http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...ons-by-quarterback-afc-west-nfc-west-top-list

Ranking divisions by quarterback: AFC West, NFC West top list
Adam Schein

Everyone and their mother has a list ranking NFL quarterbacks. For the record, my mom loves Peyton Manning.

So, here's a list with a twist. We're ranking the divisions based on their collection of QBs, from best to worst. One other important detail that needs to be stressed: While history serves as a backdrop, this ranking is based on my projections for these signal-callers in 2019.

It's rather interesting to look back at last year's version of this list. The quarterback position is stronger than ever in many ways, thanks in part to the emergence of young stars. In other ways, it's become akin to a closer in baseball -- there seems to be more performance variance year to year than ever. What will Jimmy Garoppolo look like in 2019? Jared Goff? Cam Newton? Josh Allen? There are new coordinators, new coaches and new systems. It all adds up to tons of excitement!

Last year after perusing my list, NFL Media colleague and former Colts great Reggie Wayne suggested on NFL Network that I might have been distracted by binge-watching a TV show when I was asked to put the rankings together. Let the record show I did return to watching "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" after I finalized this year's edition.

NOTE: Quarterbacks listings within each division are presented alphabetically by team. I picked the QB for each club based on whom I expect to make the biggest mark on the season.

1) AFC WEST
Denver Broncos: Joe Flacco
Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes
Los Angeles Chargers: Philip Rivers
Oakland Raiders: Derek Carr

This is the only division that features two of the league's five best quarterbacks (Mahomes and Rivers). Mahomes is majestic, and last year's MVP season (5,097 yards and 50 TD passes!) was just the beginning for him. He's a flat-out superstar. Rivers is still playing like a Hall of Famer at 37 years old. I think Carr is going to thrive in his second season with Jon Gruden. With massive upgrades to his weaponry -- he'll be throwing to trade acquisition Antonio Brown and free-agent signee Tyrell Williams, and now he has the top back in this year's draft, Josh Jacobs, running the ball for him -- I'm expecting big things from him in 2019. Flacco holds the last rung in this division, but he is a former Super BowlMVP and has a chance for a career renaissance in Denver. Mahomes and Rivers carry this division to the top, though.

2) NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray
Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff
San Francisco 49ers: Jimmy Garoppolo
Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson

This group came close to being No. 1 on the list. Wilson was rightly rewarded for his greatness this offseason. He elevates the play of everyone around him, and now he's the league's highest-paid player. Goff was an MVP candidate for the first few months of last season. Not so much after that, but the throws in New Orleans during crunch time of the NFC Championship Game remind me of how great he can be under Sean McVay. I'm still drinking the Jimmy G Kool-Aid, especially with offensive mastermind Kyle Shanahan calling the shots. If Garoppolo, coming off the ACL tear that ended his 2018 season in Week 3, is healthy, the Niners are going to surprise a lot of people. Good news: The health reports on his knee coming out of OTAs this week were positive. Murray is going to sizzle in Kliff Kingsbury's offense with his Patrick Mahomes-like arm talent. There is excellent depth among the starters in this division.

3) NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears: Mitchell Trubisky
Detroit Lions: Matthew Stafford
Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers
Minnesota Vikings: Kirk Cousins

The Aaron Rodgers "I can be coached" tour is going to be real and spectacular. Count on it. He's healthy, and I expect his union with first-year head coach Matt LaFleur will help him remind everyone that he's still one of the best in the game. Trubisky has made major progress in his first two seasons, and he'll take another step forward in his second season working with offensive whiz Matt Nagy. I feel like Cousins and Stafford fall somewhere in the range of eight to 16 in the QB rankings each year. There will be many moments of genius, and moments that leave you shaking your head, for both.

4) AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson
Cincinnati Bengals: Andy Dalton
Cleveland Browns: Baker Mayfield
Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben Roethlisberger

While the Freddie Kitchens promotion to head coach feels like a shotgun marriage, there's no doubt that Mayfield is a young star. Baker thrived under Kitchens when he took over as offensive coordinator at the midway point last season, and I expect Mayfield to flourish even more now that Odell Beckham Jr. has been paired with his old LSU running mate, Jarvis Landry, in the Cleveland receiving corps. Mayfield is plenty accurate, and he has the "it" factor that can be so hard to find. I think he'll have an MVP-caliber season while leading Cleveland to the playoffs. Big Ben still hasn't stopped talking about Antonio Brown, and he's going to miss his former go-to guy on game days. Ben is still great, although he's down a tick from his Hall of Fame-caliber play. I am a believer in Jackson as a winner and runner, and I expect him to improve as a passer. First-round pick Hollywood Brown will help him, especially if Jackson does indeed show some growth as a thrower. Prediction: First-year Bengalshead coach Zac Taylor will help Andy Dalton have the best season of his career.

5) AFC EAST
Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen
Miami Dolphins: Josh Rosen
New England Patriots: Tom Brady
New York Jets: Sam Darnold

Brady, he of six championship rings, is the GOAT and continues to do GOAT things. He gives this division a big lift, but I'm a big fan of the second-year quarterbacks in this group. I get that these youngsters have a ton to prove, so, yes, I'm going out on a limb here by placing them ahead of a much more accomplished group in the NFC South. As for those super sophomores, Darnold has everything you want in a big-time quarterback. Adam Gase is the right guy to help him realize his potential, and the addition of Le'Veon Bell is a huge deal for his development. I'm already on the record with my prediction that Allen and the Bills will break through in 2019. I loved how Buffalo supported him in free agency with help at receiver and on the offensive line. Yes, Allen's cannon arm is the truth. It's wild to see Rosen joining 2018 draft classmates Darnold and Allen in this division, too. The talent around the former Cardinal is weak right now, but I'm still a big believer in his skill set.

6) NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons: Matt Ryan
Carolina Panthers: Cam Newton
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jameis Winston

I know, I know. You're probably wondering why a group with two former MVPs (Ryan and Newton) and an all-time great (Brees) isn't higher on the list, but hear me out. Winston is one of the worst starting quarterbacks in the NFL, with a knack for throwing the ball to the other team. Newton is a great player when healthy, but his arm strength and accuracy were diminished in the second half of last season, and now he's coming off of his second shoulder surgery in less than two years. Newton says he feels great, but Carolina's selection of former West Virginia QB Will Grier in Round 3 of this year's draft was smart and telling, as the team clearly felt a need to add better insurance. Now, I love Ryan. I also like seeing Dirk Koetter back calling plays for Atlanta, as he did from 2012 to '14; the Falcons' offense ranked in the league's top eight in two of those three seasons. Bolstering the offensive line with two first-rounders in the draft? I love that, too! Drew Brees is still playing like Drew Brees, even as Asshole Face smartly leans on the running game. However, the questions about Newton and my doubts about Winston drag this division down a bit.

7) AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans: Deshaun Watson
Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck
Jacksonville Jaguars: Nick Foles
Tennessee Titans: Marcus Mariota

Luck proved last season that he's all the way back from his shoulder woes. He's an MVP candidate heading into 2019. I'm high on Watson, too, as he enters his third season. He has a knack for the moment. Here's hoping he gets the pass protection he needs (sacked a league-high 62 times last season). Foles is a major upgrade at the position for the Jags in both tangibles and intangibles. I know he's better than Blake Bortles, but am I allowed to wonder if the Foles magic will last for a full season now that he's tasked with performing from Day 1 instead of stepping in down the stretch? I'm still waiting for Mariota to even out his play. It's make-or-break time for the former No. 2 overall pick, whose rookie contract is due to expire after the season.

8) NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys: Dak Prescott
New York Giants: Eli Manning
Philadelphia Eagles: Carson Wentz
Washington Redskins: Dwayne Haskins

It was an absolute no-brainer to put the NFC East at the bottom of the list. Eli hasn't performed to the standard of a legit starting NFL quarterback in years, and in no universe was Daniel Jones worthy of the sixth overall pick in the draft. I think Haskins is going to be great one day. The talented rookie from Ohio State could use some time to develop, but I won't be surprised if he beats out Case Keenum for the starting job before the season, because Keenum is still Keenum (more so the guy we saw in Denver than the one in Minnesota). Wentz oozes talent, but he needs to prove he can stay healthy. When my guy Dak, who has yet to join the upper echelon of signal-callers, enters as the surest bet in the division, well, you can see why the East comes in last.

https://www.nj.com/jets/2019/05/nfl...mlin-cowboys-jason-garrett-any-surprises.html

NFL Coaches Who Will Be on the Hot Seat Entering the 2019 Season

As you get ready for the 2019 NFL season, let’s take a look at our early head coach hot seat rankings. These go from coolest seat to hottest seat, as things look right now.

11. Bill O’Brien, Texans: The biggest long-shot entry on this list. The Texans won 11 games last year, but they lost in the wild-card round. O’Brien has made the playoffs in three of his five seasons in Houston, but he has two one-and-done trips, and is 1-1 in the other appearance, 2016, when he bowed out in the divisional round.

10. Sean McDermott, Bills: This is just his third season with the Bills. And in 2017, he won nine games and broke a 17-year playoff drought. That counts for a lot in Buffalo. We think it’s unlikely he gets fired after 2019. But quarterback Josh Allen will need to improve. The Bills went 6-10 last season, in his rookie year.

9. Doug Marrone, Jaguars: He will need to show improvement in 2019, now that the Jaguars have upgraded at quarterback by replacing Blake Bortles with Nick Foles. Marrone, after all, is an offensive-minded head coach. This is Marrone’s third year in Jacksonville. He went to the AFC Championship Game in Year 1, but stumbled to five wins last year.

8. Kyle Shanahan, 49ers: Will he be able to win more if Jimmy Garoppolo stays healthy? That’s the big question for Shanahan in 2019. He is 6-2 in games Garoppolo has started, compared to 4-20 in games he hasn’t. After six and four total wins in Shanahan’s first two seasons, it’s time for some progress in Year 3.

7. Dan Quinn, Falcons: Atlanta was disappointing last season — 7-9. But the Falcons did win 10 and 11 games in the previous two seasons. In 2016, they lost in the Super Bowl. In 2017, they went 1-1 in the playoffs and lost in the divisional round. Matt Ryan’s championship window isn’t getting any bigger, though. Quinn needs to produce results in 2019.

6. Mike Tomlin, Steelers: If the Steelers don’t make the playoffs in 2019, Tomlin could be a goner. The bar has simply been set too high for success in Pittsburgh. Last season’s no-playoffs 9-6-1 result won’t cut it. Yes, Tomlin made the playoffs in each of the previous four seasons, in which he won 13, 11, 10, and 11 games. But he failed to reach the Super Bowl during that stretch — and reached the AFC title game just once.

5. Jason Garrett, Cowboys: Jerry Jones has been exceedingly patient with Garrett, but the 2019 Cowboys have a tremendous amount of talent, and they need to make some serious waves in the NFC. Garrett is a lame-duck coach, entering the final year of his contract. He is coming off a 10-6 season and has reached the playoffs in three of the past five years, with a divisional round loss each time. It’s probably NFC title game or bust now.

4. Matt Patricia, Lions: A brutal debut season for him in Detroit last year, as the Lions went 6-10 and he didn’t make many friends in the media or fanbase with how he handled himself. Could the Lions cut bait after just two seasons? Considering what they’re paying quarterback Matthew Stafford, they should expect a lot better than six wins.

3. Mike Zimmer, Vikings: Another guy whose quarterback, Kirk Cousins, is making a ton of money. After reaching the NFC title game without Cousins in 2017, the Vikings went 8-7-1 and missed the playoffs with him in 2018. Not nearly good enough, especially considering they went 13-3 in 2017. If the Vikings miss the playoffs again this year, Zimmer is probably gone.

2. Jay Gruden, Washington: Will he get a mulligan if he starts a rookie quarterback, Dwayne Haskins? Well, that didn’t exactly work out for the Jets’ Todd Bowles last season. Gruden went 7-9 in each of the past two seasons. He has one playoff trip in five seasons with Washington. If he replicates what Bowles did with Sam Darnold last year (4-12), expect Gruden to get canned. Maybe not fair, but that’s how things go in today’s NFL.

1. Ron Rivera, Panthers: He has an established quarterback, Cam Newton, but hasn’t done enough in the past three seasons — seven wins last season and six in 2016. In between, he won 11 games in 2017 and lost in the wild-card round. The 15-1 season of 2015, which ended with a Super Bowl loss, feels like a distant memory now.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...-says-he-has-better-numbers-than-troy-aikman/

Donovan McNabb 'absolutely' thinks he's a Hall of Famer, says he has better numbers than Troy Aikman
The former Eagles quarterback makes his Hall of Fame case

Donovan McNabb was mostly a very good NFL quarterback over the course of a career that spanned 13 seasons, but he is not a Hall of Famer, at least not as of this year. That could always change in the future, of course, and on Friday, McNabb made his case during an interview with TMZ.

McNabb not only believes he's a Hall of Famer. He also believes he's better than Troy Aikman, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.

"Absolutely," he said. "I'm not hesitating on that. I am a Hall of Famer. My numbers speak for itself."

