Can anyone in "the know" spell out how he has looked in camp, joint practices, etc.? I think this could and should be his year to break out...and if he does in year 3 of McVay, it could be just what the Dr. ordered. Another weapon to game plan for the D coordinators all week, with an already potent offense with Kupp coming back. And if D. Henderson can become out Kamira, Wow!

Ok, back to work...

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/20...tm_medium=wasabi&utm_content=home-latest-news


In essence, ED still hasn’t learned from his prediction that Sean Mannion would be preferred over Goff by McVay two years ago. I mean, I loved him as our running back and like when he argues w Skip Bayless as a Rambassador, but Dickerson just can’t stop discounting Jared for some unknown reason. Could it be that Jim Everett replaced ED as the face of the franchise, so young QB’s have to go to multiple Pro Bowls to get his respect?

Sure, Eric....Goff hasn’t proven enough. Let him prove it again so he gets 45mil/year instead of 39 or 40. Outstanding thought process

BTW, wouldn’t Mannion be cheaper?

By: Cameron DaSilva | 51 minutes ago


No team had a shorter offseason than the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots this year. After making it all the way to the Super Bowl, they were a month behind some teams when it came to scouting and offseason work.

It was undoubtedly a long season spanning from the preseason in August to the Super Bowl in February, but the Rams wouldn’t change anything about it – except maybe the end result. As short as the offseason break was, Sean McVay is feeling great heading into the 2019 season.

He told Albert Breer of the MMQB that he feels as fresh as he ever has entering a campaign, which is somewhat surprising after all he went through last season.

“I’m excited about this season,” McVay said. “I think this is as fresh as I’ve felt. It was good to have that break after the offseason, even though it goes a little longer when you’re playing into the Super Bowl, and the offseason was shorter. It was really the first time I was able to decompress and then truly get so excited about getting back with these guys. You’ve got an enthusiasm and an excitement—you’re ready to go.”

Getting over the Super Bowl loss is understandably difficult, and McVay says “it’ll always bother you.” He’s blamed himself for not putting his players in positions to succeed, failing to adapt to what the Patriots were doing.

Some believe the Rams will go through a Super Bowl hangover because of the loss, but McVay doesn’t foresee that being an issue at all.

“To say there’s any sort of lull, or any sort of energy that’s drained as a result of that, I don’t feel it at all,” he said. “I think there’s an excitement about getting back and attacking the ’19 season. People say, ‘Oh, it’s demoralizing to lose the Super Bowl.’ I told the players this—it’s the best season I’ve ever been a part of. And I obviously didn’t feel great about the way it ended, but I couldn’t be more appreciative of the season.”

All offseason, players have talked about how much they learned from making it to the Super Bowl and the way it’s going to help them moving forward. McVay has echoed that sentiment and gotten everyone on the same page.

This is a team that’s prepared for the upcoming season and the high expectations surrounding them.

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/13/nfl-rams-sean-mcvay-refreshed-2019-season/

By: Luke Easterling | August 12, 2019 11:30 am ET

The NFL preseason is already in full swing, and that means college football is right around the corner.
Since we’re always focused on the next crop of top NFL prospects, here’s an updated look at our top 50 prospects eligible for the 2020 NFL draft:


1. Grant Delpit | S | LSU
© (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)



2. Chase Young | EDGE | Ohio State
© Joe Robbins/Getty Images




3. Jerry Jeudy | WR | Alabama
© Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports



4. Tua Tagovailoa | QB | Alabama
© Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images


5. A.J. Epenesa | EDGE | Iowa
© (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)



6. Andrew Thomas | OT | Georgia
© Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports




7. Justin Herbert | QB | Oregon
© Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports



8. Dylan Moses | LB | Alabama
© Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports



9. Laviska Shenault | WR | Colorado
© Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports



10. Tyler Biadasz | OL | Wisconsin
© Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports




11. Kristian Fulton | CB | LSU
© Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports



12. Derrick Brown | DL | Auburn
© Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports



13. Raekwon Davis | DL | Alabama
© Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports



14. Walker Little | OT | Stanford
© Joe Robbins/Getty Images




15. Henry Ruggs III | WR | Alabama
© Joe Robbins/Getty Images



16. Bryce Hall | CB | Virginia
© Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports



17. CeeDee Lamb | WR | Oklahoma
© Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports



18. CJ Henderson | CB | Florida
CB | Florida (Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports)
© Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports




19. Brandon Jones | S | Texas
© Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports



20. Tee Higgins | WR | Clemson
© Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports



21. D'Andre Swift | RB | Georgia
© John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports



22. Albert Okwuegbunam | TE | Missouri
© Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports




21. Trey Smith | OL | Tennessee
© Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports



24. Jake Fromm | QB | Georgia
© Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports



25. Tylan Wallace | WR | Oklahoma State
© Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports



26. Trey Adams | OT | Washington
© Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports




27. Yetur Gross-Matos | EDGE | Penn State
© Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports



28. Mekhi Becton | OT | Louisville
© Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports



29. Terrell Lewis | EDGE | Alabama
© Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports



30. Isaiah Simmons | LB | Clemson
© Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports




31. Jalen Reagor | WR | TCU
© Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports



32. Travis Etienne | RB | Clemson
© Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports



33. Calvin Throckmorton | OT | Oregon
© AP Photo/Young Kwak



34. Najee' Harris | RB | Alabama
RB | Alabama (John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports)
© John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports




35. Trevon Diggs | CB | Alabama
© Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports



36. J.K. Dobbins | RB | Ohio State
© Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports



37. Jonathan Taylor | RB | Wisconsin
© Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports



38. Curtis Weaver | EDGE | Boise State
© Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports




39. Xavier McKinney | S | Alabama
© Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports



40. Jabari Zuniga | EDGE | Florida
© Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports



41. Grant Calcaterra | TE | Oklahoma
© Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports



42. Jaylon Johnson | CB | Utah
© Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports




43. Nick Coe | EDGE | Auburn
© John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports



44. Jordan Love | QB | Utah State
© Brian Losness-USA TODAY Sports



45. Mike Hampton | CB | USF
Tampa, FL – SEPT 1: Mike Hampton #7 of the South Florida Bulls catches an interception…

more
© Julio Aguilar/Getty Images



46. Paddy Fisher | LB | Northwestern
© Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports




47. Anfernee Jennings | EDGE | Alabama
© Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images



48. Jeff Gladney | CB | TCU
© Christian Petersen/Getty Images



49. Mitchell Wilcox | TE | USF
© Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports



50. Alaric Jackson | OT | Iowa
© Syndication: HawkCentral


https://draftwire.usatoday.com/gall...p-50-prospects-tua-tagovailoa-justin-herbert/

This came up in the Fisher thread and it was something that interested me. It's easy to think that the other teams were stupid not to draft possibly the best 3 Tech DT in NFL history. But what did YOU know, honestly about this kid from Pitt?

I am a fellow troll in another website devoted to the NFC West and trolling each other's team. I know a Seahawk fan with the user name "Munkie" from Northern Idaho, and he was high on Aaron Donald before the 2014 draft. He said:

Munkie said:

PC was bragging about him before the draft. That is what alerted me to him. Then I watched some of his games and noticed that nobody, Big East or not, could block him. Being unblockable seemed like a good trait in a DT. I think the fact that teams were slow to talk to him threw off the draft pundits, which is why they had him as a late 1st rounder, or even 2nd rounder. He should have been a top 5 pick.

Click to expand...

I asked Munkie that if PC (Pete Carroll) was bragging about him, why didn't the Hawks move up to get him? Munkie said they were too far down in the draft and the Seahawks don't like to move up in the draft in any case. I told him today that some here were giving Fisher/Snead little credit about drafting him at #13, because every other team was stupid. Here is what Munkie said about Fisher/Snead's pick of AD:

Munkie said:

And I do think Fisher and Snead deserve credit for drafting him because their Dline was stacked. They could have easily passed on him for a position of need.

I actually said the Rams would draft him, and some 49er fans said that was stupid because they already had a good dline.

Click to expand...

Revisionist thinking aside, what did you truly know about Aaron Donald before the 2014 Draft? I'll be straight up honest, because I didn't know anything about him until after the pick when I watched Pitt tape of him. How about you? Honestly, did you know how good AD could be?

Good Lord. At some point these guys have to quit listening to their agents if they want to be on a winning team.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001040986/article/dak-prescott-seeking-extension-worth-40myear

https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams...wded-cornerback-competition-nfl-training-camp

Sean McVay and Rams have ‘a positive problem’ with cornerbacks in camp

On a veteran Rams team with perhaps only a half-dozen roster spots up for grabs, competition for a cornerback job is heating up.

Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters are established starters with multiple Pro Bowl selections between them. Nickell Robey-Coleman is the starting slot corner, and Troy Hill has proven a valuable rotational player and spot starter. And the Rams invested a third-round pick in David Long.

That leaves one open spot, and Kevin Peterson, Darious Williams and Dominique Hatfield are the main contenders to make a team that has designs on a return to the Super Bowl.

“It’s a positive problem for us with the depth that we do have,” coach Sean McVay said, adding, “These younger players are continuing to ascend and they’re going to force some difficult decisions here in a couple weeks, which is a good thing.”

Peterson, 25, intercepted a pass in the Rams’ 14-3 loss to the Oakland Raiders in Saturday’s preseason opener. He made the play almost exactly one year from the day he suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2018 preseason opener against the Baltimore Ravens.

“It felt great to be out there with my guys again,” Peterson said. “Seeing the guys get to the Super Bowl last year, seeing how hard they worked, seeing what it takes to be able to get to that — and I’m just doing my rehab the whole time … I’m just excited to be out there with my guys.”

Peterson played at Oklahoma State and was signed by the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2016. The Rams signed him to their practice squad and he eventually was promoted to the roster late in the 2017 season.

With McVay resting starters in the 2017 regular-season finale against the San Francisco 49ers, Peterson earned a start. He made the most of the opportunity, intercepting two passes by 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

Peterson was looking forward to competing for a larger role last year, but the knee injury ended his season. He set his sights on being ready for training camp.

“Just aim for training camp and come out full blown,” he said. “Go out there and ball, don’t even worry about it, get the confidence and everything.

“Come into training camp knowing I’m not worried about the knee anymore, I’m just coming out here playing.”

Talib and Peters have set the tone for the cornerbacks, Peterson said.

