As I warned previously, as Tom Brady fades into eventual obscurity, PK's man-crush will shift over to Jimmy Garoppolo. :baghead: But PK does mention Brady over and over again. I swear if PK was reporting on the Apocalypse he'd sneak Tom Brady's name in there somewhere.

All the politics and other b.s. has been left out of this post but if you want to read it anyway click the link below. You're welcome.
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https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/08/13/jimmy-garoppolo-49ers-camp-fmia-peter-king/

FMIA: Smile, Jimmy! Garoppolo in Picture Perfect Situation As a QB
By Peter King


Getty Images

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Cool scene at 49ers camp Sunday afternoon: Two young towheads, maybe 6 and 3, one wearing a Jerry Rice “80” jersey and one wearing a Jimmy Garoppolo “10” jersey, waiting for Jimmy Garoppolo Himself to come down the autograph line after a training camp practice. And here comes Garoppolo, in his black practice jersey and swoon-for-me thick stubbly beard.

“Hi guys!” Garoppolo says, taking a black Sharpie and signing the Rice kid’s hat and the Garoppolo kid’s jersey. This is one of those autograph periods the famous players have to do. Garoppolo, though, is in charm mode, and looks like he really wants to give these two kids a memory for life.

He looks into the younger kid’s eyes, smiles, and says, “Would you guys like a picture?”

Kid in Garoppolo jersey says: “Nahhhhh.”

Now this is an “Access Hollywood” or “Extra” moment, with a Mario Lopez voiceover: Northern Californian stiffs Garoppolo! We’ll show you the new Brady’s shocked reaction! Except the new star of stars laughs along with the aghast Mom of the towheads—he has to love someone not wanting something from him these days—and after the Mom arranges the kids next to the 49ers quarterback, he bends down to take a smart-phone photo with them.

A year ago, Garoppolo was in his fourth New England training camp, clueless about his future and osmosis-learning how to be great from Tom Brady. His world changed in a flash Oct. 30 with the trade to San Francisco, and lots of other worlds changed too. Coach Kyle Shanahan’s world changed; he thought he’d be mortgaging Niner millions to try to sign former pet QB Kirk Cousins as a 2018 free agent.

GM John Lynch’s world changed; he thought he’d be in serious scouting mode, trying to figure whether Josh Allen or Sam Darnold or Baker Mayfield would be his long-term quarterback heir to Montana and Young. Even the great Tom Brady’s world changed, because now he would no longer have the hot breath of Garoppolo on his neck, and he would no longer have to wonder if the Patriots would pay Garoppolo starter money to serve as pressure on him for the next two or three years.

It’s a crazy story, and I’m not even talking about the TMZ adult film star date video, or the fact that Garoppolo, after seven NFL starts, has a contract averaging $6.5 million more per year than Aaron Rodgers’ contract. All of it is crazy.

But with more logic than you think.

I love the potential of Garoppolo, I love the Niners taking the gamble of making Garoppolo the third-highest-paid player in NFL history after seven starts. I love the GM and coach putting their careers on the line for a guy with 12 career touchdown passes. I love the story (more than the 2018 team, honestly), and I love one throw I saw Sunday on a baking 87 degree day in a place that has hope for the first time since Jim Harbaugh roamed the land.

I was walking the course with Tony Romo, the quarterback technician and diagnostician, last month when the subject of Garoppolo came up. Romo warmed to it. Not just because they both went to that mighty football power Eastern Illinois University either. Romo, the CBS lead analyst who might love watching quarterback tape more than hitting a solid 7-iron near the pin, loves Garoppolo’s mechanics … and his early-career environment.

“You cannot be in a better situation early on than Jimmy,” Romo said. “He’s been with some of the best minds you could ever be around in the National Football League. He got the foundation of Bill Belichick, who probably set his routine for success for the rest of his career. He was around Tom Brady for three-plus years, learning through osmosis if nothing else.

Tom’s ability at the line of scrimmage to do something, and then for Jimmy to go back and study the how and why … I am sure Jimmy saw so much subtlety that took Brady years to learn through experience. Jimmy could just see it in practice and he’s like, Oh, now I see why he did that.You get that ability to improve at a much faster rate than you otherwise would have on your own. It’s really a priceless thing for young quarterbacks to be behind a great quarterback.

“And now with Kyle Shanahan, he’s getting an offensive genius. I don’t throw that term around lightly—Kyle really is. I would argue there’s three or four guys in the league who really separate themselves as head coaches or offensive coordinators getting chunk plays. You’re dropping back and you’re having a guy come open 20, 25 yards downfield. That’s a huge load off a quarterback’s shoulders for always having to produce on third down to move the chains. That’s where Kyle really separates himself.”

Belichick, Brady, Shanahan, heir to Montana/Young. It’s lunacy, how much has been laid on Garoppolo’s shoulders.

In a quiet moment Sunday afternoon, in the bowels of the stadium he hopes to make the best homefield advantage in sports, Garoppolo considred the star-turn his life has taken.

”I like to think about it at certain times,” he said. “When I’m in here working, you just don’t have any time to think about it. But every once in a while it’s good to sit back and smell the roses as my dad would put it … just realize how good do you really have it. I like to, every once in a while, take a step back and realize where you’re at. Not now. Now, it’s grind mode. Don’t really have a lot of time for that.”

I fear we have—and I put me near the top of the list—jumped the line of NFL hierarchy with these Niners. It might be too soon. Garoppolo and his $27.5-million average compensation over the next five years (only Matt Ryan and Kirk Cousins are higher-paid QBs) are keystones to the Niners getting great again. But their top two running backs—Jerick McKinnon and Matt Breida—got hurt over the weekend, and the only franchise-type wideout is ex-Bill Marquise Goodwin. For now, the skill position depth on the 49ers is awful. Which puts even more pressure on Garoppolo.

He probably won’t fret that. I talked to quite a few Niners about Garoppolo and his early impact with the franchise. The most interesting thing I heard was from veteran tight end Garrett Celek, when I asked when he knew Garoppolo was a keeper.

“The first time he got in the huddle with us,” Celek said.

Huh?

“I’d said maybe two words to him,” Celek said. “I didn’t know what kind of guy he was. He came into the huddle for the very first time, and he talked to us and called the play like he’d been in there 10 years. It was awesome.”

If the Niners win this year, it will be because of Garoppolo’s quick decision-making and accurate right arm. This team is not talented enough yet to win 12 games in a tough NFC West. The level of talent versus, say, the Rams, is lacking. But a great quarterback levels the playing field. Shanahan thinks Garoppolo got better by witnessing Brady, regardless of how much Brady helped the kid who might one day take his job.

“Tom’s not sitting there trying to be his teacher every day,” Shanahan said. “Tom’s taking care of Tom, as he should. You get to sit there and watch really the GOAT do it. It’s cool to see. You can envision how you wanna handle that situation when you get in. But I still think that a lot of that, he’s gotta get in and do it. He’s gotta find his way to do it. You can’t be someone else.”

Here’s the way Garoppolo was the anti-Brady on Sunday: In a two-minute drill, on the first snap, Garoppolo, under a heavy rush, lowered his arm angle and throw sidearm to Raheem Mostern. Beautiful throw, and not a long one. But Garoppolo know when to take a short gain and when to risk his field position for a long one. This was the right choice at the right time. “I don’t think he at all tries to be Tom,” said a friend, Vikings backup quarterback Trevor Siemian.

There is one thing you don’t know yet about Garoppolo. He’s a little bit of a wise guy. That means he fits into this team well.

“I like Coach Shanahan,” Garoppolo said, “because we’ve both got that smart-ass thing going on. Just our attitude—that little bit of sarcasm. I grew up with three brothers, so if you can’t make fun of someone or can’t take being made fun of, you’re going to have a tough go.”

We don’t know yet if they’ll be Walsh-Montana, or even 60 percent of that. It sure is fun to contemplate, though.
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Lions: Goalposts and Gargantuan Backs

ALLEN PARK, Mich. — So Matt Patricia doesn’t say much, or allow his players to say much, about the inner stuff of the Lions. When I asked Matthew Stafford about Patricia, he said some laudatory things about what a smart and prepared guy he was, then said he’ll keep everything specific behind closed doors. Okay. But I did learn one very Patricia thing this week, about his attention to detail.

So when Patricia got the job and toured the Lions facility in suburban Allen Park, he looked around the practice fields and thought, Something’s missing. This is weird. He asked a couple of Lions’ people why there were no goalposts on the practice fields. He queried GM Bob Quinn, who’d gone two years at the helm of the team with no permanent goalposts (just temp posts, wheeled out during practice).