Later he said, "My numbers are better than Troy Aikman, but he has Super Bowlrings."

So, let's compare the two quarterbacks, whose careers actually overlapped briefly. McNabb played for the Eagles, Redskins, and Vikings from 1999-2011. Aikman played for the Cowboys from 1989-2000. So the length of their careers is roughly the same too.

McNabb's not wrong. Most of his passing numbers are better than Aikman's.



However, it's important to note that even though the two did overlap briefly at the end of Aikman's career and the beginning of McNabb's career, they didn't play in the same era. McNabb might not have played in today's version of the NFL, but he did play in an era that started to see the league shift towards a pass-heavy league dominated by quarterbacks.

According to Pro Football Reference, the average passer rating in Aikman's first season (1989) was 75.6. The average passer rating in Aikman's final season (2000) was 78.1. Meanwhile, the average passer rating in McNabb's first season (1999) was 77.1. The average passer rating in McNabb's final season (2011) was 84.3. It's something to remember when seeing McNabb's statistics in comparison to Aikman. He played in a better passing era.

In 2004, McNabb actually became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw 30-plus touchdowns and fewer than 10 interceptions in a single season. Since then, it's been done 22 times, which highlights just how much football has changed.

Where Aikman has McNabb beat is in rings, which -- fair or not -- is how we often judge quarterbacks. Voters care about rings. As McNabb mentioned in the interview, it's why someone like Eli Manning will likely get into the Hall of Fame.

McNabb started 16 playoff games across seven postseason trips and made it to one Super Bowl, but he never captured a ring. And the most memorable moment from his lone Super Bowl appearance was McNabb slowly leading the Eagles downfield on a two-minute drill that took nearly four minutes off the clock.

Aikman won three Super Bowls. He also claimed one Super Bowl MVP award.

Since the playoffs do matter, let's compare how they fared in postseason action. It's Aikman who played better as a passer.



Regardless of you feel about the McNabb vs. Aikman debate, there's no denying just how good of a player McNabb was. Whether or not he's good enough to become a Hall of Famer remains to be seen.

He's been eligible for the Hall of Fame since 2017, but has yet to make it past the initial nomination phases.

I hate to look to to far in advance and we still have two years left on his contract. But can we afford to pay three wide receivers big money (eventually Woods will want a raise on the bargain deal we have him for).

Kupp has proven to be very vital to our offense success and we need to keep him but can we with Goff's upcoming contract?

Everett (me in Everett's perspective) broke the record for receptions by a tight end for the Rams.

Premonition or just me being crazy?

They say its 8 miles away. I'm a little scared

On O, what if...

Kupp returns 100%? Will that mean that the Ram O returns to the status of pre-injury to Kupp of last year? That would be simply awesome.

Henderson becomes yet another amazing weapon for McVay?

Gurley with limited snaps can return to his lofty status when on the field? Oh, my.

Allen proves to be an upgrade over Sully?

Boom becomes a more than adequate replacement for Saffold?

On D, what if...

Fowler continues to ascend from where he left off last year?

A healthy Brockers has a big “contract year”?

Matthews, in fact, really improves our Edge/ILB play?

Obo has a big impact? Mercy.

Kiser becomes a 2-down run D stud?

Peters can play all year like he played the second half of last year?

Weddle is a significant improvement over Joyner, as expected?

Long and/or Rapp can make big contributions in special packages roles? What if Long could seamlessly step in for an injured Talib or Peters? (Unlike Troy Hill last year).

GZ doesn’t miss any games in his best year yet?


I’ll tell you what would be the result if even a majority of the above should happen, and I don’t think that any of the above are the Impossible Dream.

Ram D would likely be Top 3 scoring D.
Ram O would get even more scoring opportunities and be possible top scoring unit in the league.
Snead, McVay, and Wade would all be given genius status.

Ram fans would be giddy all season long and then skip joyfully in the streets after winning the SB.

Some because of contract amounts, some because of expiring contracts in ‘20, some because of previous injury/surgery, and some simply because of sorta marginal play, frankly.

Gurley. In his case, it’s really just a question of how many snaps he gets.
Big Whit
Noteboom. Gonna stay at LG or move to LOT?
Allen
Blythe. Is he our LG or C? And will he be a starter? Or even extended? Lots of questions here.
Fowler. A classic prove it situation.
Brockers. Huge prove it year for Michael. Heck, his contract for ‘20 alone might be a deal breaker.
Ebu
Obo
Matthews. All depends on his level of play this year, don’t you think?
Peters. Expiring contract, will he earn an extension? Has to be affordable, though.
Talib. Another expiring contract. Does he still have it? Will he even want to do a short extension? Important questions.
Weddle. Still have it? Or will he be a one year rental?
Zuerlein. This is his final contract year, after all.

These are just the biggies, y’all. More names than I had realized when I started this list, tbh. A real eye opener for me, anyway.

Honestly, given how well Snead has been drafting and handling FA, I think that the above players best have tremendous years in ‘19 or they might well face careers with other teams in ‘20 and beyond.

PAT GRAHAM (AP Sports Writer),The Associated Press 2 hours 18 minutes ago

FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2019, file photo, Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald speaks during a press conference ahead of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game against the New England Patriots in Atlanta. Two-time reigning defensive player of the year Aaron Donald is always searching for out-of-the-box ways to improve his game. That's why the Rams defensive lineman trained with knives again this offseason. That's right, knives, of the plastic variety, of course, in order to improve his eye-hand coordination. His real driving force? That loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl last February. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)


To stay a cut above the competition, Aaron Donald again trained this offseason by dodging knives.

Fake blades, of course. But the results from the reaction exercises have certainly been real.

The two-time reigning AP defensive player of the year for the Los Angeles Rams is always searching for out-of-the-box ways to take his game to another level. The sting of a 13-3 Super Bowl loss to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in February helps him stay sharp, too. That's one reason the defensive tackle attended organized team activities this spring for the first time since 2016, even as other veterans passed on the workouts.

Anything to earn that ring.

''The main goal is to be the No. 1 team standing and call yourself a champion,'' said Donald, who skipped workouts the last two springs while dealing with contract negotiations before signing a $135 million, six-year extension last August. ''So I'm just working, trying to get myself better and continue to improve my game.''

Donald is coming off a season in which he recorded 20+ sacks.

So yes, Donald has given thoughts to former New York Giants standout Michael Strahan's 22+-sack season in 2001, which is the NFL record since it became an official stat in 1982.

And no, he doesn't chase after it.

