GREG BEACHAM (AP Sports Writer), The Associated Press 1 hour 3 minutes ago



Dallas Cowboys defensive end Joe Jackson, right, tries to block the pass of Los Angeles Rams quarterback John Wolford during the second half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019, in Honolulu. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- That 13-3 loss in the Super Bowl looms large over the Los Angeles Rams. Their high-scoring ascent to the NFL's elite over two thrilling seasons somehow culminated in one of the most lifeless offensive performances in big game history.
It's the last thing anybody expected from a team coached by Sean McVay, who masterminded the Rams' rise with innovative thinking at every turn - until Bill Belichick's sturdy old defense had an answer for everything.

The youngest NFL coach ever to win a playoff game thinks a whole lot more about the last one he lost. Redemption for McVay and quarterback Jared Goff starts next month when the Rams resume their championship chase.
''We can build on a lot of things going into this season, and what we've been able to do over the last couple of years in developing a foundation,'' McVay said. ''But our players know you earn it every day in this league. All we can do is learn from last year, but we've got to produce right now.''
The Rams have won 24 regular-season games, two division titles and an NFC championship in the brief time since McVay took over a franchise with 13 consecutive non-winning seasons. Los Angeles returns with many reasons to think it can stay on top, but enough potential concerns to keep players and coaches sharp.
''I think it just makes us that much more hungry,'' cornerback Marcus Peters said. ''We see exactly where we can be at if we just put our focus into getting better every day. Put the hard work in, and it will pay off for us.''

Clay Matthews didn't join his hometown team until a few months ago, so he'll carry nothing from that disappointment in Atlanta into this season. And from what he's seen of the Rams so far, the six-time Pro Bowl linebacker won't be surprised if he gets to play for his second championship ring this season.
''There's so much talent around here,'' Matthews said. ''There's just a level of talent that we should be able to put something together and do something special. I can't speak on behalf of any hangover or curse, or whatever you like to call it. But this team looks primed and ready to make another run at it.''
The Rams didn't add a wealth of proven veterans to their roster, but they also didn't lose a tremendous amount of talent. McVay and general manager Les Snead are counting on Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods and Andrew Whitworth to remain among the NFL's best at their respective jobs, and they plan to fill any gaps with coaching, effort and their veteran leadership.
''We're just excited to get going back to where we ended last year,'' Gurley said.

Here are more things to know about the Rams:

TIME TO GET PAID

Goff and Peters are likely playing to determine the largesse of their next contracts. Goff is in the fourth season of his five-year rookie deal. The Rams have repeatedly said they will sign him to a long-term contract, and his 19-for-38 performance in the Super Bowl didn't alter that plan. Peters is in the final year of his rookie deal, but said he never considered holding out.

NOT TURNOVER PRONE

Matthews and safety Eric Weddle joined the defense, but they're the only veteran newcomers likely to make an impact; another addition is backup quarterback Blake Bortles. The Rams also didn't make a first-round pick for the third straight year, but rookies including defensive back Taylor Rapp and nose tackle Greg Gaines could play early.

NEW LINE

The Rams are taking their biggest risk on the offensive line, where untested second-year pros Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen got the jobs of departed stalwarts Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan. LA had remarkable line consistency for two years, but McVay seems supremely confident in the newcomers.

99 AD

Donald participated in his first training camp since 2016, no longer holding out to get the huge contract he finally received. The Rams will need the back-to-back AP Defensive Player of the Year in elite form from the start because he has lost the help of nose tackle Ndamukong Suh, who left as a free agent and essentially wasn't replaced. Donald's life of constant double-teams is unlikely to improve, but he's used to it.

KNEEDING HELP

The Rams haven't gone into detail about the condition of Gurley's knee, which limited him down the stretch and allowed the since-departed C.J. Anderson to revive his career. Gurley and the Rams actually might be better off if he isn't among the NFL's top five in touches this season, as he has been in each of the previous three years. Longtime backup Malcolm Brown should get more action, and Los Angeles used a third-round pick on Memphis' speedy Darrell Henderson to provide options for McVay. The Rams are determined to optimize Gurley's effectiveness in the final season before his four-year, $60 million contract extension begins.
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So first off I don't think the Rams are in the market for help, because they have made a conscious decision to go with youth and affordability at some positions as they continue to lock down the key guys. But then again you never know what a team is thinking, so who is out there that might be looked at as a way to improve the roster?

OL
Jermy Parnell (OT): guy who IMO is more a swing tackle but he's better than some of our bottom roster types. Getting up there in years at 33.
Ryan Schraeder (OT): plus tackle in 2017 but fell off a damn cliff last season, and he's 31. Potential short-term reclamation.
Vlad Ducasse (OG): better in pass pro than run, not a very good player, he is 31. Does have ability to play different spots.
Evan Smith (OG/C): 33 year old vet who struggled and played with hip problems last year.

It's fugly tbh. Of all these guys the only one I'd even be interesting in working out is Schraeder, and he struggled badly last season. Parnell is probably better than some guys on the bottom end of the roster but do you want to make room for a guy who is a high risk to sail into retirement? Wonder what he's looking for, and whether he'd play for a bottom feeder contract (probably not).

Seems like roster cutdowns will be the way the bottom of that roster is adjusted, if they make a move.

Is this dude off to a hot start or what. It seems like every player on that OLB depth chart has made enormous strides, to include a player moved over to the group a couple weeks ago.

Coaches pay attention to that stuff. IMO this dude is making a name for himself already.

I have a spot open in a 10 team Yahoo FF league drafting tonight at 8 EST. League name is Lightning RODS. Somebody jump in there and fill it. Just for fun, no cash involved.

By: Cameron DaSilva | 18 hours ago

For most teams, the third preseason game is when starters play the most. It’s often called the “dress rehearsal” for the regular season, giving key players one last tune-up before the real games begin.
That won’t be the case for the Los Angeles Rams this weekend. After seeing the Rams play a handful of defensive starters in the third preseason game last year – albeit, for just one series – there was some speculation that they might put starters out there on Saturday against the Broncos.

Sean McVay cleared that up in his press conference Wednesday, saying the Rams will continue holding their top players out.
“When you look at some of the continuity that we have now on both sides of the ball coming back, you say, ‘OK, if something were to happen, is it really worth that risk?’ And in our mind, we just feel that answer is no,” McVay said. “That’s the approach we’re taking. I total understand if people don’t agree with that, but we always make decisions that we feel are in the best interest of our team, and that’s really just for this unit.”

The explanation makes sense. Last year, the Rams had a bunch of new starters. Cory Littleton was stepping in at linebacker, Ndamukong Suh was a newcomer, and both Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters were in their first year with the Rams. McVay and Wade Phillips wanted to give them one series as a unit before pulling them.
With so many returning starters on both sides of the ball, McVay feels comfortable with the team heading into the regular season.
“Not that we have it figured out by any stretch, but that’s just the approach that we think is best for us,” he said. “And we feel good about having gotten the chance to have those four practice opportunities against the Chargers and Raiders combined, and then we’ll get the chance to have some inter-squad scrimmages over the next week and a half or so.”
It remains to be seen if the Broncos will play their starters as they have the last two weeks. Coach Vic Fangio said “that’s up in the air right now,” so it’s possible Denver will rest its starters, as well – especially with this being the team’s fourth preseason game.

