-popping, though one of these stats above prove just how productive Henderson was, and how much talent oozes out of college football’s most explosive runner: the 5.6 rush attempts per broken tackle statistic. Out of all RB’s with 20+ carries this past season, Henderson broke tackles at the highest rate in the league.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Henderson needed 5.6 rushing attempts for every broken tackle of his, and that figure was good enough to place him at first place in the league. Ironically enough, teammate Malcolm Browncame in at second in the NFL, which proves just how tough the duo is and how much they can create post-contact.
Henderson didn’t receive a ton of work, leaving us with only a small sample size to evaluate, though the talent was visible every time #27 touched the field. The rookie surely had some rookie mistakes (like the fumbled pitch against the San Francisco 49ers), but still proved to be an effective RB with a ton of burst, acceleration, and contact balance.
Using Warren Sharp’s Sharp Football Stats, we can further break down Henderson’s performance with charts displaying his success rate by direction (top-left chart), comparing it to the league average success rate by direction (bottom-left chart), and Henderson’s success rate over the average (chart on the right).
As you can see below, Henderson was most productive behind RG, LT, and the far boundaries to the right and left, in that order. Comparing that to the league average, Hendo was far more productive running behind RG and LT, slightly more productive on boundary runs to the left, and far less productive behind RT and to the right boundary.
Some of these stats are more indicative than others, though it’s hard to come to any conclusion based off the small sample size. For example, I used the same directional charts for teammate RB Todd Gurley, and ironically enough, Gurley also struggled mightily running behind RT and to the right boundary, yet had plenty of success behind RG. These charts display a lot of where the Rams were productive — and lack thereof — along the offensive line.
Looking at this chart below, you can compare the rushing success rate by down between the trio of Rams running backs:
As you can see, Henderson was by far the most productive on first downs, yet the least productive on second and third downs (tied with Brown). In total (far right), Henderson actually had the greatest success rate of all the runners coming in at 47%, just nearly edging out Gurley.
You’re probably asking what the hell all of this means and why it’s relevant... well, let me explain.
Henderson’s lack of usage makes it incredibly hard to pinpoint any one conclusion, but we can attempt to extrapolate his usage and make a far more educated guess on his potential impact moving forward because of these in-depth stats and his per-touch efficiency. Henderson didn’t touch the ball much, but when he did, he proved to be a weapon capable of making guys miss (and often).
It’s hard to come to any further conclusions than that, but Henderson was the most explosive CFB running back in his final year in college (and even his sophomore season) when he averaged 8.9-yards-per-rushing attempt and totaled 22 rushing touchdowns.
The Rams have had trouble — particularly with Gurley — breaking off long runs and scoring long rushing touchdowns on the ground, though Henderson has shown plenty of ability in that regard, which is likely why the Rams elected to pursue his talents even after handing Gurley a massive contract extension and re-signing Brown after the Detroit Lions attempted to vulture him.
The best idea moving forward is to continue to scale back Gurley’s workload (or potentially offload him if possible), and to increase Henderson’s workload tenfold, both as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield.
Sean McVay is smart enough to make it work in a creative manner, and new Offensive Coordinator Kevin O’Connell will be tasked with bringing new and innovative ideas to keep the stable of running backs happy and involved in a timeshare. A timeshare is inevitable due to the amount of resources the Rams invested in both Gurley and Henderson, and is likely the smartest idea moving forward in a league that rarely deploys the “workhorse” running back any longer.
Los Angeles Rams RB Darrell Henderson is destined for stardom
Let’s go back and recap Hendo’s rookie season, and project what he can become moving forward.
www.turfshowtimes.com
LA Rams were 1 FG away from post season play
- By TheTackle
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 21 Replies
I enjoyed watching the Rams this past season, even as they played through adversity. Had we played in other divisions, we would have made the postseason...
Perhaps, the biggest change this year, is we couldn't find a way to win close games or match our (perhaps, overly) high expectation
LA Rams were 1 FG away from post season play
In a game of inches, the LA Rams week 5 loss to the Seattle Seahawks 30-29 ended up as the difference maker keeping the team out of the playoffs
The LA Rams finished 9-7 in 2019. That was not good enough to get the team into the NFL Playoffs, and had already resulted in the team making coaching changes at the defensive coordinator and running back coaching positions, as well as adding an offensive coordinator. Despite some games where the team was clearly not competitive, the team’s fortunes would have changed dramatically had they defeated the Seattle Seahawks in week five.
Had the Rams won that game, they would have ended the season with a 10-6 record. They would win the tie-breaker with the Seattle Seahawks based on head-to-head meetings (Rams would have swept), and they would have won the tie-breaker over the Minnesota Vikings due to a better conference record.
That would have placed the LA Rams at Philadelphia for the first playoff game, and the Rams had plenty of momentum going in to win that one. In fact, the LA Rams path through this year’s playoffs would be at Philadelphia, at Green Bay, and at San Francisco.
WR Brandin Cooks caught one incredible pass, but left the game due to the NFL’s concussion protocol. RB Todd Gurley started out well, but had the ball ripped out of his hands by Seahawks DE Jadaveon Clowney, and was silenced in the second half. TE Gerald Everett and WR Cooper Kupp each had 100 yard games catching the ball. QB Jared Goff completed 29 of 49 passes for 395 yards. The Rams only rushed the ball 17 times (not included one QB scramble by Goff for one yard).
