View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2826694-an-early-look-at-the-2020-nfl-free-agent-class#slide5

1. Tackle
   1. Bryan Bulaga, Green Bay Packers
   2. Andrew Whitworth, Los Angeles Rams
   3. George Fant, Seattle Seahawks
   4. Anthony Castonzo, Indianapolis Colts
   5. Joe Staley, San Francisco 49ers
   Like the quarterbacks, most of the offensive tackles are older veterans who aren't long-term fixes. Contenders needing bridge options should be intrigued with Andrew Whitworth (37) and Joe Staley (turns 35 in August) should they come available despite their advanced ages. Both have remained effective through excellent technique and intelligence.
   The youngest option in the top five, George Fant, took a solid leap in 2018 after Mike Solari replaced Tom Cable as Seattle's offensive line coach. Fant will be turning 28 next year and has great athleticism at right tackle. He could get money similar to Ja'Wuan James, who signed a four-year, $51 million deal with the Denver Broncos this month.
   There are potential sleepers in the class. La'el Collins hasn't yet proved himself to be reliable, but he could turn the corner in 2019 as he continues to gain experience at right tackle. The Carolina Panthers' Daryl Williams can also cash in if he stays healthy after tearing his MCL in training camp last season and repeats his 2017 play.
   
   Guard
   1. Brandon Scherff, Washington Redskins
   2. Joe Thuney, New England Patriots
   3. Clint Boling, Cincinnati Bengals
   4. Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens
   5. Andrus Peat, New Orleans Saints
   The top of the guard market looks primed to do well in free agency. Both Brandon Scherff, 27, and Joe Thuney, 26, are excellent interior blockers in their primes. Scherff is especially good in the running game, and Thuney has become a masterful pass-blocker.
   Veterans Clint Boling (who turns 30 in May) and Marshal Yanda (34) are two former elites at the position, but age has left them less reliable. Neither can be viewed as more than a one-year starter who will need to be replaced sooner rather than later.
   The guard market dies after those four, as the inconsistent Andrus Peat headlines the rest. If an unheralded backup steps into a bigger role in 2019, the class would benefit. Otherwise, there's not a clear starter in the remaining names.
   
   Center
   1. Cody Whitehair, Chicago Bears
   2. JC Tretter, Cleveland Browns
   3. Rodney Hudson, Oakland Raiders
   4. Mike Pouncey, Los Angeles Chargers
   5. Ben Jones, Tennessee Titans
   Teams needing an upgrade at center could be looking at a solid group that has a variety of strengths. The two youngest options are Cody Whitehair (turns 27 in July) and JC Tretter (28). Though the center position theoretically ages well because of the limited range needed compared to other line spots, adding a potential long-term upgrade is ideal.
   Both Rodney Hudson and Mike Pouncey will be 31 next offseason but bring different talents. Hudson is reliable, missing just three regular-season games since 2013. He fits best in a power-blocking scheme. Pouncey's durability issues led to his release from Miami following the 2017 campaign, but he's a solid zone-blocking center.
   Jones will be 31 next summer but has brought stability to the Titans in his three seasons in Tennessee. He strikes a good balance between power and zone teams, so he could be the best value of the group.

===============================================================

Take it for what's it worth... Tom Brady only been sacked one less time than him.

Now I realize sacks don't tell the entire pressure story- if anyone could find something that lists pressures that would be awesome.

I could not.

We are what our records says we are - average. Interested in thoughts on how you'd rank our issues based on 2018 to 2019 regression.

Are complete shit.

While the doctors take their sweet ass time figuring out what is wrong with me, they are currently giving me the same pain treatment as someone with RA(Something I Do Not Have)

They have me on Meloxicam, coupled with Cymbalta for pain management. As you all know, Cymbalta is an anti depressant in nature, but they tell me it works great for pain relief as well.

About 4 months ago they put me on 30mg of it and the two meds combined took care of the pain. And the boost in my mood from the Cymbalta was welcomed. The pain started creeping through again and last month they put me on 60mg, the max dose.

The pain is gone again, but I noticed about two weeks ago that I started having these lulls where I just wanted to be alone and be quiet. It would last 15-30 minutes but they are coming more often and lasting hours it seems now. All I want to do it go home and not deal with anyone. I even have moments of terrible thoughts. I’ve never felt anything like this in my life.

