I have a TV question

I love old British Comedies , but one thing that has always baffled me

unlike in the US , most TV network shows have like 22 - 26 episodes per year , always falls on the same time and night each week

But I've noticed in the UK , most shows only have like 7 - 9 episodes per year ,

with so few episodes per year , how do you know when an individual show was even on , did it come on like once every two months , or do they like show them all at once and their done for the year

was just always curious

https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2018/6...guars-rams-under-over-predictions-2018-season

Looking at upcoming schedules as we try to map out a season, we tend to default the previous season’s record to infer strength of schedule heading into the new season. What we need to examine more closely are the quarterbacks on the schedules. That’s a better way to determine the possible records for teams heading into the 2018 season.
Using that information, I’m taking the under for both the Los Angeles Rams and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Los Angeles skyrocketed to the NFC West title last season behind first year head coach Sean McVay, quarterback Jared Goff, their run game, and the defense. If we take a closer look at their
2017 schedule, we see it’s littered with below average quarterbacks. The two best quarterbacks they beat were Drew Brees and Russell Wilson, with the Seahawks being a shell of themselves by the end of the season.
The Rams lost six total games (11-5 regular season) and the list of quarterbacks they were defeated by were some of the best they played all season — Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Matt Ryan, Case Keenum (based on his 2017 performance), and Carson Wentz. (I’m excluding Jimmy Garoppolo for the moment.)
If we look at their 2018 schedule, there’s improvement among their opponents, especially those within the division. Jimmy G twice a season and either Sam Bradford or Josh Rosen in two games. They also face Derek Carr, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, Brees, Matthew Stafford, Cousins, and Wentz. You can also include Pat Mahomes and Mitch Trubisky, who could be much improved by Week 11 and 14, respectively, when they play the Rams.
The Rams did add Ndamukong Suh, Aqib Talib, and Marcus Peters to their defense, which should bolster Wade Phillips’ unit. Also, Goff and company have another year in McVay’s offense.
The Rams have potential to be excellent, but I don’t like their schedule. I’m taking the under for Los Angeles Rams to reach 10 wins.
When I scan NFL win totals, I keep coming back to one as my most confident pick. That’s the under on the Jacksonville Jaguars for nine wins.
I’m supposed to bet the over on Blake Bortles? Nope, not happening. The Jaguars often won last season in spite of him. In the last five road games of the season, Bortles was 1-4 with four touchdowns and six interceptions, and he only averaged 6.7 yards per attempt.
While teams are becoming more creative on offense, the Jaguars seem to want to ground and pound. It’s hard for me to see this working as well in 2018 unless they are ahead in every game. That’s possible with that defense, don’t get me wrong. It’s an outstanding group, but unless the Jaguars are ahead in every game, we’ve seen that the staff doesn’t trust the quarterback to win it for them.
Bortles and his team had a 2017 season with very little bad luck. Everything went their way, including their schedule. They missed on Andrew Luck and Deshaun Watson twice. They lost to a Titans team with Marcus Mariota not playing close to where his career trajectory points. This year, they get the NFC East and AFC East (which outside of Tom Brady isn’t so great at the quarterback position). They also have to play the Chiefs and Steelers. Combine that with their much improved division, take the under on the Jaguars at nine wins.

By: Cameron DaSilva |

There were a handful of players who stood out during the Los Angeles Rams’ offseason workout program, which included OTAs and mandatory minicamp. While Aaron Donald wasn’t in attendance and a few projected starters were held out due to injury, the Rams still put together a bunch of strong practices.

Among those who performed well were Jared Goff, Brandin Cooks, Justin Lawler and Samson Ebukam, but no one should be overlooking Cory Littleton at this point in the offseason. He took snaps at middle linebacker as the defensive signal caller, looking more and more like a starter heading into 2018.


ESPN’s NFL Nation writers selected surprise standouts from each team and it was Littleton getting the nod in Los Angeles.

A former undrafted free agent in 2016, Littleton took the place this offseason of former team captain Alec Ogletree at inside linebacker. Littleton demonstrated to the staff in limited playing time in 2017 that he had the ability to be a playmaker. Coach Sean McVay said Littleton “immediately stepped in” during the offseason program and that he has done a “great job communicating” in a position that requires a leader.

Littleton isn’t a lock to start in Alec Ogletree’s place next to Mark Barron, but as of now, he definitely looks like the front-runner. He’s an athletic linebacker with good instincts and awareness in coverage, but he could use some work as a run defender.

He’s not the thumper that many associate with inside linebackers in a 3-4 defense, but in today’s pass-happy NFL, coverage skills are almost more important. That being said, Littleton has to show he can hold up against the run if the Rams want to improve their 28th-ranked rush defense from a year ago.

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/20...ory-littleton-minicamp-otas-defense-standout/

We will have two of the ten spots locked up with Aaron Donald and Todd Gurley remaining. Where will they fall? Both are great players, but I think Donald will be ranked higher. I think he's the best player in the NFL, regardless of position, but QB lovers won't allow him the #1 Spot, imo.

My guess is:
#2 Aaron Donald
#6 Todd Gurley

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/06/18/nfl-california-teams-2018-best-year-ever

The NFL in California in 2018: The Best Year Ever?

• The Rams, Raiders, Chargers and 49ers all promise compelling storylines and exciting football in 2018, making this possibly the most anticipated NFL season ever in California. The MMQB is devoting a week in June to exploring what should make this season golden in the Golden State

By ANDY BENOIT


MICHAEL ZAGARIS/SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS/GETTY IMAGES

It’s supposed to be a tumultuous time for pro football in California. The Rams returned to Los Angeles from St. Louis two years ago after abandoning Southern California in 1995. Last year they were joined in L.A. by the Chargers, who’d been an institution in San Diego since 1961.

Both are vagabond franchises for now, the Rams playing in a venerable but creaky 94-year-old stadium and the Chargers in a pint-sized soccer arena until the completion of their shared Inglewood venue in 2020.

The Raiders face a similar limbo after this year, when their lease at Oakland Coliseum expires. They may or may not spend the next season or two in the Bay Area before moving to Las Vegas. Across the Bay, the 49ers in 2014 moved 40 miles south to Santa Clara, which is a lot closer to San Jose than to San Francisco.

It’s a four-team transitional period ripe for chaos, and yet few in 2018 will notice thanks to the old John Madden quote about winning being a great deodorant. A lot of winning is expected in California this year.

In fact, not since the early ’80s, when Joe Montana’s 49ers and Al Davis’s Raiders were claiming Super Bowls, and Eric Dickerson’s Rams and Dan Fouts’s Chargers were pushing for playoff spots, has the state’s NFL landscape looked so collectively promising.

The Rams burst into the NFL’s contender club last season with the arrival of wunderkind coach Sean McVay and an ascending roster. They’re now one of Vegas’s Super Bowl favorites. The Chargers won nine of their last 12 games and favored in the AFC West.

The Raiders are two years removed from a 12-win season, with franchise QB Derek Carr locked in long-term and deified coach Jon Gruden resurrected. The 49ers, after acquiring their prospective franchise QB in Jimmy Garoppolo one day before Halloween, won six of their last seven games, including all five of Garoppolo’s starts.

It’s not hard to imagine four California teams reaching this year’s playoffs. That’s never happened. Based on preseason odds, there’s an 18 percent chance a California team wins Super Bowl 53—the highest likelihood since such data tracking began in 1999.

Yes, individually, each franchise has been stronger before. The Rams won seven straight division titles from 1973 to ’79, culminating in a Super Bowl appearance. The Chargers were an early power in the AFL and in the early ’80s revolutionized the passing game with Fouts and coach Don Coryell.

The Raiders were one of pro football’s winningest teams from 1967 to 1978, winning the 1976 Super Bowl under John Madden. After that, Tom Flores led the Raiders to Lombardi Trophies in 1980 and ’83.

And, of course, the 49ers won four Super Bowls under Joe Montana and another with Steve Young during a nearly two-decade run of excellence. But always at some point in there, one California team was having a down year. Maybe we’ll see that this year, but none of the four fan bases believes it will be theirs.

This week we’ll dive deep into each team in the Golden State, to see what all the excitement is about. We’ll hear from the Rams’ new star cornerback tandem of Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib about being risk-taking playmakers. Chargers owner Dean Spanos and his staff will tell us about forging into their new L.A. market, and their seven-time Pro Bowl QB Philip Rivers will take us through a film study session.

New Raiders defensive coordinator Paul Guenther will reveal everything that happens in a coach’s life when he takes over a new unit. We’ll meet the best defensive lineman nobody talks about, San Francisco’s DeForest Buckner.

