Well, the Draft is less than two weeks away, so this will be my second to last mock. I was originally going to assume that Jeff Holland and Shaquem Griffin weren't available to get some new blood in the mock. In that scenario, Kemoko Turay would have been my first pick. However, I have decided to base player availability off of Dane Brugler's 7 Round Mock Draft. Nevertheless, I am not going to honor it strictly. Rather, I'll limit myself to players drafted in that range or later, so you'll see a few guys who were drafted a few slots ahead in his mock, but when we're talking about Day 3, you're not going to predict it perfectly, so I think the margin of error of a few draft slots is fair. The only player who was taken a lot higher than where I drafted him is Jack Cichy, but I think the injuries will hinder his draft stock more than Brugler does. With this being my second to last mock, there are no trades. My final mock might include a trade or two.

NFL Draft
Round 3 Pick #23 - Jeff Holland OLB Auburn
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Analysis: You may not have heard of Jeff Holland (until I put him in basically all of my mocks haha) as he only has one year of starting experience, but he made the most of that year by posting 45 tackles, 13 TFLs, 10 sacks, and 4 FFs in his only year starting in the SEC. What stood out to me while watching Holland is all of the stats that won't show up on the box score. I don't know if I've seen another guy in this class who pressures the QB as much as Holland. Watching his bowl game against UCF, he pressured the QB on almost every single passing play. At 6'1" 249 pounds with 33.5 arms and 10.5 hands, Holland has very long arms and big hands for his size. He definitely fits the mold of a 3-4 OLB. Holland uses his long arms and big hands to win consistently as an edge rusher. He has some of the most polished hand usage and sophisticated pass rush plans in this class. Holland actually has taken martial arts training to improve his hand fighting ability. As it stands now, his go-to moves are the two-handed swipe and the rip and run. Holland consistently wins off the edge by using his advanced hand usage, outstanding punch timing, natural leverage, and polished body positioning to thwart the attempts of tackles to push him past the pocket. Holland's powerful lower body and great balance also allow him to flatten out when turning the corner and prevent OTs from riding him past the QB. Young pass rushers should watch Holland's film to learn how to use their inside arm to soften the edge. Simply put, Holland won't be a workout warrior and doesn't have the prettiest looking body, but he wins as a pass rusher with technical skill, football IQ, heavy hands, power, balance, and tenaciousness. He actually posted comparable production to Carl Lawson, who posted 8.5 sacks as a rookie with the Bengals in 2017. As a run defender, Holland uses his natural leverage, power, and advanced hand usage to set a hard edge. He has some tightness in his lower body which limits his ability to drop into coverage and prevents him from reaching his full potential as a finisher and as a run defender in space, but Holland is a tenacious pass rusher who should drive NFL QBs crazy with his constant pressure.

Round 4 Pick #11 - Geron Christian OT Louisville
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Analysis: Geron Christian started every game during his college career for Louisville, including his entire true freshman season. At 6'5" 298 pounds with 35 inch arms and 10.75 inch hands, Christian is not lacking for NFL measurables. Louisville's scheme asks their OTs to flip between LT and RT during the game, so Christian has ample experience at both spots, which makes him an ideal player for a swing OT role as a rookie. As a pass protector, Christian is remarkably steady. He is a natural bender who sits comfortably in his space, mirrors with ease, has light feet and smooth change of directional skills, and positions himself well to not give DLs easy pressure or sacks. Christian lost very few snaps in pass protection in the film I watched. He uses his length, smooth athleticism, and great balance to frustrate pass rushers trying to get the better of him. The only two criticisms I have of him as a pass protector are that he needs to be more precise with his punch placement and he needs to get stronger. With his punch placement, his hands have a tendency to end up outside on the DL. With his functional strength, he needs a stronger anchor against bull rushers. He does a nice job of recovering when he's initial beat with a bull rush, but he gives a bit too much ground at times. As a run blocker, Christian definitely needs to get stronger. He doesn't generate a lot of movement in the ground game. He's more an angle and positioning blocker. He's steady in that regard and rarely blows assignments, but he also doesn't blow people off the ball. All in all, he's a guy who can step in and hold his own as a rookie swing OT, and if he gets stronger in the NFL, he has starting OT potential down the line. At only 21 years old, Christian has time to develop his game.

Round 4 Pick #35 - Jack Cichy ILB Wisconsin
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Analysis: Cichy is just a really good football player and should make all of you worried about Littleton quite happy. The problem for him is his injury history. He missed all of 2017 with a torn ACL, and he missed half of the 2016 season with a torn pectoral muscle. However, I think it's worth the risk because he's a Day 2 talent on tape. Cichy is a very smart and sound football player who possesses good athleticism for his size. At 6'2" 238 pounds with solid arm length, Cichy has the dimensions of a NFL ILB. While Cichy won't overpower blockers, he is quite adept at slipping blocks due to his advanced hand usage and agility. He sifts through traffic well, plays with consistent gap integrity, and tackles well, even in space. Cichy also reads his keys well and rarely takes false steps. The thing that stands out the most is Cichy's ability to close when he gets a path to the runner. He may not run a 4.4 40, but he plays fast. As a blitzer, Cichy is highly effective due to his outstanding anticipation of the snap count and his hand usage when rushing the passer. He puts a lot of pressure on the QB when used on A-gap blitzes. His cover skills are good; although, he's a better zone defender than man defender. Cichy also has that sort of annoying style that gets into the heads of offensive players. He plays through the whistle, is constantly buzzing around opposing players, and has a non-stop motor. All in all, Cichy checks all the boxes and should contribute in the NFL if he stays healthy. He'll be great depth at ILB and can contribute on special teams.

Round 4 Pick #36 - John Kelly Jr. HB Tennessee
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Analysis: John Kelly might be the most underrated HB in this Draft. He was unlucky enough to play on a Tennessee team that couldn't run block or throw the ball. It reminded me of Todd Gurley last year. He was constantly hit behind the LOS and rarely had a decent running lane. This is a guy who ran for more yardage last year than Alvin Kamara on less carries. Kelly Jr. doesn't have Kamara's speed, but like Kamara, I expect him to be a much better pro than college player. At 5'10" 210, Kelly has a good HB build. He combines plus quickness with great balance, outstanding strength, and a real mean streak. He rarely goes down on first contact, he runs angry, and he finishes with authority. He also has the quickness to make guys miss in the back-field and in the open-field. Kelly only has solid overall speed, but he has good burst. In the passing game, he's a very dangerous receiver due to the sharpness of his routes and cuts and his soft hands (as well as his ability to make people miss and break tackles in space). His pass protection needs work, but he doesn't lack the strength or willingness. He looks to punish people when blocking, but he needs to learn how to use his hands better, stop ducking his head into blocks, stay square to defenders, and be more patient. I expect him to learn quickly in the NFL. Overall, he has the potential to be a three-down HB and a very dangerous receiver in the passing game.

Round 6 Pick #2 - Tony Adams C/OG N.C. State
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Analysis: Tony Adams is a guy I just recently stumbled upon after reading Lance Zierlein's sleeper list. As y'all know, I'm a big fan of Zierlein's OL evaluations, and I must agree that Adams is a sleeper in this Draft. At 6'1" 302 pounds, Adams is going to be overlooked for his lack of height. However, he has 33.5 inch arms, which more than compensate for that lack of height. Adams is a four-year starter at RG and team captain. He did play some Center as a freshman, and that's where I think he ends up in the NFL. Adams is a former high school wrestler and tennis star. You can see both of those sports in his game as he has the upper body strength and hand-eye coordination that you expect from a wrestler with the quality footwork and great balance you expect from a tennis player. Adams rarely falls off blocks, positions himself beautifully when executing his blocking assignments, and is very comfortable blocking in space and on the second level. He times his punches well, he's very reliable in pass protection, and he executes his assignments consistently as a run blocker. What are his weaknesses? He only possesses average overall strength, so he doesn't generate a lot of push in the running game, and he can get pushed back by very strong DTs. Nevertheless, he uses angles and positioning well in the running game to open up holes, and he competes hard as a pass protector. I think Adams would be an outstanding fit in our scheme because of his versatility and how well he fits the Center position in Kromer's blocking scheme. This kid may not be a HOFer, but he strikes me as a guy who has the ability to be a very solid starting Center for a long time in the right scheme.

Round 6 Pick #9 - Tegray Scales ILB Indiana
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Analysis: Tegray Scales has been a tremendously productive LB for Indiana with 214 tackles, 36.5 TFLs, 13 sacks, and 3 Ints over the past two years. At 6'0" 230 pounds with nearly 31 inch arms and 9 inch hands, Scales is on the small side for a 3-4 ILB. However, Scales plays the game with a ferocious brand of physicality and a real mean streak. While his timed speed is nothing special, Scales plays fast and absolutely flies to the football. There are times when Scales knows where the play is going before the ball is even snapped. It is clear that he invests a lot of time into film review. He is rarely in the wrong spot, he rarely takes false steps, and he is always around the football. In coverage, Scales is adequate but not elite. He doesn't possess overly fluid hips and is a bit stiff in his backpedal. Nevertheless, he looks better in man coverage because of his short-area quickness and instincts. Scales truly shines as a run stopper and a blitzer. As a blitzer, he times his blitzes incredibly well, uses his hands to fight off blocks, and is relentless in his pursuit of the QB. As a run stopper, Scales is fearless taking on blockers and flies to the football. Scales is a bit limited by his short arms and lack of size. This makes it difficult for him to come unglued once OLs latch onto him. However, he's a strong and physical players who will stack up blocks and tenaciously fight to get off blocks. I've seen him stand up and fight off Billy Price. He also has absolutely no fear when it comes to meeting pullers and lead blockers in the hole. Scales is undersized, but he loves to bang and finds the ball quickly. Scales looks like he's shot out of a cannon once he determines where the ball is going. He does need to do a better job of bringing his feet with him as a tackler, as he'll miss tackles at times by coming in a little too hot, but he brings bad intentions when he hits, and guys usually go down quickly.