“They’re leaders; they know the game like crazy,” he said. “They’re some of the best competitors that I’ve ever been around. They don’t make excuses about anything. They just go out and ball.”

Williams, 26, played in college at Alabama Birmingham and signed with the Ravens after the 2018 draft. The Rams claimed him off waivers last October, and he played in one game.

McVay said Williams made an impression last season during practices when he worked against the starting offense as a member of the scout team. Now that he has become acclimated to coaches and has “continuity in the system,” Williams is thriving. He intercepted a pass in a joint practice with the Chargers and played well against the Raiders.

“His play and his confidence have really shown up,” McVay said.

Hatfield, 24, played at Crenshaw High and Utah before signing with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2017. He has played in 21 games, mainly on special teams.

Dont’e Deayon and Ramon Richards are other cornerbacks who will play during the preseason.

Young offensive lineman playing multiple positions

Rams starters will not play in preseason games, a boon for rookie offensive linemen David Edwards and Bobby Evans.

Each played both tackle spots and also guard against the Raiders, a scenario that probably will repeat Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu.

Practicing against teammates Aaron Donald, the two-time NFL defensive player of the year, and veteran Michael Brockers prepared them well, the rookies said.

“Going against guys like that,” Evans said, “you ain’t got no choice but to get better.”

Said Edwards: “They’re the best of the best, right? ... Those guys are just different dudes. They definitely do a really good job of preparing us because you’re able to try different stuff, see what works, and then, hey, if this works, let’s roll with it.”

Etc.
The Rams were off Monday. They will practice Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, then depart for Hawaii on Thursday afternoon.

https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams...-rapp-versatility-rams-raiders-sean-mcvay-nfl

Taylor Rapp’s versatility and instincts shine through in Rams’ preseason opener

The versatility that made Taylor Rapp a second-round draft pick for the Rams was on full display in his first preseason game.

The rookie safety lined up deep in coverage, disguised behind linebackers and also played along the line of scrimmage against the Oakland Raiders.

“You’re seeing a guy play with urgency,” Rams coach Sean McVay said of Rapp on Sunday after reviewing Saturday’s 14-3 loss to the Raiders. “His instincts are showing up, he’s playing faster, more decisive. And when he does that… you feel him.”

Rapp is expected become more of a force as the Rams prepare for the Sept. 8 opener against the Carolina Panthers.

Eric Weddle and John Johnson are the starting safeties, but they sat out against the Raiders and will not play Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys in Hawaii or in preseason games against the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans.

That will provide the 6-foot, 205-pound Rapp more opportunities to learn defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ scheme.

On Saturday, Rapp made two tackles, tipped a pass that was intercepted by cornerback Kevin Peterson and broke up a third-down pass.

All from different points on the field, just as he did as a standout at the University of Washington.

“It’s very cool to see them using me,” in multiple alignments, Rapp said after the game. “There’s a lot of versatility and stuff like that like I did in college.”

Running back Darrell Henderson, a third-round pick, came on in relief of John Kelly and rushed for 13 yards in six carries. His longest gain was for seven yards.

Henderson also caught a pass that resulted in a five-yard loss.

“There was some good and there were some things we have to improve on,” McVay said. “He’s a really conscientious player and doesn’t really get fazed by things.”

Etc.
Running back Justin Davis did not play against the Raiders because he suffered a concussion in a joint practice earlier in the week, McVay said. Linebacker Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is dealing with a hamstring issue…. McVay said cornerback Darious Williams continues to impress…. Pass game coordinator Shane Waldron will continue to call plays during the preseason, McVay said, adding that it was a collaborative effort…. It has not yet been determined which veteran players will stay home for Saturday’s preseason game against the Cowboys in Hawaii, McVay said. The Rams leave on Thursday and return Saturday night. Starters will not play in.

Our old friend gives his take. This should generate a fun thread.


Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2imiVlcal7g

the most important schedule of the season. I hope it’s hot in Southern California when the Saints have to wear their black unis. Be one more thing for Pucker mouth Payton to cry about.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/ramsnfl/status/1161014829911425025?s=21

https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams...llen-making-the-most-out-of-his-second-chance

Rams’ Dakota Allen making most out of second chance

On the final day of the 2019 NFL draft, Dakota Allen anxiously waited to hear his name called.

The All-Big 12 linebacker from Texas Tech had been projected as a fifth-round pick, but five rounds came and went without a phone call. Allen had hoped his openness with NFL executives — a letter explaining his burglary arrest during college — would reassure them.

Then the sixth round passed.

Watching the draft from home as the final round started, he began apologizing to friends for flying out only to see him go undrafted. Then the Rams announced their final pick in Round 7: Dakota Allen.

“I was just so happy I honestly cried. My parents cried; my brother cried,” Allen said.

He was the 251st overall selection, but he had made it to the NFL.

“When you hear how emotional and how important it was to get that call, specific to a lot of the things that he had overcome, not only to just get back to Texas Tech but then to become a drafted player in the NFL,” Rams coach Sean McVay said about drafting Allen, “I think there is an appreciation that he has, and you like the way he responded from a mistake. He didn’t run away from that, and that’s what you want to hear.”

Just three years ago, Allen believed he would never pay football again. Depression and anger from an ankle injury suffered at the end of his second year at Texas Tech would influence Allen to make a decision that haunted his life.

