https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-ota-no-8

10 Observations from OTA No. 8

1) Los Angeles’ special teams unit got things going on Tuesday afternoon with kickoff return drills. Coordinator John “Bones” Fassel had cones set up to designate where players should be as they ran down the field. JoJo Natson was back to field the kicks — which weren’t exactly kicks as the club was using the JUGS machine to put the ball in the air.

2) As that was happening on one field, quarterbacks were on the other practicing quick screens to the outside. Wideout Cooper Kupp was there to help field them. The signal-callers had to get rid of the ball quickly and in rapid-fire succession, emphasizing how fast the timing has to be in that context.

3) Following the special teams drills, the defense began with an 11-on-11 session against a scout-team offense. Head coach Sean McVay was over with the defense to help run things. The scout team ran both runs and passes against the first-team defense.

4) After that scout-team period, the reserve wide receivers and tight ends came to the other field to work on red zone routes with the quarterbacks. They went through different route combinations, with multiple QBs throwing passes so each eligible receiver could get a ball.

5) Then the offense went through the same kind of 11-on-11 period against a scout defense. As it had been with the offense, the defensive starters remained on the other field going through individual drills. Reserves on the Rams’ offense also were able to get some work in against air, drilling on a separate part of the field. At the same time, reserves are working against air with some of the assistant coaches.

6) With the first-team offense competing against the first-team defense in 7-on-7, quarterback Jared Goff connected with wideout Josh Reynolds on a nice strike over the middle. Goff effectively threw Reynolds open, moving him out of the way of a defender by placing the ball a bit to the left on the intermediate level.

7) Also in 7-on-7 drills, backup quarterback Blake Bortles threw a nice back-shoulder strike to tight end Tyler Higbee for one of the more impressive plays of the session. With all receivers initially covered, Bortles rolled to his right and fired the ball to Higbee along the right sideline. Higbee made an athletic move to shield the defender from the football, then caught it and got his feet in bounds for a completion. Goff looked particularly impressed with the throw, giving Bortles a low five in celebration.

8) Cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman has stood out throughout OTAs, and that continued on Tuesday as he broke up a pass in the back-left corner of the end zone to wide receiver Robert Woods during 7-on-7 drills.

9) For some 11-on-11 work, Los Angeles set up a two-minute drill. In this scenario, the Rams were down by five with just over a minute to go. While the offense got into opponent territory, the defense mainly kept the O in bounds, and didn’t allow the unit to get into the end zone.

10) Finally, L.A. finished with a jog-thru 11-on-11 period. The slower speed gives the Rams a chance to work on the details for anything that may not have been clean on the initial play. Wide receiver Cooper Kupp was on the field for a good amount of these plays, after spending most of the session running routes on the side with trainers.

Jake and Alexis bring on NFL Network Insider Steve Wyche to discuss his football, collegiate and journalism background. Then Steve talks about his inside knowledge on Todd Gurley's knee and what rookie RB Darrell Henderson will bring to the table. He follows that up by answering contract extension questions about the Rams biggest contributors yet to be paid and answers the question of the Rams being a Super Bowl team or a Super Bowl hangover in this jam-packed episode.

https://www.spreaker.com/user/downtownrams/dtr226

Rams Rookie RB Darrell Henderson Can Be A Star With or Without the Starting Job
7 hours ago Jake Ellenbogen


Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

We see it all of the time in the NFL, quite honestly, it’s taking over. What is that? It’s the committee backfield. Teams are slowly but surely starting to show a preference for a stable of running backs over having one bell cow like how football used to be. The Rams made their first third-round selection in the 2019 NFL Draft a running back when they already have the best one in the league in Todd Gurley.


Robert Hanashiro/USA Today Sports
That running back is none other than former Memphis star Darrell Henderson. Henderson will don the number 27 similar to the last third-round running back the Rams selected in the form of Auburn star Tre Mason. That story didn’t end the way we expected but that was more about off-the-field events than his on-field production. Like Mason, Henderson possesses that same breakaway speed and one-cut ability which is highly-coveted in today’s game. Pro Football Focus LA Rams account states below that Henderson was the fifth-highest ranked drafted RB and maintained a 70.8% breakaway rate which shows right there he is a home run hitter.

The Rams new running back has broken records at every level dating back to his days in pee wee football. However, the NFL is a different animal and of course, Henderson knows that. In college, Henderson recorded 3,545 yards and 36 total touchdowns in his three seasons. He averaged 8.2 yards per carry and may have well been considered a video game running back.

The questioning of the draft pick from fans makes sense to a degree when you consider the Rams have solid RB Malcolm Brown under contract until 2021 and 2018 6th-round pick John Kelly until 2022 on top of the fact the organization just made 24-year old star RB Todd Gurley a Ram until 2024. Sometimes, there are opportunities you cannot pass up and for the Rams and for me Darrell Henderson in the third-round was exactly that circumstance. Henderson, by all accounts, have what it takes to backup Gurley but with the recent knee concerns of Gurley, Henderson can absolutely take over as the starter if need be. Here’s the thing though and I want to stress this: Darrell Henderson does not have to be a starter to become a star. The Rams are going to have a lethal offense and were going to have one with or without Henderson on the roster. However, that’s just it, Henderson is on the roster and he brings another element to the fray.

This is eerily similar to when the Saints brought in a second-day draft pick at RB to go along with their former first-round RB. In this case, we are talking about Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram. Ingram is now the starting back in Baltimore and Kamara has taken over as the lead back in New Orleans. Now, that is not guaranteed or really likely to happen for Todd Gurley and Darrell Henderson. We’ve seen a dual backfield work many times in this league more than just Kamara and Ingram. It wasn’t that long ago the Carolina Panthers had Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, Carolina did that beforehand to help lead them to the Super Bowl with Stephen Davis and DeShaun Foster. Having that change-of-pace in your arsenal genuinely helps.


Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images
Henderson is going to get a chance immediately to set the tone. The Rams and mainly Head coach Sean McVay have already spoken about putting a plan in place for Gurley. They are going to limit him to a degree due to his reported arthritis and while they will plan on utilizing a running back they gave a two-year deal to in Malcolm Brown, don’t be so sure Henderson will get left out of the fray. I would say this, regardless of the fact Henderson is likely not going to be the starter unless Gurley goes down with an injury, Henderson would still easily be my pick out of all the running backs from this draft to have the best year and a serious candidate to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. Why would you say that? His overall game and before you make the argument that Henderson didn’t have much success in the passing game in college, let me just first stop you there. Memphis also had running back Tony Pollard who has since been drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. He had over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns just last year on the same team as Henderson.

One of the main examples of how Henderson can be a star. Gurley is going to go over the 1,000-yard mark again if he stays healthy but the question is: How often will Gurley be used in the passing game now with Henderson? That’s a legitimate question, coming into the league aforementioned Alvin Kamara didn’t blow people away with his receiving game but when he hit the NFL that was the first thing that stood out as he was the change-of-pace back to Ingram. There is no reason the former Memphis star running back can’t emulate what Kamara did.

By adding Henderson to the fold and assuming he develops as a pass catcher, you would now have Todd Gurley, Darrell Henderson, Malcolm Brown, Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee as weapons for fourth-year franchise QB Jared Goff. There is not an offense this deep on the offensive side of the ball in the entire league. Sean McVay is going into his third year as a Head coach and has already been to a Super Bowl and has improved every year. The Rams didn’t get Henderson for anything more than the fact he is going to be a damn good football player. If given the opportunity, which shouldn’t be too hard to do, Henderson will become one of the most feared change-of-pace backs in the game. As Henderson has said himself, this was the best situation for him and it’s going to be a dream to play in McVay’s offense. Moves like this, where the Rams went out and drafted his kid in the third round when everyone felt it was a mistake are how teams rise to the top and stay there.

This season should be a blast to watch a number 27 again in the backfield, wearing horns with a threat to always hit the home run at any time.

On my way to a cruise out of Galveston this week and stopped in Biloxi for th night. The odds in their sports book read like this! How you like them apples!!!!

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2019/06/03/nfl-rams-breakout-players-2019/

Every year, several players on each team break out in one way or another. That was the case for the Rams last season with John Johnson III and Rob Havenstein really elevating their play for Los Angeles.

The team’s current roster features several young players who could enjoy breakout seasons in 2019, including players on both sides of the ball.

Here are four players who could emerge as key contributors for the Rams.

LB Cory Littleton

Littleton had a decent 2018 season in which he performed well in coverage, but he struggled against the run and wasn’t necessarily a well-rounded linebacker. That could very well change in 2019, his second season as a starter. Expect him to remain just as good in coverage, but Littleton should also improve as a run defender.

The Rams will have a bigger nose tackle in the middle with either Greg Gaines or Sebastian Joseph-Day replacing Ndamukong Suh, who wasn’t a true 3-4 nose tackle. They’ll eat up blocks and make life easier on Littleton and likely starter Micah Kiser.

Littleton is on a one-year deal and assuming the Rams don’t sign him long-term before the season begins, he’ll have to prove he’s deserving of an extension in 2019. Expect him to do just that.

Yes, he was a Pro Bowler last year, but that was as a special teams player. He’ll make his name more widely known next season.

C Brian Allen

Allen hasn’t started a single game in the NFL and only played 36 snaps as a rookie. But with John Sullivan gone, Allen has the tall task of anchoring the interior of the Rams’ offensive line. He’ll have to make pre-snap calls, identify blitzers and really assist Goff at the line of scrimmage.

Allen won’t be a Pro Bowler in Year 1, but his physical style of play will really catch the eye of fans everywhere. He loves finishing blocks and putting defenders on their backs, which will make him an asset in the running game. He’ll likely be an upgrade over Sullivan on the field.

TE Gerald Everett

It feels like we’ve been saying this for two years now, but Everett could truly enjoy a breakout campaign in 2019. The Rams reportedly considered trading Tyler Higbee last year, which can be seen as a vote of confidence for Everett and a desire to play him more. Sean McVay was a tight ends coach with the Redskins and was excellent when it came to utilizing the position, but the same can’t be said of his time with the Rams.

