What a class act

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So as you all may know, I haven't missed a training camp since the Rams moved back to LA in 2016. So this year being at a different venue that is much smaller than UCI, tickets were limited. Once I saw they were available I clicked on each and every day that they were available and saved two tickets for each day, one for @bubbaramfan and one for me. Well guess what...

I didn't get any email notification that my tickets were ready for download so I waited a couple of days figuring they (the ticket company, Universe) was busy. I'm checking on it today and I see no tickets in my account. I see last years and years prior but nothing for 2024. I sent them an email, explaining my situation. Their reply "We're sorry but we see no tickets with your name associated. Please try the wait list." YOU"VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME?

What did I miss? Now everyday is all sold out and I'm going to miss training camp and so is Bubba.

I'm sorry guys. Maybe I went a little to fast on requesting them and missed a step like "download now" or something.
Guess it was meant to be.

Others catching on to what the Rams have done this offseason. The brief mention of "bolstering the O-line" doesn't give it justice to how big this is, getting Jackson & moving Avila to C, long our weakest spot on the line. KW & BC could be the best RB duo in the league this year. Adding that TX kid (Whittington?) will give us deep speed with size (sorry Tutu) we haven't had in a while. Tutu is no slouch, and neither is D-rob, who is also a great "deep speed with size" target. Honestly, Puka's got wheels too -- he could even be better this year, and durable? yes, so far, plus he's got the size to be durable. Just gotta keep Staff standing up & we got a chance to live up to that #4 rank IMHO.

Making the Hall of Fame call on 12 current players, including Matthew Stafford and Tyreek Hill​

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, the two main pillars of the Kansas City Chiefs' current dynasty, will undoubtedly be immortalized in the Pro Football Hall of Fame when their careers are over. Several other current NFL players are shoo-ins, too, but what about the dozen or so current players whose future Hall of Fame candidacy isn't as certain?

To find that answer, my CBS Sports NFL colleagues Tyler Sullivan, Jared Dubin, Garrett Podell, Jeff Kerr, Cody Benjamin, Jordan Dajani, Shanna McCarriston, and Kyle Stackpole helped me make the call on 12 current players who have compelling cases but aren't currently considered Hall of Fame locks. In order to be considered, a player has to currently be on a roster and have played at least eight seasons.

With all of the votes tallied, here's a look at each player and whether or not we feel their career is currently good enough for induction in Canton, Ohio. I've included how many votes each player received, out of a possible nine. A player needed to get a majority of the votes (five being the minimum) in order to get the nod as a future Hall of Famer.

READ

Todd Gurley Reveals When He Knew LA Didn't Believe In Him Anymore​

Former Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley fell from his spot as one of the best players in the NFL pretty quickly. After becoming a first-team All-Pro and the NFL rushing touchdown leader in both 2017 and 2018 and the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2017, Gurley was released after the 2019 season and was out of the NFL after the 2020 season.

For Gurley, he realized his time with the Rams was coming to a close late in the 2019 season, his final team with the year. While dealing with knee issues that year, Gurley was struggling and had yet to put up a 100-yard game leading into their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Nov 10. He was rolling in that game, but the Rams didn't use him during the fourth quarter.

“I think we were playing Pittsburgh and I ain’t have 100 yards the whole season and I was going crazy, though,” Gurley said on The 25 10 Show. “I don’t know, like 90 yards, but the fourth quarter didn’t even start. … Basically, I didn’t even get the ball in the whole fourth quarter. After that, that was self-explanatory. We had a meeting with my running backs coach … me, the running backs coach and McVay. I don’t think he thought I could do it anymore. I do remember that game. And my agent was mad. Everybody be more mad for me. I just be super chill. I don’t really be raging mad. People are like, ‘I know you mad.’ I’m like, ‘Bro, why you madder than me?’ But I do remember that game. Was going crazy and then didn’t touch the ball the whole fourth quarter. … That was really when the writing was on the wall.”

