https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...-patterson-shot-and-killed-in-tampa/#comments

Very sad world we live in. Rest in peace, Mr. Patterson.

https://www.therams.com/news/three-storylines-to-watch-with-rams-set-for-mandatory-minicamp

Three storylines to watch with Rams set for mandatory minicamp

The Rams have wrapped up OTAs and are on to mandatory minicamp on campus at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, Calif. The final offseason period before the team reports to training camp in late July is set to run June 11-13.

Here are three storylines worth watching as the Rams begin the mandatory set of practices:

1. What's the latest from Todd Gurley

The football world will hear from running back Todd Gurley when minicamp hits, as the back is scheduled for media availability following Tuesday’s practice.

It remains to be seen how much action Gurley will see on the practice field this week, but the league’s leader in touchdowns a season ago will certainly be in the building for sessions with the Rams strength and conditioning staff and meetings — much like he’s been for the offseason’s voluntary portion.

Head coach Sean McVay said late last month that his staff has a specialized plan for getting Gurley ready to roll for 2019, taking into account the heavy workload No. 30 carried in 2018’s march to Super Bowl LIII.

“[T]hat was really what we felt like, when we sat down at the end of the year, and [developed] a plan that’s best suited for Todd getting ready for the Carolina Panthers — but then also taking into consideration being ready to go when training camp rolls around,” McVay said.

“And I think some of that also had to do with us just playing a lot longer than we had in previous years. So, really, sitting down with [head trainer] Reggie [Scott], sitting down — most importantly — with Todd and talking through those things, that was a plan that we kind of laid out a while back. And that’s what’s been followed so far.”

2. A new-look defense

The Los Angeles Rams defense will look a bit different than it did featuring now-Buccaneer DT Ndamukong Suh, safety LaMarcus Joyner, and linebacker Mark Barron to close 2018.

Going forward, coordinator Wade Phillips’ defense will roll out big-name veterans in safety Eric Weddle and linebacker Clay Matthews. It could also welcome up-and-coming young players to a starting roles, like linebacker Micah Kiser and sophomore defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day, who have each received reps with the top defensive unit depending on the package.

This week’s minicamp should provide some clarity as to which personnel will be called upon given the situation. In OTAs’ 11-on-11 drilling so far, it’s been mostly Joseph-Day lining up at the nose spot in Phillips’ base 3-4 defense — despite general manager Les Snead and McVay’s comments about sticking rookie defensive tackle Greg Gaines at nose following the draft.

In the middle of the defense, all indications point Kiser slotting into Barron’s vacated space, while Matthews has been working off the edge. As for Weddle, the veteran has been frequently working in and out of the dime linebacker spot — an offseason addition that safety John Johnson’s encouraged about moving forward.

“He puts everyone at ease and it’s funny because I used to say that’s what I try to do, so it’s kind of like two guys are back there working together to just make everybody comfortable, everyone play faster, and work together even better,” Johnson said last week. “It’s great having him with us, I’m glad. It’s a big difference from last year — no knock on last year’s crew — but we definitely took a step forward.”

3. How much to expect from Kupp

The Rams lost an offensive spark when wide receiver Cooper Kupp went down with a torn ACL in Week 10 of last season. Now past the six-month point in recovery, Kupp has been working with head athletic trainer Reggie Scott on-field throughout OTAs.

“He’s really doing an excellent job staying right on track, making good progress, and we want it this way, where we’ve got to pull him back because he’s so excited to get back out there,” McVay said last week.

The head coach also mentioned that the minicamp period should look like an extension of OTAs ahead of year three leading the Rams. If that is the case, expect Kupp to continue his individual attention on rehab, while steadily increasing the number of ‘jog-thru’ routes he runs as a member of Goff’s 11.

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/09/nfl-rams-marshall-faulk-complete-team/

Marshall Faulk: Rams are 'the most complete team in the NFL'

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Building a truly complete team in the NFL is difficult, partly because of the presence of a salary cap. Rosters have to be a mix of talented young players on cheap contracts, as well as experienced veterans. The Rams have both of those things and it’s why they’re one of the best teams in the NFL.

After reaching the Super Bowl last season, Los Angeles still boasts a loaded roster capable of winning it all, paired with an outstanding coach in Sean McVay. Former Rams running back and NFL analyst Marshall Faulk knows a thing or two about talented teams, and he believes the most complete one resides in L.A.

He had some high praise for the Rams recently.

“I think that they are the most complete team in the NFL when you look at them top to bottom,” he said. “You throw in the experience of what they went through, you’ve got to go on the road in the NFC championship into New Orleans and win the football game – albeit, there was controversy. But to be in the position to win that game for a young team, that’s impossible, that’s a tough place to win.”

Faulk complimented the Rams for taking a chance on McVay, who’s “more innovative” than Jeff Fisher. He also loves the way they’ve built their roster in the draft and by bringing in veterans like Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters.

Here’s how the thread works;

The first poster makes a statement, the next poster then has to answer truthfully, then makes a statement that the next poster has to answer 'true' or 'false’.

I’ll start...

The next poster is under the influence of alcohol right now.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/insider/st...ocking-awards-best-worst-o-lines-overall-more

The NFL pass-blocking awards: Best and worst O-lines overall, and more

Pass blocking is the NFL's secret -- or at least, underrated -- method for winning.

Analysis based on ESPN's pass block win rate (PBWR) -- a metric powered by NFL Next Gen Stats that we first unveiled last season -- led us to that conclusion and can be found right here.

But what about 2019? Which offensive lines will stand out? That's what this space is for.

Since PBWR is a mere 8 months old, we don't have a formal method of predicting pass blocking just yet. But what we do have are past results, expected starters (thanks to ESPN's Mike Clay) and a dash of my own subjectivity. Blend that all together and we're left with our predicted pass-blocking superlatives for the 2019 season.

Only thing you need to know: PBWR is simply the rate at which an offensive lineman sustains his pass block for at least 2.5 seconds. The full methodology can be found right here.

Best pass-blocking line: Indianapolis Colts
Expected starters: Anthony Castonzo, Quenton Nelson, Ryan Kelly, Mark Glowinski, Braden Smith

The Colts finished the regular season ranked No. 9 overall in PBWR, but there are two main reasons I expect them to fly up the list in 2019 even though they'll play the exact same group they rolled with toward the end of last season.

• Most of the other top pass-blocking teams lost valuable offensive linemen:Rodger Saffold and John Sullivan are gone from the Los Angeles Rams. The New England Patriots no longer have Trent Brown. Mitch Morse bolted from the Kansas City Chiefs to the Buffalo Bills.
  
  
• Because the Colts didn't start last season with this exact group: They mixed and matched early in the season while not at full strength before deciding on those five beginning in Week 6. From that point on the Colts had a PBWR of 60 percent, fourth best in the league in that span.
  

Add in that the oldest player on the line (Castonzo) is only 30 and two others were rookies last season (Nelson and Smith), and there's every reason for quarterback Andrew Luck to expect to have elite protection in 2019.