Think about it. Rams apparently could use some help for OL depth beyond Edwards. Someone that has a little experience and could step in immediately in the event of injury to a starter. Or maybe just a developmental player that Kromer likes. Almost makes too much sense, huh?

Evans and Demby May have an NFL future, but the future could be as early as September if an injury should occur. Just when the Rams are trying to build a lead in a race to another SB.

So, the need seems to be there for right now.

The good news is that Snead seems to have the quality assets for trade bait at multiple positions at this point and the Rams are certainly showcasing many players that might help another team that is thin at these positions:

WR
OLB
ILB
CB
S

A trade for future picks would be nice and certainly better than just cutting a promising player at a loaded position for the Rams. But a player-for-player swap would be twice as nice for this ‘19 SB hopeful team.

I’m sure that Snead is miles ahead of me on this and if it can be done then he will do it. Would truly seem to be a win-win-win for all parties.

By: Steve Rebeiro | 3 hours ago

It comes as no surprise that the Rams don’t plan on playing their starters this preseason. It does come as a mild surprise that WR Josh Reynolds seems to be included in this group.
The third-year wideout was called upon when the Rams lost Cooper Kupp for the season midway through the 2018 season. Reynolds quickly became a reliable target for Jared Goff and made some big plays for the team down the stretch. With Kupp back in action and Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks firmly ahead of Reynolds on the depth chart, it seemed likely that Reynolds would have reverted back into a reserve role.

The Rams, however, do not seem to share this sentiment.
“I think he’s really taken a huge step from April to now, just with the way he’s been playing and the standard he holds himself to,” Goff said about the improvements he’s seen from Reynolds since last season. “When you’re in the room with those three guys that are starters, with Robert, Brandin and Cooper, you have to be at that standard and I think Josh understands that. Josh easily fills in does everything that they can do and he knows that. I have just as much faith and trust in him as I do the other three, so he’s a fourth starter for us. I know we’ve mentioned that. Truly a fourth starter and a guy that we can put in there at any position and anytime, and does a great job. Just seeing him progress over the last year has been awesome. like I said, I have so much faith in him now.”
“Fourth starter” is not a term often used to describe an NFL wide receiver, but it certainly feels apt here. Reynolds has yet to play a snap in this preseason. When the Rams hold guys out of the preseason, it’s usually players that will both have a big role and have proved they don’t need the work. Even expected starter Micah Kiser and veteran quarterback Blake Bortles were forced to suit up this preseason.
“I thought Josh Reynolds has been outstanding,” Sean McVay said after a joint-practice with the Chargers earlier this month. When he got a chance to step in last year, he became a big-time starting receiver for us. That’s kind of how we look at it. He seamlessly can play both outside positions as he continues to gain ownership of the offense.”

Based on what Goff and McVay have said about Reynolds, it sounds like there are plans to use him in this offense. The bigger question is how much will they use him? The Rams were not much for spelling starters on offense last season. Woods, Cooks, Kupp, and Todd Gurley did not come off the field much. After Kupp went down, the same was true for Reynolds. Tight ends Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee split time, but the Rams almost always ran a three wide receiver, one running back and one tight end set with mostly the same players – 11 personnel, as it’s called.
It seems like this will change heading in 2019. The Rams offense stagnated after the bye week last year. Teams were finally able to figure out the offense a little bit. The addition of C.J. Anderson reignited the offense for the playoff run, but they were once again shut down in the Super Bowl. Expect the Rams to mix it up given the emergence of Reynolds and the injury history of Gurley and Kupp.
Reynolds is, and will likely remain, the WR4 in Los Angeles. That doesn’t mean he won’t be playing. He’s going to get his chances to shine, and if last season was any indication, he’s going to take the ball and run with it. Goff said it best: he’s the fourth starter.



While a big fan of Reynolds, I can't help from feeling he is the Rams best example of trade bait. He's likely to have many fewer snaps this season with a healthy Cooper Kupp returning, and with what appears like quality potential back-ups in Thomas, Hodge, Webster & Lloyd waiting in the wings, no telling what Snead might get back in trade ... jmo.

I can’t believe how far we’ve come. This morning, I came across an article on the front cover of ESPN:

“Realistic 2019 goals for the NFL’s worst teams”

I didn’t click on it because I know the rams are not going to be one of those teams. How incredible is that for a team that used to have me worrying about punt returns for fear of muffing it (pre-Amendola)?

After what we went through, I’m so grateful to be where we are today, with a stable team and building an actual program. Don’t take this for granted, fellas.

Pluto free TV has the NFL channel. I'm still new at streaming, but Pluto is a great one. I'm not sure when it started and how long it will last. Please add more information.

By: Cameron DaSilva | 23 hours ago

Aaron Donald will one day go down as arguably the greatest defensive tackle in NFL history. After a remarkable, record-setting 2018 season, he’s moved one step closer to punching his ticket to Canton when it’s all said and done.
With 20.5 sacks (a defensive tackle record) and an NFL-high 25 tackles for loss, it was truly one of the best seasons ever by a defensive lineman. He isn’t the only Rams defender to put together an all-time great campaign, though.

Robert Quinn had one of his own in 2013 when he was named the PFWA Defensive Player of the Year. In Pro Football Focus’ eyes, that was the best season by an edge defender in the site’s history.
Donald’s overall grade of 95.0 was tied for the highest ever at any position and the best ever by an interior defender. Quinn’s grade of 93.6 is the best in PFF history by an edge defender, too.

Here’s what PFF wrote about Donald’s incredible 2018 season.

There are a number of Aaron Donald seasons that would have been good enough to take this spot. If it weren’t his 2018 season, it would have been his 2017 season, which he finished with a 94.4 overall grade; if it weren’t his 2017 season, it would have been his 2015 season, which he finished with a 93.0 overall grade. You get the point. Donald’s 2018 season surpassed what we thought was possible — even for him — for a player on the defensive interior. His 95.0 overall grade is the best single-season grade ever recorded by a player at the position; his 23.0% pass-rush win rate and his 10.1 pass-rush productivity both ranked first among interior defensive lineman last year.

Click to expand...

Quinn didn’t put up the numbers that Donald did, but his 2013 season was one of the best ever by a Rams pass rusher – at least in the era since sacks became an official stat. He was a nightmare for left tackles to block, consistently getting around them with his speed and phenomenal technique.

To this day, Robert Quinn’s outstanding 2013 season still holds the best overall grade ever recorded by an edge defender, and for good reason. Playing 99.4% of his pass-rush snaps from the right side, Quinn was almost unblockable all season long and ended the campaign with 19 sacks, 21 hits and 51 hurries from his 478 pass-rush snaps. His 91 total pressures are still tied for the sixth-most ever recorded by an edge defender over the course of a single season; he led the league that year in pass-rush productivity and also ranked fifth among his peers in run-defense grade (84.2).

Click to expand...

One other Rams player made PFF’s list of the best single-season grades at each position, and it’s Eric Weddle. Only, his season didn’t come as a member of the Rams. It was in 2012 with the Chargers, earning an overall grade of 92.2.
Donald and Quinn are two of the better pass rushers the Rams have had in recent memory, it’s just unfortunate that injuries limited Quinn in St. Louis and L.A.

