I haven't had the kind of time over the last year to obsess over the draft like I usually do - so its been a good year for me to have us not picking until the 3rd round. Still, as we get to the eve of the draft - I can't go without tossing one out there.

87. Josh Sweat - Edge
Its already late in round 3, we are finally getting to make a pick, and Les rolls the dice on a gimp? Doesn't that just sound like Les, though? Josh Sweat was an easy first round grade sans injury and what I saw at the combine told me he is looking pretty healthy. Yes, his leg could still fall off at any time, but until he does, the kid can rish the passer.



111. Mason Cole- C

We have a coupla gray beards on that O Line and while I think we all hope that this line stays fully in tact for a few more seasons, we need depth, especially at center.



135. Tegray Scales - LB

If there is a trait I want in our next linebacker, its instinct. I want a nose for the ball - someone who can diagnose out there. I really don't want another undersized linebacker but if a guy who plays like this was 25 lbs heavier, he would been gone in round 1.



136. Kylie Fitts - Edge

Two Edge rushers now drafted each of which has injury question marks. Two rolls of the dice improves the odds, right?




176. Will Dissly - TE

We have some tight ends who can play out in space, but we need an in line shove it down your throat tight end. This is my guy.



183. Matt Pryor - OT

He may eat himself out of the league, or he may dominate. Either way, lets hope he doesn't see the field for meaningful snaps until 2020.



194. Dimitri Flowers

I feel like this team wants a fullback on the roster. Flowers can compete with Rogers and let the best man win.



195. Ja'whaun Bentley - LB

This guy is pretty much the opposite of what we have had at linebacker. He hits with grown man strength.

I been wanting to ask this question for awhile and @LoyalRam posted the Gruden Camp video

http://ramsondemand.com/threads/grudens-camp-jared-goff-the-natural.54263/

Gruden talks about RPOs, starting at the 10:30 mark, Goff ran in college. I remember the throws but, forgot they were RPOs. Foles success with the Eagles RPOs and more a NFL trending to using more is it time for McVay to start letting Goff run the RPOs. I don't recall any references to them.
I do know they Rams use a lot of play action fakes more than other teams. Here is a good article on RPOs.

abouthttps://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/8/25/16201116/most-important-play-2017-run-pass-option-rpo-aaron-rodgers-ben-roethlisberger




As we’ve already told you, football can be hard to understand. Playbooks weigh as much as physics textbooks, and when you hear a quarterback barking in the huddle, it can sound like you’ve intercepted an alien transmission. For there to be order in the chaos, the game requires people who have mastered its specifics. Welcome to Masterminds Week, where we’ll spotlight those who have shown expertise in various aspects of the sport—from the big and all-encompassing to the random and hyperspecific.

The life cycle of NFL schemes is predictable. A play gets invented by some innovative coach and chugs along for a few years with some success, but doesn’t really enter the mainstream football conversation until the play wins big games. Then it gets stolen by everyone in football, and after defenses adjust, it dies a gradual death.


No one was talking much about the read option at the NFL level until it started getting teams deep into the 2012 playoffs. Remember when Colin Kaepernick did this?

In 1940, the T formation—where the backfield shape forms a T—became the scheme du jour because the Chicago Bears used it to torch the Redskins in the NFL title game, 73-0. The West Coast offense wasn’t revolutionary until Bill Walsh started winning Super Bowls with it.


Another play is about to have its moment: the run-pass option. The play is simple but can be almost defense-proof. The quarterback has multiple run or pass options on a given play and the decision on which play to run isn’t made until after the ball is snapped. Unlike other plays in the post-snap-decision genre—the option or the zone read come to mind—these plays can include any kind of pass that the play-caller wants to include in the playbook. It’s already ubiquitous at the college level and growing at the NFL level, and it’s hard to find a coach who doesn’t think its influence is about to take off. “It’s already here in the league,” said Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien, “and it’s a trend you’re going to see more of.”

The RPO has the one trait that NFL teams can’t ignore: it works. Pro Football Focus’s Michael Renner calls the play “free yards.” He found the average NFL game featured about five RPOs last year, the first year the company tracked the play. The Bengals—the Bengals—had the most yards of any team on RPOs last year, at an average of 6.2 per play, or more than a half yard higher than the league average for yards per play in general. At the end of last season, quarterback guru Trent Dilfer told me that these plays had about a 90 percent completion rate league-wide when the quarterback opted to pass. The RPO, in part, fueled Dak Prescott’s record-breaking rookie season, and most college systems run some variation of the play. Unlike many college schemes, it translates well to the NFL level.

“I think this play can be great for a lot of teams,” said Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy.

In simplest terms, Packers coach Mike McCarthy told me, the RPO is a rewriting of what’s possible on a play. Green Bay runs the play with Aaron Rodgers, and it basically works like this: Once the quarterback determines what the defense is doing after the snap, he has three options—two passes and a halfback run, or vice versa—all of which are designed to be executed quickly. For most of his time in the league, McCarthy said, plays were either “locked” plays, in which you’d come to the line and run the called play no matter what, or “two-way” plays, where you could audible into a pre-set adjustment. “So what the RPO is, it’s the expansion to the ability to run a three-way play,” he said. That means you can basically do anything—multiple types of runs or passes—on a given play. Crucially, most plays feature changes before the snap, but the RPO adjusts to the defense after the snap, giving the offense maximum flexibility.

Mike Kuchar, who runs football-research company X&O Labs, said the concept is simple: There’s going to be one defender, typically an outside linebacker, on a given play who is going to commit to playing the run or pass post-snap. Once that player makes their decision, you run that play “to the space he vacated.” If he commits to the run, you pass, and if he doesn’t, you run. All decisions are made quickly after the snap. “It’s the modern-day triple-option,” he said, referring to the old-school run option in which a quarterback can keep the ball, or has two options to give it to his fullback or running back.

But the most dangerous option in this play comes in the passing game. The Cowboys had success with a “third-level” RPO last year, which requires the quarterback to read the safety and helps exploit secondaries even more. “I’ve seen so many more RPOs this preseason,” Kuchar said. The play looks like this:


Mike Renner

The Bengals gained more yards on RPOs than any team in the NFL last season. When executed correctly, they're free yards

11:02 AM - Jul 7, 2017

The RPO play is equipped to dominate the modern defense, which has become faster and more athletic in recent years in order to keep up with offenses that consistently trot out three and four receivers. The RPO works because it doesn’t rely on trying to outrun anyone; it relies on going to the most empty part of the field in the most efficient way possible. Various offensive coordinators said the two biggest traits needed to run the play as a quarterback are quick hands (to get the ball out before the defense can recover) and decision-making (to pick the right option). The vast majority of NFL quarterbacks have both. Even if the signal-caller struggles with the big picture of NFL quarterbacking (and there are many of those), the RPO creates easy passes or wide-open runs if he properly reads one or two keys. Done right, it’s the perfect modern play.

Todd Haley, the Steelers’ offensive coordinator, said the team runs it effectively because Ben Roethlisberger is one of the fastest distributors in football, and thus his instincts and ability to quick-throw allow the team to pounce on defenses with it.

