Threads
-
To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.
Peter King: MMQB - 4/9/18
- By Prime Time
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 20 Replies
These are excerpts. To read the whole article click the link below. McVay, Snead, Phillips, and Cooks get mentioned so there's that.
************************************************************************************
https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/09/nfl-draft-prospects-gil-brandt-dallas-mmqb-peter-king
Everything to Know About the 2018 NFL Draft Crop, According to Gil Brandt
The 411 on what to expect in Dallas in a little more than two weeks from the man who would know best.
By Peter King
Stream of pre-draft consciousness, 17 days before the first round kicks off before 75,000 fans in Jerryworld:
IT’S GIL BRANDT’S WORLD, AND WE’RE ALL LIVING IN IT
Sixty years ago, Brandt, then 25 and a baby photographer, was hired as a full-time scout for the San Francisco 49ers. Two years later he moved to the expansion Dallas Cowboys as their chief scout. He’s lived in Dallas ever since, and this will be the first time in his life that the draft is a home game for him.
Now he’s the NFL draft shepherd, going to almost every pro day, keeping tabs on the prospects, wooing the top ones to come to the first round, working for the league and helping organize the football side of the draft. We caught up late Saturday, and I tried to denude Brandt of everything he knows about the 2018 crop.
• On what makes this draft different: “This is going to be the most talked-about draft in history. And not just because quarterbacks could go one through four, or four of the top five picks. But this will be an incredible extravaganza. For years to come, people will compare every draft to Dallas. The saying Everything’s bigger in Texas will definitely apply.
We’ll have sections all over the stadium for all 32 teams, and it’ll be like a competition between all the teams and their fans. Twelve big-time college coaches will be there—Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Chris Petersen, others. Day two’s going to have the same excitement.”
• On the walkup to the draft: “There’s been more activity than I ever remember at all these pro days. More coaches, more assistant coaches. South Dakota State had their pro day last week, and there were six NFL tight-end coaches there to see their guy [Dallas Goedert]. But he didn’t run the 40. Hasn’t run it yet. He could go anywhere from low first to the third, but it’s hard to know because teams don’t know his speed.”
• Quality of the draft: “This is a draft where 13 to 17 guys I could point to and say for sure, This guy’s a first-round pick. After that, there’s a lot of starting-type players who could go anywhere. Let me put it to you this way: My guy who I have 21st overall on my list could go 64th. The guy I rank 47th could go 19th. So the Patriots, with their needs and their two first-round picks, should be able to get a tackle to replace Nate Solder.
They need the tackle from UCLA, Kolton Miller. He’s Nate Solder, is what he is … 6'8", 310 pounds, unbelievable 10-yard speed, which is what you need for a tackle. Needs development. But [offensive line coach] Dante Scarnecchia can develop a guy like that as well as anyone.”
• His order of the quarterbacks: “Rosen, Darnold, Mayfield, Allen, Jackson.”
• Top of the draft: “Here’s what it looks like: The running back from Penn State [Saquon Barkley] has all the characteristics needed to be an All-Pro player and could go anywhere in there. Nothing would surprise me. Let’s go to the quarterbacks. Josh Allen has everything you need to be a franchise QB, but he lacks accuracy, and you can’t complete 56 percent in the NFL. Now Sam Darnold, he’s got great mechanics and the right attitude and approach to be great. But he throws interceptions.
This is where you have to grade him—was the interception his fault? Josh Rosen started as a true freshman at UCLA. Never happened before. Started 5-0 or something like that as an 18-year-old. [Actually 4-0, and he won seven of his first nine starts]. You want to be the surest that you won’t be laughed at five years down the line with one of these quarterbacks? Pick Rosen. He’s a player.
Lamar Jackson, immense talent, immense upside. Baker Mayfield is a guy like Drew Brees. He’s got velocity, good accuracy. We all undervalued Drew. But what you don’t know about anyone is which quarterbacks are gonna work like Drew Brees. Drew’s gonna work his ass off.
His agent could get a call during the season from a car company saying, ‘We got a $200,000 commercial for you to tape on Tuesday.’ And Drew would say, ‘No, I’m not gonna do that on Tuesday. That’s my day to work on the next opponent.’ Your job if you’re going to draft one of these guys is to figure out who’s like Drew Brees.”
• Josh Rosen and the questions surrounding his desire: “I have zero questions about Josh Rosen. I have no problems with him at all.”
• Biggest surprise in the top 10: “[Notre Dame] tackle Mike McGlinchey. He’ll go in the top 10.”
• Player who will go higher than everyone thinks: “Will Hernandez, guard, UTEP. Reminds me of Mike Iupati—both drafted higher than anyone thought.”
• Draft invitee who fascinates Brandt: “Leighton Vander Esch, the Boise State linebacker. He’ll be the first man ever invited to the draft who played eight-man football in high school. He’s from Salmon River High School in Riggins, Idaho. A true rising star.”
• The Super Bowl champions’ plans: “I don’t know what [the Eagles] are going to do, but I have been amazed at their presence everywhere at these pro days. I told [general manager] Howie Roseman, ‘You must have an unlimited scouting budget—and I think you’ve exceeded it.’ They’ve had coaches and scouts everywhere. They don’t act like they just won the Super Bowl. They act like they’re dying just to make the playoffs.”
• Happiest draft invitee: “We’ve got 22 guys coming in, and maybe the happiest is a guy who won’t be picked in the first round: Shaquem Griffin [the UCF linebacker who lost his left hand because of a birth defect at age 4]. When I called his mother to invite them, she started crying because of how much this means to the family.”
------------------------------------
SPORTS QUIZ
On Saturday, the fledgling league The Alliance of American Football announced the first of eight franchise cities, Orlando. The league said 72-year-old Steve Spurrier would coach the team.
This will be the first pro football coaching job by Spurrier since 2003. Spurrier’s embarrassing 12-20 two-year run in Washington ended on Dec. 27, 2003, with a 31-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Here’s the quiz:
Who was Spurrier’s starting quarterback in the last game he coached in the NFL?
Here’s the bonus quiz:
Who was the replay official in the press box for the last game Spurrier coached in the NFL?