He essentially took over the TE1 role in the postseason, playing more than Higbee down the stretch. Is that a sign of things to come next season? It very well could be. Everett is the more explosive and dynamic tight end of the two and can take the Rams offense to new heights if he can consistently play at a reasonably high level. It’s impossible not to get excited about prospect of Everett being a Jordan Reed-type tight end for the Rams, which is why the hype surrounding him is always high at this point each year.

DE/OLB John Franklin-Myers

Where Franklin-Myers plays has yet to be determined, but the Rams are going to find ways to get him on the field. Whether it’s as an edge rusher at outside linebacker or as a defensive end in sub-packages with Michael Brockers kicking inside to nose tackle, he’s going to get playing time.

Last season as a rookie, he played 301 snaps, a number that should increase in 2019. The Rams don’t have Ndamukong Suh anymore, which creates the opportunity for more players to get on the field. Brockers is open to playing more nose tackle next season, which will allow Franklin-Myers to play a larger number of snaps. He should be good for about five sacks and a handful of tackles for loss, improving after a promising rookie year.

Might kinda tie in with the evolution from the 90% use of 11 personnel a little bit, too.

There’s no secret that McVay intends to get snaps for both guys, and probably lots of them.

So, how does McVay avoid giving away too much info to opposing D’s as he allegedly did in the SB?

I can see how 2 back sets might give D’s fits.

And 2 TE sets with an emerging Everett could also present big problems.

But will either give too much info away vs just remaining in the almost infinitely variable 11 personnel?

Gonna be interesting to see how this plays out. And I seriously doubt that McVay will give away even a hint during the preseason games.

Interesting in that it seems like he really wants to stay here.

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...orking-to-show-rams-hes-worth-long-term-deal/

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-ota-no-7

10 Observations from OTA No. 7

1) During the special teams period to begin Monday’s practice, quarterbacks were working with coaches on the second field. Reserve quarterback John Wolford actually made a one-handed grab while fielding a throw from backup QB Blake Bortles. Bortles was practicing a play-action pass and threw it over the middle of the field, where Wolford stuck his left hand out and snatched it for a nice grab.

2) At the beginning of individual drills, the offensive line worked on recovering fumbles. It’s a sort of “in case of emergency” drill, but ball security is important, and things do happen. The OLs were working in pairs, with one rolling a ball toward the other, and the second fielding the ball by getting on the ground and tucking it.

3) Also in individual drills, defensive tackle Aaron Donald displayed his considerable lateral quickness while running sideways through the bags. It’s almost as if Donald glides where others have to step, his footwork is so precise. And that’s when he moves from either the left or right.

4) The Rams first-team offense and first-team defense were on separate fields for the first 11-on-11 period of the day — with both top units going against a scout team. During that period, quarterback Jared Goff connected with wideout Josh Reynolds on a deep pass down the left side, hitting him in stride.

5) In 7-on-7 drills with the first-team offense competing with the defensive starters, safety John Johnson did a nice job in coverage, staying over the top of a Reynolds double move. Johnson’s coverage induced a reset from Goff, as the QB then settled for an underneath route. Johnson received some praise from cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant after the play.

6) As OTAs continue, rookie running back Darrell Henderson is beginning to emerge on offense. Because the Rams don’t have pads on, there’s only so much you can tell from a RB on a play-to-play basis. But he’s looked more comfortable finding the right hole within the scheme. And he caught a nice swing pass to the left side during 7-on-7.

7) After one segment of the 7-on-7 period, head coach Sean McVay came over to the defensive sideline to compliment safety Eric Weddle on his performance during the drill. McVay has been effusive in his praise of Weddle throughout the offseason program.

8) Wide receiver Austin Proehl caught a couple of passes in a row from Bortles during 7-on-7, one of which was a nice grab over the middle where the wideout had to elevate and reach a bit behind him. It stands to reason the Bortles-to-Proehl connection could get a lot of play during the preseason.

9) Tight end Gerald Everett made a really nice deep catch down the left sideline in the red zone during 7-on-7. He caught the ball in stride from Goff, using his length to reach over the defender. McVay called Everett a bright spot for the club during the offseason program during his Monday press conference — which makes sense as the third-year TE has been making a lot of plays during OTAs.

10) Finally, wide receiver Robert Woods closed out 7-on-7 with a great one-handed catch in the back of the left side of the end zone. He stuck out his right hand, looked like he kept his feet in bounds, and caught the pass from Goff for a would-be touchdown.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...hange-at-quarterback-and-when-it-will-happen/

Seven teams likely to make a change at quarterback, and when it will happen

Few things generate more angst and crank up the hot-take machine like an NFL quarterback controversy. It turns what amount to, most often, truly local problems – like a bad team having a poor choice between middling-at-best passers – and makes it a national story.

At least it does for a few weeks, as we churn over when the likes of Sam Bradford, Blake Bortles, Nathan Peterman, Brock Osweiler, Tyrod Taylor or some other such journeyman or caretaker QB will lose his starting gig this time around. Generally, ultimately, it matters little, as the team's season is already lost and the next man up almost always has a résumé inferior to the guy he is about to replace. Yet we opine and pontificate about when such changes should be made, because, well, it's the NFL, and it's the most high-profile pro sports job on the planet, and what else would you expect from fans and the media at this point?

Alas, as spring nears summer, we don't have too many quarterback situations to obsess over. Boo-hoo.

Excluding cases where an obvious starter is returning from injury (Jimmy Garoppolo coming back in San Francisco, for instance), I really only see five QB markets that bear daily monitoring come training camp, and seven situations in all where I could see a performance-based changing of the guard under center. Of course, much of this has to do with the record-setting quarterback turnover that occurred in the 2018 offseason, coupled with a year in which five QBs were in essence selected within the first 62 picks of the 2019 draft (including the Dolphins trade for Josh Rosen in that mix). Thus, a lot of bad teams have already cast their lot for at least a few years at that position as they wait for the new QB to thrive or fail, leaving a void in the QB-drama vortex.

But that won't stop me from taking a stab as to when things will hit critical mass in each of these cities regarding its quarterback situation, and trying to throw a dart as to when that change might take place. Because turnover is inevitable, and it is more imminent in some places than others. I'm keeping an eye on some obvious places – Arizona, Miami, New York (Giants), Washington and Denver – and a few others that might not be as overt just yet (Tennessee and Cincinnati) given that the anointed "QB of the future" may not already be on the roster, but things have a way of twisting through a 16-game season, nonetheless.

So here is my very-early look at these potential QB hotspots, listed in order of how quickly I expect the change to start to come into focus:

1. Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray has been the 2019 starting QB of the Cardinals since the day Kliff Kingsbury was hired to replace one-and-done Steve Wilks. It was the worst-kept secret in the NFL, and try as they might to spin and deceive, very few were buying what Arizona was selling this winter and spring. Murray was going first overall and he was viewed as a plug-and-play Day 1 starter and Rosen was going to be traded for pennies on the dollar and that was that. I am sure you will hear plenty from Cardinals coaches and execs and owners about no one being handed a job and how much competition there is, all the usual junk. Don't buy that either. Brett Hundley is along for the ride. Kyler already is the franchise.

Key Date: Feb. 29. Yeah, it already happened. That's the day Murray got measured at the NFL combine and didn't come in at 5-9 or whatever. Cemented him as first-overall pick, and the Cards' Week 1 starter, barring injury.

2. Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins aren't pretending they are going to be a factor this season, for once, and are finally taking the long-view to building a contender. That always put the 2019 starting QB in purgatory, no matter who he would be, and after acquiring Rosen I don't see much reach to give games to Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzmagic could end up being an interesting trade chip, should a contending team lose a QB before the midseason trade deadline, and the presence of Rosen at least gives the fanbase something to focus on while the losses invariably mount. I believe Rosen will flash enough to remain a part of the Dolphins' QB room beyond 2019, and there's no reason not to give him the largest sample size possible.

Key Date: Aug. 22. That's when the Dolphins play their third preseason game, and I figure Rosen cements the job then, if he hasn't already before then. They face a tough Jacksonville defense in the final real regular-season tune-up and if Rosen comes through that, might as well make him the guy.

3. Washington Redskins
Dwayne Haskins is still pretty raw -- as I saw first-hand at OTAs last week -- as one would expect from a one-year college starter. He also can do things no Skins QB has been able to do for a long, long time. Even some close to Haskins believe quietly that sitting for at least a few weeks into the season makes the most sense, and while he will undoubtedly flash at camp and in the preseason, after ruining so many QBs in the past the Skins must have learned something, right? No reason to rush him in any way, and the way the Skins are splitting the reps between him and Case Keenum sets a template for steady growth into September and October, building up Haskins while giving Keenum the lead spot. The handoff is gonna occur at some point this fall, regardless.

Key Date: Sept. 29. The Skins open with the Eagles, Cowboys and Bears, which means by Week 4 head coach Jay Gruden and his staff might already be getting hot under the collar. Owner Dan Snyder will be watching very closely, and he loves a good marketing ploy, and how about unleashing Haskins against the woeful Giants, who traded up for Daniel Jones over Haskins? The Giants hinted they thought the Skins were Team Jones, which is why they moved up for a QB no one else was thinking about with a top 10 pick. If not Sept. 29, then by a month later, when the 49ers come to town (Oct. 20) I would expect Haskins to be running the offense.

4. New York Giants
They love them some Eli Manning up there in the owner's suite and in the GM's office, eschewing a change at QB that rational folks would have made two years ago. Selecting what amounts to a half-brother of the Mannings in Jones (coached by Daniel Cutcliff) was an uber-Giants move, and while Dave Gettleman can ruminate about the rookie possibly sitting three years, the realities of the New York marketplace and this weak roster will force change much, much sooner than that. You can't take a QB with poor college stats at No. 6 and then pretend he can redshirt for multiple years. It's coming to a head in 2019, it's just a matter of when.

