Substance abuse. Dammit.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...s-lb-reuben-foster-suspended-two-games-by-nfl

49ers LB Reuben Foster suspended two games by NFL

Herbie Teope
Around The NFL Writer | NFL.com

The San Francisco 49ers will start the 2018 season without linebacker Rueben Foster.

Foster has been fined and suspended without pay for the first two games of the regular season for violating the NFL's Conduct and Substances of Abuse polices, the league announced Tuesday afternoon.

The violations stem from a weapons offense and a misdemeanor drug offense, both of which were resolved during the offseason.

Foster pleaded no contest to the weapon charge, while the drug charge was dismissed after Foster completed a diversion program.

"Our organization understands and supports the League's decision," general manager John Lynch said in a statement released by the team. "Although we are disappointed that Reuben will not be with our team for the first two games of the season, we will continue to work with him on making better decisions and eliminating unnecessary distractions. We are encouraged to see Reuben take responsibility for his mistakes, and hopeful that he has learned from them as well."

For his part, Foster held himself accountable for the suspension.

"I accept the League's decision and am sorry that my mistakes have hurt my team," Foster said in a statement released by the team. "I have a responsibility to the 49ers, our fans and our community, and I am committed to learning from this situation and making better choices in the future. The support I have received over the last five months has been humbling, and I do not take it for granted."

Foster will miss the games against the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, and he is eligible to return to the active roster on Sept. 17.

He remains eligible to participate in training camp and preseason games before serving the two-game suspension.

ESPN's Alden Gonzalez analyzes five players who are crucial for the Los Angeles Rams to achieve success in 2018.

1. Jared Goff
2. Aaron Donald
3. Todd Gurley
4. Andrew Whitworth/Rodger Saffold/John Sullivan
5. Aqib Talib/Marcus Peters

Guess I can't count, but it's still pretty earth shattering news.
Just wish I knew as much about football as Alden.

Man, am I excited for my Blues. Getting Dominik Bokk (German right wing) in the draft was awesome. David Perron (wing), Tyler Bozak (center), and Chad Johnson (the goalie, not the wide receiver) don't seem that exciting, but we traded for Ryan O'Reilly (center)...and the most we gave up was Thompson and a first round pick! And we even dumped Berglund and Sobotka in the process!

So yeah, it's early and all, but do tell how your team did!

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-the-seahawks-will-make-the-2018-nfl-playoffs

Five reasons why the Seahawks will make the 2018 NFL playoffs

1) Russell Wilson
The Seahawks furiously churned the roster this offseason, waving farewell to Richard Sherman, Michael Bennett, Cliff Avril and a host of other veterans. Seattle parted ways with talented players who fit the scheme while replacing a pair of veteran coordinators. Dumping known talent is no guarantee of success, but the 'Hawks still have their most important player under center.

Russell Wilson is coming off a tremendous season for a Seattle offense that lacked balance and consistently asked him to operate as a one-man show. The veteran passer was required to spin magic behind one of the league's worst offensive lines. A stiffer, stuck-in-the-mud starter would have been dead by Halloween. Not Wilson, though, who dodged traffic play after play.

You don't want your quarterback under this much pressure, but Wilson has shown he can take it. He regularly ranks as the most exciting player on the field and, last season, gave this hot-and-cold offense a chance.

In today's NFL, a top-10 quarterback -- and Wilson is arguably in the top five -- can turn a team with issues into a nine-win operation. For a legitimate shot at the playoffs, though, some new faces must develop in a hurry.

2) Back to the ground game
There are plenty of legitimate unknowns in Seattle.

I won't call Brian Schottenheimer an upgrade over departed play-caller Darrell Bevell. Chalk it up as a curious hire, but Schotty made it clear the offense isn't about to drastically change, claiming Seattle will keep "70 percent" of last year's playbook.

Why did Pete Carroll hire Schottenheimer? It's a clear-cut signal that Seattle harbors a renewed emphasis on pounding the ball.