The Rams took a 29-24 lead late into the fourth quarter, but failed to make a stop against the Seahawks when the team needed it most. Even after the Seahawks scored, the Rams were able to move the ball into field goal range as the game clock moved under two minutes.
NEXT: LA Rams: Senior Bowl running back target for 2020 NFL Draft day 3
One season. One game. One drive. One missed field goal. Sometimes the NFL season is over pretty quickly. Other times, the season continues on into February. But 2019 season was so very close to something very special. The point of this is not that the Rams were robbed, but that this team entered the off-season already at a very competitive place. That is why the LA Rams should expect a solid season in 2020. The next attempt at a game winning field goal may be good the next time.
ramblinfan.com
Perhaps, the biggest change this year, is we couldn't find a way to win close games or match our (perhaps, overly) high expectation
LA Rams were 1 FG away from post season play
In a game of inches, the LA Rams week 5 loss to the Seattle Seahawks 30-29 ended up as the difference maker keeping the team out of the playoffs
The LA Rams finished 9-7 in 2019. That was not good enough to get the team into the NFL Playoffs, and had already resulted in the team making coaching changes at the defensive coordinator and running back coaching positions, as well as adding an offensive coordinator. Despite some games where the team was clearly not competitive, the team’s fortunes would have changed dramatically had they defeated the Seattle Seahawks in week five.
Had the Rams won that game, they would have ended the season with a 10-6 record. They would win the tie-breaker with the Seattle Seahawks based on head-to-head meetings (Rams would have swept), and they would have won the tie-breaker over the Minnesota Vikings due to a better conference record.
That would have placed the LA Rams at Philadelphia for the first playoff game, and the Rams had plenty of momentum going in to win that one. In fact, the LA Rams path through this year’s playoffs would be at Philadelphia, at Green Bay, and at San Francisco.
WR Brandin Cooks caught one incredible pass, but left the game due to the NFL’s concussion protocol. RB Todd Gurley started out well, but had the ball ripped out of his hands by Seahawks DE Jadaveon Clowney, and was silenced in the second half. TE Gerald Everett and WR Cooper Kupp each had 100 yard games catching the ball. QB Jared Goff completed 29 of 49 passes for 395 yards. The Rams only rushed the ball 17 times (not included one QB scramble by Goff for one yard).
The Rams took a 29-24 lead late into the fourth quarter, but failed to make a stop against the Seahawks when the team needed it most. Even after the Seahawks scored, the Rams were able to move the ball into field goal range as the game clock moved under two minutes.
NEXT: LA Rams: Senior Bowl running back target for 2020 NFL Draft day 3
One season. One game. One drive. One missed field goal. Sometimes the NFL season is over pretty quickly. Other times, the season continues on into February. But 2019 season was so very close to something very special. The point of this is not that the Rams were robbed, but that this team entered the off-season already at a very competitive place. That is why the LA Rams should expect a solid season in 2020. The next attempt at a game winning field goal may be good the next time.
LA Rams were 1 FG away from post season play
In a game of inches, the LA Rams week 5 loss to the Seattle Seahawks 30-29 ended up as the difference maker keeping the team out of the playoffs
ramblinfan.com
No Football Weekend...
- By CGI_Ram
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 29 Replies
Okay... yeah, there is a pro bowl (I think there is anyway) but that’s not real football.
No real games this weekend. The season is almost done.
No real games this weekend. The season is almost done.
Money Being Wagered Overwhelming Taking Chiefs
- By CGI_Ram
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 30 Replies
Interesting... But, not sure I like it. Those 49’ers seem the ideal team to embrace disrespected status.
———
www.totalprosports.com
Money Being Wagered Overwhelming Taking Chiefs
Everyday that goes by, it seems more and more people think the Kansas City Chiefs will be the eventual winner of Super Bowl LIV. It’s not just your regular Joes who think as NFL coaches and executives also believe the Chiefs will blow out the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium.
Just recently, SportsLine shared betting information on the Super Bowl that came from William Hill US that showed bettors are putting their money where their mouth is.
The info shows a vast majority of the money bet on the game is going to the Chiefs.
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The 49ers have been disrespected all season long, even though they won the top seed in the NFC, had the No. 4 ranked offense as well as the No. 2 ranked defense in the entire league.
They even destroyed the Green Bay Packers and only needed QB Jimmy G to throw 8 total passes all game long.
I guess they will have to show the world how good they are once again on the big stage.
———
Money Being Wagered On Super Bowl LIV Shows Bettors Overwhelmingly Taking The Chiefs Over The 49ers
Read “Money Being Wagered On Super Bowl LIV Shows Bettors Overwhelmingly Taking The Chiefs Over The 49ers ” and other Kansas City Chiefs, NFL, San Francisco 49ers articles from Total Pro Sports.
www.totalprosports.com
Everyday that goes by, it seems more and more people think the Kansas City Chiefs will be the eventual winner of Super Bowl LIV. It’s not just your regular Joes who think as NFL coaches and executives also believe the Chiefs will blow out the San Francisco 49ers at Hard Rock Stadium.
