Rams Flashback Spotlight: CB LeRoy Irvin, Kansas University
June 2, 2018 | By: Jake Ellenbogen

I decided to start an on-going series flashing back to past Rams history (similar to what we are doing with the Throwback Thursday episode of The Downtown Rams Podcast every Thursday). In this series, I will try and bring these former Rams to light, show off what they did for the horns and their overall career.

LeRoy Irvin or as he called himself, Iceman, started off his story at Kansas University. The former Jayhawk manned the cornerback position in Lawrence for four seasons. He is tied for fifth all-time for the school in interceptions and sixth all-time in tackles in school history. He was the only player on the roster his freshman year to start as a freshman, which he followed up by leading the team in tackles his sophomore year, he led the all defensive backs on the team in tackles his junior year and his senior year found himself propelling onto the NFL.

Irvin ended up being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams 70th overall in the third round of the 1980 NFL Draft. His rookie season he started two games and logged in two interceptions, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries while mainly being utilized as a punt returner. In his rookie season, Irvin ended up playing in the playoffs with an 11-5 Rams team in which he intercepted Dallas Cowboys CB Danny White in the postseason showdown that ended in a 34-13 defeat. Irvin came back in year two of his promising young NFL career and lit up the league as a punt returner, taking back three touchdowns for 615 yards and averaging 13.4 yards per return. In his second year, he also ended up starting a total of seven games and adding three interceptions, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries to his stat book. In year three, Irvin found himself adding four more forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a return touchdown in what was a down year for him and the Rams as a whole.

John Robinson ended up taking over the reigns of Ray Malavasi after a disappointing 1982. Robinson and the Rams went 9-7 and made the Wild Card to face none other than the Dallas Cowboys again. Irvin ended up having a fantastic year in which he started 13 games, brought in four interceptions, forced four fumbles, recovered two and even had a QB sack. That was the breakthrough year in which Irvin ascended from a punt returner with the potential to start at CB to becoming a legitimate starting CB on a good football team. Irvin picked off Danny White of the Cowboys again and took the interception for 94 yards in what ended up being a Rams revenge win 24-17 over their playoff rival. The next game would be an annihilation of the Rams by the hands of the Washington Redskins 51-7 in which John Riggins ran all over the team for three touchdowns.

Robinson and the Rams found themselves in another season that took them to the playoffs. Irvin had logged his first season in which he started every game at corner for the Rams. He continued the path he was on picking off five passes and taking two of them to the house. Unfortunately, the season ended when the Rams met their match against the Bill Parcells coached New York Giants in what was a close 16-13 loss. The next season the Rams went 11-5 and Irvin found himself joining his first Pro Bowl. Irvin and Gary Green together were one of the most dynamic cornerback duos in football. Both of them picked off six passes each and Irvin took one of them back for a touchdown. Once again, the Rams met Dallas and Danny White in the playoffs which led to Irvin picking off White for the third time in the playoffs and the Rams dominating Dallas 20-0 on their way to the next round of the playoffs. Once again the Rams ran into trouble in the next round in the form of Mike Ditka's Bears. Ditka's team suffocated the Rams in a 24-0 loss.

In the next season, Irvin had a new teammate, a young 24-year old Jerry Gray who joined the Pro Bowl as well in 1986 after picking off eight passes. Irvin picked off six, took one to the house, forced a fumble and had three fumble recoveries in which one he turned into a touchdown as well. That year, Irvin found himself as a First-Team All-Pro in what is one of the league's greatest honors. Irvin and Gray, unfortunately, were not enough in the Rams 19-7 loss to the Washington Redskins. 1987 was a down year for the Rams that had Irvin finishing with just two interceptions and only nine starts after loads of drama in what was a year that had him being suspended for calling out due to having the flu. However, in 1988 the Rams were back and Irvin had another solid season starting every game and adding three more interceptions to his career total. Unfortunately, another good season ended shortly in the playoffs after the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Rams 28-17.

In the last season of Irvin's career, he did not disappoint starting next to superstar CB Jerry Gray and helping the Rams go to the playoffs again at 11-5. In this season the Rams took down the Philadelphia Eagles in the Wild Card round 21-7 in a game in which Irvin picked off QB Randall Cunningham. The next game the Rams would go into Giants Stadium and win on a game-winning touchdown from Jim Everett to Flipper Anderson. Then after that Irvin's last game with the Rams would end in disappointment after the Rams lost to the Joe Montana led San Francisco 49ers one game short of the Super Bowl by a score of 30-3.

Irvin was waived by the Rams at the age of 32 in the last year of his three-year contract. He refused to retire and went on to sign a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions in which involved the Rams legend starting for the Lions. Unfortunately, the Lions went 6-10 but they finished ahead of the Rams after a disappointing off-season led the Rams finishing 5-11.

LeRoy Irvin holds near and dear to me due to the fact he went to Kansas in which I have so many bloodlines attached to and he played ten seasons with the Los Angeles Rams. Irvin not only was a star with the Jayhawks and Rams but he's been an amazing member of the Rams legends community. I've had him on the podcast in which you can check out below and I attended his birthday party during my first time ever in Los Angeles. Irvin is a fan of the game he once played, he wants someone to wear 47 the way he did and he always wants to remain a part of the Rams community. LeRoy Irvin is, in fact, a Rams legend and that will never change.

Still have a few more OTA’s then Mandatory Mini Camp prior to Training camp, however, presently the Los Angeles Rams have a total of 15 Offensive Linemen in Camp and on September Morn barring injury of course, I look for the Rams to keep 9 or in fact, 10 as the cuts will be tough with the draft upgrades.

The Starters:

LT…Andrew Whitworth…The linchpin to the OL and some will debate that Whitworth was less effective towards the end of the season including the playoff game against the Falcons, but there is no debating that Whit is a major locker room presence and will be look upon to assist some of the draft class in their transition into the NFL.

LG…Rodger Saffold….IMO, it was Saffold’s best year under Offensive Line Coach Aaron Kromer as Saffold was rock solid week in and week out. Playing in between established pros like Whitworth & Sullivan helped as Saffold did not have to cover for anyone and one will surmise is a contract extension in his future?

C…John Sullivan…Loved Sully all last year and there were a couple of games many of us were concerned about Sullivan getting injured, but Big John was always ready the following week. Sullivan really knows the offense, which assisted Goff greatly and I’m glad the Notre Dame alum is back and can teach new Center Brian Allen a few things about what it takes to be a professional.

RG…Jamon Brown….Some were tough on Brown, but I felt once he settled in at RG, he improved greatly week over week and created many holes for TGIII. Brown also improved in his pass protection and actually graded out well in the playoff game against the Falcons.

RT…Rob Havenstein…Big Rob came back after being dinged up in 2016 to play very solid at RT. Havenstein will always have us holding our breath against the speed rushers (The Texan Game) but he rallies to always just get enough of the guy to give Goff the opportunity to make a play and is one of the better run blockers on this team, really can create some gaps for the running backs and that was his claim to fame at Wisconsin.

The Draft Class:

LT…Joseph Noteboom….The more I read about Noteboom the more I liked, granted a third round pick, so there are going to be question marks, however, Noteboom is very athletic and under the tutelage of Aaron Kromer should be ready to contribute sooner rather than later. Also an Academic all American so all of us should not have to worry about Noteboom picking up the scheme and stunts that are run by the defense.

C…Brian Allen….This was the surprise pick of the draft for me as I knew the Rams might draft a Center, just did not realize Brian Allen was on their radar. Allen a leader that backs down to no one and has a wrestling background that seems to be preferred by OL Coach Aaron Kromer because of leverage combined with quick hands and feet to aid at the point of attack. Allen not a big as Sullivan, but was essential in the ground attack for the Spartans of Michigan State.

OG….Jamil Demby….One of my favorite picks, but I might be a tad biased because I work with several colleagues that played at the University of Maine and being a connect a dots guy with the addition of Liam Cohen to the coaching staff as he was the OC at Maine, felt good that Demby was headed to Southern California. Anyway big kid that played LT for the Black Bears and will transition to Guard and reminds me of Saffold, but will have to get stronger at the next level, but I feel really good about Demby making the team and being a future starter for many years to come.