Key Date: Oct. 20. By Week 7, any dreams of this being a season of any consequence for this operation will have been expunged. And a week prior to this the Giants travel to New England – the team Eli has owned when it matters most, but one I figure will put a total beatdown on the Giants this time around. They will have faced the physical Skins D and a tough Vikings D in the weeks before that, and I don't see Eli getting past that gauntlet. So late October, hosting Arizona, the worst team in football from a year ago – yeah, you'd better start giving people a reason to go to your football games. Looks about right to me.

5. Tennessee Titans
Marcus Mariota does not get through seasons intact, for the most part, and has been dogged by injuries since entering the league. He threw for a grand total of 11 touchdowns all of last season – in 14 games – and has run the gamut of coordinators who have been unable to unlock the potential that got him drafted second overall. In Ryan Tannehill, the Titans finally have some degree of real protection behind him now. Mariota is past the point of being a young QB and should be entering his prime. The Titans no longer have a contract hanging over their heads with him, and even getting back to the 9-7 mark they have attained each of the last three seasons looks difficult to me.

Key Date: Oct. 21. In the month of October, Mariota, assuming he's still healthy and starting, will face the Bills, Broncos and Chargers defenses. If history holds, he will get throttled quite a bit in those games, and now with the health of former stud RT Jake Conklin in question, well, I have my concerns. Playing for future may bring out the best in Mariota … or it might cause him to force the issue even more and absorb severe contact for a body that has been brittle to this point. If he comes out of that Chargers game, against that pass rush, on his feet, more power to him.

6. Denver Broncos
Joe Flacco has not been very good since he won the Super Bowl. In the last four injury-riddled seasons, you could make a case he was the most overpaid player in the league. No one has thrown more road interceptions, no full-time starter has fewer yards per attempt and his QB rating has been Bortles-esque. After being impervious to injury and never missing a start most of his career, he has battled significant injuries three straight years and Denver's OL has been PU for a long time. Even with a great defense and run game, Denver will be hard pressed to stay viable in a brutal AFC West and at some point John Elway is going to want to see Drew Lock fling it around in real games after gushing over him in months of practices.

Key Date: Nov. 17. The Broncos come off a late bye to play at Minnesota. Not ideal, but will Flacco hold up for 10 weeks, for starters? And will they really be in the hunt by then? If Flacco rediscovers his ability to gun it downfield in the altitude then maybe he holds Lock off longer, but that would take a real reversal in mentality and outcome. In the first nine weeks, Denver faces a bevy of top defenses (Bears, Jags, Chargers and Colts) and Packers and Browns units that should be much improved. A post-bye QB change wouldn't be a shocker at all to me.

7. Cincinnati Bengals
They are renting Andy Dalton at this point and don't seem inclined to do much else, with an intriguing QB class looming in 2020 and a very young rookie head coach in the fold in Zac Taylor, who has a QB-developer reputation. They are probably the worst team in their division, the coach is going to have to learn a lot on the fly and more change seems to be in the air after finally parting with Marvin Lewis after the 2018 season. How much longer are guys like Dalton and Geno Atkins -- with very team-friendly, trade-able contracts -- going to be in Cincy? Might a more sweeping reboot make sense by 2020? And if so, why not get a look at fourth-round pick Ryan Lindley in the final quarter of the season to see what you have before wading into the draft waters, right?

Key Date: Dec. 8. If the Bengals don't beat the Jets the previous week, my instincts tell me they are basically out of the race. And Mike Brown would have no reason not to start looking at the future (and protecting Dalton from injury so as to facilitate a trade in the offseason). The Bengals travel to the Browns Dec. 8 and then host the Patriots the following week. Might as week give Finley at least three or four games to show a little something. If the season has really gone off the tracks, maybe give Finley the entire month of December.

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Field Yates@FieldYates

A note from Schefty: "Darrell Henderson, third round pick 70th overall, running back from Memphis, here's a guy that I believe Sean McVay thought was THE most dangerous offensive player in the draft...That's right. [The Rams] LOVE Darrell Henderson."

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https://larrybrownsports.com/football/10-nfl-players-jobs-jeopardy-draft-2019/496190

10 NFL players whose jobs are in jeopardy

The NFL is a business — a sometimes ruthless business — and things can change overnight. For most players, the presence of another player at their position is a signal that rough seas could lay ahead, which is what makes the NFL Draft both exciting and stressful for some.

If free agency doesn’t lead to job changes, the draft often does. Here’s a look at 10 other players who find their jobs in jeopardy.

10. Karl Joseph, S, Oakland Raiders

The Raiders did not pick up the fifth-year option on former first-round pick Karl Joseph, which is a potential sign of things to come. The team also inked fellow safety Lamarcus Joyner to a four-year, $42 million deal before selecting Alabama’s Johnathan Abram in the first round of the draft, leaving very little room at a suddenly crowded position. Not only would that series of moves seems to indicate Joseph’s job is on the line, but it could very well indicate that his career in Oakland is on the line.

9. Ryan Allen, P, New England Patriots

Allen was among the heroes of Super Bowl LIII despite not generating the attention of Tom Brady and others, but that could turn out to be his final moment with the Patriots. Bill Belichick & Co. spent a fifth-round pick on Stanford’s Jacob Bailey, which signals a serious competition at the very least, but potentially more. With punters often available as undrafted free agents, New England clearly saw something in Bailey that made them decide not to risk waiting on him for later, so the writing appears to be on the wall for Allen.

8. Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Arizona Cardinals

Nkemdiche has been somewhat of a disappointment for the Cardinals, which is why it was unsurprising that they declined his fifth-year option. However, his time in Arizona may come to an end sooner than 2020 after the team went out and selected Boston College’s Zach Allen in the third-round of the draft. It’s clear the Cardinals are trending away from Nkemdiche, but the real question is how soon the two part ways. Nkemdiche’s job is not only on the line given Allen’s presence, but it could spell an early exit in Arizona.

7. Nelson Agholor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Agholor has never eclipsed 770 yards receiving nor has he reached double-digit touchdowns, so with the return of DeSean Jackson and the addition of second-round rookie J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, his time in Philly could be winding down. Entering 2019, Alshon Jeffery and the aforementioned Jackson are considered the starting two, which leaves Agholor to battle things out with Arcega-Whiteside for playing time. As the rookie continues to grow and feel more comfortable in the offense, Doug Peterson & Co. are likely to be more inclined to go with their young gun, meaning that Agholor’s window is rapidly closing.

6. LeSean McCoy, RB, Buffalo Bills

McCoy played well for the Bills from 2015-2017, but suffered a sharp decline in 2018, potentially signaling the downhill spiral that generally hits running backs in their 30s. Of course, that didn’t stop the Bills from going out and signing veteran Frank Gore, which gives Buffalo the oldest backfield in the NFL, as well as TJ Yeldon. They also added running back Devin Singletary in the third round of the draft. Singletary becomes the freshest legs on the team posing a threat to not only McCoy, but potentially Gore as well.

5. Alex Smith, QB, Washington Redskins

Smith was dealt a bad hand when he suffered a gruesome leg injury in 2018 that paralleled that of Joe Theismann, which set in motion a series of events that may lead to his ousting in Washington. Not only did the Redskins acquire Case Keenum in a trade, but they also selected Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins in the first round of the draft. Needless to say, even if Smith miraculously can find perfect health in time for Week 1, there’s a strong chance his starting job will belong to someone else.

4. Kyle Rudolph, TE, Minnesota Vikings

Rudolph is in the midst of a minor standoff with the Vikings over his current contract and that came on the heels of rampant trade rumors, which is enough to lead many to believe that the tight end’s time in Minnesota could be drawing to a close. Whether that comes in 2019 or 2020 remains to be seen, but either way, the multi-dimensional Irv Smith Jr., whom the Vikings took in Round 2 of the draft, is poised to infringe upon Rudolph’s targets. Eventually, Smith will take Rudolph’s job outright, so it’s really a matter of when and not if.

3. Joe Flacco, QB, Denver Broncos

In his final season with the Ravens, Flacco lost his job to rookie Lamar Jackson, ultimately paving the way for his Baltimore exit. With the Broncos, Flacco was back under center and poised to start in Week 1, but then came the NFL Draft. And for the second consecutive year, Flacco had to sit back in silence as his eventual replacement was selected — this time by way of Missouri’s Drew Lock, who was taken in the second round. John Elway & Co. have both praised Lock and insisted he was their guy all along, and if that’s true, Flacco’s new lease on life has an expiration date and it’s not that far off.

2. Solomon Thomas, DE, San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers insist that Thomas is part of their future plans, but with over-priced talent littering their defensive line and Nick Bosa being selected No. 2 overall in the draft, something eventually has to come to a head. Thomas has under-performed since being selected No. 3 overall in 2017, so his job should be in jeopardy for that reason alone. And with Bosa now in the picture, Thomas is left battling things out with Dee Ford, whom the team acquired via trade in April. Currently, Thomas is the odd man out on their depth chart, so his starting job may have already been lost. The only question remaining is how far he slides.

1. Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants

The Giants will start Manning under center in Week 1 barring an injury, but that’s not to say that his job and career aren’t in jeopardy with the presence of rookie first-round pick Daniel Jones. Jones is reportedly picking up the offense very quickly and looked good in minicamp, while Manning got off to a slow start in OTAs, tossing two picks over his first six attempts. Should Manning struggle at all early in the season or the Giants fail to win any games, the Eli era in East Rutherford could come to a swift and unceremonious end.

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...sh-nfl-teams-looking-for-the-next-taysom-hill

Re-birth of Slash: NFL teams looking for the next Taysom Hill

COSTA MESA, Calif. -- Out on the practice field watching his defense compete against the New Orleans Saints last August, the breath-taking speed of Taysom Hill caught the attention of Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.

During joint practices and a preseason game against the Saints, Bradley and the Chargers got an up-close look at the versatility of a do-everything backup quarterback.