“The thing that helps is that it keeps everyone alive on a play,” Haley said. “Any time every skill guy on the field thinks they can get the ball, they’re excited.”

Every NFL coach is fairly confident that nothing is new. If a team ran plays that started with a snap into shotgun and ended with all 11 guys doing a full rendition of Guys and Dolls, other coaches would claim Clark Shaughnessy was running that with the 1949 Rams.

Kuchar thinks the RPO originated at Purdue during the Joe Tiller–Drew Brees era, when the Boilermakers would combine bubble routes with runs and make a read after the snap. It was now-Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn, he said, who popularized the play when he was Auburn’s offensive coordinator. “Once he started it, it’s now hard to find someone at the college level who is not doing it.” Kuchar also mentioned Penn State offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead as someone designing the best RPOs in the NCAA.

The trickle up to the NFL level has been slower than the explosion in the college game. The Carolina Panthers have used the play with Cam Newton. Their offensive coordinator, Mike Shula, said the play is helpful because, with the lack of blocking tight ends throughout the NFL, you need quicker options to get the ball out as soon as possible—and the RPO is an extremely quick play since it requires the quarterback to get the ball out of his hands in about a second. This is especially important if the defense is bringing significant pressure.

If these plays become widespread, it would change the face of defense. Paul Guenther, the Bengals defensive coordinator, said the key to containing such a play is to disguise coverages. Essentially, offenses in an RPO read which play they’ll go to by checking out easy-to-read seven-man defensive fronts. So disguising the player with the responsibility to commit to a run or a pass early is a good way to mess with an RPO team.

Kuchar said the biggest difference between college and pro RPOs is the protection schemes. Unlike in the NFL, where a quarterback’s going rate is above $20 million, some college RPOs rely on the quarterback rolling to the perimeter of the field and leaving him open for big hits. That won’t fly in the pros. But, Kuchar said, the NFL has evolved to where they’ve taken college RPOs and designed blocks for everyone on the field and kept the quarterback in the pocket instead of a perimeter rollout—it defeats some of the purpose of the college RPOs, which rely on ignoring one player entirely in the blocking scheme to create a numbers advantage elsewhere, but NFL teams will take the tradeoff.


Kuchar also said that teams in college and the pros are getting more aggressive with the routes they are calling in RPOs. After years of focusing on quick, short passing, teams are going downfield, designing RPOs with skinny post routes or other big-play patterns. The ceiling of the RPO still hasn’t been scratched.

Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher made news last fall when he dubbed RPOs “illegal,” suggesting they often led to an ineligible man downfield but that refs rarely called the infraction. There is a subtle but crucial difference between ineligible man downfield in the pros and college. In the NFL, offensive linemen cannot be more than 1 yard (as opposed to 3 in college) downfield at the time the ball is thrown. This complicates the professional RPO, since offensive linemen, cognizant of the R in the RPO, explode forward to block for a run at the beginning of the play. Even if the quarterback opts to throw, the pass will oftentimes be so short and quick that run blocking principles will be in effect.




This is going to create a massive gray area once the play reaches its peak.

“It’s hard to see [linemen downfield] as an official,” O’Brien said. “There’s a lot of examples where that’s not called.”

Referee Jerome Boger told me that the gray area was a topic of interest at the league’s refereeing meetings before the season. He said referees are supposed to be watching the play closely this season and that calling ineligible receiver downfield is simply a matter of watching the timing of the play with greater scrutiny.

So, as long as the referees allow some envelope pushing, the RPO is going to be The Play of 2017. When there’s a play that is dubbed “free yards” by smart people, you can expect it to spread. So, how hot can this play get?

Bengals backup A.J. McCarron thinks it’ll retain its popularity just because it ensures teams won’t have to rely on “checkdowns,” which are essentially audibles into short passes that do little more than gain a handful of yards. Designing a play with a big pass option that can be utilized post-snap will always be appealing. “Every team can pass out of the gun,” McCarron said, “but this allows you to run out of the gun. And if you wanted to, you could run this under center, too.”

Bengals quarterbacks coach Bill Lazor also said the RPO is an efficient way to keep possession since all of the plays are designed to limit risk and thus turnovers.

So, given all the advantages they seem to provide, will the RPOs have a multiseason run before flaming out, as the read option did? Or will it become like the shotgun pass or crossing pattern from a slot receiver—something that endures for long enough that it’s hard to remember a time it wasn’t part of the game?

“And then in four years,” Lazor said, talking about the life cycle of the read option and RPO, “someone will be asking me about the new thing, and asking if it will be the new RPO.”

• 
  

I suspect that he’s identified quite a few players that he likes in the 3rd and 4th rounds. Players that can be solid contributors for the Rams.

Real good value, IOW. Consequently, I doubt that we’ll see dramatic trades up into the late 2nd, maybe not even into the higher 3rd.

I further suspect (maybe even expect) that Snead has plans for all 4 of his top picks and will resist temptations to trade up from them.

The 6th rounders are another story. They are bargaining chips that he might well use to get back into the 5th IF a player that he really likes has fallen. There are only so many roster spots that are even remotely open on this roster, anymore, so Snead may be wanting quality over quantity at this point.

But I’m just spitballin’ here, trying to get into the minds of S&M. Anything halfway reasonable in terms of doabilitiy is still on the table with these guys in this draft. Makes it more entertaining, huh?

This is a “different” Ram draft. The marquee names will be long gone before our first turn. But for those of us following this team closely it will be fascinating to observe the picks and moves as the Ram strategy unfolds. I, for one, will be keeping a close eye on this board during the Ram part of this draft as our draft experts do a deep dive into the Ram reasoning.

Oldie but goodie...worth a re-watch

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Is he an inside linebacker prospect?

He played outside in college and as a Senior almost half of his tackles were for loss.
His 5'11/ 250 build seems more suited for inside.

He was on and off the roster which is not uncommon for a 7th round draft pick.

Any insights?

Round 3-23-87 ) Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, OLB, Oklahoma
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Unless the team can get into range to move up for the OT Tyrell Crosby, my guess is that this is the player the Rams really want at this selection. My hope is that his less than ideal height keeps him on the board and that he has an Elvis Dumervil type of success in the league.

Round 4-11-111 ) Siran Neal, DB, Jacksonville State
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Most would hate this selection on draft day, but then love it later. This kid is a hitter who has played Safety, LB, and CB in college. And from what I've read more than held his own in press manage coverage at Senior Bowl practices. Remember the 2018 draft isn't just about the 2018 season.

Round 4-35-135 Christian Sam, LB, Arizona State
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Minus a shot at a 1st round blue chipper, this is probably the earliest I would even consider an ILB in this draft class for Wade Phillips defense. Simply put, Sam would be Corey Littleton's competition to replace Alec Ogletree in the starting lineup. Let the best man win.

Round 4-36-136 ) Foye Olukun, LB/DB, Yale
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This is my Ebenezer Ekuban selection in this draft. Here's another small school wonder with tremendous physical ability that most have probably never heard of, to date. Here is another physical, former safety who could compete with Ramik Wilson and others once Mark Barron is dealt or released for cap purposes (Probably in the minority on that opinion, too).