Round 6 Pick #20 - Logan Woodside QB Toledo
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Analysis: Woodside is my favorite Day 3 developmental QB in this Draft. As you all know, I look for traits in players on Day 3. What stands out to me in Woodside's game are his mental processing speed, ability to throw with anticipation, and his touch. At 6'1" 213 pounds, Woodside is smaller than average for a NFL QB, but he does have nearly 10 inch hands (for all those hand size worrywarts out there) and is a good athlete. He was an extremely productive player at Toledo, throwing for over 10,000 yards, 93 TDs to 25 Ints, and a 65.1% completion percentage in his three years as a starter. Woodside has below average arm strength, which manifests itself on sideline routes to the field side. Toledo's offense did force Woodside to make challenging throws. Woodside responded by doing so in impressive fashion. He made a number of "wow" throws in each game. His ability to thread the needle into tight windows was constantly on display at Toledo. Woodside's quality accuracy and tremendous touch allowed him to make a number of NFL caliber throws. His anticipation and mental processing ability also stood out in a major way. Those three traits (mental processing speed, anticipation, and touch) are NFL starting QB caliber traits. Woodside also has polished mechanics, good pocket movement, and the willingness to stand tall and deliver despite knowing he'll take a shot. He's not a QB who abandons the pocket early or sees ghosts when pressure is getting home. On the negative side, I'd like to see Woodside do a better job of finding his HB out of the back-field when blitzed, avoid taking unnecessary sacks, and avoid bad decisions. Woodside has a bit of a hero complex, so he needs to learn to not force the ball late in downs. I believe he's a great developmental prospect for McVay to develop because his mental traits and technical skill are both highly impressive. McVay is the type of coach who can scheme around physical limitations, and Woodside is the type of QB who can read coverages, find the open WR, and deliver the ball in the right spot. I think he can execute our scheme.

Round 6 Pick #21 - Damon Webb FS Ohio State
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Analysis: Webb started his career at CB at Ohio State before moving to safety in 2016. In 2017, Webb recorded 62 tackles and picked off 5 passes. He showed marked improvement at safety as the year progressed. At 5'11" 209 pounds, Webb is a tad undersized, but he makes up for that with his natural coverage ability, quality angles, and reliable tackling. Webb is an intelligent player who brings a lot of versatility to the position. He can cover the slot WR, play single-high, play Cover 2, and even come down into the box. He's not an especially great player in the box due to his lack of size, but he can hold his own. One area where he improved significantly in 2017 was reading the QB while playing deep zone coverage. He showed off quality range while playing single-high and the ball-skills to come down with interceptions. He also brings a lot of energy and effort while on the field. You never have to worry about whether he'll take plays off or quit before the whistle. Webb is a solid athlete for a safety, but he's not athletic enough to play anything other than slot CB if needed. I'd like to see Webb get a bit stronger, as he struggles at times to tackle bigger players in space. All in all, Webb is a smart, sound football player who has the potential to develop into a starting FS in Wade's defense.

Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
WR: Brandin Cooks
WR: Robert Woods
WR: Cooper Kupp
TE: Gerald Everett
LT: Andrew Whitworth
LG: Rodger Saffold
C: John Sullivan
RG: Jamon Brown
RT: Rob Havenstein

SDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Ndamukong Suh
DT: Aaron Donald
WOLB: Matt Longacre
WILB: Mark Barron
SILB: Cory Littleton
SOLB: Samson Ebukam
LCB: Marcus Peters
RCB: Aqib Talib
SLCB: Nickell Robey-Coleman
FS: LaMarcus Joyner
SS: John Johnson III

K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide

Nothing yet in english but you can translate this with the browser. It makes sense to put this on prime time.

https://us.as.com/us/2018/04/15/nfl/1523747131_851012.html

For the third year in a row, the NFL confirmed a regular season game in Mexico . The Azteca Stadium will host the Chiefs and the Rams for the 2018 season and they would do so in primetime. According to various reports, Kansas City and Los Angeles will play on Monday Night Football to close the corresponding day.

According to ESPN's John Sutcliffe , the duel would take place on a Monday night. The Rams would be the locals when they gave up their chance to play at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and face on the court of the Santa Úrsula Colossus at the Western Conference of the American Conference.

The Chiefs have maintained a hegemony over the Rams in recent years. The Kansas City team has six victories against the Western Conference Nationals , who in fact do not win since their first stage in Los Angeles. The most recent duel at Arrowhead Stadium ended with a 34-7 score in favor of the AFC.

This will be the third encounter in Mexican lands in the return of the NFL south of the United States border. The first duel was a Sunday night in 2016 between the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Texans . A year later, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots beat the 'bad guys' themselves . On both occasions, the Azteca Stadium sold out its tickets, so in 2018 it is expected a full of sports facilities.

DTR Draft Chronicles: Day 2 EDGE Defenders

April 14, 2018 | By:Jake Ellenbogen

There has been a lot of noise made by the Los Angeles Rams this off-season. It's why this new series of Draft Chronicles is only geared at the day two and day three section of the draft. In this series, I will show you a spotlight on the position and every potential draft-able player that is a realistic option for the Rams in between their span of picks.

For the first piece in this mini-series, I bring you the EDGE defenders. The Rams right now have Samson Ebukam, Matt Longacre, Garrett Sickels, Carlos Thompson & Ejuan Price on the roster that can play outside linebacker. With that being said, it's pretty obvious due to the fact the team has yet to re-sign Connor Barwin and the fact they traded away Robert Quinn, the team will be looking for EDGE help in this draft. Of the officially confirmed pre-draft visits for the Rams, five of them are EDGE guys. So here we go...

Potential Round 3 Targets
Players that are more late 2nd-round picks than 3rd-round.

Arden Key, LSU (6-foot-6, 238 pounds)
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Someone that was once considered a pre-season top-five pick could possibly find himself falling into day two? Yeah, and part of that is due to some off-field issues but furthermore Key just didn't put great stuff on his 2017 tape it's that simple.

The Good
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A physical freak, he has the ability to be a star someday in the NFL with the right coaching and as long as he's able to keep a consistently positive attitude. Key shows consistently on his prior 2016 tape that he has no problem timing the snap and exploding off the edge. He shows quickness, decisiveness and short-area burst to gobble up the running back or even a scrambling QB. As you see in the clip above, Key has a high-energy and explosive way of how he plays the game. He practically hits the QB with a bulldog wrestling move on this sack here.

The Bad
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Off-field issues, a poor 40-yard dash time at his pro day (which I don't really even care about) and serious drop-off on film from his 2016 tape to his 2017 tape. The above clip is a nice representation of how Key looked in his 2016 season and unfortunately this one is a good representation of 2017.

Conclusion

Key absolutely makes sense for the Rams who do not have a first or second-round pick. Look, at the end of the day, a 40-yard time for an edge defender won't truly help you. It's no secret Key ran a slow 4.89-4.91 at his Pro Day but again, when will that matter? When chasing down a ball-carrier that gets through the second-level? Big deal. For a team that doesn't pick until 87th-overall, Key would be a close-to-dream scenario for Wade Phillips as he completely finishes his transformation of the defense. Was his 2017 tape concerning? Absolutely. However, being out of the first and second rounds, these are types of players you are going to need to hit on.

Josh Sweat, Florida State (6-foot-4, 251 pounds)
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An elite athletic profile is the name of the game for Josh Sweat. Looking for a player that should be a much better pro than he was a college player? Look no further than Josh Sweat.

The Good
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Unbelievably athletic in every way. Offers ideal size, speed and strength for the position. Shows relentless pursuit (as shown in the clip above), moves as smooth as any player at his position in this class, sets the edge well and displays the awareness and the overall ability to drop into coverage and help his team. You can definitely add "scheme versatile" to his resume which makes him a fit anywhere in the National Football League.

The Bad
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While Sweat is extremely athletic, he still has plenty of growth to do and plenty of mishaps. He's a talented but raw prospect. As you can see in this clip here Sweat falls asleep on the line of scrimmage and by the time he breaks out of his stance the Alabama WR Calvin Ridley has already crossed the line of scrimmage. With Sweat, there are injury concerns for sure, he passed all his combine medical testing but it's still worrisome that he tore his ACL and has dislocated his knee before. You can see Sweat will over-pursue at times and take himself out of the play. He's not a natural pass rusher, does not have natural pass rusher bend and so he will need to learn how to use his body more.

Conclusion

Sweat is going to be a work in progress for the coaching staff, he's going to have times that makes coaches want to rip their hair out but this is a similar type of player as Danielle Hunter and with everything in his arsenal and how large his potential meter is, it's a no-brainer that if Josh Sweat is at 87th overall for the Rams they will have a tough decision to make if they even consider passing on him. Sweat can come in and immediately challenge for a starting job and it helps he would have Wade Phillips as his coordinator and a ton of talent around him.

Lorenzo Carter, Georgia (6-foot-6, 250 pounds)
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The former elite high school recruit Lorenzo Carter never quite lived up to the hype at Georgia, but that doesn't mean he's not a talented player that is going to make noise in the NFL.

The Good
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Lorenzo Carter's strength to me is the way he's able to set the edge. As you can see in the clip above, Carter sets the edge which forces the running QB Wimbush to have to take his run inside instead of bouncing outside. Carter initiates the contact with his blocker and is able to use his hands to gain leverage to crash back inside and make the play. Carter is extremely rangy and shows the awareness to make run defensive stops. Due to the fact he has incredible speed, he is able to win off the edge as a rusher with just pure speed.

The Bad
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I do like what Carter brings to the table as a third-round selection but this could be a serious issue at the next level. He gets manhandled by bigger guys like this Kentucky RT in the clip above. Carter struggles evidently against bigger offensive lineman with a stable base. Since Carter doesn't convert speed to power well, he is going to have to develop better methods of beating the bigger man. What you need to see at the next level is a Lorenzo Carter that is more active with his hands earlier in the engagement with his assignment and someone that learns to develop more than one speed pass rush move. He also does struggle with downhill tackling which might prevent him from making the position change to inside backer if needed.

Conclusion

Another option and a good one at that for the Rams. He's going to be another work in progress but Lorenzo Carter has a lot to make you excited. Once again, it goes back to the coaching. If this was an inexperienced coaching staff coming off of a 0-16 season, I wouldn't have faith that the said coaching staff could develop someone like Carter. He would likely start when the season began or shortly after the beginning of the season and that's not a bad pick if that's the case.

Dorance Armstrong Jr, Kansas (6-foot-4, 257 pounds)
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The Kansas star pass rusher Dorance Armstrong saw his stock rise as the season started but a lot like previously mentioned Arden Key, Armstrong saw his stock start to slip after an inconsistent 2017 follow-up season to his impressive 2016 campaign.