"You rarely see a guy that size with that type of speed," Bradley said. "Sometimes you see speed and you go, 'Well, he's going to play wide receiver.' But because of his size, he can play multiple positions."

Hill ran for an 11-yard touchdown, threw to Tre'Quan Smith for a 5-yard score and also converted a fake punt for a first down in a 33-7 exhibition win over the Chargers.

Wanting to add a similar athlete to an already-explosive offense, the Chargers selected North Dakota State quarterback Easton Stick in the fifth-round of this year's draft.

Stick is one of a handful of players around the league added to the back end of rosters who could serve in a similar role to Hill's for the Saints.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers sought the same type of impact player in undrafted rookie Nick Fitzgerald out of Mississippi State, while the New York Giants signed Syracuse undrafted rookie quarterback Eric Dungey with the same purpose.

The Baltimore Ravens drafted Trace McSorley in the sixth round to back up athletic signal-caller Lamar Jackson.

"You saw what the Saints have done down there with their third quarterback," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said about McSorley. "That's something we'll have a chance to do, too, with Trace. He's going to be able to play special teams as well. The more you can do. You want players with roles, and he's a guy that has a chance to have a big role for us."

Stick's role on Chargers

With Philip Rivers nearing the end of tenure as the team's starting quarterback, Stick could be viewed as his eventual replacement: Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt likes the fact that Stick operated in a conventional offense at North Dakota State, taking snaps under center and using the play-action game, along with the spread concepts normally seen in the collegiate game.

However, Stick also totaled 2,523 rushing yards and 41 rushing touchdowns as a dual-threat quarterback for the Bison.

"I have the ability to run around and make plays outside of structure, try to be a good athlete and make different plays," Stick said. "I feel like I can do a little bit of everything. Really, I'm just excited to be in that quarterback room and get an opportunity to learn."

Chargers coach Anthony Lynn is intimately familiar with using a running quarterback effectively on offense. While serving as the offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills in 2016 under the direction of current Bolts' backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor, Lynn's unit led the league in rushing offense. Taylor contributed 580 yards and averaged 6.1 yards per carry with six rushing scores.

Lynn acknowledges Stick is not exactly in the same mold physically as Hill. Although Stick will focus on learning the quarterback position first for the Chargers, Lynn sees the rookie quarterback as someone who can diversify the Chargers on offense.

"He runs the RPOs [run-pass options] and he's also a pretty mobile guy," Lynn said. "They did a lot of things with him [at North Dakota State].

"But we are going to teach him our system. He's going to play quarterback for us. We have running backs -- we don't a need a quarterback that can run all over the place, but he can certainly create when he has to."

Taysom Hill restarts a trend

Seeking an advantage on game days, NFL teams are looking to adopt some of the things the Saints have had success with by using Hill.

"You have to look at college football, and a lot of quarterbacks are much more athletic now because of spread offenses, RPOs and quarterback-designed runs," said ESPN NFL analyst Matt Bowen, who played seven seasons in the league as a defensive back and core special teams player. "You don't see as many pro-style offenses as much anymore.

"But it still comes down to Day 3 picks. And Day 3 picks, unless you're challenging for the No. 1 quarterback job, you've got to play special teams to actually dress on game days. So if I'm a personnel guy, and I'm going through the middle of the fifth round on looking for guys with athletic traits, that's what I would do -- someone with high-end athletic traits and versatility that can help our football team."

The Saints claimed Hill off waivers when the Green Bay Packers released him during final roster cuts in September 2017. At 6-foot-2 and 221 pounds, Hill ran a 4.44-second, 40-yard dash at BYU's pro day in 2017.

According to ESPN Stats & Information data tracking, Hill played 177 snaps on offense for the Saints last season, including 57 at quarterback, 58 at tight end, 48 at receiver and 14 at running back.

Hill finished as the Saints' third-leading rusher, totaling 196 yards on 37 carriers and had two scores. He averaged 5.3 yards per rush. Hill also completed three of seven throws for 64 yards and totaled three receptions for 4 yards.

Per Pro Football Focus data, Hill played on 387 special teams snaps for the Saints. He returned 14 kickoffs for 348 yards (24.9 avg.), made six tackles on special teams and also blocked a punt.

"Look, he does so many different things. He's a football player," Saints head coach Asshole Face told ESPN.com. "When his game is over with, and it's a grass field, [his uniform] is gonna be dirty."

Kordell Stewart: The original

The original Slash, Kordell Stewart was a second-round selection in 1995 of the Pittsburgh Steelers who started out as an all-purpose player before winning the starting quarterback job.

Stewart eventually earned a trip the Pro Bowl in his third season because of his ability to lead a team from the quarterback position. He finished 48-34 as a starter during a nine-year NFL career, leading the Steelers to the AFC Championship Game during the 2001 season.

Due to injuries and wanting to get on the field in his second NFL season, Stewart played receiver for Pittsburgh. He finished with 171 rushing yards, 293 receiving yards and eight total touchdowns during that 1996 season.

At 6-1 and 220 pounds, possessing electric speed and a rocket arm, Stewart was ahead of his time. Decades later, Stewart's dual-threat abilities spawned a new generation of quarterbacks who can stress defenses with their athleticism and ability to throw the football.

An NFL analyst, Stewart wistfully looks at the league now and wonders "What if?" as a 5-10 mobile quarterback in Kyler Murray is selected No. 1 overall in this year's draft by the Arizona Cardinals. And up in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Seahawks made 5-11 quarterback Russell Wilson the highest paid player in the league, signing him to a four-year, $140 million contract extension.

"I played the game the way my abilities allowed me to play, period," Stewart said. "We're at the age now where the conversation of mobile quarterback is more relevant, and more tangible to what's being called from a scheme stand point.

"It's now an open conversation, as opposed to whispers behind the scenes of should we bring in a Kordell Stewart, and how do we preface it as far as the narrative? He'll come in as a quarterback, but he'll be more of an athlete.'"

NFL offensive guru Mike Martz was the orchestrator of one of the most potent offenses in the league with the "Greatest Show on Turf" during his Super Bowl run with the St. Louis Rams.

Martz used cat-quick receiver Az-Zahir Hakim, a former option quarterback in high school, to run some plays as a quarterback out of shotgun during his time with the Rams.

Martz used cat-quick receiver Az-Zahir Hakim, a former option quarterback in high school, to run some plays as a quarterback out of shotgun during his time with the Rams.

"I think there's great value there," Martz said. "If you have a terrific athlete who's a 4.4-4.5 guy, even if he throws it kind of OK, to run the option and those other things that are going on in college, it's hard on the defense."

Teams now have to balance the risk/reward of using an athletic backup quarterback at other positions to create impact plays that can help them win games.

"It validates everything I've done," Stewart said. "It's a great thing to watch, especially in college football, to see these young kids that are mobile and athletic quarterbacks, not being forced to play another position.

"That lets me know that the coaching styles are growing in their mentality and their approach, along the scouting department. They're starting to believe and understand that it's OK for your quarterback to be an athlete."

Added Bowen: "You're going to get beat up on special teams. And that has to be something for NFL teams: Are they willing to take on a third quarterback who is more a true athlete and can he play on their coverage units? Because if they can't then how are you going to dress him for game days? How are you going to dress him to use him on just for plays on offense? That's tough. That puts some stress on your roster.

"To hell with your deal. To hell with our lives. Someone has to start telling the truth."

Do yourself a favor if you have HBO, watch this miniseries. Since many of us are old bastids, we lived through this disaster without knowing how close it came to wiping out Europe. This story tells of the conflicting need of the state to cover up failings of the Soviet nuclear power industry and the safety of the whole of Europe by revealing these failings. Seventeen nuclear power stations just like Chernobyl were still operating in 1986, with the same fatal flaw. I won't tell you what that is because, it would spoil it for you.

Network television is bullshit, but places like HBO are doing stellar work.

So lookin at OTC there are already 4 QBs over that $30M per year threshold. And given the difficulty of finding a good QB that is a trend that might not be topping out any time soon. BUT that aside I am of the opinion that the trend is insanity, that it's a selfish money grab by the most important position group and teams at some point down the road are going to look to reverse that trend. They might not succeed of course, due to the stupidity of the losing franchises and their willingness to throw money at anything they think can reverse their fortunes. But I think it's coming just don't know when.

And enter Jared Goff, who just took our Rams to the Super Bowl and who is already one of the best young QBs of his generation. Not only has he put together two strong seasons, but he also has a loaded offense and a loaded coaching staff led by one of the premier gameplanners in the league. But he also (IMO) is a great young man who has been grounded by a strong upbringing and family, the type of guy who in spite of his talent isn't all about himself like some other QB types who ascend to the top of their position.

This makes me think once again that maybe Jared realizes how special this organization is at this place in time, that he doesn't want to go anywhere else as long as the team is willing to pay him "enough." And so I wonder yet again whether it's possible that we have the one QB who is smart enough to say "I don't need to grab every red cent I can because I want the team to have sustained success?" You know, the anti-Bradford type QB. Well, ok, not the one QB since there are others like Tom Brady for example, who after having had his big payday in the past now keeps his cap number at a reasonable level. Or Brees, who also could be making waves like Wilson did but isn't. But anyway I'm sure you get my drift.

And then the second question is "What is a fair contract for a top young QB who might be willing to not push the big paycheck envelope?" I mean the difference between $35M per year (Russell Wilson) and $20M per year (Tom Brady) is profound. Is it fair to even ask Jared's representation if they're willing to do that? To me this whole thing is a fascinating discussion so curious what you guys think.

If I were Kevin Demoff what I'd do is tell him we're gonna get him signed even if it ends up being at the top of the current contract pile. But I'd also offer him a super long, twelve or whatever year contract with a metric @$$ ton of cash up front, that escalates annually and will keep him in that top ten range where the team gets a bit of wiggle room in what is effectively one top FA addition or numerous role type players. What would that be? Well next year's contract would be at $25M.

Am I nuts?