Round 6-2-176 ) Round 6-9-183) Ito Smith, RB Southern Mississippi
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Simply put, this kid here is what free agent bust, Lance Dunbar, was supposed to be last year.

Round 6-20-194 ) Tony Adams, OL, North Carolina State


If you haven't already, many will scream bloody murder if the Rams don't address the OLine sooner than this selection in the draft. Not me. I'd love to find a potential replacement for Whitworth, but I'm hopeful the Rams don't reach in a weak draft class to do so. Adams is a pretty good interior OLineman who I'm guessing only makes it this far because of his height.

Round 6-21-195 ) Jamil Demby, OL, Maine
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Kid played OT in college, but probably moves inside in the NFL. More NFL competition for the OLine.

It was pretty obvious this was going to happen though now it's official.

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Totally hilarious!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...om&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

Hello gents! Since the draft is around the corner thought I'd post my last mock to get these ideas out of my head finally and upon looking at my old pre FA period mock a few minutes ago, I can't believe the night and day difference in this team!!!! Damn it's been a ride!!! lol

Well the rides not over, time to top our roster off with TALENT and create some competition on our roster and let the cream rise to the top. THE KEY IS COMPETITION BREEDS WINNING AND SUCCESS. Good theme right? I really like my 4th and 6th round hauls. Watch the vids if you have a few extra minutes. Promise you it'll be worth it.


So with Suh, Brockers, and AD, and our secondary locked we need guys who can seal the edge to lock the fort down. Also a guy in the LB core who is a specialist pass rushing/run stopper specialist and a mixture guy.

@jrry32 You had me fall in love with Shaquim Griffith but I really do think he'll be gone before our pick in the third in the teens somewhere. But I might just draft the other guy you had me fall in love with! His value and talent is amazing! @Riverumbbq and I guarantee I won't steal your thunder this time! lol

No trades and we milk BPA with a mixture of need sort of. Plenty of perfect projection talent here.







2018 Draft

Round 3 pick #87-

Jamarco Jones OT Ohio St. Sr 7 6-5 310
Although Jones was a four-star recruit and top 100 prospect nationally, he was coming off a shoulder injury that cost him half of his senior year and needed to mature physically and mentally before knowing what it took to be a great player. For two years, he learned behind Taylor Decker, an eventual first-round pick for Detroit. Jones played in 10 games as a true freshman for the national champions, and then in all 13 games as the team's sixth lineman the following year. Once Decker departed, Jones proved he was ready to go, taking advantage of his length and quick feet to garner second-team All-Big Ten honors as the starting left tackle for every game. He garnered first-team all-conference honors as a senior, starting all 14 games at left tackle for the Big Ten Champion Buckeyes.
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Everyone of us affirms that we need a OT project to take over for Big Whit. Here he is. Ofc he is 3rd round status but very good value. The other Tackles worth a hoot that we visited with have been drafted by now. Great Value in Jamarco.

Round 4- "The Money Round"

#111 Jeff Holland DE/OLB Auburn Jr 6-2 249 lbs
Holland became a fan favorite in The Plains in 2017 for his "Sensei Mud" celebration after a big play. He had quite a few big plays in his junior season, taking over Carl Lawson's spot and helping the Tigers win the SEC West. Holland was a 2017 first-team All-SEC honoree with 45 tackles, 13 for losses, 10 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He backed up Lawson in 2016, playing in 12 games with 13 stops, three for loss, and two sacks. As a true freshman, he played in 13 games as a reserve at the Sam linebacker position (13 tackles, 2.5 for loss, one sack). Holland played high school football in Jacksonville, earning all-state honors as a senior and was named the number one prospect from Florida that year.

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Yes ol @jrry32 got me addicted to this dude. He's absolutely a perfect match between ability and draft position that creates amazing value! From here on out the diamonds in the rough come out!!


#135 Troy '9 Fingers' Fumugali TE Wisconsin R-Sr. 6-6 248 lbs
Fumagalli is tough as nails and not afraid of contact. You’ll struggle to find someone who will leave it all on the field like Fumagalli does, lowering his shoulder and throwing his upper body into defenders. He’s a great blocker who needs very little polishing in this area of his game.

He doesn’t have blazing speed, but he knows what to do after the catch and can get an offense extra gritty yardage by using his size and nimble footwork to avoid tackles. The senior has big hands that web balls out of the air; his catch against Western Michigan last year was impressive. Fumagalli has the ability to contort his body and make spectacular catches off inaccurate throws.

Fumagalli's name (pronounced foo-muh-GAH-lee) is as fun to say as his game is to watch. His agility belies his size and strength, and his hands are among the best in the country -- despite the fact he is missing the index finger on his left hand because of a birth defect. Having nine fingers didn't make any difference in his second-team All-Big Ten junior campaign, where he caught 47 passes for 580 yards and two scores. Fumagalli was the Cotton Bowl Offensive MVP that year, as well, after catching six throws for 83 yards and a touchdown in the victory over Western Michigan where opposing head coach P.J. Fleck called the young tight end "incredible." The Aurora, Illinois native actually walked on at Wisconsin as a three-star recruit for the 2013 season, when he redshirted. Fumagalli played in all 14 games, starting two, as a freshman (14 receptions, 187 yards). He started four times in 11 games played in 2015, upping his totals to 28 receptions, 313 yards, and his first touchdown. Troy's father, Doug, played football at Holy Cross while two brothers played at the University of Dayton.
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Guys is practically already good to go with his blocking skills as per many draft analysis I've read, he doesn't have great top end speed but he knows how to get open, and is reliable in the red zone, Goff would love him!

Also, I refuse to believe that McVay is totally satisfied with our TE's in the 12 personal we have. This pick actually mixes it up with a red zone target that can actually block so it makes us a lot more flexible and less predictable. Or if we run better at sealing the edge while taking and actually play action pass to him.

#136 Duke Ejiohar DE/OLB WF R-Sr. 6-3 264 lbs
Ejiofor's parents emigrated from Nigeria years ago, and you can tell by Duke and his siblings' names (Prince, Kingsley) that they come from royalty in that country. As fitting as his first name is, his last name is even more apt for his NFL future, as it is pronounced EDGE-eh-for. His edge rushing prowess was on full display in 2016, when he showed off a growing frame, closing speed, and a spin move to garner third-team All-ACC from league coaches and media with 50 tackles, 17 for loss, 10.5 sacks, an interception, three pass break-ups and two forced fumbles. He showed glimpses of that talent as a sophomore despite missing the first five games of the year with concussion symptoms. Ejiofor played in seven games that year, leading the team with 4.5 sacks among his 28 stops, 7.5 for loss. As a redshirt freshman, he played in 10 contests (missing the final two games with his first concussion), making 12 tackles and two sacks.

Long-limbed. Frequently uses swipe/swim to keep offensive linemen away from his frame. before they get into his body. More of fluid athlete than twichy one. Not great deal of bend or dip around the edge, and he has tendency to slow down at pass-rushing apex. Awareness and hand use work wonders against the run. With some coaching, he can be a quality, well-rounded player.