First Man Up:

C/G...Austin Blythe…A real surprise to me last season as he was released by the Indianapolis Colts (who really need offensive linemen) and I did not expect him to make the team, but from the start of preseason, Blythe showcased the ability to play Center & Guard without much drop-off. Blythe another former wrestler that is very quick off the ball will have challenges again making the squad with the addition of Allen and the bigger Jake Eldrenkamp, but Blythe was very valuable last season and I don’t see things changing in 2018 for the former Hawkeye.

The Rest:

LT/RT…Cornelius Lucas….Did not expect much from the big man from Kansas State, but he caught my eye against the 49ers in the final game of the year as he played an excellent RT not allowing any pressures whatsoever. Lucas will be challenged as he will have an opportunity to play both positions come Training Camp, but he has the size that OL Coach Aaron Kromer covets in his tackles and one would surmise the Rams want to keep two tackles on the final 53 as they did all of last season.

LT/RT….Darrell Williams…Williams reminds me of the girl who is very attractive, but always not dating anyone. Williams has had his moments in preseason over the years and is still young at 24, however, against the San Francisco 49ers in the last game of the year was just awful and poor Sean Mannion could hardly get set before he was harassed by Williams’s look out blocks. Williams seems to be a better LT than RT and I knew he had more talent than Pace Murphy, but with the ability of Lucas to play RT and the addition of Noteboom I expect Williams to be given his walking papers on cut down day.

C/G….Jake Eldrenkamp….I loved this signing last season and much was written that the Rams almost drafted the former Huskie, however, Eldrenkamp was outplayed by Austin Blythe last preseason and released by the Rams and then added later to the practice squad for depth along the interior. There is much to like about Jake from State Farm as he has great size at 6’5 305 and very smart, but unless he can showcase the ability to be quick off the ball and create some gaps, Eldrenkamp could be on the outside looking in once again.

C/G…Aaron Neary….Another Offensive Lineman that IMHO, was just plain awful against the 49ers and besides Williams failing miserably at left tackle, the pressure up the middle in that game was unacceptable and much of that fell at the hands of Neary. The Rams claimed Neary from the Eagles and his only body of work was against San Francisco, but with the addition of Brian Allen to me that showcases the Rams came away as impressed as I was from the former Eastern Washington product.

LT/RT…Michael Dunn…IMHO, the Rams added Dunn before the start of the offseason because they only had only two tackles under contract at the time in Whitworth and Havenstein and needed somebody before they resigned Lucas and Williams, who could have signed elsewhere. In preseason Dunn looked overmatched whether he was at Left Tackle or Right Tackle and his surname underscores his opportunity to make this football team.

OG…Jeremiah Kolone…The only UDRFA added to the Offensive Line from San Jose State at 6’3 316lbs defiantly has the size, but will he get a chance? You never know, however if the former Spartan can make the practice squad, that would be an accomplishment.

Sean McVay jokingly told Michael Silver he refuses to be ‘humiliated’ by the 49ers again





NFL Network analyst Michael Silver was on NFL Network on Friday to discuss what he feels is the real rivalry within the NFC West – Kyle Shanahan versus Sean McVay. The two head coaches worked together for four years with the Washington Redskins and remain close. Shanahan, who is the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, was an offensive coordinator then. McVay, who is the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, was an offensive assistant under Shanahan.

"I think the real NFC West rivalry is Sean McVay/Kyle Shanahan, two guys who respect the heck out of each other but certainly are aware that they are competing," Silver said.

The two entered the head coaching ranks together last offseason. During the 2017 season, the 49ers and Rams split their two-game series. Los Angeles won the first matchup 41-39 at Levi's Stadium in an early-season Thursday night thriller.

Having already secured the division and a playoff spot, McVay decided to rest several of his starters for the Rams' Week 17 matchup against the 49ers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Riding a four-game winning streak, Shanahan took advantage of the situation and embarrassed the Rams by a score of 34-13.

The Rams have had an aggressive offseason, signing or trading for big names like wide receiver Brandin Cooks, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, and cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib. While the Rams have taken a talent-first approach to their offseason acquisitions, the 49ers have focused on bringing in players whose personalities fit their locker room but also offer talent.

Rams general manager Les Snead insists the 26-13 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the playoffs had more to do with his team's offseason approach than the Week 17 drubbing at the hands of a division rival.

"I always say we throw the Niners out because, at the end of the day, we pretty much played with, you know, let's call it our second-team unit on the field," Snead said in April during an interview on the Talk of Fame Network podcast. "So that one's out the door."

Still, that rivalry between Shanahan and McVay is well established and will make for some exciting division matchups for years to come.

"I spent some time with Sean McVay earlier this offseason," Silver said. "He was laughing. He said, 'You know, we went into that last meaningless game at the end of the year knowing we didn't have anything to play for and I pulled my starters. And Kyle just put it on me.'

"And he said, 'Never again. I don't care if we've clinched everything and we're playing the 49ers. I am playing my guys. I refuse to be humiliated in that fashion.' Of course, he was joking when he said it, but both guys, who have worked together and respect each other a ton are very, very aware that there's a competition between the two of them."

[www.49erswebzone.com]

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...ams-steal-the-show-cardinals-get-lowest-mark/

NFC West offseason grades: Rams steal the show, Cardinals get lowest mark
The Rams earned the highest grade in the NFC West after a wild offseason

The NFC West might have had the most exciting offseason of any division in the NFL this year and that's if we only count what the Rams did. After winning the division in 2017, it's pretty clear that their plan this year was to also win the offseason.

Just in case you lost track, the Rams made a total of six trades over the past four months. Not to mention, they also signed Ndamukong Suh.

Not to be outdone, the 49ers also made some big moves by signing Jimmy Garoppolo to a record-setting contract and adding a player from a hated division rival (Richard Sherman).

The 49ers weren't the only ones who made a big move at quarterback. The Cardinals practically spent half their offseason adding quarterbacks. Not only did they sign Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon, but they also nabbed Josh Rosenwith a top-10 pick in the draft.

As for the Seahawks, well, they did a few things this offseason, it's just not clear if any those things are actually going to help the team.

So which NFC West team has had the best offseason?

Let's answer that question now.

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Below, you'll find an offseason review for each team in the division -- including key additions, key losses, key rookies, and a general overview of what happened between January and May. After that, we'll give each team a grade for their offseason, starting with the Cardinals.

Arizona Cardinals

Key additions: Coach Steve Wilks, QB Sam Bradford, QB Mike Glennon, FB Derrick Coleman, WR Brice Butler, OL Justin Pugh, OL Andre Smith, CB Bene Benwikere, CB Jamar Taylor

Key losses: Coach Bruce Arians, QB Carson Palmer, QB Drew Stanton, QB Blaine Gabbert, QB Matt Barkley, RB Adrian Peterson, WR John Brown, WR Jaron Brown, OL Jared Veldheer, S Tyrann Mathieu, CB Justin Bethel, CB Tramon Williams, DT Josh Mauro, DT Kareem Martin

Key rookies: QB Josh Rosen, WR Christian Kirk, C Mason Cole

The Cardinals offseason has basically been one giant game of quarterback musical chairs. Not only did Carson Palmer retire, but Arizona also lost Drew Stanton, Blaine Gabbert and Matt Barkley, which meant the Cardinals had exactly zero quarterbacks on their roster when free agency began on March 14. To fix that problem, Arizona added both Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon.

The problem with signing Bradford to be your starting quarterback is that there's no guarantee he'll be able to stay healthy for an entire season, especially playing behind the Cardinals offensive line. Putting one of the most injury-prone quarterbacks behind an offensive line that gave up more sacks (52) than any other NFC team last season seems like a disaster waiting to happen.

Although the Cardinals attempted to beef up their struggling offensive line by adding Justin Pugh and Andre Smith, both of those guys have had almost as many injury issues as Bradford. Pugh has missed a total of 13 games over the past two seasons and hasn't made it through an entire 16-game schedule since his rookie year in 2013. As for Smith, he's missed a total of 15 games over the past two seasons and also hasn't made it through an entire 16-game schedule since 2013.

Two oft-injured offensive linemen trying to protect an oft-injured quarterback doesn't necessarily seem like a recipe for success. Of course, the flip side of that is that if both linemen stay healthy, then the Cardinals will have completely revamped their offensive line for the better. The signing of all three players -- Bradford, Pugh and Smith -- will go down as a gamble, and as with all gambles, the Cardinals could hit the jackpot or things could blow up in their face.