Green Bay Packers. They boast two of the best -- if not the best -- pass-blocking tackles in the league in David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga.

Most improved pass-blocking line: New York Giants
Expected starters: Nate Solder, Will Hernandez, Jon Halapio, Kevin Zeitler, Mike Remmers

At one point during my high school swimming career, I won the team award for most improved swimmer. The subtext for the award was not subtle. The real message was that I had been an embarrassingly slow freestyler and morphed into an acceptably below-average freestyler. Technically, most improved!

That describes the Giants' offensive line.

It will not be good, but it should be better than last season. Though trading Odell Beckham Jr. to the Cleveland Browns was a net negative, one positive of that deal was receiving Zeitler in return. Zeitler's PBWR last season at guard was 80 percent. While that is roughly the league average, he instantly became the Giants' best pass-blocking lineman upon arrival.

No acquisition personifies the Giants' improvement more than Remmers at right tackle, however. His 73 percent PBWR (at guard) puts him around the 25th percentile of offensive linemen with significant playing time, but that was significantly better than what the Giants had at right tackle in 2018 -- Chad Wheeler (with a touch of Ereck Flowers and Brian Mihalik mixed in). That group combined for a 66 percent PBWR -- worst of any team at right tackle.

Tennessee Titans. On paper, they might be the most improved, but Jack Conklin's health questions provide quite a bit of uncertainty.

Worst pass-blocking line: San Francisco 49ers
Expected starters: Joe Staley, Laken Tomlinson, Weston Richburg, Mike Person, Mike McGlinchey

General manager John Lynch used major resources to acquire big-name defenders Dee Ford and Kwon Alexander this offseason but left an offensive line that finished 29th in pass block win rate largely untouched. That seems like a mistake.

While the Niners are in fine shape at tackle (though Staley is 34), the interior of the line is a sieve. Conventional wisdom is that tackles are the most important pass-blockers, but that becomes almost irrelevant if the guards and centers are poor blockers. We know this because that's the problem the 49ers faced a year ago with the same set of offensive linemen we're expecting them to play in 2019.

Staley was above average; McGlinchey, slightly below. But between Tomlinson, Richburg and Person, interior rushers were given almost free rein to rush at Jimmy Garoppolo, C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens.

Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan must be banking on continuity resulting in interior O-line improvement. Otherwise, Garoppolo's return to health will be for naught.

Runner-up: The Miami Dolphins, who face a similar weakness: Laremy Tunsiland Jordan Mills should be fine on the outside, but they're full of unknowns at guard and center.

Sneaky good pass-blocking line: Carolina Panthers
Expected starters: Taylor Moton, Greg Van Roten, Matt Paradis, Trai Turner, Daryl Williams

The quietest breakout star of 2018 might have been Moton. The 2017 second-round pick was thrust into action when Williams went down in Week 1 with a knee injury. Moton not only stuck at right tackle but excelled, posting an 89 percent PBWR -- fourth best in the league among qualifying tackles.

Williams, who was a shade above average in 2017, re-signed with Carolina on a one-year deal this offseason. Paradis, the former Denver Broncos center, was signed via free agency after posting a strong 85 percent PBWR before fracturing a fibula in November.

He'll play alongside Turner, a four-time Pro Bowl guard whose PBWR of 88 percent was first among guards last season. The line's expected weak point is Van Roten, but even he was roughly average last season.

Baltimore Ravens. Outside of Marshal Yanda, it's a young group that already has a track record of success. Orlando Brown Jr. looks like a steal as a third-rounder from a year ago.

Biggest wild-card pass-blocking line: Buffalo Bills
Expected Starters: Dion Dawkins, Quinton Spain, Mitch Morse, Spencer Long, Cody Ford

There are a lot of moving parts here. Morse, Long and Spain all played elsewhere last season to varying degrees of success (per our numbers: Morse was good, Long was OK and Spain was quite poor), and Ford is a second-round pick out of Oklahoma. The Sooners, for what it's worth, had a superb offensive line last season.

We haven't yet studied whether continuity is a factor in predicting pass-blocking success, but it seems reasonable to speculate that it might be. As it stands now, this much turnover along a line makes me think there will be an awful lot of variance in how well Buffalo blocks for Josh Allen. And if there's a quarterback who needs good pass blocking, it is Allen, who led the league in time to throw last season.

Runner-up: Atlanta Falcons. They could end up playing two rookies (Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary) on their offensive line, but both are first-rounders, so there is definite upside.

Brockers was a #14 pick in the 2012 draft. Back then the Rams played a 4-3 defensive scheme. Brockers was soon their starting RDT. Depending upon the defensive call it meant he was playing a 3 technique or a 1 technique.

Fast forward to the 2018 season. With the acquisition of Suh it made Michael a full time starter at DE (5 technique). His limitations at the position showed. He has never had DE type speed. Playing inside is completely different, and he could win with an explosive first step and power. Quite simply he is playing out of position.

Brockers will be 29 in December. IMO he has never shown the kind of production you expect from a mid round one pick. He has been part of the pass rush problem in the past and it was even more highlighted last year. Simply put they need better play at the position.

I don't expect him to be re-signed next year. But he counts for over $10M against the cap. Considering their cap issues I thought he would be released this year releasing $7M. It's not like they don't have options. They can promote Franklin-Myers who played well in limited snaps or they can move Obo or even Ebukam to play opposite of Fowler. Better yet move Fowler to be the fulltime DE which he is far better suited to be and simply move Ebukam back into that rush LB spot.

When you look at Brocker's production last year it wouldn't be hard to replace or improve upon with either Ebukam or Fowler. The reason they want to keep Fowler as an OLB is because he's cheaper that way. But Dante is a much better DE than Brockers and Ebukam is a much better OLB than Fowler.

The added $7M of cap space would seem to make this a no brainer. IMO Brocker is too expensive to keep given his poor production at DE.

By: Andrew Ortenberg | June 7, 2019 7:00 am ET

The NFC West should see a lot of offense in 2019. Three of the division’s four teams have young offensive whizkids as their head coaches, and the other has Russell Wilson under center.

The division has a lot of great pass-catchers, and the Los Angeles Rams, in particular, have a very impressive receiving corps. Heading into this season, here are the six best receivers in the NFC West:

1. Robert Woods, Rams

Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports

Woods has come a long way, and he now deserves the title of best receiver in the division. He had by far the best year of his career last season, racking up 86 catches for 1,219 yards and six touchdowns, all career-highs. He appeared in all 16 games last season and was consistent all year long.

What makes Woods so special is the ways he contributes other than just running routes. He was dynamic sometimes as a runner, taking 19 handoffs for an additional 157 yards and a touchdown. Woods is also one of the best blocking receivers in the league, and is essential to the Rams’ running game.

That doesn’t get a lot of attention, but it’s a very important part of his game that coaches and teammates consistently highlight. Despite being in the league for a while now, Woods is still only 27, and he should be in for another big year in 2019.rr


2. Brandin Cooks, Rams

(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

A lot of people might want to put Cooks first, and that’s understandable. But the gap between him and Woods purely as a receiver is arguable, and Woods does everything else better. That doesn’t mean Cooks isn’t a great receiver, and he certainly deserves a spot in the top two.