Answers in number 8 of Things I Think.
----------------------------------------------
“The defensive coordinator has more swag than all of ’em, so we’ll be in good shape.”
—Rams coach Sean McVay, on the big stars the Rams have added to the defense (Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Ndamukong Suh), and how he thinks 71-year-old Wade Phillips will coach them up.
------------------------------------------------
STATS OF THE WEEK
I
The Denver Broncos lucked into a top-five punter for very good value last week, signing Jon Gruden-reject Marquette King for three years and $7 million, making him approximately the 12th-highest-paid punter (in average cap value) in the NFL. Not bad for King, who finished second in the league in punting average in 2016 and third in 2017, and who is 29 years old.
When the Broncos signed King on Thursday, he was positively giddy about getting to punt in altitude for half his games over the next three years. “Denver’s a punter’s paradise,” King said. “The ball definitely travels a lot further. I’ve always enjoyed punting out here in the altitude just because the ball travels further.”
The evidence in his five seasons is significant, if limited. King’s numbers in Colorado versus all other places:
The Broncos are going to have to work with King specifically on placement on inside-the-20 kicks—kicking as he did for Oakland could result in too many into the end zone.
II
Rams receiver Brandin Cooks, 24, is a mere 16 months older than the top receiver prospect in the draft, Alabama’s Calvin Ridley, 23. Ridley will turn 24 in his rookie season. Cooks leads Ridley in NFL games played, 61-0.
-------------------------------------
POD PEOPLE
This week’s conversation: Rams GM Les Snead.
Snead on his willingness to trade more than his predecessors, and on the willingness of a cadre of young GMs to do the same: “You know, that’s an interesting question, and to start with, I don't think you can ever be reckless because—let's go way back to 2012. You know we traded the No. 2 pick overall to the Redskins that ended up being known as the RG3 [Robert Griffin III] deal, but the whole purpose of that was to acquire as many draft picks as possible.
We got to build a young core because at that point it’s nearly, let’s call it 26 players of the 53 who finished on that 2011 Rams team never played in the NFL again, so you knew we had we had to replenish this with a good core, and over the years you draft it, but last year we tipped into let's call it being a ‘legit contender.’ So at that point, you’re well aware, wait a minute, we want to sustain this, we want to keep contending.
And, I’ll always say this, I got a simple rule: You can't be scared in this league. Look at Doug Pederson this year and, it wasn't reckless but it took courage and guess what? They won a Super Bowl on some of those fourth-down plays. So you try to do that as a general manager, but I also think, and this is long-winded answer, some of the analytics that you have now to really look at what historically draft picks bring you in reality over time …”
Me: “You’ve basically looked at draft choices as tools in the toolbox. That's how I kind of look at your thing: You’re not wedded to your draft picks.”
Snead: “Right. You should be my interpreter.”
---------------------------------------
Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/sonofbum/status/982314890038620161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fnfl%2F2018%2F04%2F09%2Fnfl-draft-prospects-gil-brandt-dallas-mmqb-peter-king
------------------------------------------
THINGS I THINK I THINK
1. I think Baltimore signing Robert Griffin III doesn’t mean anything about the Ravens’ draft-weekend intentions. If there’s a quarterback there at 16 (Lamar Jackson?) whom the Ravens love, they’ll take him. As they should. Since Joe Flacco won the Super Bowl with Baltimore, there have been five seasons played in the NFL. In those five seasons combined, 31 quarterbacks have started at least 40 games. Flacco is 30th in passer rating in those five seasons, at 82.1.
2. I think if, in “Paterno,” HBO intended to show Joe Paterno as an altogether doddering old man who had no business coaching Penn State in his last few years, HBO succeeded. I have no dog in this fight, and there is no question whatsoever that Paterno was allowed to coach that team far too long. But was it really that bad? Was he really that bad? Check out Conor Orr’s commentary on “Paterno.”
3. I think one of the best free-agent signings of the second wave of the free market is New England procuring wide receiver Jordan Matthews after his lost and injured season with Buffalo in 2017. New England signed him for one year and about $4 million.
Mike Reiss reported in his Sunday column that Matthews wanted to play with Tom Brady and, presumably, could have signed for more years and money elsewhere. Love this for the Patriots because Matthews will play this year at 26, is now healthy, and in his three NFL seasons before 2017 with Philadelphia, averaged 75 catches and 891 yards. He’s the kind of big target (6'3") the Patriots and Brady needed.
4. I think I don't understand why uniform numbers can’t be simple. Just like I never understood why the Bucs made the numbers on their new uniforms unintelligible, I don’t get Tennessee’s new digits either. Why can’t a 2 look like a 2, and not a Z? Why make numbers make you do a triple-take?
5. I think, while I’m on my 60-year-old-man riff, what’s up with “uniform launch parties” or “uniform unveilings?” I see the Jaguars are having one April 19, on the heels of the Titans drawing 20,000 for theirs last week. I don’t get the unveiling of uniforms being a news event.
How did we get to this point? You know, it’s okay to not have everything be a big event. It’s okay for teams to say, “We’ve got nothing going on this week. Go cover something else.” And it’s okay for media to say, “We’ll run a photo of your next uniform on our site. That’s enough.” And be done with it.
6. I think now I’ll stop screaming for you to get off my lawn.
7. I think this Johnny Manziel admission to Dan Patrick just really rubbed me the wrong way: “Guys are good in the NFL because they know film, they study hard, and they work even harder in the offseason. I didn’t know that. I feel like if Cleveland did any of their homework, they would have know that I’m a guy that didn’t come in every day and watch film …
When I get to Cleveland, I have a quarterback in the room [Brian Hoyer] that’s not helping me. And it’s not really his job to, but nobody was there, helping me. And it was hard. I struggled … There was a lot of winging it, and not a lot of, you know, knowing what I was doing.”
One: It’s not the starting quarterback’s job to help the backup take the job from him. It would be nice if the starter did that, but in my experience, many more starting quarterbacks over time have been okay but not super-helpful to the first-round pick who’s there to put the starter out of business. Two: “Nobody was there, helping me.”
