By: Cameron DaSilva | 3 hours ago


Few Rams players entered the preseason with more hype and anticipation surrounding him than Darrell Henderson. The rookie running back from Memphis, who Los Angeles drafted in the third round, was expected to flash his big-play ability and stand out in the first two exhibition games.

He’s hardly done that, rushing for only 29 yards on 12 carries with a long of 8 yards. He did have a nice 26-yard reception against the Cowboys on Saturday, but his other six catches this preseason have gone for a total of 7 yards.

It’s not all Henderson’s fault, though. The offensive line hasn’t created much running room for Henderson (or any of the running backs), which has limited the rookie’s opportunities.

“I think really just more opportunities than anything else. You could see he was another week more comfortable,” McVay said of Henderson on Sunday. “There’s still some things that we can definitely do better. I don’t think he’s really had much of a chance with the exception of a couple runs that he had starting off really with the two-minute drive when he had a couple wide-zone runs and then another downhill, direct run. Other than that in the run-game, there really wasn’t any space to operate with to really be able to truly evaluate him from that perspective.”

Henderson isn’t fighting for a roster spot, but he is competing for snaps in the backfield. Malcolm Brown is the clear-cut No. 2 running back after getting the veteran treatment this preseason – he hasn’t played a snap – but Henderson should be third in the pecking order.

His touches will come in different ways than Brown’s will, too, contributing as a receiver often.

“I thought he caught the ball well. You could see, that was a big third-down catch he made on that first drive. You see the speed out of the backfield. That’s some big-time players, when you’ve got Jaylon Smith covering him and he’s able to do that even if he and (Leighton) Vander Esch did kind of collide, you could see coming out of the backfield, Blake (Bortles) delivered him a good ball. I thought it was a step in the right direction for Darrell, without a doubt.”

Henderson should continue to get touches in the next two preseason games as the Rams try to evaluate him further. Running room could be tough to come by on Saturday night against the Broncos, who are expected to play their starters once again.

Unless the offensive line takes a big step forward, Henderson’s numbers might be underwhelming.

By: Cameron DaSilva | 4 hours ago


Sean McVay approaches the preseason differently than most coaches. The Los Angeles Rams’ veteran starters haven’t taken a single snap in the preseason with the majority of them not even making the trip to Hawaii for last week’s game against the Cowboys.
The Rams used the same plan last year and it worked to perfection, keeping their top players out of the crosshairs of the preseason injury bug. Unfortunately, McVay was almost forced to play a few of his potential starters because of competitions that are ongoing.

That led to Micah Kiser playing the last two weeks and ultimately suffering a pectoral injury, sidelining him indefinitely. It’s not something the Rams could’ve predicted and with Kiser battling Bryce Hager for the starting job, McVay needed game film to help pick a starter.
As unfortunate as the injury is, it won’t cause McVay to change his plan about playing Hager, Sebastian Joseph-Day and Greg Gaines in the preseason.
“For us, I don’t think you want to let one instance change it but if you feel like those guys that have carved out that role for themselves have got enough work in the preseason, then you say, ‘Hey, let’s just continue to focus on the practice and be smart about that over the next couple of weeks.’ That’s certainly something that we would discuss whether or not an injury occurs to Micah or whether we came out of that thing totally clean,” McVay said recently.
As for why Kiser and some of the other potential starters were playing, McVay explained that they’re young and inexperienced. It’s important for those players to get their feet wet in the event that they do turn out to be starters.

“I think for us, the reason that we thought it was important for those guys to play is because they are still younger guys that haven’t had the accumulation of work,” he said. “Then there is also an element of what does the depth look like at that specific spot, specific to our roster. Then you say, ‘Why haven’t Joe Noteboom, and Brian Allen played?’ I think they’ve clearly established themselves as clear cut starters. Different than some of these situational starters that you might have on defense or even in Micah’s case.”
Unlike Kiser, Noteboom and Allen are going to be on the field for just about every single play. They aren’t going to be subbed out on third downs like Kiser would’ve been, which makes them more valuable assets – thus McVay’s decision to keep them out of preseason games.
“Those guys are playing every single snap so, if it is something that ends up leading to an injury, you certainly hate it,” he continued. “I think we’ve been really thorough and always having a why we are approaching it the way that we are. Unfortunately, whether it is in preseason games or regular season, even in practice, sometimes these injuries are inevitable and you can’t always avoid it.”
It’s impossible to blame McVay for playing Kiser, and his injury is just more evidence that his decision to rest players such as Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, Andrew Whitworth and Aaron Donald is the right move. If one of them were to get hurt, it would dramatically impact the Rams’ season.

Yup, you read that correctly.


By Sosa Kremenjas@QBsMVP Aug 20, 2019, 11:58am CDT
Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images

Back in April when the Los Angeles Rams signed a no-named quarterback from the AAF, I didn’t pay a second of attention to it. I figured, well, it’s time for every team to fill out their rosters to 90 players, filling them with a lot of guys that’ll never make the team or league, and that’s about all.
But then two weeks of the preseason came and went, and now, I’m well aware who John Wolfordis.
Wolford — who went to Wake Forest — went undrafted in 2018, spending time with the New York Jets prior to being cut in September. With pure determination in his veins, Wolford kept the dream alive by joining the legendary AAF, which lasted all of eight games before an epic collapse of the entire league occurred. Prior to the collapse, Wolford accumulated a completion percentage of 63.4%, 1,616 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, seven interceptions, 160 yards rushing, and one rushing touchdown.
Now, Wolford seems to have some special ability to remain calm, progress through reads, and carries an aura similar to QB Austin Davis from many years ago. A small-school guy who has more than enough composure and ability to make it work in the NFL, and that’s why I hope the Rams find a way to keep Wolford, whether that’s on the 53-man roster or the practice squad.
Anyways, here’s the highlight reel from two weeks of the preseason:

(Google AMP and Apple News readers will need to click here to view the clip)

I think so.

I mean, he’s always done well with these, but this year? Wow!