"It's a commitment to: That's the style of play and that fits," Carroll said. "You go back to a couple of years ago when [Schottenheimer] had Mark Sanchez back there and [the Jets] ran the football like crazy and they won [there] ... really with a young quarterback based on the commitment to the run and playing defense. Well, you know us, that's something that we do understand about how you play the game of football. [Schottenheimer's] committed to it. He gets us."

If Seattle plans to fend off teams like the Rams and Niners in its own division, game plans will boil down to chewing up the clock and keeping guys like Jared Goff and Jimmy Garoppolo off the field.

This points to a productive, high-touch campaign for first-round runner Rashaad Penny, who's already being talked about as a three-down starter who can do it all for the 'Hawks. Unafraid to play rookies, Carroll's plans for Penny could very well decide how this offense looks in 2018.

With Chris Carson, J.D. McKissic, Mike Davis and C.J. Prosise filling out the roster, the Seahawks are deep with backs on a team threatening to run a bruising attack come September.

3) Bobby Wagner
Bobby Wagner notched only one vote for Defensive Player of the Year a season ago. He deserved more.

Wagner was saddled by a hamstring injury late in the season. Before the setback, he didn't miss a tackle all year and often looked like the best player on the field. Wagner's speed and decision-making set him apart.

Wagner remains a star to build around. While the defense is flush with new parts and pressing questions -- Will Kam Chancellor play again? Will Earl Thomas be traded? -- we saw Carroll build the Legion of Boom from scratch, which brings us to our next point.

4) Trust in the team builders
Seahawks fans might wonder about the plan.

While the Rams and Niners aggressively add talent, Seattle sits in flux, leaving a horde of 12s wondering what to do with their Richard Sherman jerseys and Marshawn Lynch duds.

The optics are plenty to ponder, with analysts wondering if Carroll has lost his magic touch. The way he sees it, though, this newfangled, youthful Seahawksroster brings the team back to one of their core values: competition.

"I'm not saying I'm not more challenged this year than some other years," Carroll told The MMQB's Albert Breer. "But I always feel like, 'Man, this is my whole deal, to try to figure out how to recapture that.

"... And it feels like four or five years ago. It feels fresh and wide open, it's more of an open competition for some of the spots. And that's a really good thing for us, because it does feed into the whole approach."

Why should we trust in Carroll and general manager John Schneider: They've done this all before.

5) Because everyone's counting them out
It's tempting to write them off. No longer the bullies in their own division, the Seahawks experienced a roster purge similar to what the post-Jim Harbaugh 49ers endured. It's much easier to imagine the high-powered Rams rolling through the NFC West with the Jimmy G-led Niners right behind.

In a stacked NFC, counting out Seattle is arguably logical with so many established and newer powers grasping for real estate. Yet every season offers up its share of surprises.

Carroll's new-look Seahawks will write their story -- not the doubters.

Just because it is fun to jab the 49’ers...

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...es-set-to-break-out-jimmy-garoppolo-overrated

Jimmy Garoppolo overrated?
Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook.

My favorite aspect of the "Top 100" list is hearing NFL players evaluate their peers. Players have a unique perspective when it comes to breaking down other guys' games, and I tend to lean on those opinions when studying players in the offseason. I always valued player opinions when I was a scout and continue to do so as an analyst today.

That's why my ears perked up when I heard All-Pro CB Jalen Ramsey suggest Jimmy Garoppolo, who made the "Top 100" at No. 90, has yet to truly earn his spot.

"He has good potential," Ramsey said on recent appearance on NFL Network. "I think he'll be a good player, but off my experience in playing him, it was a lot of scheme stuff. It wasn't like he was just dicing us up. It was a lot of scheme stuff.

"Nobody had a scheme on him [in 2017]," Ramsey added. "There was not a lot of film out on him."

Now, I know 49ers fans don't want to hear that, after watching Jimmy G reel off five straight wins at the end of the 2017 season on the strength of a 67 percent completion rate and 94.0 passer rating, but there is some truth to Ramsey's statement.