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Seriously if you have a few watch his videos. Guy seems like he could compete and start with our current starters. Just like the Eagles we always have a fresh stable of pass rushers and with Ejiohar drafted with Holland we have talented book ends for at least 4 years together. He looks like a men among boys even against better competition.

Imagine him and Holland teeing off on the edge with the constant pressure of Suh, AD, and Brockers up the middle! The thought gives me a semi!


Again creating competition breeds success with the Duke of Earl, Holland, Longacre, and Ebuhkam.



Round 6 - Diamond in the Rough ROund!
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And no my names not Aladdin...

Just call me Jafar



#176 Tony Adams C/G N.C. State Sr. 6-2 322 lbs.
NFL scouts always appreciate an offensive lineman prospect with wrestling experience, as that sport teaches participants how to use their hands and feet in concert. Adams' father was the head wrestling coach at Boston College for over three decades, and it's clear that knowledge funneled down to his son. Adams was rated as a top-10 center prospect coming out of Charlotte, and his short, thick build portends a home there in the NFL. He played some in the pivot as a true freshman, but found a home as a starter at right guard nine times that year. His willingness to graduate a semester early undoubtedly helped him win the team’s Freshman of the Year award. Adams started every game at right guard again in 2015 and then earned second-team All-ACC honors for his play there in 2016. League coaches repeated that honor for Adams after he started all 13 games in 2017. His work in the community has earned him Wuerffel Trophy consideration during his career.

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I"ve noticed over the years the Rams have made a habit of drafting guys that they meet with twice. Adams is one of two guys that we meet with twice this off season and I can definitely seeing us taking depth at C/G position especially with contracts coming up the next few years. Unlike Boudreu I have confidence our current O-Line coach can develop talent after a year or two and Adams is without doubt pretty damn good clay to mold. Competition once again!

#183 Matthew Thomas ILB FSU r-Sr. 6'3 232 lbs.
Thomas' collegiate journey has not been easy, even though he was a top 15 overall recruit nationally. He was part of Florida State's national championship squad in 2013 but missed most of that freshman year after undergoing shoulder surgery (four tackles, two for loss in four games). Thomas was then suspended for the first six games of the 2014 campaign for violating team rules; he eventually got on the field in eight games, starting three (26 tackles, 2.5 for loss). His mother passed away in January 2015 from lung disease, and that, understandably, affected his school work; he was ruled academically ineligible for the 2015 season. But things turned around when Thomas returned to the field as a redshirt junior in 2016. He started 12 of 13 games played and led the team with 77 tackles, playing fast and strong with the length to wrap up ballcarriers at will. He had 11 tackles for loss, 3.5 of which came in FSU's Orange Bowl win over Michigan (Thomas had 11 total stops in the contest). Thomas led the Seminoles in tackles in 2017 with 85, 10 for loss, two sacks, an interception, two pass break-ups, and a blocked kick in 12 starts (he did not play in the Independence Bowl).
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Thomas has immense talent and is an amazing pass rushing specialist who can get after the QB and create turnovers and havoc. Also he will be a legit ST weapon while putting on some weight and developing his skills.

#194 Jack Cichy ILB Wisconsin r-Sr. 6-2 238 lbs.
Cichy (SITCH-ee) had a breakout party at the Badgers' 2015 Holiday Bowl victory over USC, winning Defensive MVP honors single-handedly shutting down the Trojans' offense with nine tackles and three sacks in the second half after sitting out the first half due to a targeting call in their previous game. That performance capped off a season where he started four of 13 games played, making 60 tackles, eight for loss, and five sacks. He played well (seven starts, 60 tackles, seven for loss, 1.5 sacks) with high expectations upon him, attacking running lanes and getting through trash inside, before missing the final half of the season with a torn pectoral muscle. Unfortunately, Cichy missed the entire 2017 season with a knee injury. He decided to go to the NFL instead of applying for a sixth year of eligibility. The son of former Notre Dame and Canadian Football League player Steve Cichy actually walked on to UW, earning a scholarship after redshirting the 2014 season due to the team's depth at the position. Cichy played four games as a true freshman, making one tackle. His sister, Tessa, played basketball for Wisconsin.
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(sorry for a cowboy fan breakdown but it's accurate!)
Seriously watch this guy play. Great videos, he has great instincts for being a 6th round pick. Guy can fly around our DL and create a huge issue for opposing offenses.He's a winner and used to winning, in games I've seen I've seen him single handedly take control and wreck the opposing offense game plan. Great freaking competition between Cichy, Thomas, and Littleton.

WARNING HOMER PICK AHEAD!!

#195 Jaleel Scott NMSU (yeahhhhh!!!) r-Sr. 6-5 218 lbs. 40- 4.54
Scott was recruited by Maryland and Kentucky out of Rock Hill High School in South Carolina, but he was a non-qualifier academically. So he enrolled at Ellsworth Community College for three years, redshirting in 2013 and finishing his career there as an all-conference performer in 2015 (45 receptions, 668 yards, nine touchdowns). Scott joined NMSU in 2016, leading the team with five touchdown catches (23 receptions, 283 yards). Scouts got to see his full game in 2017, as did Sun Belt coaches, who voted him first-team all-conference because he accumulated 1,079 yards and nine scores on 76 receptions. His one-handed touchdown catch against Arizona State was one of the best plays of the season, showing scouts how he can combine his athleticism and strong hands.

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Ok please tell me if I'm being a homer here. I've seen this guy for my alma-matter for the last 2 years. Guy is legit asf! Granted he's not playing against top tier CB's every week but he has some skills I feel he can at least compete with Michael Thomas for a roster spot at the least. Guy is tall but has some freaking sure strong hands. Very good high pointing a ball but I can say he needs to perfect his feet placement from watching him. He knows how to fight for the ball.

With the Rams success this past season along with their new additions are they more attractive to an UDFA, or are they less attractive due to having fewer holes to fill.

Personally I feel it depends on what position they play. If they play LB, Edge, or Oline then the Rams look attractive. If they play any other position, probably not so much.

What say you?

Maybe another Robert Quinn situation where we grab a guy lower than his value due to a medical anomaly?


https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nf...-condition/ar-AAwfAVw?ocid=spartanntp&ffid=gz

http://www.mlive.com/wolverines/index.ssf/2018/04/espns_todd_mcshay_maurice_hurs.html


https://t.co/hjKK2Yljwi

I think Les Snead is doing an excellent job as the Rams GM and I am learning NOT to be surprised with any moves he might make! Even though the Rams don't get a pick until the 3rd Round (At least for now!) I WILL be surprised if the Rams don't make a move or two during the Draft!

Let me set the stage a little bit.

Let’s say that the following conditions existed:

He trusts you like a brother or best friend so he won’t go PR or PC on you. You know that he will give you an honest answer.
No one else can overhear. Certainly no reporters, coaches, or players.
He knows that you won’t go blabbing to anyone so he feels free to be candid.
It’s in a relaxed atmosphere such as 2 friends enjoying a beer with no work pressure.
The question must be football related (his girl friend is off limits, for example, lol).