• 
  
  Lindsey ThiryESPN

IRVINE, Calif. -- There's a big decision on the horizon, and although training camp is in full swing, it has nothing to do with Los Angeles Ramsfootball.
It's Silver Weddle's eighth birthday, and for the first time since she was teeny-tiny, Dad is with her -- on her actual birthday -- to celebrate.
"I don't know yet!" she says, when her father, Rams safety Eric Weddle, asks where she wants to eat for dinner.
The entire Weddle family -- Eric's wife, Chanel, and kids, Brooklyn, 11, Gaige, 10, Silver, 8, and Kamri, 5 -- have made the 90-minute drive from their home in Poway, California, 20 miles northeast of San Diego, to watch Dad's practice at UC Irvine and celebrate
All four of Weddle's children are wearing Rams attire, and aside from a post-practice introduction to Los Angeles coach Sean McVay, there's no sign that they're a new addition to the team.

"It feels like I've been here my whole career," Weddle says.
Weddle, 34, played nine seasons -- and was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro -- for the San Diego Chargers before an acrimonious ending that resulted in him signing with the Baltimore Ravens.
He made three Pro Bowl appearances in three seasons with Baltimore, even as his production sharply declined in 2018. The Ravens released Weddle before the final season of his four-year contract.
Three days later, he signed with the Rams.

"I had tons of opportunities to go other places for a lot more money," says Weddle, who is playing on a two-year, $10.5 million deal. "But it's just not a reality at this point of my career. It's a great opportunity to come to an amazing organization, an established team with an amazing coach, go out and put my stamp on things and try to help lead this team to a championship."
Weddle replaces safety Lamarcus Joyner, who signed with the Oakland Raiders in free agency. Weddle joins a secondary that includes veteran Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters, rising star John Johnson III and rookie Taylor Rapp.
"He's really a coach on the field," Peters says of Weddle. "The way that he's disguising and giving you opportunities to make plays just based off his disguise, it's amazing to have him here."

Despite this being Weddle's first season playing in Wade Phillips' scheme, he has been designated as the signal-caller of the defense.
Phillips calls him a "personality," and given the 72-year-old defensive coordinator's own quirks, it seems fitting.
"You can tell by looking at him or talking to him," Phillips says.
Weddle, who has 29 career interceptions, sports a trademark beard and fashions his hair in a mini-mohawk. But appearance and outgoing personality aside, it's his football savvy that is making the biggest impact.
"He's a really smart guy, smarter than I am, I know," Phillips says. "He anticipates so much and helps other players so much by helping them anticipate by saying, 'Hey watch for this, do this, this might be coming.'"
Weddle also is comfortable making suggestions to Phillips, even as the legendary coach enters his 42nd season in the NFL.
"He will come to us about things and say, 'Why don't we do this or that?'" Phillips says. "And we say, 'Yeah, let's do that.' That's the way he is; he's thinking football all the time, and he's got a real sharp mind, football IQ."
Perhaps no player has benefited more from Weddle's arrival than fourth-year quarterback Jared Goff, who is in search of any advantage to improve on his 32-touchdown performance from last season.
Weddle and Goff talk in the hallways, between series and even between plays.
"[I'm] asking him, 'What did he see?' And there will be situations where he'll ask me, 'What did you see?' and, 'How did you know we were coming there? How did you see that?'" Goff says. "The dialogue that I can have with him is so huge for my development."
Weddle's decision to sign with the Rams not only delivers him to a Super Bowl contender but returns him to his Southern California roots. He grew up Alta Loma, 45 miles east of Los Angeles. And he built his family's dream home in northeastern San Diego.

Best of NFL Nation
On the second day of training camp, Weddle's son, Gaige, joins him on the sideline during practice, something that wasn't a possibility when he went through camp with the Ravens because his family typically waited to move East until the start of the school year.
"It's kind of surreal," Weddle says. "I asked [McVay] out of respect, and he was like, 'Yeah, you can bring your son anywhere.' It's just special. I don't know how many more years I've got left, and he's old enough -- all my kids are old enough -- to understand and appreciate what Dad does, and then to have him around and all the guys are so nice to him and he just fits right in."
As his oldest daughter, Brooklyn, enters middle school, Weddle and his wife had planned on spending the season on separate coasts. Weddle would return to Baltimore, and Chanel would remain in San Diego so the kids would no longer have to split their time.

But now Weddle is living near the Rams' training facility in Thousand Oaks and is able to make the occasional 160-mile drive home.
It's a luxury that wouldn't have been possible if the Ravens had not released him and is considered an added bonus to joining a team that's ready for a deep playoff run.
Weddle knows the plan isn't sustainable for the long term. But for now, it will work.
"I'm giving it all I've got this year. Who knows about the next year?" Weddle says. "I've got a lot of years on these legs, so I'm just taking it one day at a time."

ESPN reporter Eric Williams contributed to this story.

At home with the Rams, Eric Weddle impresses with his IQ

Weddle is back in Southern California, close to his family and playing for a championship contender that appreciates his "sharp mind."

www.espn.com

Three Keys: Rams vs. Broncos, preseason week 3

The Los Angeles Rams begin the back-half of their preseason schedule Saturday evening against the Denver Broncos at L.A. Memorial Coliseum. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT.

Ahead of the game, theRams.com examines three keys for L.A.

1. What can the Rams offense do against a stout Broncos defense?

Los Angeles’ second-team offense will face a stern test against Denver.

On Monday, the Broncos’ defense held San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to 1 for 6 passing with zero passing yards and 0.0 quarterback rating. While the 49ers ultimately won 24-15, they were also held under 300 total yards of offense with a pair of turnovers.

Whether the Broncos choose to give their defensive starters snaps again on Saturday remains to be seen, as head coach Vic Fangio said Wednesday afternoon he's uncertain about doing so. But if they do play, it will provide some good film for Los Angeles, regardless of the number of series.

It will be an especially valuable opportunity for backup quarterback Blake Bortles as Denver has allowed the third-fewest passing yards per game in the preseason (140.3).

2. How will Bryce Hager’s expanded role impact the defense?

The first two weeks of the preseason marked an audition and evaluation period for the starting MIKE linebacker position. Now, with Micah Kiser out indefinitely following surgery to repair a left pectoral injury, Bryce Hager is expected to handle those duties for at least the remainder of the preseason.

Both players had been receiving snaps prior to Kiser’s injury. Considering that same setback, while unfortunate, won’t be changing McVay’s approach to playing key defensive contributors in need of additional reps leading into the regular season, Hager will likely be in line for more work against the Broncos.

Hager is entering his third year in the Rams’ system, so from that standpoint there figures to be little if any drop off.

3. How much will RB John Kelly contribute?

While the focus in most of theRams.com’s observation pieces over the last two weeks have been on Darrell Henderson’s increased workload, another member of the backfield also deserves some attention for his recent play.