The descent for Gurley was quick, but there were signs even leading up to the game against the Steelers made it clear for Gurley and his team. Before that final season with the Rams, Gurley was splitting carries with C.J. Anderson during the 2018 playoffs and Super Bowl run. Anderson saw more carries and total touches in two out of three playoff games, and Gurley had 10 carries or less in the final two games. After serving as the team's primary bell-cow and offensive weapon, his role was reduced at the end of an All-Pro season.

Following the disappointing 2019 campaign, Gurley spent one season with the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. He hasn't played in the NFL since, despite being just 29 years old.

before camp, what would you want it to be? A Vet signing, trade for a player, or trade one of our players. Maybe you do not want them to make any moves or feel like they can't make another significant one even if they wanted to this year.

I would like it if we signed another Edge player like Yannik Ngakoue, or Carl Lawson.

What do you guys want to see?

I wish it worked the same way. Spurs traded #8 for future 30 and 31 first round….must be nice

Offseason workouts at Cooper Kupp’s house have Puka Nacua in better shape for Year 2​

Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua could hardly be expected to play any better in 2024 than he did in 2023, when he was one of the best rookie receivers in NFL history. But he’s doing everything he can to become a better player.

That starts with getting in better shape by going to teammate Cooper Kupp’s house for early-morning workouts.

Rams wide receivers coach Eric Yarber says his biggest piece of advice for Nacua heading into his first NFL offseason was to take care of his body the same way that Kupp does.

“The first thing I wanted him to do is hold on to Cooper Kupp’s coattails and train with him and do everything he does,” Yarber told Sarah Barshop of ESPN. “And he took that to heart.”

Yarber says Nacua is in noticeably better shape now than he was as a rookie.

“His body is totally different,” Yarber said. “He looks just like Cooper. He’s lost so much body fat and gained so much lean muscle, which enabled him to move more efficiently now. And he has better body control. But he did exactly what I said. And you’re seeing some of the results right now.”

Since his Offensive Player of the Year-winning season in 2021, Kupp has struggled with injuries and his production has declined significantly. Last year, the emergence of Nacua made up for Kupp missing five games and being less than 100 percent healthy in others. But if Nacua and Kupp can both be healthy and in great shape this year, Matthew Stafford will have as good a pair of receivers to throw to as any quarterback in the NFL. Those early-morning workouts are designed to have both of them ready for big years.

Kyren Williams wants to show more pass-game skills in 2024​

After he didn’t receive much playing time as a rookie, Rams running back Kyren Williams had a clear breakout season in 2023.

Despite missing four games with an ankle injury, Williams finished the year with 1,144 yards rushing with 12 rushing touchdowns. He was a second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler, having led the league with 95.3 yards rushing per game.

This offseason, the Rams doubled down on their ground game by selecting former Michigan running back Blake Corum in the third round of the draft. In an interview this week on the Rich Eisen Show, Williams expressed excitement to play with Corum — noting that the rookie running back’s presence may allow him to show more versatility.

“[J]ust picking off what I did last year, being able to create more explosives in the run game, and also being able to create more explosives in the pass game,” Williams said, via Cameron DaSilva of USA Today. “I’m super excited that we went to go draft Blake Corum, somebody who can run the ball very well and hopefully it allows me to get to the slot or allows me to just run routes out of the backfield so that I’m able to really showcase my skills that I have for this game.”

Williams did display an ability to catch passes last year, finishing with 32 receptions for 206 yards with three touchdowns. We’ll see if the Rams give him some chances to show what he can do outside of the backfield in the coming months.

@DaveFan’51’s Countdown to Kickoff Thread

Lets all contribute to the countdown thread until the 2024 NFL Season opener!

73 days until kickoff!

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Fuck off it's the off season and we aren't even in July!


But hypothetically speaking here would you?

After watching The Ram Bros podcast they put up some good points.