The Good
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Armstrong presents the ability to use multiple moves to get to the passer. In this clip, he displays his inside spin move that works to absolute perfection in sacking Baker Mayfield. Armstrong has a combination of quickness and power, he displays solid hand usage and an excellent motor. Despite Kansas continuous struggles and blowout losses, Armstrong never wavered and never quit. Teams will like what Armstrong brings to the table and have a chance to develop him into a 15 sack per season guy.

The Bad
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Relentless pursuit here from Armstrong but as you see, effort is there but it's not effective. Armstrong continues to pursue with a move that is simply not going to work in this scenario. In this situation Armstrong needs to disengage his bull rush move and try an outside spin move. This throw from Wil Grier ended up being intercepted but with that clean of a pocket, Armstrong's lack of success with this bull rush could have been killer for the Jayhawks.

Conclusion

Sure, Armstrong Jr. dipped in production in 2017, he might not be the most polished player but he has loads of potential, he's very crafty and has a motor that is going to make him a consistent force in the league as a pass rusher. Wade Phillips once coached for Kansas on the defensive line in 1975, I don't know if that or having coached Kansas legends Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. will be enough of a connection to bring Armstrong to Los Angeles but regardless, he would be a stellar option for the Rams to develop and feature as their guy on the edge.

Likely Round 3 Targets
Players that will be there for the Rams or barely miss their pick

Uchenna Nwosu, USC (6-foot-3, 251 pounds)
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The former USC Trojan captain has the versatility to play either inside backer or on the outside. The blue collar linebacker is going to be a problem at the next level.

The Good
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Uchenna Nwosu is just a total workhorse. QB's are going to hate him regardless of what league he plays in, just look at this clip above with Luke Falk having a pass batted six yards behind the line of scrimmage and picked off. Nwosu plays with a high motor but he's very intelligent. He reads QB's well and does know when to drop back and block a QB's throwing lane. This is his forte and it's something he does better than anyone in this draft. As a pass rusher, Nwosu is very solid but will need fine-tuning at the next level to ascend.

The Bad
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The excellent get-off the line of scrimmage is not the issue obviously, it's the fact that in this clip you see Nwosu's aggression take himself out of the play here. It's not to say if he doesn't fall he ends up with the sack, but he had no chance as soon as he went down. Nwosu is guilty of losing his balance at times off the edge and is inconsistent with his counter moves against blockers. He has the moves to be an every-down pass rusher but it's about using them consistently which is something he struggles with at this point in time.

Conclusion

Nwosu is a tighter hipped edge defender with a lack of bend but he has a lot of the things you look for. He had batted down 19 passes between his last two seasons and has continued to improve as a player. He does not have tons of football experience so he's still learning the intricacies of the game. Nwosu was a captain at USC and showed off the ability to be a game-breaker when the team needed him to be one. The Rams want turnovers and they have a need on the edge, Wade Phillips would certainly love Nwosu and Samson Ebukam in the same lineup together. If he's there it makes a lot of sense for the Rams to make Nwosu the new Trojan Ram.

Duke Ejiofor, Wake Forest (6-foot-4, 270 pounds)
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One of the more polished pass rushers in this class has a lot to offer but is limited athletically and has had some recent injury problems.

The Good
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Duke Ejiofor is likely one of the most NFL-ready rushers in this class. He has a plethora of pass rushing maneuvers as you can see here he's quick and is able to explode right through his assignment's left inside shoulder. Ejiofor is also a powerful tackler that has the ability to force turnovers just off his contact alone. He's a smart football player that is instantly going to improve any team's pass rush that spends their pick on him.

The Bad
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Duke is not a fast player and you can see in this clip how his speed rush turns into a wasted effort. The only true issues with Ejiofor lie with his athletic ability and his injuries (mainly concussions). He's been labeled as a 4-3 defensive end but I believe he still can play as an outside linebacker in a 3-4. The number of cons to Ejiofor's game are slim but athletic ability might hinder his ceiling.
Conclusion

Ejiofor would be a valuable piece for the Rams if drafted. He visited the team recently so there is an evident interest but will the Rams pull the trigger on the less athletic guy? With the Rams needing pass rusher help after losing both edge starters Robert Quinn and likely Connor Barwin, the team might decide to go for the player with the highest floor and draft another with a high ceiling. Ejiofor would be perfect for any team that wants immediate value. This crafty pass rusher is certainly going to be a finalist to go to the Rams with their third-round pick.

Kemoko Turay, Rutgers (6-foot-5, 252 pounds)
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The Rutgers Senior Bowl standout pass rusher had a nice week in mobile and his stock has been rising in the coming weeks of the draft.

The Good
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In this clip, Kemoko Turay displays his ability as a natural mover as he re-adjusts to scan and find the open lane up the middle and he charges and almost gets the sack. Turay is able to drop into coverage and is a sound tackler in space. Turay is extremely fast for his position and shows great closing speed.

The Bad
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The inconsistent usage of hands and lack of dip and bend for Kemoko Turay is his biggest weakness. He can get completely taken out of the play because he doesn't have the arsenal of moves to get himself out of trouble. This is a speed rusher through and through that shows the potential to develop into an all-around dominant pass rusher but he will need to learn to get lower coming off the edge. His stiffness and how upright he is coming off the edge makes blocking him easier than it should be.

Conclusion

Turay might be a little too rich for the Rams here in the third. I like him but there are limitations to his game that would push him into the fourth-round for me personally. The Rams would still love to get a player like him as he has great NFL size, speed and provides major disruption for the QB. He will need to work on building up a bigger arsenal of rush moves but he has a nice base to get teams excited.

Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Oklahoma (6-foot-1, 242 pounds)
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Another Senior Bowl standout, Ogbo Okoronkwo is a bit undersized but shows the quickness and mental processing needed to play on the edge or even as a linebacker. He has a toolbox of pass rushing moves but he is short and didn't run well at the combine.

The Good
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Okoronkwo is quick and skilled off the edge. Here in this clip he beats the right tackle with an outside spin move and even while being held he's able to complete is turn and sack the QB. Okoronkwo excels in coverage and even deep coverage at that as well as the fact his motor is always running. His versatility would allow him to play the edge position or slide inside as an inside linebacker in the NFL. His range and acceleration allow him to really help in the run game as well.

The Bad
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Not only does Okoronkwo over-pursue here but he does an inside spin move which leaves no one on the outside to set the edge and avoid the giant run J.T. Barrett picks up on this play. Okoronkwo has to have controlled aggression, it's okay to be aggressive and honestly, it's encouraged. However, you have to stay in control and avoid this from happening. This was a 3rd and 6 play that goes for chunk yardage. The big-time offensive lineman will take advantage of his lack of frame.

Conclusion

Okoronkwo is a fun prospect and the Rams have met with him a couple of times already so they are interested. He displays the ability to become a monster pass rusher but due to his frame being so small he needs to work extra hard than the average player. Ogbo is going to need to be more controlled because in the NFL if he is a liability when setting the edge he will be reduced to just a sub-package and situational pass rusher type of player. You can see the fit but will the Rams make Okoronkwo their pick? He could possibly be there with their early fourth-round pick.

Chad Thomas, Miami (6-foot-6, 275 pounds)
SMLXL
Chad Thomas was a story of someone who was underachieving and so he stayed one more year and school and really helped his draft stock. The Miami Hurricane is a pass rusher that has tons of range to his game.

The Good
(For Google AMP Users that cannot see the above clip)
Chad Thomas has an NFL body, he has loose hips and he's trouble off the edge. In this clip, just watch as Thomas gets around the right tackle with ease and then is able to chase down the escaping QB and force a turnover. Notice when Thomas first misses the QB he shows no hesitation recovering and charging to make the big hit on the QB. Thomas shows the ability in run support, he has the athleticism and range to drop into coverage when needed and he's versatile in the fact he can play on the edge, linebacker or even lineup inside at times. Thomas has no issue converting his speed to power.

The Bad
(For Google AMP Users that cannot see the above clip)
Thomas really struggles with hand usage. There are times like this clip, where Thomas just lets himself lose the matchup and does not try to win or shift weight with hands. He recently ran a slow combine and did not test as the athlete many thought he was. He's a bigger edge guy so he will absolutely need to refine his technique so he can overpower his opponents. The fact with Thomas is this, he had good college speed but he will need to become less predictable in the NFL if he wants to sustain a long career.

Conclusion

Chad Thomas is an intriguing prospect that would rank as my lowest on this list here. He might be a better fit for the 4-3. He does not have the pass rushing skillset of a Duke Ejiofor and because of that, he is going to need some serious coaching. All of these prospects have holes in their game which is why they aren't all top 10 picks but Thomas' holes won't really stand out until the NFL. He did get by in college with his athleticism and will now need to do extra to have a successful career at the professional level.

So there you have it, the first part of this EDGE Draft Chronicles brought you all you need to know about 87. The next piece will be all about the day three guys that you need to know come Saturday, April 29th!

https://www.patspulpit.com/2017/4/2...ating-a-brand-new-nfl-draft-value-trade-chart

2017 NFL Draft: Creating a brand new NFL Draft Value Trade Chart
34
It’s time to update the old model.
By Rich Hill@PP_Rich_Hill Updated Apr 23, 2017, 2:47pm EDTSHARE
The 2017 NFL Draft will begin this Thursday, April 27th and it’s time for an updated NFL Draft Value chart. There is an old chart floating around that is attributed to former Cowboys and Dolphins head coach Jimmy Johnson and teams consult some variation of the end result when conducting trades involving draft picks.

The chart predates the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and it’s time to update the numbers based on actual trades that have taken place.

Since the 2012 NFL Draft- the first one after the new CBA- there have been 124 trades that involve only draft picks. Trades that involve a player- like the New England Patriots trading a sixth round pick to the Tennessee Titans for EDGE Akeem Ayers and a seventh round pick- are not factored into my calculations, but can be evaluated to understand the perceived value of the player.

Based on these pick-for-pick trades, I’ve created the following draft value chart to show how teams actually value draft picks.


Here are some takeaways.

Trades at the top of the draft are all ad hoc
Trying to create a table that includes picks at the top of the draft (ie: top five) doesn’t make sense because the value of the pick changes on a year-to-year basis. For example, the #1 pick when Andrew Luck was a prospect is worth a lot more than the #1 pick this year, with Myles Garrett as the top prospect.