DeShawn Watson and Cam Newton ahead of Jared Goff? I'd have this list way different.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nf...fl-season/ss-AABKncE?ocid=spartandhp#image=32

Not sure where Rams Roby-Coleman fits, but he's rated #10. He's done a damn good job since hes come to the Rams and I'm glad we have him. Think I'd have rated a bit higher.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/nfl-11-best-slot-defenders/ar-AACfAH1?ocid=spartandhp

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl...rst-coaches-2019/1jnocuy5khamw11m7fennsalvb/1

NFL coach rankings: Best and worst of league's coaches in 2019
We all know Bill Belichick is the class of NFL coaching. But where do the likes of Jason Garrett, Jon Gruden and Mike Tomlin rank among current head coaches?

Bill Belichick is coming off his sixth Super Bowl championship with the Patriots and looking for a seventh in 2019.

That's impressive when you consider he has as many Super Bowl rings as the rest of the coaches in the NFL combined. Asshole Face, Mike Tomlin, John Harbaugh, Doug Pederson, Pete Carroll and Jon Gruden also have Super Bowl rings. This season, six first-time coaches will join the list of NFL coaches hoping to join that exclusive club.

MORE NFL RANKINGS:
Top quarterbacks | Best and worst stadiums

Teams have tried almost every method to stop the Patriots' dynasty. Miami hired another Belichick assistant in Brian Flores. Tampa Bay hired former Arizona coach Bruce Arians, and the Cardinals made an outside-the-box hire with former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury.

As for Belichick? He's on to Pittsburgh in Week 1.

Sporting News ranks the NFL coaches in 2019 from 1-32. At least we know where to start.

• #1
  
  Bill Belichick, Patriots
  Last year: 1
  
  Record: 261-123, .680
  
  Playoffs: 31-11, .718
  
  Belichick, 67, needs 39 wins to join Don Shula (328) and George Halas (318) in the 300-win club for the regular season, but when you factor in playoffs, Belichick can reach 300 with eight wins this season. He might catch Shula (347) and Halas (327) there, too. Belichick is trying to lead New England to a fourth consecutive Super Bowl appearance. The only team to do that was the Buffalo Bills from 1990-93.
  
  
• #2
  
  Sean McVay, Rams
  Last year: 12
  
  Record: 24-8, .750
  
  Playoffs: 2-2, .500
  
  McVay already has a coaching tree in the NFL after just two seasons as a head coach. The 33-year-old is at the center of the youth movement in the sport. Los Angeles ranked second in the NFL with 32.9 points per game last season. McVay took his medicine to Belichick in the Super Bowl. Now we'll see what he learned.
  
  
• #3
  
  Asshole Face, Saints
  Last year: 6
  
  Record: 118-74, .615
  
  Playoffs: 8-6, .571
  
  Payton might have ranked No. 2 had a certain call gone the Saints' way in the NFC championship game. He has re-invented the Saints' offense to fit the final chapters of Drew Brees' career, and New Orleans will stay in contention as long as it remains a top-five scoring offense. Last season was a missed opportunity.
  
  
• #4
  
  Andy Reid, Chiefs
  Last year: 8
  
  Record: 195-124-1, .611
  
  Playoffs: 12-14, .462
  
  Reid might be the best coach across major sports without a championship. He needs five wins to become just the eighth NFL coach to reach 200, and with Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, the Chiefs will be the Super Bowl hunt for the next several years. Reid is still 1-5 conference championship games. Can he change that playoff label?
  
  
• #5
  
  Pete Carroll, Seahawks
  Last year: 4
  
  Record: 122-85-1, .589
  
  Playoffs: 10-8, .556
  
  Carroll is consistent. The Seahawks have enjoyed seven straight winning seasons, with six coming with double-digits wins and postseason play. With Russell Wilson locked in, the next step is to get back to the NFC championship game, which has eluded Seattle since the ill-fated goal-line play in Super Bowl 49.
  
  
• #6
  
  John Harbaugh, Ravens
  Last year: 11
  
  Record: 104-72, .591
  
  Playoffs: 10-6, .625
  
  Harbaugh appeared to be on the hot seat going into last season, but he turned to Lamar Jackson at quarterback, a move that led to an AFC North title and playoff berth. Harbaugh is one of seven NFL coaches with both 10 or more career playoff wins and a .625 winning percentage or better in the postseason. He will have to keep proving himself, though, in a tough AFC North.
  
  
• #7
  
  Doug Pederson, Eagles
  Last year: 2
  
  Record: 29-19, .604
  
  Playoffs: 4-1, .800
  
  Pederson was No. 2 on this list last year after the Eagles' Super Bowl run. He avoided a full-fledged Super Bowl hangover by taking Philadelphia back to the divisional round of the playoffs. Nick Foles is gone, so the Eagles must finally prove they can do it with Carson Wentz.
  
  
• #8
  
  Mike Tomlin, Steelers
  Last year: 3
  
  Record: 125-66-1, .654
  
  Playoffs: 8-7, .533
  
  This might seem low given Tomlin's track record, but every coach ranked ahead of him (and the first four behind him) made the playoffs last season. Tomlin dealt with Le'Veon Bell's holdout and Antonio Brown's Week 17 disappearing act, and Pittsburgh lost control of the AFC North as a result. Baltimore and Cleveland are not going to let up, either. Maybe Tomlin will re-gain his mojo and put the Steelers back in the playoffs. If not, then this ranking will seem too high going into 2020.
  
  
• #9
  
  Anthony Lynn, Chargers
  Last year: 19
  
  Record: 21-12, .636
  
  Playoffs: 1-1, .500
  
  We said last year Lynn would move up if the Chargers had a top-10 defense, and Los Angeles ranked eighth in scoring defense last season. That made for back-to-back winning seasons for this franchise, and Lynn has been the biggest influence behind its culture change. The playoff loss in New England last season counts as on-the-job training.
  
  
• #10
  
  Frank Reich, Colts
  Last year: 25
  
  Record: 10-6, .625
  
  Playoffs: 1-1, .500
  
  Reich was SN's highest ranked first-year coach last season based on the potential of his getting the best out of Andrew Luck and a roster capable of winning the AFC South. Luck returned to his 2014 from, and the Colts knocked off AFC South-champion Houston in the wild-card round. Reich will continue to build on that.
  
  
• #11
  
  Matt Nagy, Bears
  Last year: 28
  
  Record: 12-4, .750
  
  Playoffs: 0-1, .000
  
  Nagy helped the Bears take control of the NFC North with a more aggressive offense around Mitchell Trubisky and a nasty defense led by Khalil Mack. Nagy's five-year stint as an assistant in Kansas City prepared him for this opportunity, and he took advantage of it. Despite its heartbreaking NFC wild-card loss, Chicago is the team to beat in its division this season.
  
  
• #12
  
  Jason Garrett, Cowboys
  Last year: 13
  
  Record: 77-59, .566
  
  Playoffs: 2-3, .400
  
  Face it: Garrett is going to be ranked between No. 12 and No. 15 until the end of time. He took Dallas back to the playoffs with the NFC East championship and won a playoff game against Seattle last season, but Garrett is in his 10th season and still has not reached the NFC championship game. He still has Dallas owner Jerry Jones' support, which is all that matters.
  
  
• #13
  
  Mike Zimmer, Vikings
  Last year: 7
  
  Record: 47-32-1, .594
  
  Playoffs: 1-2, .333
  
  Zimmer was a top-10 coach last year, but Minnesota's struggles to establish an offensive identity around Kirk Cousins and the coach's feuding with former offensive coordinator John DeFilippo led to a down year. Green Bay and Chicago have offensive-minded coaches now. What will Zimmer, forever a Bill Parcells disciple, do to counter that and get the Vikings back in the playoffs?
  
  
• #14
  
  Dan Quinn, Falcons
  Last year: 9
  
  Record: 36-28, .563
  
  Playoffs: 3-2, .600
  
  The Falcons slipped to 7-9 after back-to-back seasons with double-digit wins, and Quinn now faces the challenge of climbing back up the ladder in a competitive NFC South that just added Bruce Arians to its coaching ranks. The Falcons still have the fifth best record in the NFL on the road since Quinn arrived. They aren't far away from a return to the postseason.
  
  
• #15
  
  Bruce Arians, Buccaneers
  Last year: N/A
  
  Record: 49-30-1, .619
  
  Playoffs: 1-2, .333
  
  Arians is back after a year away from the NFL, and it's easy to forget he finished below .500 just one time in five seasons with the Cardinals. Arians now must get more out of Jameis Winston in a tough division where the other three coaches have led their teams to Super Bowls in the past. Arians will turn 67 during the season. Belichick and Caroll are the only two coaches who are older.
  
  
• #16
  
  Ron Rivera, Panthers
  Last year: 10
  
  Record: 71-56-1, .559
  
  Playoffs: 3-4, .429
  
  Rivera is in his ninth season with the Panthers, and he has four playoff appearances and one NFC championship on the plus side. Carolina, however, still has not been able to put together back-to-back winning seasons. Last season was derailed by a seven-game losing streak, and now a return to the playoffs will require a healthy Cam Newton. Rivera still has what it takes to be a top-10 coach, but we need to see more consistency.
  
  
• #17
  
  Bill O'Brien, Texans
  Last year: 14
  
  Record: 42-38, .525
  
  Playoffs: 1-3, .250
  
  O'Brien is the lowest-ranked coach who made the playoffs last season, and this might seem harsh since that came with an 11-5 record. O'Brien has a franchise quarterback in Deshaun Watson, but the playoff meltdown was a reminder that this franchise has yet to take the next step in the postseason. O'Brien must take advantage of his opportunities in a competitive AFC.
  
  
• #18
  
  Kyle Shanahan, 49ers
  Last year: 20
  
  Record: 10-22, .313
  
  Playoffs: 0-0, .000
  
  This might seem high for Shanahan given the 49ers' back-to-back losing seasons since he was hired. The Jimmy Garoppolo injury, however, played a large role in last year's downfall, and we are willing to bet on Shanahan's play-calling in Year 3. Remember when the 49ers were the "it" team heading into last season? It's time to get that feeling back.
  