Sooooo...

What would you most really want to know now that you have this hypothetical golden 15-30 minutes with Sean?

I think I might ask him about his TE situation. What does he REALLY think about Everett’s prospects this year? Can Higbee become a sufficient (and consistent) threat? And what about Hemingway? Were you exaggerating about your plans for him, or was that coachspeak? Is Hemingway a legit potential starter type, IOW?

If I could squeeze in another question it might be about his true feelings regarding Watkins. Why did Watkins fall short of everybody’s expectations? Did his concussion “change” him? Did he have an unexpected learning difficulty? What was the real reason that Watkins wasn’t extended? Were the Rams having 2nd thoughts or was Sammy just uninterested in being one of the spread-it-around 5 targets?

If I was still on a roll, I might ask him if he thought Big Whit would be good for 2 more years. Or even this one? A lot is riding on the answers to those 2 questions.


Well, now it’s your turn. What question would you ask if given this golden opportunity? Have some fun with it.

These are excerpts. To read the whole article click the link below. There's a Peter King mock draft included if you're interested. There's also a story on the Rams-Chiefs game.
**************************************************************************************
https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/23/mock-draft-prospects-trades-first-round-mmqb-peter-king

Darts, Deals & Wild Guesses
There is no normal in the 2018 NFL Draft, where waffling logic and super-secret general managers make predictions nearly impossible. Here’s our best guess at how Round 1 will go. Plus more on the Chiefs-Rams game in Mexico, and draft tidbits galore.
By Peter King



DRAFT MARGINALIA
A few more draft-related notes:

• Denzel Ward has earned my respect. The Ohio State cornerback had a tweaked ankle at the combine and left without doing some of the traditional athletic drills, including the 20-yard short shuttle. One team wanted that short shuttle. This team told Ward it needed the shuttle to complete its evaluation.

A rep of the team told Ward he could even just find a friend to take a cellphone video of Ward doing the shuttle, and send it to the team. The team heard nothing back. Finally, on Saturday, the coach for this team got a ping on his smart phone. It was from Ward, with a slightly shaky video of him doing the short shuttle on an empty field somewhere. I doubt this team picks him, but it says something about Ward completing this task that’s impressive.

• The final word on the quarterbacks. I asked one longtime and well-connected scout about what he’s hearing regarding the order of top quarterbacks in this draft. In other words, if teams with a quarterback need could show their boards, what order would they go in? “Allen one, very slightly ahead of Darnold. Then Mayfield. But the people who like Mayfield love Mayfield.” Watch for Arizona trading up on Mayfield if he gets past the Jets and Broncos.

• There will be some trades in this draft that might seem one-sided. Several team officials told me in the past few days that they value Day 2 picks (rounds two and three) so highly that they’d be willing to take slightly less in compensation to move down. Where could this come into play? Cleveland (four), Indianapolis (six), Baltimore (16), Seattle (18), New England (23, 31), New Orleans (27), Philadelphia (32).

“This is not your typical draft,” said one veteran club official Sunday. “The second, third and even fourth rounds are gold. You can take less than the trade-value chart says and still make a very good trade if you get multiple picks in those rounds.”

• The draft was more fun then. In the 17th and final round of the 1972 draft, GM Joe Thomas of the Baltimore Colts turned to 32-year-old PR guy Ernie Accorsi and said: “I am exhausted. You make the pick.” The 17th-round picks, in those days, were training-camp bodies, with long odds to ever make an NFL roster.

The draft wasn’t televised in 1972, and the later rounds were a just-get-it-done affair. Accorsi gave him this name: Tim Berra, wide receiver/kick returner, UMass. How cool. Yogi Berra’s son, drafted into the NFL. “And he made the team!” Accorsi said. “He returned a kick for a touchdown for us in an exhibition game, and he made our roster for the ’74 season.”

• Hall of Fame Factoid I Have Used Before But Never Gets Old. In 1964, these were consecutive picks:

Round 7, 88th Overall, to Dallas: Bob Hayes, WR, Florida A&M
Round 7, 89th Overall, to Detroit: Bill Parcells, OT, Wichita State

Parcells was picked 21 spots ahead of Leroy Kelly and 40 ahead of Roger Staubach.

CALLING ALL SCHEDULE NERDS!
If you’re bored by the process of making the NFL schedule, please skip this section. It’s straight from Schedule Nerdland. But I like it, and it’s a cool example of how the sausage gets made.

Sometimes in the process of gathering information for my annual how-the-NFL-made-this-year’s-schedule story, I hear interesting stories about things pertaining to the schedule, often from people around the league, sometimes from people inside the Val Pinchbeck Room, where over four months of digital trial-and-error, four NFL employees get the 256 regular-season games arranged.

“Really, the process couldn’t be more boring. But there’s such an incredible fascination with the end result.”

—NFL schedule-maker Howard Katz, who works with a four-person team for four months to come up with the schedule each year. I wrote about it last Thursday night—the process of 1,000 computers spitting out 59,031 possible schedules, quoting Katz and longtime aide Mike North about the process.

Said Katz: “Mike is trying to get the computer to think the way I’m thinking.”


PETER KING/THE MMQB

This year the story is about the Rams-Chiefs game in Mexico City. Do you see the photo above? It’s a stack of “dead schedules,” those that looked very promising and passed muster enough to get hard looks from the master of the schedule, Howard Katz.

After I left the Pinchbeck Room on Thursday evening, I made a few calls to see how the schedule was playing out in the league (favorably in most precincts, I heard). And a couple people were talking about Rams-Chiefs, and how that become one of the really attractive games in the league this year. They wondered how ESPN got it—and whether CBS or FOX (for a Thursday nighter) or NBC (Sunday night) was in the mix.

The answer, as it turns out, is they all were.

Think of the game: Two division champs, each likely to be very good in 2018, exporting the game to a place sure to draw 100,000, in what is likely to be a frenzied atmosphere. There was the added zest of the Chiefs trading one of the best young corners, Marcus Peters, to the Rams this year, and Peters wanted to exact revenge on the Chiefs.

The league pegged the game for Week 11. Apparently the schedule-makers, Katz and Mike North particularly, originally preferred the game to be on Thursday night. Rams COO Kevin Demoff told me yes, this was the case, and the urging to make this a showcase game began at the Super Bowl. For two reasons:

The league wanted to reward FOX for rescuing it by bidding up the Thursday night rights fees—now $660 million for the 11-game package, an increase of 30 percent from 2017—and simply for a potential huge rating for a package of games that needed the boost based on falling 2017 Thursday viewership. Plus, it was likely to be a really fun game, and the bigger the audience, the better for the NFL.

A couple of problems. The league couldn’t bring two teams to Mexico City on a short week unless they had their byes the week before. And no team wants a Thursday night game coming off the bye, because that likely would mean the team would have to return to work on the Saturday before the game, cutting a couple of days from the players’ time off.