The redshirt freshman and second-leading tackler for the Red Raiders was expelled from Texas Tech after being arrested in connection with a gun-theft burglary that occurred in December 2015. Allen was charged with second-degree felony burglary of a habitation, a charge that carries up to 20 years in prison.

So he returned to Humble, Texas, in the summer of 2016 without a scholarship or a place to stay.

“[My parents] were hurt. And I think what hurt me most was seeing them hurt,” he said about his dismissal from Texas Tech. “I went back to Humble and really moved in with my parents. But that really wasn’t working out just because of everything that happened.”

He moved in with his older brother, Anthony Hawkins, and the two set up a car-detailing company in their hometown. After a Facebook post to Allen’s social media followers — many from his former playing days — business was booming. The two would work in the sweltering Texas heat and spend hours detailing cars day in and day out.

Despite his sculpted, 6-foot-1, 224-pound frame enhanced by spending almost every summer working out at football practices, Allen’s body ached. Most days after a workout, his brother would find him on the side of the house throwing up and splashing himself in the face with the water hose.

“I got to play football again. I can’t do this the rest of my life,” Allen mumbled.

“I told him, ‘Man, you got to make better choices or this is what it’s gonna be,’ ” Hawkins said. “ ‘I know you don’t want this.’ ”

With a pending charge and no foreseeable opportunities to play football again, Allen hung his head.

“My brother is like my best friend,” Hawkins said. “We always had a bond. To see how sad and depressed he was while he was here that summer, you looked at his face, he was devastated and crushed.”

Weeks later, the charges against Allen were dropped after he agreed to and completed a pretrial diversion program. Days later, he received a home visit from East Mississippi Community College coach Buddy Stephens. Allen was offered the opportunity to play football again.

“When they received the news that I was kicked out of Texas Tech, [East Mississippi] reached out to me early. But I didn’t know that that was even a possibility,” Allen said. “I was like, ‘Well, might be a sign from God having these events happen back to back. I might as well try and go play football again.’ ”

He made the 500-mile journey to Scooba, Miss., a small town that is home to less than 1,000 residents and a drastic difference from Humble.

But East Mississippi wasn’t just a junior college football program. It was featured in the Netflix documentary “Last Chance U.” The opening narrator echoes the tag line: “America loves redemption stories.” Allen was hoping to create his own.

He excelled on the field but was still feeling the effects of his misdeeds and the distance from his family. Allen was having difficulty forgiving himself.

“I saw it when he got there, just the lack of like confidence in himself,” Brittany Wagner, a former EMCC guidance counselor, said about Allen of his early stages at East Mississippi. “I think, at one time, he was a very confident young man. And then when he made the mistake that he made, I think it just affected him mentally and emotionally more than maybe he realized, and he was so down. He had really gotten to the point where he was defining himself by that mistake.”

Allen developed a bond with Wagner that they still maintain. Wagner was “school mom,” her positive influence and comforting nature providing the support he needed to capitalize on his second chance and forgive himself.

“I feel like once I started praying, events started happening in my life in a positive manner,” Allen said. “After everything that happened, that’s when I couldn’t deny that he’s real.”

As a young child, he went to church with his grandmother occasionally but didn’t have a structured religious background growing up. In Scooba, he attended weekly Bible study with his coaches and teammates and made the decision to be baptized.

“At first, I didn’t want the cameras there because I just felt like it was too personal,” he said. “Something I just wanted between me and the man. But then they [told] me this will inspire a lot of people. I’m like, well, it’s bigger than me.”

Allen helped lead East Mississippi to an 11-1 record and finished the season with 117 tackles, which ranked top 10 in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

“I think his greatest growth at EMCC was as a person. He was already a really, really good football player,” Stephens said. “He wasn’t going to be a person that let his second chance go by the wayside.”

With the help of then-Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury, athletic director Kirby Hocutt and a reflection letter submitted to the school by Allen explaining his troubled past, he was able to obtain a scholarship to return to Texas Tech for his final two seasons of eligibility.

“The Texas Tech community and coaches opened their arms to him and welcomed him back and embraced him,” Stephens said. “It says a tremendous amount about who he is. He will always be a Red Raider, but he will always be a Lion.”

When Allen returned to Lubbock, he felt as if he had never left. Coaches and teammates didn’t mention anything about the past, and the invigorated linebacker was named team captain.

“I think that it brought hope back alive; the reality that this is my second chance and I have to make the most of it,” Hawkins said about his brother’s return to Texas Tech. “I could also tell he changed completely. He was a better team leader when he came back, enthusiastic. He encouraged other players. No trouble at all. When we [talked] and texted, it was positive compared to Mississippi, where everything was negative.”

In his final two seasons at Texas Tech, Allen was named to the All-Big 12 second team in 2017 and All-Big 12 first team in 2018. He finished his Red Raiders career with 249 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and four interceptions. He was also the first person from “Last Chance U” to be selected in the NFL draft.

“If you get knocked down, you have the choice to get back up,” he said. “If you get back up, I promise you will benefit from it. I feel like you get stronger when you get knocked down. When you get back up, that’s what defines you.”