Just recently, SportsLine shared betting information on the Super Bowl that came from William Hill US that showed bettors are putting their money where their mouth is.
The info shows a vast majority of the money bet on the game is going to the Chiefs.
Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/sportsline/status/1220472405468045312?s=21
The 49ers have been disrespected all season long, even though they won the top seed in the NFC, had the No. 4 ranked offense as well as the No. 2 ranked defense in the entire league.
They even destroyed the Green Bay Packers and only needed QB Jimmy G to throw 8 total passes all game long.
I guess they will have to show the world how good they are once again on the big stage.
NFL: Concussions up slightly in 2019
- By CGI_Ram
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 0 Replies
NFL: Concussions up slightly in 2019
The NFL announced Thursday that the number of reported concussions during the 2019 season rose slightly from the previous campaign, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert.There were 224 reported concussions in the 2019 preseason and regular season combined, compared to 214 in 2018. Both numbers are well down...
www.thescore.com
The NFL announced Thursday that the number of reported concussions during the 2019 season rose slightly from the previous campaign, per ESPN's Kevin Seifert.
There were 224 reported concussions in the 2019 preseason and regular season combined, compared to 214 in 2018. Both numbers are well down from 2017, when 281 concussions were reported, prompting the league to implement new safety rules.
Despite the slight increase in 2019, the numbers from the last two years will form a "new benchmark" for the future, according to Jeff Miller, the league's VP of health and safety initiatives.
"From here on, we are going to be driving our concussion reduction efforts against that new benchmark," Miller said. "Last year's number was a substantial drop. This year's number is statistically similar to it. We feel as if we've found a new place from where we need to continue to push down the number of concussions."
After averaging 266.3 concussions per season from 2015-17, the NFL reworked kickoff rules and made it illegal for players to lower their heads to initiate contact with opponents.
2020 Draft Setup: Vegas
- By Merlin
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 2 Replies
Think I might be "visiting" the kid while this is going on... 
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Stage
Draft Experience
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Stage
Draft Experience
Would the Browns trade O’Dell Beckham?
- By CGI_Ram
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 5 Replies
What can the Browns realistically get for Odell Beckham Jr. in a trade?
Here, we look at what the Cleveland Browns could realistically get in an hypothetical Odell Beckham Jr. trade this coming offseason.
sportsnaut.com
WHAT CAN THE BROWNS REALISTICALLY GET FOR ODELL BECKHAM JR. IN A TRADE?
There’s a new man running the ship in Ohio, and he has no built-in connections with the previous regime that acquired Odell Beckham Jr. in a blockbuster tradelast offseason.
The Cleveland Browns are on the verge of hiring former Minnesota Vikings front office figure George Paton for their vacant general manager job. Paton joins former Vikings offensive coordinator and new Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski in Cleveland.
What this means: Rumors have persisted since a disastrous 2019 season for both the player and his team that Odell Beckham Jr. could be traded this offseason. It’s not an unlikely scenario.
Drama in Cleveland: By now it’s well known that OBJ had issues with former Browns head coach Freddie Kitchens. The Pro Bowler also continues to be a distraction for the Browns.
- Most-recently, Beckham Jr. was hit with an arrest warrant in Florida after “assaulting” a security guard at the College Football National Championship Game.
- Prior to that, OBJ was under scrutiny for handing out lumps of cash to LSU players after his former college team earned the title.
- These are just two recent examples of Beckham popping up on the off-season news wire with actions that don’t paint his Browns in the best of lights.
- Beckham Jr. was still able to record 74 receptions for 1,035 yards in 2019. Though, he scored only four touchdowns and put up the worst statistical performance of his six-year NFL career.
- Having entered the season with Super Bowl aspirations, Cleveland finished at 6-10 and in third place in the AFC North.
- That’s not the type of success the Browns had envisioned when they acquired him in a blockbuster trade back in March.
- The Browns would likely want to move Beckham back to the NFC. It’s akin to when the Giants turned down a similar offer from the 49ers to move OBJ to the AFC.
- That’s where it gets somewhat interesting. Given his $60 million cap hit over the next four seasons and the above-mentioned off-field issues, New York is not getting anywhere near the bounty it gave up in landing OBJ in the first place.
- What does this mean? It’s rather simple. The Browns would demand more if Beckham were moved to the AFC. If he’s moved to that other conference, the asking price likely goes down.
- Cleveland deals Beckham Jr. to the 49ers for Dante Pettis and 2021 first-round pick. San Francisco has made multiple plays for OBJ in the past, offering up more to the Giants than Cleveland last offseason. The team has just one pick in the first four rounds in April. The Browns get a first-rounder the following year and a young receiver.
- Cleveland trades Beckham Jr. to the Packers for 2020 second-round pick and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. The Packers were also in on Beckham last offseason. New York did not want to deal with its conference rivals. As evidenced in their NFC Championship Game loss to the above-mentioned 49ers, these Packers need another weapon outside of Davante Adams. In turn, Cleveland gets a second-rounder and a talented young receiver.