Patricia said to Quinn, “The quarterbacks need that as a landmark.” Receivers too, on post routes. Patricia was befuddled about it. So when I showed up, I saw four permanent goalposts on the two long practice fields: two with standard width, and two with narrow width, for the kickers to be tested with tougher kicks.

One other thing that surprised me: The three solid backs in camps are Theo Riddick, rookie second-rounder Kerryon Johnson and LeGarrette Blount, who I believe in on pace to play for all 32 teams in the NFL. “I can try!” Blount told me. “But I might age out!” On his sixth team now, Blount is 31, and quite valuable. Two 11-on-11 periods in the practice I saw, and both had 247-pound power back Blount, the closest thing to Jerome Bettis (but not really close) in football today, carry the ball on the first snap.

So what is Patricia doing? A couple of things, as I read it. He wants to establish a toughness on the offense that he thinks just wasn’t there in the last couple of years, when the running game has stunk. Two: He wants to tell his players, The days of living and dying with Matthew Stafford are over.

Vikings: A Helpful Building Block

EAGEN, Minn. — In 1995, the Jacksonville Jaguars spent $121 million to build a shiny new stadium close to downtown, using some parts of the old Gator Bowl structure.

Some 23 years later, the Minnesota Vikings spent $140 million to build a training facility.

The Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, a training and team office complex on the east side of Minneapolis, joins The Star (Dallas’ complex) as NFL training kingpins and overtakes Seattle’s beautiful facility on a lake south of downtown. It includes:

• Four grass practice fields (two heated), an 6,500-seat outdoor stadium where the Vikings can scrimmage and where local high schools are booking games, and an indoor facility with a ceiling high enough to avoid punts hitting it.

• A stand-up three-person Cryotherapy chamber, where players go for three-minute treatments to alleviate muscle pain and inflammation and improve blood flow. Some players, like tight end Kyle Rudolph, go twice a day.


The cafeteria menu at the TCO Performance Center. (Peter King/NBC Sports)

• A cafeteria that does not contain an ounce of junk. Last Wednesday, for lunch, you could have had a cup of pinto bean stew, and a plate of grilled Arctic char, bulgar lentil pilaf, grilled asparagus and a spinach/kale/beet salad.

• A outdoor sand pit for rehab and training for all leg injuries and leg fitness.

• A pool room. Here, there are three pools: a cold pool, a whirlpool, and a pool with a treadmill with a sort of elevator; the lower you’re dipped in the pool, the most energy you expend while running or walking on the treadmill. On the end are several more traditional single-person ice tubs.

• A draft room/personnel meeting room with rising auditorium seating that is so advanced that … well, I was shown the room off-the-record, so I can’t talk about the specifics. But it’s other-worldly. Very 2032.

One more thing: The locker room has fireplaces.

“I feel like there’s no place in the United States that has a facility so well-designed to take care of the players,” Rudolph told me. “No pro team. No college team—and college teams are in an arms race with those facilities they have. No national-team training center. Usually in the off-season I go to Newport Beach for six to eight weeks to work out and live. It’s 75 degrees. Every day’s perfect. But this year I stayed here.”

Where, presumably, every day was perfect inside this nirvana of a facility.

San Diego at Arizona: An Eminently Forgettable Game

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Thoughts from the Cards’ 24-17 win over the Chargers on Saturday night:

1. How can people pay real money to see these games? I have covered this game for 34 years and said it 34 times. This game took 3 hours, 37 minutes to play, had 32 called penalties (26 accepted, for 265 yards), saw five turnovers, saw one pass from the two starting quarterbacks (Sam Bradford one, Philip Rivers zero), and showed a savior quarterback in Josh Rosen who’s got a lot of work to do. It generally bored us to tears.

2. Everyone inside the Cardinals expects GM Steve Keim—suspended five weeks for a DUI charge, fined $200,000 by the league and ordered to undergo alcohol rehab—back when his suspension is over next week. Keim’s a notoriously early-in-the-building guy, and one Card insider said he plans to be in the building on his first day back at 4:30 a.m.

That’s all well and good—but Keim knows he’ll be watched closely by his franchise and the league. His first order of business in a week: trying to get the David Johnson contract done. Neither Johnson nor the Cards wants the talented running back—the NFL leader in yards from scrimmage and touchdowns in 2016—to play the season at his scheduled $1.88 million without making a rich adjustment for future years.

3. I find myself rooting hard for Geno Smith, who threw a lovely 47-yard contested touchdown bomb to fellow ex-Giant Geremy Davis on the prettiest play of the night. Smith was a casualty of Ben McAdoo’s Eli Manning benching last year, and I maintain he deserves to be someone’s number two, somewhere. I like him better than Cardale Jones with the Chargers, even though it seems fruitless to fight for that job. Philip Rivers hasn’t missed a start at quarterback for the Chargers since Drew Breesplayed for the franchise. That was in 2005. When Kylie Jenner was 8.

4. Rivers is perky (surprise!) and got bummed only once when I spoke to him Saturday night. The ACL tear suffered by tight end Hunter Henry puts a hurt on this year. But Rivers told me the big thing he sees is how 2017 first-round wideout Mike Williams, at 6-4 and 220, should take some of the intermediate load that Henry would have shouldered.

5. The Chargers are giddy with the prospect of building on last year, when they started 0-4, finished 9-3 (all three losses to playoff teams), and came within a whisker of making the playoffs. Despite the Henry loss, the addition of vet center Mike Pouncey to anchor a shaky line is a plus.

6. Big year for Sam Bradford. In the last four calendar years, he’s been property of the Rams (2014), Eagles (2015), Vikings (2016 and ’17) and now the Cards—with the hot breath of Josh Rosen breathing down Bradford’s neck. Talk to the Cardinals, and you can feel it. They love Rosen.

But there’s something weird about a quarterback who is so efficient and so well-liked but who gets shuffled from team to team like he’s some kind of Mike Glennon. Bradford doesn’t have long to prove he’s the franchise guy people thought he’d be when taken number one overall in 2010.
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One Question Interview

I’ll do this occasionally through the season—ask a significant person a question I’m curious about. Here’s new Minnesota offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who brings some lessons from his tenure as quarterback coach under Doug Pederson to Mike Zimmer’s staff, and who is likely to be a strong prospect for a head-coaching job in 2019 or 2020:

FMIA: What are the most valuable lessons you take from working with Doug Pederson?

DeFilippo: “Two things I’m going to give you. Number one, trust in his assistant coaches. He trusted [offensive coordinator] Frank Reich to pull the whole thing together. He and Frank both trusted all the offensive assistants to have our own areas and be the master of that area. So the trust on that coaching staff was earned—if Doug put you in charge of red-area plays, he trusted you to be the best in the league at knowing the best things to do in that area.

Number two: Coach is gonna do it his way. His way is pedal to the medal. He wants to score on every play. He gets upset sometimes because we don’t score on every play, in a good way. He’s going to stay on the attack when there’s that point in the game where you can either try to put an opponent away or just kind of ride it out.

He’ll always take the shot to put the opponent away. And the players followed. In all we did, we locked arm and arm, here we are, and prepared the same no matter who we played. Our term for that year was, ‘faceless opponent.’ And each week we treated our opponent like it was a faceless person.

“I should also say in my two years in Philadelphia, I never heard Mr. Lurie [owner Jeffrey Lurie] say no to anything we needed. I mean, Nick Foles was having some issues in training camp last year and we bought this special machine to help him in his rehab that cost a lost of money. We also had an emphasis in the draft and free agency on bringing in quality people.

There’s gonna be a time in the NFL season when you’ll have ups and downs—a player mad at a coach, a coach mad at a player, an argument on the field. If you have good character people and great locker room character, I think you get over those things. Carson Wentz goes down in December, and as awful as we felt for him, everybody’s ready to step in and do a little more—because we knew we all had to.”
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Intelligent Football

One smart game down for Andrew Luck, 19 to go. (Or more, if the Colts make the playoffs and Luck stays upright.) In his quarter played Thursday night at Seattle, Luck and his quarterback-protecting coach, Frank Reich, made sure Luck stayed clean by throwing quickly compared to his career average.

Luck took 2.45 seconds to throw, on average, for his 11 throws Thursday night.