Here are a few players that have been projected NOT to make the 53 by multiple sources, just to illustrate the quality depth now on this team:

[www.cbssports.com]

Steven Parker
Nsimba Webster
Landis Durham
Donte’ Deayon
Darius Williams
KhaDarel Hodge
Johnathan Lloyd
Josh Carraway
Troy Reeder

These are a few guys that have flashed in both camp reports AND in two preseason games, yet are projected to be lost in the final cutdown.

The above would have been slam dunks to be on the 53 during those dark years between 2004 and 2017. Heck, many would have been starters!

Kudos to Snead and his fine scouting staff for finding gem after gem late and among UDFA’s. Gives the Rams a tremendous edge when gems are constantly being presented to outstanding coaches and teachers.

Great times to be a Ram fan...

Here's a treat Rams Fans, perhaps one of the worst written articles on our team yet. Hope we can get this up in the locker room. Maybe this Kapadia fellow can convince all the teams we face this season of his 'wisdom'.




By
Sunny Kapadia
-
August 20, 2019


ATLANTA, GEORGIA - FEBRUARY 03: Kyle Van Noy #53 of the New England Patriots sacks Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Michael Zagaris/Getty Images)

After making it to the Super Bowl, the odds were stacked against the Los Angeles Ramsdoing much better this season. A number of their key players were lost to free agency while others are aging and likely to see a drop off in production. Moreover, the NFC West should be a much more competitive division in 2019 as the Cardinals and 49ers both improved significantly over this offseason.

Offense
The Rams sported a top 10 offensive line in 2018, but they lost guard Rodger Saffold to free agency and chose not to pick up center John Sullivan’s option. They will rely on unproven linemen Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen to replace them. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth is only two years from being an All-Pro lineman, but he turns 38 this December and may also struggle to retain his efficiency. Jared Goff is not an elite quarterback and will likely struggle without an elite offensive line to protect him.
The status of Todd Gurley’s knee leaves room for doubt as well. Rookie running back Darrell Henderson should thrive in Sean McVay’s scheme, but no one can be expected to replicate Todd Gurley’s production as a rookie. Cooper Kupp, the main chain mover within this offense, is coming back from an ACL tear this season. He may also not be up to par. Certainly, this offense will still be one of the better ones in the league, but it’s doubtful they will be in contention for the league’s best.

Defense
The Rams lost a few key contributors on their defense. One of their biggest losses this offseason was nose tackle Ndamukong Suh. Edge rusher Dante Fowler has been unspectacular so far, and the aging Clay Matthews will be playing on the opposite side. This will put a lot of pressure on linemen Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers to get to the quarterback from the inside. Linebacker Mark Barron was supposed to be replaced by Micah Kiser, but the latter injured his pectoral muscle this preseason and will be unable to play indefinitely.
In the secondary, the Rams swapped out Lamarcus Joyner for former All-Pro Eric Weddle. Their two starting cornerback positions are occupied by Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters. Rookie Taylor Rapp looks like he might be a starter at strong safety. This secondary has the potential to be amazing. However, Eric Weddle is 34, and Aqib Talib is 33 and coming off an injury-riddled season. Marcus Peters’ performance was abysmal for as long as Aqib Talib was out. The Rams do not have a lot of depth in the secondary. If there are any injuries, the secondary could struggle.
The Rams look to regress in 2019 after their Super Bowl run last season. While they were able to make up for some of their losses, such as by acquiring Eric Weddle to replace Lamarcus Joyner, they were unable to find apt replacements for other departures. The nose tackle position and linebacker corps remain questionable. On the other side of the ball, the offensive line lost key pieces on the interior in Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan. Todd Gurley’s knee is perhaps the most concerning factor for the Rams. He is a superstar when healthy, but the dropoff in production was huge after his injury.

By: Cameron DaSilva | 13 hours ago

In terms of top-line talent, the Los Angeles Rams are one of the best teams in the NFL. Between Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, Brandin Cooks, Jared Goff and a host of others, the Rams’ starting lineup looks as strong as any.

What might set them apart is the depth they have further down the roster, particularly in the secondary. Eric Weddle, John Johnson, Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib are going to get most of the attention – as they should – but there’s a host of lesser-known defensive backs who could contribute if needed.

That’s become evident this preseason with the secondary playing extremely well. Through two weeks, the Rams have allowed just 405 passing yards and two touchdown passes. They’ve come down with three interceptions and broken up 11 passes, including seven against the Cowboys on Saturday.

This is all without a single starter playing a snap, too. Weddle, Johnson, Talib, Peters, Nickell Robey-Coleman and Troy Hill have all gotten the veteran treatment, sitting out both preseason games thus far. That won’t change in the next two weeks, either.

Instead, it’s players such as Kevin Peterson, Steven Parker, Taylor Rapp, Dont’e Deayon and Darious Williams locking down the secondary. As a result, the Rams will have some difficult decisions when it comes time to make final roster cuts on Aug. 31.

Rapp is obviously a lock to make the team, as is fellow rookie David Long Jr. But behind them is a group of players who have risen to the occasion and made a case for the final roster.

Williams has broken up three passes and made eight tackle, though he has been beat for a couple of big plays. Parker has an interception and two pass breakups, including a diving deflection against Dallas – a play so good that the Cowboys challenged it for pass interference (and lost).

Peterson made a great play against Dallas to break up a pass on an out-breaking route, adding to his already-strong preseason. In the first game, he picked off Mike Glennon. Deayon stood out against the Cowboys with an interception of his own, coming back to the ball on an underthrown pass.

The Rams are going to get a quality player no matter who they keep, but making that decision will be tough. In our latest roster projection, we have them keeping Peterson at cornerback behind the starters, Hill and Long. At safety, it’s Marqui Christian and Nick Scott who get the nod, not Parker.

Things can change between now and the end of August, considering there are still two preseason games left. Another strong performance from Parker or Deayon could land them on the 53-man roster.

By: Steve Rebeiro | 7 hours ago

The Rams flew home from Hawaii on Sunday with more than a preseason loss. After the team’s preseason defeat at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys, the Rams announced that linebacker Micah Kiser will undergo surgery to repair a pectoral injury and is out indefinitely.