One big thing the Cardinals did do this offseason is find their potential quarterback of the future in Josh Rosen. After watching Rosen fall in the draft, Arizona smartly traded up from 15th overall to grab the former UCLAquarterback with the 10th overall pick. Based on Bradford's injury history, it won't be surprising at all if Rosen ends up starting for the Cardinals in 2018.

Defensively, the biggest loss for the Cardinals was definitely Tyrann Mathieu, but he wasn't the only player who left the team this year. Overall, the Cardinals will be losing five players who started multiple games for them in 2017, which is a steep number to lose for any team. The only upside to losing that kind of personnel is that new coach Steve Wilks, who served as Carolina's defensive coordinator last season, will get to bring in his own guys, which should help him quickly mold the defense into something he likes.

The Cardinals have been looking to beef up their defense all offseason and that continued in mid-May, when they traded for Jamar Taylor. The former Brownscorner could very well end up being a starter for Arizona in 2018.

Offseason grade: C

Los Angeles Rams

Key additions: WR Brandin Cooks, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Marcus Peters, CB Aqib Talib, CB Sam Shields, LB Ramik Wilson

Key losses: WR Tavon Austin, WR Sammy Watkins, LB Alec Ogletree, DE Robert Quinn, CB Kayvon Webster, CB Trumaine Johnson

Key rookies: OL Joe Noteboom, C Brian Allen, DE John Franklin-Meyers

No team in the NFL made more offseason headlines than the Los Angeles Rams. If they made one thing clear over the past three months, it's that they're going to do whatever it takes to win the Super Bowl in 2018. If you need a quick rehash of the Rams' offseason, here's what they've done since Feb. 23:

• Acquired Marcus Peters from the Chiefs
  
• Acquired Aqib Talib from the Broncos
  
• Signed Ndamukong Suh

The crazy thing is that those three moves were all on the defensive side of the ball. To be honest, it's almost as if the Rams entire plan this offseason was to become the 2018 version of the 1985 Bears. The addition of Suh alone is going to be a nightmare for the other three teams in the NFC West and that's because the veteran defensive tackle is going to be paired with the NFL's reigning defensive player of the year, Aaron Donald, which seems like a pretty unstoppable combination.

If Suh and Donald have any issues getting pressure on opposing quarterbacks, that might not matter because the Rams also added two of the best cover corners in the game in Talib and Peters. By adding those two, there's a good chance that no one in Los Angeles is going to remember (or care) that the Rams got rid of two of their starting cornerbacks from 2017 (Kayvon Webster and Trumaine Johnson).

The fact that the Rams spent so much time acquiring defensive talent this offseason means they're probably going to take a step back on offense, right? Wrong.

Although the Rams won't have Sammy Watkins and Tavon Austin this year, they arguably upgraded at the receiver position when they added Brandin Cooks from the Patriots. Basically, the NFL's top scoring offense from 2018 might have actually gotten better this offseason.

As a matter of fact, if the Rams last few practices are any indication, coach Sean McVay is already fantasizing about what he'll be able to do with Cooks on offense this year.


Although the Rams didn't do much in the draft this year, we're not going to penalize them for that. The team didn't get to make their first pick until the third round, but that's only because they traded away their first round pick to land Cooks from the Patriots.

Offseason grade: A

San Francisco 49’ers

Key additions: CB Richard Sherman, C Weston Richburg, RB Jerick McKinnon, OG Jonathan Cooper, DE Jeremiah Attaochu

Key losses: C Daniel Kilgore, DE Elvis Dumervil

Key rookies: OT Mike McGlinchey, WR Dante Pettis, LB Fred Warner, S Tarvarius Moore

After signing Jimmy Garoppolo to one of the biggest contracts in NFL history this year, the 49ers went into the offseason with one pretty clear goal: Make sure Jimmy has some protection.

Protection was one thing that the quarterbacks in San Francisco definitely didn't really have in 2017. Last season, the 49ers surrendered a total of 43 sacks, which was the fourth-highest number of any team in the NFC. To fix that problem, the 49ers used both free agency AND the NFL Draft to beef up their offensive line.

The first thing the 49ers did came in March when they signed Weston Richburg, who was arguably the most talented center available during free agency this year. Richburg signed a five-year deal with the 49ers, so you'll likely be seeing him snap the ball to Garoppolo for years to come. The 49ers also added Jonathan Cooper, who started 13 games for the Cowboys last year. The former first-round pick will likely be competing for a starting guard spot in San Francisco.

The 49ers offensive line overhaul continued in the draft when they selected Notre Dame's Mike McGlinchey with the ninth overall pick. As a bonus, the 49ers are getting another first-round pick back this year in the form of Joshua Garnett, who spent the 2017 season on injured reserve. If Garnett and Cooper win their starting jobs, that means that 49ers could have four starting linemen in 2018 who didn't play a single snap with the team last season.

Defensively, the 49ers got a steal with Richard Sherman. Although the cornerback is coming off an Achilles injury, the 49ers landed him with a three-year deal that only includes $7 million in guaranteed money, which basically makes the deal a no-lose situation for the 49ers. If Sherman returns to his All-Pro form, then the 49ers secondary is going to get a much-needed boost. If Sherman has lost a step, the team will get a low-cost veteran who could help younger players develop.

The one player to keep an eye on in San Francisco is Jerick McKinnon. The 49ers handed him a monstrous four-year, $30 million deal this offseason, which is a lot of money for a back who's never carried the ball more than 160 times in any of his four NFL seasons. That's only a big deal, because, for the past three seasons, Kyle Shanahan's offenses have all had at least one back that was given 225 or more carries. On the other hand, if McKinnon can handle the workload, then he could be a star in San Francisco. Not only will he be getting a ton of carries, but due to the nature of Shanahan's offense, look for him to catch a lot of passes from Jimmy G in 2018.

Offseason grade: B+

Seattle Seahawks

Key additions: WR Brandon Marshall, LB Barkevious Mingo, TE Ed Dickson, WR Jaron Brown, Rams S Maurice Alexander, CB Dontae Johnson, OL D.J. Fluker, DT Tom Johnson, DT Shamar Stephen, K Sebastian Janikowski

Key losses: CB Richard Sherman, DL Michael Bennett, DL Sheldon Richardson, DL Cliff Avril, CB Jeremy Lane, CB DeShawn Shead, TE Luke Willson, TE Jimmy Graham, WR Paul Richardson

Key rookies: RB Rashaad Penny, DE Rasheem Green, P Michael Dickson, OLB Shaquem Griffin

The Seahawks didn't completely blow things up and start over this offseason, but they sure came close. If you've lost track of everything that's happened in Seattle over the past few months, which is completely possible, here's a brief recap: The Legion of Boom is no more, three-fourths of the team's starting defensive line is gone, two of their top four receivers won't be returning and even the punter is probably going to lose his job.

You know what, just make sure to read that "Key losses" section, it will give you a good idea of everyone who's not coming back this year.

By the way, there's one person not listed in that "Key losses" section who could end up there at some point in the future: Kam Chancellor. Although Chancellor is still on the team, he's already said that he could end up retiring if his body tells him not to play.

Yes, that's a lot of people to replace, but the upside is that it gave general manager John Schneider and coach Pete Carroll a chance to start laying the foundation for the future.

Could the Seahawks have tried to keep Jimmy Graham, Sheldon Richardson or Richard Sherman? Sure, but that would have crushed their salary cap. Instead, the team went out and got cheaper replacements by bringing in guys like Tom Johnson and Shamar Stephen on the defensive line. They also selected a defensive end (Rasheem Green) with their second pick in the draft.

As for the tight end spot, although Graham and Luke Willson are gone, the Seahawks did add one tight end in free agency (Ed Dickson) and another one in the draft (Will Dissly). Seattle also added Brandon Marshall, which should give Russell Wilson a tall target to throw to in the red zone now that Graham's gone.

Sherman is the only player the Seahawks will have a tough time replacing and if they also lose Chancellor, their secondary could be a mess. Not helping things for the secondary is the fact that Seattle's pass rush probably won't be as good in 2018 as it was in 2017. To help with the pass-rush, the Seahawks will be hoping that the fourth time is the charm for Barkeviious Mingo, the former first-round pick who is playing for his fourth team in four years.