RB John Kelly chipped in five carries for 11 yards and hauled in his lone target in the passing game for nine yards in last Saturday’s 14-10 loss to the Cowboys in Hawaii, earning praise from McVay afterward for helping Los Angeles’ offense turn a few second-and-long situations in more manageable third down attempts.

The 2018 sixth-round draft choice has rushed eight times for 21 yards, with three receptions for 11 yards through the first two weeks of the preseason.

By: Cameron DaSilva | 9 hours ago

Jamil Demby’s tenure with the Los Angeles Rams has been a rollercoaster ride. He was drafted sixth round last year and projected as a developmental prospect with the tools to become a future starter. His versatility made him an intriguing player, which is part of the reason it came as such a surprise when the Rams cut him last September.
He was scooped up by the Lions and stashed on the practice squad, until the Rams poached him and brought him back to L.A. He’s now fighting for a roster spot in 2019 and his chances are slimming by the day.

Demby has struggled mightily, particularly when lining up at center this preseason. His performance against the Cowboys on Saturday night was one to forget. Even Sean McVay expects more from Demby than what he’s put on tape thus far.
“I think it stresses those guys,” McVay said Tuesday of cross-training offensive linemen at multiple spots. “I think you see it, it ends up being difficult but I think over the long haul, this isn’t just to see how they perform this one game. This is to try to develop an understanding from a big-picture standpoint, that enables you to have some versatility whether it be playing both guard spots, that center. The more that you can do, especially when you’re trying to fight to make a name and find a role for yourself, the better you have a chance of being on the 53 and having yourself potentially active on game day.

“Jamil is another guy that I think we expect a lot better from him than that, especially when he is playing that center spot. Those are things that we know by design stress those guys and that is kind of the approach.”
The backup offensive line as a whole has performed poorly this preseason. David Edwards improved from Week 1 to 2, but Bobby Evans has played every snap and really struggled at both guard and tackle.
Demby isn’t the only one playing below expectations, but that doesn’t mean he’s moving any closer to the 53-man roster. He still has to step his game up if he wants to be around on Sept. 1.

Myles is gone to Las Vegas, and Between the Horns is now composed with DMarco Farr & JB Long...I'm ecstatic! What think's you? If you wanna reach out to Myles at the Las Vegas Review Journal at 702-383-0350.

I'm just curious to hear from the great posters on this board about whether we are going to take a step back on defense this year or are we going to keep getting better as a unit.

You guys know a lot more than me, but I wonder about our run support. I know that we got a lot better as the year went on, but is our line backing corps going to be good enough to stop the run? I'm excited about the pass rush, and the secondary, but we are going to have to draft some CBs next year.

What do you guys think?

They’re already working the formulas. What’s amazing is how few teams will be getting them. Rams slated for the 4 rounders.

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The LB corps could get a shakeup after the L to the Cowboys

By Sean Wilkinson@Papa_Lurch Aug 21, 2019, 8:00am CDT

Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Rams second preseason game gave us clarity in a few areas, but also opened up a few others that the team has to touch up before solidifying the depth chart.

ILB

The injury to ILB Micah Kiser doesn’t provide as much clarity as one would believe. While Bryce Hager will have the first opportunity to prove he should be the starter next to Cory Littleton, Travin Howard and Dakota Allen are playing well and charging hard at Hager.
Hager will be around regardless of where he falls here due to special teams contributions, but he has a lot to prove in the next two weeks if he’s going to fend off Howard and Allen.

EDGE

What a difference a week makes. Last week, I was starting to lose confidence that EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo would ever make an impact for the Rams. I’m taking egg on the face for that one this week.
Okoronkwo balled out against the Cowboys and changed the narrative surrounding him instantly. We may have entered the game against the Cowboys wondering if he was going to make the roster, but we left contemplating how many snaps he’ll steal from Clay Matthews.



Handicapping Rams WR competition: Roster locks, contenders and long shots

By: Cameron DaSilva | 4 hours ago

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports


Final roster cuts are less than two weeks away, which means a lot of difficult decisions will be made very soon. The Los Angeles Rams have one of the deepest rosters in the league and a ton of talent at the top of the depth chart, making it difficult for backups to carve out roles.

There may not be a team in the NFL with a better group of wide receivers from top to bottom than the Rams. With three Pro Bowl-caliber starters, a quality No. 4 and a host of role players behind them, the Rams are deep at wide receiver.
With two preseason games remaining, we’re handicapping the competition unfolding on the depth chart. From locks to long shots, here’s how we see the battle right now.

Locks

Brandin Cook
After a terrific first season with the Rams, Cooks enters 2019 with even greater potential. His chemistry with Jared Goff is only going to grow, which once again makes him a threat to go over 1,000 yards.

Cooper Kupp
There appear to be no ill-effects from his torn ACL at this point in the rehab process. Kupp has looked great in practice and took part in just about every session, which is impressive for a player who suffered such a significant knee injury nine months ago.

Robert Woods
Woods is one of the most underrated receivers in the league. He garnered some respect from his peers this offseason when he was voted the 76th-best player in the NFL, but he still has room to grow. His biggest limitation is playing on a team with two other great receivers.

Josh Reynolds
The only way Reynolds doesn’t make the team is if the Rams trade him. That’s not going to happen, so he’s a lock. He looked like a starting-caliber player while filling in for Kupp last season, showing why the Rams think so highly of him. Reynolds would be a starter on a lot of NFL teams.


Contenders

(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Mike Thomas
Here’s where things get interesting. Thomas has apparently “separated himself” in the wide receiver competition, according to Sean McVay, but he’s still getting plenty of reps in the preseason. He’s certainly not a roster lock, but of all the contenders, he’s the closest to that status. He just finds ways to stick around and show enough potential to avoid being cut.

KhaDarel Hodge
Hodge was a preseason star last year but has been relatively quiet this preseason. After making three catches for 48 yards against Oakland, he didn’t have a single reception on just one target Saturday versus Dallas. It wasn’t because of a lack of playing time, either. He was out there for 43 snaps, the most of any Rams receiver. His stock is sliding a bit.

JoJo Natson
Natson is a tough player to pin down. He’s slippery with the ball in his hands and has outstanding quickness, but he struggles with ball security – something that reared its ugly head last season. He muffed a punt in the preseason opener, too, which didn’t help his cause. What he does have going for him is a touchdown catch on Saturday against the Cowboys.

Nsimba Webster
Webster would’ve been included in the long shots if not for Natson’s slipping stock and his impressive performance against Dallas. He caught all four of his targets for 38 yards, including a good off-schedule play after a bad snap to Brandon Allen. Webster’s speed and return ability make him an intriguing player for the Rams and he has a legitimate chance to make the final roster as an undrafted free agent.


Long shots

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Jalen Greene
Greene is a similar player to Webster, but he doesn’t have the same punt and kick return ability. On Saturday, he did catch four passes for a team-high 43 yards, and he should’ve had an even better night but a pass slipped through his arms on what would’ve been a difficult catch.

Austin Proehl
Proehl’s best chance of making the team comes on special teams as a returner. Unfortunately, he’s had very little room to run in that aspect and his opportunities on offense have been limited. Against the Cowboys, he caught one pass for minus-6 yards on a failed screen. Proehl has a steep uphill climb.