  
• #19
  
  Mike Vrabel, Titans
  Last year: 31
  
  Record: 9-7, .563
  
  Playoffs: 0-0, .000
  
  Vrabel enjoyed a successful first season in Tennessee. He pushed the franchise to the brink of the postseason with the help of a four-game winning streak in December. He should continue to guide the Titans in the right direction, but the division has three playoff-caliber teams. Tennessee finished .500 in division games last year. The Titans are close.
  
  
• #20
  
  Freddie Kitchens, Browns
  Last year: N/A
  
  Record: 0-0, .000
  
  Playoffs: 0-0, .000
  
  Kitchens was a hit as Cleveland's interim offensive coordinator last season, and the fit with franchise quarterback Baker Mayfield was enough to land him the head coaching job. Kitchens has been embraced by Browns fans starving for success, but he has tempered the offseason hype by saying, "We're not in the prediction business." That no-nonsense approach, combined with an innovative offense, is why we have Kitchens first among the coaches with no previous experience.
  
  
• #21
  
  Matt LaFleur, Packers
  Last year: N/A
  
  Record: 0-0, .000
  
  Playoffs: 0-0, .000
  
  LaFleur might face the most pressure among first-year coaches just because he will oversee the next chapter of Aaron Rodgers' career. Green Bay slipped over the last few seasons under Mike McCarthy. LaFleur, meanwhile, coached under McVay in Los Angeles in 2017 and with the Titans last season. There is upside here, but LaFleur is the boom-or-bust hire of the latest cycle.
  
  
• #22
  
  Jon Gruden, Raiders
  Last year: 16
  
  Record: 99-93, .516
  
  Playoffs: 5-4, .556
  
  Gruden is the most difficult coach to rank because he was successful in the past. We also saw him trade Amari Cooper and Khalil Mack before going 4-12 in his first season back in Oakland, and now he has taken on more personnel decisions with general manager Mike Mayock. Gruden is doing it his way, but will that translate to more wins?
  
  
• #23
  
  Matt Patricia, Lions
  Last year: 32
  
  Record: 6-10, .375
  
  Playoffs: 0-0, .000
  
  Patricia was at the bottom of our rankings last season, and he rises after an up-and-down first year. Detroit beat New England and swept Green Bay, but it also lost five home games and struggled on offense around Matthew Stafford. Patricia added tight end T.J. Hockenson in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and it's clear he's trying to follow the Belichick model. How long will that take to materialize?
  
  
• #24
  
  Adam Gase, Jets
  Last year: 21
  
  Record: 23-25, .479
  
  Playoffs: 0-1, .000
  
  This offseason has been interesting for Gase. He left Miami after three seasons - which included a playoff appearance in Year 1 before a pair of losing seasons - and took the job in New York. It's an odd fit at the outset, but Gase has Sam Darnold, Le'Veon Bell and a more talented roster than usual with which to work in the Big Apple.
  
  
• #25
  
  Sean McDermott, Bills
  Last year: 18
  
  Record: 15-17, .469
  
  Playoffs: 0-1, .000
  
  McDermott took the Bills to the playoffs in his first season, but Buffalo regressed in Year 2 with a 6-10 record. The Bills do have a potential franchise quarterback in Josh Allen, and they drafted Ed Oliver in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. This is still a franchise that has just two winning seasons since 2000. McDermott has led the Bills to a 10-6 record at home in his two years.
  
  
• #26
  
  Jay Gruden, Redskins
  Last year: 22
  
  Record: 35-44-1, .444
  
  Playoffs: 0-1, .000
  
  The Redskins are coming off back-to-back 7-9 seasons, though the trajectory of last year changed after Alex Smith's gruesome leg injury. The good news is first-round quarterback Dwayne Haskins is on board. That might put more pressure on Gruden to prove he is the right coach to grow with the former Ohio State quarterback for the future.
  
  
• #27
  
  Doug Marrone, Jaguars
  Last year: 15
  
  Record: 31-35, .470
  
  Playoffs: 2-1, .667
  
  This is steep fall for Marrone, who led the Jaguars to the AFC championship game after the 2017 season. Jacksonville slipped to the bottom of the AFC South last year and is now banking on Nick Foles to bring them back into contention in a tight division. Marrone will be the subject of hot-seat talk if there is not a sharp turn back in the right direction.
  
  
• #28
  
  Vic Fangio, Broncos
  Last year: N/A
  
  Record: 0-0, .000
  
  Playoffs: 0-0, .000
  
  Fangio is a career defensive assistant who has served as coordinator for five different franchises, and this is his first turn as a head coach. He will have to manage the quarterback situation with Joe Flacco and Drew Lock, but the good news is he gets to work with a defense that features Von Miller. Fangio is Denver's fifth coach this decade.
  
  
• #29
  
  Pat Shurmur, Giants
  Last year: 30
  
  Record: 15-34, .306
  
  Playoffs: 0-0, .000
  
  Shurmur moves up one spot after a 5-11 season, but several big questions remain in New York. Saquon Barkley is a star, but the Giants traded Odell Beckham Jr. and drafted Daniel Jones in the first round. Shurmur faces a lot of pressure to right the ship for the Giants, a franchise once known for long-term stability.
  
  
• #30
  
  Brian Flores, Dolphins
  Last year: N/A
  
  Record: 0-0, .000
  
  Playoffs: 0-0, .000
  
  Flores is the latest Patriots assistant to land with another AFC East team in an effort to end Belichick's reign, and he inherits a roster that will feature second-year quarterback Josh Rosen. Flores spent 15 years with New England in various roles. He has been waiting for this opportunity, and he gets it as Miami's fifth coach this decade.
  
  
• #31
  
  Zac Taylor, Bengals
  Last year: N/A
  
  Record: 0-0, .000
  
  Playoffs: 0-0, .000
  
  The Bengals finally moved on from Marvin Lewis and became another team to hire a McVay assistant. Taylor has ties to the city after a one-year stint with the Bearcats in 2016, and he should bring much-needed creativity to a franchise that needs it after falling behind in the AFC North to the Steelers, Ravens and even Browns.
  
  
• #32
  
  Kliff Kingsbury, Cardinals
  Last year: N/A
  
  Record: 0-0, .000
  
  Playoffs: 0-0, .000
  
  This is the big experiment. Arizona grabbed Kingsbury from the college ranks and took another gamble with Kyler Murray at No. 1 overall in the draft. Offense has changed in the NFL, and Kingsbury is one of the brightest minds on that side of the ball at any level. Can the Cardinals play enough defense? We'll start Kingsbury at the bottom and let him work his way up the rankings.
  

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...chise-quarterbacks-each-teams-greatest-passer

NFC West franchise quarterbacks: Each team's greatest passer

Franchise quarterback is the most elusive and essential need in all of pro football. NFL teams are desperate to find one, willing to part with valuable draft capital or invest millions in the hopes of adding this critical piece to the roster. But too often in their pursuit of a top-tier passer, organizations mistake adequate for exceptional, fooling themselves into thinking a middle-of-the-road passer is worthy of being the face of the franchise.

So what is a franchise quarterback, and which teams have had the best run of them? To answer these two questions, we established four simple criteria and applied them to every quarterback since the common-era draft began in 1967, when the AFL and NFL first began drafting together. To qualify, a player must have 48 starts with one team and meet two of the following three requirements:

1) Winning regular-season record.
2) Minimum passer rating of 75.0.
3) At least one Pro Bowl selection.

None of these provisions alone paint a perfect picture, but together they help to illustrate sustained production at an above-average level. And at the core of what all fans crave from their quarterback is someone who consistently keeps the team competitive and provides a realistic shot at the playoffs. Everything else is gravy.

For every franchise passer teams get right, there are countless others they miss on entirely. That's why we've also identified each organization's biggest QB misstep. Perspective is important, and we should always remember just how bad things can get when dependable quarterback play disappears.

Because we only considered a player's performance from 1967 onward, some notable passers, such as Bart Starr and Don Meredith, aren't included, while others, like Johnny Unitas, only have post-'66 production factored into their franchise QB eligibility.

I'm sure you'll agree with all of the choices below, so I don't expect any disparaging tweets. Next up: NFC West.

NOTE: Pro Bowl totals below include AFL All-Star Game selections, while Super Bowl ring totals only include titles won as the team's starting quarterback. The names of franchise QBs who are also their team's current starter are bolded.

Arizona Cardinals

Who qualifies for the Cardinals?
-- Carson Palmer (2013-17): 60 starts | 38-21-1 | 1 Pro Bowl | 91.1 passer rating
-- Kurt Warner (2005-09): 57 starts | 27-30 | 1 Pro Bowl | 91.9 passer rating
-- Neil Lomax (1981-88): 101 starts | 47-52-2 | 2 Pro Bowls | 82.7 passer rating

THE Franchise QB: Jim Hart

Warner came dangerously close to being the all-time franchise QB for two teams. Palmer also has a decent case for holding this honor. But I opted to go for a guy who actually doesn't even qualify, according to my criteria. Hart, who made 180 starts for the Cardinals from 1967 to 1983, does not meet either the W/L (he went 87-88-5) or passer rating (his was 66.6) thresholds. However, he's the only NFL quarterback who made four or more Pro Bowls with the same team in the Super Bowl era and didn't otherwise make it to his team's list of franchise guys. Plus, the team's all-time passing leader graduated from the same high school as me (Niles West, in Skokie, Illinois), so I made an exception. Hart spent 18 seasons(!) with the franchise, enjoying his best years under passing scheme guru Don Coryell from 1973 to '77. When the outspoken coach left for the Chargers after an extremely public fallout with ownership (more on that below), Hart's play dropped off a cliff. It's fair to argue over how much of his success stemmed from the system that became known as "Air Coryell" in San Diego, but I'm not going to get sidetracked with "what ifs" here (again, saving those for the next section). Hart and Warner are the only two Cardinals QBs of the Super Bowl era who are in the team's Ring of Honor.