What? Dowell Loggains, quarterback coach, and Kyle Shanahan, offense coordinator … They didn’t help? They weren’t there to help? Their office doors were closed? That is, to be charitable, a disingenuous claim by Manziel. To be uncharitable, it is downright lame.
8. I think the answers to the Steve Spurrier quizzes surprised me.
The starting quarterback for Washington in the 2003 season finale—and one of six quarterbacks to throw passes for Spurrier in his two NFL seasons—was Tim Hasselbeck.
The replay official in FedEx Field for Spurrier’s last game? Dean Blandino.
9. I think I can’t say this enough: If San Francisco safety Eric Reid does not get signed, it sends a chilling message about free speech to every NFL player who would think about protesting anything. Colin Kaepernick being unsigned is reprehensible enough.
But if Reid, Kaepernick’s protest partner with the Niners in 2016, is not signed to a representative safety contract this spring, every player will know the league’s mantra: Get in line, or this will happen to you when your contract expires—no matter how good you are.
************************************************************************************
https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/09/nfl-draft-prospects-gil-brandt-dallas-mmqb-peter-king
Everything to Know About the 2018 NFL Draft Crop, According to Gil Brandt
The 411 on what to expect in Dallas in a little more than two weeks from the man who would know best.
By Peter King
Stream of pre-draft consciousness, 17 days before the first round kicks off before 75,000 fans in Jerryworld:
IT’S GIL BRANDT’S WORLD, AND WE’RE ALL LIVING IN IT
Sixty years ago, Brandt, then 25 and a baby photographer, was hired as a full-time scout for the San Francisco 49ers. Two years later he moved to the expansion Dallas Cowboys as their chief scout. He’s lived in Dallas ever since, and this will be the first time in his life that the draft is a home game for him.
Now he’s the NFL draft shepherd, going to almost every pro day, keeping tabs on the prospects, wooing the top ones to come to the first round, working for the league and helping organize the football side of the draft. We caught up late Saturday, and I tried to denude Brandt of everything he knows about the 2018 crop.
• On what makes this draft different: “This is going to be the most talked-about draft in history. And not just because quarterbacks could go one through four, or four of the top five picks. But this will be an incredible extravaganza. For years to come, people will compare every draft to Dallas. The saying Everything’s bigger in Texas will definitely apply.
We’ll have sections all over the stadium for all 32 teams, and it’ll be like a competition between all the teams and their fans. Twelve big-time college coaches will be there—Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Chris Petersen, others. Day two’s going to have the same excitement.”
• On the walkup to the draft: “There’s been more activity than I ever remember at all these pro days. More coaches, more assistant coaches. South Dakota State had their pro day last week, and there were six NFL tight-end coaches there to see their guy [Dallas Goedert]. But he didn’t run the 40. Hasn’t run it yet. He could go anywhere from low first to the third, but it’s hard to know because teams don’t know his speed.”
• Quality of the draft: “This is a draft where 13 to 17 guys I could point to and say for sure, This guy’s a first-round pick. After that, there’s a lot of starting-type players who could go anywhere. Let me put it to you this way: My guy who I have 21st overall on my list could go 64th. The guy I rank 47th could go 19th. So the Patriots, with their needs and their two first-round picks, should be able to get a tackle to replace Nate Solder.
They need the tackle from UCLA, Kolton Miller. He’s Nate Solder, is what he is … 6'8", 310 pounds, unbelievable 10-yard speed, which is what you need for a tackle. Needs development. But [offensive line coach] Dante Scarnecchia can develop a guy like that as well as anyone.”
• His order of the quarterbacks: “Rosen, Darnold, Mayfield, Allen, Jackson.”
• Top of the draft: “Here’s what it looks like: The running back from Penn State [Saquon Barkley] has all the characteristics needed to be an All-Pro player and could go anywhere in there. Nothing would surprise me. Let’s go to the quarterbacks. Josh Allen has everything you need to be a franchise QB, but he lacks accuracy, and you can’t complete 56 percent in the NFL. Now Sam Darnold, he’s got great mechanics and the right attitude and approach to be great. But he throws interceptions.
This is where you have to grade him—was the interception his fault? Josh Rosen started as a true freshman at UCLA. Never happened before. Started 5-0 or something like that as an 18-year-old. [Actually 4-0, and he won seven of his first nine starts]. You want to be the surest that you won’t be laughed at five years down the line with one of these quarterbacks? Pick Rosen. He’s a player.
Lamar Jackson, immense talent, immense upside. Baker Mayfield is a guy like Drew Brees. He’s got velocity, good accuracy. We all undervalued Drew. But what you don’t know about anyone is which quarterbacks are gonna work like Drew Brees. Drew’s gonna work his ass off.
His agent could get a call during the season from a car company saying, ‘We got a $200,000 commercial for you to tape on Tuesday.’ And Drew would say, ‘No, I’m not gonna do that on Tuesday. That’s my day to work on the next opponent.’ Your job if you’re going to draft one of these guys is to figure out who’s like Drew Brees.”
• Josh Rosen and the questions surrounding his desire: “I have zero questions about Josh Rosen. I have no problems with him at all.”
• Biggest surprise in the top 10: “[Notre Dame] tackle Mike McGlinchey. He’ll go in the top 10.”
• Player who will go higher than everyone thinks: “Will Hernandez, guard, UTEP. Reminds me of Mike Iupati—both drafted higher than anyone thought.”
• Draft invitee who fascinates Brandt: “Leighton Vander Esch, the Boise State linebacker. He’ll be the first man ever invited to the draft who played eight-man football in high school. He’s from Salmon River High School in Riggins, Idaho. A true rising star.”
• The Super Bowl champions’ plans: “I don’t know what [the Eagles] are going to do, but I have been amazed at their presence everywhere at these pro days. I told [general manager] Howie Roseman, ‘You must have an unlimited scouting budget—and I think you’ve exceeded it.’ They’ve had coaches and scouts everywhere. They don’t act like they just won the Super Bowl. They act like they’re dying just to make the playoffs.”