And we’ll examine what’s shaping up to be the NFL’s best coaching rivalry—Sean McVay versus Kyle Shanahan—and why their Rams and 49ers offenses are the two that other teams studied the most this offseason.

For harder core football nerds, we’re dipping into our summer 2018 team previews early, giving you the unabridged on-field outlook for the Rams, Chargers, Raiders and Niners.

You’ll find all the California Week stories here as they post. Enjoy.

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http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/new...talib-peters-cooks/1m0zr0vmzvvua1izdp1fos1la7

Breaking down new-look Rams: Suh boosts defense; Cooks refines offense
NFL

• Vinnie Iyer @vinnieiyer
  
  
  Published on Jun. 18, 2018
  
  The Los Angeles Rams' response to a long-awaited breakthrough season in 2017 has been a Hollywood marquee-worthy 2018 offseason.
  
  After going 11-5 and winning the NFC West for the first time in 14 years thanks to rookie coach Sean McVay getting the best out of the offense, the Rams went to work in upgrading their defense. Six new starters are projected to flank stud lineman Aaron Donald, as the team acquired tackle Ndamukong Suh and cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib to be key personnel in Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme.
  
  
  McVay and general manager Les Snead did not forget to make a splash on the other side of the ball. They traded for former Saints and Patriots wide receiverBrandin Cooks late in free agency.
  
  
  
  That's a lot of change for a talented, young team still trying to find its championship groove. When examining key parts of the Rams' depth chart going into training camp and cutting through the hype, some new questions come with those new solutions.
  
  
  Wide receiver
  Cooks, still only 24, was traded for the second time in many offseasons ahead of the final year of his rookie deal. After going through a roller coaster in New Orleans and New England with Drew Brees and Tom Brady, respectively, Cooks hopes to last in LA as Jared Goff's go-to guy.
  
  The Rams had Cooks on their radar in 2017, and he gives them both a big-play and a little-play upgrade over Sammy Watkins, who signed with the Chiefs. Cooks got a head start working with Goff before they officially became teammates. There's a good Pac-12 vibe going with Goff, Cooks and last year's surprise top wideout, Robert Woods.
  
  Cooks and Woods are more interchangeable than Watkins and Woods were when it comes to their hands and skills after the catch. With Josh Reynolds, who once was tabbed as Watkins' possible replacement, coming off shoulder surgery, Cooks is a luxury born out of necessity. His quickness will give McVay new ways to stretch the passing game.
  
  Cooper Kupp, who was outstanding from the slot as a rookie last season, is a few months older than Cooks. Their styles cross well, especially on pivot routes, which are staples of the Rams and Patriots' offenses in which Kupp and Cooks excelled separately in 2017. This year, when spreading the field against man coverage, the Rams will be harder to stop.
  
  
  Defensive line
  While Donald does whatever he wants while away from the team and waiting to get a lucrative contract extension worthy of the league's most disruptive defensive player, the Rams are figuring out the best way to fit Suh next to him on their base three-man front.
  
  Suh arrives in LA with new motivation on a one-year "prove it" deal for the first time in his career. Although he has gone through the wringer of defensive coordinators, Suh played in a base 4-3 scheme throughout his time with the Lions and Dolphins.
  
  The trick for Phillips is getting the most out of Suh in the inside pass rush and not putting him in a more limited (though more comfortable) run-stopping role in an unfamiliar defense. The Rams' third starting lineman, Michael Brockers, is so good against the run that Suh can assume an attack-based (instead of gap-clogging) nose tackle role.
  
  Suh, 31, saw his sack total trickle down to 4.5 in Miami last season after registering 8.5 in his last year with Detroit (2014). Phillips will put him in an ideal position to be more productive as Suh plays directly off the attention Donald receives.
  
  The Rams ranked No. 4 in the NFL with 48 sacks last season, with Donald (11) and Brockers (4.5) producing nearly a third of them. Another 15.5 sacks from linebackers Robert Quinn, Connor Barwin and Alec Ogletree are gone, so with LA now lacking a dominant edge-rusher, Suh must rediscover some of his pop with Phillips' help.
  
  Linebacker
  The Rams parted with Quinn, Barwin and Ogletree, and with Mark Barron at inside linebacker as the only returning starter, there are no surefire replacements on the roster.
  
  Based on situational snap counts last season, Samson Ebukam (fourth-rounder in 2017) and Matt Longacre (undrafted in 2015) are set to start outside now that rookie Ogbonnia Okoronkwo is coming off foot surgery. Ebukam is the better run-stopper and Longacre is the better pass-rusher, but neither has proved himself in coverage. Third in the mix is Morgan Fox, who is a little more well-rounded but also is converting from defensive line. Compared to how strong they are elsewhere on defense, the Rams are weak, inexperienced and thin at linebacker.
  
  The Rams' defense last year ranked No. 28 against the run, giving up 122.4 yards per game and 4.7 yards per carry. Although Barron can boost the coverage as a converted safety, he struggles against the run. Ogletree was even worse, which led to his being traded to the Giants despite signing a contract extension during the 2017 season.
  
  Barron could be challenged in camp, too, but for now, Cory Littleton, Bryce Hager, former Chief Ramik Wilson and rookie Micah Kiser are battling for snaps at the other inside spot. Kiser is a natural inside pass-rusher but not much else. Littleton also can get to the QB and is equally good at run and pass coverage. Wilson goes in with the most seasoning, having started 11 games for the Chiefs two seasons ago. But Hager, who produced as a starter in the Rams' 2017 regular-season finale against the 49ers, has a chance to emerge as the best of the bunch.
  
  Phillips in LA doesn't have a DeMarcus Ware or a Von Miller at linebacker. While steadiness is important for those positions, the strengths of the Rams' front and back ends can allow the coordinator to take risks with the players who provide the most youthful energy and upside vs. those who might be considered safe.
  
  Cornerback
  There was a perception last season that the Rams had strong corners, but their coverage was propped up by their two priority re-signees, nickel corner Nickell Robey-Coleman and free safety LaMarcus Joyner. They were active playmakers who combined for five of the team's 18 interceptions.
  
  Trumaine Johnson and Kayvon Webster had their moments outside but were below-average starters. Enter Talib from the Broncos, where he once played for Phillips, and Peters, the former Chiefs corner who arrives as the Rams' biggest offseason prize.
  
  
  
  Talib is a sturdy shutdown type who seems to get better into his 30s. Peters can be burned for big plays, but he is fearless in trying to make them himself. It's hard to find a better combination of players who complement each other's games so well. They also combine to match the Phillips mentality of mixing consistent reward with worthy risks.
  
  The key for Talib and Peters will be meshing their personalities, as well as accepting the fact that they will be considered co-No. 1 corners. Phillips has handled plenty of aggressive defenders with attitude; his track record is making them happy by putting them in positions that mutually benefit the team and the individual players.
  
  Behind Peters, Talib and Robey-Coleman are few viable fill-in options, but former Packer Sam Shields brings another veteran presence to the depth chart. Throwing downfield against the Rams and their revamped secondary will be difficult. The new defensive backs give Phillips endless blitzing scenarios to generate an improved pass rush by committee.
  
  Phillips is as good at masking defensive weaknesses as he is at magnifying strengths. With LA's offense expected to score plenty of points and put pressure on opponents to pass, the defensive coordinator now has the goods to capitalize on the mistakes those opposing offenses make.

.

Nice but special teams should have been all Rams. To read the whole list click the link below.
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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2781251-the-best-player-at-every-position-in-the-nfl#slide2

The Best Player at Every Position in the NFL
GARY DAVENPORT

The definition of "best" may vary from position to position, but one thing is for sure: There are some players who stand above all others as the guys you want on the field when the game is on the line.

Whether it's the league's most successful quarterback, the game's gold standard at receiver, terrific pass-rushers or even a punter (punters are people too), these are the best players at every position.

Running Back: Todd Gurley II, Los Angeles Rams


Kelvin Kuo/Associated Press

This was the most difficult decision on the list. There are a fistful of worthy candidates.

David Johnson of the Arizona Cardinals was impressively consistent two years ago, setting an NFL record with at least 100 yards in the first 15 games of the season. But Johnson sat out almost all of 2017 with a fractured wrist.

Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys might be the best fourth-quarter grinder in the NFL. But Elliott's passing-game chops aren't as good as some backs', and sometimes "best" means spearheading a comeback.

Le'Veon Bell of the Pittsburgh Steelers is as dangerous as any tailback when he has the ball in his hands. However, he's not the best choice to help milk the clock late to seal a win.

That leaves Todd Gurley II of the Los Angeles Rams.

Yes, Gurley's had only one huge year. But what a year it was—he averaged 4.7 yards per carry, caught 64 passes, scored 19 touchdowns and won the Offensive Player of the Year award.