I am not sure what to do. Without the medicine, I walk like Frankenstein. With it, I want to jump in front of a train.

Why would a doctor prescribe something like this?

This is incredible.

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Happy Veteran’s Day everyone!

Monday Night Football: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers

"Monday Night Football" gets to return to its roots as for one week at least it has the game of the week in the NFL for Week 10. The Seattle Seahawks (7-2) will head on down to Levi’s Stadium to take on the San Francisco 49ers (8-0). This game has the potential to reignite a rivalry that was epic to watch when Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh went head-to-head earlier this decade with a berth in the Super Bowl on the line.

The first half of the 2019 season has proven that there is never a dull moment when watching Seattle play against any level of opponent. Last week, the Seahawks outlasted Tampa Bay 40-34 in overtime. This game had everything with Russell Wilson throwing for 378 yards and five touchdowns. Wilson now has thrown 22 TD passes and just one interception after nine games. Chris Carson added 105 rushing yards on 16 carries against the NFL's No. 1-ranked rushing defense. Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf were lights out catching the football as they combined for 19 receptions, 275 yards, and three touchdowns. As for the defense, it was the same old song and dance, as Seattle gave Jameis Winston too much time in the pocket. As a result, Mike Evans lit up the Seahawks' secondary for 12 receptions, 180 yards, and a touchdown.

San Francisco was tested a little bit by Arizona last Thursday night before holding the Cardinals off 28-25. Jimmy Garoppolo was on point throwing the ball, finishing with 317 yards, four touchdowns, and most importantly, no turnovers. Emmanuel Sanders showed up with 112 receiving yards and a score. Tight end George Kittle also had a big day as he caught six passes for 79 yards and a touchdown but left the game late due to a knee injury. Linebacker Kwon Alexander also was lost for the season after suffering a torn left pectoral muscle. It will be interesting to see how the 49ers' defense responds without Alexander, who was viewed as the heart and soul of the unit.

Seattle at San Francisco

Kickoff: Monday, Nov. 11 at 8:15 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: 49ers -6.5

Three Things to Watch

1. Seahawks' wide receivers vs. 49ers' secondary

After picking up Josh Gordon off waivers, Seattle has added another potentially dangerous weapon to the mix to go along with Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf. The Seahawks were the only team to put in a waiver claim on Gordon which is interesting because you would have thought that a struggling team like the Dolphins or someone else would have. Gordon has 20 receptions for 287 yards and a touchdown on the season during his time with New England. Now, the challenge for Seattle's receiving corps is making plays against San Francisco's secondary. The 49ers are No. 1 in the NFL with 138.1 passing yards per game allowed. Richard Sherman leads the team with three interceptions and he has been a nice leader for the younger defensive backs. It will be interesting to see how successful Lockett, Metcalf, and Gordon (assuming he plays, he's been limited in practice with an ankle injury) are in getting separation. If the Seahawks' pass catchers can't get open, it could lead to a long night for this offense.

2. 49ers' offense vs. Seattle defense

It is clear that San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan likes running the football with Matt Breida, Tevin Coleman and the rest of the backs on the roster. However, with the Seattle secondary having some issues and the defense's inability to pressure the quarterback one would expect to see Jimmy Garoppolo turned loose throwing the ball early in this game. The Seahawks currently rank 28th in the NFL against the pass (278.1 ypg, 28th in sacks per game (1.7), and 29th in sack percentage (4.2). If San Francisco's offensive line can take control of the line of scrimmage it will open up the entire playbook for the 49ers. Emmanuel Sanders will need to be a huge factor in this game with crossing and slant routes as Seattle has a tendency to play soft with their coverage to avoid the big play. George Kittle is considered Doubtful to play on Monday night, which will make things easier on Seattle's linebacking corps, which is the strength of the defense and is led by Bobby Wagner.