• Happiest draft invitee: “We’ve got 22 guys coming in, and maybe the happiest is a guy who won’t be picked in the first round: Shaquem Griffin [the UCF linebacker who lost his left hand because of a birth defect at age 4]. When I called his mother to invite them, she started crying because of how much this means to the family.”
------------------------------------
SPORTS QUIZ
On Saturday, the fledgling league The Alliance of American Football announced the first of eight franchise cities, Orlando. The league said 72-year-old Steve Spurrier would coach the team.
This will be the first pro football coaching job by Spurrier since 2003. Spurrier’s embarrassing 12-20 two-year run in Washington ended on Dec. 27, 2003, with a 31-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Here’s the quiz:
Who was Spurrier’s starting quarterback in the last game he coached in the NFL?
Here’s the bonus quiz:
Who was the replay official in the press box for the last game Spurrier coached in the NFL?
Answers in number 8 of Things I Think.
----------------------------------------------
“The defensive coordinator has more swag than all of ’em, so we’ll be in good shape.”
—Rams coach Sean McVay, on the big stars the Rams have added to the defense (Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Ndamukong Suh), and how he thinks 71-year-old Wade Phillips will coach them up.
------------------------------------------------
STATS OF THE WEEK
I
The Denver Broncos lucked into a top-five punter for very good value last week, signing Jon Gruden-reject Marquette King for three years and $7 million, making him approximately the 12th-highest-paid punter (in average cap value) in the NFL. Not bad for King, who finished second in the league in punting average in 2016 and third in 2017, and who is 29 years old.
When the Broncos signed King on Thursday, he was positively giddy about getting to punt in altitude for half his games over the next three years. “Denver’s a punter’s paradise,” King said. “The ball definitely travels a lot further. I’ve always enjoyed punting out here in the altitude just because the ball travels further.”
The evidence in his five seasons is significant, if limited. King’s numbers in Colorado versus all other places:
The Broncos are going to have to work with King specifically on placement on inside-the-20 kicks—kicking as he did for Oakland could result in too many into the end zone.
II
Rams receiver Brandin Cooks, 24, is a mere 16 months older than the top receiver prospect in the draft, Alabama’s Calvin Ridley, 23. Ridley will turn 24 in his rookie season. Cooks leads Ridley in NFL games played, 61-0.
-------------------------------------
POD PEOPLE
This week’s conversation: Rams GM Les Snead.
Snead on his willingness to trade more than his predecessors, and on the willingness of a cadre of young GMs to do the same: “You know, that’s an interesting question, and to start with, I don't think you can ever be reckless because—let's go way back to 2012. You know we traded the No. 2 pick overall to the Redskins that ended up being known as the RG3 [Robert Griffin III] deal, but the whole purpose of that was to acquire as many draft picks as possible.
We got to build a young core because at that point it’s nearly, let’s call it 26 players of the 53 who finished on that 2011 Rams team never played in the NFL again, so you knew we had we had to replenish this with a good core, and over the years you draft it, but last year we tipped into let's call it being a ‘legit contender.’ So at that point, you’re well aware, wait a minute, we want to sustain this, we want to keep contending.
And, I’ll always say this, I got a simple rule: You can't be scared in this league. Look at Doug Pederson this year and, it wasn't reckless but it took courage and guess what? They won a Super Bowl on some of those fourth-down plays. So you try to do that as a general manager, but I also think, and this is long-winded answer, some of the analytics that you have now to really look at what historically draft picks bring you in reality over time …”
Me: “You’ve basically looked at draft choices as tools in the toolbox. That's how I kind of look at your thing: You’re not wedded to your draft picks.”
Snead: “Right. You should be my interpreter.”
---------------------------------------
Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/sonofbum/status/982314890038620161?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fnfl%2F2018%2F04%2F09%2Fnfl-draft-prospects-gil-brandt-dallas-mmqb-peter-king
------------------------------------------
THINGS I THINK I THINK
1. I think Baltimore signing Robert Griffin III doesn’t mean anything about the Ravens’ draft-weekend intentions. If there’s a quarterback there at 16 (Lamar Jackson?) whom the Ravens love, they’ll take him. As they should. Since Joe Flacco won the Super Bowl with Baltimore, there have been five seasons played in the NFL. In those five seasons combined, 31 quarterbacks have started at least 40 games. Flacco is 30th in passer rating in those five seasons, at 82.1.
2. I think if, in “Paterno,” HBO intended to show Joe Paterno as an altogether doddering old man who had no business coaching Penn State in his last few years, HBO succeeded. I have no dog in this fight, and there is no question whatsoever that Paterno was allowed to coach that team far too long. But was it really that bad? Was he really that bad? Check out Conor Orr’s commentary on “Paterno.”
3. I think one of the best free-agent signings of the second wave of the free market is New England procuring wide receiver Jordan Matthews after his lost and injured season with Buffalo in 2017. New England signed him for one year and about $4 million.
Mike Reiss reported in his Sunday column that Matthews wanted to play with Tom Brady and, presumably, could have signed for more years and money elsewhere. Love this for the Patriots because Matthews will play this year at 26, is now healthy, and in his three NFL seasons before 2017 with Philadelphia, averaged 75 catches and 891 yards. He’s the kind of big target (6'3") the Patriots and Brady needed.
4. I think I don't understand why uniform numbers can’t be simple. Just like I never understood why the Bucs made the numbers on their new uniforms unintelligible, I don’t get Tennessee’s new digits either. Why can’t a 2 look like a 2, and not a Z? Why make numbers make you do a triple-take?
5. I think, while I’m on my 60-year-old-man riff, what’s up with “uniform launch parties” or “uniform unveilings?” I see the Jaguars are having one April 19, on the heels of the Titans drawing 20,000 for theirs last week. I don’t get the unveiling of uniforms being a news event.
How did we get to this point? You know, it’s okay to not have everything be a big event. It’s okay for teams to say, “We’ve got nothing going on this week. Go cover something else.” And it’s okay for media to say, “We’ll run a photo of your next uniform on our site. That’s enough.” And be done with it.