Allen’s journey is far from over. He is fighting for a roster spot with the Rams. He was limited during rookie minicamp with a “knee tweak” but is now healthy and ready to compete. On Saturday, Allen played on special teams and on defense in the Rams’ 14-3 loss to the Oakland Raiders. He made four tackles.

“It was amazing —couldn’t wait to get out there,” he said in the locker room after the game. “The speed was pretty fast, but not faster than I thought.

“I would say the biggest thing is the strength. It’s not like the Big 12 where you can just scrape over top and make tackles. You got to actually hold your own in your gap.”

McVay is encouraged by what he has seen from Allen in camp.

“He was limited with some of the things that prevented him from competing as much as you’d like in the offseason,” McVay said, “but he looks healthy. He’s feeling good. He was a guy that really has great instincts and awareness. I think he’s a guy that you could potentially see him be a guy that contributes for ‘Bones,’ ” referring to special teams coach John Fassel.

That would be a start. At this point, he’s happy to have a chance.

“Just give it everything that I got,” Allen said, “so I can say that I left it all out on the field.”

Times staff writer Gary Klein contributed to this story.

https://www.casino.org/news/los-angeles-rams-launch-pick-contest-could-lead-to-predictive-gaming

Los Angeles Rams Unveil Pick ‘Em Mobile App, Could be Predictive Gaming Precursor

The Los Angles Rams, one of two National Football League franchises in the second-largest US city, said Friday the team launched a free mobile game called “Rams Pick ‘Em” that tests fans’ knowledge of players and football situations over the course of a live game.

Rams Pick ‘Em will debut for the team’s preseason game today against the Oakland Raiders and will continue throughout the season. The Rams lost to the New England Patriots in last season’s Super Bowl.

Players compete to win exclusive prizes for each game, including two tickets and pregame field passes to an upcoming Rams home game, as well as autographed merchandise,” said the team in a statement.

Translation: Rams Pick ‘Em participants, no matter proficient they are at the game, will not be eligible for cash prizes. However, there is speculation that Rams Pick ‘Em could set the stage for the team to eventually offer some form of live predictive gaming with real money on the line.

Trending In That Direction

As Casino.org reported on Tuesday, the Washington Redskins, in conjunction with NBC Sports Washington Plus, became the first NFL franchise to roll out a predictive gaming product with real money involved.

“Predict the Game” debuted for the Redskins’ Aug. 8 preseason clash against the Cleveland Browns, allowing participants to win up to $1,000 per quarter by answering questions directly related to the game. The feature will be available to fans for the Redskins’ three remaining exhibition games, but is not expected to be around for the regular season.

Although cash prizes aren’t involved, Rams Pick ‘Em uses a methodology similar to Predict the Game by challenging fans with game-related questions and “micro outcomes.” Examples would be “What team throws a touchdown pass first?” or “Which of the following player notches a sack first?”

The NFL and its owners are not as opposed to sports wagering as they may have been five or 10 years ago. But the league has signaled it will approach the growing sports betting market with caution. That said, there are benefits for the league and its owners in embracing sports wagering.

Data confirm that bettors with action on games are more likely to watch those games on television than fans who are not financially invested in a particular outcome. Television viewing rights paid to the NFL by networks such as CBS, ESPN, and Fox are a major driver of revenue. Last year, the league generated between $16 billion and $17 billion in revenue, of which $8.78 billion was distributed to the 32 franchises, with the bulk of those sums coming from TV rights.

Owner’s Got Experience

The Rams being one of the first NFL teams to test a predictive gaming product, even though it doesn’t yet involve real money, isn’t surprising. Owner Stan Kroenke also controls Arsenal of the English Premier League (EPL), a league where fans have widely embraced in-game betting.

According to some reports, Kroenke and the Glazer family, owners of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the EPL’s Manchester United, have been helping fellow NFL owners understand the complexities of in-game and predictive betting.

are averaging 3 points per game.:rimshot:

By: Cameron DaSilva | 4 hours ago

The Los Angeles Rams could do very little offensively against the Oakland Raiders on Saturday night, falling 14-3 in the preseason opener. It’s hardly a concerning loss for the Rams, but it was also somewhat uninspiring.

Here are our notes and analysis from the preseason opener, which was started by Blake Bortles at QB and finished by John Wolford.


Play of the game
Kevin Peterson’s interception in the second quarter was one of the better plays of the night. It was a poor throw and decision by Mike Glennon, but it was a great read by Peterson, who was sitting back in a deep zone.

He jumped the route and made Glennon pay with the interception.


Number to know: 12
The Rams committed far too many penalties on Saturday, getting flagged 12 times. There were five others that the Raiders declined, too. Some were minor infractions like illegal formation, but others were more concerning – penalties such as an invalid fair catch, holding, fair catch interference.

Game notes
Blake Bortles didn’t look much better than he did last season. His throwing motion is still unorthodox and long, while his footwork still needs improvement. He made a few nice throws, two of which went to KhaDarel Hodge, but he also overthrew receivers and missed easy targets badly.

Bobby Evans and David Edwards had some bright spots, as well as a few lowlights. Edwards was called for false starts twice and one holding penalty, while Evans was beat badly by Arden Key for a sack. Jamil Demby was also called for holding twice, though they were both declined.

The run defense was shaky early on. Oakland made its first touchdown look easy, washing down the defensive front and opening up a big cutback lane for the running back. Micah Kiser and Sebastian Joseph-Day have to be better in spots like that during the regular season.