One position where the Seahawks definitely got better is at running back. Although the team raised some eyebrows when they selected Rashaad Penny in the first round -- and ignored all their other needs -- the truth is that the Seahawks offense works much better when they have an effective running game, which is something they didn't have last season. In 2017, the Seahawks ground game basically consisted of Russell Wilson running for his life, which is only a slight exaggeration. Wilson led the the team in rushing last season with 586 yards. No other player had more than 250 yards.

A rebuilt running game could potentially take some pressure off the team's offensive line, which in turn, could take some pressure off of Wilson. You know what? Maybe Schneider and Carroll do know what they're doing.

The Seahawks had so many holes to fill this offseason that it was going to be impossible to fill them all, but they definitely tried. However, one thing the Seahawks didn't do this offseason was upgrade their offensive line, which is a risky strategy for a team that had one of the worst lines in the NFL last season.

Offseason grade: C+

All Grades
If you want to find out the offseason grades for the NFL's 28 other teams, just click on any division below.

AFC

• AFC East
  
• AFC North
  
• AFC South
  
• AFC West

NFC

• NFC East
  
• NFC North
  
• NFC South

Consider what’s changed...

McVay has a valuable year of playcalling experience and lessons learned under his belt.

Goff also has that invaluable year to use as a springboard to his further development. OTA reports indicate that he’s vastly improved over last year.

I don’t think Cooks’ improvement over Watkins for this O can be overstated. Cooks will be a beast in this O.

I’m predicting that Everett will experience the usual 2nd year TE bump. Early OTA reports are encouraging.

Suh added to the DL. Gotta be a big improvement, don’t you think? Duh...

Peters and Talib replace TruJo and Webster. No disrespect intended for the former starters, but these two guys are substantial upgrades.

Which brings us to the LB’s. Dare I say it? Ogletree, Quinn, and Barwin were not great fits in this Wade D. We don’t know exactly who will be the new starters, but we do know that all candidates were approved by Wade and that he considers them good fits for his particular D. Man, that’s good enough for me.

There will be 6 new starters on D this year and at LEAST 3 of them will be significant upgrades. And, frankly, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that Ebu, Longacre, and Littleton might actually be better performers in this scheme than their predecessors. Some might say that that’s heresy, but that’s the way I feel, anyway.

Finally, all the players that I haven’t mentioned above should reasonably be expected to have at least a slight improvement by virtue of their being in the 2nd year of using McVay’s O or Wade’s D, respectively.

Add all of the above up and what should one conclude? For me it adds up to a significantly improved O and a dramatically improved D.

And if I’m correct? Then I think 12 wins is our floor. We will deserve to be in the SB conversation this season.

Hot Damn!

LOL

Now my wife and I met in 86, she was right out of high school and I was out for 3 years already. So we never actually went to a prom together.

went out for dinner with the wife on Tuesday night and heard a commercial for a 2nd chance prom for adults sponsored by LiteRock 105.5 at The Crown Plaza in Warwick RI...45 minutes away

Came up with a plan over Zuppa de pesce fra diavlo. If we could pull it off we'll get the tickets online.

She found a dress and shoes on Weds and I picked up a black suit Thursday and paid an extra $50 to have it tailored by Saturday. (there was no way I was going to get fitted for a tux in 2 days lol She picked up a bow tie to match her dress today. Thought about doing the whole limo thing but said screw it.

will post some pics Sunday or Monday

I'll start off by saying...........WTF JR Smith??? This will go down as one of the biggest blunders on a basketball court. The only bigger one I can think of was Chris Webber's time out call in the College National Championship game. I can't think of a worse play in the NBA, can anyone else???. Even accidentally scoring on your own goal isn't as bad as this.

Entertaining first game and the Cavs let the Warriors know they aren't going to roll over.

LeBron scores 51, gets 8 rebounds and 8 assists and Smith flushed it down the toilet.

And the overturned call at the end was criminal. It was clearly charging and the refs blew the call by reversing it.

This looks like it might be different from what was expected. The Warriors got 2 critical lucky breaks in regulation to get the game tied and have it stay tied.

Game 2 will hopefully go to the Cavs. I really want to see CLE take this series.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-the-top-eight-slot-cornerbacks-for-2018

The top eight slot cornerbacks for 2018
BY ERIC EAGER

With the increasing realization that this is a sub-package league, and that offenses have long figured out they can generate an edge throwing to receivers inside, players who can cover in the slot play an important (and unique) role in the modern defense.

While the market value in the free agent market has still yet to catch up with this notion, a predominantly slot cornerback (Minkah Fitzpatrick) was taken by the Dolphins in the front end of April’s draft.

This is exciting news, since we know that the pro performance of players who play the same position in college as they do at the next level is easier to predict than that of players that change positions (e.g. from outside corner to inside corner).



In this article we provide the NFL’s top eight (veteran) slot cornerbacks heading into the 2018 season. This list will include a number of differences from Sam Monson’s article last week discussing the best overall cornerbacks in the league, for the reasons discussed above. All of these players are slated to play predominantly inside again in 2018, and will test the statistical theory that staying in the same position cluster allows us to more-easily predict future success:

Nickell Robey-Coleman, Los Angeles Rams
A criminally-undervalued player in the free agent market last offseason, Robey-Coleman allowed only 0.80 yards per coverage snap inside for the upstart Rams in 2017. He was impressively consistent, allowing more than five completions or 65 yards into his coverage just once, and in that game he broke up three passes. Robey-Coleman has the potential to be one of the best role players on a defense that could, by season’s end, be in the conversation for the league’s best unit.

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Chris Harris Jr., Denver Broncos
Harris has been a PFF darling for some time and while his play (along with the play of the entire Broncos defense) took a dip in 2017, he remains the standard-bearer at the position. Even in a down season (he allowed three touchdown passes and a 108.8 rating in 37 slot targets in 2017) he had the second-most coverage snaps from the slot per reception allowed (16.3), suggesting teams are still less-likely to throw his way than they are to most other players lined up inside.

While he’s not the blitzer that many of the players below are (just two pressures the last two seasons), he remains one of the best tacklers at the position, missing only one a season ago in 45 tries and earning a top 10 run-defense grade at his position.

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Patrick Robinson, New Orleans Saints
After a terrific season for the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles, Robinson returns to his initial NFL team to bolster a defense that improved from 30thin our rating system in 2016 to seventh a season ago. With Marshon Lattimore and Ken Crawley already solid players on the outside, Robinson should be able to stay inside and play the role that saw him allow only a 65.2 passer rating on 55 slot targets in Philly.

That will be a substantial upgrade over Kenny Vaccaro (96.2), Vonn Bell (122.9) and P.J. Williams (98.6), who all struggled in that role during the course of the Saints’ improvement defensively in 2017.

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Kendall Fuller, Kansas City Chiefs
A key piece of a late-January trade between Washington and Kansas City, Fuller emerged a season ago into one of the high-graded cornerbacks in the league independent of alignment. His efficiency (only 0.74 yards per coverage snap from the slot, second-best in the league) will be a welcome addition to the Chiefs’ defense that was last in the league in our defensive ratings in 2017.

There are legitimate questions as to how well he’ll do if Kansas City asks him to play both inside and outside (he played roughly 90.0 percent of his snaps in the slot last season), but if the Chiefs continue to play sub packages at higher-than-league-wide rates, he should be in a position to succeed more often than not.

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Desmond King, Los Angeles Chargers
King is a solid contributor on a Chargers defense that could be one of the league’s best in 2018. Picked in the fifth round out of Iowa in 2017, King was a player who played enough in the slot in college to project there as a pro, and did not skip a beat once it was time to translate those skills in Los Angeles.

He was terrific in coverage (less than a yard per coverage snap allowed from the slot), as a blitzer (second among cornerbacks in pass-rush productivity) and in run support (third in run-stop percentage). With King and Derwin James as young, versatile players to compliment Casey Hayward on the outside, it’s not difficult to make the case that the Chargers’ secondary is the league’s upper echelon. If that projection pans out, the sky is the limit for the Chargers as a football team.

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Byron Jones, Dallas Cowboys
Jones is an interesting name for this list, as he has been listed as a safety on the Cowboys roster the last two seasons. However, it appears that he is changing to cornerback in Kris Richard’s new defense, and he played almost 200 snaps as slot cornerback in 2017. In those snaps, he performed terrifically, surrendering only a 51.5 passer rating into his coverage in 2017 and only a 53.1 percent completion percentage there in 2016.