- Cleveland trades Beckham Jr. to the Patriots for 2020 first-round pick and 2020 third-round pick. This is what we’re talking about in terms of value. If the Browns were to even to consider moving OBJ to the receiver-starved Patriots, a return would have to net at least a first-round pick and change. Is this something New England would consider paying given the questionable status of Tom Brady? We’re not too sure.
- Cleveland trades Beckham Jr. to the Raiders for 2020 first-round pick. Las Vegas likely would not have to pay as high of a bounty for OBJ. But one of its two first-round picks would likely be the asking price. Now officially in the desert metropolis, the idea of exciting Las Vegas Raiders fans with OBJ has to be enticing. Let’s not even mention Jon Gruden and his willingness to go out there and make big trades for troubled players.
- Browns trade Beckham Jr. to the Cowboys for Michael Gallup and 2020 third-round pick. If the Browns were to move OBJ, they’d likely be looking for a young receiver in return. Coming off his first 1,000-yard season, the 23-year-old Gallup would provide that for Cleveland. It would also net a third-round pick in return. We’re just not too sure how this would work from Dallas’ perspective, both financially and in terms of compensation.
Despite his off-field issues and the fact that he’s coming off a career-worst season, Beckham Jr. would still be of value on the trade market.
Given Cleveland has a whole new front office structure in place, it would not be a shock to see the team move its star receiver. If that’s the case, a trade to an NFC contender likely makes the most sense.
It’s certainly something to pay attention to as the Super Bowl wraps up the NFL season and the offseason gets going in a few weeks.
Early division breakdown: NFC West
- By CGI_Ram
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 2 Replies
Early division breakdown: NFC West
The NFC West was dominant in 2019. Will that trend continue in 2020? J.B. Long answers that question and more in an early look at next season’s NFC West division.
www.therams.com
Early division breakdown: NFC West
With San Francisco set to face Kansas City in Super Bowl LIV, here's a brief retrospective and 2020 prospectus on the NFC West.
Of the last eight NFC Champions, five have been from the West, and three of the franchises in the division have reached the Super Bowl in that time:
2019 – 49ers
2018 – Rams
2017 – Eagles
2016 – Falcons
2015 – Panthers
2014 – Seahawks
2013 – Seahawks
2012 – 49ers
The Legion of Boom doesn't have much bearing on the Jadeveon Clowney Seahawks. And the Cardinals and 49ers drafted atop every round less than 12 months ago. So aside from being an interesting trend, rosters churn too frequently in the NFL for broad stroke assessments along the lines of, "The best division in football over the past decade."
But looking ahead to 2020, expect the NFC West to be regarded as the toughest.
With virtual certainty, all four teams will return their head coach and quarterback, and I would put those foundations up against any other tandems in the league.
The NFC West combined for 38 wins a year ago, easily more than any other division in the NFL. The AFC East and NFC North were next with 34.
The 49ers may win the Super Bowl, the Seahawks won a road playoff game (and nearly a second), and the Rams were the only team in professional football with a winning record left out of the postseason.
Until free agency, trades, and the draft run their course, the sudden ascension of another division is certainly possible.
But for the time being, the Rams should assume that their task remains as difficult – if not more difficult – than any team in the NFL going into 2020.
Will Patrick Mahomes get $40M/yr?
- By CGI_Ram
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 18 Replies
Poll: Will Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes Become NFL's First $40MM/Year QB?
Patrick Mahomes is Super Bowl bound. He's also in line for a monumental payday. Last year, at the age of …
www.profootballrumors.com
Will Patrick Mahomes get $40M/yr?
Patrick Mahomes is Super Bowl bound. He’s also in line for a monumental payday.
Last year, at the age of 23-and-a-third, Mahomes became the league’s youngest MVP since Dan Marino won the award in 1984. He didn’t disappoint in his encore, either. The grizzled 24-year-old threw for for 4,031 yards with 26 touchdowns against just five interceptions in 2019. He also threw in some dazzling running plays, for good measure, resulting in two more scores and 15 first downs.
His incomparable skillset and early accomplishments point to a historic contract. The NFL’s all-time average annual value (AAV) record is made to be broken and routinely shattered each year, sometimes by quarterbacks who are not considered to be among the league’s very best. Mahomes’ case is decidedly different – he’s simply from another planet, and some execs think he’ll cross the $40MM/year threshold.
“I think he’s gonna get $40MM [per year], either over four or five years,” one NFC personnel evaluator told ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler.
Another NFC exec with negotiating experience mostly echoed that sentiment:”If Russell Wilson is at $35MM, then probably $37.5MM.”
Wilson’s deal with the Seahawks calls for $140MM across four years. Rams QB Jared Goff isn’t far behind with $134MM over the same stretch, with a whopping $110MM in guaranteed cash. Carson Wentz fell just shy with his four-year, $128MM Eagles extension. There will be new additions to this tier – including Cowboys QB Dak Prescott – but Mahomes is poised to top Prescott’s deal (whenever that happens) and set a watermark that won’t be approached for a while.
Mahomes’ rookie deal runs through 2020 and the Chiefs hold his fifth-year option to take him through 2021. Still, league officials say time is of the essence for KC.
“If I were [the Chiefs], I would be as proactive as humanly possible,” one exec told Fowler. “If Jared Goff can get no offset language in his entire contract after three years in the league, then this specific player has all the leverage. I think $40MM would be Mahomes selling himself short.”