''If you would've asked me five years ago if I would have an opportunity to have 23 sacks in one season, I would've laughed at you and said, 'That's impossible,''' Donald said in a phone interview as the player known for his quick bursts to the QB embraces National Runners' Month at DICK'S Sporting Goods. ''You would like to accomplish something like that, but in the mix of doing your job and helping your team win you play at a high level. So all that's going to come about on its own. Because the more you think about it, the less success you have.

''Go out there and play and let the game come to you, and good things come from that. It's worked for me so far.''

All he's done is become a nightmare assignment in the middle since the Rams drafted him with a first-round pick in 2014 out of the University of Pittsburgh. Donald, who turned 28 on Thursday, is listed at 6-foot-1, 280 pounds - not the usual measurements for a dominating inside presence.

And yet dominating is what he's been against the run and chasing QBs. With his speed, strength and athleticism, he's become the NFL prototype.

''You open up doors for the next guy, who opens up doors for the next,'' Donald explained. ''You do your job and do it at a high level and keep working and do what you're supposed to do, everybody has an opportunity to do great things. Just got to have that mindset and that will to want to do it.''

Over the offseason, he again used the fake knives to help him improve his agility. His trainer would lunge at him with a blade in each hand and Donald knocked it away - just like he would the arms of an opposing offensive lineman.

''Trying to work on my hand speed and reaction,'' Donald said. ''I go through different things in my training to think outside the box. Think of things that can help me. Just trying to outwork myself every year to be better.''

Next up, distance running. Well, maybe.

Although his training is built around short distances, he's contemplating a 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) race down the road, especially after meeting a group of kids as part of Girls on the Run, an organization that teaches young girls life skills through running activities. Donald surprised them at a DICK'S Sporting Goods store in the Los Angeles area and helped them line up new running gear.

Donald even went for a little jog with the kids.

''Just trying to keep up with the girls,'' said Donald, who recently made a seven-figure donation to the University of Pittsburgh's Football Championship Fund. ''I have 10-yard bursts in me. That (5K race) would be tough. Got to have a lot of stamina and training. I'll probably get it done.''

An endeavor for later.

These days, it's all about leading the Rams back to the Super Bowl. They lost a defensive showdown with the Patriots in a game in which Donald had five tackles and one quarterback hit. He showed up at the offseason workouts, relishing the chance to develop even more cohesion with teammates.

''Being there and working with these guys, pushing these guys and getting these guys ready, it's only going to make us better,'' Donald said. ''We're pushing each other, because we want to do something special this year.''


https://www.yahoo.com/sports/staying-sharp-sack-artist-donald-fueled-super-bowl-063541490--nfl.html

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-ota-no-3

Thursday, May 23, 2019 04:50 PM
10 Observations from Rams OTA No. 3

by Myles Simmons


1) As expected from head coach Sean McVay’s comments on Monday, outside linebacker Dante Fowler was in attendance for Thursday’s final OTA of the week. During the special teams period to open practice, Fowler was working with outside linebackers coach Chris Shula on concepts and techniques for a little one-on-one instruction.

2) Following the special teams period, the quarterbacks and offensive skill players worked on a ball security drill. In three separate lines, quarterbacks had to evade a rush in a pocket from a coach, before throwing a check-down pass to the wideout, running back, or tight end. The receiver then had to run through two large tackling dummies.

3) In a later period, quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers were working on misdirection plays — jet sweeps, counters, etc. — all against air. Quarterback Jared Goff noted on Monday that sometimes it’s remarkable just how much L.A. has in its full playbook, since things become so game-plan specific during the season. This seemed to be an example of just how expansive things can be.

4) On the other field, the inside linebackers were working on their coverage and interception skills. Assistant head coach/linebackers coach Joe Barry was using his body — particularly his shoulder movement — to indicate how the LBs should read a potential quarterback. Sometimes he’d then throw it, sometimes he wouldn’t. But Troy Reeder, an undrafted rookie out of Delaware, made a nice one-handed grab at one point.

5) After the offense and defense went through a half-field passing drill, they split up on different fields again. This time, the offensive units split into two groups — the first-teamers on one side of the field and the reserves on another — to run the same sort of misdirection plays from earlier in the session. But this time, the Rams were running them with 11 on offense as opposed to just the skill players. Los Angeles’ practices are often structured like this — position groups do drills alone that correspond to what they’ll be doing as a group later on in the session.

6) Los Angeles went through 7-on-7 red zone drills on Thursday. During that period, Goff connected with wide receiver Josh Reynolds on a short route to the middle of the field for a touchdown. Reynolds used a bit of a head fake to get loose, and Goff delivered a strike right to his hands for a TD.

7) Still in 7-on-7 drills but no longer in the red zone, rookie safety Taylor Rapp got in a few snaps with the defensive unit alongside starters John Johnson and Eric Weddle. With Rapp in just his second week with the club, Johnson was talking to Rapp pre-snap, ostensibly making sure the young safety knew just what to do during the play. Johnson’s only entering his third season, but that’s some solid veteran leadership.

8) In another passing period, Goff connected with tight end Gerald Everett on a deep pass down the left side that would’ve gone for a touchdown. Everett elevated over the defending corner to reel in the pass for a nice red-zone catch.

9) In the same red-zone period, cornerback Aqib Talib showed he’s still got closing speed entering his 12th season in the league. Goff targeted Reynolds in the back-right corner of the end zone, but Talib was able to run up and get a hand on the ball to knock it out of reach for No. 83. But on the next play, Goff was able to connect with Reynolds, with the wideout using his wingspan to snatch the ball over a couple of defenders.

10) Finally, after working with trainers on the side for most of the session, wide receiver Cooper Kupp was in on offense for Los Angeles’ jog-thru 11-on-11 period. Kupp caught a couple of short passes from Goff with the slower-than-game speed.

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is wild card in Rams' pass-rush rotation

When discussing the Los Angeles Rams defense, the obvious names always come up: Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Marcus Peters, John Johnson, Dante Fowler Jr. The list goes on. It takes a while to get to the man with arguably the hardest name to pronounce, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo.

He was viewed as one of the steals of the 2018 draft after the Rams landed him in the fifth round at No. 160 overall. Some thought he could go as early as the second or third round, but he slid all the way to the fifth due to concerns about his size and transition to the NFL game.

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

I was considering today who were the top five people in the Rams organization for this year. I'm including coaches, front office staff, and players in this, but not the owner. Of course Kroenke is pivotal in the Rams presence in LA and in paying for everything, but lets exclude him for this list. Remember, this is the most important individuals list and not necessarily the most talented. My List is as follows:

1. Sean McVay: No brainer, right? Without this guy, our organization is not where it is today. If you had given Fisher, Spags, or Linehan the current team, I don't believe the Rams would have the success it will have this year, and certainly not in the years to come. McVay is a leader and expects full accountability of himself and everyone who works for the organization. He is also an innovative offensive coordinator/Head Coach with tons of energy, and the players buy in. He is the most important Individual to me, for 2019 (and beyond).