1. The X WR dominate like how Megatron was is obviously a give me of how Stafford can be productive with one.

2. Kupp and Puka working underneath and whatever other side of the field basically single teamed?

3. Light boxes for Williams and Corum to murder???

Our TE's would feast as well.

We have a premium O-Line now to make this happen.


Normally I'm anti trading our 1st etc. but in this scenario If our defense is ranked 15th at the worst (it'll take a bit for them to mesh together being young and new) and adding Davante I see us at a minimum in the NFCCG.

Money as we all know can be rearranged to make room for Adams, compensation I've seen is a 1st and from a 3rd to a 5th? Maybe if we threw in Robinson?


I want another fucking Ring or two baby!

I have a theory that everyone has a sign on their forehead that impacts how strangers approach and relate to them.

My wife has the unfortunate “tell me your life story” sign. She often ends up knowing more about a guy who comes to repair our AC, or a woman waiting in line near her, than I know about people I’ve associated with for years.

My sign says “ask me for directions.” I’ve been approached all over the world - even in places where I don’t speak the language. Guess I just don’t look lost.

What does your sign say?

With the student discount.

If you have or know a college kid all you need is a screenshot of a bill or class schedule something like that, than you are good to go.

Saves me about $250.00. IM not sure the actual price, probably a little cheaper if you have YT TV.

Season will be here before we know it.

This lady on TV mentioned that she took her driver's test in a Ford 150 when she was 16. It made me think of vehicles that I had at important points in my life. Here are some important events that I could think of and the vehicles associated with them. (SHARE YOURS!)
* Driver's Test: 1976 Buick Century
* My First Vehicle: 1974 Toyota Hi-Lux pick up
* My First New Vehicle: 1984 Dodge Colt E
* My First "Grown Up" vehicle: 1994 Toyota Camry LE
* My First Day at College Vehicle: 2009 Mini Cooper

Ok, List Yours!

Kind of a meh thread topic but it's that boring stretch of the offseason so just wanted to point out that Quentin Lake will be on the tv when he's done playing football. Whether on a sports show or up in the booth he'll be doing something. He's got the voice, face, and mannerism for it.

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What events in Rams history do you think we, as fans, should be over?

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Rams News: Rival Wideout Hoping to Shatter Puka Nacua's Rookie Season Records
Does Nacua's record have competition?

Will anyone break Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua's rookie receiving yards record? Nacua had an outstanding rookie campaign in 2023, breaking the all-time rookie receiving yards record with 1,483 yards. This surpassed Bill Groman's record of 1,473 yards, which had stood since 1960.
The question is if anyone from this year's outstanding class of rookie wide receivers — featuring players like Marvin Harrison Jr., Brian Thomas Jr., and Malik Nabers — can top what Nacua did.

One player determined to pass Nacua is Chicago Bears rookie WR Rome Odunze. Odunze, who was the No. 9 overall pick this year, stated last week that he has his eyes set on that record, among others.
“That rookie season record, I’m absolutely chasing that,” Odunze said. “Of course, [I’m] chasing those records and that’s important. I’ll hopefully leave the Bears organization better than I found it. If I have my name on some of those records, that’s just one facet of doing so.”
Of course, surpassing what Nacua accomplished will be no easy feat, no matter how accomplished a prospect Odunze is. The other additional challenge Odunze faces is he will be splitting targets with two other great receivers, D.J. Moore and Keenan Allen. Nacua was able to capitalize on seeing more targets and yards with Cooper Kupp injured at the start of the season. This is not expected to be the same situation for Odunze, who has two established receivers aside him.

Aside from the competition for targets and receptions, going for 1,400 yards is no easy feat. Only four rookies have done it in the history of the NFL — Nacua, Groman, Justin Jefferson, and Ja'Marr Chase. Even in a pass-heavy NFL, just five receivers topped that mark last year including Nacua, Tyreek Hill, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Cee Dee Lamb, and A.J. Brown.
What does work in Odunze's favor is that he went for 1,640 receiving yards in his final season at Washington, which he did in two fewer games than he'll play in the NFL. The NFL level of defenses is of course much higher, but there is good reason for Odunze's belief in himself.