3. Battle of attrition

Both teams are battling some key injuries heading into this week’s showdown. Kittle likely won't play on Monday night after undergoing an MRI and missing practice due to knee and ankle injuries. Kicker Robbie Gould also is considered Doubtful after suffering a quadriceps injury earlier in the week and the 49ers signed Chase McLaughlin to replace him. The offensive line could get a boost if starting tackles Joe Staley and Mike McGlinchey, both listed as Questionable, are able to return. This could prove even more beneficial if Seattle's Jadeveon Clowney, who is battling a toe injury and has missed practice time but does not career an injury designation for this game, is limited. Left tackle Duane Brown also should play but how effective he will be is unknown as he's been battling a biceps and knee injury and only got in a limited practice session on Saturday. The Seahawks need their best offensive lineman to deal with San Francisco's fierce pass rush (30 sacks, third in the league), which is led by the likes of Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead, and Dee Ford.

Final Analysis

Home-field advantage should decide this one as San Francisco fans should be at a fever pitch on Monday night. Russell Wilson is an MVP candidate for a reason, and he will keep the Seahawks in this game until the end. However, the 49ers have the better defense and will find a way to get a key stop late in the second half to seal the victory to the NFL's lone undefeated team. The win will give San Francisco complete command of the NFC West heading into the home stretch of the season.

Prediction: 49ers 27, Seahawks 20

Five Takeaways: Gurley, defense bright spots for Rams in loss to Steelers

PITTSBURGH – A 17-12 loss to the Steelers at Heinz Field certainly wasn't the result the Rams wanted, but the performances of Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald gave the Rams performances to build off of in defeat.

Here are five instant takeaways from the matchup:

1) Gurley gets going.

Starter Todd Gurley looked explosive against a formidable front seven, finishing with 12 carries for 73 yards.
His 22-yard run in the third quarter helped open up play action for the Rams offense on a drive that ended with a 30-yard field goal by kicker Greg Zuerlein. Five of his attempts went for six or more yards.

Overall, his 6.1 yard per carry average was best since averaging 6.9 on 14 carries for 97 yards against the Panthers in the season-opener.

2) Donald has impactful homecoming.

It took some time, but Rams DT Aaron Donald eventually gave family and friends in attendance something to smile about.

Early in the fourth quarter, the former University of Pittsburgh standout combined with LB Clay Matthews to sack Steelers QB Mason Rudolph in the endzone for a safety. It cut Los Angeles’ deficit to two and was one of multiple plays by the defense that kept the Steelers within striking distance late.

3) Offensive line experiences planned and unplanned shuffling.

The Rams’ adjustments to the offensively were both expected and unexpected.

They expected to start Austin Blythe at left guard and David Edwards, who started the previous two games there, at right guard. They didn’t expect to lose starting center Brian Allen and starting right tackle Rob Havenstein to injuries.

The unexpected meant Austin Corbett making his Rams debut and playing left guard, with Blythe shifting over to center. Edwards moved over to right tackle, and Coleman Shelton was inserted at right guard.

Shelton was the last of the active offensive linemen for the Rams on Sunday, which tells you how hard the group was hit by those setbacks.

4) Third down woes hinder offensive rhythm.

Besides turnovers, an inability to convert on third down made it difficult for the Rams' offense to get going throughout the night.

L.A. converted on just one of 14 on third down, and head coach Sean McVay said there were "so many stoppages" that didn't allow the Rams offense to get into a rhythm.

It was obviously an unusual performance by the offense, which entered Sunday's game converting 40.4 percent of its third down tries.

5) Win as a team, lose as a team.

There was no finger pointing in the Rams locker room.

Yes, the comeback fell short, but blame was shared in the loss that snapped a two-game winning streak for Los Angeles. Donald even said the defense could've done more.

They will regroup as a team and move on to next week's game against the Bears as a team.

The 2018 LOS ANGELES RAMS!!!

Can ANYONE Help me Find them (SOON!)?!!!

If if were me in charge, here's the moves I would start planning on making.

1. Trade Gurley before the draft (if possible) for a late round #1 pick?
2. If Cooks wants to keep playing, try trading him for whatever we can get for him. (Need to save money with him, he's not a difference maker at the money he's getting.) Even if we only get a 3rd for him, do it.
3. Let Brockers go or redo his deal for much lower if he wants.

With whatever players we trade for, or whatever draft picks we get from trading Gurley and Cooks, spend them ALL on some decent O-line.

We must fix the O-line this off season.
If we don't get at least a top 15 o-line, it doesn't matter what skill players we have.

“All I Want For Christmas” is a Competent Offensive Line!!!