Offensive Tackle: Andrew Whitworth, Los Angeles Rams


Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

This much can be said for Andrew Whitworth of the Los Angeles Rams: There isn't a more valuable player in the NFL at his position.

Before the 13th-year veteran arrived in La La Land, the Rams offensive line was a hot mess. As a result, young quarterback Jared Goff spent far too much of his rookie season running for his life.

It's rather hard to develop as a passer and flee in terror simultaneously.

The impact of Whitworth's arrival can't be overstated. The Rams jumped a full 20 spots in pass protection, per Football Outsiders, from 2016 to 2017. Todd Gurley II went from looking like a bust to the Offensive Player of the Year. And Goff went from lost as a rookie to second-year sensation.

Plus the Rams won the NFC West, if you're into that sorta thing.

Defensive Tackle: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams


Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Some calls in this piece were difficult.

This was not one of those calls.

There are some really good defensive tackles in the NFL. And then there's Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams.

From the moment Donald took the field, he's been one of the most disruptive defenders in the league. The 6'1", 280-pounder's first step is the stuff of legend. Sometimes it almost appears as if Donald's waiting in the offensive backfield for the ball to be snapped.

Twice in his four NFL seasons, Donald's recorded 11 sacks. His average stat line is 51 tackles and 9.8 sacks per season—ridiculous numbers for an interior lineman.

He's also faced double-teams all the time, too. With Ndamukong Suh now playing beside him in L.A., it's possible the best is yet to come for Donald.

Don't bet against him to bring home a second consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award in 2018.

He's dominant. He's relentless. He never, ever stops.

These are excerpts. To read the whole article click the link below.
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https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/06/18/a...mp-mike-mccarthy-packers-norv-turner-panthers

For Andrew Luck, It All Re-Starts Here
Andrew Luck is throwing again, in case you didn’t know. But here’s why it's different from seemingly every other time he’s attempted to come back from injury.
By Albert Breer



It received less attention than the dog-and-pony show with the smaller football on Tuesday, but on Wednesday, Colts quarterback Andrew Luck threw an actual NFL football. In front of everyone. Media included. And I’m told he did it again on Friday, while working out without cameras and reporters around to recount every one of his paces.

This is how Luck is going to have it for the next few months, and no one needs to apologize for the scrutiny. He’s a generational talent who carried the Colts—with a roster gutted to start the post-Peyton Manning era—to the playoffs in 2012, a playoff win in ’13 and a trip to the AFC championship game in ’14.

He’s the NFL’s closest player to a LeBron James-level prospect this decade. And he was well on his way to realizing his potential like James has before he messed up his shoulder in 2015, and made it worse by playing through the injury for almost two years.

So yes, the attention is justified—Luck returning to the practice field and throwing was easily the biggest story coming out of NFL minicamps this week. And that’s where we’re going to start this week’s MMQB. Here’s four things I know…

1. Luck is deeper into his rehab without a major hiccup than he has been at any point since the initial procedure in January 2017. Last year he never got past the five-and-a-half month mark. One difference: He’s been more deliberate with his return to health this time around.

2. He’s pulled out all the stops, including going to Los Angeles to work with a mechanics coach and traveling all the way to Amsterdam for treatment, seeking alternative ways to train. Listening to the QB talk makes it sound like he found something that works for him.

3. The upper reaches of the Colts brass privately have heard the tone we all did publicly last week, which is different from what Luck’s tone had been previously. The quarterback admitted he was lying to himself last year. And while he knows that getting back to throwing on a more regular basis will lead to soreness, he’s confident it will be just that—soreness, rather than pain. “The pain is gone, and it’s going to stay that way,” he said to reporters at minicamp. “My body doesn’t revolt, in a sense, to new things I ask.”

4. Luck’s injury is being handled like any other injury would be in the spring and summer—with the utmost care, given the acknowledgement that no one is playing a real game this weekend ... or will for another dozen weekends. To that end, I’m told the plan is to give Luck days off in training camp, and monitor reps to simulate what his regular-season regimen will be, so he’ll be conditioned for Week 1 when he gets there.

Here‘s the flip side: Luck hasn’t done anything in any sort of team setting (11-on-11, etc.) yet—in front of media or not—besides stretching and the QB/center exchange, and that leaves just the six weeks between the start of training camp and the opener for him to re-acclimate. There hasn’t been a breakthrough moment or even much talk internally of where Luck stands physically for the staff to chew on—instead, just a call for patience.

And last year, there were no fewer than four setbacks along the way, based on what the team was saying. The Colts said he’d be ready for camp, but he wasn’t. Then they said he’d be ready for Week 1, but he wasn’t. Then they kept him off the PUP list, implying they believed he would play within the season’s first six weeks, and he didn’t. And then after the team had him throwing in October, he was shut down.

So skepticism is absolutely understandable here.

What I can say that is no one is questioning the commitment or work he’s put in, and so his optimism is the team’s optimism. Members of the Colts staff noticed how ripped Luck looked when he returned to the building in December, and if you look at pictures from this spring, you can see it. As we mentioned, he’s committed himself fully to finding a way to get his shoulder right. As one staffer explained, the Colts are “really proud of the kid,” just for that.

If and when Luck returns to the field, there is reason to believe things will be different than they have been. GM Chris Ballard has put the infrastructure in place—if rookies Quenton Nelson and Braden Smith win jobs, and everyone stays healthy, Luck would have four linemen picked in the top 40 of their respective drafts in front of him, and a revamped group of backs led by Marlon Mack and Nyheim Hines behind him.

What does this all add up to? We’ll see. And by we’ll see, I mean that this is probably as good as the Colts have felt about where Luck is at physically since Ballard arrived in January 2017, and it’s certainly the best spot they’ve been in with him since Frank Reich was hired as head coach in February, so we’ll see how much that winds up meaning.


Larry Radloff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

For a long time coaches have said that they don’t get enough time with their players under the rules of the 2011 CBA. In March 2017 I wrote about how the coaches had organized and brought up the issue with the league. So it caught my attention last week when Packers coach Mike McCarthy decided to send 16 of his most seasoned players—what he calls the “veteran select group”—home for the summer a week early. His reasoning was pretty simple.

“You gotta define the statement—‘limited time with players,’” McCarthy told me just before his last practice of the spring. “From my viewpoint, the defining thing is it’s limited time with younger players. I’m of the opinion—and it started in 2016, and in a different form and fashion it started before that—that you get to a point in the offseason program where you’re trying to create more opportunities for your young players.”

Before 2016, McCarthy found that he was spending time resting veterans during the nine-week offseason program in order to give the younger players more practice time. It made sense to do that for the benefit of both the younger and the older guys. Two years ago McCarthy took the next step, and fully excused 15 vets from the minicamp.

As he saw it, it had the same effect as resting guys while they were still in the facility. The upshot was threefold: First, taking the most senior members of the locker room out of the equation would create leadership opportunities for guys becoming young vets. Second, the minicamp could be tailored specifically to development. And third, the older guys see it as a reward.

“Like in Aaron’s case: Six years for Aaron Rodgers, that’s 6,000 reps of regular season, but also another 6,000 practice reps. He’s in Year 14. You’re recognizing it,” McCarthy said. “And frankly, the opportunity to individually train for another week, that’s something, to a man, they’re very appreciative of. When the majority of your group makes a concerted effort to single you out to tell you how much they’re appreciative of the extra week, that in itself is a reward as a head coach.

“And they’ve earned that. … But I’m cognizant of what I’m doing through Phase I and Phase II, and the first nine OTA practices. The allocation of reps reflect that. We’re clearly accommodating that they’re not going to be at minicamp.”

McCarthy’s approach, going back to 2011, is trying to make the most of the time he has with the players (in-season they’ve toyed with things like holding full practices on Saturday). The league in general has gotten younger, thanks in part to the reworked rookie salary scale, which means players have to be ready to play faster than ever, despite having less time to work than ever.

Focusing all of his attention on the younger players in the minicamp, where they not only practice but get a full day of meetings and an extra walkthrough (the rest of the offseason program is mostly half-days) to study and make corrections, is a nod to that. McCarthy says he’s seen the difference in his young quarterbacks and corners and pass-rushers, and with younger defensive players’ readiness to step into a signal-caller role.

Last week, in fact, he says he saw more of the young tight ends who will add depth behind Jimmy Graham than he might have otherwise. The hope is that this will pay off in the first month of the season, when McCarthy—and many others—have seen the league’s development problem show up in quality of play.

“I think it’s obvious to everybody,” McCarthy said. “If you watch at the beginning of the season, games one through four, one through five, you look at the quality of play, it’s different from before. This is my opinion—it really is noticeable once you have injuries. And unfortunately, we’ve had injuries. When you start battling the injury component, and every team goes through it, now you’re playing younger players a little earlier than you’d like to.