6. I think now I’ll stop screaming for you to get off my lawn.
7. I think this Johnny Manziel admission to Dan Patrick just really rubbed me the wrong way: “Guys are good in the NFL because they know film, they study hard, and they work even harder in the offseason. I didn’t know that. I feel like if Cleveland did any of their homework, they would have know that I’m a guy that didn’t come in every day and watch film …
When I get to Cleveland, I have a quarterback in the room [Brian Hoyer] that’s not helping me. And it’s not really his job to, but nobody was there, helping me. And it was hard. I struggled … There was a lot of winging it, and not a lot of, you know, knowing what I was doing.”
One: It’s not the starting quarterback’s job to help the backup take the job from him. It would be nice if the starter did that, but in my experience, many more starting quarterbacks over time have been okay but not super-helpful to the first-round pick who’s there to put the starter out of business. Two: “Nobody was there, helping me.”
What? Dowell Loggains, quarterback coach, and Kyle Shanahan, offense coordinator … They didn’t help? They weren’t there to help? Their office doors were closed? That is, to be charitable, a disingenuous claim by Manziel. To be uncharitable, it is downright lame.
8. I think the answers to the Steve Spurrier quizzes surprised me.
The starting quarterback for Washington in the 2003 season finale—and one of six quarterbacks to throw passes for Spurrier in his two NFL seasons—was Tim Hasselbeck.
The replay official in FedEx Field for Spurrier’s last game? Dean Blandino.
9. I think I can’t say this enough: If San Francisco safety Eric Reid does not get signed, it sends a chilling message about free speech to every NFL player who would think about protesting anything. Colin Kaepernick being unsigned is reprehensible enough.
But if Reid, Kaepernick’s protest partner with the Niners in 2016, is not signed to a representative safety contract this spring, every player will know the league’s mantra: Get in line, or this will happen to you when your contract expires—no matter how good you are.
2018 Rams Are Similar To The 1994 49ers - NN
- By Farr Be It
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 17 Replies
2018 Rams are similar to the 1994 49ers
All those additions for the Rams have similar approximate values to the additions the 49ers made for the 1994 season.
By Patrick Holloway@PatOHolloway Apr 8, 2018, 9:01am PDT Share Tweet Share
Bring up all the Los Angeles Rams acquisitions in the recent weeks and the first thing that comes to mind is the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles. The dubbed “dream team” was just a fleeting dream that crashed and burned when the regular season started. Football Perspective’s Chase Stuart made a different comparison: the 1994 San Francisco 49ers.
Stuart used the approximate value statistic when ranking the players and compared both the 2011 Eagles and the 1994 49ers. There isn’t much of a comparison when comparing AV. Against the Eagles, the 49ers win out. Here’s what Stuart said about the 49ers in comparison to the Rams acquisitions:
So, will the Rams really be as good in real life as they appear on paper? Los Angeles is adding four new players who had AVs of at least 12 points either last year or the year before. It’s been 23 years since a team did that, and that team was… the 1994 San Francisco 49ers. That offseason, they added CB Deion Sanders (AV of 12 in 1993), DE Richard Dent (AV of 12 in 1993), LB Ken Norton (AV of 15 in ’93), and LB Rickey Jackson (AV of 13 in ’93). The 49ers also added C Bart Oates (AV of 10 in ’93). The 49ers already had an incredible offense, and with a better defense — and a better performance against Dallas in the NFCCG — San Francisco finally won another Super Bowl.
Most of the load ups in history were from adding players with AVs of 10 or less.
On paper, when considering AV, the Rams are not the same as the 2011 Eagles, they are better. When you look at the additions of the Rams vs the ‘94 Niners, a Super Bowl may be in their future.
Unless the 49ers put a stop to all of this.
______________________________________________________________
Yeah, the Niners can stop us....
But hats off to Holloway for a surprisingly sober report, from an otherwise glue-sniffing Site. And then you get the comments...stay tuned.
All those additions for the Rams have similar approximate values to the additions the 49ers made for the 1994 season.
By Patrick Holloway@PatOHolloway Apr 8, 2018, 9:01am PDT Share Tweet Share
Bring up all the Los Angeles Rams acquisitions in the recent weeks and the first thing that comes to mind is the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles. The dubbed “dream team” was just a fleeting dream that crashed and burned when the regular season started. Football Perspective’s Chase Stuart made a different comparison: the 1994 San Francisco 49ers.
Stuart used the approximate value statistic when ranking the players and compared both the 2011 Eagles and the 1994 49ers. There isn’t much of a comparison when comparing AV. Against the Eagles, the 49ers win out. Here’s what Stuart said about the 49ers in comparison to the Rams acquisitions:
So, will the Rams really be as good in real life as they appear on paper? Los Angeles is adding four new players who had AVs of at least 12 points either last year or the year before. It’s been 23 years since a team did that, and that team was… the 1994 San Francisco 49ers. That offseason, they added CB Deion Sanders (AV of 12 in 1993), DE Richard Dent (AV of 12 in 1993), LB Ken Norton (AV of 15 in ’93), and LB Rickey Jackson (AV of 13 in ’93). The 49ers also added C Bart Oates (AV of 10 in ’93). The 49ers already had an incredible offense, and with a better defense — and a better performance against Dallas in the NFCCG — San Francisco finally won another Super Bowl.
Most of the load ups in history were from adding players with AVs of 10 or less.
On paper, when considering AV, the Rams are not the same as the 2011 Eagles, they are better. When you look at the additions of the Rams vs the ‘94 Niners, a Super Bowl may be in their future.
Unless the 49ers put a stop to all of this.
______________________________________________________________
Yeah, the Niners can stop us....
But hats off to Holloway for a surprisingly sober report, from an otherwise glue-sniffing Site. And then you get the comments...stay tuned.
Jake Ellenbogen's 2018 Rams Mock Draft 4.0
- By JKBOGEN
- NFL DRAFT / COLLEGE FOOTBALL
- 10 Replies
Jake Ellenbogen's 2018 Rams Mock Draft 4.0
April 8, 2018
| By:
Jake Ellenbogen
I'm back with another mock draft for the Los Angeles Rams. Since my last mock draft, players have risen or dropped considerably down the board and of course, the Rams have since traded away their first-round pick. So now, here is my fourth Rams mock draft.