Legendary baseball manager Earl Weaver once described the formula for winning with a simple equation:

3RHR+GPG=WINS

(Translation: 3 run home runs + good pitched game = wins).

If asked to provide the formula for NFL wins in a similarly simple equation, what do you think Sean McVay would come up with?

I’ll suggest this:

OU + BPP = WINS

“OU” is “offensive unpredictability.” This results from the ability to run varied plays from the same formations, and having 3 tool (run, catch, block) players at all of the skill positions. That, in a nutshell, is how McVay produces points.

“BPP” stands for “big play prevention.” The Rams’ defensive schemes under McVay’s tenure have always focused on avoiding big plays from the opposition. While sometimes vulnerable to a “war of attrition” approach on individual drives, in the end, making the opposition work for their points has fostered a high winning percentage.

What simple (2-3 variable) formula do you think fits McVay’s approach?

Rams' biggest question at every position in 2024​

The Los Angeles Rams are on break for summer until they return for training camp in July, which is when the competition will really heat up. Though they got in plenty of good work this offseason, training camp will truly help decide position battles and set the depth chart.

From top to bottom, the Rams look like a playoff contender and a team that could make a deep run in the postseason. However, there are some legitimate questions that still have to be answered.

Looking at each position group, here’s one question about each one.

Quarterback

Can Matthew Stafford stay healthy?

In the last five years, Stafford has missed at least one game in three of those seasons. He’s not exactly injury-prone, but he’s often dealing with even minor ailments that can hinder his play, like hip and thumb injuries last season alone.

The Rams made sure to find a capable backup this offseason by signing Jimmy Garoppolo but there are still concerns about Stafford’s ability to suit up for all 17 games.

Running back

How will Sean McVay split the touches between Kyren Williams and Blake Corum?

Williams was a Pro Bowler last season and truly one of the best backs in the NFL, but the Rams drafted Blake Corum in the third round so Williams has some legitimate pressure behind him. Corum said recently that he expects to catch the ball out of the backfield for the Rams, a sign that he could get more third-down work than expected.

It’ll be interesting to see how Sean McVay divides the touches between his two running backs, especially as a coach who typically likes to lean on one player in the backfield.

Wide receiver

Will Cooper Kupp return to form after two down years?

Kupp failed to top 1,000 yards in each of the last two years, largely due to a variety of injuries that limited him. He had more receiving yards in 17 games during the 2021 season than he had in the last two years (21 games) combined, showing how far his numbers have fallen since that historic season.

Puka Nacua should have another great year but the biggest question is whether Kupp can get back to being a Pro Bowl receiver again and stay healthy for the duration of the season.

Tight end

When will Tyler Higbee be ready to go?

Higbee is rehabbing a torn ACL and MCL with a return date that’s still very much up in the air. In the meantime, the Rams have Colby Parkinson, Hunter Long and Davis Allen at tight end, but the offense is still better when Higbee is available.

The question is when he’ll be healthy enough to participate. He’s expected to start the summer on the PUP list and it’s possible he’ll miss the start of the regular season, but hopefully it’s not more than a few games.

Offensive tackle

Can Alaric Jackson continue to improve?

Jackson was solid last season, playing well enough at left tackle to earn a one-year tender worth $4.9 million. However, there’s still room for him to improve even more and become an above-average left tackle for Los Angeles.

There aren’t really any concerns about the other four starters up front, but if Jackson regresses and plays poorly in 2024, the entire offensive line could take a step back. This is a big year for Jackson.

Guard

Will Kevin Dotson be one of the best guards in the NFL again?

Dotson earned a long-term extension with the Rams this offseason after establishing himself as a top guard in the league last year. He was inconsistent in his first three years with the Steelers so he may still need to prove his dominant performance in 2023 wasn’t a fluke.