2. Jared Goff: Yeah, I know he's not the best QB in the NFL but he is certainly top 10. He gets a bad rap from the national media like stupid Florio & Co. for the Super Bowl loss and for being McVay's puppet, which are both ludicrous ideas. He is a franchise QB and is the best one we have had since Marc Bulger. How many QB's did we try with FA's and a first round pick before we found a guy that could execute a complicated offense? Watching the Cardinals give up on Rosen after one stinkin year for another crap shoot pick and a fired HC (& staff), is amazing to me. Not a rap on Murray, but there are no guarantees in picking QB's in the draft(hello Sammy!), and we are lucky with Jared Goff.

3. Les Snead: I have to admit that I was surprised Snead survived the sacking of Jeff Fisher, and I would have probably agreed with it if it had happened. But, what a couple of years Snead has had picking talented players in later rounds and making moves in FA and the NFL Draft to build this team. I considered making the option McVay/Snead, because their success goes hand in hand, but Snead deserves separate recognition.

4. Todd Gurley: Yes, it was repeated constantly that the Rams offense ran through Todd Gurley in 2018, and he was damn important. In 2019, we don't know exactly what we are getting with him, but it's hoped that we'll see the same ole' Todd. With the addition of Darrell Henderson and the retention of Malcolm Brown, John Kelly, and Justin Davis...we'll have a dang good RB group. Henderson is supposed to be a dual threat like Gurley (running and catching passes), but then Kelly was supposed to be that guy last year, so we'll see. I have him below Goff because as important as Todd is, a franchise QB is more important.

5. Aaron Freakin' Donald: Maybe the best player in the NFL, but his position isn't as important as the two players above him. I even considered Andrew Whitworth in this spot because of how important he is for the QB's blind side, but AD is a transformational player who has so much affect on opposing QB's that he deserves to be here. It's not just the sacks, but also the QB pressures as he makes the best QB's in the NFL play like Ryan Leaf. He also lives in the backfield and has a history in 2018 for tackling RB's for negative yardage.

This is my list, what is yours?

Calling it Picard atm cause it's not named yet that I know of. But looks like another CBS all access show that I'll have to find a way to watch.

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Listening to Fred Rogin on am570 Foxsports, and just heard a clip from Florio saying Rams will not re-sign Goff, He'll cost too much. Good 'ol Fred calls him out and says that ain't gonna happen. Pretty funny back and forth.



Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R62hhlDvZf4

By: Cameron DaSilva | 23 hours ago

In just his second year as an NFL head coach, Sean McVay took the Rams all the way to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, Los Angeles came up short due to a disappointing performance from the offense, scoring a paltry three points – the Rams’ fewest in any game under McVay.

The team had some time off after the game and before the bulk of the offseason work began, which gave players and coaches some time to reflect on the loss. They weren’t busy parading around the city or doing late-night interviews like the Patriots were, but it wasn’t long before McVay and the front office were evaluating draft prospects and future free agents.

Between the end of the game and that point, though, McVay got over the loss as many folks would have: with alcohol.

On Barstool Sports’ “Pardon My Take” podcast, McVay was asked if there was anything he did to get over the loss.

“Yeah, a lot of drinking,” McVay said plainly.

He was surprised to learn that the Rams’ win over the Saints in the NFC championship game caused Asshole Face to watch Netflix and eat a lot of ice cream.

“Really? I didn’t know that,” he said.

The Rams’ performance in the Super Bowl was historically bad, finishing as the lowest-scoring Super Bowl ever. That’s the complete opposite of what fans (and bettors) expected to happen with most people believing it would be a high-scoring affair.

McVay shared a story of a fan coming up to him in Vegas about the money the Rams cost him, and it wasn’t exactly pennies. It was a large chunk of change.

“When I went to Vegas a couple weeks after the Super Bowl just to have some fun, first guy I run into says, ‘Hey man, you lost me half a million on the over.’ I said, ‘Oh man, I’m sorry.’ I’m probably a wanted man. But you just gotta move on,” McVay said.

The Rams coach got more serious when discussing the fact that he may have done too much studying of the Patriots’ film leading up to the Super Bowl. This is something he admitted recently, saying he may have gone overboard in that department.

If he could do it all over again, he may have done it differently and worked smarter, not harder.

“When you look at those couple weeks, there’s an element of when you work, you want to work hard. But you also want to work smart and you can have so many different things and not be mindful of the progression of the season. There’s usually about a 4-6-game span that you’re usually operating on while still being mindful of situations. And then you’ve got two weeks and you don’t want to short yourself.

“I’d be lying if I said that if things go a little off-track, you probably have too many thoughts in your head, and you would have a different rhythm. I don’t necessarily know if you’re working any less hard for the preparation, but you know, Coach Belichick and the Patriots are the standard right now.”

McVay is still one of the best coaches in the NFL, regardless of age. He’s reached the playoffs twice already, has led the Rams to the second-most points and yards since taking over in 2017 and is only 33 years old.

Yet, despite all the success he’s had, some are leaning toward Kliff Kingsbury as the hot new coach in the NFL now. The Cardinals coach hasn’t proved anything yet in the NFL, so it’s hard to put him above McVay right now.

“He is the hot new guy, but last time I checked, I didn’t cool off too bad, did I?”


https://theramswire.usatoday.com/20...&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=pos1image

So there is nothing available on the TheRams.Com site about training camp this year so I gave the Rams admin office a call.

They confirmed they will be holding camp again at UCI sometime late July. Why are you posting this, Vet? you may ask. Well, the original contract called for three years of TC at UCI and last year was year three. But since the new stadium opening date was pushed out a year, that left a void on where training camp was to be held.

So all you camp reporters and camp drinkers (I'm talking about you, @bubbaramfan and myself), get your cameras ready, your walking shoes laced up and don't forget your sunscreen!

*feeling anxious

https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2019/...ante-fowler-jr-clay-matthews-roster-additions

Ranking the Los Angeles Rams offseason moves for 2019
How do the Rams’ offseason moves rank for just 2019?

By Sosa Kremenjas@QBsMVP May 23, 2019, 8:20am CDT

Now that majority of the offseason has passed, we can take a look at the totality of the plan for the 2019 offseason put together by General Manager Les Snead and company.

With many moves being made (both adding/subtracting guys, the draft, etc), we can assign the importance of every move in terms of the 2019 season.