3rd round - 87th overall: Uchenna Nwosu, EDGE, USC (6-3, 251 pounds)
The captain for the USC Trojans was a menace for passers alike in the Pac-12 conference. From Josh Rosen and Luke Falk to Justin Herbert, Nwosu did not back down. His impressive display of relentless pursuit, athleticism and almost 35-inch arms makes him quite the big deal. Now, with the Rams not having a first-round pick due to the recent acquisition of Brandin Cooks, they will likely need to hit it out of the park with talent in this draft. I believe Nwosu will be a steal in the third but I do believe he will be there at this pick for the Los Angeles Rams.
The team has Nickell Robey-Coleman, Robert Woods and Justin Davis who all played at USC and Nwosu would join them if this pick indeed happened. Nwosu still has an enormous amount of upside after starting the sport at the end of his high school career. I believe that Nwosu and Samson Ebukam would be a nightmare for teams that already will have to figure out how to block a trio of Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers but also be able to throw on Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, Robey- Coleman, Sam Shields, LaMarcus Joyner and John Johnson III.
This pick would clearly fill a need at the outside linebacker spot that is pretty big right now. It's uncertain how big of a role last year's day three selection EJuan Price would play on this team but it's worth noting that they cut him during the season and placed him on the practice squad. Nwosu would upgrade a defense that is almost complete and would provide everything that this organization needs as far as character and play on the field.
4th round - 111th overall (via Miami): Kalen Ballage, RB, Arizona State (6-1, 228 pounds)
The Rams let go of Lance Dunbar and while they have Malcolm Brown and Justin Davis on the roster, neither possess the upside and the total package that Arizona State RB Kalen Ballage brings to the table. Ballage is a freakish athlete that I have been mocking to the Rams since the first mock of this draft. He is likely the best receiving back in this draft and he showed it big time in front of a lively audience (including myself) at the Senior Bowl. Sean McVay may have not attended but I do know Les Snead was there and for someone that drafted his first four players all from the Senior Bowl last year, there is a good chance he is going to show some bias towards Senior Bowl attendee's.
Ballage had a game in college in which he had eight touchdowns, but make no mistake his team did not know how to use him properly and so he's about to become a better pro than he was a college player. Ballage has a monster look to himself as he stands 6-foot-1 and weighs over 220 pounds. He may not be your stereotypical scat back but if you pass on Ballage because he doesn't look like a Chris Thompson-like back, then you will be passing on an extremely talented player for a lesser talented player just to say he looks the part.
4th round - 135th overall (via NY Giants): Shaquem Griffin, EDGE/LB/S, UCF (6-1, 227 pounds)
Another player that I've been mocking since the end of last year's draft in my "Way too early mock draft" Shaquem Griffin. High motor, high character, big-time work ethic, elite level play speed, adequate play strength and high football IQ? Yes, please. Griffin is the twin of Seattle Seahawks CB Shaquill Griffin, who would easily be a first rounder if not for his amputated arm from his age of four years old. Still, Shaquem has shown that having one hand gives you no excuse to go out on that football play and do what you believe you can do.
Besides the obvious combine performance when Shaquem ran a 4.38 forty-yard dash, the Senior Bowl performance in which he showed the versatility to play inside, outside linebacker and even as a defensive back. Griffin also showed off the ability to bench press 20 repetitions with just a hand and a prosthetic hand.
Wade Phillips likes having players that are versatile and the Rams if they acquired the services of Shaquem Griffin in this upcoming draft would not only have tons of new fans but they would have a swiss army knife in Griffin who could play all over the defense and add another dimension to an already terrifying defense. Would Shaquem be a feel-good story? Sure, but there is more than meets the eye when you talk about the explosive and hardworking Shaquem Griffin.
4th round - 136th overall (via New England): Shaun Dion Hamilton, ILB, Alabama (6-0, 228 pounds)
Shaun Dion Hamilton has all the talent, athleticism and potential in the world. The only issue I've seen with him has been the injuries. If Hamilton can stay healthy, he will have a chance to steal away one of the starting ILB spots. This is a player that played around an elite college defense, so if he had to come into what the Rams have now in Los Angeles he would be able to transition pretty easily. As of right now, the Rams project Mark Barron and Cory Littleton to start on the inside but make no mistake a pick of Hamilton could mean he pushes one of them out of their starting slot.
Hamilton is one of the best coverage linebackers in this draft and because of that, he will be even more valuable for Wade Phillips defense. Really, Hamilton has tons of strengths as far as his football IQ, experience with calling the best defense in the game, anticipation and instincts that cannot be coached. If the only issue with Hamilton is the injury, well then going to the team that just had the fewest amount of injuries in the season might be the right option.
6th round - 176th overall (via NY Giants): Tony Adams, G/C, NC State (6-2, 322 pounds)
Alas, here is the first player and the only one of this entire mock that the Rams have actually met with. Tony Adams was a three-year starter and showed the versatility to play guard and center on the Wolfpack offensive line. Adams was a team captain and showed consistency over the course of his college career, refusing to miss games and also refusing to give up sacks on the QB. He's quick and disciplined, as it's worth noting that Adams only was penalized twice in his college career.
The Rams clearly need to think about their offensive line and with a bunch of sixth-round picks, that's exactly what I have and expect they will do during the draft. The team will look to draft diamonds in the rough that they feel embody the culture and work ethic that it takes to play for this organization and they will develop these guys. In my personal opinion, Adams is a lot better than a sixth-round pick and I see him becoming an above-average starter some day but the issue is his length, his height and basically what he cannot control. I'll take a talented three-year starting captain that has the versatility to play center or any guard spot at a consistent and disciplined level in a heartbeat. I'm sure that's the Rams thinking as well.
6th round - 183rd overall (via Miami): Timon Parris, OT/G, Stony Brook (6-6, 312 pounds)
We just talked about an undersized guard and now here is a mammoth tackle. Timon Parris has been making scouts shiver over his amazing footwork and frame. A four-year starter at Stony Brook and someone that has an NFL left tackle build in a draft that is extremely weak at the position overall, there is a chance he's gone way before the sixth round. With Parris, this is, by all means, a developmental tackle, he has a lot to like but he still shows hesitation in his usage of his hands and he allows his man to get the first punch which hurts his overall leverage in one-on-ones.