After being traded from the Patriots before last season, Cooks transitioned seamlessly in his first season in Los Angeles. He put up 1,204 yards and five touchdowns, and came up big in the postseason. In three playoff games, he had 19 catches for 292 yards.

Cooks is still only 25, so he should still have plenty of room to grow. Even when he isn’t catching passes, Cooks is making his impact felt by stretching defenses vertically and creating space underneath. It’s safe to say the Rams have two receivers better than any one that their rivals have.



3. Tyler Lockett, Seahawks

Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Lockett had a breakout 2018, and it was a campaign Seattle desperately needed. They gave the 2015 third round pick a big extension before the season, and he delivered by exceeding expectations.

He finished the year with 965 yards and 10 touchdowns, both easily career highs. He was a consistent vertical option all season, averaging 16.9 yards per reception on pretty heavy volume. Doug Baldwin was banged up last year, and Lockett stepped up big to lessen the blow.

With Baldwin no longer in Seattle and on the verge of retirement, Lockett should be in for an even bigger year next season. Lockett is the presumptive top receiver and will likely see the most targets of his career. If he can be anywhere near as efficient as he was this past season, he’ll have a monster year.


4. Dante Pettis, 49ers

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

This one might be a little bit controversial, but you shouldn’t sleep on Pettis. The 44th overall pick of last year’s draft, the young 49ers wideout showed major flashes as a rookie.

In 12 games and seven starts, Pettis put up 27 catches for 467 yards and five touchdowns. Pettis was hampered by injuries but displayed impeccable route-running when on the field, and he averaged a robust 17.3 yards per catch. He also did it while playing with C.J. Beathard and Nick Mullens as his quarterbacks.

Now heading into his second season and with a much better quarterback under center in Jimmy Garoppolo, Pettis should be poised for a breakout. San Francisco doesn’t have too much ahead of him, and he has a clear path to becoming their No. 1 option. He could put up big numbers in Kyle Shanahan’s offense in 2019.



5. Cooper Kupp, Rams

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Kupp would likely be higher on this list if it weren’t for the devastating injury he’s coming off of. Kupp broke out as a third-round rookie in 2017, so expectations were understandably high last season for the Eastern Washington product.

He looked really good early on and seemed well on his way to an excellent season, but then he suffered a knee injury in a Week 6 game against the Broncos. He returned a few weeks later but in just his second game back, he tore his ACL.

Kupp will be a little less than 10 months removed from the injury by the time the season starts and it’s not a guarantee he’ll be at 100 percent for Week 1. He could be a little bit rusty when he returns, and it might take him a little while to fully trust his knee again. That being said, Kupp could easily shoot up this list quickly if he gets back to full health.



6. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals

Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

The last spot on this list will go to the division’s elder statesman, Fitzgerald. Fitz had a down year in 2018, but so did the entire Cardinals offense. Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy was fired just a couple months into his tenure, which shows you just how much of a dumpster fire Arizona’s offense was last season.

With Kliff Kingsbury now at the helm, Fitzgerald should be in for a bounce-back year. As recently as 2017, Fitzgerald had 1,156 yards and six touchdowns. Even in his disappointing 2018 season, he finished with 734 yards and six touchdowns in the league’s worst offense.

Fitzgerald battled hamstring issues for most of last season but still managed to appear in every game. He clearly has plenty left in the tank, and he’s still got it physically. With Kyler Murray throwing to him and Kingsbury calling the plays, Fitz might surprise a lot of people this season.

https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angel...hews-navigates-fresh-start-with-rams-sans-tan

Clay Matthews navigates fresh start with Rams, sans tan

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Clay Matthews, linebacker for the Los Angeles Rams.

After 10 seasons, a Super Bowl title and six Pro Bowl appearances as a member of the Green Bay Packers, Matthews' new title doesn't quite roll off the tongue.

Even for Matthews.

Recently, the outside linebacker was asked to record a short video -- the kind players routinely make for team websites or events. It's the type of thing Matthews has completed countless times throughout his career.

But in this instance, there was a slight glitch.

"Hey, it's Clay Matthews, Green Bay Pack...," Matthews said, before he offered a quick correction. "Los Angeles Ram!"

Matthews, 33, had no plans of joining a new team this late in his career. A first-round pick by the Packers in 2009, he thought, after 10 seasons, his career would end in the same place it started. But when the Packers informed Matthews after last season that they were moving in a different direction, he opened his mind to 31 other teams, then focused on the Rams.

Nearly three months after Matthews signed a two-year contract, with $5.5 million in guarantees, his fair skin still shows no hint of a California tan. But as the Rams enter the final phase of the offseason program with mandatory minicamp, Matthews is settling in with a renewed energy.

"It's definitely different, especially when you're in a rhythm of going to the same place, knowing all the people out there in Green Bay and just having a routine," Matthews said. "That being said, it's almost nice to break that routine, and although there's some anxiety that's involved in that and some nerves ... because of the change of pace, because it's something new, but it also breathes some new life and fresh air into you."

Finding his footing on the football field, even in a new scheme with new coaches and teammates, has appeared rather seamless. That's not a surprise for an accomplished player who has 84.5 career sacks.

Off the field, however, the transition, at least for a short period, felt like traveling back in time, Matthews said.

"The first two weeks were, I mean, I hate to use the word difficult, but it was new," Matthews said. "Which I haven't had to experience since my rookie year."

For a 10-year veteran, "new" meant not only navigating his way through an unfamiliar playbook but through far more basic tasks. It required him to open Google Maps to navigate to the practice facility, despite growing up in the area, but then the app provided no answer as to how to make his way beyond the secured gate at the front entrance. "How do I get in? Is there security? Is there a key card?" Matthews wondered, before he gained entry, then was tasked with figuring out exactly where to park.

"It's a free-for-all with the hyenas back there," Matthews said, chuckling, about the first-come, first-serve offseason parking protocol. "So if you get here early, obviously you get a better spot."

If only there was a Google Maps to navigate inside the Rams' temporary training facility, because that would have proved helpful, too.

"The meeting room is kind of like a labyrinth, as far as all the rooms, where sometimes I would step into the quarterbacks room -- where you kind of have to cross the hall there, but I've kind of figured it out now," Matthews said. "It's really not all that big -- it's just disjointed a little bit."

Safety Eric Weddle, whom Matthews has developed a quick connection with since the two became acquainted at previous Pro Bowls, went through a similar transition after he spent nine seasons with the then-San Diego Chargers and then signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2016.

"You just got to throw yourself all-in," said Weddle, who signed with the Rams 11 days before Matthews this offseason. "And live with what happens."

Matthews played both outside and inside linebacker with the Packers, and he is expected to contribute at both spots in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips' scheme. In the base defense, he will line up on the outside, and on third down, or any pass-rush situation, he said he would be flexible.