“Very obvious things like that pop out at you and you take time to step away and think about how do address it. How do you improve?”

Obviously, he believes he’s found a way.


David T. Foster III/Charlotte Observer/TNS via Getty Images

Last August, I traveled with Norv Turner to training camps as he navigated his first summer without football in decades, and he made one thing clear—it would take a pretty ideal situation to pull him back into coaching. In Charlotte, he thinks he’s found that situation, as offensive coordinator for the Panthers. His boss, Ron Rivera, is an old assistant of his. His son, Scott, is his quarterbacks coach. And the topper: He gets to coach Cam Newton.

Turner has coached Troy Aikman, Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, but if you ask him if he’s ever had a quarterback like the one he’s got now, he won’t skip a beat.

“No,” Turner said, on the last day of the team’s spring work. “It’s an understatement to say [Newton is] very unique, and when he’s playing at his best, defensive coaches see him as one of the hardest guys in the league to defend. Now, I think we’ve added some guys that will help, so they can’t totally zero in on Cam and just have a plan for him. We have some guys that have good playmaking skills and are going to help us.”

The Panthers drafted DJ Moore—who has looked the part in OTAs and minicamp—and built veteran depth in acquiring Jarius Wright and Torrey Smith. Christian McCaffrey’s a year older, and last year’s second-rounder, Curtis Samuel, is healthy and gives the coaches another Swiss Army knife of a weapon.

But more than anything else, the Turners were brought to Carolina to get the most out of Newton—replacing Mike Shula and Ken Dorsey, Newton’s OC and position coach the last five years—and they know it. They also know that because Newton is a different kind of player, they’ll have to coach him in a different way.

It starts with scheme, and Newton has a head start there. Turner’s old protégé Rob Chudzinski installed the first NFL offense that Newton ran, in 2011, and Shula carried over the terminology when he was promoted in 2013, so there’s a ton of conceptual familiarity in place. Conversely, both Chudzinski and Shula added on with pretty extensive option-based packages. And that stuff’s not coming out.

“Chud did a great job of looking at the things that Cam did well in college, looking at all the RPOs,” Turner said. “They started running them in 2011. You go back and look at their tape, it’s impressive. All the things people are talking about, that teams are doing, Cam was doing it in 2011 and ’12. So the system, he’s not having to learn new verbiage, new calls. …. And the things that Cam has done well, we’re going to continue to do.

“He was the MVP two years ago. You can put games on and he’s just outstanding. What we’re trying do is make sure we put him in a position where, as we approach it, he doesn’t have the highs and the lows, so we can get consistency through a 16-game season.”

That’s where the individual part of the equation comes in, which hasbeen a little different. From a teaching standpoint, the younger Turner (who was a quality control coach in Carolina for Newton’s first two seasons) has tried to make what can be monotonous spring work competitive in the quarterback room to get the players more engaged.

One example: They time a quick-hand drill where each quarterback takes five rapid-fire shotgun snaps, throwing to five different spots, and declare winners and losers at the end. The result the coaches have seen is a locked-in starter who’s learning the ins and outs of every play call, rather than just going out and playing.

“With him, on every play, we want to make sure he has a plan and he’s following that plan,” said Scott Turner. “And to know checking down is OK. A lot of Cam’s issues have come because he’s so talented that he thinks he can make every play work. And sometimes, it’s just not there, so you check down and go to the next play. By holding the ball, sometimes he takes hits or falls into negative plays.

“Making decisions quick, getting the ball out of his hand, that’s where, when he improves, the consistency will come. We’re not trying to make him anything he’s not. We want him to be the best version of himself.”

And if the new guys coaching Cam get that out of him, look out.
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As far as I can remember, six high-profile players holding out from NFL minicamps this year is the highest since the 2011 CBA went into effect. There were four in 2014, and last year, there were none, which makes this year’s half-dozen—Rams DL Aaron Donald, Raiders OLB Khalil Mack, Falcons WR Julio Jones, Seahawks S Earl Thomas, Titans OT Taylor Lewan and Cardinals RB David Johnson—all the more interesting.

What gives? After talking to a few teams and a few agents, I came up with six reasons why these six players would stay away at the risk of fines of up to $84,435 …

• Players believe that the fines, ultimately, will be waived. They aren’t always, but if a holdout leads to a long-term deal, the penalties usually are. And in other cases when a deal isn’t struck, teams will use the carrot of waiving the fine as a lever to get the player back in the fold. The Rams, for example, waived seven figures in fines to Donald last summer. So most agents will lay out the facts to their clients, with some level of confidence that the fines will be negotiable in the end.

• Five of the six players holding out have been on big contracts already and should be able to afford the risk. Both Jones and Thomas are former first-half-of-the-first-round picks, on second deals that topped the market when they were signed, and Donald, Lewan and Mack all went in the first 13 picks in 2014, meaning their original contracts were sizeable relative to their draft class. Johnson, a third-round pick in 2015, is a different story.

• There is something of a domino effect at play here—if one player holds out then another will feel more comfortable following suit. It’s tougher to do it if you’re the only one. Lewan and Johnson didn’t have to worry about that when they made the late decisions to stay away.

• The 2011 CBA rookie deals don’t give players much leverage. Where first-round picks in the old system had gigantic cap numbers at the end of their deals as leverage to push teams to negotiate early, the current system gives teams the fifth-year option, and then the franchise tag option in Year 6 on those guys, which can keep them from the big second contract every vet wants into their late 20s. So they have to find ways to create their own leverage.

• Second-tier players, on the other hand, have made it to the market, and reaped the rewards of the rising cap. You think Jones might have taken note of Sammy Watkins’ three-year, $48 million deal in Kansas City? Think Johnson noticed how the Niners just gave Jerick McKinnon a four-year, $30 million contract? It makes sense that first-tier guys might get antsy seeing what second-tier guys are getting.

• Every year, there’s a freak injury or two in the spring that might make players think, “I’m not risking anything”. This year it was Chargers TE Hunter Henry tearing his ACL at OTAs. Next year is a contract year for Henry.

There are more personal reasons in these cases too. Both Jones and Thomas have played through many injuries and are approaching 30, so football mortality is at play too. But as much as I can remember, players are starting to get wise to market conditions (seeking shorter contracts is one piece of fallout there).

We’ll see where this goes come August, when the fines only get heavier ($40,000) and the stakes for the teams are much higher.
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TAKEAWAYS
1. If you remember Christian Hackenberg’s first (only?) two seasons in the NFL down the line, it will probably be for the number zero—as in the number of snaps he’s gotten so far as a pro. That’s hard to believe considering the fact that he was drafted 51st overall in 2016, and he was considered a potential top pick two years earlier. The Raiders cut Hackenberg last week, three weeks after the Jets traded him for not much more than a bag of pylons.

So how did this all happen? Hackenberg had the size, the arm, the drive, the football IQ and the charisma to make it in the league. But the Jets screwed up in believing accuracy issues that were clearly there at Penn State (and Bill O’Brien effectively covered up in 2013) could be solved in the pros. And then, criticism in that area (remember when Jets reporters went nuts over the overthrown ball that almost hit them on the sideline at a practice?) got in his head, the problem got worse, and that was it.

2. It feels like every other day I’m hearing about another running back from this April’s draft class who’s poised for big things. Last week it was Derrius Guice, and this week it’s Kerryon Johnson, Detroit’s second-rounder from Auburn. He’s flashed competitiveness and great run instincts in his first few weeks as a Lion.

If he can get up to speed in pass protection, where he’s raw, he’s a good bet to carve out a nice role in the fall. He and the rest of the backs there should also have a pretty legit line to run behind too, if Taylor Decker stays healthy (they think he’s a franchise-level left tackle) and Frank Ragnow looks as good in pads as has out of them this spring.

3. Most of the change in Kansas City has centered on Patrick Mahomes taking over at quarterback, but the Chiefs went through a deliberate makeover on defense over the last few months too. Playoff ousters against Pittsburgh and Tennessee the last two years showed the K.C. brass that it needed to get tougher and faster on the defensive side, and the belief is that steps have been taken there.

The additions of veteran LB Anthony Hitchens, NT Xavier Williams and CBs Kendall Fuller and David Amerson have helped. And second-rounder Breeland Speaks is already taking first-team reps opposite Justin Houston at outside linebacker, while third-rounder Dorian O’Daniel’s speed has shown up as he played as a nickel and dime ’backer.