Parris makes tons of sense for the Rams seeing as Andrew Whitworth is on his last legs and will need to be replaced as soon as possible. Parris is a developmental guy but he started all four years in college, showed the coach-ability and isn't a projection. You watched Parris play LT in college and you know he can play it in the NFL if all works out. It's going to take some fine tuning but Parris could be a legitimate top 20 LT in the NFL if developed the right way. Rams OL coach Aaron Kromer would be chomping at the bit to make this happen.
6th round - 194th overall (via Detroit): Matthew Gono, OT/G, Wesley College (6-4, 316 pounds)
Matthew Gono is one of those diamond in the rough type of offensive lineman you simply have to take a flyer on any time you have four sixth-round picks and not a lot of needs. Gono is an extremely athletic offensive lineman that played LT in college. Coming out of Wesley, this player simply has not been tested physically like he will be in the NFL but you see some things you have to like about Gono. His quickness and the way he's able to explode in short area situations while being able to also get up the field and into the second-level is something to watch. Gono is someone that shows the ability to be a monster of a pulling guard.
Gono has a mean streak and his play is very technically sound. He may not have enormous upside but you could see Gono if developed correctly becoming a starting guard in the NFL.
6th round - 195th overall (via Bills): Aaron Stinnie, OT/G, James Madison (6-5, 309 pounds)
Another sleeper in this draft and quite frankly a project and even a wild-card is Aaron Stinnie. The former defensive tackle really showed out in the FCS as a left tackle. Stinnie has been moving up draft boards a bit and could see himself getting as high as the sixth round. I like the pick here, someone that has athleticism and things to work with. As previously mentioned, the Rams have an offensive line that is aging and will need to develop future players quickly. The sixth-round of this draft could be boring for a lot of Rams fans but if you draft four offensive linemen and you have the caliber of coaching that the Rams do in Aaron Kromer, then there is a good chance at least one of them will be an above-average starter and another will be an average starter. When you dip into the sixth-round those are the risks for waiting on a certain position.
I do believe the Rams will avoid taking a center since they really like Austin Blythe. Stinnie has the upside, the strength, the quickness and the overall consistency to warrant the pick here. He was an All-American in college and with next-level NFL coaching, he could develop into an above-average starter.
Potential UDFA's (16):
RB Quinton Flowers, South Florida
WR Devonte Boyd, UNLV
WR DJ Myers, Midwestern State
TE Ben Johnson, Kansas
OT Nick Gates, Nebraska
G Salesi Uhatafe, Utah
DT Bilal Nichols, Delaware
EDGE Davin Bellamy, Georgia
EDGE Dewey Jarvis, Brown
ILB Matt Boesen, TCU
ILB C.J. Johnson, East Texas Baptist
ILB Nyles Morgan, Notre Dame
CB Jalen Davis, Utah State
CB Mike Ford, SE Missouri State
S Jamar Summers, UConn
S Damon Webb, Ohio State
UPDATED RAMS DEPTH CHART:
- BOLD (drafted player)
- Italics (UDFA signed player)
QB: Jared Goff/Sean Mannion/Brandon Allen
RB: Todd Gurley/Kalen Ballage/Malcolm Brown/Justin Davis/Lenard Tillery/Quinton Flowers
FB: Sam Rogers
XWR: Brandin Cooks/Josh Reynolds/Mike Thomas
ZWR: Robert Woods/Fred Brown/Devonte Boyd
SWR: Cooper Kupp/Pharoh Cooper/Tavon Austin/DJ Myers
TE: Tyler Higbee/Gerald Everett/Temarrick Hemingway/Johnny Mundt/Henry Krieger-Coble/Ben Johnson
LT: Andrew Whitworth/Timon Parris/Aaron Stinnie
LG: Rodger Saffold/Tony Adams/Salesi Uhatafe
C: John Sullivan/Austin Blythe/Aaron Neary
RG: Jamon Brown/Jake Eldrenkamp/Matthew Gono
RT: Rob Havenstein/Darrell Williams/Michael Dunn/Nick Gates
LE: Michael Brockers/Ethan Westbrooks/Morgan Fox
NT: Ndamukong Suh/Omarius Bryant/Bilal Nichols
RE: Aaron Donald/Dominique Easley/Tanzel Smart
OLB: Uchenna Nwosu/Matt Longacre/Carlos Thompson/Dewey Jarvis
ILB: Cory Littleton/Bryce Hager/Shaun Dion Hamilton/Nyles Morgan/Matt Boesen
ILB: Mark Barron/Ramik Wilson/Shaquem Griffin/C.J. Johnson
OLB: Samson Ebukam/Garrett Sickels/Ejuan Price/Davin Bellamy
CB: Marcus Peters/Sam Shields/Dominique Hatfield/Taurean Nixon/Jalen Davis
CB: Aqib Talib/Troy Hill/Kevin Peterson/Marcus Sayles/Mike Ford
NB: Nickell Robey-Coleman/Blake Countess
FS: LaMarcus Joyner/Marqui Christian/Damon Webb
SS: John Johnson III/Isaiah Johnson/Jamar Summers
K: Greg Zuerlein/Sam Ficken
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
April 8, 2018
| By:
Jake Ellenbogen
I'm back with another mock draft for the Los Angeles Rams. Since my last mock draft, players have risen or dropped considerably down the board and of course, the Rams have since traded away their first-round pick. So now, here is my fourth Rams mock draft.
3rd round - 87th overall: Uchenna Nwosu, EDGE, USC (6-3, 251 pounds)
The captain for the USC Trojans was a menace for passers alike in the Pac-12 conference. From Josh Rosen and Luke Falk to Justin Herbert, Nwosu did not back down. His impressive display of relentless pursuit, athleticism and almost 35-inch arms makes him quite the big deal. Now, with the Rams not having a first-round pick due to the recent acquisition of Brandin Cooks, they will likely need to hit it out of the park with talent in this draft. I believe Nwosu will be a steal in the third but I do believe he will be there at this pick for the Los Angeles Rams.