Per Pro Football Focus metrics, how that 2.45-second average in Seattle compared to the first five seasons of his career:

2012: 2.86 seconds
2013: 2.80 seconds
2014: 2.83 seconds
2015: 2.88 seconds
2016: 2.88 seconds
Average: 2.85 seconds

It’s ridiculously early, but the Colts are off to a good start ensuring Luck doesn’t take the kind of beating he took in the first five years of his career.
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1. I think if you’ve read this column over the years, you know I think Chicago GM Ryan Pace is good at his job, overall. There are times when GMs have to do the right thing for their teams, and the right thing for the Bears is to sign the guy Pace drafted to be the centerpiece of the defense, linebacker Roquan Smith.

This is day 29 of a holdout over something exceedingly minor in the grand scheme of things. It’s got to end. Principle is one thing. We’re talking about the reality of getting the best players ready to play in an uber-competitive division. Drop the fight. Get Smith in camp, and get him ready to chase Aaron Rodgers four weeks from last night at Lambeau.

2. I think I’ve got two recommendations for fantasy football coverage:

• If you’re not a July or August student of the trends and who’s hot and who’s not and who’s going to emerge by Week 3 in a prominent role, you should do one of two things. One: Kidnap Matthew Berry and force him to live with you for the next six weeks. Two: Invest a few bucks in a product that will do everything for you, the Rotoworld Premium Draft Guide. It’s good and ridiculously thorough. (And I was just kidding about kidnapping my friend Matthew Berry—though he would be highly entertaining company.)

• In the interest of good, analytical football coverage mixed with fantasy know-how, check out The 2018 TFS Fantasy Football Draft Guide, by K.C. Joyner. I’ve always loved Joyner’s clarity of thought, and how he makes football analytics so fan-accessible. Check out this from this year’s guide:

“The Jaguars went into last season with the mindset that they didn’t want Blake Bortles throwing any more passes than was absolutely necessary. They obviously changed their minds, as Bortles posted green ratings (upper third in the league among quarterbacks) in multiple attempts categories, the most notable of which was the vertical depth level—passes thrown 11 yards or further downfield. He cut his Bad Decision Rate (mental errors leading to turnover chances) nearly in half from 2016 to 2017, a factor that likely affected the Jaguars’ willingness to let him throw more downfield passes.”

Good stuff. Great stat too on what Tom Brady loses with Brandin Cooks being traded. Cooks accounted for 43 percent of Brady’s deep vertical throws in New England last year, so keep that in mind when deciding how high to draft Brady.

3. I think you did not need any volume on the video to see how ticked off Cam Newton was in his exchange with Kelvin Benjamin on Thursday night. Benjamin, traded from Carolina to Buffalo last season, trashed Newton to Tim Graham of The Athletic,and Newton sought him out before their preseason game, and clearly Benjamin wanted nothing to do with Newton. That ticked off Newton, whose body language said, “You’re dead to me, Benjamin.” Pretty amazing scene.

4. I think Cleveland Browns fans who watched “Hard Knocks” or have been at a camp practice must love Jarvis Landry. Man, this guy wants it. In a meeting in the Browns’ receivers room, Landry goes off on his peers who he thinks are taking the easy way out of practice. “If your hamstring ain’t fallin’ off the bone, if your leg ain’t broke, you should be practicing! Straight up. It’s weakness.

It’s contagious as f—! … It’s over with here, bro! If you’re not hurt, you gotta f—ing practice! That ain’t happenin’ here! That don’t exist! … It’s contagious. It’s contagious.” The Browns have had a lot of guys who’ve made a lot of money and lost a lot of games over the years, and now they’ve got at least one very rich player who’s going to hold his mates accountable.

5. I think I have to admit I really hope Trevor Siemian has a good 13-year career as an NFL backup and sometimes-starter. Such a good and selfless person, sort of like a fellow 250th overall pick in his own draft class, Ryan Fitzpatrick. Ran into Siemian the other day in Minnesota, and he’s so happy to be with a good team, good organization and good starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins.

6. I think this was some interesting advice among former and current peers, from vice president of officiating-turned-FOX rules analyst Dean Blandino to Gene Steratore, the new CBS rules analyst for football and college basketball: “I told Gene: The speed at which things happen, then going on the air, is very fast. And then you will not have time to share everything you want to explain. In the TV world, you may only have 10 seconds to explain something that might be complicated and take far longer. Being concise is a big challenge.” Blandino nailed that.

Approximately 10% of the world's population is left-handed. Are you one of them?

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-day-10-of-training-camp

10 Observations from Day 10 of Training Camp

1) As usual, Los Angeles began practice with a special teams period. On Sunday, the period included Johnny Hekker and the punting unit working against a scout team. On some attempts, All-Pro returner Pharoh Cooper fielded the kick and gave a return, while on others special teams coordinator John Fassel handed him a ball to give an exact look.

On the last rep, left tackle Andrew Whitworth — fresh off stretching on the other field — started at the line of scrimmage, faked a swim move as if he were a gunner, then ran down the field as if he were part of the punt team. And he was one of the players leading the pack.

2) With pads back on, the Rams went through one-on-one drills with quarterbacks, wide receivers, and cornerbacks with the line of scrimmage close to the goal line. Notably from the period…

• Wideout Brandin Cooks got things started with a nice catch in the middle of the end zone against cornerback Troy Hill. Head coach Sean McVay would later say that cornerback Aqib Talib (ankle) was held out of practice for precautionary reasons.
• Wide receiver Mike Thomas couldn’t quite pull down a fade on his first rep, but was able to snag a comeback route in the front right corner of the end zone for his second.
• Receiver Cooper Kupp used a nice move to shake off slot corner Nickell Robey-Coleman. Kupp went to the outside to make a reception, as Robey-Coleman bit on the inside move.
• Quarterback Sean Mannion connected with wideout Pharoh Cooper in the back of the end zone on the right. Cooper opened his arms Gladiator style to celebrate, and the crowd responded with a cheer.

3) Overall, Robey-Coleman had a strong day in the slot. He intercepted a pass intended for Cooks down the left sideline in 7-on-7 with the first-team offense competing against the first-team defense. At first it looked as if Cooks would be able to make the reception, but the ball went out of his arms and into Robey-Coleman’s for a turnover.

4) During a red zone 7-on-7 period, Mannion connected with Thomas on a pass at about the three-yard line. The ball placement allowed Thomas to lower his shoulder and get past a defender into the end zone. At this point, the Rams were going second-team offense vs. second-team defense.

5) McVay set up a scenario where the ones on offense and defense went against one another in a two-minute drill. With 57 seconds left on the clock and only one timeout, the offense needed a field goal. Quarterback Jared Goff connected with Cooks in the middle of the field to set up Greg Zuerlein for a long — but makable — attempt from 53-yards out. Because there were no officials on hand and Zuerlein’s kicks were so high, there was some question as to whether or not the league’s 2017 leading scorer made his first attempt. Fassel then had Zuerlein kick again, and the result remained a bit of a mystery. Zuerlein, however, did clearly nail his 54-yard attempt from the previous special teams period, for what it’s worth.

6) Defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks made consecutive nice plays during an 11-on-11 period with the first-team defense competing against the scout offense. First, Westbrooks shed a reserve right guard to come in and make a tackle for loss on running back Malcolm Brown. Then Westbrooks made his way into the backfield to tip a screen pass, blowing up the play. Having registered 2.0 sacks against the Ravens on Thursday, Westbrooks has continued to make an impact.

7) On another ones-vs-ones compete drill, the offense won with a one-play drive. Goff connected with wide receiver Robert Woods, who was wide open on the right side, for about a 20-yard touchdown pass. On Rams Camp Live following practice, right tackle Rob Havenstein called the play his “Fuego Moment” of the day.

8) On a later 11-on-11 play, Goff connected with Brown on a pass over the middle that ended up as a touchdown. Brown was lined up wide to start the play, giving the fourth-year back out of Texas an opportunity to show his versatility.

9) Robey-Coleman broke up a pass late in the session with the first defense taking on the scout offense. Cooper was the intended red-zone target, but Robey-Coleman was there to swat the pass away. Aside from his interception, it was Robey-Coleman’s second PBU of the day. It was a banner session for the for the USC product, who pumped his fist in celebration after his final pass breakup.

10) As they have a few times during training camp, the Rams finished Sunday’s practice with an extra 11-on-11 period for younger players. It’s an opportunity for many of those who wouldn’t otherwise get reps during practice to become more acquainted with the playbook. That’s especially important as those players are likely going to receive the most snaps during preseason games.