Travin Howard, not Bryce Hager, got the start at inside linebacker with Kiser. Howard is listed second on the depth chart, so perhaps the coaching staff is higher on him than some realize. He made four tackles on the night.

Taylor Rapp had a really nice showing in his first NFL action. He made two tackles and broke up a pass, retreating from a linebacker position down the seam to cause the incompletion. He lined up in a variety of different spots throughout the game.

The Rams had two interceptions, one by Peterson (see above) and the other by Steven Parker (see below). They were poor throws by Glennon, but also good reads by the defensive backs. David Long Jr. allowed a long completion when he didn’t get his head around to the ball, with the same going for Dont’e Deayon in coverage.

The ground game could get nothing going against the Raiders. The Rams finished with 57 yards rushing on 22 carries, which is not a good average, of course. Darrell Henderson had a nice 7-yard carry, and John Kelly broke free for 9 yards on one attempt, but those were really the only bright spots.


https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/10/nfl-rams-raiders-analysis-notes-preseason/

computer and go to https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/ at 4:30
train

https://www.usatoday.com/story/spor...ms-sean-mcvay-super-bowl-hangover/1949600001/

Opinion: Sean McVay gives LA Rams reason to believe 'new norm' of success is on horizon

NAPA, Calif. — Sean McVay had just recently broken into the NFL coaching ranks and badly wanted to learn everything about the keys to long-term success. So, the young offensive assistant turned to his grandfather, John McVay, the one-time architect of five Super Bowl-winning teams with the San Francisco 49ers.

The younger McVay understood that most NFL teams had never come close to even sniffing the kind of success that the 49ers enjoyed in the 1980s and '90s. So, he wanted to know his grandfather’s secret.

How, he asked, had San Francisco managed to do it again, and again? How did they avoid falling prey to complacency?

John McVay looked at his grandson and told him, “When our best players were the best example of what it looked like to do right, everybody fell in line.”

Sean McVay filed that lesson away in the back of his photographic memory along with all of the other nuggets of knowledge that he has gleaned from mentors along his coaching journey.

Now years later, as he enters his third season as an NFL head coach, McVay finds himself reflecting on those lessons from his grandfather as he tries to position his Los Angeles Rams in unique company.

In February, McVay and the Rams suffered a gutting loss to the Patriots in the Super Bowl, and now they’re back to work hoping to avoid the curse of the Super Bowl loser.

Now, the supposed hex doesn't always hold, but historically, teams that lose in the Super Bowl often find it hard to make it back to the big game the following year, and many have failed to make the playoffs all together. Since 1994, when the Buffalo Bills made their fourth and final consecutive unsuccessful trip to the Super Bowl, no runner-up had even made it back to the title game until New England did so last season.

There’s no concrete reason for the demises. But the Rams coaches and players want to do everything in their power to avoid it.

It’s true that some prohibitive factors — such as injury — are beyond human control. But complacency or a mental hangover of sorts will not prevent the Rams from orchestrating another march to the Super Bowl if McVay and Co. can help it. As he stands in front of his players, looks in the eyes of the locker room leaders and watches them operate, he believes the Rams have team pillars similar to those that the 49ers built around during his grandfather’s tenure.

“I think that’s what we have here,” McVay told USA TODAY Sports following Wednesday’s joint practice with the Oakland Raiders. “Our guys that have demonstrated the most production — that are our guys that we’re relying on — are our examples of what it looks like to do right. Then that becomes the new standard and their standard that they set every day becomes the new norm, and we can’t let it slip.”

McVay rattled off a lengthy list when asked who he views as those tone-setting franchise pillars. He named guys like quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley, left tackle Andrew Whitworth, tight end Tyler Higbee, starting wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods, defensive linemen Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers and cornerback Aqib Talib. And the coach said he expects veteran newcomers Eric Weddle and Clay Matthews to bring a similar mindset and standard of excellence that players in their position groups will feed off of.

Ever since he came to the team, McVay has preached consistency and accountability, and that message helped produce back-to-back division titles and last year’s Super Bowl run.

The Rams’ sudden turnaround from mediocre to excellent and that winning mindset all began with McVay, as well as the aggressive roster reconstruction led by general manager Les Snead. But the coach continually credits his players for setting the standard.

“It’s our job to collaborate together and make sure we keep that increased urgency,” is one way McVay chose to put it. And in so doing, his message fuels a sense of ownership among players and inspires them to uphold such standards rather than letting the coaches demand excellence alone.

McVay has used an old mantra to push his players: “You either get better, or you get worse. You never stay the same.” And just as he and his coaches continue to look for ways to improve their instruction, the expectation is that the players will carry themselves with the same quest for growth.

“The biggest thing is making sure it’s one day on top of another,” he said. “We’ve talked about it before, consistency is the truest measure of performance and we’ve got to consistently do right, day in and day out and hopefully those incremental gains will be the big results when we really tee off.”

Around the same time that McVay uttered these principles, players like Gurley and Goff addressed the media, and discussed their training camp play, and littered throughout their press conferences were familiar buzz words and phrases that they’ve learned from their coach in the last two-plus seasons.

This certainly sounds like the “new norm” for the Rams.