He’s been especially good covering tight ends, which we know offer the biggest bang for an offense’s buck in terms of Expected Points Added on targets. Hence, we like this move from a value standpoint for the Cowboys moving forward.

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Mike Hilton, Pittsburgh Steelers
Despite being an undrafted player and largely unheralded going into 2017, Hilton became one of the most valuable players on a Steelers’ team that earned a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs. An example of a player who was predominantly a slot player in college, Hilton excelled at many of the intangible things a nickel player must do: generating 17 total pressures and finishing first among cornerbacks in run-stop percentage. He was no slouch in coverage, either, allowing just 53 yards into his coverage from Week 12 on.

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Bryce Callahan, Chicago Bears
While Callahan missed some time in 2017 with an injury, he performed well when healthy, generating the third-most slot coverage snaps per reception allowed. While he hasn’t offered much in terms of run defense or as a blitzer (only four career pressures), he’s allowed less than an 80.0 passer rating from the slot in each of his three pro seasons, showing a consistency that is a very valuable piece on an up-and-coming Chicago defense.

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Everett Eager to ‘Cut Loose’ and ‘Compete’ in Year 2

A year ago tight end Gerald Everett was a fresh-faced rookie going through his first NFL offseason — tasked with learning a completely new scheme, while adapting to the quick speed of the league.

Fast forward to 2018 and Everett is now taking on his second OTAs with the Rams. And now that he has a year of professional experience, the South Alabama product has been able to attack practices with a different mentality.

Just understanding my role and what is going to be expected of me,” he said of the biggest difference in year 2 "I'm not spinning as much as when I still had the college stuff in my mind.”

Everett returns this season to join a familiar set of players under a consistent scheme. Once again, the tight end will be catching passes from quarterback Jared Goff and being lead by head

Everett returns this season to join a familiar set of players under a consistent scheme. Once again, the tight end will be catching passes from quarterback Jared Goff and being lead by head coach Sean McVay.

He will also be operating under the same playbook, something Everett says has allowed him to have more confidence and truly “cut loose” during practices.

“I don’t have to think as much,” he acknowledged. “Last year, I was spinning to say the least. But now that I can finally relax and just compete, it feels pretty good.”

This season, Everett will be competing for a larger role in the Rams’ offense.

In 2017, the tight end recorded 244 receiving yards for two touchdowns. But this year, he is hoping to develop into a more complete playmaker, able to be utilized by McVay as both an in-line tight end or receiver — developing as a blocker on the inside and a pass catcher on the outside.

“Being whatever the team needs me to be so we can go further than last year,” he said. “We look at ourselves in the mirror and know that we all have to get better, so that’s exactly what we’re doing now.”

And though Everett has no specific personal goals for the rest of the team’s offseason program, he is excited about continuing to grasp the offense and perfect it.

“Really just working on myself, trying to develop some more chemistry with the guys and just be the team [player] that I can be,” he said.

[www.therams.com]

Wade Phillips Mic’d Up at OTAs –Video

Listen to the best sound bites of Rams Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips during OTAs.

Watch Wade Mic'd Up

http://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nfl/...talib-peters-cooks/1j4va5ymeg2ei16zi1kmt9gcmk

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

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 receiver Brandin 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.

Larry Marmie. :eek:
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https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.c...to-have-coaching-staff-filled-with-nfl-names/

San Diego AAF team to have coaching staff filled with NFL names
Posted by Curtis Crabtree on June 1, 2018


Getty Images

The Alliance of American Football is planning to bring professional football back to San Diego with former St. Louis Rams head coach Mike Martz serving as the head coach of the franchise.

According to Tom Krasovic of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Martz’s coaching staff will be filled with many prominent names with NFL backgrounds as well.

Jon Kitna will serve as the team’s offensive coordinator with former Rams and Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Larry Marmie serving as the team’s defensive coordinator. Hall of Fame offensive lineman Jackie Slater, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Dre Bly will also coach on Martz’s staff.

Marmie has 15 years of coaching experience in the NFL serving most recently as a senior defensive assistant under Lovie Smith with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014-15. Kitna spent parts of 17 seasons as a quarterback in the NFL after initially signing with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1996.

Slater played parts of 20 seasons for the Rams before being inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2001. He’s spent the last seven years serving as an offensive line coach at Division II Azusa Pacific University. Houshmandzadeh and Bly spent a combined 23 seasons in the NFL with three Pro Bowl appearances between them.

These are just flying through and I'm loving that the team shares all of this with us. Myles does a good job on the recaps and the interviews Sarina does are entertaining as well.

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1) The offense began practice with more quick passes on Thursday. Quarterbacks and receivers were working on rhythm and timing routes off of play action in the backfield. That continues through individual drills, where wideouts received more quick passes.

2) Later in individual drills, quarterbacks and wideouts worked on deep corner routes. The ball shouldn’t hit the ground in situations like this where the offense is going against air. And for the vast majority of throws, it didn’t. A few times, Head Coach Sean McVay mocked rushing the passer as the QB made his drop back.

3) In group offensive drills, the offense worked on red zone passes. One of the interesting aspects of these drills is that everyone in the play ends up catching a ball — even if the QB doesn’t look his way. Coaches and other quarterbacks behind the line of scrimmage help fill the gaps once the play’s signal-caller has let his pass fly.

4) Outside linebacker Justin Lawler seems to always be around the ball with a chance to get his hands on it. That was the case early in 11-on-11 drills when he got to a swing pass at the same time as a receiver. Lawler didn’t make the interception, but assistant head coach/linebackers coach Joe Barry praised Lawler’s timing on the sideline.

5) During the first 11-on-11 period, quarterback Jared Goff made a pair of nice downfield passes. The first went down the seam to wideout Cooper Kupp for what would’ve been a big gain. The next was deep down the middle for wide receiver Robert Woods, and it would have gone for a touchdown off play action.

6) The club finished the 11-on-11 period with red zone work. On one play, Goff didn’t initially have a receiver open, scrambled to his right, and hit Woods in the front corner of the end zone for a touchdown.

7) Los Angeles had two fields going for 7-on-7 work. The first and second units were on one field, with the rest of the club on the other. That’s one of the luxuries of having 90 players. Plus, McVay emphasizes being able to get the most out of every minute during the offseason program. That’s one way to do it.

8) During that 7-on-7 period, Goff fired a nice red-zone pass up the right sideline to tight end Gerald Everett. The offense was able to take advantage of a size mismatch on the Everett, who reached up and snatched the ball down on the run in the end zone for a touchdown.

9) The Rams used their next 11-on-11 period for the young players on the roster — those that might not usually receive regular reps. Rookie running back John Kelly took the first handoff of the period over to the right side for a nice run outside the tackles. Quarterback Luis Perez also made a nice pass to wide receiver LaQuivionte Gonzalez on the right side for what would have been first-down yardage.

10) The Rams finished practice with a jog through on both fields. The offense went against a scout defense and the defense a scout offense to close the second week of OTAs.

http://m.therams.com/s/30854/409?itemUri=40892409/138148011312141212131313552111

Andrew Whitworth Ready for Year 13 in NFL

Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth is the oldest player on Los Angeles' roster by a fairly significant margin. He turned 36 last December while in the midst of another terrific season - his first with Los Angeles.

But a streak of sorts came to an end in the last quarter of the season as well, when Whitworth received a game of rest in Week 17 against the 49ers. Prior to that, Whitworth had started 70 consecutive games, dating back to 2013 when the offensive lineman was in Cincinnati.

While it is a significant streak for any player - especially an offensive lineman - Whitworth downplayed its importance in relation to what L.A. was chasing at the time. And he related his streak to now retired Browns left tackle Joe Thomas.

"Obviously what Joe Thomas did was tremendous," Whitworth said this week, referring to Thomas' streak of over 10,000 consecutive offensive snaps played to begin his career. "But I think of it back to my career, even, it's like [there have been] a lot of games it was either a situation where I was sat because we were up big in a game, or sat because we had made the playoffs, and some of that type stuff. So at the end of the day, I think for me, just being in a winning situation and having the opportunity to win division titles and stuff is, obviously, something that means more to me than the streak, I guess you could say.

"But we were actually talking about it the other day - because I was thinking about Joe playing 10,000 and I was thinking, shoot, I've got to be somewhere close to 11 [thousand]. That's my guess, because I know I've played in 183 games - of just pure snaps, I'm somewhere around there," Whitworth continued. "So it's crazy to think about - it really is. John Sullivanhad to make me feel bad the other day and told me I've spent over a year of my life in an NFL training camp - so I started thinking about that, too, and I felt old quick."