4. It shouldn’t come as a huge shock to anyone that Nathan Peterman is competing with Josh Allen and AJ McCarron for the starting QB position in Buffalo. Yes, he looked awful in that one start against the Chargers last season. But he was consistent and efficient enough in practice (he didn’t wow anyone) to make Sean McDermott and ex-OC Rick Dennison want a look at him in game settings, and they felt like he’d represent an upgrade over Tyrod Taylor in certain areas (like the intermediate passing game in the middle of the field).

And while Peterman revealed in that game that he wasn’t any kind of upgrade, the fact that the coaches had that curiosity about him tells you he showed them something. I suspect this is just McDermott and his new offensive staff wanting to see a little more before they make the decision on who’ll start down the line. Of course, if he were to win the job, it would make you wonder about McCarron and Allen, so there’s that.

5. Here’s a name to watch in Cleveland: Fifth-round LB Genard Avery. The Memphis product was the talk of the spring on defense for the Browns and adds to a crew that brings back Jamie Collins, Christian Kirksey and Joe Schobert, and just added ex-Eagle Mychal Kendricks.

6. Odell Beckham earned the respect of the coaches and the front office this spring, and, in doing so, has effectively put the ball in the Giants’ court on the contract negotiation. He and new head coach Pat Shurmur have texted regularly throughout the offseason, and everything that’s happened has been above board as far as I can tell.

One coach there told me flatly, “Odell’s been awesome” to all the new guys in the building. And that means that when it comes time for the team to make the investment in him, and that time is coming, he’ll have a lot of people signing off on the idea of it, which wouldn’t have been the case last year.

7. This week, Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott talked to the Dallas media about assuming a leadership role and carrying a heavy load (he’ll need to) in the offense, and he’s doing more than just talking—he came to minicamp with a good attitude and in better shape than he has in the past.

Remember, Elliott showed up to camp heavy in 2016, and admitted that his looming suspension affected him last year. And he’s still rushed for 2,614 yards and 22 touchdowns in 25 career games. So as long as the Cowboys’ line is its dominant self, it’s fair to believe that Dak Prescott and a reworked passing game will have some help, and that Elliott and company could buy them some time to get right.

8. Getting Benardrick McKinney extended was a priority for the Texans this offseason, and it became reality last week with a five-year, $50 million windfall for the fourth-year inside linebacker. It’s interesting in that it’s the first big internal extension done by new GM Brian Gaine. Oftentimes, new bosses are cognizant that their first draft picks and first big contracts involve guys who reflect what they’ll look for in people. And my sense is that McKinney fits that bill for Gaine.

9. I asked Patriots QB Tom Brady last week if retirement was ever a consideration this offseason, and he quickly said, “No.” But he conceded in an interview with Oprah Winfrey that aired Sunday that he’s thought about that time coming—“I think about it more now than I used to. I think I’m seeing that there’s definitely an end coming, sooner rather than later.”

To me, the key for Brady has always been how he enjoys the work Monday-Saturday. That part, and not Sunday, is usually what pushes older players away from football. I’ve sensed more through the years that he genuinely the likes the work that goes along with playing at the highest level, and so long as that doesn’t change, he’d have a tough time walking away. But this offseason really has been the first time we’ve heard him openly discuss it—first in the “Tom vs. Time” doc, and now to Oprah.

10. The Kellen Winslow Jr. story is bizarre, I think, to the great majority of us. But a couple of his ex-teammates that I texted with over the weekend didn’t seem very surprised. Both said he was always a weird guy. Being capable of what he’s being accused of, of course, goes well beyond just weird.
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FIVE-DAY FORECAST
There isn’t a lot going on, which means that players are out on their own for summer vacation—and just a few years ago, that meant it was automatic that the arrests would start rolling in. A lot of those were for the kind of stuff a lot of 20-somethings get busted for (bar fights, etc.), some were worse, and there were a few that would be a lot worse.

So give the NFL and NFLPA credit here. The personal conduct policy was strengthened in 2007 in the wake of the Michael Vick and Pacman Jones incidents, and got even tougher in 2014, post-Ray Rice/Greg Hardy/Adrian Peterson. And we know now it’s working.

Pro Football Talk’s Mike Foolio has tracked these arrests over the years, and he published some eye-opening numbers in 2016: There were just nine player arrests over the first half of that year (remember, with 90-man rosters in place, there are nearly 3,000 guys in the NFL each spring), down from 13 in the first half of ’15, 21 over the first half of ’14, and 29 over the first half of ’13.

Foolio stopped running his arrest tracker in early 2017 at the request of Brandon Marshall because of this progress, but he did mention last week that there were none over Memorial Day weekend, which would’ve been considered a big win for the league five years ago, and was barely noticed in 2018.

Last week most coaches delivered the annual “don’t be a knucklehead” speech to their players as they broke for summer. It must feel good to them, and to the league, that the message is getting through now.

For all of the credit Sean McVay gets for turning our offense around (which he deserves) or the improvement made by Goff.. none of that would look so impressive if it wasn't for the play of Robert Woods.
Even among Rams fans, Woods contributions last season seemed somewhat under appreciated.
Woods was a revelation, especially for a team that hadn't seen good play from its wideouts since Bruce and Holt were holding it down.
Roger Saffold should have earned a Pro Bowl nod, imo. For as much as some fans loved Incognito, Richie NEVER bullied defensive linemen like Beetlejuice did all of last season.

Does Brockers get the credit he deserves outside of our fanbase?
I'm not sure.
I know we all like Nickel Robey-Coleman, but he was as good as any slot corner I have seen. In todays NFL, the importance of his excellence at the position cant be understated to our success on defense.

Who do ya'll think our most underrated player is? Who do you think might be the next player to emerge as a badass, under the radar Ram?

" Today I will do what others won't so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can't!!"
Play every snap as if it was the Final play of your career!


Anybody know where Dave got this quote? Seems like it would make a good Dave T-shirt.

I don't agree with this. While I'm glad to see "Fisher-Ball" gone for obvious reasons, he did inherit a terrible team and moved it up at least to a level of mediocrity. The surprising rise of the Rams once McVay took over makes Jeff Fisher's tenure as head coach look even worse but he did help set the table for this regime. He even claims he did.

To read about every other team's biggest mistake click the link below.
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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2780953-every-nfl-teams-biggest-mistake-of-the-past-decade#slide0

Los Angeles Rams


Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Hiring Jeff Fisher in 2012

I get it. Jeff Fisher was the hottest name on the coaching carousel in 2012, and it's not as though any of the other coaches hired that year—Mike Mularkey, Joe Philbin, Chuck Pagano, Dennis Allen, Greg Schiano—had a lot of success.

But the Rams might have been better off promoting 2011 offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels rather than allowing him to jump back to New England. Or maybe they wish they had given Mike Zimmer an interview two years before the Vikings hired him. They also interviewed Ray Horton. He might have been good?

What I'm getting at is: ABJF. Anyone But Jeff Fisher.

The Rams posted a losing record in each of Fisher's four full seasons as well as the partial year that led to his firing in 2016, and no team in football scored fewer points or gained fewer yards during Fisher's tenure in St. Louis/Los Angeles.

But what really cost the Rams is the fact that they held on for so long. The damage Fisher caused might have been limited had they recognized their mistake when everybody else did and fired him in 2014 or 2015. Instead, they let him bring his stale brand of football to a new market and allowed him to get within 100 yards of top 2016 pick Jared Goff.

A coach who got the absolute least out of Nick Foles and Case Keenum didn't fare much better with Goff, who bombed as a rookie after spending months under Fisher's tutelage. Thankfully, the Rams cut bait on Fisher late that season.

Just over a year later, Goff was a Pro Bowler, the Rams had the highest-scoring offense in the league, Keenum was the league's seventh-highest-rated passer in Minnesota and Foles won Super Bowl MVP with the Eagles.

Had the Rams not hired Fisher and held on too long, they probably wouldn't have ended up with 2017 Coach of the Year Sean McVay. But hiring Fisher was still a tremendous error.

How to combat 'phoneliness'

https://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-combat-phoneliness/

A new study likens smartphone addiction to substance abuse. Here are some ways to break the habit.

How many times per day do you interact with your phone? A few? A few dozen? Maybe a hundred? In what probably comes as a surprise to no one, too much of this can be bad for your health -- your mental health.

According to a recent NeuroRegulation study, digital addiction is real, and smartphones are causing it in a growing number of people. What's more, the symptoms and behaviors mimic those of actual substance abuse and can include increased loneliness (which the study calls "phoneliness"), anxiety and depression.

Although the study concludes with a few strategies to combat digital addiction, I wanted to know more about the problem and ways to overcome it. So I reached out to clinical forensic psychologist Dr. John Huber, chairman of the non-profit organization Mainstream Mental Health. We spoke via email; here's what he told me.

Q: How would you define "phoneliness"?
Huber: The uncontrollable urge to pick up your phone and check it, just in case you missed something.