And based on the results that McVay's approach has produced the last two years, there's good reason to believe that maybe the on-field product of the last two seasons can become the new norm for the Rams as well.

Follow USA TODAY Sports' Mike Jones on Twitter @ByMikeJones.

https://www.therams.com/news/three-keys-rams-at-raiders-preseason-week-1

Three Keys: Rams at Raiders, preseason week 1

The Los Angeles Rams officially kick off their 2019 preseason slate Saturday evening against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m. PT in Oakland, and you can get the details how to watch the contest here.

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

1. How does the offense look with Blake Bortles at quarterback?

The former No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft signed a one-year deal with the Rams in March after spending his first five seasons in Jacksonville.

During that time, the UCF product started in 73 of the 75 games he appeared in and reached No. 2 in both career passing yards and touchdowns on the Jaguars’ all-time lists.

Brought in to back up starter Jared Goff, Saturday will be Bortles’ first live game action with his new unit and provide an opportunity to develop a deeper rapport with his new teammates, particularly the second-team offense. Rams head coach Sean McVay said Bortles will play “a couple of series” against the Raiders.

“I look forward to it,” Bortles said. “It’s an opportunity for me to get a new resume on tape and for us, the guys to get an opportunity to play to go and kind of build that resume and get some good plays and some good work on tape and get a little bit of game-like atmosphere.”

2. Will the Rams play their young offensive linemen?

Second-year center Brian Allen and second-year left guard Joe Noteboom are slated to start at their respective positions for Los Angeles in 2019, according to its unofficial depth chart, replacing offseason departures John Sullivan and Rodger Saffold.

Given those circumstances, especially the shoes both have to fill, it would make sense for L.A. to give Allen and Noteboom some reps on Saturday in order to build cohesiveness along the offensive line. At the same time, not many starters on both sides of the ball will likely see snaps.

McVay told reporters Thursday he would have a conversation with run game coordinator Aaron Kromer before deciding whether or not the interior linemen will play. If both players do see action, it will be limited.

“We’re going to assess this tape, we’re going to see what kind of work they’ve gotten in,” McVay said. “That’s something that we have not decided on. If they do, it’ll just be a couple series.”

3. How is the inside linebacker battle between Micah Kiser and Bryce Hager shaking out?

Mark Barron’s signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers in March put one of the Rams’ starting inside linebacker spots up for grabs heading into the 2019 season.

Although Kiser is projected to start alongside Cory Littleton based on the team’s unofficial depth chart, both Kiser and Hager have been alternating with the first team defense throughout training camp and thus given every opportunity to make their case for the job.

According to McVay, both players will receive snaps on Saturday against Oakland.

“Micah (Kiser) will play a quarter, we’ll get (LB) Bryce (Hager) in there as well,” McVay said.

As we wait for our game tomorrow some stuff I found interesting...

Kyler Murray vs the Chargers
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ke6z_cm6Mqw


Seahawks look boring until garbage time when ex-Broncos' QB plays well.
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHBUkVqFHks


Ex-rugby star got some wheels in garbage time
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTkpAnKZE84

By: Cameron DaSilva | 4 hours ago

Preseason games may not count toward teams’ records, but some folks at home will have a certain rooting interest beyond hoping their squad wins. With spreads and over/under lines, there will be plenty of bets placed on these exhibition games, including Rams-Raiders on Saturday night.

The Rams enter their preseason opener as underdogs to the Raiders, which shouldn’t come as any surprise. Los Angeles will rest its top starters for the entire game, keeping players such as Jared Goff, Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald and Andrew Whitworth on the sideline.

The Raiders’ plan is unclear, but oddsmakers have made Oakland the favorite at home in this one. According to USA TODAY odds, the Rams are five-point underdogs at Covers and 5.5-point underdogs at BetAmerica.

That’s the largest spread of any remaining game in the opening week of the preseason, while the 35-point over/under line is the lowest of the five games left.

Micah Kiser, Bryce Hager, Sebastian Joseph-Day and Greg Gaines will all play as they compete for starting jobs on defense, while Sean McVay said it’s possible that Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen will also play a couple series.

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/08/09/nfl-betting-odds-rams-raiders-preseason/

By: Cameron DaSilva | 3 hours ago

The preseason for the Los Angeles Rams will be reserved for unproven players competing for starting jobs and roster spots. None of the biggest stars are expected to suit up for an exhibition game this summer, certainly not on Saturday against the Raiders.

There will still be key position battles to keep an eye on this weekend, however. The Rams are still unsettled at a couple different positions, the majority of which are on defense.

Here are four position battles to watch in the Rams’ preseason opener against Oakland.

Nose tackle
Sebastian Joseph-Day vs. Greg Gaines
Wade Phillips said Joseph-Day has seized the opportunity to replace Ndamukong Suh at nose tackle, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be the Week 1 starter. Joseph-Day has had an excellent offseason, but that solid play will need to continue into the preseason. Gaines isn’t going to be the easiest competition to hold off and his first chance to shine will come on Saturday night.

This is arguably the most important and closely matched position battle to watch throughout the preseason for the Rams because the winner will have a big hand in improving the run defense.