For players, that’s a taboo. In addition, there was problem for the Rams: Customs at Los Angeles International Airport closes at 12:30 a.m. daily. The Rams likely would have to stay overnight in Mexico City and leave the next day to account for that. Teams hate staying on the road after road games.

It was the Rams giving up the home game to make the Mexico game a reality, so the league had to make it right for them. Demoff said North worked on him during Super Bowl week about playing on Thursday night in Mexico. “But we were adamant that it could not happen,” Demoff said. “Especially on a Thursday, with the bye issue. And for any prime-time games, we’d have the Customs issue at LAX. We thought this game should be a Sunday afternoon doubleheader game.”

Early Sunday was out, because the Rams would push back against a 10:05 a.m. PT game; West Coast teams hate the early-body-clock games. The Sunday doubleheader was interesting … but what would happen if the scheduled Sunday night game ended up having to be flexed out, and the league wanted to put Chiefs-Rams in there?

Tough to flex to a game in Mexico, and say to NBC: You’ve got to do an international game in 13 days. Similarly, if the league made it a Sunday night game, what if the Chiefs or Rams stunk and the league had to flex out of the game? Tough to tell CBS to get a crew into Mexico that fast.

As for Monday night, the Customs issue was real for the Rams. What, the schedulers thought, could happen if we gave the Chiefs and Rams their bye in Week 12—Thanksgiving Week?

That week traditionally doesn’t have byes, because it’s tough to build a good Sunday schedule when three Thursday games are removed for Thanksgiving and there’s both a Sunday and Monday nighter. Giving two teams byes would mean a thin 10-game daylight slate for Sunday.

But the NFL saw it could build a decent schedule and still give the Chiefs and Rams byes. Pats-Jets plus a Jags-Bills playoff rematch in the early CBS window; Giants-Eagles and Russell Wilson-Cam Newton in the early FOX window; Steelers-Broncos as the CBS doubleheader game; the Packers-Vikings rivalry on Sunday night; Deshaun Watson-Marcus Mariota on Monday night. Not the best Sunday of the season, but not bad either.

And so it happened. The bye is late, but for two teams hoping to make the playoffs, look at it this way: Two teams (Washington and Carolina) have byes in Week 4, which means they’ll play three games, have a bye, then play 13 straight weeks. Now two teams have the bye in Week 12, which mean they’ll play 11 straight weeks to start the season, have a bye, then play five games at a time of the year when the bye is likely needed more than Washington and Carolina needed in Week 4.

That’s where this photo of the pile of schedules comes in. I’m told some of them died because of the Rams-Chiefs kerfuffle. But it got solved, without much attention. And now you know how problems get worked out with the schedule, and why, in part, it takes four people four months to do.

Some perspective, from North: “The incredible thing is not even that we get through half a million schedule possibilities now … The miracle is Val Pinchbeck used to build this thing by hand. One game at a time. Not even being able to consider things like rest disparity, travel, stadium blocks, not even being able to think about, oh, so-and-so caught a three-game road trip last year so it shouldn’t happen to him again. We can be really discerning now.”

In the end, the NFL considered 59,031 schedules, including some of the dead schedules that had Rams-Chiefs in all different windows. That’s something, very likely, Pinchbeck’s schedule could never have contemplated.

STATS OF THE WEEK
So when the draft kicks off on Thursday night, one team’s fans are going to have to be patient. Like, ridiculously patient.

The Rams’ first pick is the 87th overall choice, barring a trade. That’s two-thirds of the way down into the third round. Los Angeles will not have a pick Thursday night for the approximately three-and-a-half-hour first round. Los Angeles will not have a pick for the approximately two-and-a-half-hour second round. Los Angeles will not have a pick for about the first 70 minutes of Round 3. In total, that’s seven hours of dead time for Rams fans.

Thursday’s draft coverage starts at 8 p.m. ET. Nothing for the Rams that night.

Friday’s draft coverage starts at 7 p.m. ET. Nothing for the Rams that night, if the timing is approximately what it was last year, until about 10:38 p.m. ET.

Then nothing until late in Round 4, the 35th pick of day three.

That better be one heck of a draft party, with lots of free booze, for the Rams in Los Angeles this weekend.

THINGS I THINK I THINK
1. I think I hope the 32 NFL owners saw Colin Kaepernick get the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award in Amsterdam on Saturday night. An internationally noted citizen cannot find employment in the NFL. If that’s not a damning indictment of the NFL, I don’t know what is. uke:

2. I think this would earn a disapproving stare from Houston coach Bill O’Brien:

a. The Texans played the Patriots in Foxboro on Sept. 22, 2016.
b. The Texans played the Patriots in Foxboro on Sept. 24, 2017.
c. The Texans will play the Patriots in Foxboro on Sept. 9, 2018.

3. I think this is the definition of fan loyalty: Since midseason 2016, the Nebraska Cornhuskers are 6-12, including losses of 62-3, 56-14, 54-21 and 56-14. On Saturday, they drew 86,818 paying customers to see their spring game.

4. I think, if you want to know why we are buried in a hillock of mock drafts today, read this story by The MMQB’s Tim Rohan. And read Bill Belichick talk about the godfather of mocks and of scouting college players for every team as a hobby, the late Joel Buchsbaum. What a relationship Belichick and Buchsbaum had. As relayed by Hub Arkush, Belichick once said: “Joel was one of my best friends.”

5. I think I am one person, flailing against the gigantic windmill that is NFL Draftmania, which is so loved by the NFL because it keeps NFL beat people and draftnik sites in full-draft-promotion mode for four full months, further bolstering the prospect for higher ratings on the three-day draft weekend.

It is absurd that the NFL draft begins 108 days after the college football season ends, and 152 days after the last big Saturday of the college football season. There is no good reason for the draft to be so late, and to add to the already mountainous degree of difficulty for these college players by preventing them from working with their teams until May.

6. I think bigger isn’t always better, but you’d never know that by covering the National Football League.

7. I think I appreciate Awful Announcing’s Matt Yoder drawing attention to the bloated draft coverage by pointing to a passage in a Sporting News story about the NFL’s draft plans for the Dallas area this weekend, and the TV plans therein:

“And as the annual football festival grows in popularity, some league executives envision the draft potentially becoming the sports equivalent of a U.S. presidential election—a sports event televised simultaneously across most or all of the national broadcast networks: NBC, CBS, Fox and ESPN’s sister Disney network ABC.

This year’s event will be televised by a record six TV entities, including two broadcast channels (Fox and ABC) and four cable networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and NFL Network). ABC will simulcast ESPN’s coverage of Rounds 4-7 on Saturday. That means all seven rounds will air on broadcast television for the first time.

“That’s one of the key provisos, said sources. If the league’s other broadcast partners eventually want the draft, they would likely have to televise it on their main broadcast channels, not their smaller sports cable networks. In other words, NBC Sports would have to show it on NBC, not NBCSN, and so forth. Fox is airing it this year on so-called ‘big Fox’ rather than its FS1/FS2 cable channels.”

Writes Yoder: “I can think of few things further detached from reality than the NFL actually envisioning the draft (again, not the Super Bowl, not even a game, but the draft) being on the same level as the presidential election.”