How can I be experiencing this phenomenon when I'm surrounded by people?
Huber: The issue is much like stimulus response conditioning that was first demonstrated by Pavlov and his dogs by ringing a bell. When we get a notification, a like on "Instagram" or any other social media app, our brain releases a very small amount of dopamine. This is the same neurotransmitter released when your brain is fed cocaine. It is addictive both mentally and physically. In fact, with just two hours of screen time, research shows that people begin to exhibit behavioral signs of depression.

If I'm a heavy phone user, does that mean I'm addicted to it? Maybe I just need it for work.
Huber: Modern life has given us some huge demands on our time, and to function most efficiently we use technology. Heavy phone use is part of that trend.

When not at work, do you find yourself checking your phone or not attending to conversations with live people directly in front of you? Do you feel uneasy when you don't have your phone on your person? Do you find yourself lost in thought thinking about what you could be doing on your phone? These are all signs you may be more than a heavy user and maybe you should seek help.

What are some of the key symptoms of this addiction?
Huber: Feeling isolated when you do not have your phone, even with friends and family physically present. Feeling anxious when you do not have a good cell connection. You find yourself avoiding human interaction by using your cell phone. These are just the tip of the iceberg,

What are some good ways to reduce daily smartphone use?
Huber: Don't charge your phone overnight near your sleeping area. By giving yourself 10 to 30 minutes phone-free in the morning, you increase the likelihood of increased interactions with other humans -- and you get a better night's sleep.

When eating meals, turn your phone off. It shows respect for the people you are with and helps retrain your mind to prioritize the actual people around you.

Probably most important, engage in activities that require you to use both hands during your leisure time, preferably outside. Activities such as tennis, basketball, fishing, camping, even martial arts give us time to clear our mind and get our hearts pumping, which is always a good thing.

Mindfulness meditation is very popular right now, but the irony is we use meditation apps on our phones. Does this just worsen the problem?
Huber: Mindfulness meditation is a way to meditate by focusing on paying attention. Using phone apps and/or YouTube videos to do meditation is, in a lot of ways, defeating the purpose of the meditation.

Phones are designed to make you focus on them, so are you really learning to meditate or are we still just playing with your phone? If you want to calm yourself and attain inner peace, the best way to do that is inside yourself, not with an app.

Using social media and apps to increase our social interaction can be good for business and may keep you [connected to] society and the world in general. These interactions, though reinforced by a neurochemical process, are much like drinking a diet soda: It tastes sweet and fills your tummy, but it lacks in real nutritional value, and in the long run, too much can be harmful.

Share your hobby. Anyone a closet expert on something?

Me; I am my own barista. Started about 20yrs ago... playing around and learning. Lots of bad coffee made early days.

Eventually I settled on a commercial grade espresso machine suitable for a kitchen with all the accessories. Personally, I believe I can pound out a cup of Joe better than the most popular shop in town.

While my forte is espresso based drinks, I have the drip fans covered as well.

Please keep in mind this is a "fanpost" and just a little insight from one guy. He is evidently in his 2nd of 4 postings predicting the Santa Clara Whiner season record. What follows is week 5-8 predictions, including the much-anticipated Sunday night game against our mighty Rams. I couldn't help myself interjecting, here and there...and not just about his spelling and grammar...

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What is a real prediction for the 49ers 2018 Season? Here are weeks 5-8 predictions


By TBo812 (Fanpost)

Last week I started this conversation with weeks 1-4 and now as we move forward into the Mini Camp weeks of the preseason, I will give my thoughts on the next 4 games on our schedule. If you missed my last post and want to know where I think we will be after the first 4 weeks of the season, ( :blah: )

Now for what :eek: you've came to read, here are my predictions for weeks 5-8.

Week 5: Arizona Cardinals @ SF
Analysis: With the losses this season Arizona is in rebuild mode and most likely a few seasons to come. Other than David Johnson, I don't see very many threats on this team. QB Josh Rosen is a Rookie, Coach Steve Wilks is a new to HC position with a new team. Larry Fitzgerald will always have my respect but let not act like he is the threat he once was. All in all this is a team that frankly doesn't have the tools on paper to get it done. They say any given Sunday, but this Sunday should belong to San :eek: Fransisco

Prediction: SF wins 31-10

Week 6: SF @ Green Bay Packers (MNF)
Analysis: Green Bay has made some interesting moves this off season. Moving on from Aaron Rodgers's go to target Jordy Nelson, mostly in part of Davante Adams coming into his own, signing Jimmy graham in Free Agency, and drafting two of the best CB's in the draft with Jaire Alexander in the first round and Joshua Jackson in the second. Also the trade picking up DeShone Kizer in my opinion may be one they will be able to look back on and pat themselves on the back for in the near future. That guy is smart and working behind Rodgers may do for him what working behind Brett Favre did for Rodgers, what working behind Tom Brady did for Jimmy Garoppolo. This game should be a shoot out and Rodgers in GB is always a hard win. With that being said we have shown out in prime time games so there's always a chance. Trying to stay biased though...

Prediction: GB wins 35-31

Week 7: Los Angeles Rams @ SF (SNF)
Analysis: This is a game of the year candidate for 2017 and could very well be for 2018 as well. Last year on Thursday Night Football, the Rams dominated for 3 quarters of the game going into the 4th up 34-20. Then the 49er had an outburst of 19 points in the 4th but the Rams ultimately won this game after halting the final drive after the 49ers recovered an onside kick after missing on their game tying 2 pt conversion. Big changes have happened since that game in week 3, Jimmy G was still a New England Patriot, The Rams secondary has beefed up along with putting Suh next to Aaron Donald. I think the game will be decided on how well the 49ers contain Todd Gurley, (ain't happening) and how well the offensive line can protect Jimmy. (REALLY ain't happening) I think this will be our biggest test of the season and I'm not sure we will be ready just yet. Prime time game boost isn't enough this week.

Prediction: LA Rams wins 38-35 Smart boy....though it won't be that close.

Week 8: SF @ Arizona Cardinals
Analysis: Same teams as in week 4 and barring injury I see a similar result as I did in Week 5. Arizona will put up more of a fight at home but with the rebuild this season I don't see them winning much.

Prediction: SF wins 28-17

Current Prediction by week 8: 5-3
Until next week when I do weeks 9-13 (11 is the Bye Week) please leave your thoughts, comments, and own predictions. Thanks for reading and stay #Faithful
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A Few Fan Comments:

For Arizona, I could likely see us win 49-17 at home, 24-10 away. We'll likely lose both @GB and LAR (at home) in a shootout, OT-fashion.
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You had me until writing we lose to the Rams at home
when we nearly beat them last time with Hoyer…
We will split the series, with a big win coming for us week 8.
3 TDs, 355 yards for Jimmy. TD Garcon, TD Jet, TD Kittle. Pettis with the Punt Return TD. Colbert picks off Goof to kill the final drive. Goof? Jimmy better have his head on a swivel, numb-nuts.

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i'm guessing Shanny is gearing up all offseason for two "statement" games in particular.
The Vikings on the road and the Rams at home. Shanny "Statement" after Rams game: "Uh...I'm not sure what happened, but we just got our ass handed to us. We have to do better"
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We'll beat the Rams at home and lose to them in LA
I think the poster above is right about that one being a statement game. I say we lose to them in LA only because we’ll be the one resting our starters for the playoffs. :headexplosion: When you're sitting your starters due to a 4-11 record, going into your last game, it's called, "Seeing who is worth a crap for next year."

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....well, just a few of their comments. The rest degenerated into a battle with Tardinal fans.

I suppose all of us fans are a bit delusional at times about our team. This is the time of year for optimism, after all. But some of these guys need a lesson in reality. Hopefully our Rams deliver that message in week 7.

1) We'll be WAY closer to field than at coliseum (even top rows), and
2) I think the confirmed colors of blue/gold/white, will actually be more like blue/white/gold. The front office seems to like the white helmets, so I think we may end up like the Colts but with yellow/gold accent

Can't wait for the season to start!

https://www.ocregister.com/2018/06/16/whicker-rams-gm-les-snead-has-no-fear-of-great-heights/

Rams GM Les Snead has no fear of great heights

THOUSAND OAKS — Late in the fall of 1996, Les Snead started wondering where the ripcord was.

He was in the personnel department of the Jacksonville Jaguars, doing whatever nobody else wanted to do, and the Jaguars were 3-6. He had come from Auburn. He could have stayed there as a graduate assistant and hopped on the coaching track.

He thought about med school. “I would have had to check a lot of boxes,” he said the other day, lounging at his desk in the Rams’ headquarters at Cal Lutheran. “But it was an option.”