Despite a few solid starts from Garoppolo in New England, the football world didn't really know what to expect from the young gunslinger in Kyle Shanahan's scheme. Remember, No. 10 was acquired in a midseason trade and opponents didn't get a chance to see him in action until he trotted out in mop-up duty against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 12. With the lack of preseason or regular-season film to scout prior to their games, opposing defensive coordinators were forced to defend the scheme instead of the quarterback in those late-season matchups.

Granted, that doesn't diminish Jimmy G's effectiveness as a QB1 down the stretch, but the NFL is such a preparation league. The dearth of film on him in Shanahan's scheme prevented opponents from designing a Garoppolo-specific game plan that would eliminate his "layups" and make him take more "jump shots" from afar.

"The more information that you have on a player, the easier it is to identify his strengths and weaknesses," a former NFL defensive coordinator told me. "With quarterbacks, in particular, you want to know where their sweet spots are and how they respond to certain looks or pressures. When you don't have that information, it's harder to come up with a game plan that forces them to play left-handed."

Once again, that's not a dismissal of Jimmy G's talents or his overall performance in limited action, but it speaks to the challenge defensive coordinators faced when matching up with No. 10 down the stretch.

But there's more to it than that. Players also didn't have enough information to take advantage of his weaknesses or his possible tells as a playmaker. NFL defenders will scour the tape looking for anything that can help them against a certain quarterback. Just look at how three-time All-Pro CB Richard Shermanwas able to pick up on one of Garoppolo's tells after playing against him in 2017 and watching him every day in offseason workouts.

"You just need to read him -- hand off ball, he's letting it go," Sherman said, per Patrick Holloway of Niners Nation. "You have to be decisive when you make those decisions. If he takes his hand off the ball and doesn't throw it, I think he'll throw guys off, but when he takes his hand off the ball, you've got to be ready to break."

That's the kind of information that not only helps defenders make quicker breaks on throws, but it is part of the scouting report that defensive coordinators will use to craft game plans. Inevitably, some folks will say Ramsey was just hating on Garoppolo for cracking the "Top 100" after just a few performances, but the stud CB was actually shedding light on how defenders and defensive coaches currently view the 49ers' QB1.

While Garoppolo's gargantuan contract extension and the hype over his 2017 campaign suggest that he is an elite player, there are plenty of people in the football world who are still waiting to see if he is a flash in the pan or the real deal at the game's most important position.

Defenses now have a full offseason to break down the quarterback's existing game tape, with more film on the horizon in the 2018 regular season. We will soon find out if Jimmy G is the NFL's next great quarterback or an average QB1 who cashed in on a timely hot streak.

I bet they'll be talking Lakers news 24/7, even if we're in the Super Bowl in 2018.

I'm going to start firing off more content on my YouTube channel. It's going to be anything from gaming to dashcam footage. Please subscribe if you are interested. It will all be pretty random, admittedly.

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The Seahawks defense is going to look a whole lot different in 2018.

The wife has been talking about wanting to go

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To all -

DaveFan’51 has been memorialized in our Ring of Honor.



https://ramsondemand.com/media/categories/r-o-d-ring-of-honor.1/

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NFL's 5 best wide receiver duos: Look to the North stars

Few positions in the NFL can match wide receiver in terms of marquee value. The league, thanks to its passing boom, is loaded with talent at the position, as well as proud personalities who play it.

But which team boasts the most dynamic duo? Clubs rarely have two elite wideouts at the same time, but when they do, it becomes difficult for opponents to slow down either half.

Most important in naming the top five wide receiver duos in the NFL is how the players produce and complement each other's games. Then comes durability, which downgrades certain combinations.

The Giants' Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard, for example, are trying to re-establish themselves after major injuries. Other duos that just missed the cut: the Texans' DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller; the Eagles' Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor; and the 49ers' Pierre Garcon and Marquise Goodwin.

5. Golden Tate and Marvin Jones Jr., Lions
2017 combined stats: 153 receptions, 2,104 yards, 14 TDs

Detroit has recovered from Calvin Johnson's retirement two offseasons ago. Jones has proved to be a strong pick-up, as Matthew Stafford's top big-play threat outside posted his best NFL season yet with 61 catches for 1,101 yards and 9 TDs last year. Tate continues to be a consistent slot machine after another good year (92 catches, 1,003 yards, 5 TDs).