8. I think the best football news of the week, other than the fact that we’ve got only three days of hype yet before round one, is that the Monday night games will (should) be over before Colbert every week now. The new start time: 8:15 p.m. ET, 15 minutes earlier than the old time.

9. I think congrats are in order for Chris Palmer, the first head coach in the revitalized history (1999-today) of the Cleveland Browns. He’s now the athletics director at the University of New Haven, the place that gave him his first football head-coaching job in 1986. Talked to Palmer the other day, and he’s happy living a totally different life at a small liberal-arts college, giving back for what became his good fortune a long time ago.

I find it funny how the NFL media regurgitates this narrative that the Rams are all in for this year. Yet they continue to give the Eagles a free pass on building a team the same way. The worst thing about how they operate is their continual cap hell. They came into this off season in the neighborhood of $10 million over the cap. They cut a few starters and lost a couple starters to free agents while reworking a number of contracts to get to the point they're now $7 million under the cap. Today they redid starting Guard Brandon Brooks.

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Now the fun part is if you take a look at next years cap.



Granted that's with this option they created when reworking Foles contract to give him a $21 million dollar option. Then you go into their 2019 free agent list and see names like Brandon Graham, Chris Long, Foles if the option isn't picked up, Ronald Darby, Jay Ajayi, Mike Wallace and Haloti Ngata.

So they are $45 million over the cap right now for next year with 7 key free agents and all the NFL can say is the Rams are all in for 2018? It's obvious they aren't alone.

http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMeetings/ByTeam

Not sure if this has been posted. If it has, I apologize. I don't expect the Rams to draft exclusively from among the players they have visited with or worked out, but it's a pretty safe bet that about half their draft class will be on this list. Enjoy!

• Tony Adams^, C, N.C. State (PRO, WOR)
• Dejon Allen, G, Hawaii (PRI)
• Dorance Armstrong Jr., DE/3-4OLB/OLB, Kansas (PRI)
• Jerome Baker, OLB, Ohio State (PRI)
• Matt Boesen, ILB, TCU (LOC)
• Alex Cappa, OT, Humboldt State (PRI)
• Tyrell Crosby^, OT, Oregon (PRI, COM)
• Dane Cruikshank, CB, Arizona (PRI)
• James Daniels, C, Iowa (PRI)
• Jamil Demby, OT, Maine (PRI)
• Kylie Fitts, DE/3-4OLB, Utah (PRI)
• Mike Ford, CB, Southeast Missouri State (PRO)
• Daurice Fountain, WR, Northern Iowa (PRI)
• Nick Gates, OT, Nebraska (PRO)
• Trayvon Henderson, S, Hawaii (PRO)
• Josey Jewell, OLB/ILB, Iowa (PRI)
• Micah Kiser, ILB, Virginia (PRI)
• Justin Lawler, DE/3-4OLB, SMU (PRI)
• Cole Madison, OT, Washington State (PRI)
• Jacob Martin, DE, Temple (PRI)
• Quenton Meeks, CB, Stanford (PRO)
• D.J. Myers, WR, Midwestern State (WOR)
• Ryan Nall, FB, Oregon State (COM)
• Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, 3-4OLB/OLB, Oklahoma (PRI)
• Joe Ostman, DE, Central Michigan (PRI)
• Rashaad Penny, RB, San Diego State (PRI)
• Dante Pettis, WR, Washington (PRO)
• Justin Reid, S, Stanford (PRO)
• Tremon Smith, CB, Central Arkansas (PRI)
• Chandon Sullivan, CB, Georgia State (PRO)
• Vita Vea, DT/3-4DE/NT, Washington (PRO)
• Akrum Wadley, RB, Iowa (PRI)
• Kenny Young, ILB, UCLA (PRI)

This is a compilation of draft prospect visits sorted by prospect. The data was acquired via Charlie Campbell (@draftcampbell) and other media sources.

SR - Senior Bowl meeting.
EW - East-West Shrine meeting.
COM - Combine meeting.
INT - Interested.
VINT - Very Interested.
PRO - Pro Day or campus meeting/workout.
LOC - Local visit. Prospect making a local visit.
PRI - Private visit. Prospect making an official 30 visit.
WOR - Private Workout. Members of an organization working out a player in private.
STM - Some Type of Meeting.
% - indicates more than one meeting at an event.
^ - has met with team at more than one event.
# - indicates meeting set up outside of the 2018 Senior Bowl or the 2018 East-West Shrine Game

Sam Rogers was one of those players that seemed to cause a lot of excitement during last year's draft, especially from Sean McVay. We didn't see him at all last year, do you think there will be room for him on the game-day O this year?

I know he signed a futures contract at the start of the year, but that's been it.

Will McVay use a FB/HB this year?

With Todd Gurley in peak form, Rams will likely pass on running backs in the draft

As the Rams prepare for the NFL draft, the Los Angeles Times will examine their roster. Part 8 of 8: running backs.

The reigning NFL offensive player of the year earned some downtime after one of the most productive seasons by a running back in Rams history.

So Todd Gurley enjoyed himself this offseason.

He went skiing for the first time.

"I had to get up out of there after like two days, because you know that after the third day I would've thought I'm a professional skier," he said this week, laughing.

Attending Wrestlemania also ranked among the highlights.

"My first experience there," he said, "and I really enjoyed that a lot."

The Rams and Gurley are mutually aware that another tussle of sorts could be on the horizon.

Gurley is preparing for his fourth NFL season. The Rams are expected to exercise their fifth-year option on the No. 10 pick in the 2015 draft, but general manager Les Snead has said that Gurley, quarterback Jared Goff and defensive tackle Aaron Donald are among a "core" of players the Rams want to extend and build around.

In regard to Gurley's contract — he will make about $4.4 million this season — he said that he tries "not to worry about that too much" and that he would continue to "keep doing what I'm doing."

"The rest will take care of itself," he said.

In 2017, Gurley scored a league-best 19 touchdowns, led the Rams in receptions and ignited a team that led the NFL in scoring. Now he is preparing for a second season under coach and play caller Sean McVay.

"Coming off just making the playoffs for the first time in a while, you feel a lot more confident, and you know that the success is there," Gurley said. "You just have to be able to improve on it. … For [McVay] to be able to be the coach that he is, the cool guy, just the whole staff that we have around him is pretty good for us.

"We know we're in good hands, and all we have to do is get a little better."

Running backs under contract: Todd Gurley ($4.4 million), Malcolm Brown ($630,000), Justin Davis ($560,000), Lenard Tillery ($481,000), Sam Rogers ($480,000).

Free agents: The Rams released Lance Dunbar, last season's free-agent pickup. They like Brown as Gurley's backup but Davis might have to prove again that he belongs on the roster.

Draft: The Rams have not drafted a running back since taking Gurley with the 10th pick in 2015. They have eight picks but probably will look to fill more pressing needs.