NFL to test alternative to onside kicks at Pro Bowl
- By CGI_Ram
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 20 Replies
NFL to test alternative to onside kicks at Pro Bowl
The NFL will test an alternative to the onside kick during the Pro Bowl on Sunday.
nationalpost.com
NFL to test alternative to onside kicks at Pro Bowl
The NFL will test an alternative to the onside kick during the Pro Bowl on Sunday.
While kickoffs no longer are used in the exhibition game, the teams will have two options at their disposal after scoring on the previous drive.
The first is to have the opponent start its drive at its own 25-yard line. The second option requires the scoring team to gain 15 yards on one play from its own 25-yard line, essentially making it a fourth-and-15 situation. Should the team gain 15 or more yards, it would retain possession. Should it fail, a turnover on downs occurs and the opposition gains possession at the spot of the dead ball.
The rule adjustment is the latest attempt to minimize injuries on kickoffs, which are considered one of the most dangerous plays in football.
Sunday’s game also will use a different standard for false start penalties on receivers who are flexed from the line of scrimmage. Should a receiver flinch or move, he can avoid a penalty if he resets for one second prior to the snap and/or keeps one foot on the ground.
The Pro Bowl will be played on Sunday at 3 p.m. ET in Orlando, Fla.
China??
- By sdakotaram
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 37 Replies
Los Angeles Rams
@RamsNFL
Ni Hao! The #LARams@trapp07
are headed to China! #Rams在中国
Sound like a PR move for the Rams and the NFL then found the article below!!!
The National Football League's quest to expand its global reach could result in a pair of teams playing in China next year.
According to The Athletic's Matt Barrows, NFL owners are expected to discuss the possibility of playing a regular-season game in China in 2020, with Beijing and Shanghai both being considered options as the host city.
The San Francisco 49ers would tentatively be the designated home team, with the Los Angeles Rams a possibility as the away team after having previously shown interest in the concept.
49ers general manager John Lynch said Monday, per Barrows:
"As a football guy, you're usually pretty protective. Like, 'Hey, let's make sure this is good for our team.' I think one thing we feel comfortable with is that (CEO) Jed (York) and (team president) Al (Guido) always keep that in mind, so we’re not going to do anything that's going to put us at a disadvantage. But if we can grow the game and also have a cool experience we'll make it work."
View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2827881-nfl-rumors-owners-to-discuss-game-in-china-in-2020-49ers-rams-could-feature
Merlin's First (and Probably Only) 2020 Offseason Mock
- By Merlin
- NFL DRAFT / COLLEGE FOOTBALL
- 9 Replies
So before I begin playing make believe GM here I believe the important thing to consider is “what is our goal as a team?” What type of team do the Rams want to be?
Offensively they want to be balanced and the failure of the GM position to get the team there began during the 2019 offseason. In 2018 the Rams’ offense was exposed by the Bears who took away the run game and demonstrated that they could not beat you with a one-dimensional passing game. Outside of a short window of games where CJ Anderson gave us an ability to beat defensive fronts, this problem with the run game has been a consistent issue. The Rams are now officially a finesse offense not a balanced offense. This is the second offseason now since that Bears’ game and the loss in the Super Bowl and it’s time to get that right.
Defensively they want to stop the run. This is not new, and in fact has been a problem for the Rams through multiple coaching staffs. It was a problem for Fisher and his DCs who never consistently got this defense to stuff the run, and it’s been a problem under Wade largely because they didn't have the horses to reinvest in the defensive front. If you want to be an elite defense, you have to be able to stuff the run and put teams in repeated third and long situations. Now the good thing here is the secondary looks fantastic (which means we should be good vs the pass which is a big part of scoring defense), but the Rams need to be shrewd in adding some key pieces up front to bolster the front seven for playoff and divisional matchups.
One more note is to remember that as much as I liked the 2019 roster they weren’t good enough. And that is the only thing that matters. So let’s do this thing…
TRADE
OLB Dante Fowler traded for a round 3 pick. He may not bring that, but I feel that’s a roughly fair range for the film he put up in 2019 which was exceptional.
CUTS
RB Malcolm Brown. I have zero use for a depth RB who hasn’t been available when I need him two years running.
CB Nickell Roby Coleman. Good player and nickel back but he’s being paid too much and I like our options to replace him at a cheaper cost. Trading him is possible but there will be enough circus around trying to move Fowler in a tag ‘n trade deal.
S Eric Weddle. He’s a box safety now and a marginal one, and we have two young box safeties that are better and cheaper.
OLB Clay Matthews. Depending on how contracts go I think Clay might be a guy we can keep and it might be wise given how different he looked before his injury. But chances are we’ll need the space.
RAMS’ FREE AGENTS
I would only bring Whit back on a reasonable deal that helps the team which is a tough thing to ask him for. So at this point I am planning on him being gone even though I do love the guy and recognize his leadership. If he does elect to stick around it’s a bonus, but IMO the Rams have to dive into the deep end and finish their OL rebuild with PERMANENT vice temporary pieces. That is crucial IMO. And btw if he doesn’t want to return I would have a coaching staff position offer on the table for him too.