Football is freefall. The doors close behind you.

You can’t go play in Europe, or coach there. There is one pro league. Becoming one of 32 general managers often requires riding the coattails of somebody who’s already won.

“There were days when I started looking up law schools,” he said. “I thought about Pepperdine law school. I thought, ‘Maybe I’ll sit there and study looking down at the ocean.’ That looked pretty good.”

Then the parachute opened. Jacksonville won six of seven. In its second year of existence, it won a playoff game at Denver.

Snead stayed, gained more responsibility. He joined the staff in Atlanta, where the GM was Thomas Dimitroff, who brought the subtleties of winning from New England.

In 2012, the St. Louis Rams gave Snead the GM job, handed him the keys to the drafting, the releasing, the hiring and the firing.

The Rams had already hired coach Jeff Fisher. Their club was a group of bass guitars in search of a lead singer. As recently as 2016, people wondered if Snead could hang on.

Today, there is no NFL team with more premium players than the Rams.

Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald were the Offensive Players of the Year. Sean McVay, 30 at the time, copped Coach of the Year in his first season.

Going into 2018, Snead brought in cornerbacks Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib and Sam Shields, defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh and receiver Brandin Cooks.

No one has to encourage Snead to jump.

“The NFL is like a 32-man cage match in the WWF,” he said. “Only one team climbs out of the cage. You need a semblance of aggressiveness. We’re going to attack and take advantage where we can.”

Snead picks up a coin on his desk, courtesy of his wife.

It reads, “You Could Leave This Life Any Day.”

PULLING THE TRIGGER

There are people in the federal witness protection program who are more forthcoming than the typical NFL general manager. The Rams also function in secrecy, but Snead is personally engaging and circumspect.

As much as he glows about drafting Donald with the 13th pick in 2014 when some thought Donald was too short, Snead still broods over drafting can’t-miss OT Greg Robinson with the second pick, because Robinson missed.

Recently, Snead was sitting at a bar and overheard strangers discuss the aggression of water moccasins. He broke in and told them about shooting BBs at a moccasin from his boat on an Alabama lake.

“He looked up and you could see he was going what he could to get in the boat with us,” Snead said. “That wouldn’t have been good.”

Snead still pulls the trigger. He dealt Tennessee six draft picks, including two firsts, to get the first pick in the 2016 draft, which he spent on quarterback Jared Goff.

Didn’t the Rams have bigger needs? Was Snead sure Goff was as NFL-ready as Carson Wentz, who went No. 2 to Philadelphia?

The Rams went 4-12 in 2016 and Goff didn’t win a start. They were 11-5 in 2017 and Goff, in a different system with real players, looked like the future.

Snead kept remembering his St. Louis years, when Sam Bradford kept hurting his knee and the Rams were playing a lot of Austin Davis and Shaun Hill at quarterback.

“Everybody knows you need to stabilize that position, but you don’t really know it until you’re living it,” Snead said.

Gurley’s draft year was 2015. Snead saw him tear up his ACL at Georgia. “I’m thinking, ‘Oh, no, he’s going to drop to Seattle and be the steal of the draft,” Snead said.

When Gurley confirmed his health at the combine, Snead knew Gurley deserved the Rams’ 10th overall pick.

No one else could know.

“I started muddying the waters a little,” he said. “Everybody thought we were going OL. I felt this undercurrent from people in the building, like, ‘I can’t believe we’re not taking Gurley.’

“We had been trying and failing miserably to add explosiveness. But I knew teams behind us would jump over us with a trade if they thought we’d draft Gurley. We kept it tight. Finally, in the room, I got up and told the area scout, Shawn Gustas, to call Todd and tell him he was a Ram. The place went crazy.”

And who else would have picked McVay out of a barrel of older, most credentialed coaches? “Like everything else, it looks like a no-brainer in hindsight,” Snead said.

Back then, it was a leap.

Seventeen players drafted by Snead’s group, prior to 2018, are still Rams. There are 21 others who played in the NFL. The best pick, in retrospect, might have been Daryl Richardson, the 252nd player drafted in 2012 and a 475-yard rusher that season.

“I think it’s great that people write about whether our draft was an A or an F,” Snead said. “But the highest day-after draft guide we ever got was when we drafted Robinson and Donald. It wasn’t because of Donald.”

WAR EAGLE DAYS

Snead was a 240-pound guard at Troy University in Alabama. That was about 70 excess pounds ago.

With two seasons of eligibility left, he found himself wondering about transferring to Auburn as a walk-on. Typically he quit wondering. He became a tight end there.

“I got to play whenever we played New Mexico State, or when it was homecoming,” Snead said. “But in my last college game, we beat Alabama. That’s something you never forget.

“One of the coaches said it seemed like we ran the ball better when I did play. He said they should have played me more. I said, ‘Well, it’s a little late for that.’”

That coach was Rick Trickett, most recently of Florida State.

“Blocking was his strength,” Trickett said. “He’d always do something to catch your eye. He exemplified what you’re looking for. Some guys are smart but they don’t have walking-around sense.”

“He got beat up pretty good,” said Tommy Bowden, also on that Auburn staff that had a 20-game win streak. “And he kept coming back. When I got the head coaching job at Tulane, I wanted him to come with me.”

Snead was a graduate assistant at the time. One of his jobs was dealing with NFL scouts. Relationships developed.

“Most of the time you don’t know GAs are around or you don’t care whether they’are around,” Trickett said. “He always stood out.”

And he was still calculating.

“I was an off-the-ball guy,” Snead said. “Usually those guys don’t become coordinators. I felt like offensive line coach was my ceiling. And I’d always been interested in personnel. As kids, we’d get these football cards and have drafts and then go play in the backyard. I remember getting Anthony Munoz one time and feeling pretty good.

“I always feel like I was close to inventing fantasy football. I just didn’t have the wherewithal to profit from it.”

THE BIG ROCKS

One team comes out of the cage. The rest sit exhausted, in defeat. Snead admits there are some Mondays when med school looks pretty good.

But then he touches that coin.

“Today could be your last day. … That doesn’t mean go out and eat all the ice cream you want,” Snead said. “If you can be disciplined, if you can be the best father, husband, the best guy to hire coaches, whatever it is, be that. Push aside all the small rocks that are just distractions and don’t mean anything. Dominate the big rocks. Don’t be scared. If you do that, everything will take care of itself.

“That’s what’s fun about it, the passion of getting better each day. It starts the day after the draft, pointing at the next one. You see guys like Aaron, Todd and Sean, ultra-high-end achievers, putting in their daily grind. It excites you.”

Falling can feel like flying, for a little while.

Team insider Myles Simmons shares his top five takeaways from the Rams offseason program, which concluded this week.

1) McVay remains in total command in Year 2


Head coach Sean McVay has always been effective in leading the Rams — most notably illustrated by the club’s 11-5 record, division title, and McVay winning AP Coach of the Year in just his first season on the job. But even so, it appears McVay is more comfortable in his role as he begins his second season.

McVay has talked of wanting to maximize every moment possible, and that was clear from the efficiency of the team’s OTAs. From having multiple drills ongoing at the same time, to the tempo of each session, Los Angeles squeezed plenty out of the 10 OTAs and minicamp practices.

But more than that, the Rams’ success in 2017 has had an effect on the way newly acquired players view McVay upon entering the building.

“It’s not like when he came in here we didn’t support him, or we didn’t buy in. It’s just the fact that now, this is his team,” defensive lineman Michael Brockers told therams.com. “A lot of these guys are his guys that he brought here. So he’s in control. He’s always been in control, but he’s the man now. Everybody knows. The rookies know — he’s the guy.”

There’s certainly much expected from the Rams in 2018. But with McVay at the helm and his process focused on daily improvement and daily excellence, Low Angeles has a strong chance to navigate through them successfully.

2) Defensive additions fitting in just fine

With the three headline-grabbing acquisitions of Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, and Ndamukong Suh, many offseason questions surrounding L.A. focused on how McVay and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips would manage the strong personalities.

Phillips and McVay have addressed such questions throughout the offseason, largely dismissing any concerns. Both men talked of a philosophy of working with players rather than managing them.

But the 70-year-old defensive coordinator probably said his best quote on the subject earlier this week.

“I like personalities because they’re independent enough to do things on their own and they’ve shown they’re independent enough to be great players too,” Phillips said. “You don’t want a player who does everything you say, you want guys that have some initiative. We tell them to do this and do that, but Marcus Peters a couple plays last year … he’s playing man to man and they throw it to another player but he intercepts it.

“That’s what I’m talking about — [you can’t say], ‘No you cover your man,’” Phillips continued. “Well, if you intercept it when they throw it to somebody else, that’s great. Those are the kind of guys they are. You want them to do all the right things and help them to be a better player, but you don’t want them to lose that initiative. That’s what they have and that’s the way I’ve always coached.”