Losing a projected starter is obviously a blow to any team. That doesn’t mean it’s always the end of the world. There are two main factors as to why Kiser’s injury won’t affect the defense as much as losing a starter usually would.

Firstly, many of us anticipated Kiser’s role would be one of the least significant among the Rams defensive starters. The biggest evidence towards this is how the Rams used their linebackers during the absence of Mark Barron early on last season.

While the team had faith in Barron to stay on the field on passing downs, they had no faith in Ramik Wilson, who started at linebacker in place of Barron for the team’s first four games. Wilson and safety Marqui Christian had a near 50-50 split at the position. Wilson handled the early down work, and Christian handled the expected passing downs.

The combination of cutting Barron and drafting Taylor Rapp led to speculation that the Rams would use Rapp and Kiser similarly to how they used Wilson and Christian early last season. Rapp has been a bright spot for the Rams this preseason and it seems more and more likely that he’ll have a role on defense this year. He won’t be cutting into John Johnson and Eric Weddle’s snaps much. No matter who fills in for Kiser, he’s probably going to be splitting snaps with Rapp.

The second major factor is Kiser himself. It’s not like he has given us a ton of reasons to believe he’s going to be the next great NFL linebacker. He failed to beat out Wilson for the starting job last year, and he’s had to compete with Bryce Hager for the starting job this preseason. He certainly seems like the best of the team’s linebackers not named Corey Littleton. That still isn’t saying much.

And, honestly, the current linebackers on the roster might not be that much worse than Kiser. Hager is a flawed player, but he’s played with enough intensity on special teams to become one of the team’s longest-tenured players. He’s looked good enough at camp to earn a real shot at being the team’s starting linebacker. As the expected starter, he’ll likely be asked to simply be a reliable tackler on running downs. Hager will be as motivated as anyone to make an impact.

If Hager doesn’t work out, the Rams do have some other linebackers emerging this preseason, most notably being seventh-round pick Dakota Allen. Allen’s unusual path to the NFL has been well-documented. But the talk around Allen lately hasn’t been about his stint on the Netflix series “Last Chance U,” it’s been about his impressive performance in the team’s loss to the Cowboys.

It would be unlikely for Allen to emerge as the team’s starting linebacker. It was also unlikely that he would find his way back to Texas Tech after being dismissed from the program and eventually find his way to the NFL, but here we are. He’s been receiving tons of praise from Sean McVay and he certainly has the support of the fans. All eyes will be on Allen as the Rams finish out this preseason.

Losing Kiser hurts. The Rams lost a valuable player at a thin position. But this injury isn’t likely to have much of an impact on the team’s Super Bowl odds. Kiser earned the starting job because of the team’s “next man up” mentality. Shouldn’t we give the next man up a fair shot as well?

It was no big deal when Garapalo threw 5 straight int’s, it was training camp after all, but what about now? Preseason games don’t matter unless you play awful.
Espn is still all in though, I heard Booger praising JG for giving his receiver a chance on the int, hilarious. JG still has a habit of chucking and ducking when he gets pressure and that’s what happened against the Broncos. Same old sorry ass Jimmy.

Guy was born in LA, and was a Rose Bowl MVP...He was a Rams and Cardinals player

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By: Cameron DaSilva | 10 hours ago

Saturday’s preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys got off to a much better start offensively for the Los Angeles Rams than their first matchup with the Raiders. There were fewer drops, Darrell Henderson looked more comfortable and Blake Bortles led them to a touchdown.
In the second half, however, things went awry. The Rams were shut out in the final 30 minutes by Dallas and struggled to do much of anything offensively. They had three first downs and 71 total yards in the second half, which left Sean McVay dissatisfied.

He’s not making any excuses for the majority of the players being first- and second-year players, either.
“First half was good. The second half was really sloppy and not even close to the standard we expect to operate at,” McVay said Saturday. “I’m not talking about whether you end up scoring points. I’m talking about not beating yourself with things that take no talent. You’ve heard us talk about that before. Those are things that we’ve just got to do a better job with. You can say what you want with some younger players but we expect them to ascend quickly. They’ve got to do a good job of making sure that we get those things cleaned up and that’s both coaches and players, collectively.”
Brandon Allen and John Wolford (briefly) were the quarterbacks in the second half. Allen did have 115 yards passing in the game, but he also threw an interception and made some questionable decisions.
His 5.5 yards per attempt left a lot to be desired, especially with the receivers turning in a solid performance. McVay liked what he saw in the first half, but as for the final two quarters, McVay said the Rams “have to get a lot better in all phases of the offense.”

Many of the players who were on the field in the second half won’t be on the team come September and if they are, they won’t contribute much. But that’s no excuse for a shaky performance against the Cowboys’ backups.

Natrez Patrick shines against Cowboys

HONOLULU, Hawaii – A move to outside linebacker earlier this month paid dividends this past weekend for Natrez Patrick.

The former Georgia star collected three total tackles, half of a sack and one quarterback hit in Saturday night’s 14-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, taking advantage of the chances he received.
“Natrez has done a nice job,” Head Coach Sean McVay said postgame.

With starting outside linebacker Clay Matthews resting back in Los Angeles and reserves Trevon Young and Justin Lawler battling injuries, Patrick had to switch from inside – where he primarily played during his college days – but also got the start as a result.

His impact was felt in a short amount of time.

Less than five minutes into the contest, Patrick combined with inside linebacker Bryce Hager for a sack of Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott. The resulting 12-yard loss pinned Dallas on its own 3-yard line.

Later in the first quarter, he held Cowboys running back Alfred Morris to gains of just three yards and one yard on separate carries, assisting defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day on the latter of the stops.

“Really, we just transitioned him to outside linebacker a couple weeks ago almost by necessity as a result of (DL) Justin Lawler’s injury and (OLB Trevon Young) ‘T-Young’ being banged up,” McVay said. “He’s really done a good job. I think (Outside Linebackers Coach) Chris Shula’s been outstanding, in terms of helping him develop and progress quickly.”