Of the RFA types Mundt needs to be aggressively tendered. IMO he might be an important piece in 2020 and I would be wary of some team trying to nab him so ensure compensation is sufficient if he’s signed away.
Zuerlein has had a down season before. I would bet on him bouncing back by locking him up for a few more years and hopefully a modest rate given his down year.
Last but not least I would sign Jalen Ramsey NOW. He’s not a guy who handles being tagged well. He’s also a guy the Rams gave up two high picks for. So there is zero reason to eff around. Top corners are currently at $15M I believe, he’s gonna make more than that. He is slated to make $13M this season under his current contract, so IMO get him locked up long term and adjust the early cap as needed. If the Rams don’t do this, they will lose him in FA or end up needing to trade him either of which are not ideal.
FREE AGENT ADDITIONS
C Conner McGovern (Broncos). Denver ate a couple seasons of development with him and he finally developed with a lot of credit being given to Munchak and deservedly so (he is a fine OL coach). But Denver also went back to the ZBS in 2019 which I think played a big part in McGovern’s positive showing. He is a fit, and he’s young at 27 and might still have his best ball ahead. Denver might very well tag him or get him signed, but he’s been better in pass pro than the run game so I believe he’ll hit FA and if so the Rams are weaker at Center than they are at Guard so he makes sense as a plug ‘n play signing. One silver lining here too is that Center is cheaper than Guard on the market, about $3M less at the top. Now all that aside if he doesn’t hit FA then I think Guard becomes more likely as that “settle down the interior” addition.
S Haha Clinton-Dix (Bears). I wanted this dude last year because I felt like we have a safety room full of guys who are moreso SS than FS. We got Weddle instead, who was also moreso a SS than a FS. Rams’ defense struggled in zone terribly, but they are also limited in cover 1 looks because they don’t have a guy who can be a ballhawk threat in the deep middle. HCD will change that and change the way our defense plays certain down/distances. With him deep middle, two safeties who can cover and tackle well underneath in JJ and Rapp, and our corners watch the F out if you want to pass vs the Rams’ defense.
DRAFT
*** Rams have additional round 3 pick due to Fowler trade.
*** Rams trade down from round 2 into round 3, and pick up a round 4 pick. I really like the talent level from our second round spot down through round 3.
3. DT Leki Fotu, Utah. Big (6’5” 335) and physical 1T who has good get off on the snap but who will be available to us because he’s not a consistently dominant nose on the interior. IMO he is an ideal fit for our defense because he’ll one-gap and he is also a nice talent fit to slide out to 5T where there’s less of the things that give him problems. I love this guy and he is the kind of player our defense needs to get where they want to go.
3. DL Ross Blacklock, TCU. Powerful lineman who can crush the pocket, also squirrely and hard for OL to lock up. Good sized (6’4” 305) DL who is capable of competing at 5T and giving us depth across the DL.
3. ILB Malik Harrison, Ohio St. This is the type of backer we see teams like Pittsburgh and Baltimore draft, the guy who is wired to get physical in the box and fill holes downhill. The type of player we need in this defense. At 6’3” 240 he’s big, physical, and has good closing speed not to mention he plays mean. Marginal pass defender, will need work there but this guy fits.
4. DL Nick Coe, Auburn. I like this guy for 5T depth but he has the strength on tape vs good opponents that makes me think he might do well inside too. Good size (6’5” 291) and a depth/competition addition to our front seven.
4. C/OG Lloyd Cushenberry, LSU. Another physical line of scrimmage addition who will slot into our depth at both center and guard. If he comes in hot he is talented enough to challenge Corbett at LG
4. OT Hakeem Adeniji, Kansas. Tons of snaps and experience as LT for Kansas but will need to get stronger at the NFL level. Project type to slot into our depth chart and will probably get the Kromer crosstraining as OG depth his rookie season.
4. OLB Alton Robinson, Syracuse. Raw and high upside talent who needs work, can slot right into our depth chart and help build that young edge pipeline and rotation we will be relying on this season. Has the size (6’4” 260) and physicality to play strong side early on if and when he sees the field.
6. RB AJ Dillon, Boston College. I think this guy might be able to do some fullback for us if McVay draws it up, but basically he is a 6’ and 250lb physical masher type replacement for Brown. Gurley is going to get the carries, but this guy can take the rock when you have a lead, short yardage situations, redzone, or whenever TG needs a blow and we want to crush some defense.
7. QB Nate Stanley, Iowa. Big QB and pocket passer who is solid to good but not great at everything. Looks like he might be able to stick as a backup QB.
DEPTH CHART
WR: Kupp, Webster
TE: Higbee, Everett, Mundt, Blanton
LT: Evans, Noteboom, Adeniji
LG: Corbett, Shelton
C: McGovern, Allen
RG: Edwards, Cushenberry
RT: Havenstein, Brewer
WR: Cooks, Reynolds
WR: Woods
QB: Goff, Wolford, Stanley
RB: Gurley, Henderson, Dillon, Kelly
Offense notes: would have liked to spend more draft capital on offensive linemen but we get one interior and one potential LT in the pipeline. Cushenberry insulates us at 3 positions inside and provides competition which is crucial IMO. Depth is very flexible with Shelton also backing up 3 positions inside and Brewer filling the primary depth role at RT. LT is the biggest question mark, but this line is built to run the ball and that run game balance along with play action is going to be required to support our passing game and that approach does work. And when Boom gets back hopefully he’ll provide primary LT depth.