He also has welcomed a role as a veteran leader among an otherwise young, and somewhat inexperienced, group that includes third-year pro Samson Ebukamand fifth-year pro Dante Fowler Jr.

"Anytime we watch any game with him on the field, I'm looking at him," Fowler said. "If we do any drills, I'm looking at him. I love how he rushes. It was really cool just to see a guy get sacks on TV and stuff and all that, but when you're really watching a person's craft and see why he's that good, it's amazing."

There are still some things for Matthews to figure out. New faces pop up daily, from interns to equipment managers and support staff, and with that comes a host of names to learn.

But after nearly eight weeks in the offseason program, and just over a month until training camp, Matthews has a solid grasp on his new title and team.

"I consider myself a regular now," he said.

https://www.therams.com/news/five-takeaways-from-the-third-week-of-otas

Myles Simmons


RAMS INSIDER


The Rams have completed all 10 of their OTAs, which means there’s just one week of minicamp left in the offseason program before the team departs for summer break.

Here are five takeaways from Los Angeles’ third week of Phase III.

1) PLENTY OF SITUATIONAL WORK

One of the pillars of the program head coach Sean McVay has implemented in the last few years is that he wants the Rams to be situational masters.

To that end, Los Angeles has worked on plenty of specific situations throughout the course of OTAs. Two examples are third downs and red zone.

The Rams finished second in both yards and points last season, but there’s room for improvement in a number of different areas. L.A. did end the year No. 5 in third down conversion rate at 45 percent, but that number went down to 33 percent in the conference championship game and Super Bowl LIII.

And when it comes to the red zone, LA. ranked No. 18 in scoring touchdowns finished No. 22 scoring touchdowns in goal-to-go situations.

Because the Rams return the same offensive system and aren’t integrating any starters who weren’t on the team last year, the unit as a whole can focus on improving in these areas throughout the offseason program. It’s a luxury many teams around the league don’t have.

2) EVERETT STANDING OUT

It seemed like every day throughout OTAs, tight end Gerald Everett made an impressive catch. The third-year tight end has made an impacting spurts during his first couple of seasons, recording a total of 49 receptions for 564 yards with five touchdowns. He’s also taken three carries for 29 yards, displaying some versatility.

But as Everett enters his third year, there’s certainly room for growth in Los Angeles’ offense at the tight end position. And as a former second-round pick, it’s fair to expect Everett could fill it.

“Yeah I feel like I hold myself to even a higher standard not even referencing being a second-round [selection], but just trying to be an elite caliber player on the field and off the field as well,” Everett told therams.com this week. “Just trying to exceed expectations that they set for me and have those high standards for myself.”

If his performance during OTAs is any indication, Everett should be able to take a big step and meet those higher standards in 2019.

3) KUPP STILL ON TRACK

Wide receiver Cooper Kupp has made some impressive strides in his recovery from his torn ACL suffered last November. As McVay has said, the Rams often have to hold Kupp back from doing too much or pushing himself too far during workouts.

McVay confirmed this week that Kupp is on course to play Week 1 against the Panthers in September.

“He’s really doing an excellent job staying right on track, making good progress, and we want it this way, where we’ve got to pull him back because he’s so excited to get back out there,” McVay said. “He wants to return to the competition with his teammates.”

While Kupp has not done full-speed 11-on-11 work, he has been able to participate in Los Angeles’ walk-thru and jog-thru situations. He’s also done a bit in individual drills, but not too much. Mainly Kupp has been working with trainers on the side, but it’s clear that he’s running and able to do plenty coming off the surgery.

4) MORGAN FOX WORKING HIS WAY BACK

Defensive lineman Morgan Fox was on pace to play a significant role in Los Angeles’ defense last year, taking reps at outside linebacker during the offseason program. But then he tore his ACL in OTAs and missed the entire 2018 season.

Now, Fox is back on the defensive line and once again appears to have a chance to play a lot of snaps in the rotation. Back in 2017, Fox played just over 30 percent of snaps, making 2.5 sacks. And even as he’s getting those critical 11-on-11 snaps, he’s spent time after practice every day getting in some extra reps with the sled or a tackling dummy.

“Just trying to make up for lost time, get back in the swing of things,” Fox said of his method. “Some things feel really great, some things feel rusty, so just trying to make sure that I cross all the boxes off.”

If Fox is at his best come the regular season, he’s a player who could benefit from the attention offenses are certainly going to pay to two-time defending AP Defensive Player of the Year, Aaron Donald.

5) DRAFT PICKS ARE SIGNED

As the club does every year, the Rams got all their draft picks signed on one day — this time that date was Friday, June 7. Los Angeles does it this way in order to first put the players through a rookie success program. The idea is to give them the information and tools to navigate through their first year in the league before they sign.

Now that it’s through, some of the draftees said the transition to the league felt even more official.

The rookies then got a tour of Rams’ future home, L.A. Stadium at Hollywood Park, and came away impressed.

“This is like the craziest thing I’ve ever seen,” rookie offensive lineman David Edwards said of the scale and magnitude of the project.

The new stadium is scheduled to be completed for the 2020 NFL season.

https://www.destinationirvine.com/event/la-rams-training-camp/22732/

Went looking for this.

Need to line up sales calls for So Cal end of July

7/25 to 8/15

Gaines and Evans look like they work there.

Rapp and Scott look like two kids who snuck in.

Really cool though to know these guys are gonna play in the stadium, can't wait.

Oh here's the link to the story of the visit.

And take the rookieclass on a tour of the new stadium site. Like Vinny days I’d bet the rest follow very soon.

Login to view embedded media View: https://mobile.twitter.com/VinnyBonsignore/status/1137030220718854144

https://www.therams.com/news/morgan-fox-happy-to-be-back
After missing 2018 due to injury, DL Morgan Fox happy to be back
Milles Simmons
Last year’s OTAs appeared to hold a lot of promise for Morgan Fox.Entering the league as an undrafted free agent in 2016, Fox spent the majority of his rookie year on the practice squad, but did appear in four games.


Then in 2017, he became a key member of Los Angeles’ defensive rotation — playing 31 percent of snaps and recording 2.5 sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery on the defensive line.

So when Fox began taking snaps at outside linebacker during the 2018 offseason program, it looked as if there could be a starting role in his future. But that ended with Fox tearing his ACL during Phase III, prematurely ending what appeared to be a breakout season.

Now a full year removed from the injury and a rigorous rehab process, Fox said in an interview with therams.com on Wednesday that he’s feeling like himself again, and ready to compete for a significant role in the defensive line rotation.

“It feels great,” Fox said of practicing during OTAs. “It’s hard to describe. You know, you don’t get to do anything and then you are back to moving around and getting after it.” The feeling comes after months of rehab — a grueling process that would likely test the limits of anyone’s patience.

“I think the best way to describe it, and what I tell everyone, is that the days were long, but the weeks were quick,” Fox said. “You’d check your rehab sheet and it had been 30 weeks — you don’t even remember it being 30 weeks, it doesn’t feel like 30 weeks. But some of the days felt way longer than 24 hours.”