Patrick’s versatility comes at a critical time for the Rams.

Besides Lawler and Young’s injuries, Los Angeles also will be without projected starting inside linebacker Micah Kiser for an indefinite period of time due to a left pectoral injury – scheduled to be surgically repaired Tuesday – sustained against the Cowboys on Saturday, meaning Patrick’s ability to play both spots could be needed at some point the remainder of the preseason.

At a minimum, his playing time will likely continue to trend upward. He played 34 snaps against the Cowboys, good for 48 percent of the Rams’ total defensive snaps on Saturday, after receiving 24 snaps, or 33 percent of the Rams’ total defensive snaps, in the preseason opener at the Raiders on Aug. 10.

Combined with the strong debut of fellow outside linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Patrick proved to be a bright spot at a key position for Los Angeles against Dallas.

“Like we said, we’ll look back at the film, but you definitely felt those guys and that was a positive for sure,” McVay said.

3 Teams That Should Try and Trade For Ezekiel Elliott

As is the case with many holdouts, it appears the situation has deteriorated quite quickly down in Dallas. Ezekiel Elliott has yet to report to training camp. Jerry Jones compared the holdout to if his hand was nearly severed in a car crash (?). Backup and rookie running back Tony Pollard has performed admirably during Zeke’s absence. Now, Elliott and his agent are displeased, to say the least, with Jones’ most recent public comments after the owner jokingly responded, “Zeke who?” to a reporter after the Cowboys’ Saturday night preseason victory.

Jones probably should not have said that and I’m sure Elliott and his agent are a bit mad about it, but it strikes me as posturing and a part of the negotiations more than an actual rift beginning to form. BUT… What if this is a sign that the relationship is beyond repair? It would take a lot for the Cowboys to consider moving on from Elliott, but that unlikely circumstance grows more and more possible with each passing day. Let’s say, just for a second, the Cowboys did decide to trade Elliott. He’d go to a team close to contention and willing to part with both good young players as well as a few high draft picks. They’d also likely have to give Elliott an extension, otherwise, he’s back where he’s started, just not in Texas.

Unlikely? Absolutely. Possible? Until the holdout ends, we can’t rule it out. To that end, here are three teams who should reach out and think about a trade for Elliott and the skillset he brings as an All-Pro running back, should the Cowboys go in that direction.

Indianapolis Colts
The need to take the load off Andrew Luck recently became greater after his mysterious calf injury suddenly became an ankle injury and he was declared out for the preseason. What better way to take care of him than giving him an All-Pro backfield partner? Elliott would have an offensive line of similar quality to run behind and a lot more space to operate; teams wouldn’t dare stack the box against Luck and T.Y. Hilton, injury or no injury. Marlon Mack is a good running back, but not as well-rounded or explosive as Elliott.

The Colts also have the assets and cap space to make a move for someone like Zeke thanks to the asset-hoarding tendencies of GM Chris Ballard. This sort of big-splash move isn’t really his forte, but it’s not often they can acquire a player of Elliott’s quality. He’d catapult them into the same category as the Patriots and Chiefs for the top threats to the AFC’s crown and would open up the field for Luck on play-action unlike anyone he’s ever had. The price is steep, but if Ballard wants to make his team a legitimate threat against the high-powered Chiefs, it’s the move to make.

Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks were this generation’s version of a smash-mouth offense with a nasty attitude to boot. Those days are long gone. Trading for Elliott would revive them, in a way. Russell Wilson has become a much more complete quarterback than when Marshawn Lynch was his running mate, and an elite back is a luxury, not a necessity for Seattle’s offense nowadays. But it’s a luxury that would immediately make Seattle a contender. Elliott has the talent to overcome their offensive line struggles, even if he won’t produce at the clip he does behind his monsters in Dallas. His presence would make up for the lack of receivers and pull the defense in far enough that D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett can get behind them. Chris Carson is fine, but doesn’t hold a candle to Elliott from what we’ve seen so far.

Wilson can do everything by himself, but Seattle shouldn’t want him to do everything by himself. Elliott’s addition would give the team their first legitimate ground game since Lynch’s first retirement. It wouldn’t leave a lot of money to help the defense, but Pete Carroll is good enough to make a decent defense (at the worst) with the roster as its currently constructed. To return to the big game for the first time since 2014, Seattle needs something more. That something could be Elliott.

San Francisco 49ers
The clock is ticking for the team of John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan. They’ve suffered through two brutal losing seasons so far as the decision-makers for the franchise; 2018 can be excused thanks to Jimmy Garoppolo’s ACL injury, but a third straight year of on-field ineptitude would call into question just what they’re doing out there. Lynch isn’t afraid to make a big move after trading for Dee Ford this offseason. Elliott would provide another dimension to the offense that Shanahan hasn’t yet been granted in his short tenure. They don’t really have a future at the position, and Tevin Coleman is a good receiving back but not great between the tackles. Garoppolo could use all the help he can get as he strives to prove his half-season as a starter wasn’t a fluke.

It’s a move that might reek of desperation, and perhaps that’s the only way it’ll go down. But NFL owners aren’t exactly known for their patience, and the Niners are facing enough heat from their fanbase over their Santa Clara stadium. They need to see success, and they need to see it now. Elliott instantly makes them a league-average offense, and that’s before Garoppolo shows what he’s got. If he ends up league-average and not above-average like they believed, Zeke can help them tread water while they figure out what to do with him. If Garoppolo is as good as his contract numbers would indicate, their offense is at the top of the league. A risky maneuver, but one worth taking for Lynch and Shanahan in a critical season.

I am looking for someone who may be able to help me value a rifle of mine. I enjoy guns, I shoot them. But I don’t know the first thing about value. Things are getting tight and I’m considering selling one and don’t wanna get fucked.

This gun was given to me by my father in law. He bought it from spawn sharp for $150 saying they didn’t know what they had. I’m hoping it’s worth a little more.