For those of you with teenagers, I feel I should share what happened to my 16yr old daughter last night. She went to the movies with three of her friends ( all guys) and they stopped by McDonalds afterwards like teenagers do to snack and talk smack. Upon getting back to their cars, she realized her cell phone was missing. She went back inside to look for it with no success. She then called it using her friend's phone and a guy answered. He said something smart and said bye. She called back a few minutes later after trying to track phone. Another voice answered telling her a stranger just handed him the phone. He said the other guy must have got spooked and dropped off the phone. He tells her to meet him at a nearby store parking lot to get phone. Of course by now it's past 11 pm and most stores are closed. Meanwhile, she has deactivated phone so no one could use it. This allows the phone to only call the last # of the last incoming call. So, my daughter, and her friends, being the nerdy smart kids they are, phone the police to report the phone being taken. While waiting for the police to arrive, the guy Skypes them back, holding the phone away from his face, trying to talk them into still meeting to get the phone. The police arrive and after about 30 minutes, track the guy down in a Wal Mart parking lot where he witnesses the guy chunking the phone out the window as he was pulling him over. Best case scenario, he was trying to lure her to rob her and her friends or much much worse. The scumbag is behind bars tonight charged with possession of stolen property. I'm assuming a felony since it's a new iPhone worth more than $500. (Felony in state of Georgia) I'm hoping there is a way he can be charged with more but only evidence would be the Skype call and I don't know if that is enough. So, I'm glad I'm raising a smart geeky kid with smart geeky friends. If it would have been me and my friends back in the day, we would have rushed over to try and kick some butt just to find ourselves in a pickle. Please warn your kids that this has become a common tactic of robbers and sex slave traffickers in our world today and it can happen in any town or city. I can't get any more info on the guy until after the weekend but I do know he sports neck tattoos which is great. Hoping not gang related. ( Yeah, I just stereotyped his ass) I guess it's a good thing I can't get my hands on him right now.

Thinking about going to the Monday night game. Its the last chance I will ever get for Rams @ Raiders. Live up here in Humboldt so its only 5 hours away.
I would sit on the Rams sideline, the Mt. Davis straight seating part. How many rows back is "perfect". I know 10 rows in its kinda low to get the best view.
How many rows back is optimal ? I can get a decent deal on about the 35 yard line.
Thanks for any help.

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Just paid for my parking pass for the Mon. 13th.

Anyone else going? PM me or VeteranRamFan if you want to hook up. ( I'm expecting him going unless he says otherwise).

Should be an intense practice. Only in shells Saturday. I haven't heard a thing about today. Did they even practice?

Backup QB Options the Rams Have To Consider after Sean Mannion's Preseason Debacle
August 12, 2018
| By:
Jake Ellenbogen

For the first time in a long time, we aren't spending our days questioning if the Rams have a Quarterback if the Rams should already be looking at who is in the next upcoming NFL draft or whether or not the team has a long-term future with the QB they have. Instead, now, the Rams have fallen into the category of having a franchise QB but a question mark at the backup position. If Jared Goff were to go down due to an injury, the Rams would have to decide between Sean Mannion who was a third-round pick drafted in 2015 and has only logged one start in his career or Brandon Allen who was a sixth-round pick drafted in 2016 and just logged his first game played with the Rams. Not great options on paper and when you watch the tape Mannion leaves you uneasy while Allen could be a solid option but has little to no experience in the NFL. That leaves the Rams with some options heading into 2018 and some serious thinking about what they ultimately want to do behind Goff in a year where the team is eyeing Super Bowl more than ever.

After a team looks at the options in-house and comes to the conclusion they aren't good enough, they can acquire another player via trade, free agency or waiver claims after the final cut day. The Rams claimed Brandon Allen after the Jacksonville Jaguars cut him last year so they are not opposed to doing such a thing. First, you have to measure which QB will be a fit, which one will be able to step in if need be and clearly be an upgrade over what you have. Then you can also filter out the QBs that have something extra such as familiarity with the current system, mobility and perhaps an affordable contract.

In that first wave of filtering, you would have to look at 31-year old Washington Redskins backup QB Colt McCoy. The veteran signal-caller has been with the Redskins since 2014 and has had plenty of time with current Rams Head coach Sean McVay from his days as the Offensive coordinator in Washington. McCoy just put on a nice showing in preseason against the New England Patriots completing 13/17 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns. He looked about as crisp and reliable as you could find in a backup QB and that's no surprise since that is something McCoy has plenty of experience with. The biggest thing would be if the Redskins do or do not want to trade him and the reason this is even a consideration is that the Redskins went out and traded for 25-year old QB Kevin Hogan from the Cleveland Browns this off-season. With the 34-year old Alex Smith brought in via trade, it's become clear the team wants to develop a young QB like Hogan for the long-term and if they do decide to only keep two QBs on the roster, one would have to imagine McCoy would get the ax. The Rams are likely only to keep two signal-callers on the roster due to the overall talent on this roster. That makes it pretty hard for the Rams to consider moving on from anyone like Mannion or Allen who have been around the team and know the offense. However, if you were going to replace them, trading a late-round pick for McCoy now to reunite him with McVay would be the right move. Goff will turn 24 years old this year so the Rams could look for a seasoned veteran to back him up and give the Rams the best chance to win if he happens to suffer an injury of some kind. McCoy is probably the best option for right now and if you want to move on completely from the in-house options presented.

Option two happens to be another former Sean McVay QB and that is Robert Griffin III. "RG3" is 28 years of age now after he was once the most exciting player in college football and the same player the Rams used to pry away three 1st-round picks from the Redskins organization. Griffin III did not pan out as a franchise QB due to injury but the mobile QB has made an attempt to get back into the NFL. He is now with the Baltimore Ravens and oddly enough, he just not only played against the Rams but took part in a joint practice with them as well. Griffin III even had rumors swirl about going to the Rams if the Ravens failed to keep him on the active roster. The rumors, of course, started to swirl after being seen smiling alongside his former Offensive coordinator Sean McVay. The whole idea of Griffin III becomes an interesting dynamic due to the fact the Ravens have their starting QB Joe Flacco who they are paying too much money to not play and would incur too much of a cap penalty to get rid of and then the team drafted a first-round QB in Lamar Jackson. Just like the Rams, it doesn't seem like the Ravens would keep three QBs even if one of them is "RG3" and that is where the Rams could capitalize. Griffin III would likely be cut which would make him available, he also would have familiarity with McVay and his offense due to spending his last season in Washington with him. Griffin III has also looked sharp in preseason and at only 28-years old as a team you could bank on the idea he has molded himself into a solid pocket passer with mobility that knows his limits as a runner. The only issue to really even think of with "RG3" is his durability. This is the same QB that has had two grade 3 ACL tears, three grade 1 concussions, an LCL sprain, an ankle dislocation and a shoulder fracture. One wouldn't question his toughness but the worry is the frequency of injury and the question would be "Has Robert Griffin III learned his lesson and has he fully committed to being a QB first and a runner second?" that is the main question. He, like McCoy, would be an upgrade over what is left on the roster behind Goff.

The last option is rather a different tune. One would expect if the Rams actually moved onto a new QB outside the organization it would be a veteran. However, in this case, the last option would be due to the talent of a future starter caliber player Kyle Sloter. You may not know who he is because he just entered the league via undrafted rookie free agency following the 2017 NFL Draft. Sloter was one of the bright young preseason stars last year and had Denver Broncos fans screaming for their team to retain him and even start him. The Broncos decided to keep him on the 53-man roster originally until former Bronco QB Brock Osweiler became an available free agent. Sloter was released and signed onto the Minnesota Vikings practice squad. During last season even despite the fact, the Vikings had Sam Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater and Case Keenum, Sloter was kept on the 53-man roster. They clearly like him as a developmental QB with a combination of both of the previously mentioned QB options for the Rams. Sloter is reliable with the ball in his hands, throws with accuracy, stands confident at 6-foot-5 in the pocket and shows his former WR athleticism with his mobility in and out of the pocket. Sloter finished last night's preseason game against his former team 6/9 for 69 yards passing and a touchdown. The 24-year old QB didn't stop there as he ran for 19 yards on two carries including an impressive rushing touchdown. So why would the Vikings up-and-coming young gun even be available for the Rams? The Vikings traded for his former teammate on Denver, Trevor Siemian. Siemian jumped Sloter on the depth chart as soon as the trade was made. Is Siemian better at this point in his career? Perhaps. Does he have the experience of starting in NFL games in case Minnesota's 30-million-dollar QB gets hurt? Definitely. That is why the Vikings, who did keep Sloter on the roster with three other QBs last season could still get rid of him depending on the price. Things may have definitely changed when the team acquired Kirk Cousins in free agency. If the Rams were to offer a 5th-to-7th round pick for Sloter they could likely acquire his talents. Sloter would give the Rams the opportunity to develop someone long-term in case Goff was not re-signed long-term. With Sloter's mobility, awareness, accuracy and overall feel for the game, he would fit in right away with McVay's offense. It's not the most likely of the three options but as far as the most exciting and the most beneficial one long-term, a trade for Minnesota's young signal-caller would check all of the boxes.