“The training staff did a great job putting me in the position to feel great and feel confident in my leg and everything like that, so I kind of just waited until they were like, ‘Hey we want you to start trying things — and don’t push it.’ Then everything they had me try felt great doing.”

As the Rams wrap up OTAs this week and finish the offseason program with minicamp next week, Fox looks like he could play a significant role on the DL rotation. No, it’s not where he worked last year. But really, this is where Fox is most comfortable.

“This is home. Being a D-lineman, that’s home,” Fox said. “Outside linebacker was a blast, and being around those guys and the coaches was awesome, but being a D-lineman is home, definitely more comfortable, easier to get back into.”

Working with DL coach Eric Henderson — better known around the facility as “Coach Henny” — has aided in Fox’s development as well.

“Being with Coach Henny is awesome. He’s a great guy and everything that he does is applicable to the game,” Fox said. “He has such an attention to detail, it’s just great to be back and performing to the level that this D-line is. They have a standard and all you want to do is meet it and Coach Henny is definitely doing his best to get everyone to and beyond that standard.”

Throughout OTAs, Fox has been staying after on the field practice ends, getting in some extra reps with the sled, or tackling dummies. He says it’s to help knock the rust off, make up for lost time. And with the opportunity in front of him, he’s taking things day by day and only looking forward to the next event. For now, that's training camp.

“Sitting through training camp — I got surgery last year — I was at home while everyone was at training camp, so sometimes training camp drags on, but there’s definitely days when you miss it,” Fox said. “You miss being around the guys and just the experience of everything.”

Then, it'll be contributing during the season. Fox feels like it's going to be a collaborative effort along the defensive line, with everyone contributing. And his goal is to be a reliable piece of the puzzle.

"[I want to] help the team as much as I can and do what the coaches need, what my teammates need me to do, and just help us get towards our goal.”

It’s Time For Everyone To Let Rams QB Jared Goff Define Himself
18 hours ago Jake Ellenbogen


Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

“Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.” – Alfred Pennyworth, a fictional character in a fictional movie delivered this quote. The crazy thing is – fiction or not – This perfectly sums up the young Rams signal-caller. When you think about Jared Goff, this is really perfect.

The Rams young franchise quarterback has picked himself up off the ground time and time again, and February 2019 was no different than his days being a California Golden Bear.

The Super Bowl is all anyone talks aboutHere’s the latest delivered by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio on The Dan Patrick Show.




Dan Patrick Show

✔@dpshow
https://twitter.com/dpshow/status/1131658559681437696

Interesting note from @ProFootballTalk's Mike Florio: "I'm very skeptical about Jared Goff. I would not be surprised if he doesn't get a second contract with the Rams."


134
4:30 PM - May 23, 2019

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Anyone can have an opinion It’s why such a thing as Freezing Cold Takes exists. But at least have something to back it up. Some argue that Cowboys Dak Prescott is a better quarterback than Goff. Why? Maybe because Prescott is the signal-caller for “America’s Team” or maybe because people are still not over Jared Goff’s rookie year behind a porous offensive line, no production from the best running back in the National Football League and operating under a first-year offensive coordinator that was, as Todd Gurley put it, “running a high school offense.” But yes, of course, clearly all Goff’s fault.

Lets just cut right to the chase. Goff is the one quarterback in the league that the majority thinks is a product of his Head coach. Let’s take a look at the statistics for Goff.

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First off, credit to Goff on the improvement each year. Second, efficiency. He may not be your first choice over having Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers or Drew Brees right now, but the idea that Goff is not even in the top-10 just seems off. If the only argument for Goff not being a top-10 quarterback is ‘Sean McVay reads the defense for him’ then you are sadly mistaken.

Goff still has his faults. He still misses open targets downfield, he still throws off his back foot, he still makes a bad decision here and there, and of course, he still throws a “duck” every game. However, he’s also a leader, intelligent, poised, hard-working, accurate, tough, athletic and has a great arm for the NFL game. The title of former first-overall pick will always lead to scrutiny, but don’t you think that maybe, just maybe Goff hasn’t received enough credit?

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Adultish Gambino RIP Pua@Carl_noWinslow
https://twitter.com/Carl_noWinslow/status/1135874994473492481

Jared Goff(without Gurley TBH) beats Patrick Mahomes in epic shoot out.

The media:


3
7:44 AM - Jun 4, 2019 · Atlanta, GA

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The tough part about getting to the Super Bowl and losing as a quarterback is always being named the reason for the loss and the fact that no one cares about what you did to get there if you can’t get the “W”, which has been proven by fans and analysts alike.

It doesn’t matter that Goff led his Rams squad to the Super Bowl while at the age of 24. It doesn’t matter that he improved in almost every single passing statistic. It doesn’t matter that he took his first loss in the playoffs last year and helped lead the Rams to two playoff wins the very next year. All that matters is that Goff and the Rams offense only scored three points in the biggest game of the year.

It’s a chosen narrative. It’s become the ‘cool’ thing to say. We won’t go into the fact that the Rams defense stifled the legendary Tom Brady and Bill Belichick Patriots for 97% of the game either. The reason? The Patriots won. The Rams did not.

We move onto the 2019 season. The 24-14 career starter has an NFC Title to help defend and a Super Bowl revenge tour that awaits. It’s time to let Goff define himself.

Everyone talks about where Goff falls in the list of quarterbacks. At the end of the day, Goff doesn’t care, Sean McVay doesn’t care, and the Rams don’t care. All this team cares about is hoisting the Lombardi trophy at the end of the 2019-20 season. You’ll see article after article and TV spot after TV spot on how ‘Jared Goff has immense pressure on himself to succeed’ or ‘Jared Goff needs to earn his contract.’ Goff will need to go out and prove himself in his fourth season….again.




Brad Kelly@BradKelly17
https://twitter.com/BradKelly17/status/1129529273230999555

Jared Goff on throws 20+ yards down the field (2018)

27-60
919 yards (15.3 yards per attempt)
8 TD’s
3 INT’s
110.4 passer rating (NFL average on throws 20+ yards downfield is ~81)

His best deep throws from last season:


164
7:28 PM - May 17, 2019 · Warwick, RI

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The double narrative will always be around and people will manipulate things to see how they fit, almost as if it’s a puzzle and no one else can solve it but the person making the narrative.

With Goff, it’s going to be “Well, he has Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, Todd Gurley, Darrell Henderson & Gerald Everett.” It’s always going to be that way. If you somehow prove the critic wrong, you will likely hear, “Well, he has Sean McVay.” But eventually Goff is going to prove that critic wrong and then you will surely hear about how great his offensive line is and how they give him all the time in the world.

This upcoming year, all the talk is of a Super Bowl hangover for Goff and the Rams. What many are discounting is that in year four and at just 25-years old, Goff will get even better. Our friend Benjamin Allbright tweeted out this great tidbit that goes along well with all of this.