Let’s jump right into it:

19. Letting LG Rodger Saffold walk in free agency

I disliked this move when it happened, and still do. Saffold was a stalwart on the Rams’ offensive line, and losing an elite protector is never a positive. The worst part of the loss of Saffold was that he was lost over a very fair four-year $44m contract.

18. Letting DT Ndamukong Suh walk in free agency

Another walk, Suh was just signed a few days ago by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the release of long-time DT Gerald McCoy. Suh was thought to be a one-year rental when he signed with the Rams, and unfortunately that turned out to be true.

17. Re-signing Edge Dante Fowler Jr. to a one-year contract

I didn’t hate the idea of bring Fowler back, but the price was simply too high. Fowler — who has played on an almost exactly identical level as fellow free agent pass rusher Shaq Barrett — is going to get paid $8-10m more than Barrett in 2019. Fowler simply isn’t a $12-14m player, though the Rams were clearly desperate when it came to the edge position.

16. Signing Edge Clay Matthews to a two-year contract in free agency

This move was rather “boring”, though it could turn out to be a decent addition if all things workout as planned. Matthews’ deal is a two-year $9.25m contract, though that number can skyrocket to $16.75m by way of incentives. Matthews simply isn’t the same player he once was, but he’s still a definite upgrade over former starter Samson Ebukam.

15. Declining C John Sullivan’s option

Letting Sully walk saved the Rams $5.25m, though the move means a veteran is replaced by essentially a redshirted rookie. Brian Allen has the chance to step in and replace Sully, though it’ll be tough for a young guy to recreate the experience of a 125-game starter.

14. Cutting S Blake Countess

Countess was a mainstay on the Rams’ special teams units, though the additions of Eric Weddle and Taylor Rapp ensured he was no longer needed. Countess will bring value to his new team (Philadelphia Eagles), but his time ran out in horns.

13. Drafting OL Bobby Evans with the 97th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft

Evans may or may not be a good player. What he will be is the sixth offensive lineman and the first backup to be called upon in case of injury. Evans will prove to have plenty of value in 2019 as he could very well see the field in jumbo lineups, or by way of injury.

12. Matching RB Malcolm Brown’s offer sheet from Detroit Lions

The Lions offered Brown a two-year $3.25m when he was tendered at the original round level. The Rams decided to match the offer sheet, meaning Brown returned to the Rams. The amount of money is very minimal, and Brown has plenty of experience in this system. His return is a positive move.

11. Letting RB C.J. Anderson walk

The Lions ended up signing Anderson after the Rams matched the offer sheet for Malcolm Brown, and I had no issues with letting CJA walk. Anderson was a major spark for the Rams in 2018, though they had a clear plan to lessen Todd Gurley’s workload moving forward, and CJA wasn’t a part of it.

10. Drafting Greg Gaines with the 134th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft

Gaines immediately steps in as the Rams’ starting nose tackle, and he’s not likely to have much legit competition on the roster. Gaines’ ability to stuff the run will immediately improve the run defense, and his role ensures a healthy amount of playing time in 2019.

9. Drafting S Taylor Rapp with the 61st pick in the 2019 NFL Draft

Rapp probably isn’t going to have a massive impact in 2019, though he’ll likely be an impact player every time he does touch the field. Rapp will likely see a handful of snaps on defense, coupled with as much as he can absorb on special teams. The duo of Marqui Christian and Blake Countess logged 400 defensive snaps in 2018, meaning playing time will present itself for Rapp.

8. Letting S Lamarcus Joyner Walk

Joyner was not good in 2018, it’s really that simple. The Rams were not going to pay him after the season he had, so it was best to let him move on. The Oakland Raiders also paid an astronomically high amount in the average of $10.5m per year over four years.

7. Cutting ILB Mark Barron

Barron hasn’t been healthy in years, and it showed when he was on the field. Not only that, but his contract suggested he was one of the best linebackers in the NFL, and he simply wasn’t. The Rams saved $7.6m on the cap by letting Barron go.

6. Placing second-round restricted free agent tender on ILB Cory Littleton

Littleton was going to be back regardless, though the selection of the tender was the cherry on top. The Rams could have panicked and placed a first-round tender on Littleton, though the difference was roughly $2m in cap space. Knowing the chances were low of a team sacrificing a second-round pick as well as a contract, the Rams made a fantastic decision by only placing a second-round tender on their defensive captain.

5. Letting QB Sean Mannion Walk

Uhmmmm, yeah. Mannion was very bad. This was easy.

4. Signing QB Blake Bortles

After letting one of the worst backup QB’s in the NFL walk, the Rams replaced Mannion with one of the best in Bortles. Not only that, but they got Bortles inked on a one-year $1m contract. Not many teams can say their backup quarterback started in a conference championship game.

3. Accepting 5th-year option on CB Marcus Peters

This move was a no-brainer, though it was still a solid one. Peters’ first season with the Rams was a strange one as the first half of the season was very bad, though the second half/playoffs was a complete turnaround. Peters will be paid a touch under $9.1m on the option in 2019, buying the Rams another year of time to evaluate Peters’ fit in Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips’ defense.

2. Drafting RB Darrell Henderson with the 70th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft

I cannot overstate how much I like this move. It’s a demonstration of a fantastic move for a multitude of reasons. First, it means Todd Gurley can decrease his workload with little to no drop-off in production in the run game. Second, the Rams didn’t invest in a running back with a very high pick. Third, Henderson is the perfect zone-scheme running back, and the Rams deploy outside zone runs more than any other NFL team.

1. Signing S Eric Weddle to a two-year contract

Weddle steps in as the starting safety next to John Johnson III, forming a fantastic duo on the backend for at least one season (likely two). Weddle is a potential future hall-of-famer who has the versatility to rotate with JJ3 in a multitude of roles. Moving on from Joyner to Weddle was a massive upgrade.

The Roster is full and settling in. Lets decide on any moves before trimming to the 53 man roster.

As the saying goes, "Even bad pizza is pretty good." But there are some pizzas that are much better than "still pretty good" — they're out-of-this-world amazing.
https://www.farandwide.com/s/best-p...cpc&utm_source=out&utm_term=CNN+(Turner+U.S.)

Which NFL head coach has best chance to win his first Super Bowl?
May 22, 2019 NFL.com

Seven current NFL head coaches have won a Super Bowl -- Bill Belichick, Asshole Face, John Harbaugh, Doug Pederson, Pete Carroll, Mike Tomlin and Jon Gruden. But what about the other 25 guys who are seeking the elusive Lombardi Trophy?

Andy Reid has been a head coach for 20 seasons and hasn't won a championship, while Jason Garrett and Ron Rivera are still ring-hunting after being in their respective posts for eight seasons.