It's unclear if Rams backup QB Brandon Allen won over any coaches on that staff after an okay performance in tough conditions but Mannion certainly didn't. Luis Perez, the UDFA out of Texas A&M-Commerce did not even see a snap in preseason game one. That was more about the Rams anxiousness to see what they have in Allen as the backup than it was about Perez not being good enough to get on the field. In fairness, no one knows what Mannion would be under a first-team offense but after a performance like the one he had on Thursday in Baltimore, it's safe to be cautious if such a thing were to ever happen. It may seem unfair but players that have shown more than Mannion has in a lesser amount of time and in lesser repetitions have been kicked to the curb much faster. The Rams may have a Super Bowl-caliber roster and an all-star coaching staff but they have the worst backup QB situation in the league and that will need to be fixed sooner than later.

https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-add-defensive-tackle-tyrunn-walker



The Bills announced the signing of defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker.

Walker joins the Bills after spending 2017 with the Los Angeles Rams. He played in all 16 games making four starts and producing 22 tackles, 1.0 sack and four passes defensed. For his career, he’s played in 58 games with 85 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

He joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints in 2012. He is a native of New Iberia, Louisiana and played his college football at Tulsa. He is entering his seventh NFL season and in addition to the Saints and the Rams he has also spent time with the Detroit Lions.

The Bills have released defensive tackle John Hughes with an injury settlement.

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-day-9-of-training-camp

10 Observations from Day 9 of Training Camp

1) The Rams were not in pads for the first time since the fourth day of training camp. Coming off Thursday’s game, L.A. got back to business on a lighter note. Being back in Southern California, it was considerably less humid for Saturday’s session than it was throughout the time in Baltimore.

2) Los Angeles began with a special teams walk thru, then separated by field for both offensive and defensive walk thrus. This is one of the first times L.A. has done a walk thru to start a public practice, which also made it one of the first times inside linebacker Mark Barron has participated in a session. Head coach Sean McVay has previously said that Barron receives the walk-thru reps beside signal-caller Cory Littleton, while Ramik Wilson takes the practice reps.

3) During offensive individual drills, the Rams used multiple quarterbacks to have each skill player catch a pass in the rhythm and timing of the play. All the running backs, wideouts, and tight ends were involved, as were all four quarterbacks. At one point, punter Johnny Hekker was even involved when the Rams used three wideouts, a tight end, and a running back as eligible receivers. Hekker does have to keep his fake-punt arm ready, after all.

4) The Rams quarterbacks, wide receivers, and cornerbacks also went through one-on-one drills. Notably from the period…

• Wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods began the session with completions on a comeback route and a fly route down the right sideline, respectively.
• Cornerback Troy Hill did a nice job to break up a pass in the middle of the field between quarterback Jared Goff and wideout Cooper Kupp. The Eastern Washington product tried to shake Hill with a move in the middle of the field, but the cornerback stayed with Kupp nicely.
• Later, though, Kupp got Hill back by shaking him with a nice move to catch a pass in the middle of the field. He drew some “ooos” from the crowd with that one.

5) In 11-on-11 — with the first-team offense competing against the first-team defense — Goff made solid completions to Cooks and Kupp. The signal-caller connected with Cooks on the first pass of the period, hitting him on the left side of the field. Then Goff hit Kupp on the left side, making the completion through a tight window just out of safety Lamarcus Joyner’s reach.

6) Joyner, however, would get his during a later period. On another pass intended for Kupp, Joyner undercut the wideout’s route on the defense’s right and picked off the pass with a leaping interception. His defensive teammates were pumped on the sideline.

7) Later in 11-on-11, tight end Tyler Higbee made a particularly impressive catch. The play may have been a sack in real life, but Goff was able to get a red-zone pass off to Higbee. The tight end showed off his vertical, secured the catch, then got two feet in at the back line of the end zone for a score.

8) With the offense backed up to nearly its own goal line in a move-the-ball drill, Goff got the unit down the field quickly with consecutive completionsto Woods and wide receiver Mike Thomas. Both receptions came on deep crossing routes.

9) Kupp made the last catch of practice for the fist-team offense, snagging a low pass over the middle. Not a surprise when it comes from him, but he did have a few nice catches on Saturday.

10) At the end of practice, McVay pulled the team together and was fairly animated in the huddle. He would tell reporters that at the time, he was explaining to players why he wasn’t quite pleased with the way practice unfolded.

“I think all the guys would agree, we’ve got to have better urgency from the start,” McVay said. “That’s just the bottom line. We can say what we want about when we got back, but however you want to cut it, we’ve got to be better than that.”

I think that it’s a rather small number, really. Maybe around 14-16.

These are my “almost certain” to make it players:

QB. Goff

RB. Gurley, Brown.

OL. Whit, Saffold, Sully, JB, Hav, Blythe, Noteboom, Demby (maybe)

WR. Cooks, Woods, Kupp, Cooper, Thomas, Reynolds.

TE. Higbee, Everett.

That’s only 19 O players that are semi-locks, and a couple of them are not 100%, themselves, tbh. Meaning, maybe 6 more O spots up in the air?

DL. AD, Suh, Brockers, Westbrooks, Myers (probably).

LB. Barron, Littleton, Ebukam, Longacre (if even sufficiently healthy).

CB. Peters, Talib, NRC, Shields.

S. Joyner, JJ.

That’s only 15 D players that are certainly safe. Meaning, approx 10 more are up for grabs.

ST. Hekker, GZ, and McQuaide are mortal locks. Duh...

So, what have we got after some rather tough grading as “for sure” members of the 53? Only 37, really.

Yeah, there are all kinds of “probables” left and most will make it. But the fact remains that there are approx 16 jobs that are up in the air and will be claimed within the next 3 weeks. Lots of job pressure on both players and coaches, huh? Very little margin for error for anyone. That’s why the Ravens game was somewhat wasted by both players and coaches. Sigh.

Anybody else surprised that there are so many spots up for grabs on this supposedl SB roster? I was. Before I started, I thought there were only maybe 6-8 tbd.

I would really appreciate some feedback from y’all. Did I grade too strictly? Or not hard enough? Talk to me.

https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2018/7/2/17511594/wade-phillips-rams-coaching-evolution

How Wade Phillips Fits Into the NFL’s Coaching Youth Movement
What’s the value of a 71-year-old defensive coordinator in a league obsessed with offensive innovation? In Phillips’s case, it’s a knack for evolution—and an unparalleled track record of success.
By Robert Mays


AP Images/Ringer illustration

A youth movement has swept through the NFL coaching ranks over the past several months. In January, the Bears hired then-39-year-old Matt Nagy as their new head coach, bringing in the former Chiefs offensive coordinator to replace 62-year-old John Fox. This offseason, the Titans (Matt LaFleur, 38) and Colts (Nick Sirianni, 37) both welcomed offensive coordinators under the age of 40.

These decisions come on the heels of the success the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan (now 38) and the Rams’ Sean McVay (32) had during their debut head-coaching campaigns in 2017. When the youngest head coach in NFL history is named Coach of the Year, it opens the door for other teams to take similar hiring risks.

This generation of up-and-coming coaches has pushed NFL offenses to take inventive steps forward, challenging the status quo and encouraging a newfound sense of open-mindedness. It’s also called attention to the traits necessary for older coaches to stave off extinction.

Look no further than McVay’s staff, which features a septuagenarian defensive coordinator with more than 40 years of NFL experience. Wade Phillips started his professional coaching career in 1976, a decade before McVay was born. His mind-set and malleability have allowed him to keep pace with the game’s newest class of play-calling masters.

Phillips has followed the general principles of his father Bum’s 3–4 defensive scheme for most of his career. Yet whereas many variations of the 3–4 feature a relatively passive two-gap approach, Phillips has consistently adapted his version, to the point where it’s become defined by an attacking mentality that unleashes players along the line.