That we don’t even get vets day gear? Wow, wtf? I know we’d represent.

Anyone know what happened there?

I've been saying it for months. This is on Kromer! Blythe and Havenstein are scrubs and have no business starting. Blythe has proved beyond all doubt he's not a OG or Center. Rob can't handle speed especially on the outside. Bench both NOW!!

Corbett is clearly the LG they want. It's why they traded for him and he played better than Blythe ever has so let him continue to start at LG. Time to start Shelton at Center because Blythe is too much of a turnstile. Edwards, lack of polish is showing. He struggled on occasion at LG but it was on full display when they targeted him. Time to sign Brewer to the active roster and start him at RG. It's time to start Evans at RT and bench Rob.

LT Whitworth
LG Corbett
C Shelton
RG Brewer
RT Evans

Swings, Havenstein & Demby (who has outplayed Blythe to date)

Blythe has played worse than Demby has and that is clear. IMO they should just cut Blythe as he's a liability at any position and that was made very very clear in this game. His blown block caused the so called fumble that is the losing difference. No hiding it or excuses anymore he needs to be benched.

IMO this is on Kromer who reviews all the plays every game. If he can't see it then he needs to go as well. He's been slow in changing the blocking scheme when it was clear the outside zone wasn't working. He's kept Blythe and Havenstein as starters even though he can see beyond any doubt they were scrubs. He's the o-line and run offense coordinator. It's his responsibility for the failures.

Big pot of wife’s Chili.

So I can shit on this game!

alm:

Wow... freaking refs man. To go that long with shitty OLine play and to let the refs f us multiple times.

It’s impossible to have a QB’s arm hit in the backwards direction and have the ball end up 10 yds downfield without it being a forward pass.

I can see if the hit comes from behind, there is a judgement call, but when it happens like that, physics wins every time.


Joke of a league...

We have had a thread about your Rams worst. Give us your best. I know many of you have great memories and connections. My best memories are of winning the SB and anytime we beat the Cowboys or Vikings in the 70s. My closest connection would be Larry Brooks and I went to the same High School and played for the same Head Coach. ( 8 to 10 years apart) I not wanting to step on Larry's toes did not play for the NFL. Lets here yours.

Florio called him Country Club Goff. Dave Richards of CBS said when you get inside pressure on Goff he goes “Oh no! Oh no! Then he throws the ball to the other team.”

That’s a common narrative out there on Goff right now. It may be sloppy and lack context, but you can see where it came from. When Goff has faced strong defensive fronts like Chicago, Denver, Philly, NE, and just recently SF, Goff has struggled, often turning the ball over. Yet, he often looks super when he faces weak fronts. They go on to say, when Goff plays in cold weather, he also has problems. Hence, the Florio label of Country Club Goff.

Today Goff will face a strong defensive front, in a hostile, chilly, and possibly windy, environment. Not your typical country club atmosphere. This is a huge test for him. I’m rooting hard for him to shut up the naysayers.

What is on YOUR menu today?

I am making a pot of ham and beans, with onion, carrots, bacon.

A queso dip.

We’ll also fry some donuts.

Definitely making a LEFT turn today...

The first being, former Rams DE 1st round pick Grant Wistrom. He became a Super Bowl champion with the Rams and played in another with the Rams in 2001. He played with the Rams for six years before becoming a free agent, and he went to....the Hawks!

The second guy was a pivotal mlb for the Rams in the 1970’s and was the Rams Super Bowl losing team, Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds. I can’t remember the reason why he went to the 49ers, but I’m sure Georgia F. Had some hand it! He was my favorite Rams player at the time, and that one left a bruise!

Both players left the Rams and had success with their new teams, as Wistrom went to a Super Bowl with Holmgren’s Hawks and Hacksaw won a Super Bowl with the 49ers, damn him! I guess we don’t talk about them, even though they both played the bulk of their careers with our team, because they had that success with hated rivals. Ike Bruce went to the Niners as well, but they sucked in the short time he was there....Kurt Warner left and had success with the Cardinals, and now he’s dead to me (I have a lot of Kurt Warner Super Bowl crap if anyone’s interested...)

Now even journalists are turning traitor, with Vinny the Rat, and Myles the Geek Simmons becoming Raidah’ bois in Vegas.