It’s a 1944 Mauser k98 Bolt Action. It still has two of the Nazi Eagles stamped in the steel. My understanding is it makes it more valuable.

If you know anything about these. Please PM me, I’ll send pics.

Rest in Peace

CHARGERS HAVE THE AUDACITY TO CHARGE FANS RIDICULOUS PARKING PRICES FOR A PRESEASON GAME (PICS)

NFL tickets are expensive enough that you would think some teams would chill out on the prices of parking. Just a bit? A little?

Not the Chargers. Even though the team is just playing preseason games, they are charging some crazy prices to fans in order to see backup players struggle against other backup players.

NYT best-selling author Jeff Pearlman was headed to Dignity Health Sports Park on Sunday to watch the Los Angeles Chargers take on the New Orleans Saints when parking became a bit of an issue.

Not because it was packed out with fans, but because the pricing around the stadium was ridiculous.

Here is a cool $100 fee for general parking:

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Too much? Try this $60 fee that is miles away from the stadium:

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Not really a huge surprise, since this was the pricing just last season around the same time.

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This is even worse when you think about the fact that the Chargers are in the temporary stadium for this season until their new one officially opens in 2020. They can’t even pack out the temporary stadium, but somehow will figure out the attendance problem with a brand spanking new stadium.

Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports


https://larrybrownsports.com/football/nfl-holding-penalties-spiked-preseason/509752
By Larry Brown | Last updated 8/18/19

Pass interference penalties will be something to watch this NFL season, but another point of emphasis around the league seems to be holding.

Through two weeks of the preseason, holding penalty calls have spiked compared to the first two weeks of games in last year’s preseason.

According to a graphic from FOX, there has been an average of 8.9 holding calls per game the first two weeks of the preseason. By comparison, the average through two preseason games last year was 3.9.

Just how high is 8.9? FOX NFL rules analyst Dean Blandino says the regular season has never averaged more than four holds per game.

“There was a point of emphasis on backside holding, but we are seeing holds in the kicking game, in the run game and passing game. That will start to regulate as we get to the regular season. But it’s not a good time to be an offensive lineman right now with these flags for holding,” Blandino said during an appearance on FOX’s broadcast of the Vikings-Seahawks preseason game Sunday night.

Roughing the passer rule changes last year were the talk of the league the first few weeks of the season and even had Clay Matthews questioning his future following several high-profile calls. Holding penalties could be the subject to watch this year.

In addition to the emphasis on holding calls, the league is cracking down on blindside blocks. No forceable contact with a player’s helmet, shoulder or forearm while heading back to their goal line is allowed. That’s the foul that was called on Detroit Lions offensive lineman Oday Aboushi that had fans upset.

Beyond the holding and blindside blocks, another rule change to watch includes revisions to leaping (a player must be on the line of scrimmage and stationary). Teams also will have the choice of enforcing penalties for a personal foul or unsportsmanlike conduct on the point after touchdown attempt or kickoff.

An increase in holding penalties could have severe effects for teams that want to run the ball.

Will the 2019 Rams encounter a Super Bowl hangover?

Clay Matthews wrapped up the narrative and flung it to the turf as if it were his 84th career sack.
“I mean, when you lose (the Super Bowl), is there still a hangover?”

It was a well-delivered rhetorical by the 33-year-old outside linebacker. And while humorous, it inadvertently cut to one of the central issues facing the 2019 Rams.

Yes, as it turns out. There is, Clay.

Unless you’re the Patriots of course, who turned a humbling Super Bowl LII defeat into a sixth Lombardi Trophy in Atlanta last February.

However, New England was the first to accomplish that very specific and daunting feat since the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who famously won all 17 games of their revenge tour following their Super Bowl VI loss to the 1971 Cowboys (coincidentally, the only otherSuper Bowl loser to win a title the following season).

Buffalo, Denver, and Minnesota are the other franchises that have earned return trips to the Super Bowl only to suffer repeat disappointment in the world’s biggest game. The Bills lost four straight from 1990-93, while the Broncos fell following the 1986 and 1987 regular seasons (then did it again after the 1989 campaign for good measure). The Vikings lost Super Bowls VIII and IX.

Point being, our beloved game is not kind to those vanquished in the season’s final contest. In fact, in the 16-game era, teams defeated in the Super Bowl have averaged 9.57 wins in the subsequent year (since 1978; excluding the 1982 lockout-shortened season).

13 of those 40 NFL runners-up failed to reach the playoffs the following year. And there were some epic clunkers in that bunch, including the 1990 Broncos (5 wins), 1999 Falcons (5 wins), and 2003 Raiders (4 wins).

In the more concise words of Yahoo’s Frank Schwab, “Super Bowl hangovers exist, and they’re especially hard on the loser.”

Not that Matthews would or should know. He won Super Bowl XLV with Green Bay, then brushed off the confetti and helped the Packers along their 15-1 journey in 2011. So his lack of concern for the 2019 Rams is framed by that experience. Matthews sees his new team as more likely to return to that first Sunday in February than regress.

“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.”

Aqib Talib claimed Super Bowl 50 with the Broncos, only to miss the postseason in 2016, and offers some context from that experience. His key is to start from scratch.

“You do the same thing whether you win or whether you lose,” says the 33-year-old cornerback. “You reset in the offseason and you start that thing all of the way over from the beginning of the playbook and you put all of the work in over again. It doesn’t matter if we were the second-place team, the runner up, it doesn’t matter. It’s the same sequence of events.”

As for that offseason he references, assistant head coach Joe Barry points to the extended amount of time off that teams have – per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement – as another reason why last year’s deep run shouldn’t have any bearing on the year ahead.

“I think it’s all in your approach. I think it’s all in your culture. I think it’s all starting at the top with Sean (McVay),” he added. “We’re moving on to bigger and better things in 2019. And, to answer your question, there has not been one sign (of a hangover) … We really don’t even talk about last year except the fact that we accomplished something great. We won the NFC.”