Teams love their quarterbacks and drafts with good quarterback prospects see an increased value in picks at the top. So take the value of the top five picks on the chart as a baseline, and adjust the value accordingly when top prospects come out of college.

Future draft picks are valued one round earlier than the current year
In other words, a team could trade a fourth round pick in 2017 and reasonably expect to receive a 2018 third round pick on the market. A current fifth is worth a future fourth. No one really wants future seventh round picks because they hold almost no value.

This valuation of future picks is a representation of time value of money, which means that a draft pick now is worth more than the same draft pick in a future year.

Patriots have the second-worst trade under this new value chart
In the 2012 NFL Draft, the first year of this table, the Patriots sent the 62nd overall pick to the Green Bay Packers for the 90th and 163rd overall picks. The Patriots were desperate for more picks after trading up to acquire Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower. Per the value chart, the Patriots lost the equivalent of the 108th overall pick in draft value with this trade.

The Packers selected CB Casey Hayward, who was named to the All Pro team in 2016 for the San Diego Chargers. The Patriots drafted EDGE Jake Bequette, and traded down from 163rd (again with the Packers) to select ST Nate Ebner, CB Alfonzo Dennard, and WR Jeremy Ebert. Colts WR T.Y. Hilton was selected two picks after Bequette. Lions WR Marvin Joneswas selected three picks after the 163rd overall the Patriots traded down from.

The only trade worse was the Cowboys sending the 18th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft to the San Francisco 49ers for the 31st and 74th overall picks. The Cowboys gave up the equivalent of the 103rd overall pick- but they left with All Pro center Travis Frederick and WR Terrance Williams, while the 49ers selected S Eric Reid, so the Cowboys won the scouting aspect.

Patriots also have the fifth-best trade under this value chart
In 2012, the Patriots sent the 31st and 126th overall picks to the Denver Broncos for the 25th overall pick in order to select LB Dont’a Hightower. The trade created value for the Patriots with the equivalence of the 127th overall pick. Hightower is one of the best linebackers in the league just signed an extension with New England.

There is a premium to trade back into the first round
The round of a draft pick in the second-through-seventh rounds doesn’t impact the value, unless dealing with future picks, because the difference between the 64th and 65th overall picks is negligible. There is more value in the 64th pick because it’s earlier, not because it comes in the second round.

First round picks, however, have a special fifth-year option that is not included in the contracts of second round picks, creating an actual difference in value. For this reason, teams can match equivalent values in a trade, but the outside team will have to pay an additional premium of roughly a 5th-6th round pick to get back into the first round.

This premium is not baked into the table because teams that trade within the first round don’t require this premium.

Trading down on day three and picking up veterans is the smart move
The Patriots have a habit of trading fifth or sixth round picks for proven veterans and a later draft pick. For example, they acquired LB Kyle Van Noy and a seventh round pick in exchange for a sixth round pick.

Why? Well, it’s a perfect arbitrage opportunity.

View image on Twitter


Rich Hill@PP_Rich_Hill
https://twitter.com/PP_Rich_Hill/status/553693213262102528
Replying to @DeeepThreat

.@DeeepThreat anything after 5th round is a mess. Whole second round roughly equivalent. Exactly Belichick's style:

4:22 PM - Jan 9, 2015

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Despite the difference in valuation of a pick in rounds five-through-seven, there is no real difference in projected success of a player selected in the fifth, sixth, or seventh rounds; each pick is a lottery ticket. It is important to maintain the volume of lottery tickets, but a sixth round pick and a seventh round pick has roughly the same odds of success.

So the Patriots capitalize on a team’s perception that a sixth round pick is more valuable than a seventh round pick to acquire a veteran on a rookie contract and maintain their volume of lottery tickets.

Remember, the draft value chart does not care about how players perform once they’re in the NFL. The chart only cares about what teams are willing to pay for picks- and there’s a reward for teams smart enough to maneuver the draft board.

I liked Amendola when he was with the Rams but he seemed to get injured too often.
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http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-why-left-new-england-patriots-miami-dolphins

Now a Dolphin, Danny Amendola says Patriots' contract offer fell significantly short
Mike Reiss/ESPN Staff Writer


NESN.com

BOSTON -- Wide receiver Danny Amendola detailed the factors that led him to leave the New England Patriots for the Miami Dolphins as a free agent this offseason, saying that after three years of taking a pay cut the team's offer fell significantly short compared to others he had received.

"I came in with an open mind. I understand Bill [Belichick] runs a tight ship, and he hasn't been known to pay his players, really. I understood that I gave money back to him so I could play for him and play for my teammates and fulfill my side of the contract, and at the end of the day, I had faith that he was going to give me an opportunity to stay," Amendola told ESPN.

"When free agency broke, I came to the realization that he wasn't going to really come close to any of the other offers I had," he said. "I had to make a decision for my family and go down to Miami and continue my career there."

Amendola, who signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Dolphins that included $8.25 million in bonuses and guarantees, was in New England on Friday as the featured guest at the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life" event at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, and ESPN rode with him to the event.

Speaking to the crowd at the event, Amendola praised Belichick as the "best coach to ever coach the game." In his interview with ESPN, Amendola also discussed how it was challenging to play for Belichick at times.

"It's not easy, that's for sure. He's an a--h--- sometimes. There were a lot of things I didn't like about playing for him, but I must say, the things I didn't like were all in regards to getting the team better, and I respected him," he said.

"I didn't like practicing in the snow, I didn't like practicing in the rain, but that was going to make us a better football team and that was going to make me a better football player. It wasn't easy, and he'd be the first to admit, at the [Super Bowl] ring ceremony, that it wasn't easy playing for him. The silver lining was that we were at the ring ceremony."

Part of the Patriots' success under Belichick in the salary-cap era has been maintaining financial discipline and building a strong middle class on the roster, and that business side of the game is something Amendola said he learned early in his career when he was cut by two different teams before playing in his first career game.

Meanwhile, Amendola said the Patriots' loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LII still stings, and it hurt to see cornerback Malcolm Butler benched on defense for the game.

"I have my thoughts about it because I was out there putting my blood, sweat and tears out on the field that night, and one of our best players wasn't on the field," he said. "To tell you the truth, I don't know why. I did ask, but I didn't get any answers.

I can't make decisions like that, so I don't necessarily worry about it, but I know Malcolm is a great player and he could have helped us win. For whatever reason, he wasn't out there. He's going to play more football in his career, and he's going to be a great player for a long time."

Asked if he sensed the Butler decision hurt his Patriots teammates, Amendola said, "Yeah, I did, honestly. Nobody really got an explanation for it. He's a brother of ours. He was a brother of ours that year. And I hate to see a guy who worked so hard throughout the season not get a chance to play in the biggest game of the year and really get no explanation for it.

With that said, I don't know how the business aspect went into that decision. I don't know how the personal aspect went into that decision between him and Bill. But as a friend, I would have loved to see him on the field that day."

Saying he will always call Boston home, Amendola briefly seemed to get choked up when speaking of his friendship with Patriots receiver Julian Edelman while thanking him for raising his level of play.

Amendola, who referred to Patriots owner Robert Kraft as "a friend," also spoke with excitement about joining the Dolphins, saying he has spent time at the team's facility in advance of the voluntary offseason program so he can get to know some of his new teammates better. Amendola has already caught passes from quarterbacks Ryan Tannehill and Brock Osweiler, along with many of the team's skill-position players, at a different location.

Dolphins coach Adam Gase has talked about changing the culture in Miami, and signing the 32-year-old Amendola -- who said he envisions the window is closing on his career in the next three or four years -- has been part of that approach.

"I'm not the oldest guy on the team, but I've been around for a while, and I know what it takes to win a championship, I know what it takes to have a successful atmosphere," Amendola said. "I'm really excited just to share my knowledge in that respect, be a good teammate, whatever they ask me to do, and trying to catch as many balls as possible. ... It's a great opportunity to make new friendships and explore other football avenues. I'm really excited to continue to play."

Our DBs aren't playing around this year! Check out the footwork! :lifting:

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View: http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Offseason-Opponent-Breakdown-The-San-Francisco-49ers/5ded59fe-ce27-4d9b-b35b-cd534118d93b

Offseason Opponent Breakdown: The San Francisco 49ers
Kristen Lago

The 2018 NFL Season is still a few months from its official kickoff date, but the opponents for all 32 clubs have already been set.

Aside from their divisional opponents, the Rams will face teams from the NFC North and AFC West. Plus, Los Angeles will take on the reigning division champions from the NFC East and NFC South.

In anticipation of the official schedule release date in mid-April, theRams.com will be taking an early look at each of club’s opponents for next season.

THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ers

LOCATION: As members of the NFC West division, the Rams will face the 49ers both at home and at Levi’s Stadium.

HEAD COACH: Kyle Shanahan enters his second season as San Francisco’s head coach. Before joining the 49ers in 2017, Shanahan served as the offensive coordinator of the Falcons, where he was instrumental in Atlanta becoming conference champions in 2016. Last season, he led the 49ers to a 6-10 overall record.

MATCHUP HISTORY: The 49ers and Rams series history is one that dates back to 1950 and since that year, the two franchises have become representative of the intense rivalry between Southern California and Northern California. Both have faced off 137 times, with the 49ers holding the advantage at 69-65-3.

The two teams split last season’s games, as the Rams took home a close 41-39 victory in Week 3, while the 49ers beat a Rams team resting its starters, 34-13, in Week 17.

2017 RECORD: San Francisco closed out 2017 with a 6-10 record, finishing in last place of the NFC West. But after a 1-10 start, the 49ers won all five of their final games under newly acquired quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

WHO'S IN, WHO'S OUT?

The 49ers began the offseason by ensuring that Garoppolo would be their signal-caller for years to come, signing him to a five-year contract extension. The franchise also preserved continuity in the unit, by extending wide receiver Marquise Goodwin.

But perhaps the most intriguing move to come out of 49ers camp during free agency was the addition of former Seahawks’ cornerback Richard Sherman. While the signing is a gamble — with Sherman coming off a season-ending achilles injury — if he can return to form in 2018, the cornerback will be a force to be reckoned with in the defensive backfield.

Finally, San Francisco made a move to bolster their ground game after Carlos Hyde signed with the Browns by bringing in running back Jerick McKinnon. The club also picked up a new addition to the offensive line by signing center Weston Richburg.

WHAT ABOUT THE DRAFT?