Sunday Night Football: Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys

A pair of teams jockeying for playoff positioning in the NFC will square off when the Minnesota Vikings meet the Dallas Cowboys the Week 10 edition of "Sunday Night Football."

The Cowboys (5-3) have had an interesting start to the 2019 season. After opening with three straight wins they dropped three in a row before righting the ship and have now won their past two games. During that span, they have outscored their opponents, both divisional rivals, a surprising 74-28.

The Vikings (6-3), on the other hand, were on a four-game winning streak of their own before a crushing 26-23 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last Sunday. Minnesota led 23-20 with less than 11 minutes left in the game but Matt Moore, playing in place of an injured Patrick Mahomes, orchestrated two drives in the final 2:30 that led to a pair of Harrison Butker field goals, the last being a 44-yarder as time expired.

Minnesota at Dallas
Kickoff: Sunday, Nov. 10 at 8:20 p.m. ET
TV: NBC
Spread: Dallas -3

Three Things to Watch

1. The health of Leighton Vander Esch

There were a lot of people who felt like the Cowboys reached when they selected Vander Esch, a linebacker from Boise State, in the first round (19th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft. Those people ended up being completely wrong.

As a rookie, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound headhunter racked up a franchise-record 140 tackles to go along with seven pass deflections and two interceptions. His second season has not been as productive, but he is still considered one of the best young linebackers in the game.

Unfortunately, Vander Esch was forced to miss the Monday night game due to a neck/stringer injury. He's back to being a limited participant in practice, which is a good sign, but his health is something to monitor as Dallas attempts to slow down Minnesota running back Dalvin Cook.

2. Dalvin Cook vs. Dallas front seven

Speaking of Cook, his matchup against the front seven for the Cowboys will be one of the more intriguing of this game. In nine games, the former second-round pick has rushed for 894 yards, which leads the NFL, and nine touchdowns (second in the league behind Christian McCaffrey).

Dallas, on the other hand, has fielded one of the league’s best run defenses. On the season, the Cowboys have only given up 748 yards, good for eighth in that category. The addition of a player like newly-acquired defensive lineman Michael Bennett should only add to the depth up front. That depth is even more important as long as Vander Esch is limited by the neck injury.

Be sure to keep an eye on Cook and his success — or potential lack thereof. If the Cowboys can force the Vikings to be one-dimensional on offense, it could certainly bode well for their chances of winning their third straight game.

3. Dan Bailey's return to AT&T Stadium

If you were to ask the average Cowboys fan about the best kicker in franchise history, most would say it was Bailey.

The 31-year-old spent seven seasons in Dallas and made 186 of his 211 field goal attempts (88.2 percent). The last two seasons, however, Bailey has spent in Minnesota as a member of the Vikings.

His first season did not yield great results (21-of-28 FGs, 75.0 percent), but the Oklahoma State product seems to be bouncing back nicely in Year 2 with the team. So far, Bailey has hit 13 of his 15 field goal attempts (86.7 percent). But he has missed two extra points this season already, which already ties a career-high.

It will be fun to see him make a return trip to Dallas to take on his former team on Sunday night.

Final Analysis

The home-away splits for the Vikings have been more than noticeable this season. While the team is 4-0 inside U.S. Bank Stadium, they’re only 2-3 on the road. In those three losses, they’ve only been outscored 63-45, which is an average difference of only six points per game.

With the way Dallas is playing, it is likely that the Vikings will drop another game on the road, but it will be close. That three-point Vegas line makes a lot of sense in this one, so we are going to use it.

Prediction: Cowboys 27, Vikings 23

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Game Day Thread

The GDT is a live thread tradition here at ROD.

While we all get fired up watching the game, please remember our core principles; we always show respect for our team and each other.

Despite the emotional highs and lows watching a game, we will moderate this thread with that in mind, however please refrain from name calling. This applies to players, the Rams organization, and others.

This is the core rule of the GDT. Moderators are tasked to issue thread bans, at a minimum, to maintain this standard.

This is our team. Win or lose. Good days and bad. We are here for FUN, not to be dragged down.

A more loosely moderated atmosphere can be found in the chat room.

Go Rams!

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Game Day Chat Room:

GANE DAY CHAT