Rather than require his ends and nose tackle to control the blockers in front of them, Phillips asks his front three to penetrate a single gap, similar to the role linemen fill in a typical 4–3. Phillips has said that he prefers this brand of defense because it allows for the aggression of a one-gap scheme while maintaining the 3–4’s trademark deception.

“You’re normally bringing four pass rushers,” he told the Orange County Register last year. “In a 4–3, that means all the linemen. In a 3–4, that’s three linemen plus a linebacker, but you don’t know which linebacker is coming. That causes some confusion and gives the defensive backs a better chance. Nowadays it’s all about stopping the passing game.”

The emphasis Phillips puts on slowing opposing aerial attacks is evident in both his defense’s stats and its roster construction. Last season the Rams finished third in Football Outsiders’ pass defense DVOA and 21st in run defense DVOA, a byproduct of Phillips’s willingness to devote resources to the defensive backfield while turning its rushers loose after the quarterback. The talent he covets also reflects his preferred style in the secondary.


Aqib Talib
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images

During Phillips’s tenure in Denver, the Broncos deployed an aggressive style of man and pattern-match zone coverage that played to the strengths of a physical corner like Aqib Talib. Now Talib is reunited with Phillips, since the Rams acquired him in a trade with Denver in March.

That deal happened about two weeks after Los Angeles swung a trade for Chiefs star Marcus Peters. Those moves indicate that rather than becoming more conservative in the twilight of his career, Phillips is seeking out cover men who will lead his unit to take even more chances.


Marcus Peters
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

In Talib and Peters, L.A. now has a receiver-manhandling cornerback on one side and maybe the league’s most ambitious ball-hawking risk-taker on the other. Like every element of Phillips’s unit, the key to making this work will lie in the defense constantly being the aggressor, dictating how offenses play rather than the inverse typically seen around the league.

Phillips’s preference for man coverage and zone concepts that often look like man coverage means that members of his secondary regularly move stride for stride with opposing receivers. This aggressive approach requires a team to have a reliable safety or two on the back end. In 2017, Phillips found two unlikely standouts whose success further underscores the coordinator’s creativity and flexibility.

The first was Lamarcus Joyner, a Florida State product who enjoyed the best season of his career in his first under Phillips. During Joyner’s first three years in Los Angeles, the All-American safety for the 2013 national champion Seminoles — was deployed by Jeff Fisher’s staff primarily as a nickel cornerback.

Yet when Phillips arrived, he saw a player who deserved to be on the field a hell of a lot more than two-thirds of the time. Phillips moved Joyner to his natural position as a centerfield safety, and Joyner responded by picking off three passes and helping the Rams finish with the fifth-best deep-passing DVOA in the NFL. Los Angeles used its franchise tag on Joyner earlier this offseason.

Flanking Joyner at safety for most of last season was 2017 third-round pick John Johnson III, a relative unknown Phillips elevated to the starting lineup during the Rams’ Week 5 loss to the Seahawks. Johnson provided L.A. with instant impact as both a roving safety over the top and a run stopper close to the line of scrimmage.

At 22, Johnson is now seen as an emerging star, an instinctive player who can fill a handful of different roles depending on the situation. Pairing a stacked group of corners with Joyner and Johnson gives the Rams the league’s most talented secondary going away. That formula exists because Phillips gambled on a rookie and experimented with a player who hadn’t been used a certain way in years.

Phillips’s strategy with defensive end Michael Brockers was similar to his decision with Joyner, only even more spontaneous. Brockers had spent his entire career as a nose tackle prior to Phillips moving the 302-pounder to defensive end before a Week 4 matchup with the Cowboys. Sliding Brockers outside gave the Rams more bulk against the run while not sacrificing much from their pass rush. It also unlocked opportunities for the rest of the unit’s front four, a quintessentially Phillipsian ploy.

It’d be irresponsible to break down what sets Phillips apart without mentioning Aaron Donald. In Donald’s first season with Phillips, he tallied 11 sacks and 91 total pressures en route to being named Defensive Player of Year. Giving Phillips credit for that may seem silly, considering Donald has been elected first-team All-Pro for three straight seasons. But watch how Donald did his damage, and the Phillips touch is clearly there.


Aaron Donald
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

As with any transcendent player, Donald’s ability to understand a defensive system — and then purposefully play outside it — leads to some of his most awe-inspiring work. Ducking into the wrong gap, selectively guessing on certain plays, and relying on his recovery skills can produce 5-yard losses that ruin drives.

Still, it’s worth admiring how Phillips allows those plays to happen. Doing so may seem simple, but in the rigid world of the NFL, it’s a rarity. Phillips combines a keen eye for repurposing underutilized talent with a humility that frees up his superstars to freelance. Phillips took the same approach when J.J. Watt was collecting DPOY awards in Houston and when Von Miller was hoisting the Lombardi Trophy for Denver.

Therein lies the true genius of Wade Phillips. He integrates miscast players into his well-known defensive concepts while looking the other way as great players ignore those same tenants. It’s a balancing act few coaches could hope to pull off, but one that Phillips seems to manage every season. It’s also why his teams have finished among the top seven in pass defense DVOA five times in the last six years.

The league’s recent coaching youth movement is really a move toward evolution. At age 71, Phillips embodies that to the same extent as many fresh-faced 30-somethings do. That’s why he’s stuck around for as long as he has, and it’s why this season’s Rams are primed to have one of the best defenses in football yet again.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-what-we-learned-20180810-story.html

What we learned in the Rams' 33-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens

Here are the takeaways from the Rams’ preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens, a 33-7 loss.

Sean McVay is not taking chances with injuries

Kicker Greg Zuerlein’s back injury notwithstanding, the Rams got through the 2017 season without many key starters suffering major injuries.

Offensive linemen no doubt played through any number of issues, but none sat out games because of them, enabling running back Todd Gurley and quarterback Jared Goff to flourish.

So McVay is accustomed to working with a healthy roster. He needs one if the Rams are to live up to their lofty expectations.

The Rams appeared to have emerged without any significant injuries after practicing twice with the Ravens. McVay said he had planned all along to rest his starters in the preseason opener.

He stuck to his plan and kept 22 on the sideline.

Sean Mannion needs a fair shot with front-line players

The backup quarterback struggled against the Ravens, completing only three of 13 passes for 16 yards, with an interception. He was sacked twice, and the Ravens deflected several passes at the line of scrimmage.

It was Mannion’s first game since his start against the San Francisco 49ers in the regular-season finale. With starters sitting out to avoid injuries before the playoffs, Mannion completed 20 of 34 passes for 169 yards and was sacked three times in a 34-13 defeat.

Goff, the Rams’ starter, is a rising star coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance. There is no quarterback competition. This certainly is not a call for one.

But if McVay truly wants to assess Mannion’s ability to lead in the event of a Goff injury, let him play behind a line anchored by left tackle Andrew Whitworth. Let him hand the ball off and throw screen passes to Gurley. Let’s see if he can accurately deliver the ball to receivers Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and Brandin Cooks.

Mannion, in the final year of his contract, might struggle in those scenarios as well. But his chances for success — and a realistic evaluation of his capability — are exponentially greater playing with the proven starters.

Offensive line depth could be an issue

Guard Jamon Brown, suspended for the first two regular-season games but eligible to play during the preseason, was the only starter who played on offense.

With Whitworth and starting right tackle Rob Havenstein on the sideline, Darrell Williams and Cornelius Lucas were listed as starters. And the Ravens got constant pressure off the edges.

Rookie Joseph Noteboom said he played a series at right guard but also played tackle. He needs time to mature. He might have to do it quickly.

Adjustment to new rules will take time

Rams players were called for lowering their head twice during a Ravens’ first-half scoring drive.

Safeties Marqui Christian and Blake Countess each drew 15-yard penalties that helped the Ravens move down the field.

All NFL players are getting used to the rule, and officials are aggressively calling it so that players can adjust.

Sitting starters keeps them safe, but it also prevents them from real-time exposure to situations they can learn from before making costly mistakes when games count.

Young linebackers were active

Draft picks Micah Kiser and Trevon Young made six and four tackles, respectively. And undrafted free agent Tegray Scales had five tackles.

Ejuan Price, a seventh-round draft pick in 2017, had a sack.