Roster decisions: The Rams are on track to exercise their fifth-year option on Gurley. Brown is in the final year of his contract. Davis is under the Rams' control through 2019. The Rams could sign a few undrafted free-agent running backs to help carry some of the load during training camp.

gary.klein@latimes.com

Follow Gary Klein on Twitter @latimesklein

[www.latimes.com]

I watched this game/scrimmage/practice last night and was entertained. Attendance was damn near 87,000 which lands it about 7th on the list of team scrimmages since they started tracking such things. A lot of hoopla on the hometown boy, Coach Scott Frost, coming home to coach his alma mater. The offense he brought with him is going to make Nebraska fun to watch again. Les Miles' son, Ben Miles, is on the team but he's a fullback. Frost doesn't use a FB in his O. Yes, Nebraska without a FB! Shocking turn of events but I guess Frost is finding a way to use Ben Miles.

The main reason I'm posting about this game, other than I'm a Husker fan, duh huh, is that Kurt Warner's son, Kade Warner, plays for the Huskers this year. And he scored a TD in this game. Of course, it was made possible by a pitiful tackle attempt but a TD just the same. Check it out.


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Thanks for the mocks guys, always enjoy reading them

Some also put up a top 100 which I find more helpful in zeroing in our my candidates to improve our team/squad

In my view - taking this top 150 - we need to trade up back into the top 120 players - perhaps trading down in the 3rd if our edge rusher has been taken

Very deep - with Edge and LB looking great - if teams target other positions according to need

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...andts-top-prospects-for-2018-nfl-draft-101150

Who are your favourite players?

Yeah, I'm talking cheap, but good. In my town, the cheapest lager is Genessee. I like it as much as Bud Light, Keystone Light, Miller Lite..etc... Give your game day lager and don't go dark beer on me (love me some Guinness). I am experimenting right now with whiskey and water ( I love this too!)

By Adam Shein

The NFL's prime-time schedule in 2018 is flat-out amazing. Seriously, better than ever.

When I pored over the sked to compile my list of candidates for this annual piece, I found 20 must-see games. That's a robust number to whittle down from -- a much bigger "for your consideration" group than ever before. And I had to leave some juicy bouts on the cutting-room floor. One example: Richard Sherman's Week 13 return to Seattle with the Niners didn't make the cut. How relevant will the transitioning Seahawks be in December?

Without further ado, here's my list of the prime-time games I'm craving the most, Schein Nine style:

1) Los Angeles Rams at San Francisco 49ers


Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 21 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC

• 2018 NFL SCHEDULE
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• LATEST ANALYSIS
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Yeah. That's right. My favorite prime-time game this year is Rams at 49ers. Having this old-school rivalry relevant again -- and back in its SoCal vs. NorCal form -- is gold.

The Rams are absolutely loaded. The Niners boast the unbeatable Jimmy Garoppolo. Both teams are thinking playoffs -- and none of that one-and-done business. Both teams are fueled by brilliant young offensive-minded head coaches: Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay make games fun to watch. I cannot wait to see them match wits in this midseason showdown. Oh, and then there's all of the intriguing newbies to this rivalry: Richard Sherman and Jerick McKinnon in San Francisco; Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, Ndamukong Suh and Brandin Cooks in Los Angeles.

This game -- scheduled near the end of October, when both teams should be hitting their stride -- will have major playoff ramifications, for a division title and the wild card. I'm champing at the bit.

2) Green Bay Packers at New England Patriots


Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 4 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC

Could this be the final matchup ever between Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers? These iconic quarterbacks, two of the best in NFL history, sell the contest all by themselves. No need to discuss anything else. On to the next game!

3) Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles


Week 1: Thursday, Sept. 6 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC

The NFL knocked it out of the park with this bird bout of a Kickoff Game. Many forget how close the Falcons came to knocking off the eventual Super Bowl champs in the Divisional Round of last season's playoffs. (What if Julio Jones doesn't fall down? What if Julio snags that ball?) Both of these teams -- which just so happen to be the NFC's last two Super Bowl reps -- head into the 2018 campaign with plenty of talent on both sides of the football.

The atmosphere in Philly is going to be off the charts, as these amazing (and rabid) Eagles fans finally get to celebrate a Super Bowl title and raise the banner. Will Carson Wentz be fully recovered from his December ACL tear and ready for action? I sure hope so.

4) Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers


Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC

On opening weekend, we get treated to the NFL's oldest and most historic rivalry in the league's most historic venue, Lambeau Field. This is brilliant -- and the timing is superb, as Chicago is enjoying a fantastic offseason. I'm fired up about Matt Nagy's group. In fact, I've already labeled the Bears my Cinderella team for 2018. There will be plenty of football buzz this September in the Windy City, with the new coach, new weapons (Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Trey Burton) and expectations for growth from Mitchell Trubisky in Year 2.

Oh, and the best quarterback in the NFL is healthy once again. Aaron Rodgers against the Bears to start the season? Sign me up!

5) New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings


Week 8: Sunday, Oct. 28 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC

The "Minneapolis Miracle" rematch -- but this time with Kirk Cousins quarterbacking Minnesota. And with this Sunday night slot scheduled against Game 5 of the World Series, this matchup makes plenty of sense. New Orleans doesn't have a baseball team. And it's hard to imagine the Twins will still be playing.

New Orleans, always a fun team to watch, will have major revenge on its mind after this past January's soul-crushing loss. Marcus Williams definitely has this date circled on the calendar.

6) Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars


Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 18 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC

Maybe Le'Veon Bell will stay off of Twitter the night before this rematch of last season's Divisional Round classic. The Jags, of course, made Bell eat his words. Jacksonville beat the Steelers twice in Heinz Field last season: once via blowout, once via shootout. Think Mike Tomlin's crew will enter this game with something to prove?

It's always fun and feisty when these two teams lock horns. Ben Roethlisberger vs. that ferocious Jaguars defense is a show in itself.

7) Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders


Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC

So much amazing NFL history to revisit when these clubs get together. It's beautiful. And this might be the last time we see it in Oakland, with the Raiders headed to Las Vegas in 2020.

Pittsburgh is going to be great in 2018. And I'm buying the Raiders bouncing back under Jon Gruden. So, this December clash not only carries a wealth of historical richness, but it should have major playoff implications, to boot.

8) Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams


Week 4: Thursday, Sept. 27 at 8:20 p.m. ET on FOX/NFL Network

This could be a preview of the NFC title game. And the Coliseum is going to be rocking on this Thursday night. The atmosphere in Los Angeles for the Rams' playoff game was spectacular. Now with the aforementioned newcomers joining Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley and Jared Goff, the Rams are truly ready for prime time.

This game will be Minnesota's first prime-time affair with Kirk Cousins, so it's kind of a big deal.

9) Los Angeles Rams at Oakland Raiders


Week 1: Monday, Sept. 10 at 10:20 p.m. ET on ESPN

In certain years past, this Week 1 Monday nightcap failed to generate much excitement. Not this time. The back end of this double-dip -- which follows Jets at Lions -- is absolutely must-see TV, with Jon Gruden's official return to coaching and the Rams showing off their shiny new toys.

East Coasters: Plan to make that extra pot of coffee for this one. It'll be well worth it.

Follow Adam Schein on Twitter @AdamSchein