Alex Bachman
Bachman’s chances steepened after McVay announced Tuesday that he’s dealing with an injury in the area of where a hernia would be. That’s bad news for a player who’s already buried on the depth chart. If he gets healthy, he’ll need to stand out in the return game to have any shot of making the team.

Johnathan Lloyd
Lloyd is one of the longest shots on the roster and has a very slim chance of making the team. He doesn’t boast elite athleticism or traits and doesn’t contribute as a return specialist, either. Unless he stands out on special teams or has two huge performances to end the preseason, he’ll be on the outside looking in.




Los Angeles Rams roster bubble update: Preseason Week 3

Can Demby hang on as a reserve OL? Will Natson still be the KR/PR in 2 weeks?

By Sean Wilkinson@Papa_Lurch Aug 21, 2019, 10:00am CDT

Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images
Preseason football isn’t meant to be pretty. Sometimes it’s a aspiring NFLer trying to show he belongs while other times it’s an established player having a bad night and placing himself in jeopardy of getting cut. It’s ultimately up to the coaches to decide which is which.
That’s where the Los Angeles Rams find themselves after two weeks in the preseason.

Jamil Demby
Demby is clearly out of his element at center and trending down, which is unfortunate for the Los Angeles Rams. They could use some depth at the position - especially given Aaron Neary’s suspension at the beginning of the regular season.
Fact is Demby isn’t playing well. He could make the initial roster then be placed on the practice squad when Neary returns, or he could be left off the roster from the get-go and the Rams could look elsewhere for depth.

JoJo Natson
Given his success in the past as a returner and his TD against the Cowboys, it’s hard to see Natson being left off the roster. But turnovers are never a good thing - especially during the season when you’re not entrenched on the roster.
Given the success of KhaDarel Hodge this preseason as a WR, Natson’s roster spot may not be as secure as we thought heading into camp.

EDGE Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
I was flat out wrong thinking that Okoronkwo could be on his way out. Props to him for showing up and making an impact. He looks safe after the Rams second preseason game.

The XFL has teased the team names and are releasing them today at 11:30CST. Pretty exciting if you ask me. Football in St.Louis again will be nice.

I really think that they have a chance to become the official developmental league of the NFL. A MUCH needed league.

Coming off the Super Bowl loss year, there is a danger of recency bias here. Yes, we are only 18 days away from Rams at Panthers, @OldSchool, before questions like this end (I can 'see' you rolling yur eyes over there!). But which one hurt more?

Super Bowl 53: Just last year, the Rams were rolling until Kupp was injured and then, whatever it was, limited Gurley in the Super Bowl. The Rams were getting shyte because of how they won the NFC Championship game. But hey, it had been so many years of futility between Super Bowl 36 & 53, you have to feel to good about the future.

Super Bowl 36: For me, it was the most disappointing moment in sports. Of course, it always hurts when you are expeced to win and you don't. But the Rams that year were a level above that. I remember the cover of the ESPN Magazine with Warner, Holt, Bruce, Faulk, Hakim, and Proehl : "SPECIAL OPS: When the Rams Attack, You Never Know What or Who will Beat You." It was when Max Q was unveiled by Mike Martz, and the feeling that it didn't matter what the opponent did because the Rams were that good. Leading up to the game, an analyst risked his reputation in thinking the Rams would not only beat the Patriots, but would blow them out.

We could not lose, and yet, we did.

By: Steve Rebeiro | 10 hours ago


Two rookies were the talk of the town amongst Rams fans after the team’s preseason game versus the Cowboys: ILB Dakota Allen and WR Nsimba Webster.
Allen has been a fan favorite since his stint on the Netflix series “Last Chance U.” He essentially locked up a roster spot on Saturday due to Micah Kiser’s injury and his stellar play this preseason. Fans were looking for him to emerge this preseason as a breakout rookie.

The same cannot be said for Webster. An undrafted rookie out of Eastern Washington, the most notable thing about Webster heading into the preseason was that he played with Cooper Kupp in college. He put up monster numbers his senior season, but that doesn’t change the fact that he was an undersized receiver who played against sub-par opponents at an FCS university.
Now, many are speculating that Webster has a legitimate chance of overtaking JoJo Natson as the team’s final wide receiver and return specialist. He could be the latest UDFA to make the Rams’ 53-man roster; at least one has made the team each year since 2015.
In the return game, Webster proved more than serviceable, while Natson hurt his stock by muffing a punt and being unable to recover the fumble. On the offensive side of the ball, Natson may have grabbed the team’s first touchdown of the preseason, but Webster outshined him by leading the team in receptions and piling up 38 yards. His highlight-reel moment came when he was on the receiving end of a spectacular rollout from Brandon Allen.

It would be a shock if Webster made the team on his receiving alone. Even though he has looked good this preseason, he won’t steal a roster spot from Mike Thomas or KhaDarel Hodge with his receiving ability. His opportunity will be to snatch Natson’s job, and the fact that he’s already a much better receiver than Natson is a step in the right direction.
Many were surprised when the Rams chose Natson as the team’s return specialist over 2017 All-Pro Pharoh Cooper. Fan animosity towards Natson has only grown since. He simply hasn’t stood out in the return game. Combine that with his fumble last week and the promise of Webster, and we’ve basically strapped a rocket onto the anti-Natson bandwagon.
Natson and Webster split return duties Alex Bachman and Austin Proehl last week. Expect that battle to tighten up to Natson versus Webster for the team’s final two preseason games. This has unsurprisingly emerged as a position battle to watch as the preseason inches towards the finish line.

He played all 16 games last year.

But... boy, does he seem to battle injuries of late. Is he just in a bad stretch, or is Andrew Luck now one of those guys you must regularly checking the injury report?


———



Colts to hold Andrew Luck out of practice this week, provide more information on how they'll determine his Week 1 status
Luck's Week 1 regular-season status remains up in the air

Andrew Luck's absence from Indianapolis Colts' practices will last for at least another week. On Tuesday, Indianapolis head coach Frank Reich announced that the Colts will keep Luck out of practice for the remainder of the week, per Zak Keefer of The Athletic.

Luck, the Colts' starting quarterback since being the No. 1 overall pick back in 2012, continues to deal with a high-left ankle injury that is a result of the calf strain he also continues to deal with. Reich said that the issue regarding Luck remains a matter of "full speed movement vs. pain threshold."

Additionally, Reich said that the Colts are hoping to determine Luck's status for their Week 1 matchup with the Chargers by next Monday. Indianapolis reportedly had "guarded optimism" last week with regard to Luck being ready to go in Week 1.

Reich's announcements on Tuesday comes a week after the Colts said that they will keep Luck out of playing this preseason. Indianapolis will host their Bearsthis Saturday before wrapping up the preseason with a road game next Thursday against the Bengals.

Injuries have plagued Luck over the past several years. After beginning his career with 51 consecutive starts, a shoulder injury forced him to miss two days during the first half of the 2015 season. He then missed the final seven games of that season after suffering a lacerated kidney and a partially torn abdominal muscle.

The shoulder injury Luck sustained in 2015 bothered him throughout the 2016 season, eventually forcing him to undergo surgery in January of 2017 that kept him out for the entire season. Luck returned to Pro Bowl form in 2018, playing in all 16 regular-season games and leading the Colts to the divisional round of the AFC playoffs.