3T: Donald, Blacklock
1T: Fotu, SJD, Gaines
5T: Fox, Coe
OLB: Ebukam, Okoronkwo, Patrick, Polite, Robinson
SILB: Harrison, Reeder, Kiser
ILB: Howard, Young
CB: Ramsey, Hill, Long, Deayon, Williams
S: Clinton-Dix, Johnson, Rapp, Scott, Gervase
Defense notes: the influx of front seven talent is required IMO. We have to be more stout vs the run and our new DC is used to better talent at linebacker so Harrison was a requirement IMO. Howard fills the Littleton role of 3rd down much cheaper. And on the back end we will be much more varied and dangerous in pass defense and there is room for creativity with the 3 top safeties not to mention the aforementioned improvement in cover 1.
Overall... Is this roster ready to compete with the 9ers? I think so. We needed fresh blood up front defensively, as well as more talent and competition on the OL. Not entirely happy with the OL, however if Corbett tanks in camp Cushenberry is more than capable of sliding in a LG and taking his job. The line will be young and physical so I hope that's enough but let's hear it dudes I know you're ready to crush my feeble attempts at team building!
Offensively they want to be balanced and the failure of the GM position to get the team there began during the 2019 offseason. In 2018 the Rams’ offense was exposed by the Bears who took away the run game and demonstrated that they could not beat you with a one-dimensional passing game. Outside of a short window of games where CJ Anderson gave us an ability to beat defensive fronts, this problem with the run game has been a consistent issue. The Rams are now officially a finesse offense not a balanced offense. This is the second offseason now since that Bears’ game and the loss in the Super Bowl and it’s time to get that right.
Defensively they want to stop the run. This is not new, and in fact has been a problem for the Rams through multiple coaching staffs. It was a problem for Fisher and his DCs who never consistently got this defense to stuff the run, and it’s been a problem under Wade largely because they didn't have the horses to reinvest in the defensive front. If you want to be an elite defense, you have to be able to stuff the run and put teams in repeated third and long situations. Now the good thing here is the secondary looks fantastic (which means we should be good vs the pass which is a big part of scoring defense), but the Rams need to be shrewd in adding some key pieces up front to bolster the front seven for playoff and divisional matchups.
One more note is to remember that as much as I liked the 2019 roster they weren’t good enough. And that is the only thing that matters. So let’s do this thing…
TRADE
OLB Dante Fowler traded for a round 3 pick. He may not bring that, but I feel that’s a roughly fair range for the film he put up in 2019 which was exceptional.
CUTS
RB Malcolm Brown. I have zero use for a depth RB who hasn’t been available when I need him two years running.
CB Nickell Roby Coleman. Good player and nickel back but he’s being paid too much and I like our options to replace him at a cheaper cost. Trading him is possible but there will be enough circus around trying to move Fowler in a tag ‘n trade deal.
S Eric Weddle. He’s a box safety now and a marginal one, and we have two young box safeties that are better and cheaper.
OLB Clay Matthews. Depending on how contracts go I think Clay might be a guy we can keep and it might be wise given how different he looked before his injury. But chances are we’ll need the space.
RAMS’ FREE AGENTS
I would only bring Whit back on a reasonable deal that helps the team which is a tough thing to ask him for. So at this point I am planning on him being gone even though I do love the guy and recognize his leadership. If he does elect to stick around it’s a bonus, but IMO the Rams have to dive into the deep end and finish their OL rebuild with PERMANENT vice temporary pieces. That is crucial IMO. And btw if he doesn’t want to return I would have a coaching staff position offer on the table for him too.
Of the RFA types Mundt needs to be aggressively tendered. IMO he might be an important piece in 2020 and I would be wary of some team trying to nab him so ensure compensation is sufficient if he’s signed away.
Zuerlein has had a down season before. I would bet on him bouncing back by locking him up for a few more years and hopefully a modest rate given his down year.
Last but not least I would sign Jalen Ramsey NOW. He’s not a guy who handles being tagged well. He’s also a guy the Rams gave up two high picks for. So there is zero reason to eff around. Top corners are currently at $15M I believe, he’s gonna make more than that. He is slated to make $13M this season under his current contract, so IMO get him locked up long term and adjust the early cap as needed. If the Rams don’t do this, they will lose him in FA or end up needing to trade him either of which are not ideal.
FREE AGENT ADDITIONS
C Conner McGovern (Broncos). Denver ate a couple seasons of development with him and he finally developed with a lot of credit being given to Munchak and deservedly so (he is a fine OL coach). But Denver also went back to the ZBS in 2019 which I think played a big part in McGovern’s positive showing. He is a fit, and he’s young at 27 and might still have his best ball ahead. Denver might very well tag him or get him signed, but he’s been better in pass pro than the run game so I believe he’ll hit FA and if so the Rams are weaker at Center than they are at Guard so he makes sense as a plug ‘n play signing. One silver lining here too is that Center is cheaper than Guard on the market, about $3M less at the top. Now all that aside if he doesn’t hit FA then I think Guard becomes more likely as that “settle down the interior” addition.