Despite the addition of Sherman, some mock drafts believe the 49ers will likely go defense early in this year’s draft. With the No. 9 overall pick, San Francisco is in a favorable position to select some of the most talented defensive prospects, including cornerback Denzel Ward (Ohio State) or linebacker Roquan Smith (Georgia).

In later rounds, many analysts expect general manager John Lynch and the Niners to go after new offensive weapons for Garoppolo. Some of the franchise’s top potential options include wide receivers Christian Kirk (Texas A&M) or Dante Pettis (Washington).

LOOK OUT FOR:

Looking toward the 2018 season, the Rams and 49ers are projected to be two of the top teams in the NFC West. Both franchises have a lot in common with two offensive-minded coaches and two young, skilled quarterbacks. And for that reason, both matchups should be exciting to watch.

Begins at 0:49. If the twitter link doesn't work for you, try the one below.

https://www.pscp.tv/w/1vAxRVMaymjxl
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We've seen these before, but it set my mind to thinking. We drafted OT Greg Robinson and DT Aaron Donald in 2014. Massive home run with AD and just as huge of a loss in reverse with Robinson. The re-drafters, of course, had Aaron Donald going #1 in their revised draft so he wasn't available to us. They had us taking Jadaveon Clowney (instead of Robinson) and had us taking LT Jake Matthews (instead of AD).

Let's say you had a cloudy crystal ball that told you a little of what each of the above players future would be as NFL players. Which tandem would you choose? I added a few more possible tandems, but using the rule
based on their implied power rankings. Our #2 Pick was almost unlimited, but our #13 pick was limited to players chosen from their revised #13 pick, downward
https://thebiglead.com/2018/04/13/r...s-aaron-donald-jimmy-garoppolo-vs-derek-carr/

If you agree or not with the overall rankings, that is not the point of this Draft Post.

In 2017, The Huddle Report Listed their Top 100 Players and 88% were selected in the top 100.

In 2017, The Huddle Report Listed their Top 200 Players and 86% were selected in the top 200.

With that being said, I thought I would list their TOP 200 of 2018 as a reference guide and another resource to put in your draft toolbox.


THE HUDDLE REPORT TOP 200

1 QB Josh Allen Wyoming 6-5 237 4.7 84.76
2 QB Sam Darnold USC 6-3 221 4.8 74.17
3 RB Saquon Barkley Penn St 6-0 233 4.4 94.33
4 QB Josh Rosen UCLA 6-4 226 4.9 78.74
5 QB Baker Mayfield Oklahoma 6-1 215 4.8 75.65
6 ER Bradley Chubb North Carolina St 6-4 269 4.6 93.85
7 OG Quenton Nelson Notre Dame 6-5 325 5.2 87.64
8 CB Minkah Fitzpatrick Alabama 6-0 204 4.4 80.93
9 CB Denzel Ward Ohio St 5-11 183 4.3 83.82
10 S Derwin James Florida St 6-2 215 4.4 89.98

11 LB Roquan Smith Georgia 6-1 236 4.5 86.41
12 DL Vita Vea Washington 6-4 347 5.1 -
13 LB Tremaine Edmunds Virginia Tech 6-5 253 4.5 -
14 DL DaRon Payne Alabama 6-3 311 4.9 90.43
15 WR Calvin Ridley Alabama 6-1 189 4.4 76.14
16 QB Lamar Jackson Louisville 6-2 216 - -
17 OC James Daniels Iowa 6-3 306 5.2 88.65
18 DL Maurice Hurst Michigan 6-1 291 4.9 89.59
19 OT Connor Williams Texas 6-5 296 5.0 92.44
20 ER Harold Landry Boston College 6-2 252 4.6 90.82

21 CB Jaire Alexander Louisville 5-10 196 4.3 82.29
22 ER Marcus Davenport UTSA 6-6 264 4.5 91.50
23 DL Taven Bryan Florida 6-5 291 4.9 93.59
24 WR DJ Moore Maryland 6-0 210 4.4 88.55
25 OT Mike McGlinchey Notre Dame 6-8 309 5.2 87.12
26 LB Rashaan Evans Alabama 6-2 232 4.7 80.39
27 LB Leighton Vander Esch Boise St 6-4 256 4.6 95.03
28 OG Isaiah Wynn Georgia 6-3 313 - -
29 DL Harrison Phillips Stanford 6-3 307 5.2 90.30
30 CB Josh Jackson Iowa 6-0 196 4.5 83.64

31 RB Derrius Guice LSU 5-11 224 4.4 83.15
32 CB Mike Hughes Central Florida 5-10 189 4.5 79.86
33 OG Will Hernandez UTEP 6-2 327 5.1 86.46
34 OT Kolton Miller UCLA 6-9 309 4.9 93.10
35 WR Courtland Sutton SMU 6-3 218 4.5 85.14
36 S Ronnie Harrison Alabama 6-2 207 4.5 81.64
37 CB Carlton Davis Auburn 6-1 206 4.5 81.45
38 CB Isaiah Oliver Colorado 6-0 201 4.5 82.05
39 WR Christian Kirk Texas A&M 5-10 201 4.4 82.88
40 RB Sony Michel Georgia 5-11 214 4.5 -

41 ER Sam Hubbard Ohio St 6-5 270 4.9 90.08
42 S Justin Reid Stanford 6-1 207 4.4 84.99
43 TE Dallas Goedert South Dakota St 6-5 256 - -
44 OC Billy Price Ohio St 6-4 305 - -
45 OT Tyrell Crosby Oregon 6-5 309 5.2 88.62
46 WR James Washington Oklahoma St 5-11 213 4.5 83.23
47 TE Hayden Hurst South Carolina 6-5 250 4.6 85.97
48 ER Lorenzo Carter Georgia 6-5 250 4.5 91.45
49 CB Donte Jackson LSU 5-11 178 4.3 -
50 RB Ronald Jones USC 5-11 205 4.6 82.96

51 TE Mike Gesicki Penn St 6-6 247 4.5 96.41
52 ER Arden Key LSU 6-5 238 4.7 82.43
53 S Jessie Bates Wake Forest 6-1 200 4.5 81.86
54 OG Austin Corbett Nevada 6-4 306 5.1 87.09
55 DL Rasheem Green USC 6-4 275 4.7 90.37
56 WR DJ Chark LSU 6-3 199 4.3 87.86
57 QB Mason Rudolph Oklahoma St 6-5 235 4.9 75.24
58 RB Nick Chubb Georgia 5-11 227 4.5 89.77
59 LB Uchenna Nwosu USC 6-2 251 4.6 86.64
60 RB Rashaad Penny San Diego St 5-11 220 4.4 83.41

61 WR Anthony Miller Memphis 5-11 201 - -
62 OT Martinas Rankin Mississippi St 6-4 308 - -
63 OT Brian ONeill Pittsburgh 6-7 297 5.3 79.35
64 OT Chukwuma Okorafor Western Michigan 6-6 320 4.8 94.05
65 OC Frank Ragnow Arkansas 6-5 308 4.9 94.93
66 OT Orlando Brown Oklahoma 6-8 345 5.8 78.17
67 OG Braden Smith Auburn 6-6 315 5.2 93.06
68 LB Malik Jefferson Texas 6-2 236 4.5 88.91
69 S Kyzir White West Virginia 6-2 218 4.5 85.14
70 DL DaShawn Hand Alabama 6-4 297 4.8 92.13

71 ER Josh Sweat Florida St 6-5 251 4.5 95.14
72 LB Josey Jewell Iowa 6-1 234 4.8 82.89
73 DL BJ Hill North Carolina St 6-3 311 4.9 88.43
74 DL Nathan Shepherd Fort Hays St 6-4 315 5.0 92.55
75 WR Equanimeous St Brown Notre Dame 6-5 214 4.4 84.29
76 DL Tim Settle Virginia Tech 6-3 329 5.2 87.27
77 CB Anthony Averett Alabama 5-11 183 4.3 76.32
78 DL Derrick Nnadi Florida St 6-1 317 5.3 85.94
79 CB MJ Stewart North Carolina 5-11 200 4.5 81.36
80 WR Dante Pettis Washington 6-1 186 4.4 -

81 TE Mark Andrews Oklahoma 6-5 256 4.6 86.53
82 OT Jamarco Jones Ohio St 6-4 299 5.5 78.48
83 RB Kerryon Johnson Auburn 6-0 213 4.5 88.73
84 LB Jerome Baker Ohio St 6-1 229 4.5 88.14
85 ER Kemoko Turay Rutgers 6-5 253 4.6 -
86 ER Dorance Armstrong Kansas 6-4 257 4.8 83.81
87 ER Ogbonnia Okoronkwo Oklahoma 6-2 253 4.7 92.04
88 LB Darius Leonard South Carolina St 6-2 234 4.7 -
89 ER Duke Ejiofor Wake Forest 6-4 270 - -
90 OT Geron Christian Louisville 6-5 298 5.3 -

91 S Marcus Allen Penn St 6-2 215 4.5 86.09
92 TE Ian Thomas Indiana 6-4 259 4.7 82.09
93 CB Nick Nelson Wisconsin 5-11 200 4.5 82.86
94 CB Duke Dawson Florida 5-11 197 4.4 -
95 RB Royce Freeman Oregon 6-0 229 4.5 85.64
96 S Terrell Edmunds Virginia Tech 6-1 217 4.4 91.85
97 DL RJ McIntosh Miami 6-5 286 - -
98 WR Deon Cain Clemson 6-2 202 4.4 81.06
99 WR TreQuan Smith Central Florida 6-2 203 4.4 85.25
100 WR DaeSean Hamilton Penn St 6-1 203 4.4 82.25

101 OC Mason Cole Michigan 6-4 307 5.2 81.80
102 WR Michael Gallup Colorado St 6-1 205 4.5 83.27
103 DL Trenton Thompson Georgia 6-3 288 5.0 89.63
104 QB Luke Falk Washington St 6-4 215 4.8 73.15
105 CB Rashaan Gaulden Tennessee 6-1 197 4.6 75.04
106 CB Tony Brown Alabama 6-0 199 4.3 79.36
107 LB Micah Kiser Virginia 6-0 238 4.6 87.83
108 LB Shaquem Griffin Central Florida 6-0 227 4.3 -
109 DL Breeland Speaks Mississippi 6-3 283 4.8 90.74
110 S DeShon Elliott Texas 6-1 210 4.5 84.18