Former Colts quarterback, Peyton Manning, someone who also knows a thing or two about overcoming injuries, gave Luck a vote of confidence when he attended a Colts' practice last week.

"I know he wants to be out here," Manning said, per Wish-TV's Anthony Calhoun. "I know that's always the hardest thing when I was not playing with him not being out there. You wanna be out there participating. I know he's dying to get out here and be back as soon as he can. I'm pulling for him to be healthy for Week 1 when it really matters and counts. I feel pretty good about him being out there."

With Luck still on the mend, Jacoby Brissett will remain Indianapolis' starting quarterback during the preseason, followed by Chad Kelly and Phillip Walker. The trio combined to complete 30-of-44 passes for 309 and two scores with no interceptions in the Colts' second preseason game against the Browns.

First Look: Denver Broncos, preseason week 3

Los Angeles’ lone 2019 preseason game at the Coliseum will feature the Denver Broncos and first-year head coach Vic Fangio. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. PT.

In advance of the contest, here’s an early look at the Broncos, including how their preseason has gone so far, some of their top statistical performers and key storylines.

HOW THEIR PRESEASON HAS GONE SO FAR

Thanks to an appearance in the NFL’s annual Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, the Broncos will be playing five preseason games this month.

Saturday’s game against the Rams is the fourth of the five, following a 14-10 win over the Falcons in Canton on Aug. 1, a 22-14 loss at the Seattle Seahawks on Aug. 8 and a 24-15 loss to the 49ers Monday night. Those results have them sitting 1-2 heading into Week 3.

TOP PERFORMERS

An undrafted free agent out of Colorado State signed this spring, linebacker Josh Watson has had a strong preseason so far.

Watson is the preseason’s leading tackler with 19. He shared with second-year LB Bradley Chubb for fourth-most against San Francisco Monday night.

Rookie quarterback Drew Lock’s 254 total passing yards are 10th-most among preseason passers.

The fourth QB off the board in this year’s NFL Draft, Lock won’t be seeing any action against the Rams.

An MRI revealed a bad hand sprain sustained in Monday’s loss to the 49ers, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. While the setback won’t require surgery, it’s serious enough to prevent him from playing the remainder of the preseason.

Depending on how much Fangio chooses to play starter Joe Flacco, look for Brett Rypien and Kevin Hogan to see more opportunities this Saturday against the Rams defense as a result.
Keeping with the offense, veteran WR Emmanuel Sanders is eight months removed from a torn Achilles, but his opportunities against the 49ers – his first live game action since the injury – showed he’s getting closer to his normal self. It is unclear how much he will play against the Rams, but he’s one of Denver’s key offensive players so it will be worth monitoring.

The Broncos’ starting defense, meanwhile, made quick work of 49ers starting QB Jimmy Garoppolo Monday night. He went 1 for 6 with zero passing yards and 0.0 quarterback rating, getting pulled from the game after three series. Similar to Sanders, how involved Denver’s defensive starters will be on Saturday remains to be seen, but if they do see time on the field against Los Angeles, it will be a good test for L.A.’s second team offense.

Ah, these fans are overcome with emotion at the Chiefs-Steelers preseason game. Justin K. Aller/Getty Images


By Mike Tunison and Chris Mueller | Last updated 8/21/19

Yardbarker NFL writers Michael Tunison and Chris Mueller address some of the hottest issues in the league. This week's topic: What can the NFL do to make preseason games more watchable?
Mueller: The preseason tends to be a slog not only for veteran players whose roster spots aren't in jeopardy, but also for fans, many of whom tune in to watch their team's games out of sheer force of habit and nothing more. A mostly meaningless exercise was momentarily made interesting by Rams head coach Sean McVay during his team's exhibition clash with the Cowboys. McVay, known for his freakishly impressive memory, hopped on a headset with the broadcast team and took viewers step-by-step through some defensive plays. It was just a quick peek behind the curtain, but a fascinating one.
The level of detail provided in such a short period of time was impressive. It got better, though, as McVay was willing to stick around and narrate an offensive play in real time; that he would be willing to do so was particularly juicy, given his offensive background. He was on the headset for less than five minutes, but they were the most interesting five minutes of the preseason.
The whole episode got me to thinking about ways to improve the viewing experience for games that serve no purpose for fans other than to stoke their excitement about eventual practice squad players, or douse their optimism thanks to a season-ending injury. One is more of what we got from McVay.
This is a long shot, but imagine Bill Belichick actually taking a play off and just laying out what is going on for the viewer at home. He doesn’t have to give up too much information, just do some behind-the-scenes analysis that won’t matter when the regular season rolls around. Fans crave information, so who better to deliver some than a head coach?A bonus, of course, would be discovering which coaches are completely out to lunch during parts of these games — you know there would be a few.
In general, more players need to be mic’ed up during these games. Particularly fringe candidates to make the roster. As meaningless as the preseason is, for those trying to make a 53-man roster, it is nothing less than the Super Bowl. Why not let fans hear what real stress sounds like, and whether guys are sweating it after a dropped pass or a missed tackle?
Here's another one: Why not let fans call a play via Twitter poll posted earlier in the week? Who would that be hurting? It would be another way to spice up the worst four weeks of the professional football calendar.



During the Rams' preseason game against the Cowboys, Los Angeles coach Sean McVay hopped on a headset with the broadcast team and explained plays to viewers. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports


Tunison: Unfortunately, the fact that the preseason does serve some boring utility to teams in terms of setting the depth chart and final roster, it eliminates the possibility of implementing any truly wacky Rock 'n' Jock-style ideas to make it fun. To some degree, you could maybe try with the first of four preseason games since the first is the most pointless and the NFL altogether does not need four preseason games. Still, you'd be turning something the regular players already disdain into a farce. For the marginal players whose one brush with glory these games are, it would do little to give them an inside edge toward a good job.
Instead, I think you could borrow a phrase from former MLB commissioner Bud Selig and make the preseason games count a little more than they do. It's bizarre that media outlets and the league itself even tabulate preseason records. The vast majority of fans realize these wins and losses mean absolutely nothing, and there's plenty of precedent that shows that preseason success or failure bears little predictive ability over how any team will fare once the regular season begins, most infamously in 2008 when the 0-16 Lions went 4-0 in the preseason.
Most casual fans, if they tune into the preseason at all, check in to see how the starters do, then mosey on out. I think if you can apply some meaningful stakes, you could boost interest a bit. Obviously nothing too much, because after all, this is the preseason, but there could be some incentives that mean something without being ridiculous. Perhaps the team with the best preseason record could have the ability to reject "Hard Knocks" or a London game within the next few years after that season.
In particular, I think you could do something with compensatory draft picks. The teams with the five best preseason records could be awarded with a third-, fourth-, fifth-, sixth-, and then seventh-round compensatory pick. An extra third-round pick is nothing to sneeze at, and could draw more interest from hardcore fans. In the event of a tie between 4-0 teams, make the owners do rock/paper/scissors or do the Oklahoma drill.