S Haha Clinton-Dix (Bears). I wanted this dude last year because I felt like we have a safety room full of guys who are moreso SS than FS. We got Weddle instead, who was also moreso a SS than a FS. Rams’ defense struggled in zone terribly, but they are also limited in cover 1 looks because they don’t have a guy who can be a ballhawk threat in the deep middle. HCD will change that and change the way our defense plays certain down/distances. With him deep middle, two safeties who can cover and tackle well underneath in JJ and Rapp, and our corners watch the F out if you want to pass vs the Rams’ defense.
DRAFT
*** Rams have additional round 3 pick due to Fowler trade.
*** Rams trade down from round 2 into round 3, and pick up a round 4 pick. I really like the talent level from our second round spot down through round 3.
3. DT Leki Fotu, Utah. Big (6’5” 335) and physical 1T who has good get off on the snap but who will be available to us because he’s not a consistently dominant nose on the interior. IMO he is an ideal fit for our defense because he’ll one-gap and he is also a nice talent fit to slide out to 5T where there’s less of the things that give him problems. I love this guy and he is the kind of player our defense needs to get where they want to go.
3. DL Ross Blacklock, TCU. Powerful lineman who can crush the pocket, also squirrely and hard for OL to lock up. Good sized (6’4” 305) DL who is capable of competing at 5T and giving us depth across the DL.
3. ILB Malik Harrison, Ohio St. This is the type of backer we see teams like Pittsburgh and Baltimore draft, the guy who is wired to get physical in the box and fill holes downhill. The type of player we need in this defense. At 6’3” 240 he’s big, physical, and has good closing speed not to mention he plays mean. Marginal pass defender, will need work there but this guy fits.
4. DL Nick Coe, Auburn. I like this guy for 5T depth but he has the strength on tape vs good opponents that makes me think he might do well inside too. Good size (6’5” 291) and a depth/competition addition to our front seven.
4. C/OG Lloyd Cushenberry, LSU. Another physical line of scrimmage addition who will slot into our depth at both center and guard. If he comes in hot he is talented enough to challenge Corbett at LG
4. OT Hakeem Adeniji, Kansas. Tons of snaps and experience as LT for Kansas but will need to get stronger at the NFL level. Project type to slot into our depth chart and will probably get the Kromer crosstraining as OG depth his rookie season.
4. OLB Alton Robinson, Syracuse. Raw and high upside talent who needs work, can slot right into our depth chart and help build that young edge pipeline and rotation we will be relying on this season. Has the size (6’4” 260) and physicality to play strong side early on if and when he sees the field.
6. RB AJ Dillon, Boston College. I think this guy might be able to do some fullback for us if McVay draws it up, but basically he is a 6’ and 250lb physical masher type replacement for Brown. Gurley is going to get the carries, but this guy can take the rock when you have a lead, short yardage situations, redzone, or whenever TG needs a blow and we want to crush some defense.
7. QB Nate Stanley, Iowa. Big QB and pocket passer who is solid to good but not great at everything. Looks like he might be able to stick as a backup QB.
DEPTH CHART
WR: Kupp, Webster
TE: Higbee, Everett, Mundt, Blanton
LT: Evans, Noteboom, Adeniji
LG: Corbett, Shelton
C: McGovern, Allen
RG: Edwards, Cushenberry
RT: Havenstein, Brewer
WR: Cooks, Reynolds
WR: Woods
QB: Goff, Wolford, Stanley
RB: Gurley, Henderson, Dillon, Kelly
Offense notes: would have liked to spend more draft capital on offensive linemen but we get one interior and one potential LT in the pipeline. Cushenberry insulates us at 3 positions inside and provides competition which is crucial IMO. Depth is very flexible with Shelton also backing up 3 positions inside and Brewer filling the primary depth role at RT. LT is the biggest question mark, but this line is built to run the ball and that run game balance along with play action is going to be required to support our passing game and that approach does work. And when Boom gets back hopefully he’ll provide primary LT depth.
3T: Donald, Blacklock
1T: Fotu, SJD, Gaines
5T: Fox, Coe
OLB: Ebukam, Okoronkwo, Patrick, Polite, Robinson
SILB: Harrison, Reeder, Kiser
ILB: Howard, Young
CB: Ramsey, Hill, Long, Deayon, Williams
S: Clinton-Dix, Johnson, Rapp, Scott, Gervase
Defense notes: the influx of front seven talent is required IMO. We have to be more stout vs the run and our new DC is used to better talent at linebacker so Harrison was a requirement IMO. Howard fills the Littleton role of 3rd down much cheaper. And on the back end we will be much more varied and dangerous in pass defense and there is room for creativity with the 3 top safeties not to mention the aforementioned improvement in cover 1.
Overall... Is this roster ready to compete with the 9ers? I think so. We needed fresh blood up front defensively, as well as more talent and competition on the OL. Not entirely happy with the OL, however if Corbett tanks in camp Cushenberry is more than capable of sliding in a LG and taking his job. The line will be young and physical so I hope that's enough but let's hear it dudes I know you're ready to crush my feeble attempts at team building!