Bruce Arians, Bill O'Brien, Mike Zimmer and Jay Gruden have logged five seasons as an NFL HC, and 18 others are either relatively young in their head-coaching careers or just starting out.

So, which head coach has the best chance to win his first Super Bowl in the upcoming season?

David Carr:

Minnesota's Mike Zimmer wins a title in his sixth season at the helm

Mike Zimmer has helped build a championship-caliber roster in Minnesota, and this will be the season he and the long-suffering Vikings fans finish on top. The Vikings had one area in desperate need of improvement this offseason -- the offensive line -- and they made the necessary moves to piece together a unit that can protectKirk Cousins and spearhead a rushing attack led by Dalvin Cook.

This offense will undoubtedly be better with Gary Kubiak and Kevin Stefanski running the show. Cousins played some of his best football in Washington under Kyle Shanahan, whose offense is a clone of Kubiak's. Kubiak won a ring as Denver's head coach in 2015, and now he helps Zim get his.

Shaun O'Hara:

Andy Reid's Lombardi drought will finally end in February

Andy Reid's squad will have a chance for as long as Patrick Mahomes is under center. The reigning MVP made it all look so effortless in 2018. Even taking into account Tyreek Hill's uncertain future with the team, the Chiefs' offense has enough talent to light up scoreboards.

Now, they struggled all season long on defense last year, ranking in the bottom third of the league in most statistical categories, but the Chiefs have made huge strides on that side of the ball this offseason. They brought in several notable defensive players via free agency, trades and the draft, including Frank Clark, Emmanuel Ogbah, Darron Lee and Tyrann Mathieu. Reid has been so close to a title in the past. His team gets it done this time around.

Adam Rank:

Matt Nagy will look GREAT hoisting the Lombardi at Super Bowl LIV

Is this a serious question? Because the obvious answer is that young, genius head coach who was the toast of the NFL last season. That's right. Matt Nagy. You might know him better as the reigning NFL Coach of the Year.

The Bears gave themselves another boost in the draft by picking RB David Montgomery, who will be a better fit for Nagy's offense than RB Jordan Howard, who was dealt to Philly prior to the draft. There were a few losses defensively, starting with coordinator Vic Fangio and safety Adrian Amos, but I have confidence in their successors, Chuck Pagano and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. The Bears are going to the Super Bowl.


Jeremy Bergman:

Sean McVay joins the likes of some all-time coaching greats with title

It's a tough call to choose between the last two coaches to drop postseason games to the Patriots -- Andy Reid and Sean McVay -- but I'll side with McVay here. Twenty-eight years Reid's junior, McVay has a better shot than the Chiefs' skipper and other Lombardi-less head coaches, like Jason Garrett, Mike Zimmer, Dan Quinn and Anthony Lynn, to claim his first title this season.

The Rams return essentially the same roster as their NFC title-winning unit from a year ago, save for interior losses on both sides of the line. The NFC West, though unpredictable, should be theirs, and the conference is deeper than it is top-heavy. It seems the odds are never in a Super Bowl loser's favor the season after coming up a win short of glory, but McVay has broken convention before.


Marcas Grant:

The rising Colts reach the mountaintop in Reich's second season

Sean McVay seems like the easy answer, but ... Frank Reich, come on down! Last season, the Colts took a big step forward because they did two things they hadn't done in the past -- play defense and protect Andrew Luck. This year, they've doubled down on the first part by spending seven of their 10 draft picks on the defensive side of the ball and signing pass rusher Justin Houston.

After record-setting offensive seasons, the pressure is on both the Chiefs and Rams to replicate the feat, while (and we say this every year) eventually time has to catch up to the Patriots, right? Either way, Indy has a very good team that's on the rise and could be in position to make a serious run at a Lombardi this season.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...h-has-best-chance-to-win-his-first-super-bowl

Brockers feeling "refreshed" heading into eighth pro season

Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Myles Simmons RAMS INSIDER

If you think about it, the age 28 is still considered quite young by most standards.

Now that doesn’t mean 28-year-old veteran defensive lineman Michael Brockers is old in football years. But he has reached the point where he’s the second-longest tenured Ram — behind only long snapper Jake McQuaide.

But speaking to the D-lineman entering his eighth pro season after Tuesday’s OTA practice, Brockers said he’s feeling great during this 2019 offseason program.

“I don’t know if I’m lying or not, but I feel refreshed,” Brockers told therams.com. “I feel — coming from the Super Bowl loss, that fire kind of drives you some more. So just ready to get back out there.”

Falling to the Patriots in February, Brockers continued, “created that fire in us just to get back. We know that was a great team that we lost to, but we know we could’ve done better ourselves.

So just coming out here, making the adjustments, getting better each and every day — I think that’s the most important thing — we’ll be back.”

He sort of noted it there, but Brockers added specifically that he feels the entire team has appeared to come back with a sense of refreshment for another run at a Lombardi Trophy.

“I think everybody feels the same way. Everybody — we’re glad how the season went, we were happy about it. But as far as how it ended, we know we could’ve finished better, and we want to finish better,” Brockers said.

“So I think that’s what drives us each and every day coming in here, the whole team showing up for OTAs and voluntary OTAs and stuff like that — it just shows that we want to get back to that championship.”

Part of that also comes from the steady leadership of head coach Sean McVay, who has set the tone and the standard since he arrived in L.A. back in 2017.

“He’s been cool, calm, and collected. He’s all about getting better,” Brockers said of his head coach. “He said it himself — nobody’s above coaching, including himself. So he’s doing nothing but trying to get back to that championship.

But it’s not like a super burning, burning desire. It’s like, let’s do what we’ve always done — let’s be us.”

As the Rams continue in that process, they also have to integrate players like veteran newcomers safety Eric Weddle and linebacker Clay Matthews — players whose objectives goals align with those of the Rams as they get to the later stages of their respective careers.

“They bring that veteran leadership that veteran leadership that you need in the backend, to talk to some of the young guys,” Brockers said.

“Some of that experience that they have, they’ve been in the situations, they’ve been in Super Bowls and stuff like that — playoff games. So they understand what’s at stake, too.

And they’re getting a little older, so they feel it even more where it’s like, ‘Hey, it’s do or die, we’ve got to do it now.’ So they’re pushing to get to a championship as well.”

But Brockers is a veteran presence, too, and he appreciates that younger players look up to him as he enters his eighth season.

“It’s kind of happened organically. You know, all of a sudden, I’m one of the oldest guys in the room and people are starting to look up to me, and the coaches are counting on me to be that leader.