111 ER Chad Thomas Miami 6-5 281 4.9 85.92
112 S Quin Blanding Virginia 6-2 207 4.6 78.32
113 OC Will Clapp LSU 6-4 311 5.3 87.01
114 WR Marcell Ateman Oklahoma St 6-5 216 4.6 81.42
115 RB Nyheim Hines North Carolina St 5-8 198 4.3 83.17
116 RB Kalen Ballage Arizona St 6-2 228 4.4 85.90
117 1st S Armani Watts Texas A&M 5-11 202 4.4 82.56
118 DL Andrew Brown Virginia 6-4 294 5.0 86.11
119 CB Tarvarus McFadden Florida St 6-2 204 4.6 84.78
120 CB Holton Hill Texas 6-2 196 4.4 77.45

121 DL Deadrin Senat South Florida 6-0 314 5.1 86.37
122 3rd QB Mike White Western Kentucky 6-5 224 5.0 73.65
123 DL Justin Jones North Carolina St 6-3 309 5.0 89.56
124 OG Wyatt Teller Virginia Tech 6-5 314 5.2 88.41
125 P Michael Dickson Texas 6-2 208 - -
126 OT Brandon Parker North Carolina AT 6-8 305 5.4 84.71
127 WR Simmie Cobbs Indiana 6-3 220 4.6 79.13
128 RB Bo Scarbrough Alabama 6-1 228 4.5 91.45
129 CB Kevin Toliver LSU 6-2 192 4.5 77.91
130 RB Josh Adams Notre Dame 6-2 215 4.4 83.98

131 LB Fred Warner BYU 6-3 236 4.6 90.48
132 WR Auden Tate Florida St 6-5 228 4.6 81.55
133 OT Desmond Harrison West Georgia 6-6 292 4.9 -
134 RB Jaylen Samuels North Carolina St 6-0 225 4.5 85.41
135 ER Jeff Holland Auburn 6-1 249 4.7 84.85
136 ER Tyquan Lewis Ohio St 6-4 265 4.6 92.63
137 ER Jalyn Holmes Ohio St 6-5 283 4.8 90.24
138 QB Kyle Lauletta Richmond 6-3 222 4.8 78.84
139 ER Hercules Mataafa Washington St 6-2 254 4.7 85.72
140 WR JMon Moore Missouri 6-3 207 4.6 84.82

141 WR Allen Lazard Iowa St 6-5 227 4.5 89.27
142 OT Will Richardson North Carolina St 6-6 306 5.2 89.65
143 CB Isaac Yiadom Boston College 6-1 190 4.5 79.05
144 WR Jordan Lasley Ucla 6-1 203 4.5 81.41
145 RB Mark Walton Miami 5-10 202 4.6 77.43
146 TE Troy Fumagalli Wisconsin 6-5 247 - -
147 S Jordan Whitehead Pittsburgh 5-10 198 4.5 80.00
148 CB Chris Campbell Penn St 6-1 195 4.5 86.45
149 CB Quenton Meeks Stanford 6-1 209 4.4 87.86
150 WR Cedrick Wilson Boise St 6-2 197 4.5 82.82

151 CB Michael Joseph Dubuque 6-1 187 4.5 78.00
152 S Godwin Igwebuike Northwestern 5-11 213 4.4 85.11
153 LB Dorian ODaniel Clemson 6-1 223 4.6 81.66
154 TE Jordan Akins Central Florida 6-3 249 - -
155 CB Dane Cruikshank Arizona 6-1 209 4.4 87.36
156 CB JC Jackson Maryland 5-10 201 4.4 82.88
157 WR Deontay Burnett USC 6-0 186 4.7 -
158 RB Akrum Wadley Iowa 5-10 194 4.5 77.27
159 TE Dalton Schultz Stanford 6-5 244 4.7 84.48
160 CB Taron Johnson Weber St 5-11 192 4.5 77.91

161 WR Antonio Callaway Florida 5-11 200 4.4 77.19
162 LB Tegray Scales Indiana 6-0 230 4.7 -
163 LB Genard Avery Memphis 6-1 248 4.5 91.09
164 WR Keke Coutee Texas Tech 5-10 181 4.4 78.16
165 OT Joseph Noteboom TCU 6-5 309 4.9 85.60
166 OG Sam Jones Arizona St 6-5 305 5.3 84.08
167 TE Will Dissly Washington 6-4 262 4.8 82.66
168 CB DJ Reed Kansas St 5-9 188 4.5 80.68
169 CB Danny Johnson Southern A&M 5-9 181 4.4 78.66
170 RB John Kelly Tennessee 5-10 216 4.5 84.27

171 LB Oren Burks Vanderbilt 6-3 233 4.5 91.86
172 CB Dmontre Wade Murray St 5-11 206 4.5 82.95
173 LB Nick Deluca North Dakota St 6-3 251 4.8 82.28
174 RB Darrel Williams Lsu 6-0 225 4.7 81.17
175 OT Alex Cappa Humboldt St 6-6 305 5.3 83.58
176 LB Skai Moore South Carolina 6-2 226 4.7 85.34
177 CB Kameron Kelly San Diego St 6-2 204 4.6 79.28
178 TE Durham Smythe Notre Dame 6-5 253 4.8 84.13
179 DL Kentavius Street North Carolina St 6-2 280 4.8 -
180 P JK Scott Alabama 6-6 208 4.8 75.95

181 CB Levi Wallace Alabama 6-0 179 4.6 74.84
182 3rd QB Kurt Benkert Virginia 6-3 218 4.9 77.40
183 RB Chase Edmonds Fordham 5-9 205 4.5 81.27
184 ER Ade Aruna Tulane 6-5 262 4.6 95.10
185 DL James Looney California 6-3 287 4.8 94.42
186 OC Scott Quessenberry UCLA 6-4 310 5.0 94.23
187 LB Matthew Thomas Florida St 6-3 232 4.5 93.68
188 DL John Franklin-Myers Stephen F Austin 6-4 283 4.7 92.26
189 LB Jake Pugh Florida St 6-3 246 4.6 92.25
190 TE Jordan Thomas Mississippi St 6-5 265 4.7 92.13

191 DL Bilal Nichols Delaware 6-4 306 4.9 91.59
192 TE Tyler Conklin Central Michigan 6-3 254 4.8 91.30
193 OG Rod Taylor Mississippi 6-3 320 5.2 90.85
194 LB Leon Jacobs Wisconsin 6-1 246 4.4 90.24
195 DL Folorunso Fatukasi Connecticut 6-4 318 5.2 90.03
196 OG Skyler Phillips Idaho St 6-2 318 5.1 90.02
197 DL Kahlil Mckenzie Tennessee 6-3 314 5.1 89.87
198 WR Dylan Cantrell Texas Tech 6-3 226 4.5 89.59
199 S Troy Apke Penn St 6-1 200 4.3 89.05
200 WR Trey Quinn SMU 5-11 203 4.5 80.41
http://www.thehuddlereport.com/valueboard.shtml



MOCK DRAFT CHAMPIONS

2017 Joe Marino - NDT Scouting 46
2016 Forrest N. Long - Scout Fantasy, Matt Faulk - Draft Season (tied) 49
2015 Kevin Hanson - Eat Drink and Sleep Football 53
2014 Bryan Perez - FRG Scouting 43
2013 The Fantasy Typhoon - Fantasy Football 1on1 50

2012 Ben Standig - Fantasy Football Toolbox 51
2011 Rick Gosselin - Dallas Morning News 53
2010 Will Spencer & Rob Engle - Draft Breakdown 50
2009 Mike Band - Draft Ace 50
2008 Robby Esch - The Huddle Report, Ricky Dimon - FF Toolbox (tied) 45

2007 Clark Judge - CBS Sportsline 55
2006 Rick Gosselin - Dallas Morning News, Nolan Nawrocki - Pro Football Weekly (tied) 57
2005 Harry Away - NFL Talent Experts 56
2004 Scott Wright NFL Draft Countdown 52
2003 Rick Gosselin - Dallas Morning News 42
2002 The Red Zone 50

Mock Draft Scores 5 YEAR AVERAGE

1 Jason Boris - Times News PA 43.00
2 Forrest Long - The Huddle Report 42.80
3 Brad Clark - Fanspeak 40.80
4 Mike Mayock - NFL Network 40.80
5 Kevin Hanson - Eat Drink & Sleep Football 40.40
6 Brian Phlipot - The Football Hub 40.20
7 Ben Standig - CSN Mid-Atlantic 39.80

8 Ryan McCrystal - Draft Ace 39.80
9 Mike Loyko - NE Patriots Draft 39.40
10 Draft Team - NFLFans.com 39.40
11 Matthew Jones - Draft Examiner 39.00
12 Scott Wright - Draft Countdown 38.80
13 Peter Clarke - Pro Player Insiders 38.60
14 Walt Deptula - WCCP Radio 38.60
15 Jonathan Cook - The Huddle Report 38.20
http://www.thehuddlereport.com/mock.scores.shtml

TOP 100 BOARD CHAMPIONS 5 YEAR AVERAGE

1 DRAFT BOARD GURU 84.8
2 THE HUDDLE REPORT 83.4
3 DRAFT DAY DK 83.4
4 DRAFT ACE 83.2
5 NFL DRAFT LINE 83.0
6 BOB McGINN - Journal Sentinel 83.0
7 LANCE ZIERLEIN - NFL.com 82.8

8 NFL ROUGH DRAFT 82.8
9 MIKE MAYOCK - NFL NETWORK 82.8
10 TODD McSHAY - SCOUTS INC 82.6
11 DRAFT COUNTDOWN 82.6
12 GREAT BLUE NORTH 82.0
13 NFL DRAFT SCOUT 82.0
14 DRAFT DADDY 81.8
15 WALT DEPTULA WCCP-FM 81.8
http://www.thehuddlereport.com/top100.scores.shtml


[/quote]

Finishing 2017 the number one scoring offense was an incredible accomplishment for rookie Head Coach Sean McVay, and his revamped Rams.

Bringing in key receiving options Robert Woods and Sammy Watkins from the Buffalo Bills, along with draftees TE Gerald Everett and WR Cooper Kupp, add in the backside rock of protection LT Andrew Whitworth from the Bengals, and John Sullivan from the Redskins and McVay quietly put together the tools to implement his innovative offense, and achieve an improbable worst-to-first miracle for the Los Angeles Rams offense.