Both receivers boast terrific chemistry with Stafford and have been instrumental in helping the QB raise his game without Johnson. Their ability to get open all over the field has boosted Stafford's accuracy and efficiency.

Jones turned 28 earlier this year, and Tate will hit 30 in August. The Lions will get at least one more season from the durable duo, but they will have a tough decision to make with Tate, who is set to become a free agent in 2019.

4. Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods, Rams
2017 combined stats: 121 receptions, 1863 yards, 12 TDs

Cooks is an upgrade over Sammy Watkins. Throw in Cooper Kupp, who is coming off a strong rookie season, and the Rams suddenly have a good case for the best WR trio in the NFL. Woods turned out to be a steal in free agency; the former USC standout fit perfectly into the SoCal stylings of coach Sean McVay's complex passing game.

Even though his production last season was critical for quarterback Jared Goff, Woods remains one of the league's most underrated targets. That won't be the case much longer as he assumes the role of the Rams' all-around No. 1. Cooks comes with the label of speedy home-run hitter, but he has proved to be versatile — and McVay will take full advantage.

Goff is 23, Cooks is 24, Kupp is 25 and Woods is 26. The Rams are expected to extend Cooks, meaning they're just getting started in burning up the league with Greatest Show 2.0.

3. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen, Vikings
2017 combined stats: 155 receptions, 2,125 yards, 12 TDs

Last season Thielen finished his journey from home-state undraftee to Pro Bowler with 91 catches for 1,276 yards. Diggs did plenty of scoring damage beyond the "Minneapolis Miracle" with his 8 TDs during the regular season. And at just 24, he is motivated by playing for his next contract.

Diggs played through injury at times last year, and Thielen consistently delivered regardless of where he lined up. Although the connection with Case Keenum played a big part in the success of both receivers, they can find a higher gear with big-armed Kirk Cousins; his being able to inherit go-to guys of that caliber played a big part in the QB's signing.

Hall of Famers Randy Moss and Cris Carter played in Minnesota a long time ago, but this is the Vikings' best duo since, and it should be around for a while.

2. Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers
2017 combined stats: 159 receptions, 2,450 yards, 16 TDs

Brown, a future Hall of Famer and the current best wide receiver in the NFL, is the closest thing to Jerry Rice in his prime the league has today. But JuJu's work as a rookie capable of lining up everywhere led to quick stardom. What's scary is that, in addition to toughness and route-running savvy beyond his years, Smith-Schuster showed game-breaking ability as a bonus.

There have been other flashes from Brown's fellow Pittsburgh receivers, most notably Martavis Bryant. But Smith-Schuster last season justified his second-round selection, making it easier for the team to move on from Bryant and replace him with James Washington.

Brown, who turns 30 in July, is not yet slowing down, and Smith-Schuster is just getting warmed up for his own special career. Give each extra credit for a unique brand of swag, too.

1. Josh Gordon and Jarvis Landry, Browns
2017 combined stats: 130 receptions, 1,322 yards, 10 TDs

We know — Gordon and Landry have yet to play a down together as teammates and are working with a new quarterback in Tyrod Taylor. Gordon needs to prove his off-field issues truly are in the past. Landry needs to prove he can get the job done outside of Miami.

"But in Cleveland? You kidding me? Cleveland?"

Consider their roles in the Browns' offense and their respective qualities. Landry is the best slot receiver in the NFL. Gordon is an ideal, big-play No. 1, and now that he has ended his two-season layoff, he has provided every reason for Cleveland to think he will rediscover his form from 2013, when he had 87 catches for a league-leading 1,646 receiving yards.

Gordon now has a better QB and more complementary threats to help him, including Landry, running back Duke Johnson Jr. and tight end David Njoku. Gordon also will benefit the way Brown did from wideout-friendly offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who arrives in Cleveland after six seasons in Pittsburgh.

Gordon's claim that the Browns have the NFL's "best wide receiver group" is a little off, because after him and Landry, rookie fourth-rounder Antonio Callaway and first-round bust Corey Coleman fill out the depth chart. But the duo of Gordon and Landry alone means the Browns will be difficult to cover both short and deep in 2018.