Benjamin Allbright

✔@AllbrightNFL
· May 27, 2019

Five QBs in NFL history with a TD% of over 5% and and INT% below 2.5% (min 1,000 attempts)

1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Tom Brady
3. Drew Brees
4. Russell Wilson

Who is the 5th?


Benjamin Allbright

✔@AllbrightNFL

The answer is Jared Goff


411
5:21 PM - May 27, 2019
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Whether it’s Sean McVay’s doing or not, it’s time for people to let Goff show us. This right here is an impressive stat from Allbright and to be completely honest, it isn’t shocking. Goff has been a model of consistency since McVay took over, but more so, since he left the high school offense and that 4-12 season in 2016.

We don’t seem to question Tom Brady for being with Bill Belichick or Drew Brees being with Asshole Face. However, it’s like a sin to think Goff is actually better than people give him credit for because of McVay. That’s not to take credit from McVay who is by all means, a football savant and a coaching genius. He could be the best coach in the NFL when Belichick decides to hang up the hoodie. That doesn’t mean Goff can’t be great as well.

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PFF LA Rams@PFF_Rams
https://twitter.com/PFF_Rams/status/1134898389366165504

#Rams Jared Goff had the highest grade in the NFC West last season in outside the pocket passing


235
3:03 PM - Jun 1, 2019

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Right now, at this point in time, I believe Goff is the seventh best quarterback heading into the new season. It may sound high, but Goff certainly has the production. He went to a Super Bowl appearance in his third year, he thrown 60 touchdowns to just 9 interceptions, and has tallied a 24-7 record in his last two years.

Maybe everyone got so used to the 0-7 Jared Goff that they haven’t actually given the modern day Jared Goff a chance. Troy Aikman started off 0-11 and we all know how that career turned out. It’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish and Goff is certainly moving up the rungs since stumbling out of the gate.

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NFL Stats@NFL_Stats
https://twitter.com/NFL_Stats/status/1087130079442989056

Jared Goff is the youngest QB to ever win an NFC championship game


980
7:29 PM - Jan 20, 2019

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What does Goff have left to do? A lot. However, the most important thing is winning a Super Bowl and he came very close to doing that with no experience in the big game, against a duo that has won six Super Bowls together. This season should be a special one for Goff. He gets another year under his belt in McVay’s offense, another year to gel with last year’s trade acquisition Brandin Cooks, and will not only receive Cooper Kupp back from injury, but he will also receive a new weapon in the form of rookie RB Darrell Henderson.

Now, let’s stop bashing Goff and comparing him to lesser talents like Prescott and allow him to define himself this year in his fourth season with Super Bowl vengeance on his mind.

Looking for the deets

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-ota-no-9
10 Observations from Rams OTA No. 9
BY Myles Simmons

1) The Rams held a shorter, lighter practice on Wednesday, giving the session more of an above-the-neck approach. Instead of having a couple of stretching periods for different groups, Los Angeles held just one with the entire roster.

2) During individual drills, the defensive line went through the five-man sled — having to hit it, then rip through before moving on to the next space. In all, each lineman had to hit the sled three times, skipping one spot to keep the line moving.

3) Wide receiver Cooper Kupp was involved with the quarterbacks during individual drills, catching passes in the corner of the end zone for the signal-callers. The rest of the wide receivers were going through a different, more intense set of drills.

4) After the individual drills, both the first-team offense and defense held a jog-thru against a scout team. This is one spot where the above-the-neck approach came through, coaches were giving a good amount of instruction throughout the drills.

5) While the club wasn’t going full speed, tight end Gerald Everett made a nice one-handed catch in the front-right corner of the end zone to cap a red-zone play.

6) After a while, the starters on offense and defense came together on one field to get more work in. On the other field, backup quarterback Blake Bortles was leading the charge against the reserve defense.

7) Given the above-the-neck approach to the day, it’s no real surprise that head coach Sean McVay took a lot of time to provide instruction — taking moment before different plays to ensure all players were on the same page to run things properly.

8) The offense mixed in some different personnel groupings over the course of the period besides the team's standard 11 (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers), rotating in different players and positions. McVay has previously said that he would like to use some more personnel groups throughout the course of the year.

9) Even at the slow speed, it’s easy to tell the versatility of the defense. The Rams had different players blitzing and were consistently changing things up in coverage. It’s likely going to be tough on offenses to figure out which players are going to rush — especially in known-passing situations.

10) At the end of the short session, rookie safety Taylor Rapp remained on the field for a while with safeties coach Ejiro Evero and cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant to receive a little extra instruction. The Rams’ second-round pick does have a chance to contribute early on in his career.

Okay not all films being churned out of the Hollywood system are bad....but the churn and burn formula of big money, big budget popcorn entertainment, reboots, remakes, six writers and a dozen producers attached to one movie made for a release date and an opening weekend of dollar signs has created a vacuum of being able to go out to the movies and get something a little different. Something creative, something original, or at least something semi-original and made well. Made well i said...and i'm not talking about the quality of the CGI or star power or how much it cost to make. I'm talking specifically about writing...story.

I love a good popcorn blockbuster every now & then but geezus man...it's BAD at the movies.
It's also bad on Netflix too quite often, lol....but there are some gems that come along from time to time. Usually they are independent films, no surprise.

I'll list some good ones that are either on Netflix now or have come and gone. Some are better than others and some of these are older but IMO these are worth a watch. Most of these are thriller, sci-fi, drama stuff.
If anyone has something to recommend post it. Can't be a shit movie though okay?


Radius
Backcountry
These Final Hours
The Ritual
Ex Machina
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Extinction
Under the Skin
The Signal
The Riftark Side of the Moon
Spectral
Triple Frontier
Apollo 18

Anyone got anything?

His interview with Sarina Morales got me thinking. Probably his last year in the NFL. A really top notch dude all the way around. And as far as I can tell he has never had a TD in the NFL.

It could be falling on a Fumble in the end zone, or a little tackle eligible pass from the 1. Whatever, it would be a pretty cool thing for him. He is a true professional in every sense of the word, and you know the big guys want to score too.

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https://bleacherreport.com/articles...romising-building-block-entering-2019#slide18

Los Angeles Rams: S John Johnson III

1. 
   John Johnson III can line up at both safety positions, possessing the physical tools to excel closer to the box or in deep coverage. He matched 11 pass breakups from his rookie campaign and added four interceptions last year. The 23-year-old also ranked second on the Los Angeles Rams in solo tackles (82).
   
   Johnson knows what he brings to the field extends beyond the average NFL safety. According to The Athletic's Vincent Bonsignore, he's aiming for a Pro Bowl invite.
   
   "I think I deserve it. That's the only problem," Johnson said. "If I thought I was reaching for it, that would be one thing. But I'm right there, so I really want to accomplish it."
   
   Johnson isn't cocky; he's aware of his top-notch coverage skills. The Los Angeles defensive back ranks second in pass breakups (22) among players at his position over the last two years.
   