Even if Sullivan made Whitworth feel his age, the left tackle doesn't look it. He's been as active as ever during Los Angeles' OTAs over the last two weeks, leading the offensive unit by running from drill to drill, competing at the line of scrimmage in both pass protection and run blocking.

Whitworth said even as he enters his 13th year in the league, he's finding that each season is different.

"I'll tell you what, this year's been special. This offseason, guys have really worked hard. It's been one of the best I've been around as far as guys just really putting in the effort and the energy of just the task of every day, trying to find something to get better at," Whitworth said. "I've really been impressed with how this group has trained. So everything has to continue day in and day out, but if anything, the first five or six weeks of being here, you can really see that this team has got a mission."

As one of the unquestionable leaders on the team, Whitworth said that kind of culture gets established from the top down. But while it starts with the coaching staff, it's up to the players to make sure everyone is truly held accountable. Whitworth is certainly a significant part of that from a player standpoint.

"Ultimately, it's up to the players to carry on that culture and to cultivate it, and to keep day in and day out, pushing each other to make that culture grow even stronger," Whitworth said. "All the coaches really can do is give you direction. It's up to us to handle it and make sure it moves in the right way. And, I'll tell you what, all these guys have done a tremendous job of coming in every day, working extremely hard, and putting their heads down and realizing the only thing that matters right now is us getting better."

But in setting the culture, Whitworth knows he's a mentor to many of the younger players - especially those on the offensive line. That's a role he embraces, taking care to not be overbearing in the process.

"I think you just be there for them and help them with little tidbits throughout the day," Whitworth said. "They get to see how we tick and how we operate. And they get a chance to hear and listen - even in our room, with coach [Aaron] Kromer - just how we dialogue together. And hopefully, that creates an atmosphere where they kind of understand more how they can improve every day, and what they can be looking to try and concentrate on as they're playing."

Stand by for a pretty parochial article. This dude Schein cannot scan the horizon very well. This is not his first head-scratching article in recent months. He actually listed :eek:Matthew Stafford as a guy that "takes over a game" like LeBron James does in the NBA. Additionally..

• Scheinola names LeSean McCoy and Leonard Fournette, but not Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley...
• Scheinola names Khalil Mack and Geno Atkins, but not Defensive Player of the Year, and GOAT Aaron Donald.
• Sh!t from Scheinola names K Justin Tuck, but not Legatron! Whhaa?

He is like the 12 year-old girls trying to ignore the pretty girl in the class, hoping their boyfriends won't flirt with her, and she will just go away. The Rams are not invisible Schein. And your list is crap.

So without further warning, here it is...
________________________________________________________________________________
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...on-heads-nfls-oneman-bands-in-the-lebron-mold

The Schein Nine


Russell Wilson heads NFL's one-man bands in the LeBron mold

• 
• By Adam Schein

EDITOR'S NOTE: This article was originally published on May 17, when the Cleveland Cavaliers trailed Boston 2-0 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

I've argued for years that LeBron James is the second-best player in NBA history. He's an all-time great enjoying a season -- and postseason -- for the ages.

Well, until now.

Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals was the worst game he's played all year. LeBron managed just 15 points on 16 shots and turned the ball over seven times, allowing Boston to thump Cleveland, 108-83. In Game 2, James posted a 42-point triple-double. Unfortunately, the bulk of his production came in the opening quarter ... and then the Celtics outscored the Cavaliers 84-67 over the remaining 36 minutes to win by 13 points.

Suddenly, the Cavs are on the ropes, and the greatest player of the 21st century is at serious risk of missing the NBA Finals for the first time since 2010. Even for the all-timers, the one-man band plays flat when opposed by a well-coached, exuberant team team.

Still, LeBron's solo mission got me thinking about various NFL players tasked with carrying their team and/or side of the ball. You know, those gridiron stars who routinely have to do it all by themselves.

Heading toward the 2018 season, here are nine one-man bands across the NFL:

1) Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks

The fact that Russell Wilson threw 34 touchdown passes against 11 picks, while running for 586 yards and three more scores, is a minor miracle. The Seahawks QB didn't have an offensive line -- he had a turnstile row. The fact that he accounted for 4,569 of the Seahawks' 5,608 scrimmage yards -- a whopping 81.5 percent -- is beyond miraculous. It's otherworldly. It's LeBron-esque.

This kind of individual brilliance -- in this ultimate team sport -- is something to behold. Something you don't want to miss. But what's intriguing for the football fan can be quite daunting for the football player. One-man banding ain't easy on the gridiron. Unfortunately, it appears the 'Hawks are relying on Wilson to do just that again in 2018.

The aforementioned O-line remains a huge question mark. It's not like this offseason was spent finding the old hogs for the Washington Redskins. And Wilson's weaponry has thinned out significantly, with the free-agent departures of Jimmy Graham and Paul Richardson. I do like the addition of first-round pick Rashaad Penny -- and applaud John Schneider for not caring about where the so-called draft gurus had him rated -- but he's still a rookie, running behind a suspect offensive line. Unfair to expect this newbie to be the panacea.

So, once again, Wilson will have to be a combination of LeBron James and Harry Houdini. You know he himself is capable. But this offense appears quite flawed. And the defense is a shell of its former self.

2) Khalil Mack, DE, Oakland Raiders


I love the talent on the Raiders' offense. The defense is another story.

Mack is a bona fide star -- one of the best pass rushers and overall defenders in the game, as evidenced by his three straight Pro Bowls and 2016 Defensive Player of the Year nod. But there's a reason Oakland has been ranked in the 20s in both total defense and points allowed over each of the past three years: Mack's supporting cast is ... lacking.

I was stunned -- and disappointed for Raider Nation -- when Jon Gruden, Reggie McKenzie and Co. did not pluck a strong defender in the first round, instead overdrafting OT Kolton Miller. Hopefully, fifth-rounder Maurice Hurst's heart condition clears up, and he can provide Oakland with some first-round-quality juice up front. Honestly, though, Mack needs help at all three levels of the defense, particularly in the defensive backfield. This is an elite talent entering the arena with second-rate support. Khalil Mack knows exactly how LeBron James feels.

3) LeSean McCoy, RB, Buffalo Bills


Quick, name a Bills skill-position player besides LeSean McCoy ...

Time's up!

Eventually, McCoy will have Josh Allen throwing bombs and giving him running space, but it will take the cannon-armed, raw rookie quarterback time to get acclimated to the NFL. So the ultra-talented back is really on an island for now, given Buffalo's underwhelming receiving corps and makeshift offensive line.

That said, McCoy has been in this predicament before and dazzled -- specifically, the last two years in Buffalo, when he's piled up 3,209 scrimmage yards and 22 touchdowns.

4) Justin Tucker, K, Baltimore Ravens


This is not a joke. And I don't need to pen an extensive screed rationalizing Tucker's place on this list. Let me just ask you one simple question ...

Who is the best and most-reliable weapon to score points on the Baltimore Ravens?

It's the kicker. It's always the kicker. Until Lamar Jackson is ready.

5) Geno Atkins, DT, Cincinnati Bengals


Despite notching six Pro Bowl appearances and two first-team All-Pro nods since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2010, Atkins never gets enough credit for being a true game wrecker. Atkins has led the Bengals in sacks during each of the past two seasons. Remember, this guy's a defensive tackle, toiling away in the muckiest areas of the line of scrimmage -- that kind of sack production is not normal. Not to mention, Atkins routinely blows up rushing lanes and racks up tackles as a premium run stuffer.

Rated the No. 2 interior defensive lineman by Pro Football Focus last season -- behind only Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald -- Atkins is an absolutely indispensable player on a defense that otherwise leaves much to be desired.

6) Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers


Being fair, new general manager Brian Gutekunst seems like a gem. Green Bay needed a change in that seat. Because, thanks to Ted Thompson, there has never been enough talent around the single most talented quarterback in NFL history.



Rodgers covers up so many warts with his individual brilliance that you only really notice the immense flaws with the Packers' roster when he's not playing. Since 2010, Green Bay is 77-33 with Rodgers in the starting lineup ... and 6-11-1 without him.