Biggest QB misstep: Don Coryell's departure

Coryell revolutionized the passing game, helping to create the aerial attacks we know today. His influence on quarterbacks cannot be overstated, and his winning tradition (three straight 10-win seasons) wouldn't be duplicated by the Cards for 40 years. And yet, after just five seasons at the helm -- and two division titles -- Coryell left due to disagreements with ownership on personnel matters, among other things. In 1978, he took over the San Diego Chargers' top job, where he transformed their QB1, Dan Fouts, into a six-time Pro Bowler and Hall of Famer, while leading the organization to four straight playoff appearances. Jim Hart would later tell the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the legendary coach felt the Cardinals could've had even "more success" than the Chargers if issues had been resolved differently in St. Louis. So while the Matt Leinart, Steve Pisarkiewicz and Timm Rosenbach picks all worked out terribly for the Cardinals organization, the franchise's biggest mistake was letting the master of modern passing walk out of the building (and then changing the locks behind him).

Longest QB drought: 1989-2004

The Cardinals have a new offensive guru at head coach (Kliff Kingsbury) and his hand-picked signal-caller (Kyler Murray) set to start, so optimism is high in the desert. But it wasn't too long ago that the franchise experienced a rough patch at the position. Jay Schroeder, Kent Graham and Dave Brown, as well as aging veterans like Dave Krieg and Boomer Esiason, combined to win 88 of 256 games. That's a .343 win percentage. Honorable mention to the post-Warner, pre-Palmer era, which included starts from (recently retired) Derek Anderson, Max Hall, Brian Hoyer, Kevin Kolb, John Skelton and Ryan Lindley.

Los Angeles Rams

Who qualifies for the Rams?
-- Marc Bulger (2002-09): 95 starts | 41-54 | 2 Pro Bowls | 84.4 passer rating
-- Kurt Warner (1998-2003): 50 starts | 35-15 | 3 Pro Bowls | 97.2 passer rating | 2 MVPs | 1 SB ring
-- Jim Everett (1986-1993): 105 starts | 46-59 | 1 Pro Bowl | 78.1 passer rating
-- Pat Haden (1976-1981): 55 starts | 35-19-1 | 1 Pro Bowl | 69.6 passer rating
-- Roman Gabriel (1967-1972): 82 starts | 55-22-5 | 3 Pro Bowls | 75.9 passer rating | 1 MVP

THE Franchise QB: Kurt Warner

Warner made just 50 starts for the Rams, but boy, was he efficient, piling up two MVPs, two first-team All-Pros, three Pro Bowls and the franchise's first and only Super Bowl title in that span. Sam Bradford started 49 games for the organization and achieved none of those accomplishments. Warner certainly benefited from playing in an offense with two Hall of Famers (Orlando Pace, Marshall Faulk) and two game-changing receivers (Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce). But No. 13 was the conductor of the "Show", and under his direction, the Ramsproduced two of the best offensive seasons of all time.

Biggest QB misstep: Moving on from Warner

There was a lot of internal discussion among my colleagues about whether Sam Bradford should be the choice here. After signing the biggest rookie contract in NFL history in 2010 (six years, $78 million), expectations couldn't have been higher for the Oklahoma QB. And though he did win Offensive Rookie of the Year, there were so few wins the rest of the way. The former No. 1 overall pick totaled just 18 Ws for the franchise over five NFL seasons (he was traded to the Eagles in the final year of his rookie deal), which comes out to just over $3.6 million per victory.

But while the Bradford mistake might have set the franchise back for a short period of time, the Warner decision perhaps cost them a second championship. Two years after winning the MVP and leading the Rams to a Super Bowl, Warner was benched outright by head coach Mike Martz after the QB fumbled six times in Week 1. I recognize that's not good. I also recognize that his replacement, Marc Bulger, went on to win 12 games that season and a division title. That early success is part of the reason his name is listed above. But not all franchise QBs are created equal. The 12-4 mark was the best the franchise managed under Bulger, who played six more seasons for the Rams, going 23-50 from 2004 to '09. Warner, meanwhile, resurrected his NFL career in Arizona, where he won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, advanced to another Super Bowl and earned his fourth Pro Bowl nod. Oh, and he was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. The Rams' 1-15 record in 2009, Bulger's final pro season, netted them the 2010 first overall pick. ... And we've come full circle.

Longest QB drought: 2007-present

As stated above, Bulger and the Rams were straight bad during his final seasons, which is why I'm starting this drought before his tenure with the team actually ended. The QBs that followed him -- and there were many, because of Bradford's numerous injuries -- would make a Browns fan smile: Kyle Boller, A.J. Feeley, Kellen Clemens, Austin Davis and Shaun Hill. But the future looks bright at the position for the Rams. After a forgettable rookie season, Jared Goff has developed into a top-10 quarterback and will need some terrible luck next season not to qualify as one of the Rams' franchise QBs.

San Francisco 49ers

Who qualifies for the 49ers?
-- Alex Smith (2005-2012): 75 starts | 38-36-1 | 0 Pro Bowls | 79.1 passer rating
-- Jeff Garcia (1999-2003): 71 starts | 35-36 | 3 Pro Bowls | 88.3 passer rating
-- Steve Young (1987-1999): 124 starts | 91-33 | 7 Pro Bowls | 101.4 passer rating | 2 MVPs | 1 SB ring
-- Joe Montana (1979-1992): 139 starts | 100-39 | 7 Pro Bowls | 93.5 passer rating | 2 MVPs | 4 SB rings
-- John Brodie (1967-1973): 73 starts | 37-32-4 | 1 Pro Bowl | 72.4 passer rating | 1 MVP

THE Franchise QB: Joe Montana

Steve Young is an all-time great who would without a doubt be numerous teams' all-time franchise QB. But rings speak louder than words, and Montana's got a bunch of 'em. Although Tom Brady has succeeded Montana as the GOAT, the 49ers legend remains one of the greatest professional football players ever. He dominated the '80s from under center, posting the highest passer rating (93.8), completion percentage (63.6), winning percentage (.748) and passing yards (33,107) from 1981 (when he became the team's full-time starter) to 1990. The 49ers won 11 more games and scored nearly 200 more points during that span than the next closest team. As good as Young was, he'll forever live in the shadows of Montana's likeness on the QB Mt. Rushmore.

Biggest QB misstep: Failing Alex Smith

Alex Smith got a raw deal in San Francisco. That's right, I said it. As the first overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, Smith was charged with providing consistency and stability under center for a franchise that regularly changed everything else around him. He had five different offensive coordinators in his first five seasons, with an ever-rotating cast of pass catchers. It's impossible to build relationships with your teammates and establish timing on plays when both differ drastically from one year to the next. Smith finally received some continuity under Jim Harbaugh in 2011, and what did he do? He went 19-5-1 over two seasons, including 13-3 with a playoff win in 2011. Smith isn't totally absolved of his poor performances early in his career, and he did suffer numerous injuries during his Niners tenure, including the one that opened the door for Colin Kaepernick to claim the QB1 job. But the franchise QB's final seasons in San Francisco -- along with what he went on to do in Kansas City -- strongly suggest the organization let Smith down, not the other way around.

Longest QB drought: 2013-present

The Harbaugh-49ers divorce after the 2014 season left many 49ers fans despondent, but no one was hurt more by the separation than Colin Kaepernick. Under Jim Tomsula and Chip Kelly, the polarizing QB's play plummeted from the heights of the Harbaugh era, no matter what the stats suggest. That said, there's enough film on the passer to prove that his dynamic, game-changing ability wasn't a fluke. With different coaching and a commitment to his skill set, Kap's name would be listed above -- in fact, he would have qualified, had he won just two more games. San Francisco paid current starter Jimmy Garoppololike a top-10 player at the position, but with just eight starts under his belt, it's too soon to pass judgment on his 49ers legacy.

Seattle Seahawks

Who qualifies for the Seahawks?
-- Russell Wilson (2012-present): 112 starts | 75-36-1 | 5 Pro Bowls | 100.3 passer rating | 1 SB ring
-- Matt Hasselbeck (2001-10): 131 starts | 69-62 | 3 Pro Bowls | 82.2 passer rating
-- Dave Krieg (1980-1991): 119 starts | 70-49 | 3 Pro Bowls | 82.3 passer rating

THE Franchise QB: Russell Wilson

Russell Wilson has been one of the NFL's best quarterbacks since he entered the league in 2012. His recent mega contract says as much. The former third-rounder doesn't throw the most passes or for the most yards, but he is incredibly efficient and remarkably clutch. Since being drafted, Wilson ranks fourth in touchdown percentage (6%) and third in yards per attempt (7.86) while ranking second in both fourth-quarter comebacks (17) and game-winning drives (23) among QBs with at least 20 starts. Oh, and he wins. A lot. Only Tom Brady(83) has more total Ws than DangeRuss (75) in the past seven seasons. The 12s have to be overjoyed the Wilson-to-the-Giants rumors stayed rumors.

Biggest QB misstep: Dan McGwire

Sometimes, things break your way, and one of the best football players of his era falls to you in the third round. And then sometimes, you take Dan McGwire 16th overall the same year Brett Favre goes 33rd. You can't have it all, Seahawksfans. Instead of a future Hall of Famer taking over for Krieg following his franchise QB-worthy run in Seattle in 1991, the 12s got a guy whose brother had twice as many three-home-run games in the MLB (5) as McGwire had touchdown passes (2) in his entire five-year NFL career. In McGwire's second season, two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Tom Flores felt both Stan Gelbaugh and Kelly Stouffer gave the franchise a better opportunity to win than did the former first-round pick. By Year 3, the team had all but moved on, drafting Rick Mirer second overall and starting him as a rookie over McGwire. (Mirer would go on to have a disappointing Seahawks career, as well.) The swing and miss on the 6-foot-8 McGwire therefore resulted in the loss of not one but two top draft picks.