Lamar Jackson is fun to watch — and difficult to tackle

Jackson, the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner, probably cannot stay out of harm’s way in the NFL if he scrambles like he did in college at Louisville, and as he attempted at times during no-tackle practices with the Rams.

On Thursday night, that didn’t stop Jackson from faking out three would-be tacklers on a nine-yard touchdown run against the Rams.

With Jackson and Robert Griffin III playing well, the Ravens are three-deep at quarterback.

Here we go. I am just going to call it, as I've examined it, straight up, good and bad.

First look:

Rams were not prepared to go against a motivated, and determined team in the Ravens, who not only got their butt kicked all week, but had to hear about it, in the media. Bring in John Harbaugh, who happens to believe in game planning, and putting a larger premium in winning, than evaluating, and we have a drastic conflict in preseason coaching philosophy.

Keep in mind, this is the Ravens second preseason game, and they, because of playing in the Hall of Fame Game, started practice before most teams. Now, all the disclaimers behind us, here we go.

The Rams were pretty anemic with Mannion at the helm, and all in all, they only started two players who expect to see significant time during the regular season. These two players, were still limited to an equivalent of 1Q, or less playing time. The starting offense consisted of OLT- D. Williams, OLG - Neary, C - Blythe, ORG - J. Brown, and ORT - C. Lucas. The TE was Hemingway, most of the first half.

The OL was out of sync, most of the the 1st Q. Opening the drive, Mannion rushes to complete a 4 yd pass to M. Thomas. Next, a run play to M. Brow, J, Brown doesn't finish his block. 1 yd gain. 3 - 5 from the gun, and quick crossing route to Reynolds, who was wide open for a 1st down. Drilling down, D. Williams blocks Suggs on a speed rush, and M. Brown picks up a LB blitz.

1- 10, run play to 2 hole, and again, J. Brown doesn't maintain his block, and Lucas gets pulled into the muck, because the DE, held, and pulled his facemask the whole play. Hemingway hits the hole, but doesn't really block anybody. Another mistake on the play, is that Blythe doesn't establish the correct outside shade, allowing his man into the play.

2 - 10 On a very nice designed play to our TE, Hemingway is clearly looking to run, before he catches it.

3 -10 Judon, easily beats Lucas with a speed rush, and defeats his hands without much effort, and he sacks Mannion. Neary, also falls on his ass, giving up inside pressure. Punt. Kiser first man on coverage.

Next offensive drive:

Nice Davis run, new OL, OLT - Noteboom, OLG Eldrencamp, C - Allen, ORG - Blythe, ORT - Demby. Davis has a really nice pass/pro diving pickup in this series. This OL was very effective. Mannion was not. Noteboom had a nice combo block, and Hemingway is very effective blocking downfield.

2nd half OL consisted of OLT - Lucas, OLG - Demby, C- Neary, ORG - Allen, ORT - Williams. TE - Mundt. OL, good push, Allen, good leverage. Neary, a little too upright. Lucas looks way better at OLT, than ORT, but he's a little too hands on.

The sack D. Williams gave up was not his fault, IMO, the right side was overloaded, and the Ravens also ran a delayed LB stunt/blitz. Kelly picked up inside in pass/pro. Williams looked pretty good in this series.

3Q

Demby still at OLG, he had nobody rushing on pass play, so he he helped Lucas. just a good smart play by him. He was impressive all night. Krieger-Coble is in now, and he picks up a good block. B. Allen is at QB, and he looks confident, and is communicating well. #13 F. Brown shows out well for a couple plays in a row, one for blocking, and one, for catching the ball.

On Kelly's best run, Neary had the block that sprung him. The whole OL blocked well, and Mitchell Jr. had a very nice downfield block. Same, OL, as above. Lucas, Demby, Neary, Allen, and Williams.

4th Q.

Noteboom, Kolone, Neary, Eldrencamp, and Demby. Mixing it up. Demby, and Neary have key blocks on this drive.Krieger-Coble, and Hemingway continue to block well.

Notes:

Noteboom is a stud, and our future OLT, IMO. He may take J. Brown's spot, but Blythe, Demby, and Allen also played well throughout the game. Williams played better than advertised. Neary played a few positions, and struggled at first, but then, against lesser competition, played very well. He's a better guard than Center.

JoJo was outstanding in returning the whole game. Davis and Kelly are both NFL caliber running backs. B. Allen looked good. Hemingway will have a chance to make it. The last WR spot is going to be a tough call.

I'm tired, defensive notes tomorrow. Any questions?

Most boring announcers. EVER.

This is a somewhat decent game, but yeesh...talk like you want to be there. It's so hard to not fall asleep.

Say what you want about Chris Collinsworth or Tony Romo, but at least those guys legit get excited about the game in front of them.

Just curious if anyone who watched last night’s game can give any thoughts on Tegray Scales. I know I have read quite a few very good reviews on Micah Kiser (Who, I really think will be a future star for the Rams for years to come!) but what about fellow LB/Rookie Scales? Does he have a chance to make the Rams final roster? If so, What was just recently (Probably, Still is!) considered a Rams major weakness could possibly become much better than thought before the Draft (Especially, If, Another fellow LB Ogbonnnia Okoronkwo can be as good as many Rams fans including me think he can become!).

This is likely a repost and I'm ok with that because I want to pimp what he's doing. I'm really starting to like this guy more and more and for what he's doing here I have a ton of respect for the man and his family. If more athletes took this approach and showed kids how to improve themselves and respect and work with others this world might just be a better place.

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.facebook.com/ramsbehindthegrind/videos/203917090241514/

Check out these great pics taken by @gabriel18 at the game in Baltimore last night. The little guy who's having a lot of fun is his grandson.

Here is Todd Gurley's dad chillin with his grandson and crew. Awesomeness!!!







Kupp signing his jersey. Sooooo cool.





The little guy is also a chick magnet I see. Hahaha






*Please chime in @gabriel18 !!!!! Thank you so much for sharing these great pics.

Entering last night's game, the talk was that the Rams dominated the Raven's in the two practices. Coach Harbaugh described them as ok performance by his team when pressed by media. It was well known that Rams would not use starters except for a couple of guys. In fact, in the Ram's broadcast with Siciliano, Schraeger, and Burleson had tape of the dominant practices to show in response to possible sketchy performance of the Rams back-ups on the field, ready prepared for broadcast.

Not only did Harbs come out with his starters in all phases, he used a fast tempo offense against the Rams defense in the opening series. Not only did this make it hard for the Rams vanilla scheme defense, Wade couldn't change personnel easily....7 points after the extra point.

Flacco and the #1's stayed on the field for another couple of series, and then Flacco was replaced by Jackson(?) with the rest of the 1's still on the field....The scoring continued.

The Raven defense was on the field as well, testing the kids on the Oline (except for Brown), with future HOFer Terrell Suggs beating his man like a rented mule, at times.

Situational football or saving face? I think it was a little of both for the Ravens HC.

Hey guys, now that the preseason is officially upon us, I'd like to get your opinions about which fantasy football site offers the best analysis both for a draft and then in-season lineup selections as well. I've been using Rotoworld for a few years but am looking for a little edge that might offer some insight that could put me over the top. Any suggestions are much appreciated, thanks.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-report-20180809-story.html

There was no way the ball was going to hit the ground.

Not after last year’s preseason opener, when Rams running back Justin Davis fumbled twice in his first series.

The miscues marred an otherwise impressive debut performance by the former USC tailback, who signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent and spent most of his rookie season on the roster but inactive for games.

On Thursday night, Davis held the ball tight and rushed for 41 yards in seven carries, one of the few bright spots in a 33-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

“It definitely crossed my mind,” Davis said of last season’s first-game struggle. “But it’s a new year and it’s night and day for me.”

With Todd Gurley and other starters held out, Malcolm Brown started at running back and played two series before Davis came on for the rest of the first half. His top play was a 17-yard run.

“He’s kind of just one cut away,” from breaking longer plays, coach Sean McVay said.

Rookie John Kelly played in the second half and rushed for 77 yards in 13 carries, including a 40-yard run near the end of the third quarter.

“It was a good experience,” said Kelly, a sixth-round draft pick from Tennessee. “It was fun to get an opportunity to get out there and experience the NFL playing against someone in a game setting.”

Countess injured

Rams safety Blake Countess suffered a first-quarter shoulder injury on a play that he was penalized on for lowering his head.

The injury marred an otherwise enjoyable week for a player who grew up only a few minutes from the Ravens’ practice facility in Owings Mills, and had a crowd of nearly 60 family and friends at the game.