Oh, and by the way, McVay found a way to use holdovers Tavon Austin, Tyler Higbee, and revive the reputations of QB Jared Goff, and especially NFL Offensive Player of the Year RB Todd Gurley. (Just look at my avatar to the left- second day of training camp. It was clear there was a fire in his eyes)

What about the Rams’ special teams? No doubt with all-time great P Johnny Hekker, K Greg “the leg” Zuerlein, who was on pace to set a league scoring record, before missing the last few games with a back injury, and all-pro returner Pharoh Cooper, the Rams boast the leagues #1 special teams.

Fast forward to 2018. Legendary Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips took over a talented group of defenders, put together by previous Head Coach Jeff Fisher. However, some of the players, notably ILB Alec Ogletree and the sadly declining OLB Robert Quinn didn’t seem to be good position fits for Phillips’ 3-4 defense last year. While the Rams defense played well on occasion, they were often plagued by run gap failures, often gashed for long runs.

With that in mind, and with the help of GM Les Snead, the Rams had perhaps the franchises most aggressive free agency since escaping Cleveland in the 1940s. Picking up elite CBs Marcus Peters and Aquib Talib, DT Ndamukong Suh and reserve CB Sam Shields, the Rams have developed into a possible defensive juggernaut.

So the question for you gentleman is this:

Will the 2018 Rams have the #1 Offense, Defense AND Special teams?

Please vote in the poll.

To read the whole article click the link below.
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https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-scary-nfl-stats-for-friday-the-13th

Friday the 13th: stats that should strike fear in any opposing coaching staff
BY MARK CHICHESTER • APR 13, 2018


Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Friday the 13th is upon us in the middle of April and with that, there is no better time to look at scary stats that opposing NFL coordinators and coaching staffs will definitely lose sleep over later this fall. Be it a pair of edge rushers or a passing attack down the field, the following stats put fear in their opponents on paper, let alone when it’s actually time to don the pads.

Aaron Donald & Ndamakung Suh vs. all interior offensive linemen



Firmly atop this list is the freshly inked partnership of Donald and Suh, whose presence on the same defensive line will make even the most competent interior offensive linemen second-guess themselves. As two of the most well-rounded interior defensive linemen in football, the pair have both graded within the top six among players at the position in every season since 2014, and in that span, Donald has racked up a staggering 496 impact plays (total number of quarterback pressures and defensive stops), while Suh has accounted for 333 impact plays, which rank first and fourth among all interior linemen in that span, respectively.

Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, Lamarcus Joyner & Nickell Robey-Coleman vs. passing attacks

In addition to the aforementioned acquisitions of Suh and Cooks, the Rams also traded for veteran cornerbacks Talib and Peters to add to an already talented defensive backfield that contains slot cornerback Robey-Coleman and corner-turned-safety Joyner. Talib is playing the best football of his career right now, coming off a 90.6 overall grade in 2016 and an 86.2 grade last season, where he allowed just 0.57 yards per coverage snap – the third-best mark among players at the position.

The acquisition of Peters also gives the Rams one of the best playmakers at the cornerback position, a player who has racked up a whopping 50 combined pass breakups and interceptions since 2015, the most among cornerbacks in that span. With those two on the perimeter, the Rams were wise to lock up Robey-Coleman to an extension this offseason, and his signature gives the team one of the stingiest slot corners in the game, evidenced by the 0.80 yards per coverage snap he allowed throughout the 2017 season, which was the 10th-best mark among slot corners.

Add in Joyner at safety, who ended the 2017 campaign with the highest coverage grade among safeties (92.2) and the Rams will enter the 2018 season with one of the most formidable pass defenses in the NFL, which is enough to scare any opposing offense.

Jared Goff & Brandin Cooks vs. opposing defenses

Something that PFF’s own Gordon McGuinness explained in great detail last week; the Los Angeles Rams are all-in for the 2018 season, which is evidenced by the most aggressive offseason in the NFL this year. In addition to signing Suh, the Rams also sent a first-round pick to the New England Patriots in return for fifth-year wide receiver Cooks, which adds a dynamic, vertical threat to Sean McVay’s offense.

Since entering the league in 2014, Cooks has amassed 1,794 yards from passes that traveled at least 20 yards in the air, which is second only to Julio Jones in that span, and he’s generated a catch rate of 44.9 percent and a passer rating of 101.4 on such throws – which rank second and eighth among receivers with at least 75 deep targets in that span, respectively. Given that Goff ended the 2017 campaign as the league’s sixth-most accurate quarterback on deep passes, the Goff-to-Cooks combination could prove lethal to opponents in 2018.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-linebackers-20180412-story.html

Rams will be looking to address linebacker in draft as they rebuild middle of defense
By GARY KLEIN

With the addition of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, the remade Rams defense is even more stout along the front and upgraded on the back end.

But what of the middle?

Trades that sent linebackers Alec Ogletree and Robert Quinn to the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins, respectively, make linebacker a position of need for the Rams heading into the April 26-28 draft.

"That's a position where you have to add depth," general manager Les Snead said. "It's very hard to replace Alec Ogletree with one player, because Alec could play the run and play the pass.

"We may have to address that with a rotation of players who have different strengths."

The Rams' strength and conditioning staff managed linebacker Mark Barron's multiple physical issues last season. It could be a challenge again as Barron, 28, begins his seventh NFL season, the third year of a five-year contract he signed before the 2016 season.

Third-year pro Cory Littleton, a special teams standout, stepped in at times last season for Barron and Ogletree, and could start inside with Barron. Second-year pro Samson Ebukam is in line to take Quinn's spot after starting two games and recording two sacks last season.

The Rams added free-agent Rakim Wilson, who started 16 games the last two seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs.

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips acknowledged that the Rams need "six or seven" linebackers to fill out the 90-man offseason roster.

"We're not where we need to be yet," he said. "But I think we will be after the draft. … I think we'll be comfortable about where we are."

Linebackers under contract: Mark Barron ($10 million), Cory Littleton ($635,000), Rakim Wilson ($750,000), Samson Ebukam ($707,000), Bryce Hager ($723,000), Carlos Thompson ($630,000), Ejuan Price ($555,000), Garrett Sickels ($480,000).

Free agents: Connor Barwin, 31, is testing the market. There is a possibility that the locker room leader and mentor for Ebukam and others could return, but it would be at a price well below the $3.5 million he earned last season. Free agent Junior Galette was on the Washington Redskins roster when coach Sean McVay and linebackers coach Joe Barry were with that franchise, but he was hurt both seasons.

Draft: The Rams have eight picks — one in the third round, three in the fourth round and four in the sixth. They will be looking for linebackers — especially edge rushers — in all rounds, and also as they attempt to sign undrafted free agents.

Roster decisions: The Rams are not in panic mode about their linebacker corps, especially in a league in which five and, occasionally, six defensive backs are deployed to stop passing offenses. Barron's salary was thought to make him a potential target for release or restructure, but the Rams instead dealt Ogletree to make room for Talib and his $11-million price tag.

Well, I don't foresee us making any more moves, but I do have a few trades:

Trades

Mark Barron to the Indianapolis Colts for #104 overall (fourth) and #178 overall (sixth).

(I like Barron, but I see him as an eventual cap casualty next year, so I want to get something for him beforehand. Anyway, Indy needs a WILL linebacker for their new 4-3, so a Barron trade makes sense for both sides.)

Sean Mannion to the Carolina Panthers for #161 overall (fifth).

(Mannion is a good backup, especially since the only quarterback behind Newton is Garrett Gilbert - if any of you can remember him.)

Now for the draft!

Draft:

#87 overall - Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State.

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(Yes, I know that I took him in the third instead of late first or early second, but hear me out. He's a small-school player with injury concerns and drops. Cooper Kupp fell to the third instead of the early second, so it's not like Goedert would be the first player to fall because of that. In any case, he's an athletic tight end who can make the insane catches, and he works hard as a blocker. McVay will love this chess piece.)

#104 overall - Shaquem Griffin, ILB, UCF.

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(Griffin would go to the first round if he had two hands. I can't say enough about this kid, and I think he's an instant impact starter at inside linebacker, taking Barron's place next to Littleton.)

#111 overall - Kemoko Turay, OLB, Rutgers.

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(Turay falls this far because of injury concerns to his shoulders. When healthy, he wreaks utter havoc on the field. He'll back up Ebukam and Longacre.)

#135 overall - Isaac Yiadom, CB, Boston College.

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(Yiadom has been compared to Bashaud Breeland, and that intrigues me quite a bit. I know that it's early for a cornerback, but Talib is only here for two years; Shields - most likely - only one.)

#136 overall - John Kelly, RB, Tennessee.

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(Here's our third down back. Kelly has soft hands, breaks tackles like it's going out of style, and like his former teammate Kamara, he'll likely be a better pro than college player. How is he falling this far? Because he has a few off the field issues. Other than that, he's a solid player.

#176 overall - Dane Cruikshank, FS, Arizona.

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(Cruikshank played as a cornerback at Arizona, but he'll have to switch to safety at the next level. The good news is that he has the hands of a wide receiver, and he's a tackling machine. The bad? He struggles with coverage. Ultimately, he'll be the Cody Davis replacement.)

#178 overall - Alex Cappa, OT/OG, Humboldt State.

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(Here's a small school offensive lineman in Cappa, who's been nitpicked. People are now saying he'll be a guard. I see their point, but I respectfully disagree. I think that he can be a solid swing tackle for us at first and learn everything he can from Whitworth before taking over.)

#183 overall - Jack Cichy, ILB, Wisconsin.

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(I had Cichy in an early mock of mine, and I came back to him when I watched tape and evaluation of other inside linebackers. Unlike Burks, Sam, and Avery, Cichy is a damn good player who just happens to have major injury concerns. I'd take a second day talent in the sixth round any day and especially Sunday.)

#194 overall - Timon Parris, OT/OG, Stony Brook.

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(Parris is another small school lineman who dominated his competition from the left tackle spot. I don't think he'll play left tackle in the pros, but he can be a hell of a right tackle and guard.)

#195 overall - Jamil Demby, OG/OT, Maine.

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(Demby is the last small school lineman in my draft, and he's a good player. He'll back up both guard positions, and maybe take over for Saffold or Brown.)

UDFAs

Nic Shimonek, QB, Texas Tech.

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(Shimonek has enough arm talent to be worth a shot as a UDFA, even though he's only a one year starter. He immediately backs up Goff.