Longest QB drought: 1992-2000

The McGwire-Mirer miscalculations aside, the Seahawks actually had some relatively decent interim QB play during this period. Hall of Famer Warren Moon (still slinging it in his 40s!) and undrafted surprise Jon Kitna performed admirably for the Seahawks, with the latter even guiding the franchise to the postseason in 1999.

The Rest

• NFC West
• NFC East
• NFC North
• NFC South

https://www.downtownrams.com/single-post/2019/05/22/The-Los-Angeles-Rams-Top-5-Young-Prospects

The Los Angeles Rams' Top 5 Young Prospects

When it comes to the NFL, the term "prospect" isn't necessarily a popular term like in baseball, hockey, or even in the NBA. The NFL doesn't have a developmental league and upon being drafted, rookies are expected to start right away unlike in baseball or hockey where they may spend a few years in the minor leagues.

However, that doesn't mean young talent doesn't matter in the NFL. With rookie contracts being the biggest bargain for any NFL general manager, drafting well and having talented young players may be more important now than ever before. With that said, here are the Los Angeles Rams' best young prospects that are headed into their third year or less that are most important to the team's future.

1. WR Cooper Kupp, 3rd Year

Since arriving in Los Angeles, Kupp has not only been a fan favorite, but a favorite of Jared Goff's as well. Kupp led Rams receivers in receptions as a rookie and was on pace to do so once again before tearing his ACL midway through his second year.

Kupp will never be this team's number one wide receiver as that will always be Brandin Cooks, however, he might be the most important receiver. In games Kupp played, Goff completed 69.6 percent percent of his passes while throwing for 2,637 yards, 17 touchdowns, six interceptions, and averaging 9.7 yards per attempt.

In game's without Kupp, Goff completed just 58.5% of his passes for 2,266, 11 touchdown, and eight interceptions. The Rams quarterback averaged 6.76 yards per attempt with a passer rating of 80.6. It's hard to question the importance of Kupp in the Rams' offense.

2. S John Johnson, 3rd Year

John Johnson might be one of the best up-and-coming safeties in the NFL. According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson tied for seventh in Interceptions, tied for fourth in tackles among defensive backs and had the fifth-best coverage grade among safeties. In today's NFL it is important to have a safety that can cover everybody. Johnson is a guy that you can put on a running back like Kamara or a tight end like Rob Gronkowski.

Johnson showed promise as a rookie and continued that development and became very good in his second year. He's emerged as one of the NFL's best coverage safeties as he's displayed great coverage ability while being a sure-fire tackler. Having Eric Weddle will only push him to that next level.

3. TE Gerald Everett, 3rd Year

The 2017 draft was a good one for Les Snead and the Rams. Gerald Everett started that trend. Year three will be a big one for Everett as he hasn't done more than just show flashes, but there is little question that the talent is there. He needs to show more on a consistent basis which should be his goal for year three.

4. T Joseph Noteboom, 2nd year

Noteboom didn't get a lot of work as a rookie, but during the preseason he showed what kind of promise he brings. He didn't allow a single pressure in the preseason which is an impressive feat despite it being the preseason. Andrew Whitworth is most likely in his last year with the Rams, meaning Noteboom is the left tackle of the future. He'll get work at guard this season with the departure of Rodger Saffold, but he'll be ready to step in on the blind side when his name is called.

5. RB Darrell Henderson, Rookie

We haven't seen anything from Henderson outside of the short video coming from Rams OTA's. However, not only is he important to the Rams' future, he may be one of their more promising prospects as well. With the concerns surrounding Todd Gurley's knee, Henderson will supplement and take a load off of Gurley right away. And if the injury is worse than all fans hope, Henderson may just be the team's running back of the future.

What the rookie running back out of Memphis brings to the table however is unmatched. His similarities to Alvin Kamara and Kareem Hunt are parallel and he will bring another dimension to an already creative Sean McVay offense. Henderson was knocked for poor vision in the pre-draft process, but might be the biggest home-run hitter there is. He brings versatility and adds a talented piece to an already talent offense.

Les Snead says Sean McVay puts 'probably too much blame on himself'

“I think if you know Sean, he will put probably too much blame on himself, but that’s just his DNA, that’s just his nature,” Snead said on ESPN’s “The Sedano Show.” “That’s what he does and I think that’s what makes him really good because he’ll self-reflect and then try to actually apply some of the lessons that he feels like he’s learned. There’s some big-picture elements into that. We’ve been very, very successful the last two years, but we’ve only been to one Super Bowl and it was a lot of ours first Super Bowl.

Go to Full Article--
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

https://www.therams.com/news/five-takeaways-from-the-second-week-of-otas
Five takeaways from the second week of OTAs
Myles Simmons/ June 1st,2019

The Rams are officially through two weeks of OTA practices, and the team has looked sharp throughout. As we head into the final two weeks of the offseason program, here are five takeaways from OTA No. 4, 5, and 6.

1) SECONDARY STANDS OUT

Los Angeles’ secondary garnered a lot of headlines in the 2018 offseason, when the team traded for cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. And while the Rams’ defense certainly had its ups and downs last season, there’s reason to believe it should be better in 2019 — with the secondary as its strength.

Safety Eric Weddle has clearly added a lot to the defense with his presence and his knowledge. There were periods over the course of the week where the secondary dominated — whether it was 7-on-7 or 11-on-11. And we know how difficult that can be against an offense that finished No. 2 in both points and yards in 2018, so you really shouldn’t take that as a negative for the offense.

After sets of plays, the secondary starters — Talib, Peters, Weddle, safety John Johnson, and I’d also count slot corner Nickell Robey-Coleman in that group — are often on the sideline together, diagnosing what they’ve just faced. They’re clearly jelling well as a group, and have a chance to be really good in 2019.

2) SECOND-YEAR STARTERS ON DEFENSE?

The Rams have to replace a pair of productive veterans in their starting defensive group in nose tackle Ndamukong Suh and inside linebacker Mark Barron. As of now, candidates to replace them include second-year defenders Sebastian Joseph-Day and Micah Kiser.

Joseph-Day, a 2018 sixth-round pick, was on the 53-man roster all last year but did not have a chance to suit up on gameday — mainly because Suh played 88 percent of the defensive snaps, meaning he barely came off the field for a rotation. As of now, Joseph-Day is one of the players working in at nose tackle in the base 3-4 defensive set. And he has a chance to own that role on a full-time basis if he continues progressing.

L.A. picked up Kiser in the fifth round last year, and he played significant snaps on special teams, but none on defense. He said this week that he’s been hitting the playbook as much as possible to improve his above-the-neck approach. As the offseason program continues, both players know there’s significant opportunity in front of them — but they also realize how much they have to earn it.

3) EVERETT EMERGING

Tight end Gerald Everett has shown plenty of signs of promise throughout his young career. But as he moves into his third season, he’s looked good throughout OTAs — particularly in the red zone.

Just this week, Everett snatched a pass over two defenders during 7-on-7 to come down with a pass in the back of the end zone. And he also caught a pass with one arm while hugging the right sideline in the end zone for another scoring-strike from Goff.

A 2017 second-round pick, Everett looked like he was headed for a breakout season this time last year, but a shoulder injury suffered in training camp set him back as Week 1 approached. He ended up with 33 receptions for 320 yards with three touchdowns in 2018.

If there’s one detail of the Rams’ high-scoring offense to nitpick over the last couple years, it’s been the unit’s execution in the red zone. If Everett can become a consistent target inside the 20-yard line, that will really set him on course to become a breakout player in 2019.

https://tvline.com/2019/04/28/veronica-mars-kareem-abdul-jabbar-writing-staff-hulu-revival/

The most surprising face to join Hulu’s upcoming Veronica Mars revival might actually be behind the scenes: Last September, executive producer Rob Thomas revealed that the show’s writing staff includes none other than NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. (Check out the announcement tweet below.)

The former basketball icon is also a bestselling author who has written many books, including a novel about Sherlock Holmes’ brother Mycroft, in addition to contributing columns to various publications. But how did Abdul-Jabbar find himself penning dialogue for Veronica & Co.?

“It’s kind of a crazy story,” Thomas tells TVLine. “He’s quite a Renaissance man… He wrote a column on the five young adult books everyone should read. One of those was my second novel, called Slave Day. I was so thrilled that Kareem Abdul-Jabbar named one of my books as one of the five books everyone should read. In that column, he said that he was both a Veronica Mars fan and an iZombie fan.”

While planning a re-release for Slave Day‘s 20th anniversary, Thomas’ editor at Simon & Schuster suggested that he ask Abdul-Jabbar to write the foreword. “I reached out to his management, and I got word back, ‘Hey, Kareem is happy to write the foreword to Slave Day, but he wants to play a zombie on iZombie,'” Thomas recalls. Thus was born the basketball star’s upcoming guest spot on the CW series’ May 9 episode as undead city councilman Zed.

Then over dinner, Abdul-Jabbar and his writing partner Raymond Obstfeld expressed interest to Thomas in developing a television show. “At a certain point, I said, ‘Well, you know if you do want to work in television, it would be great for you to get a little bit of experience. You’re both Veronica Mars fans. Do you want to come on the staff and see how a television show works?’ And so they did,” Thomas shares. “There was not a day in the Veronica Mars writers’ room where, when Kareem walked in, it [didn’t] sort of weird me out. It’s a stunning thing.”

Abdul-Jabbar and Obstfeld ended up co-writing Episode 6 of the revival (premiering in its entirety on Friday, July 26), and Thomas has nothing but praise for the duo: “They handed in a terrific script that I’m excited about,” he says.

View image on Twitter


Rob Thomas

✔@RobThomas
https://twitter.com/RobThomas/status/1044429232753979392

The #VeronicaMars writing staff!@DavidWalpert, @RickFoxTheActor, @rugz19, @kaj33 & Raymond Obstfeld.

And yes, if you’re brilliant and give yourself a #PartyDown Twitter handle, I'll hire you. Or, you could be the NBA’s all time leading scorer, but you must still be brilliant.