Looking at the 2018 roster, Rodgers' pass-catching weapons aren't bad; Jimmy Graham was a needed upgrade at tight end. But the offensive line and backfield look suspect to me. And the defense still has issues. (Where's the pass rush?) Overall, the Packers don't have anything close to playoff talent, especially in this highly competitive NFC. But with Aaron Rodgers under center, the legit upside for Green Bay is to win the Super Bowl.

Back in January of 2017, I wrote a column with this as the premise: When I watch Aaron Rodgers, I keep thinking of Michael Jordan. In this case, he can be both MJ and LeBron.

7) Leonard Fournette, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars


Blake Bortles struggles with the forward pass. Jacksonville's receivers are young and relatively inexperienced. Yet, the Jaguars, fresh off an AFC title game appearance, are rightly thinking big again in 2018 because of two things. Yes, that ferocious defense is first and foremost. But don't overlook Fournette, whose tireless work on offense further boosts Jacksonville's more-vaunted unit.

Fournette pounds opposing defenses, even when they routinely sell out to stop the run and try to make Bortles beat them. Also, the beastly back's ability to move the chains allows Jacksonville defenders well-deserved rest. It's a lonely, LeBron-like world being the only player on the Jaguars' offense keeping defensive coordinators up at night.

8) T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts


Until I actually see Andrew Luck throw a football -- we are going to see it again ... right?? -- Hilton is alone as the rarest of rare birds: a fantasy-relevant Colt.


Sorry, don't mean to annoyingly view things through a cold, fantasy football lense, but you get the larger point: Hilton's really the only player in Indianapolis who routinely gets you out of your seat. Over his six NFL seasons, Hilton has averaged 1,138 yards and six touchdowns.

Of course, life is much better with Luck delivering the football. Last year, Hilton fell short of the 1,000-yard mark -- though, just short, with 966 yards -- for the first time since his rookie campaign. The days of Luck throwing the deep ball to a streaking Hilton for a touchdown, resulting in Hilton's signature T-Y celebration, feel like a lifetime ago. The NFL is a better place when Luck is healthy. Nobody knows what I'm talking about more than Hilton.

9) Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions


Stafford has become quite the comeback artist, setting the NFL single-season record with eight fourth-quarter comebacks in 2016 and racking up 30 game-winning drives over the past seven years. Truthfully, in some of those late wins, it really felt like the Lions quarterback was going 1-on-11.

This offseason, Detroit did a nice job bringing in a couple of backs (LeGarrette Blount and Kerryon Johnson) and drafting a first-round offensive lineman (Frank Ragnow). But this offense still doesn't feel complete. Kind of disappointing when you have someone as gifted as Stafford, but this QB will make do.

Follow Adam Schein on Twitter @AdamSchein.

Whatchu got?
(copy/paste list)

NBA:
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NBA: Kareem
Golf: John Daly
NFL: Isaac Bruce
College Football: Vinny Testaverde
Auto Racing: Tony Stewart
Tennis: John McEnroe
MLB: Steve Garvey
Boxing: Mike Tyson
Olympics: Nadia Comaneci
Broadcaster: Pat Summerall

Davon Godchaux learned to be nasty in one year with Ndamukong Suh
http://dailydolphin.blog.palmbeachp...d-to-be-nasty-in-one-year-with-ndamukong-suh/

• Jason Lieser

May 30, 2018 2018

Ndamukong Suh was a good teacher for Davon Godchaux. (Getty Images)

DAVIE — Davon Godchaux isn’t Ndamukong Suh, but he benefited from a one-year mentorship under the five-time Pro Bowler and gained a lot from watching him work on a daily basis.

The Dolphins let Suh go this offseason and will proceed with Godchaux as a likely starter at defensive tackle. He came in as a fifth-round pick and played well, which is partly a credit to Suh’s influence. He described him as a “great guy” who embraced the role of being a teacher.

“Great mentor,” Godchaux said today. “I think after practice everybody saw me and Suh getting together and working on pass-rush moves, run fits, things he learned… Just a lot of things he taught me off the field, whether that’s eating right (or) things like that.”

He added, “You finally get to be on the same side with him and play with him and see how nasty he really is in a game and how physical he really is. It’s a major part for me. I’m glad I got to play with him.”

Godchaux played 15 games, including five starts, last year and is among the young players Miami is counting on to have a breakthrough this season. He had 40 tackles, one pass breakup and a forced fumble last season. Pro Football Focus ranked him the No. 84 defensive tackle, which is a decent starting point as a rookie.

Suh ultimately signed a one-year deal with the Rams, who are not on Miami’s schedule this season. He reached out to Godchaux after he left to encourage him to keep improving on the things that served him well last season.

“I reached out to him and told him best of luck and things like that,” Godchaux said. “He sent me a message, ‘If you keep working hard, the sky is the limit for you.’ I’ll try to stay in touch with him.”

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https://www.seattletimes.com/sports...are-going-to-run/?utm_content=buffer2d64b&utm

New Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer doubles down on run-first mentality
Pete Carroll has made clear reviving Seattle's running game is job one for the offense this season
By Bob Condotta


Bettina Hansen / The Seattle Times

There’s probably a danger in reading too much into the Seahawks’ stated desire to revive their running game in 2018.

As coach Pete Carroll said in a recent interview on ESPN 710 Seattle when asked about previous comments about being more committed to the run this season: “It isn’t like three yards and a cloud of dust. It ain’t Ground Chuck. It’s about balance, so you can formulate your whole approach and you make your opponents have to deal with all aspects of this game.”

Ground Chuck refers to former Seahawks coach Chuck Knox, who in showing how reputations can sometimes mask realities, coached two Seattle teams that still rank among the top four in single-season touchdown passes.

Carroll, likewise, isn’t planning to completely forsake the pass, as the signing of Brandon Marshall this week makes clear (sure, he may be a decent run blocker, but that’s not the primary reason he’s being brought in).

What Carroll would like is to get the pass-to-run percentage more where it was in 2013 or 2014 (47.29 and 48.56 respectively) than where it was last year (59.38).

Or, more realistically, somewhere in the middle of those two numbers, such as the 55.78 last year of Super Bowl champ Philadelphia.

Seattle passed as much as it did last season in large part because it couldn’t run, averaging just 101.8 yards per game and 4.0 yards per carry in going 9-7 and finishing out of the playoffs for the first time since 2011.

And while the internet is rife with debate about how much a good running game matters, Carroll and the Seahawks view it as no coincidence that those numbers were far worse than during the team’s 2012-15 heyday, when Seattle averaged at least 136.8 yards per game each season to rank among the top four teams in the NFL, and at least 4.3 yards per attempt, led by a 5.3 average in 2014.

The offensive struggles of the last two seasons resulted in Carroll making the most significant coaching staff overhaul of his career in firing offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and line coach Tom Cable and re-assigning quarterbacks coach Carl Smith, hiring Brian Schottenheimer as OC and de facto QB coach, and bringing in Mike Solari as offensive line coach.

Streamlining and changing the voices in the ear of quarterback Russell Wilson was also a prominent factor in the firings and hirings.

But Wednesday, when Schottenheimer met the media for the first time since his hiring, Carroll also made clear that Schottenheimer’s background with some successful running teams — specifically, the 2009-10 New York Jets, which each advanced to the AFC Conference title game — was also paramount.

“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 he had Mark Sanchez back there and they ran the football like crazy and they won a couple of championships 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. He’s committed to it. He gets us.’’

The 2009 Jets ranked first in the NFL in both rushing attempts and yards while the 2010 Jets were second and fourth.

Schottenheimer, who also was the OC for the Rams in 2012-14 and spent the last two years as the quarterbacks coach of the Colts, on Wednesday affirmed Carroll made clear what his marching orders are in taking over for Bevell.

“That’s just something that we’ve talked about from the very beginning when I first started talking to Pete,’’ said Schottenheimer, son of longtime NFL players and coach Marty Schottenheimer. “That was something that you’ve got to have the ability to run the football when people know you are going to run the football. And when you lose that, you become one-dimensional and that’s hard. We’re trying to find some different wrinkles. Find out who we are and different ways to attack people.”

The key part of that statement may be “the ability to run the football when people know you are going to run.’’

That, more than anything, is what the Seahawks really want to get back to more than simply running it more. But running it well would also mean running it more since teams inevitably do more of what they are doing well.

As Schottenheimer acknowledged, though, it’ll take more than just wanting to run more to actually run better.