If Dotson turns in another season that’s deserving of Pro Bowl consideration, the Rams will be in great shape along the offensive line, which will set Stafford, Williams and everyone up for success.

Center

How seamless will Steve Avila’s move from guard to center be?

Avila is making the difficult move from guard to center, which is much more than just a physical switch. It’s also one that requires a lot mentally because he’ll be the one identifying blitzers and setting the protection with Stafford pre-snap.

Everyone expects Avila to excel at his new position, which is a spot he played in college, and Jonah Jackson said recently that Avila is already doing well in the middle.

Defensive line

How will Chris Shula deploy Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske?

The obvious question is “How will the Rams replace Aaron Donald?” but it’s more about how Turner and Fiske will be managed along the defensive line. Turner played 3-tech and nose tackle last season but with Donald gone, will he be the primary 3-tech? Assuming Bobby Brown III takes on a bigger role, Turner will likely play nose tackle less often.

That leaves him and Fiske to play defensive tackle and defensive end, hopefully generating consistent pressure to help out Jared Verse and Byron Young.

Edge rusher

Can the edge rushers generate consistent pressure without Aaron Donald inside?

Young was a standout rookie in 2023 with eight sacks and it’s reasonable to think he’ll get even better in Year 2. However, he and the Rams’ other edge rushers won’t have Donald drawing double- and triple-teams on the interior. There’s something to be said about the “Aaron Donald Effect” on the Rams’ edge rushers, which has led to career years by Dante Fowler Jr. and Leonard Floyd.

The Rams desperately need Verse and Young to step up at outside linebacker in order to keep the defense playing at a high level.

Inside linebacker

Can the Rams get steady play out of anyone behind Ernest Jones?

Jones is such an important part of the defense and with the way Los Angeles has deployed its linebackers in recent years, he’ll often be the only inside linebacker on the field. That being said, when the Rams are in base packages, they’ll need someone reliable alongside Jones.

Christian Rozeboom and Troy Reeder are the top candidates to line up next to Jones but neither has been particularly reliable. Jacob Hummel is another option, too.

Cornerback

Who will be the primary slot defender?

Quentin Lake emerged as the Rams’ best option in the slot last season and the Rams didn’t add anyone who’s considered an upgrade; Tre’Davious White and Darious Williams are both primarily outside corners. It seemed like Lake’s job to lose but Chris Shula said both Russ Yeast and Derion Kendrick are doing well in the slot.

Could a change be on the horizon? It’s an important position on defense, one previously held by Jalen Ramsey. No matter who wins that job, the Rams need someone who can cover, tackle and stop the run.

Safety

Will Kamren Kinchens be a Day 1 starter next to Kamren Curl?

If Shula plans to play Yeast or Kendrick in the slot, it could mean more of a full-time safety role for Lake next to free-agent addition, Kamren Curl. The Rams also have Kinchens, a third-round rookie, who has a ton of upside with the ball skills he showed in college.

Will it be Kinchens at safety next to Curl? Will Lake move back there full-time? Will Yeast get another crack at starting? There are a lot of questions about the safety group, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Special teams

Who will return kicks and punts?

The Rams had the league’s worst special teams unit in the NFL last season, and it wasn’t just because of their kicking situation. They were terrible in the return game, getting nothing out of that phase of special teams.

Heading into the 2024 season, the Rams have Boston Scott on the roster, a strong candidate to return kickoffs. Kyren Williams could also be an option, as could Blake Corum, given the new kickoff rules that make it more similar to an offensive play.

Just put up a few hours ago on YouTube. Excellent film review and analysis of Rams offense and McVay strategy.

YouTube----"VINTAGE TRICKSTER" HOW SEAN MCVAY USES TIMELESS OFFENSIVE CONCEPTS TO DECIEVE THE NFL.

44:16 long, so bring some popcorn and a couple beers. Must see for those of you who dig in depth analysis.