Judging from the empty seats, fans weren't enamored with the Bengals-Redskins preseason game. Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports


Mueller: The real problem here is the fact that four of these games exist. It’s probably two too many, as most established starters need little to no time to get up to speed, and most guys trying to make the roster at the edges can only prove so much before whatever they’re doing becomes redundant. That particular piece of status quo won’t change unless the league moves to an 18-game regular season, and as Richard Sherman said, that would take an astronomical concession from the league.
I’m not on board with compensatory draft picks as an incentive, mainly because teams covet picks, and it might entice some coaches to be riskier with their roster usage in order to win games, which might give us more Avery Williamson situations.
Instead, why not do something that owners might find odious, but would give fans an incentive to watch, and some players an incentive to go hard? I’m talking about adding one man to rosters to bring the number to 54, and let each team’s fans vote in that player. There is the risk that it turns into a popularity contest, but in most cases, hardcore fans would jump at the chance to prove they know more than the coach and general manager, and place their favorite camp standout on the team.
The beauty of this is twofold: one, it makes garbage time much more entertaining, as every player is trying to make his mark, but with a more emotional, less analytical crowd, and two, coaches wouldn’t be forced to play the 54th man. They could make him inactive on game day, but the incentive in the form of a league-minimum salary would still be there. Plus, it’s nearly guaranteed that some of those players picked would end up succeeding in the league, further validating the concept. Fans already have a role in selecting Pro Bowl rosters — why not involve them in a different kind of exhibition game?
Tunison: You make a fine point about potentially endangering significant players for the prize of a third-round pick, which coaches and GMs might covet enough to take that risk, so perhaps that's too high of an award, though I still think there's potential in creating incentive for teams to really try in the second half of preseason games, which are usually low-energy affairs toward the end.
As for the extra roster spot via vote, I'm assuming that would have to be restricted to someone who has played at some level of organized football, either college/CFL/Arena/etc, or else you're going to get some attention-starved YouTuber on the field. As much fun as it would be to watch one of them get their clocks cleaned, I doubt the NFL would be on board with turning it into that much of a circus and worrying about the liability issues for someone unequipped to play the game. That said, it might be a solid way ensure the woman who earlier this year signed a letter of intent to play safety for a college team gets a chance on the field if she gets resistance at the combine in a few years.
At the very least, I think the NFL should experiment with the idea of a running clock in the second half of preseason games. Not only would it speed along a broadcast that has limited appeal, it would give strategic insight to coaches if the league ever felt like trying the idea on a wider level with meaningful games. Speed and faster tempo is the way of the future in the NFL, and this would be a incremental way to push that concept forward.
Mueller: The extra roster spot vote would only be for someone invited to camp by the team, which would swiftly take care of the Logan and Jake Pauls of the world -- though since you mentioned it, watching one or both of those two try to catch a pass over the middle has plenty of appeal.
The running clock is very enticing, and not just because that's the direction the league is headed overall. If the conceit for using it in blowout high school games is that there is nothing to be gained by dragging out the process, the same theory should apply for the preseason. Plus, it means fewer opportunities for sloppy play on account of there being fewer plays in general. Plus, fewer plays means healthier players, something everyone could get on board with. Anything to make this four-week slog less tedious is fine by me.

Will Carson Wentz still take off and run? 'If I don't need to, why would I?'

One thing you just don't see at Eagles practice is Carson Wentz leaving the pocket.

You rarely see him rolling out and throwing on the run, you rarely see called bootlegs or moving pockets, you rarely see him take off when the play breaks down.
Now, some of that is simply the product of a controlled environment at training camp. As long as Wentz wears the red jersey, he can’t be hit, so there's no reason to take off and escape pressure.

But listening to Wentz speak Tuesday, it’s more than that.

Wentz, now in his fourth year with the Eagles, said that as he grows in the offense, as he develops a faster ability to process what he sees, there's less and less reason to take off.

I think it kind of goes back to playing fast and just seeing and making quick decisions and just going through my reads quicker. Maybe it’s being another year in the system and always knowing where my checkdown is, where my hots are, different things like that. That part of my game is definitely not gone, it’s still going to be there, but if I don’t need to, why would I get out of the pocket when the O-line is holding up and I can find guys to get the ball to?

Click to expand...

It’s fascinating to hear Wentz talk this way because he’s been so effective his first three years — especially in 2017 — making plays on the run, using his athleticism as a weapon.

But it also puts him at risk, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned the last two years, it’s that the Eagles really don’t need Carson Wentz to be at risk.
Doug Pederson spoke Tuesday about how fast Wentz is operating mentally now that he’s in Year 4 and how his ability to process defensive looks and make rapid-fire decisions can only make him more effective as a passer.

He’s getting to his reads faster, it’s part of the progression of him and his growth as a young quarterback right now. He’s getting to the line of scrimmage, he’s seeing things fast, he’s redirecting protection, going through progressions, ball’s coming out of his hand quicker … and those are things that we’ve seen through the spring and through this part of camp.

Click to expand...

It’s a tricky balance.

Wentz can be so dangerous when the play breaks down and he leaves the pocket, but he’s also a lot safer when he’s working behind an offensive line stocked with All-Pros.

He said Tuesday it hadn’t occurred to him until he was asked about it that he’s done most of his work this summer in the pocket. But it makes sense.
We’ve seen it with so many other athletic quarterbacks, from Randall Cunningham to Donovan McNabb to Russell Wilson.

As they get older and develop a deeper grasp of the offense, they can be just as dangerous picking apart a defense in the pocket as they can making things up out of the pocket.

I think every year from a mental standpoint, I’ve just taken a leap,” Wentz said. “You see the game faster, you’re reading and reacting quicker.

Click to expand...

Wentz has run the ball 144 times in 40 games, but 31 of those were kneel-downs, so he’s actually running about three times a game. But the number of times he leaves the pocket has probably been double that.

Don’t worry. Wentz promises if there’s a play to be made outside the pocket?
He won't hesitate to go.

I feel good going just through my reads and finding a completion and moving on. But when I need to make a guy miss in the pocket? When I need to get out and make a play? That’s still definitely going to be a part of my game.

Click to expand...

It’s all part of Wentz’s growth as a quarterback. The less time the ball spends in his hands, the safer he’ll be.

And keeping him safe and healthy is the most important thing facing the franchise this year and for the next several years.

.




After a stellar 2018 regular season, the Rams' Jared Goff struggled in the Super Bowl against New England, completing 19 of 38 passes for 229 yards, zero touchdowns and an interception. Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports


Rams' Jared Goff must transform into Joe Cool to join QB elites
By Michael Nania | Last updated 8/20/19

Jared Goff is one of the more interesting QB mysteries in the NFL. Over the past two seasons, he has put up some of the most prolific passing numbers in the league. Since 2017, he is fourth in the NFL in passing touchdowns (60) and fifth in passing yards (8,492), spearheading one of the NFL's most dangerous offenses. Earlier this year, he led the Los Angeles Rams to Super Bowl LIII at only 24 years old.

However, many have questioned the legitimacy of Goff’s production. Are his gaudy numbers truly representative of his talent level? Or are they a product of head coach Sean McVay’s masterful scheming ability?
Let’s assess Goff’s greatest strengths and weaknesses:

STRENGTHS

Protecting home turf

When playing on his home field, Goff has produced at a dominant level.