“I think the biggest thing with the running game is it starts with the guys up front,’’ he said. “That physical mindset of ‘hey, we’re going to control the line of scrimmage.’ That’s easier said than done. It’s easy to have that mentality.’’

That’s where what Solari can do with an offensive line that will likely include four of five returnees from last year and free agent signee D.J. Fluker may be as critical to the success of the 2018 Seahawks as anything.

“But, when you emphasize things in coaching you normally get results,’’ Schottenheimer said. “. … we’ve always been the best at places I’ve been when we were able to run the football when people knew we were going to run it. We could throw the football when people knew we were going to throw it. That just gives you that balance you need to be successful.”

It’s a balance Schottenheimer said he’s hoping to find without completely throwing the team’s playbook out the window.

“If you put a number on it I’d say it’s probably 70 percent of what they’ve done here and then maybe 30 percent of ideas from Mike and myself and some of the new guys,’’ he said of how much the offense will change in 2018. “It’d be crazy to ask some of the guys to learn a completely new system. I’ve been working extremely hard trying to get up to speed with the way they’ve done things.

They’ve had so much success here that was easy for me to do. I’m excited about some of the things that we’ve added both in the run and pass game. I think that’ll be something that is noticeably different. It’s a comprehensive approach. We’re all in this thing together.

It’s been fun to really figure out who we are and ultimately right now we still don’t know. We’re still trying to figure that out. The more we practice and go up against a great defense we’ll figure that out as we go up against a great defense we’ll figure that out as we go.”

Roman Gabriel joins Jake Ellenbogen for Throwback Thursday!

https://www.spreaker.com/user/downtownrams/dtrpodcast92tbt

This is an interesting discussion to me because of the dynamics involved.

The average cost to attend a game is lower for MLB than the other three sports, football, hockey and basketball. I was shocked to learn that the NHL is more expensive per person than the NBA by the way and of course we all know the NFL is the most expensive.

Here is a link to show various average costs that is a fun chart to look over.

http://ticketcity.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Costofattendingleague1.png

I think the season is way to long and the game is boring to see live. We know that's a huge part of the NFL's problem too, live games have too many stoppages. The cost can't be the main issue.

The last time I went to a MLB game was when I still lived back home in CLE and I hadn't been to one in years, really since I was a kid, because I don't follow the sport. It was DULL. As hell. Out of all of the sports it has got to be the worst game day experience, at least it is for me.

That has to be keeping younger people away. Slow moving sports are unappealing to younger people I think.

The "national pastime" has been football for many years now, but if MLB doesn't figure out the problem they are going to see numbers and revenues drop even more. The oldest sport in the country is in trouble.

Meanwhile the NBA has broken attendance records for the last handful of years and it costs more to attend an NBA game. If you've ever been to a pro game it's more fun and entertaining, at least for me, than a football or baseball game. Even though football is my favorite sport.

I watched last night and have been a huge fan of the series. Anyone else watch yet?
I feel like I need a support group. Lol

How many people go to the hospital from this?


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Inside Rams OTA’s: Day 5 –Video

Myles Simmons breaks down the competitive day and Ebukam’s growing confidence from OTA Day 5

Watch OTA Report

Woods Embracing Leadership Role in 2018

Wide receiver Robert Woods just turned 26 on April 10.

But because the Rams boast one of the youngest receiving rooms in the league — with an average age of just 23.9 — he enters the offseason as the oldest wide receiver of the group. In fact, the USC product holds almost two years of experience over every other wideout on the roster.

And while Woods may still be at an early point in his NFL career, the role of mentor is nothing new for the receiver. Though he joined the franchise just last season, Woods immediately provided a sense of leadership for the young group — setting the standard both on and off the field.

And as the club continues through its organized team activities this week, Woods is once again ready to embrace that role, helping guide the younger players lining up alongside him.

“The time on the field [it’s] just not kicking back and letting them run the drills,” Woods said this week. “When you see them make a mistake or anything they can improve on, be a voice, be in their ear, lead by example. We’ve been through it, we have experience, so just trying to share that insight with them when they’re not in.”

This year, Woods is heading into his sixth NFL season and is coming off of his best performance yet. In his first season with the Rams and under head coach Sean McVay, the wideout recorded a career high 781 receiving yards for five touchdowns.

And now that he has further experience with the offense and overall system, Woods anticipates an even better 2018. With what he has seen thus far in OTAs, the wideout said he’s seen significant growth at a faster rate.

“So far, so good. Big improvements from last year. Just our timing with Jared [Goff] as an offense is more advanced than we were at this point,” he said. “But just moving forward and still trying to grasp more of the concepts. The more we know, the better we are.”

The offense will have five more OTAs and three days of minicamp to hammer out the details before heading into training camp in July. As Woods put it, the next few weeks will be very important for not only self-improvement, but also to help integrate some of the unit’s new additions — like wide receiver Brandin Cooks.

“He’s going to fit in very nice. You’ve seen him the first couple of days tearing things up, you see his speed already,” Woods said. “I think he’s a big impact for this offense, for this team and we got a lot. ... I think there’s 11 guys on our offense returning, he’s a new addition, but we’re picking right up and still keeping things going pretty fast.”

[www.therams.com]

Littleton Gets First Opportunity at Middle Linebacker


When the Rams traded Alec Ogletree to the Giants at the start of the 2018 league year, it raised one significant question: Who will replace Ogletree at middle linebacker?

Ogletree had been in the position for the last two years in Los Angeles, having made the switch from weakside linebacker in the Rams’ former 4-3 scheme. But more than the on-field production, Ogletree was unquestionably a leader in the team’s locker room who helped set a standard of professionalism.

It’s somewhat yet to be determined who will step into that leadership role — as Ogletree left some significant shoes to fill. But at least on the field, linebacker Cory Littleton is receiving the first crack at defensive signal-caller.

“When [Littleton] played last year, he’s the type of guy that you’re creating certain packages just to get him on the field when you’ve got two really good players inside like an Alec Ogletree and like a Mark Barron,” head coach Sean McVay said. “So Cory’s made plays over the course of his career when he’s gotten opportunities on defense. He’s a guy that’s got just a lot of little nuances to his game, but you see the athleticism and the instincts show up.”

Littleton mainly played behind Barron as Los Angeles’ second inside linebacker in the first year under coordinator Wade Phillips in 2017. Littleton started a pair of games because the Rams implemented a defensive package just to get him on the field. Then he played the majority of the Week 15 victory at Seattle when Barron went down with an injury early in the contest. Littleton ended up starting the Week 16 victory over Tennessee — making a key interception — and the Week 17 matchup against the 49ers in Barron’s stead as well.

Now, Littleton has moved over slightly to play in the middle of it all.

“‘Mike’ ’backer is basically the quarterback of the defense. It’s a new role for myself — it’s something I’ve never done before,” Littleton said this week. “But, just trying to get better every day.”

Even as the Rams were making all kinds of moves during the offseason, Littleton said he wasn’t necessarily sizing up how the roster might shake out.

“I mean, offseason is the time I get to spend with my family — that’s the thing I focus on the most,” Littleton said. “Once football came back around, just had to make sure I was in football shape and whatever role I came into, I’d just try to play that.”

And so when he found out he’d start out the offseason program as the unit’s signal-caller…

“I was actually kind of excited,” Littleton said. “Right now, I’m still working to try to secure a starting position. But right now, I’m happy just to be on the field.”

Littleton played defensive end in college at Washington, but has successfully made the transition to linebacker in the pros. Nevertheless, there’s an adjustment that comes with wearing the green dot on the field — namely making sure that everyone knows what the defensive play is supposed to be.

“Speak a little louder, hope everybody can hear me,” Littleton quipped of his approach.

There’s plenty to learn off the field, too. Littleton said he’s been spending a lot of time watching tape in order to master the nuances of the position.

“[J]ust the keys that a ‘Mike’ ‘backer has to make — just formation recognition, and just all of the work that you have to put in with film review and all those things,” Littleton said. “It’s a pretty broad aspect — a lot of things I’ve got to work on.”

There’s a lot of time between now and Week 1 agains the Raiders on Sept. 10. But as Littleton continues to go through the offseason program, he’s working to make the most of the significant opportunity he’s received.

“It makes me feel good as a player that they really believe in me,” Littleton said. “So I’ve just got to do what I can to get better and make sure I can prove it.”


[www.therams.com]