Olasunkamni Adeniyi, OLB, Toledo.

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(Adeniyi has a motor that doesn't quit no matter what, but his lack of athletic traits make him a UDFA. Here we pick him up just in case Longacre struggles after his back injury.)


53 Man Roster.

QB - Jared Goff, Nic Shimonek.
RB - Todd Gurley, John Kelly, Malcolm Brown.
TE - Gerald Everett, Dallas Goedert, Tyler Higbee, Temarrick Hemingway.
WR - Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Pharoh Cooper, Josh Reynolds, Mike Thomas, Tavon Austin.
OL - Andrew Whitworth, Rodger Saffold, John Sullivan, Jamon Brown, Rob Havenstein, Austin Blythe, Alex Cappa, Timon Parris, Jamil Demby.
DL - Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Ndamukong Suh, Ethan Westbrooks, Tanzel Smart, Morgan Fox.
LB - Matt Longacre, Shaquem Griffin, Cory Littleton, Samson Ebukam, Kemoko Turay, Hercules Mata'afa, Ejuan Price, Jack Cichy, Bryce Hager.
DB - Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Lamarcus Joyner, John Johnson III, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Sam Shields, Isaac Yiadom, Dane Cruikshank, Kevin Peterson, Blake Countess.
K - Greg Zuerlein.
P - Johnny Hekker
LS - Jake McQuaide.

Practice Squad:

Jake Eldrenkamp
Sam Rogers
Justin Davis
Omarius Bryant
Frank Ginda
Jojo Wicker
Olasunkamni Adeniyi
Jeremy Reaves
D'Montre Wade
Andre Chachere

Thoughts, comments, and critiques are very much welcome!

Good Morning Football crew with a discussion on the Rams, with all the new additions:

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Heard a conversation about flying cars, the product of which dispelled a cherished futuristic invention I always hoped to see in my lifetime. Since the Jetsons, I always dreamed of a car that could fly in the air which is limited by no road, which could dock on the side of a skyscraper. No parking spot at home on the street would be needed.

Similarly, there is a personal way to fly through the air that is similar to my Jetsons' flying car: Jetpacks. Daredevils use these today and it is spectacular to think a person can fly with one of those. But the problem is that when they stop working in mid air, death rate is almost 100%. The same is true with a flying car, which must be able to hover at a height for it to be at all practical in replacing a road bound car.

It must be that when power fails in a flying car, the normal state must be anti-gravitational at a fixed level when power ceases. That way, a personal car will not float away into the atmosphere while docked and occupants would just float until a rescue vehicle arrived instead of dying a horrible death upon impact

So, the idea will probably never happen in our lifetimes, if ever.

Looks like the hags are gonna catch some shit over Kaeperdick!!

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...ck-visit-qb-declined-to-stop-anthem-kneeling/

The Colin Kaepernick collusion case, with Kaepernick claiming he can't get work because he kneeled during the national anthem, may have gotten a shot in the arm after the Seattle Seahawks reportedly cancelled a meeting with Kaepernick after the quarterback declined to stop kneeling next season.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reported on Thursday that the Seahawks postponed -- and maybe cancelled -- a workout with Kaepernick after he declined to give them an answer on his anthem plans in 2018.

"This is an interesting story on a lot of different levels. The Seahawks had planned for Colin Kaepernick to work out for them earlier this week. And at the last moment that trip was postponed, because a conversation occurred where they wanted to know what he was going to be doing on the field this year before and during the national anthem," Schefter said on NFL Live. "And I don't think he was willing to give them an answer to commit one way or another. And with that hanging out there, the Seahawks postponed that trip. Some might say cancelled it. Depends on how you look at it. But it's a situation here where Colin Kaepernick was going to come in there and work out there and now he's not."

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media confirmed the cancellation by the Seahawks, but said it was not because of Kaepernick's declining to stand during the anthem, but rather a lack of "a firm plan" on "how to handle everything."

The #Seahawks did postpone a tentatively scheduled workout with Colin Kaepernick, as @AdamSchefter reported. It was not because he said he declined to stop kneeling, tho. The team asked for his plan moving forward on how to handle everything and there was not a firm plan.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 12, 2018
It's unclear what that means exactly, but presumably the Seahawks want Kaepernick to enter the 2018 NFL season with an idea of what he will do before and during the national anthem and how he will respond to questions about whatever it is he does.

The Seahawks recently cut Trevonne Boykin, their backup to Russell Wilson, amid an investigation into domestic violence allegations. Boykin has had off-field issues since he left college at TCU and was drafted by the Seahawks.

Kaepernick was cut by the 49ers following the 2016 season and spent the entire 2017 year out of work. He was contemplating filing a collusion lawsuit early last season and finally moved forward with it after the Texans decided to bring in a bunch of terrible quarterbacks and not give him a call.

The case progressed after the season with dates starting to get locked in this offseason. It's believed former Papa John's CEO John Schnatter could be deposed, in case you were wondering how odd this case could get.

And speaking of depositions, Kaepernick was apparently set to be deposed by NFL owners the day after his Seahawks workout, which means this is probably not great news for the NFL owners. Multiple teams declining to bring in Kaepernick because of his anthem stance and the protests is exactly how it would be possible to create a claim of collusion.

Kaepernick previously visited the Seahawks last offseason, but didn't work out with Seattle at the time. Seattle would eventually sign Austin Davis, which rankled more than a few people on the Internet. Seattle's interest at the time was believed to be "legit," however, which means they still may want to sign him.

But it didn't work out this time and, as a result, you can expect a full-throated reaction from people wondering why Kaepernick does not have a job.

Interesting list. Rams do need a tackle or 2. Brown at 87 would be tempting.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2769666-nfl-draft-400-top-ots-for-2018-nfl-draft

I’m guessing prior to our preseason game.

Login to view embedded media View: https://mobile.twitter.com/jeffzrebiecsun/status/984485023754719232


Which of course means...

Login to view embedded media View: https://mobile.twitter.com/jeffzrebiecsun/status/984486117071257602

Kurt Warner is included towards the end of this post. To read the whole article click the link below.
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http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...Kelly-concussion-issues-dangers-football.html

Packers great Brett Favre as he fears HE may have C.T.E. after suffering 'thousands' of concussions
By ALEX RASKIN

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Retired Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre does not believe tackle football is safe for children and fears that he may be suffering the long-term effects from 'probably thousands' of concussions over his 20-year career.

As he explained to Megyn Kelly on Thursday’s show, the 48-year-old Favre does not know if he suffers from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) – the degenerative brain disease linked to concussions, which can only be diagnosed posthumously – but he has been showing troubling signs.

'Simple words that normally would come out easy in a conversation, I'll stammer,' said Favre, who played in 321 straight NFL games - a record for quarterbacks. 'Look, I'm 48 years old. Having played 20 years, could it just be, as we all like to say, we get a little bit older? Yeah, I forgot my keys and they were in my hand. Where are my glasses, and they're on your head. You know, I wonder if that's what it is, or do I - do I have early stages of C.T.E.? I don't know.'

And while he told Kelly that he does not regret playing, Favre has stated publicly that if he had a son, he would dissuade him from trying tackle football.

'If I had a son myself, I suppose I could make him not play, but I would really, really strongly discourage him from playing,' said Favre in a recent documentary he produced titled 'Shocked.'

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'That seems to surprise people when I tell them that. "So what? You're iron man,"' he continued. 'I can only hope and pray that at 55 or 60, I don't suffer the same things that some of these other guys that were portrayed in movies suffered.'

Fave hopes that a new nasal inhaler, Prevacus, which is waiting for approval can help prevent the effects of concussions on children.

However, he doesn't see any way to make contact sports completely safe for kids.

'This drug, if it can ever get approved and used, I think it will greatly help long-term health,' he said. 'We're never gonna stop concussions, and I think the brain and the skull itself [in children and teenagers] is not developed enough and they should not be playing tackle football.'

When asked how many concussions he suffered during his career, Favre was unsure.

'That I know of, three, four, maybe,' he said. 'As we're learning about concussions, there's a term that is often used in football, and maybe in other sports, that I got "dinged."

'As [concussion expert Dr. Bennet Omalu], who was portrayed by Will Smith in the movie "Concussion" has said, "dinged" is a concussion. When you have ringing of the ears, seeing stars, that's a concussion. If that is a concussion, I've had hundreds, probably thousands throughout my career, which is frightening.'

Favre said always had a long memory as a player and could even remember plays and different defensive looks from his high school days in Mississippi. But the problem he's running into more frequently is short-term memory issues, which are often linked with concussions.

The former Southern Mississippi star is also concerned with his future.

Many deceased football players, such as New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez and San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau, were later revealed to have advanced stages of C.T.E., which likely contributed to their suicides.

'You know, the thing about C.T.E. and head injuries is, I'll have someone say, "Man, you look like you're in great shape, taking good care of yourself." I say, "thank you, I'm trying to do my best."

'The thing about what little we know about the brain, the injuries and C.T.E., is that tomorrow could be totally different,' he continued. 'Tomorrow, I may be in great health, but I don't know who I am or where I'm going. It can happen overnight. I know it's not as dramatic as that, but that's the scary thing. No matter what I do to try to take care of myself physically, that is a part of my future that I really can't control.'


Favre joined Kelly’s show via satellite while other athletes such as former St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner (far left), retired U.S. soccer star Amy Wambach (near right), and former Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross (near left) discussed their issues with concussions

46-year-old Kurt Warner was already outspoken on the dangers of contact sports, admitting in 2012 that the idea of his sons playing football scared him.

However, he and Kelly's other panelists are encouraged by the new drug, Prevacus, which comes in a nasal spray and helps to reduce edema, inflammation, and oxidative stress for anyone who may have suffered a traumatic brain injury.

'When you talk about Prevacus, and you talk about why are you involved? I feel that I have to be involved,' said Warner, who won a Super Bowl with the Rams and lost another with the Arizona Cardinals.

'It is something that is out there, it is groundbreaking, it is something that can change the complexion of things. I don’t think I am going to ever be able to tell my kid, well you can’t play, or literally pull them off the field. But I want to have something there, that if they do suffer an injury.'

According to neuroscientist Jacob Vanlandingham, the spray is used immediately after a head collision.

'We give it nasally through this applicator here,' he said. 'We're able to get it into the brain in less than five minutes. It diffuses throughout regions of your brain in 30 minutes.'