In his eight home games in 2018, he completed 207 of 303 passes (68.3 percent) for 2,737 yards (9.0 per attempt), 22 touchdowns and three interceptions. He led the league in passing yards and touchdowns at home. The home passing yardage total, a whopping 342.1 per game, is the sixth-highest mark by a quarterback in a season.

Goff registered a spectacular passer rating of 116.7 in Los Angeles this past season. He also joined Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers and Kurt Warner as the only QBs who have won at least seven games and posted a 115.0 passer rating at home.

No game better exemplified Goff’s home cooking than the Rams’ 38-31 win over theMinnesota Vikings in Week 4. In that game, Goff completed 26 of 33 passes for 465 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions. Those numbers earned Goff a perfect passer rating of 158.3 as well as the NFL records for most pass attempts and passing yards in a perfectly rated game.

All of Goff’s best traits were on display in that historic game. On the following play, the Rams hurry up to the line following a five-yard run on first down. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp runs across the field out of the slot, drawing a mismatch with Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr. Kupp turns upfield and runs a vertical route, easily toasting Barr.

Impressively, it appears Goff knew pre-snap this matchup was going to be there. After receiving the ball, Goff keeps his head turned to the left to freeze the other two linebackers and prevent them from helping over the top. Then he moves his eyes to the right and immediately winds up, starting his throwing motion well before Kupp looks back for the ball. Goff’s throw hits Kupp in perfect stride, and he jogs in for the 70-yard score.

Goff is not only a pocket passer. He is plenty capable of making pinpoint throws on the move, which he is frequently asked to do in McVay’s offense.

Later in the game, Goff and Kupp connected for another touchdown, seen below. Goff, in the shotgun, fakes a hand-off to the motioning Todd Gurley. Goff rolls to his right while the flow of the offense carries most of the defense to the left. Moving right with Goff is Kupp, who runs a crossing route from the left slot to the back right pylon. Kupp is sandwiched, as his man-to-man defender has him over the top and the defensive back covering that zone takes Kupp underneath. The window is microscopic, but Goff takes the shot anyway. Throwing on the run while under pressure, Goff drops the ball in the bucket as Kupp separates at the last moment to make the catch.

Bombs away on first down
In 2018, Goff averaged 9.3 yards per attempt on first down passes, the best mark among the top 30 quarterbacks in first-down passing attempts. Additionally, Goff moved the chains on first down a whopping total of 89 times, the third-highest total in the league behind only Patrick Mahomes (91) and Matt Ryan (93). He registered a conversion rate of 36.9 percent on first down, fourth best in the league behind only Jameis Winston (37.6), Philip Rivers (39.8) and Drew Brees (40.2).
Goff and the Rams were able to generate a huge number of big plays on first down, often moving the ball downfield quickly without needing to face many third downs. On first downs in 2018, Goff completed 39 passes for gains of 20-plus yards, the highest total in the league.

In a Week 2 game against the Arizona Cardinals, Goff completed four 20-plus yard passes on first down, gaining an astounding total of 120 yards. Three of those completions were to wide receiver Brandin Cooks, for 99 yards.

The longest of those catches by Cooks came on the following play, a 57-yard bomb. The Rams are on their own 21-yard line, having just received possession following a Cardinals punt on the previous play. On the first snap of the drive, the Rams take a shot. Goff fakes the hand-off and first looks to his right at the crossing Cooper Kupp, drawing in safety Tre Boston. That frees up the deep range for Cooks, who uses his 4.33 speed (95 th percentile among wide receivers) to burn cornerback Jamar Taylor. Expecting help from Boston, Taylor plays Cooks underneath, but since the help never comes, Cooks is able to gain about four yards of separation. Goff loads up and launches a rocket that travels 63 yards in the air, and Cooks hauls it in for a 57-yard strike on first down.

Goff underthrew this ball a bit, but given the enormous distance of the throw, a completion is plenty to be happy about. Even when the receiver has that much separation, a 60-plus yard throw is difficult to complete. Goff got enough air under the ball, and the Rams are able to cover more than half of the field on a surprise first-down shot.

WEAKNESSES
Getting it done on the road
Goff’s home/road splits have been extremely volatile. In 2017, he was just decent at home (17th among qualifiers in passer rating); on the road, he was one of the best quarterbacks in football (2nd in passer rating).

In 2018, those splits flipped dramatically. As noted earlier, Goff performed historically well at home. However, on the road, Goff was one of the least productive quarterbacks in the league, completing 157 of 258 passes (60.9 percent) for 1,951 yards (7.6 per attempt) and 10 touchdowns. He threw nine interceptions, tied for fourth most in the league. On the road, he had a passer rating of 82.7, ranking 28thamong the 34 quarterbacks with at least 100 passing attempts on the road.

Goff’s worst road trip was easily the Rams’ Week 14 visit to Chicago against the Bears’ top-ranked defense. Goff completed 20 of 44 passes for 180 yards and no touchdowns, tossing a career-high four interceptions. He averaged only 4.1 yards per attempt and earned a passer rating of 19.1. Since the turn of the century, that stands as the third-worst passer rating posted by a quarterback to throw at least 40 passes.

Passing under pressure
In addition to his road woes, that game in Chicago highlighted Goff’s other major issue: throwing under pressure.

The Bears' pass rush was downright unstoppable that night, and Goff had no answer. Chicago pressured Goff an astonishing total of 25 times. On those plays, Goff completed just 8 of 22 passes for 88 yards (an ugly 4.0 yards per attempt), throwing three interceptions and taking three sacks.

Goff’s difficulties dealing with pressure that night were a shining example of a weakness he displayed all season. When pressured, Goff completed 68 of 157 passes (43.3 percent) for 913 yards (5.8 per attempt), five touchdowns and five interceptions. Goff’s passer rating under pressure of 59.8 ranked 29th of the 39 quarterbacks with at least 150 total dropbacks last season.

The Rams had one of the best offensive lines in the NFL last season, so Goff did not have to work often under heavy pressure. However, when he did, the results were usually disappointing. Chicago was a prime example. On this play, something happens that Goff is certainly not used to –- his superstar left tackle, Andrew Whitworth, is beaten. In a battle of beasts, it’s Chicago’s all-world pass rusher, Khalil Mack, earning the victory. Mack slips between Whitworth and left guard Rodger Saffold to get to Goff. The quarterback does not feel the pressure from his blindside, and Mack knocks the football out from behind. The Rams recover, but they take five-yard loss on second down.

That play highlights another Goff issue: fumbling. He was tied for the NFL lead with 12 fumbles last season. Five of those were lost, tying him for the fifth-highest total in the league.

In the Super Bowl against the Patriots, Goff also struggled while under pressure, completing four of 14 passes for 47 yards (3.4 per attempt). He was sacked four times, and his passer rating was 11.3.

Goff is one of the most talented young passers in the NFL, but to secure his place among the league’s elite QBs, he must do a better job staying cool under pressure.

Michael Nania writes about the NFL, focusing mainly on statistical analysis. His work can also be found at Gang Green Nation and Elite Sports New York. On Twitter, Michael can be found @Michael_Nania.