Reading the stories from KC... they sound optimistic... so why didn’t Watkins thrive here?

I mean, there were times he seemed a little lost. Was it a lack of offseason in the offense?

There were times he seemed to give up on plays. Was he in “contract year” mode?

Sure, he scored a chunk of TD’s... but he was MIA for stretches... Was he overmatched by #1 caliber cornerbacks at times?

Did he not gel with teammates?

Not enough balls to go around?

He didn’t exactly struggle here... but with 590 yards... he didn’t reach levels most expected being injury free. Why do you think that was?

————

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...hiefs-challenge-him-by-moving-him-all-around/

Sammy Watkins earning rave reviews as Chiefs challenge him by moving him all around

The Chiefs' new receiver is handling the added responsibilities that Andy Reid's offense requires

Sammy Watkins has been with the Chiefs for a little more than three months, but he's already demonstrating his potential to thrive in Andy Reid's demanding but dynamite offensive system. After giving Watkins a three-year, $48 million deal in free agency, the Chiefs have thrown the gauntlet at Watkins by asking him to move all over the place and challenging his mind.

So far so good, according to Reid, who acknowledged that he has "overloaded" Watkins to this point.

"We're moving him all over the place, and he's handled it," Reid said, per ESPN's Adam Teicher. "We've overloaded him with that. That's how we do it in this offense. That's something new for him. You can tell he's a guy that takes it away from here and studies. When we're doing all these different formations, you've got to do that. You just can't get it all when you're here. You've got to go back and you've got to review, and he's done that and he's really limited the mistakes for all we've given him."

It might be difficult to pick up, but Reid's offense gets results. Reid, who is entering his 20th season as an NFL head coach (14 years with the Eagles and this will be his sixth with the Chiefs), has trotted out a top-10 scoring offense 11 times. In 2017, he turned Alex Smith into the league's highest-rated passer and top-rated deep-ball thrower. Now, after trading Smith to Washington, Reid is developing 2017 first-round pick Patrick Mahomes into the franchise's new long-term quarterback. To help Mahomes develop into the kind of quarterback he's shown flashes of being in preseason outings and one regular-season game, Reid brought in Watkins, who is expected to add another dimension to an already explosive offense.

"He made some catches sometimes that I don't know how they're possible," Mahomes said.

On his part, Watkins called mastering Reid's offense "a mental challenge."

"This offense is the broadest offense I've ever been in," Watkins said. "It's definitely a mental challenge. But I think that's what kind of gets me up every day to study the plays and come out here encouraged. Anybody can get the ball and I've got to learn all the positions. I can't just learn one position. I have to be focused and tuned in, in meetings. You have to do that off-the-field work and stay in your [playbook].

"You just get more opportunities on linebackers [and] safeties. It's definitely easier working against a linebacker or getting open against safeties."

Watkins, a former first-round pick of the Bills, hasn't lived up to expectations coming out Clemson due to a variety of factors, with injuries being one of them. In four seasons (three in Buffalo and another with the Rams), Watkins has played in 52 of 64 possible games, catching 192 passes for 3,052 yards and 25 touchdowns. On a per-season basis, those numbers average out to 763 yards and 6.25 touchdowns. So Watkins hasn't been great, but he also hasn't been bad. He's been solid. It's only because of his first-round billing that he's viewed by some as a disappointment.

He's joining an offense, though, that should maximize his talent. If anyone knows how to get the most out of talented playmakers, it's Reid. Just look at how he's used Tyreek Hill, Kareem Hunt, and Travis Kelce.

"He's a full-speed guy," Watkins said of Reid. "Every day you come out here, every rep, it's full speed. That's just going to help me translate that during the game. He's helped me in this short amount of time with just being a compete receiver, not just being [a receiver who just runs go-routes]. I've got to learn the whole route tree. The standard that he wants ... he's called me out in meetings. That's what you want as a player. I take full advantage of all those things.