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo happy to finally make NFL debut

HONOLULU, Hawaii – After a foot injury cost him his rookie season in 2018 and a hamstring injury held him out of the Rams’ 2019 preseason opener, linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo finally got to don L.A.’s royal blue and yellow in a live game this weekend.

The Oklahoma product made his NFL debut in Saturday night’s 14-10 preseason loss to the Dallas Cowboys, having an active presence within Los Angeles’ defense.

“All of my teammates, they were so happy for me,” Okoronkwo said. “They really kept my spirits up, really encouraged me. The coaches encouraged me. Today was great.”

The appearance was long overdue for him – 593 days to be exact.

Okoronkwo last played in a live football game on January 1, 2018, when his Sooners took on Georgia the Rose Bowl. Less than a month after the Rams chose him with the 160th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft in late April, he sustained a broken foot during their organized team activities which required surgery.

He was placed on the physically unable to perform list prior to the start of L.A.’s 2018 training camp and not taken off until Nov. 5. Then came the hamstring injury.

Okoronkwo didn’t dwell on it, though, and made his presence felt right away. Entering Saturday’s contest early in the second quarter, he finished with one tackle, one pass breakup and one quarterback hit. He also drew a pair of holding penalties.

“Getting Obo out there, it’s been great to see him,” Rams head Sean McVay said. “You some of the flashes of why we liked him so much, why he was a productive player at Oklahoma.”

Surprisingly, as active as Okoronkwo was on Saturday, he didn’t view his performance through the same lens as his head coach. However, he was quick to credit the Rams’ training staff for their work in helping getting him get back on the field.

“I didn’t feel like I did too well,” Okoronkwo said. “I’m going to go back to practice and keep working, but honestly, I’m just happy I got to play. I’m grateful that we have the great training staff that we do.”

Besides the training staff, Okoronkwo also showed his appreciation toward his teammates for helping him keep a positive mindset throughout the adversity he faced.

“I mean, if you are around this team, these coaches, the training staff, everybody’s just very uplifting, very positive,” Okoronkwo said. “It’s really easy to stay (upbeat) and keep your head above water when they hear you’re going through something like that, because everybody’s going to give you some uplifting words.”

Now several months removed from the injury, Okoronkwo is glad to be back

“It feels good to play football again,” he said.

I'd thought it'd be worth a quick look at all the current backup QB's for all of last seasons playoff teams.

NE Patriots
Brian Hoyer
11 years
Career starts = 37
W/L = 16-21
83.2 rating

Playoff starts = none
--------------------------
LA Rams
Blake Bortles
6 years
Career starts = 73
W/L = 24-49
80.6 rating

Playoff starts = 3
W/L = 2-1
3 TD
0 INT
91 rating
--------------------------
KC Chiefs
Chad Henne
12 yrs
Career starts = 53
W/L = 18-35
75.5 rating

Playoff starts = none
---------------------------
NO Saints
Teddy Bridgewater
6 years
Career starts = 29
W/L = 17-12
85.9 rating

Playoff starts = 1
W/L = 0-1
0 TD 0 INT
86.5 rating
--------------------------
LA Chargers
Tyrod Taylor
9 years
Career starts = 46
W/L = 12-21-1
89.6 rating

Playoff starts = 1
W/L = 0-1
0 TD 1 INT
44.2 rating
-------------------------
Philadelphia Eagles
Josh McCown
17 years
Career starts = 76
W/L = 23-53
79.7 rating

Playoff starts = none
---------------------------
Houston Texans
AJ McCarron
6 years
Career starts = 3
W/L = 2-1
92.4 rating

Playoff starts = 1
W/L = 0-1
1 TD 1 INT
68.3 rating
------------------------
Chicago Bears
Chase Daniel
10 years
Career starts = 4
W/L = 2-2
85.8 rating

Playoff games = 4
W/L = 2-2
------------------------
Baltimore Ravens
Robert Griffin III
6 years
Career starts = 40
W/L = 15-25
88.2 rating

Playoff starts = 1
W/L = 0-1
2 TD 1 INT
77.5 rating
------------------------
Dallas Cowboys
Cooper Rush
3 years
Career starts = none
------------------------
Indianapolis Colts
Jacoby Brissett
4 years
Career starts = 17
W/L = 5-12
81.6 rating

Playoff starts = none
--------------------------
Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith
7 years
Career starts = 31
W/L = 12-19
72.7 rating

Playoff starts = none

I have a couple of them, but I'll start with Mickey Gilley. It occurs to me that some of you young'uns might not know him, since he was most famous after the movie "The Urban Cowboy" with John Travolta and Debra Winger. Gilley wrote some of the songs in the movie, and his massive cowboy bar was the backdrop for the movie, with the mechanical bull for guys for whom too much testosterone and Lone Star beer was a problem.

Years later, Mickey Gilley had/has a small theater in Branson, Missouri to which I had brought a charter group to see a show. They were actually eatinga at the Gilley's restaraunt, and I needed to use the restroom. So I'm a the urinal, doing my business, when I glance to the right and there is Mickey Gilley takin' a piss.
"How you doing Mr Gilley. Fancy meeting you here.."

He enjoyed the shock value, I am sure.

So who is your strange story about?

Ryan Young,Yahoo Sports 2 hours 2 minutes ago

Longtime sportscaster Jack Whitaker, center, died Sunday. He was 95. (Richard Shotwell/AP)

Longtime CBS and ABC sportscaster Jack Whitaker died of natural causes in his sleep on Sunday morning in Devon, Pennsylvania, CBS announced. He was 95.
Whitaker kicked off his career with CBS Sports in the late 1950s. Most notably, he called the first Super Bowl for CBS and Secretariat’s Triple Crown Race in 1973.
The World War II veteran stayed with CBS for 22 years.

"His amazing writing ability, on-air presence and humanity are unmatched. His unique perspective on sports ranging from horse racing to golf to NFL football was extraordinary," CBS Sports chairman Sean McManus said. "My father and Jack shared an incredible respect for each other and had the warmest of friendships that lasted for decades. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jack's family."

Click to expand...