3) Brandin Cooks is, too

When the Rams traded a package that included their first-round pick to the Patriots for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, they knew they were getting a player with speed and dynamic playmaking ability.

That was displayed time and again during Phase III, as Goff hit Cooks with a number of deep passes during OTAs.

McVay noted this week just how much of a weapon Cooks can be in the club’s offensive scheme.

“He can obviously win short, intermediate down the field, you’re not limited in any way that you can use him,” McVay said. “He’s a guy that you can give jet sweeps, reverses to — so he’s a really versatile player. You see why he’s had the production and I think it’s also a credit to him being as conscientious as he is with how quickly he’s picked things up.”

But what McVay failed to mention is how Cooks is a comedian. Recently, quarterback Jared Goff called Cooks a “sponge,” given the wide receiver’s willingness and ability to learn. So when a reporter referenced Goff’s quote to Cooks this week, Cooks kept a straight face and deadpanned this response:

“I would have to say, you know, my favorite show is SpongeBob SquarePants, so for me just watching him how he soaks up all that water while he’s over there under the sea,” Cooks said. “I try to emulate that in my game and being a student of the game as well.”

Cooks assured reporters he still watches SpongeBob to this day.

4) Goff is an offensive leader

There have been plenty of articles written and videos produced about Goff emerging as a leader for the offensive unit after his successful 2017. The signal-caller himself has talked about how much being in the same system under McVay and the growth in the relationship between coach and QB has added to his sense of comfort.

And it’s also been easy to notice how Goff has taken command of the group, going over to discuss previous plays with receivers and linemen on the field at practice. That’s in addition to his strong play throughout the offseason program, making accurate passes in the rhythm and timing of the offense.

But wide receiver Cooper Kupp was definitive when discussing Goff and his leadership qualities during OTAs, essentially saying that questions and reports are beating around the bush a bit too much.

“I think it’s time just to stop that and say it how it is — he is a leader of this team,” Kupp told therams.com. “He is our quarterback and he leads this offense. It’s time to put those away and call it for what it is. He is a leader and guys respect him. They want to play for him. He’s grown into that and has commanded it.”

Of course, Kupp is always going to be biased toward his teammate. But those aren’t empty words from the young wideout.

5) There will be competition at linebacker

When training camp rolls around in late July, the Rams won’t have many unsettled position groups on offense or defense. But due to a few injuries, the Rams could have an open spot or two at linebacker.

Cory Littleton and Rameek Wilson took the majority of snaps at inside linebacker during OTAs and minicamp, with Littleton as the unit’s signal-caller. It’s not a position Littleton had done before, but appeared to adjust to it well, according to McVay and Phillips.

Second-year outside linebacker Samson Ebukam also appears to have the inside track on a starting role, receiving compliments from his coaches for a strong offseason program, too.

Inside linebacker Mark Barron and outside linebacker Matt Longacre were limited to work on the side during the offseason program, as both were still rehabbing injuries. Phillips noted this week Barron could also potentially be the defensive signal-caller once he’s back on the field.

Morgan Fox was making the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker, but will now be out for all of 2018 after suffering a season-ending knee injury during Phase III. Phillips said Fox was working toward a starting role.

Rookie outside linebacker Obo Okoronkwo could challenge for that spot on the outside, as could fellow rookie Justin Lawler. Given all the injuries at OLB — including to Okoronkwo, who missed all of Phase III but should be back for training camp — Lawler received the majority of first-team reps opposite Ebukam.

As the club is currently constructed, this could be a particularly competitive group in August.


[www.therams.com]

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...ert-woods-rams-like-their-new-receiving-corps

Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods? Rams like their new receiving corps

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Brandin Cooks is fast. Just ask Sean McVay. He can't stop talking about it.

"How fast was Brandin Cooks? ... How about how fast Cooks looked on that strike? … How about how fast Cooks is? Is that awesome?"

Cooks, his new receiver, showed some speed.

In a series of offseason moves, the Rams sent their first-round draft pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for Cooks, who is expected to provide a deep target for quarterback Jared Goff in a receiving corps that returns starters Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, as well as Pharoh Cooper, Josh Reynolds and Mike Thomas.

"If there is one thing that Brandin has done a nice job of specifically the last few years," McVay said before the start of the offseason program, "it's being able to go get that deep ball."

Cooks has caught 27 touchdowns in four seasons and his ability to stretch the field, along with Woods' sure hands and return to health, will be paramount as the Rams seek to repeat as the NFL's highest-scoring team and win a second consecutive NFC West title.

"He's going to fit in very nice," Woods said of his new teammate. "You know you seen him the first couple of days tearing things up. You see his speed already. I think he's a big impact for this offense."

The Rams prioritized keeping safety Lamarcus Joyner with the franchise tag over receiver Sammy Watkins, leaving Watkins to sign a three-year, $30 million guaranteed deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Last season Watkins became a reliable target for Goff in the red zone, but never developed into a reliable deep target after he was acquired from the Buffalo Billslate in training camp. Watkins finished the season with 39 receptions for 593 yards and eight touchdowns.

Following rumors that the Rams were interested in acquiring Odell Beckham Jr.from the New York Giants, they traded for the 24-year-old Cooks, who last season caught 65 passes for 1,082 yards and seven touchdowns for the Patriots.

"It's a great, great guy to have in the room with those other guys," Goff said. "I think you can't ask for much more with Brandin, Robert, Cooper, that combination."

Kupp, during his rookie season, led the team with 869 yards and was second with 62 receptions while catching five touchdowns.

But it was Woods who set the tone for the receiving corps.

After four seasons with the Bills, Woods established himself as a veteran presence and leader among a group that needed a turnaround from the 2016 season.

Widely considered a No. 2 receiver when he was acquired, Woods looked the part of a top playmaker in a victory over the New York Giants, when he took a screen pass on third-and-33 and turned it into a 52-yard touchdown.

And against the Houston Texans, Woods caught a deep pass in stride for a 94-yard touchdown.

He led the Rams in receptions until suffering a shoulder injury during a Week 11 loss to the Minnesota Vikings that kept him sidelined for three weeks. Woods finished the season with 56 receptions for 781 yards and five touchdowns.

But now Woods, a sixth-year pro in the second season of a five-year, $34 million contract, is fully recovered and said that he -- and the receiving corps -- are further ahead in their development than they were last offseason as they prepare for the start of mandatory minicamp.

"Big improvements from last year," Woods said. "Just our timing with Jared, the offense is more advanced than where we were at this point, but just moving forward and still trying to grasp more of the concepts."

With Woods and Cooks, McVay's offense could display more of the explosive passing game that the Rams demonstrated in a Week 3 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, when Woods caught six passes for 108 yards and Watkins caught six for 106.

The duo's combined performance was thought to be the first of what would be a long season working in tandem with Goff. But as the weeks passed, it became apparent that the Goff-Watkins connection, outside of a reliable slant in the end zone, would never materialize. The Week 3 contest was the only game in which Woods and Watkins each surpassed 100 yards receiving.

Some of Watkins' shortcomings were attributed to the coverage defenses dedicated to him; others pointed to his inability to develop a rapport with Goff after his arrival last August.

Time to develop chemistry shouldn't be an issue for Cooks, who was acquired in April.

"The more time they get to be comfortable and familiar with each other," McVay said of Cooks and Goff, "I think the better we'll be served as an offense. I think the learning curve won't be quite as steep."

Goff and the receivers worked together before the offseason program began. And Goff already was familiar with Cooks, who starred at Oregon State, while he played at California.

"I actually played him in college once and I've seen him obviously across the league in the last three to four years and understand his versatility," Goff said. "I know Sean will come up with ways to use him and put us in the best situation possible."

For Cooks, he said it's too soon to tell exactly how he'll fit in the offense, but said he was confident McVay would figure it out.

"McVay does such a great job of calling plays and putting their players in their best spots and as far as that, players coming out, executing and trusting the process," Cooks said. "That's what I think makes this offense special -- there's no selfishness."

hey i don't know if a lot has been talked about the back up QB spot but I don't feel comfortable with mannion as goff's main backup....is there any backup qb that would be an upgrade over mannion.....i just don't feel comfortable god forbid goff went down....not that i want to invest a lot of money into a backup qb but anyone serviceable would be good......some names that i see out there are matt moore...derek anderson....manziel???....sanchez...mallett....rg3....those are not necessarily who I'm looking at but those seem to be who's available.... maybe a cap casualty becomes available??? in a perfect would the backup qb never has to play but....i would also like to have someone who could possibly step in for a few games and not be one dimensional......thoughts?