"I've never been in an offense like this, around a coach that just feels like he's obsessed with the game and makes you want to be obsessed with it, too, to know more about the offense. The more you break it down the more you can be available and switching different positions."

So, let's set reasonable expectations for him. A year ago, Watkins played in the best offense of his career in Los Angeles with Todd Gurley running the ball, Jared Goff throwing the ball, and of course, Sean McVay calling the plays. Despite the setting, Watkins didn't submit an optimal stat line, catching only 39 passes for only 593 yards. Eight touchdowns salvaged his season.

Setting expectations is difficult because we don't really know how Mahomes will fare in what is essentially his first season. But there's reason to expect Watkins, if he can stay healthy, to see his stat line grow. For all of the improvements Goff made last season, he still wasn't the best deep-ball thrower. Writing for Music City Miracles, John R. Kinsley explained that Goff's accuracy on throws that traveled at least 16 yards in the air was 43.9 percent last season. According to Kinsley, Goff was accurate on six of 20 passes that went 16-plus yards in the air and targeted Watkins.

Meanwhile, in a very small sample size, Mahomes has shown the ability to make incredible throws deep downfield.

Those throws will likely target Watkins in 2018. Again, we don't know if Mahomes will perform on deep passes over the course of an entire season. We don't know if Watkins can stay healthy. And we do know that the Chiefs boast a wide array of weapons, all of which will be incorporated into the offense.

But the Chiefs did not give Watkins a monster contract so that he could be a sporadic home-run threat. Based on the quotes above, we should expect them to keep him involved by moving him around the field, creating mismatches against slower linebackers in the slot, and asking him to do things he hasn't really done in years past.

Watkins is just one reason why the Chiefs are going to trot out one of the most intriguing offenses in the coming season.

I love the Lakers as well as the rams, I really hope lebron chooses them !

This would only add to the many reasons why a free agent or franchise player would want to play in LA .

The lakers being good is good for the NBA but if both teams can win, LA would be the sports capital of the country!

Baseline: NFL Teams are ranked on recent success and projected success. They are often compared to each other using a 5 star rating system.

With that said the Rams have been a 2 Star team trying for years to achiev a 3 Star rating. That was until the 2017 season. With their 2017 success they have eclectic paved the 3 Star ratings and expectations and some say have 4star rating in their cross hairs.

With that said what do we see as achievable objectivrs to hit 5 star rating in 2018.

I know he had baggage coming in... But I really think we should have given him more of a chance.

So I just turn on the CFL game on ESPN 2...I see Edmonton is playing, so I'm oh...Duke Williams is playing... First play I see he catches a 66 yd TD pass …..then catches the 2 point conversion....

he's putting up major numbers up there in his 2nd year....

the guy has all the tools...big...strong...fast.... those off the field issues seem to be behind him..

but oh how I wish he was in camp for the Rams under this coaching staff.... we ended up rolling with Bradley Marquez, and keeping a hurt Nelson Spruce around.

Can't win them all...but man I wish we had another shot at this guy.

Despite losing his leg, former NFL RB Isaiah Pead is back on the run https://es.pn/2Kw8CKZ
via @ESPN App http://es.pn/app

I have never been a LeBron fan. I'll give him credit for what he has accomplished in his career, but he's just not someone I enjoy watching.

I was never a Michael Jordan fan either. I didn't like him at UNC and really didn't like him after the Bulls beat the Lakers for their championship. There's something about disliking a player and seeing them accomplish big things that further cements that dislike. I wasn't a Shaq or Dwight Howard fan, but I didn't necessarily dislike them that much either. Also, neither had accomplished so much before coming to L.A.

I never had to worry about Jordan joining the Lakers, but here we are at the point where LeBron joining them is probably even likely at this point. I don't watch nearly as much NBA as I used to, but this would probably test my ability to root for team over player more than ever before. The closest I can think of would be Ndamukong Suh signing with the Rams, but I didn't start disliking him until the stomping incidents began. I actually wanted him to be a Ram before they set their sights on Bradford.

Who knows, maybe this is all for naught and James joins the list of NBA stars that have spurned the Lakers in recent years. Then I'll have a real reason not to like the guy! Which of course makes no sense.