Whitaker joined ABC in 1982, where he covered both the Winter and Summer Olympics in 1984 and the Winter Olympics in 1988. He also worked with ABC News, reporting for ABC’s World News Tonight, Nightline and 20/20. He was inducted into the American Sportscasters Hall of Fame in 1997, the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2012 and received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2012 Sports Emmy Awards, too.

“Jack Whitaker was one of broadcasting’s most respected, elegant and knowledgeable commentators whose legendary career spanned a half century and so many significant events,” ESPN said in a statement. “His reporting skills and poignant essays graced productions of the Olympics, ABC’s Wide World of Sports and ABC News and he helped shape so much of the sports coverage that fans are accustomed to today. Our condolences to his wife, Patricia, and the Whitaker family.”

Click to expand...

Fellow CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz had nothing but praise for Whitaker in a statement he released on Sunday afternoon, and said he spoke with Whitaker this week.
“When I first met Jack Whitaker in 1986 at Pebble Beach, I felt like I had just been introduced to Ernest Hemingway,” Nantz said. “I grew up watching him deliver contemplative and contextual prose with his famous short essays, bringing class and dignity to his industry. He was enormously proud to have called Super Bowl I for CBS and was the last surviving network commentator from that landmark game.

“I spoke to him this week after hospice came to his home and his mind was still brilliantly sharp right to the end.”

I honestly think that the Rams will go with an unbalanced roster in favor of the defense this year. I also see Wade structuring the roster to give him maximum flexibility. I don't think SJD has done enough to win a place on this roster. Watching him play I see the same player he was last year when he was inactive every game. Coming into this season penetration and getting off blocks had to be at the top of his list. Yes he improved his physique, but he needed to improve his technique which apparently he didn't do. So it wouldn't surprise me if he only kept Gaines at NT since that position is normally played on first down and short yardage only. By going heavy on DB's and LB's Wade gives himself maximum flexibility. One of his favorite alignments is 2 DT's (3Ts) and 2 EDGE on the LOS. He covers the middle with 2 LBs over the A gaps.

Also, I think Jojo's fumble problems are going to cost him a roster spot. Webster is fast and looks sure-handed while bringing more to the table as a WR as well. IMO this will be Troy Hill's last season with the Rams unless he really elevates his play. The same might be said of Roby-Coleman as both have contracts that keep them on the team this year but not so next year.

Next week will be the week that will separate the keepers from the chaff.

QB Goff - Bortles
RB Gurley - Brown - Henderson - Kelly
XWR - Woods - Reynolds
YWR - Kupp - Hodge - Webster
ZWR - Cooks - Bachman
TE - Everett - Higbee
LT Whitworth
LG Noteboom
C Allen
RG - Blythe
RT - Havenstein
O-line: Edwards, Evans, Demby
Offense 23

DE Brockers - Okoronkwo
NT Gaines
DT Donald - Franklin-Myers
WIL Fowler - Carraway
OLB Ebukam
MIKE Littleton
ILB Matthews
LB - Hager, Allen, Patrick, Young
RCB Talib - Long, Hill
LCB Peters - Peterson
Slot Roby-Coleman - Darious Williams
FS Weddle - Rapp - Scott
S Johnson - Parker - Gervase
Defense 27

LS McQuaide
P Hekker
K Zuerlein
Returner Scott & Webster

View: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2849980-andy-dalton-isnt-the-guy-just-move-on-bengals


Andy Dalton Isn't the Guy; Just Move On, Bengals

The Andy Dalton era of Cincinnati Bengals football ran its course and should mercifully come to an end.

Right now, the quarterback and organization are in the final stages of a bad relationship. Neither gets what they need from each other, and they tolerate one another simply out of necessity. Meanwhile, the union persists because neither is brave enough to end it.

Dalton is never going to be the type of quarterback who can carry an organization. The Bengals have reached the point where the franchise should recognize his limitations and try to improve at the game's most important position, especially with a promising rookie on the roster.

The 31-year-old signal-caller isn't a bad option. But he's not a particularly good one, either.

Dalton fits the very definition of mediocre. He has never produced more than 4,293 passing yards or 33 touchdowns in any season. Ten different quarterbacks eclipsed that yardage last season alone. Since Dalton posted his career high in touchdowns six years ago, other quarterbacks have thrown 34 or more scores 19 times.

Last season, the three-time Pro Bowl selection—the most recent of which came in 2016—posted an adjusted completion percentage of 72.8, which ranked 26th among 29 qualifiers, per The Athletic's Joe Goodberry, before suffering a season-ending thumb injury.

His career quarterback rating is tied for 12th among active players.

In a high-octane league, Dalton is the NFL's version of a Toyota Prius. He's reliable and safe. But the position demands more juice. In a world where Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson and Baker Mayfield redefine how the quarterback position is played, Dalton pales in comparison.

Granted, the Bengals quarterback deserves credit for his emergence as an immediate starter in his rookie campaign to help kickstart the team's organizational turnaround. Prior to Dalton's arrival, Cincinnati endured three losing seasons in the previous four years. The team had already worked its way up from being a laughingstock throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, but the group struggled to find any consistency.

The front office cobbled together a stellar 2011 draft class with wide receiver A.J. Green in the first round and Dalton in the second. Their arrival sparked a run of five straight playoff appearances, albeit all losses in the Wild Card Round, and two AFC North division titles.

During that run, the Bengals sunk a six-year, $96 million contract into their starting quarterback, the remnants of which could still have a profound impact on the team's future.

Three straight losing seasons change a franchise's perspective. Owner Mike Brown finally decided to part ways with longtime head coach Marvin Lewis. Enter the fresh-faced Zac Taylor.

"I've watched Andy closely for the last eight years dating back to his college days and throughout the NFL," Taylor told PFT Live shortly after being hired. "... I've always thought very highly of him. I think he's a great fit for what we're going to do. He's really smart. He's accurate. He can get the ball out on time. So I think he's gonna fit this offense to a 'T' and I'm excited to work with him."