   If Johnson maintains his steady play in the secondary, he'll move from Pro-Bowl snub to undeniable standout for multiple seasons.
   __________________________________________
   The standards were players on their first contract, not yet a pro-bowler. So even though he's already sort of a star, Johnson is still eligible.

https://www.therams.com/news/enteri...-weddle-vets-as-a-leader-in-the-l-a-secondary

Entering year three, Johnson joins Weddle, vets as a leader in the L.A. secondary

Heading into year three, safety John Johnson’s role in the Los Angeles defense lies somewhere between his position mates rookie safety Taylor Rapp and veteran counterpart Eric Weddle — both new members of the Rams who Johnson believes can make a difference heading into 2019.

Following OTAs Day 8, Johnson did his best to pinpoint where his role lies, after leading the team with four interceptions a season ago.

“I’m the young guy, I come out here and practice every day — the days that [veteran teammates] can’t. I play a lot of football, I bring that presence — I guess veteran presence because I’m kind of comfortable now. I’m just being that spark for the older guys,” Johnson said.

A youthful spark alongside seniors like Weddle, linebacker Clay Matthews, and cornerback Aqib Talib, but far from his days spent catching up to the professional pace of football as a rookie, Johnson mentioned growing as a leader as one personal goal as his third OTAs as a Ram wraps up.

Sure to send no disrespect to the 2018 Rams defense that wound up in Super Bowl LIII, Johnson says the chance to take the field alongside Weddle will result in a step forward for coordinator Wade Phillips’ group.

“He puts everyone at ease and it’s funny because I used to say that’s what I try to do,” Johnson said of Weddle on Tuesday. “So it’s kind of like two guys are back there working together to just make everybody comfortable, everyone play faster, and work together even better.”

And that’s everyone including second and third-rounder rookies Rapp and cornerback David Long, who have been thrown into the fire since landing in L.A. a few weeks back. Johnson’s days as a rookie in the Los Angeles defense are not so distant, despite the Boston College product’s spike in production and top tackling ability put on display in year two.

He gave a progress report regarding the youngsters before heading into the locker room in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

“They are sponges. They are taking it all in and not many mistakes — it’s kind of like they are comfortable and they are getting there,” Johnson said. “It’s one thing to know what you are doing, but it’s different to go out there and execute because the game is moving fast.”

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...hardest-by-travel-miles-jets-have-it-easiest/

2019 NFL schedules by distance: Raiders hit the hardest by travel miles, Jets have it easiest

If Raiders coach Jon Gruden hates traveling as much as he claims to, then he might want to think about sitting out the entire 2019 season, and that's because his team will be flying more miles this year than any other team in the NFL.

The Raiders will be traveling a total of 32,023 miles in 2019, which is more than the Bills, Giants and Jets will travel combined (23,552). The Raiders are the only team in the NFL this year that will travel more than 30,000 miles, which is probably going to come as horrible news to Gruden, who admitted last year that he gets claustrophobic in planes and has been known to suffer from vertigo after periods of extensive traveling.

At this point, Gruden's best option to avoid travel might be to get himself traded to the Jets, who won't be leaving the Eastern Time Zone a single time this year. The Jets are scheduled to travel 6,730 miles in 2019, which makes them the only team in the NFL that will travel less than 8,000 miles on the season.

As for the Raiders, not only do they fly the most miles in 2019, but they were also given one of the most brutal travel stretches in the history of the NFL. After playing in Oakland in Week 2, the Raiders won't return home until Week 8, which means they have to go 49 days without playing at their home stadium.

During that six-week stretch away from Oakland, the Raiders will travel an estimated 21,347 miles. They'll be traveling more during that 49-day period than 22 NFL teams will travel for the entire season. It's such an ugly situation that the NFL schedule-maker basically admitted that he messed up.

The schedule-makers also botched things for one other team: The Buccaneers.

The Bucs are also being forced to leave home for a 49-day stretch starting in Week 4. During their six-week trip, the Bucs will travel 20,378 miles, which is nearly 10,000 miles more than they traveled all of last season (11,908).

Of course, the one thing these two teams have in common is that they'll both be hosting a "home" game in London this year, which is a quick way to add to your traveling total. The game in England means the Raiders and Buccaneers will be making a total of nine trips in 2019, while most other NFL teams will only be making eight.

The four teams that will be "hosting" a game in London this year -- Tampa, Oakland, Jacksonville and the Los Angeles Rams -- are all ranked in the top seven for most travel miles.

If the Raiders and Bucs need anything else to complain about, here's one more thing: They'll be going on the two longest single-week road trips in the NFL this year. The Raiders have the longest non-international road trip of the season, which will come in Week 12 when they travel 5,110 miles roundtrip to play the Jets in New York. As for the Bucs, they're the only other team this season that will have a non-international road trip of 5,000 miles or more, and that will come in Week 9 when they travel 5,040 roundtrip miles to face the Seahawks in Seattle.

Now, if you're wondering whether or not flying a bunch of miles can actually impact the way a team plays, the answer to that question seems to be maybe, but only if the team is going on an extremely long road trip.

Although flying seems pretty simple these days, flights of over 2,000 miles still seem to have a negative effect on road teams. In the 15-season period from 1997-2011, teams that traveled 2,000 miles or more for a road trip had a winning percentage of just .398, according to Grantland.com. On the other hand, teams that traveled 1,000 miles or less for a road game had a winning percentage 32 points higher at .430.

If we only look at the past five years, the numbers aren't as drastically different, but that's only because of the Chargers, who don't really seemed to be affected by anything. Between 2014 and 2018, road teams traveling under 2,000 miles had an overall winning percentage of .427 (486-652-4) while teams that got stuck on a one-way flight of 2,000 miles or more for a road game had a lower winning percentage of .415 (51-72). (London games don't count in this total since both teams in London had to travel over 2,000 miles and therefore were basically on equal footing).

And now, here's where the Chargers come in.

Since moving to Los Angeles in 2017, the Chargers have gone 5-2 in games where they have to fly 2,000 or more miles to a game (4,000 or more miles round trip). Over that same span, the rest of the NFL is just 13-22, which is a winning percentage of just .371. Basically, other teams might want to start consulting with the Chargers, because they're the only team that seems to have this long-distance travel thing figured out, which is especially good news for them, because they have two of those long-distance games this year.

On the other hand, there are plenty of teams like the Steelers, who almost never win when they have to take a long road trip. Since 2006, the Steelers are 1-7 when traveling 2,000 miles or more to a game, which is a winning percentage of just .125. To put that in perspective, the Steelers have a winning percentage of .599 in all other road games over that span (57-38-1). Unfortunately for the Steelers, they have two games this season where they'll be flying over 2,000 miles one-way (at Chargers, at 49ers)

So why do teams struggle when they fly 2,000-miles or more?

The biggest problem with a 2,000-mile flight is that it means you're going to be spending roughly five hours on a plane, and if you've ever been on a plane for five hours, then you already know what kind of nightmare that is. Sure, NFL players have the advantage of riding on a chartered flight, which means no crying babies, but players still have to deal with all the issues that we have to deal with: It's impossible to sleep on a plane, it's impossible to stay hydrated, your eating schedule changes, the bathrooms are tiny and your entire body gets stiff from sitting down for so long.