A new video on my YouTube channel covering the top 10 Rams individual seasons of all-time. A few criteria: no repeats and omitted Jones, Olsen, Youngblood because sacks weren't an official stat until 1982. I value individual performance the most, but team success plays a small role in my rankings as well.

You know this is jmo right? What are your thoughts? Let's debate.
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Goff Adjusting Well to Rams Coaching Staff Changes

Kristen Lago
RAMS WRITER/REPORTER


The Rams 2018 offseason program was not just marked by changes to the club’s roster. Los Angeles’ coaching staff also saw its share of turnover, with the departure of former offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur and quarterbacks coach Greg Olson.

Plus, three of the club’s current coaches were also dealt promotions as offensive line coach Aaron Kromer took over as run game coordinator, tight ends coach Shane Waldron as passing game coordinator, and assistant wide receivers coach Zac Taylor as the team’s new quarterbacks coach.

Though many of the changes were small in nature, they all seemed to directly affect one player in particular — quarterback Jared Goff.

And because Goff was already subject to a complete set of new coaches after his rookie season, the staff has been especially mindful of his adjustment in 2018.

“The biggest thing is keeping that consistency in the messaging that’s been in the meeting rooms,” Waldron said. “Zac Taylor has done a great job of picking up where Olson left off and then ultimately you have coach McVay who is the lead voice of our offense as a whole. His message has always remained the same, so we’re just falling in line there.”

By keeping the messaging consistent, Goff has been able to focus on building up his new relationships. And despite the turnover, the Cal product has kept a positive outlook, calling the changes exciting and fun to watch.

“Zac and Shane have been tremendous for us,” he said. “I really learned a lot with Zac and he’s taught me different things with his spin on things, and the same thing with Shane. They both have their take on things that’s different and I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Plus, by returning to the same system under the same play caller, Goff has been able to keep up his own level of consistency. And as changes are made around him and throughout the organization, his relationship with McVay has become all the more important.

“I think as anyone wants to be, I think quarterback and play caller has gotta be pretty tight,” Goff said. “Our relationship continues to grow and we feel good about it.”

[www.therams.com]

https://www.therams.com/news/cooper-looking-to-grow-as-a-receiver

Cooper Looking to Grow as a Receiver

Myles Simmons

Rams Insider


Pharoh Cooper entered the league in 2016 as a fourth-round pick. Back then, he looked like he had a chance to significantly upgrade the Rams’ wide receiving corps, as the club’s top two wideouts combined for just 1,154 yards receiving and eight touchdowns the year before.

Cooper suffered a preseason shoulder injury, which undeniably set him back a bit to contribute in his rookie season.

But in his second year, Cooper. Became an All-Pro returner on both kick and punt returns — earring a trip to the Pro Bowl for his performance. He led the league with 27.4 yards per kick return, and finished second with 12.5 yards per punt return.

But even as Los Angeles boasts one of the better young receiving groups in the league — led by Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, and Brandin Cooks — Cooper is looking to make an impact as a receiver.

“Absolutely, I’ve never lost focus of that,” Cooper said during the offseason program. “This is my role right now, I’m a punt returner and kickoff returner, but I’ll never let the punt return or kick return take over the fact that I’m also a receiver.”

In 2017, Cooper made 11 receptions for 84 yards on 19 targets. He also took an end around for six yards, showing some versatility out of the receiver spot. In all, Cooper’s made 25 receptions for 190 yards in his first two seasons as a pro.

And so even as Cooper’s focus heading into 2018 is mainly to be the best returner he can be, he’s been investing in himself as an offensive player, too.

“I got drafted to play receiver, so I hope to play for a long career,” Cooper said. “And at a point in time in my career, I plan on being a starting receiver.”

Mike Karney joins Jake Ellenbogen for Throwback Thursday;

https://www.spreaker.com/user/downtownrams/dtrpodcasttbt99

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...benched-515-lbs-when-asked-about-aaron-donald

That's an absolute load for a running back! No wonder the dude breaks so many arm tackles.