Rams vs. Raiders: Position battles to watch in preseason Week 1

Inside linebacker
Micah Kiser vs. Bryce Hager

Kiser was penciled in as the starter as soon as Mark Barron was released, but Hager has apparently done enough this offseason to warrant consideration next to Cory Littleton. Kiser is a physical linebacker who’s not afraid to take on blocks and always seems to find the football as a tackler.

Hager isn’t small by any means and has good speed, but at the point of attack, Kiser has the edge. The second-year linebacker out of Virginia is still the likeliest pick to start, but Hager isn’t going to go quietly this preseason.

No. 3 safety
Taylor Rapp vs. Marqui Christian

It’s doubtful the Rams will cut Christian, but if Rapp really stands out in the preseason and emerges as the best backup safety, it could make Christian expendable. The Rams are going to run a lot of three-safety looks in 2019 so the third safety is going to have a significant role on defense.

Rapp and Christian have both been running with the second team and assuming both play on Saturday, they’ll likely start together against the Raiders. The better player this preseason will see a significant workload when the meaningful games begin, so this is a key battle to watch.

Jamil Demby vs. Jeremiah Kolone

It was believed that Bobby Evans and David Edwards would compete as backup guards – and they still may – but as of now, they’re at each tackle spot and Demby and Kolone are inside at guard. Demby can play every offensive line position, but he’s seen the most time at guard this offseason. Kolone is somewhat of a surprise as a second-team guard and for both players, a roster spot is on the line.

The Rams won’t keep both players and right now, Demby probably has the edge thanks to his versatility. Kolone needs a strong showing in the preseason if he wants to beat out Demby for one of the last spots on the roster.

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/20...osition-battles-to-watch-in-preseason-week-1/

Guys, need some help eliminating my Ram allegiance in my fantasy draft. I have been playing fantasy for 30 years and know what I am doing. I have the #4 pick in my 14 team league which is mostly a TD league. He was #1 pick last year and that team won the league. While I understand he will have some or his work load trimmed, I still believe (in my heart lol) that he will still be a top 2-3 back in fantasy. Do I draft Gurley at 4 especially if Elliott doesn't sign? My heart says yes obviously and my head kinda says yes as he may still put up 12+TD's.
Thoughts please?

i know, another thread about how to watch games. Apologies but thought this might be helpful for people without dtv. The reason I’m looking into it is because my local fox AND cbs stations have been pulled from dtv and have been for months. So they aren’t expected back due to contract fights. Something I think will become more common for directv as broadcast stations start there own streaming services like cbs already has and nbc is starting soon. I reluctantly came back to dtv a year ago for a two year contract just to be able to watch ALL nfl games without dealing with choppy or dead streams. Something I would happily pay for. BUT dtv no longer carries espn in it’s smaller packages. I don’t get fox or cbs. So I’m paying $300 for Sunday ticket and I’ll probably have at least half a dozen, if not more, rams games blacked out due to being on MNF or being a game of the week on fox or cbs since the rams are a hot ticket now. So I’m paying $300 and I still have to constantly fight just to watch 16 god damn games. So in short, fuck directv, this is it for them. I’m done. I’m calling tonight and canceling and paying the early cancel fees unless they give me Sunday ticket for free which I doubt they do since I’ve got no leverage atm being in mid contract.

So the point of this thread, NFL gamepss you can watch all games in US after the game is over. BUT international nfl gamepass gets them all live. If you have a vpn you can change your IP address in order to use the international version. Something I would love to do.

So curious if
A) anyone has a vpn they like and is user friendly?
B) tried the nfl gamepass in this way?

By: Steve Rebeiro | 9 hours ago

The Rams have only had about a week’s worth of practices in camp, but cornerback Marcus Peters has nothing but praise for his new teammate Eric Weddle. Peters didn’t hesitate to talk highly of Weddle when asked whether or not it’s been easy to adjust with a new safety in the secondary.

“I mean, it’s just overall for the whole defense, not even myself,” said Peters. “When you got somebody that’s coming in and he’s thinking like Wade (Phillips). He knows everything from the from the front to the back end and he’s that vocal. He’s telling everybody where to get lined up. It’s going to help you get more in tune and for you to start communicating a lot more and doing all those things.”

It seems like Weddle, a 12-year NFL veteran who spent the last three seasons making Pro Bowls in Baltimore, has fit in seamlessly in Wade Phillips’s defense. He replaces long-time Ram-turned-Raider Lamarcus Joyner, who the Rams faced off with in their joint practice with Oakland.

“Once we are all communicating and all on the same page, we just play fast, man,” Peters added. “The biggest thing for us, he’s just helping us all play fast, getting lined up, get our feet ready in the ground, and just go play football.”

Peters wasn’t the only Ram to sing the veteran’s praises. With Weddle back there, when it comes to football, that guy knows ball – he’s a genius,” added Aaron Donald, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year. “He’s making all of the right calls, doing all the right things. He will come up and hit you, too.”

With Donald and Peters giving their full support, it’s hard to expect Weddle to miss a beat when he steps on the field for his new team. Don’t expect to see much of the veteran safety this preseason. Weddle will be good and ready for opening day in Carolina without a tune-up game.


https://theramswire.usatoday.com/20...new-teammate-eric-weddle-he-thinks-like-wade/

Looks like Reddit has removed many of the streamers that we used last season and may remove them all. Hopefully the streaming sites will still be up, just not linked on Reddit.