Attachments to Dalton are now tenuous, despite Taylor's affirmation.

First, the new coaching staff isn't invested in the incumbent quarterback. More importantly, the organization isn't tied to Dalton for an extended period of time. Financial investment often dictates personnel decisions, but Dalton's contract, which has two remaining years, no longer includes any guaranteed money. The Bengals could cut their starter today and not owe anything against the salary cap.

As such, the franchise continues to have a low-key quarterback problem.

So, the Bengals' decision to pass on Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins with the 11th overall pick was nothing short of baffling. Instead, the front office chose North Carolina State quarterback Ryan Finley in the fourth round.

Finley provides a legitimate alternative even though he's not a high-round draft selection because of how he's played. Through two preseason contests, the 24-year-old rookie completed 75.0 percent of his passes for 259 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.

"He was very cool and calm. We've got a lot of confidence with him in there," Taylor said of Finley's performance against the Washington Redskins, per the Cincinnati Enquirer's Tyler Dragon. "I thought he did a nice job."

The coach's postgame assessment built upon last week's encouragement.

"At no point have we ever been discouraged with [Finley]," Taylor said Wednesday, per The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. "We've always seen his traits as a passer and his football IQ. He's more than capable of doing it, and he showed that in the game the other day. He's in a good rhythm, and he's very comfortable."

Cool and calm? Check.

Coaching staff's confidence in him? Check.

More than capable of doing the job? Check.

Taylor's descriptions don't sound like he's talking about a rookie signal-caller after his first two preseason contests. They sound more like a young quarterback ready to take the starting job.

"He's confident in the huddle," wide receiver Auden Tate said, per Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official site. "He doesn't seem like a rookie."

Outstanding efficiency during the preseason doesn't always translate to success in the regular season, though the traits Finley has displayed do.

Finley shined because of a combination of poise, pocket navigation, anticipation and an understanding of what the defense gives him. He knows how to run an offense. In some ways, Finley is Matt Ryan-esque in his approach. There's nothing fancy about it, but it's usually effective. He worked from under center (three-, five- and seven-step drops), shotgun and play action. He completed timing passes and deep in routes into tight windows.

All of the aforementioned traits will be absolutely crucial for whoever starts at quarterback because the Bengals offensive line is a disaster, and Green isn't expected back from an ankle injury until after the start of the regular season.

Finley has been so good, previous backup Jeff Driskel asked Taylor for non-quarterback opportunities, according to Hobson.

Of course, a quarterback doesn't fall into the third day of the draft for no reason. Finley, like Dalton, doesn't exhibit elite arm talent. Out-breaking throws can be problematic. What the rookie showed during his collegiate career and initial NFL action is solid decision-making to put the ball exactly where it's supposed to be. Finley can still make more difficult throws because he anticipates them so well and isn't afraid of tight coverage.

At the very least, the Bengals must consider the possibility of an open quarterback competition.

The situation is less about Finley's potential for growth and far more about Dalton's inability to be anything more than a cog in the system. Finley might not be a better option, but they won't know until he leads the first-team offense. The uncertainty coupled with the possibility of great reward is the type of risk the Bengals must take because they've fallen behind everyone else in the division. If the risk doesn't pay dividends, the franchise's direction next offseason simplifies.

Cincinnati's roster as it's currently constructed can't consistently compete this season, and Andy Dalton is a significant reason why.

DL
2018 Roster Count: 7
DL1 Donald
DL2 Brockers
DL3 SJD
DL4 Gaines
DL5 JFM
DL6 Smart
-Fox
Roberts
Jones
Copeland

DL Notes: I haven't been impressed by the bottom 3 guys, so it seems like it's Fox vs the other positions, where maybe they go 6 to gain a better roster with more quality elsewhere. And btw I love Fox and what he brings but those other position groups on defense just damn. Sticking to a solid and balanced-looking 6 right now for that reason.

OLB
2018 Roster Count: 5
OLB1 Fowler
OLB2 Matthews
OLB3 Ebukam
OLB4 Lawler
OLB5 Patrick
OLB6 Okorongkwo
-Young
-Carraway
-Durham

OLB Notes: Lawler used to be a guy I considered to be OLB4 but with the play of this group I am not so sure about that. They will certainly keep 5 of these guys at a minimum, but what I suspect is going to happen is this group will go to 6 because of the roster quality. Going plus one here requires less somewhere else and that will be ILB which is a group Patrick was moved out of. Patrick is basically a dual-backer for us which means he is going to be on the roster IMO.

ILB
2018 Roster Count: 5
ILB1 Littleton
ILB2 Kiser (Injury?)
-Howard
-Hager
-Allen
-Reeder
-Kupp

ILB Notes: this group is by far our weakest on the roster so IMO there are two roster spots left. Three if Kiser is out for significant time. Hager is a pro, but I think he has timed out here and expect his spot to be taken by Allen. My guess is Howard & Allen are ILB3&4. If Kiser loses time it's hard to say, I would guess Hager gets a stay of execution in that event. This group either way has the most competition remaining for the next two preseason games.

S
2018 Roster Count: 4
S1 Weddle
S2 Johnson
S3 Rapp
S4 Christian
-Peterson
-Scott
-Gervase

S Notes: really tough one here with Peterson showing well and Scott being a guy they want on teams, but barring a trade of Christian there is zero room. S5 vs the other position groups will be a tough sell I think, so I expect them to stay at 4.

CB
2018 Roster Count: 6
CB1 Talib
CB2 Peters
CB3 NRC
CB4 Hill
CB5 Peterson
CB6 Long
-Williams
-Deayon
Hatfield

CB Notes: like the OLBs this group is loaded. I would like to say Hill gets squeezed but the Rams love him. So yeah, I think barring a trade the jobs are sewn up through CB6. From there it's hard to think the Rams will stick with only 6 and cut a young player who's been showing well and has some upside. So IMO they'll keep 7 and the DL group will pay the price. Williams vs Deayon looms as a good battle IMO.

Overall Notes: I am really glad I don't have to make the cuts on this side of the ball.