Before he was injured, Countess broke up a pass from Joe Flacco intended for Michael Crabtree.

“This is like a homecoming,” Wendell Countess, Blake’s father, said before the game. “It is a business trip, and it’s fun for the friends and family.”

Said Melody Countess, Blake’s mother: “It’s almost like coming full circle.... To have him come back now and get back to all the people that have supported him.”

Randy Smith, who coached Countess in youth football, said he teared up when he watched Countess play for Auburn against Michigan in college. Thursday night was the first time watching him in person as a pro.

“Knowing that you helped him develop the love or maintain the love of football, and made a difference in a young man’s life, that’s why you coach,” Smith said.

Etc.

All the Rams players were on the sideline for the playing of the national anthem. … Receiver KhaDarel Hodge had three catches, including an eight-yard touchdown reception from Brandon Allen in the fourth quarter…. JoJo Natson returned four punts for 57 yards, including one for 29 yards. He also averaged 23 yards for seven kickoff returns…. The Rams are off Friday. They have five remaining practices at UC Irvine that are open to the public. They are Saturday, Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. Practices begin at 3 p.m., except for Thursday, which starts at 9:45 a.m.

https://www.therams.com/news/seven-stats-rams-fall-to-ravens-33-7-in-preseason-week-1

Seven Stats: Rams Fall to Ravens 33-7 in Preseason Week 1

The Los Angeles Rams started off the 2018 preseason with a loss to the Ravens in Baltimore. The Rams, who rested nearly all starters on Thursday night, struggled to get much going on offense against the Ravens defense.

1. PLAGUED BY PENALTIES

The Rams racked up penalties on Thursday night. In an especially rough first half, the Rams were flagged nine times for 72 yards. Safeties Marqui Christian and Blake Countess committed consecutive unnecessary roughness penalties by leading with the helmet, a newly imposed rule in 2018. The pair of flags equated to 30 yards for the Ravens on a drive that ended with a 29-yard field goal by kicker Justin Tucker.

2. RAMS TAKE AN “L”

The Rams entered Thursday’s contest in Baltimore 4-0 all-time against the Ravens in the preseason. The 33-7 loss eliminates the Rams’ perfect preseason record against the Ravens. All five meetings have come since 2008.

3. ROOKIE LEADS RUSHERS

On a night where Los Angeles couldn’t find its offensive rhythm, rookie running back John Kelly exploded late in the third quarter for what was arguably the offensive play of the night. Kelly picked up 40 yards on a pitch from quarterback Brandon Allen, good for the the longest run of the night for L.A. Kelly finished leading all rushers with 77 yards on 13 carries.

4. WESTBROOKS’ MULTI-SACK GAME

Defensive end Ethan Westbrooks sacked Ravens’ rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson twice on Thursday night. Westbrooks’ two sacks in tonight’s preseason game matched his season totals from both 2015 (2.0) and 2016 (2.0). Westbrooks has eight career regular-season sacks.

5. ALLEN OUTPLAYS MANNION

Third-year quarterback Brandon Allen took the reins on offense from starter Sean Mannion to start the third quarter. Mannion was 3-of-13 for just 16 yards passing with one interception. Allen, who did not see the field at all last season, finished 10-for-15, 73 yards passing, and the only touchdown of the night. Allen connected late with receiver KhaDarel Hodge on an eight-yard touchdown pass.

6. HEKKER KEPT BUSY

Punter Johnny Hekker joined the list of Rams who didn’t seem himself Thursday night. The Pro-Bowl punter uncharacteristically shanked his third punt of the night, sending the ball only eight yards up the sideline. Last season, Hekker averaged 47.9-yards per punt. Hekker punted it away seven times in the preseason opener, with the Rams unable to keep their defensive second and third units off of the field.

7. THIRD DOWN WOES

Finally, the Rams struggled heavily on third downs. The offense was 4-for-15 moving the chains on third down, a conversion rate of about 26 percent. Last season, the Rams’ high-scoring offense converted 88-of-214 third down trys, good for a conversion rate of about 41 percent. Fortunately for Rams fans, the higher conversion rate came with starters like quarterback Jared Goff and running back Todd Gurley on the field.


https://www.therams.com/news/five-takeaways-running-backs-impress-in-rams-preseason-opener-vs-ravens

Five Takeaways: Running Backs Impress in Rams Preseason Opener vs. Ravens

BALTIMORE — The Rams began their preseason slate on the East Coast, falling to the Ravens, 33-7.

But being that it’s preseason, the final score far from tells the whole story. With that in mind, here are five takeaways from the first exhibition matchup of 2018.

1) RAMS REST THEIR STARTERS

As expected, head coach Sean McVay elected to rest nearly all of Los Angeles’ starters for the first preseason contest. McVay had previously said on Tuesday that much of the work the Rams were able to get against the Ravens during practice could serve as a kind of substitute for game action.

The only starters who played were right guard Jamon Brown — who will be suspended for the first two games of the season — and second-year outside linebacker Samson Ebukam.

“It just kind of felt good to have that live mindset because all this time we’ve just been laying off on the [quarterback],” Ebukam said at halftime. “This felt good just to turn loose one time. It’s just the first preseason game. It’s like oiling ourselves right now. We’re just getting loose, getting ready for the season.”

Ebukam recorded a tackle in his first game action of the preseason. But he also rushed the passer effectively, forcing Baltimore’s quarterbacks off of their spots in ways that led to sacks.

2) WESTBROOKS GETS SACKS

While defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks is not currently listed as a starter, he’s been taking first-team reps throughout training camp at three-technique given the absence of defensive lineman Aaron Donald. Westbrooks showed the work is paying off, recording two sacks in the first half.

Both sacks came in the second quarter and on third down, helping to end Baltimore possessions. On the first, Westbrooks got to quarterback Lamar Jackson and brought him down before outside linebacker Justin Lawler could come in and clean it up. Then Westbrooks brought down Jackson again on 3rd-and-5 from the Baltimore 25, this time with inside linebacker Bryce Hager there to help.

Westbrooks is heading into his fifth NFL season after first signing with the Rams as an undrafted free agent out of West Texas A&M.

3) OFFENSE SPUTTERS IN FIRST HALF

There’s no way around it: Los Angeles’ offense did not perform well in the first half.

The unit recorded only three first downs on 25 plays, picking up 45 total yards in the game’s first 30 minutes. The club ended the first half 1-of-7 in third-down efficiency.

Quarterback Sean Mannion started the contest and finished just 3-of-13 for 16 yards with an interception. He was also sacked twice, losing 13 yards on the plays.

Los Angeles’ offense was undoubtedly vanilla when it comes to scheme, and the unit was missing nearly all of its starters. And it is the first preseason game after all. But it was a disappointing night for the offense when it comes to overall performance.

4) DAVIS, KELLY PROVIDE SPARKS

There’s been some thought that running backs Justin Davis and John Kelly may be competing for a roster spot as the club’s third RB. If that is the case, Davis and Kelly likely made the decision tougher with their performances.

Davis ran well in the first half, taking seven carries for 41 yards. His longest run began a second-quarter drive and went 17 yards. The second-year running back has had a solid training camp so far.

Kelly entered the game in the second half and provided the offensive highlight of the game — taking a carry 40 yards down the field. The play began with Kelly running to his right, but he made a nice cut and ended up running diagonally toward the left sideline. Rookie wide receiver Steven Mitchell also had a nice block on the play.

The 2018 sixth-round pick out of Tennessee continued his strong play in the fourth quarter, taking a carry 14 yards with a solid cut to move Los Angeles deep into Baltimore territory for the first time all game.

Kelly finished the game with 13 carries for 77 yards, also making a pair of receptions for 14 yards.

5) NATSON RETURNS WELL

Wide receiver JoJo Natson had a lot of opportunities for returns and made the most of them — both on kicks and punts.

Natson returned seven kickoffs, averaging 23 yards on each with a long of 27 yards. And he returned four punts averaging 14.3 yards per return. His longest punt return went 29 yards up the right sideline to start a touchdown drive, with defensive lineman Brian Womac posting a solid block to spring Natson.

Additionally, Natson had a key third-down reception for nine yards on Los Angeles’ first scoring drive in the fourth quarter.

Funny

https://thebiglead.com/2018/08/08/chase-daniel-mitch-trubisky-bears-prank/

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I just tired to watch the replay of the Rams game tonight, but was blacked out.
This is BS.

I will cancel my NFL season pass this season. Just BS.