Basically, what I'm trying to say here is that there's nothing good about being on a flight that lasts five hours or more.

Anyway, all of this is bad news for the Seahawks, and that's because they're going to have to deal with five one-way flights of at least 2,000 miles in 2019, which leads the NFL. The Seahawks will also be traveling the most miles of any team that doesn't have an international trip this year.

With that in mind, here's a look at each team's travel miles for the upcoming season.

2019 NFL travel miles
(Road games where team travels more than 2,000 miles in parentheses)

1. Raiders: 32,023* (1)
2. Rams: 29,974* (3)
3. Chargers: 28,262** (2)
4. Seahawks: 27,484 (5)
5. 49ers: 25,512 (4)
6. Buccaneers: 24,532* (2)
7. Jaguars: 22,508* (1)
8. Panthers: 22,008* (1)
9. Cardinals: 21,774
10. Texans: 21,368* (1)
11. Bengals: 20,440* (1)
12. Cowboys: 18,074
13. Dolphins: 17,602
14. Bears: 17,234*
15. Ravens: 15,624 (2)
16. Steelers: 15,146 (2)
17. Chiefs: 14,298**
18. Saints: 14,284 (1)
19. Broncos: 14,270
20. Falcons: 13,590 (1)
21. Lions: 13,538 (1)
22. Browns: 13,380 (1)
23. Packers: 12,966
24. Vikings: 12,604
25. Colts: 11,828
26. Titans: 10,706
27. Eagles: 10,346
28. Patriots: 9,906
29. Redskins: 9,358
30. Bills: 8,710
31. Giants: 8,112
32. Jets: 6,730

(*) = playing in London
(**) = playing in Mexico City

Note: The "home" team in each international game will have traveled to a total of nine games in 2019 -- all other teams travel for eight games -- which means the home international teams will generally have a higher mileage total than most other teams.

Note II: Following their Week 4 game against the Colts, the Raiders are expected to travel from Indianapolis to London for their Week 5 game against Chicago. That mileage has been taken into account. Also, the Rams are expected to make a similar move later in the season. Following their Week 7 game against the Falcons, the Rams are expected to travel from Atlanta to London for their Week 8 game against Cincinnati. That mileage has also been taken into account

Austin Blythe aiming to become 'more physical, dominant player'

The Los Angeles Rams made a change to their offensive line last season, but not necessarily by choice. Right guard Jamon Brown was facing a two-game suspension to start the year, and so they had to find a short-term replacement.

Well, their interim right guard became the permanent one with Austin Blythe starting every game for the Rams last season. The center-turned-guard had a strong first season as a starter in 2018, but it was by no means perfect.

Blythe knows there are areas in which he has to improve in order to take the next step in 2019.

“Just being a more consistent football player,” Blythe said, via Vincent Bonsignore of The Athletic. “I think I started the season out strong last year but you know, down the stretch, like I said that I took for granted how my body was feeling, didn’t get the treatment and recovery stuff I needed. But number two, just being a more physical, dominant player both in the run and the pass. And having fun with it, too. Towards the end of the season, I probably put a little too much pressure on myself and I’ve just to remember I’m a good football player and I’m in the position I am because I’m a good football player. So just remembering that and having fun with it.”

Blythe mentioned that he thought his body was feeling good during the season, but he may not have been as healthy as he could’ve been.

“I thought I was feeling healthy, but looking back I think there are some things I can do to get in the training room — just small things — just recovery stuff and making sure I’m feeling great come day time,” he said.

The Rams did draft two offensive linemen in Bobby Evans and David Edwards, but that doesn’t put Blythe in danger of losing his job. He’s almost certain to be the starting right guard again and Sean McVay is looking forward to him becoming an even better player in Year 2.

“I think just continue to take steps,” McVay said of what he wants to see from Blythe. “He played really good football. I think when you look at just production in the run game, production in pass pro, having an understanding and a mastery of some of the things we’re trying to do specific to our identity offensively. He’s got great athleticism – when you want to measure some of the lengths and things like that, he plays long, he plays fast, he plays physical, and he was productive. And I think that’s a real credit to him.”

Blythe is entering a pivotal season, not only because the Rams are welcoming two new starters on the offensive line with Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen, but because it’s the final year of his contract.

The Rams rewarded Rob Havenstein last offseason before he played the last year of his rookie deal, and a similar approach could be taken with Blythe. However, it’s likely they’ll want to see a larger sample size from the one-year starter.

If he gets off to a good start, though, don’t be surprised to see the Rams extend a contract his way.

[theramswire.usatoday.com]

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/04/rams-rob-havenstein-pff-run-blocking-grade/
Rob Havenstein was NFL's best run-blocking tackle in 2018
By: Cameron DaSilva

Somewhat surprisingly, the Los Angeles Rams gave Rob Havenstein a four-year, $32.5 million extension last August just before the start of the season. He was entering the final year of his rookie deal, but he didn’t look like the third-best right tackle in the NFL, which is exactly what his new contract paid him to be.

After seeing him dominate in 2018, the $32.5 million deal now looks like a bargain. He was outstanding at right tackle last season, particularly in the running game where he was frequently a lead blocker for Todd Gurley.

In fact, there wasn’t a better run-blocking tackle in the league last year than Havenstein. According to Pro Football Focus, Havenstein had a run-blocking success rate of 12.7 percent in 2018, which was the best of any offensive tackle – left or right.

PFF’s highest-graded offensive tackles in run-blocking grade both played for the Rams last season. Havenstein finished first with his position-high 12.73% run-block success percentage, but veteran Andrew Whitworth finished the year as a close second with his 78.4 run-blocking grade and a very low percentage of negatively graded run blocks at 7.68%.

Los Angeles was smart to lock up Havenstein with a four-year, $32.5 million contract extension prior to his 2018 campaign. His $8.125 million average annual salary now ranks outside the top-20 highest-paid offensive tackles in the NFL – an absolute steal given his success in the run game.

Havenstein and Andrew Whitworth were two big reasons the Rams were such a good team on outside zone runs. They cleared out edge defenders and created big holes outside for Gurley, C.J. Anderson and Malcolm Brown, while also doing a good job blocking on frequent jet sweeps.

Whitworth, for his part, ranked fifth in PFF’s run-blocking grade last season. It's no secret Andrew Whitworth is an elite pass blocker, but the veteran is no slouch in the running game either! pic.twitter.com/hU4LgsWQUB

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) June 4, 2019

Havenstein is locked up through 2023 on a reasonable contract, especially after seeing Trent Brown get $16.5 million per year from the Raiders and Ja’Wuan James earn $12.75 million annually in Denver. His salary of $8.125 million now ranks fifth among all right tackles and considering the increasing value of that position, it’s fair to compare their contracts to those of left tackles, too. Among all tackles, Havenstein ranks 20th in annual salary, which shows just how big of a bargain his contract is.

Torry Jabar Holt turns 43 today. Thanks for the memories. Now he just needs that Hall of Fame induction to complete his career.