It happened, like I said, organically and I’ve accepted the role.”

Feeling refreshed after the shortest offseason he’s ever had, Brockers will be a key piece of the defensive unit for a Rams team looking to continue recent success.
https://www.therams.com/news/brockers-feeling-refreshed

https://www.sportsaldente.com/stealing-versatility-in-the-nfl-draft-taylor-rapp/
Stealing Versatility In The NFL Draft: Taylor Rapp

Zachary Webb



Taylor Rapp’s
Versatility + Development

Steal Of The Draft
Los Angeles’ 2019 draft class began with highlighting the versatility of Washington Safety Taylor Rapp. With the 2nd round trade back the Rams selected a player Daniel Jeremiah said was “the most reliable tackler of the draft”.

The Rams selected Rapp who has much-needed versatility paired with a pedigree to develop for their future.
The Los Angeles Rams defensive secondary struggled mightily during the 2018 season. Culminating in a close Super Bowl loss to the Patriots. Rapp brings experience from Washington as he was the 7th Huskies defensive back taken in the last two drafts. It’s odd to call a 2nd round pick a steal, but Taylor Rapp was identified as a Top 5 safety in the draft.

Science Of The Slide
Taylor’s shortfall to the backend of the 2nd round came from a high 40 yard dash time (4.76).

Scouts will look at it as a detractor as the NFL is overflowing with hybrid offenses featuring some of the flashiest athletes ever.

Players considered slow in relation to timed drills sometimes slide under the radar.

Rapp projects out as a sub package box safety, & a reliable member of the special teams unit. He was compared by some to his new teammate Eric Weddle during some pre/post-draft analysis, and by others to Harrison Smith.

The University of Washington has been a perpetual top 10-15 team the last 2-3 seasons and Rapp was a valued member. He’s been part of a quality program that has important postseason experience year in and year out.

Taylor played the role of the leader with high tier players, and now he joins the likes of Talib, Peters, Weddle, and Johnson.

Numbers Never Lie, Production Pays
His statistics from a detailed perspective shows his versatility as well as impact.

In 2018 he was first in tackling efficiency via Pro Football Focus, missing 1 in every 55 tackles this previous season. That’s a promising DB when facing the likes of Alvin Kamara, Saquon Barkley, Zach Ertz, and Russell Wilson.

Rapp doesn’t solely boast the ability to make tackles, he also brings the ability to be productive in coverage. His impact in the passing game was big. This past season Taylor Rapp forced incompletions on 27.8 % of targets (highest in PAC12 for safeties) while allowing only 2.9 yds per target in coverage in 2018(2nd among FBS safeties).

Numbers Never Lie, Production Pays
His statistics from a detailed perspective shows his versatility as well as impact.

In 2018 he was first in tackling efficiency via Pro Football Focus, missing 1 in every 55 tackles this previous season. That’s a promising DB when facing the likes of Alvin Kamara, Saquon Barkley, Zach Ertz, and Russell Wilson.

Rapp doesn’t solely boast the ability to make tackles, he also brings the ability to be productive in coverage. His impact in the passing game was big. This past season Taylor Rapp forced incompletions on 27.8 % of targets (highest in PAC12 for safeties) while allowing only 2.9 yds per target in coverage in 2018(2nd among FBS safeties).

Star Washington safety awaits promising future
Draft Scout Opinions
Draft Scouts Joel Klatt, Charles Davis, and Daniel Jeremiah all agreed he (Rapp) would have been a first-round pick if he ran a 40 in the high 4.4’s. Rams fans should be very hopeful not only for the team’s chances this season but for the development of prospects like this.

Eric Weddle is a temporary bandage that’s talented but aged to an extent. Not often do you get the chance to draft a great player with a vet to lead the way in the beginning years. Both play a similar style which takes some of the pressures off Rapp. He can take his time to develop before he is thrown into the starting rotation.

We can continue to take a look around the league for comparable secondary playmakers. Players like New England’s Devin McCourty compare to Taylor Rapp as he doesn’t overly show up as a flashy playmaker but he makes his flashes by doing his job and making the plays that come his way.

Having signed Eric Weddle as I mentioned is a bonus not forcing Rapp to have to immediately step in. From a need standpoint, it gives him the chance to truly develop his understanding of his physicality and ability as a pro.

Expectations Vs. Evaluations
Don’t expect Rapp to struggle much when he is on the field, as he’s played quality minutes against a variety of high potency offenses in the PAC-12.

Realistic expectations for Rapp should be 15-25 tackles as a sub-defender (he had 59 as a starter at Washington in 2018).

Don’t expect a high volume of interceptions as he’s a better force defender (Box SS) than a cover player. His ability in pass defense with seven interceptions and seven pass break-ups leaves a lot to be desired. Playing in a secondary with multiple high tier defenders explains the lack of opportunities. If things progress positively look to see Rapp replace Eric Weddle possibly by next season while earning his role as a fill-in force this coming season.

https://www.therams.com/video/matth...king-to-build-off-that-during-the-2019-season

Just after the 4 minute mark.

We have had speculation on where Mathews will lineup. He answers with on the outside LBer. He said on 3rd downs and passing downs there is flexibility to be in the middle or outside. I'm wondering what snap percentage Mathews gets. I guess this confirms that Kiser gets the inside spot next to Littleton in base defense unless someone challenges him. Who else is there beside 7th round draft pick Dakota Allen who is considered a smart player who that probably needs time to develop. Some have speculated that Ebu gets a shot at the middle.

My twenty-eighth birthday! I must admit, when I was a teen and very-young adult, I never thought I'd make it to that point. Well, I'm glad I have. I've made lifelong friends on this forum, watched the Blues make it to the Stanley Cup Final yesterday, watched the Cardinals win it all in 2011, and - of course - watch the Rams become the dominant power in the NFL.

So, when I enjoy this day, I'll make sure to think of y'all!

Debating with friends over cold beers at Alpine Village over which teams will turn it around and which teams will fall on their face. Lots of different opinions. Thought I'd start a thread and get some ROD posters opinions. I know its early and team rosters are far from set, but here's my "Risers & Fallers".


AFC

Faller-- KC Chiefs are going to be lucky to go 8-8 after a 12-4 season. Losing two of their best playmakers and still a lousy defense.

Riser-- Oakland Raiders. Gruden will have this team ready this year. Way better than their crappy 4-12.

NFC
saints ain
Faller-- NO Saints. They had a lot of luck and calls go their way last season and Brees is getting old. Saints ain't going to win 13 again. And I just hate Peyton.

Riser--- Detroit Lions. I think Lions finally make a run for the division. Good draft and FA pickups. way better than 6-10.