The team has Nickell Robey-Coleman, Robert Woods and Justin Davis who all played at USC and Nwosu would join them if this pick indeed happened. Nwosu still has an enormous amount of upside after starting the sport at the end of his high school career. I believe that Nwosu and Samson Ebukam would be a nightmare for teams that already will have to figure out how to block a trio of Aaron Donald, Ndamukong Suh and Michael Brockers but also be able to throw on Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, Robey- Coleman, Sam Shields, LaMarcus Joyner and John Johnson III.
This pick would clearly fill a need at the outside linebacker spot that is pretty big right now. It's uncertain how big of a role last year's day three selection EJuan Price would play on this team but it's worth noting that they cut him during the season and placed him on the practice squad. Nwosu would upgrade a defense that is almost complete and would provide everything that this organization needs as far as character and play on the field.
4th round - 111th overall (via Miami): Kalen Ballage, RB, Arizona State (6-1, 228 pounds)
The Rams let go of Lance Dunbar and while they have Malcolm Brown and Justin Davis on the roster, neither possess the upside and the total package that Arizona State RB Kalen Ballage brings to the table. Ballage is a freakish athlete that I have been mocking to the Rams since the first mock of this draft. He is likely the best receiving back in this draft and he showed it big time in front of a lively audience (including myself) at the Senior Bowl. Sean McVay may have not attended but I do know Les Snead was there and for someone that drafted his first four players all from the Senior Bowl last year, there is a good chance he is going to show some bias towards Senior Bowl attendee's.
Ballage had a game in college in which he had eight touchdowns, but make no mistake his team did not know how to use him properly and so he's about to become a better pro than he was a college player. Ballage has a monster look to himself as he stands 6-foot-1 and weighs over 220 pounds. He may not be your stereotypical scat back but if you pass on Ballage because he doesn't look like a Chris Thompson-like back, then you will be passing on an extremely talented player for a lesser talented player just to say he looks the part.
4th round - 135th overall (via NY Giants): Shaquem Griffin, EDGE/LB/S, UCF (6-1, 227 pounds)
Another player that I've been mocking since the end of last year's draft in my "Way too early mock draft" Shaquem Griffin. High motor, high character, big-time work ethic, elite level play speed, adequate play strength and high football IQ? Yes, please. Griffin is the twin of Seattle Seahawks CB Shaquill Griffin, who would easily be a first rounder if not for his amputated arm from his age of four years old. Still, Shaquem has shown that having one hand gives you no excuse to go out on that football play and do what you believe you can do.
Besides the obvious combine performance when Shaquem ran a 4.38 forty-yard dash, the Senior Bowl performance in which he showed the versatility to play inside, outside linebacker and even as a defensive back. Griffin also showed off the ability to bench press 20 repetitions with just a hand and a prosthetic hand.
Wade Phillips likes having players that are versatile and the Rams if they acquired the services of Shaquem Griffin in this upcoming draft would not only have tons of new fans but they would have a swiss army knife in Griffin who could play all over the defense and add another dimension to an already terrifying defense. Would Shaquem be a feel-good story? Sure, but there is more than meets the eye when you talk about the explosive and hardworking Shaquem Griffin.
4th round - 136th overall (via New England): Shaun Dion Hamilton, ILB, Alabama (6-0, 228 pounds)
Shaun Dion Hamilton has all the talent, athleticism and potential in the world. The only issue I've seen with him has been the injuries. If Hamilton can stay healthy, he will have a chance to steal away one of the starting ILB spots. This is a player that played around an elite college defense, so if he had to come into what the Rams have now in Los Angeles he would be able to transition pretty easily. As of right now, the Rams project Mark Barron and Cory Littleton to start on the inside but make no mistake a pick of Hamilton could mean he pushes one of them out of their starting slot.
Hamilton is one of the best coverage linebackers in this draft and because of that, he will be even more valuable for Wade Phillips defense. Really, Hamilton has tons of strengths as far as his football IQ, experience with calling the best defense in the game, anticipation and instincts that cannot be coached. If the only issue with Hamilton is the injury, well then going to the team that just had the fewest amount of injuries in the season might be the right option.
6th round - 176th overall (via NY Giants): Tony Adams, G/C, NC State (6-2, 322 pounds)
Alas, here is the first player and the only one of this entire mock that the Rams have actually met with. Tony Adams was a three-year starter and showed the versatility to play guard and center on the Wolfpack offensive line. Adams was a team captain and showed consistency over the course of his college career, refusing to miss games and also refusing to give up sacks on the QB. He's quick and disciplined, as it's worth noting that Adams only was penalized twice in his college career.
The Rams clearly need to think about their offensive line and with a bunch of sixth-round picks, that's exactly what I have and expect they will do during the draft. The team will look to draft diamonds in the rough that they feel embody the culture and work ethic that it takes to play for this organization and they will develop these guys. In my personal opinion, Adams is a lot better than a sixth-round pick and I see him becoming an above-average starter some day but the issue is his length, his height and basically what he cannot control. I'll take a talented three-year starting captain that has the versatility to play center or any guard spot at a consistent and disciplined level in a heartbeat. I'm sure that's the Rams thinking as well.
6th round - 183rd overall (via Miami): Timon Parris, OT/G, Stony Brook (6-6, 312 pounds)
We just talked about an undersized guard and now here is a mammoth tackle. Timon Parris has been making scouts shiver over his amazing footwork and frame. A four-year starter at Stony Brook and someone that has an NFL left tackle build in a draft that is extremely weak at the position overall, there is a chance he's gone way before the sixth round. With Parris, this is, by all means, a developmental tackle, he has a lot to like but he still shows hesitation in his usage of his hands and he allows his man to get the first punch which hurts his overall leverage in one-on-ones.
Parris makes tons of sense for the Rams seeing as Andrew Whitworth is on his last legs and will need to be replaced as soon as possible. Parris is a developmental guy but he started all four years in college, showed the coach-ability and isn't a projection. You watched Parris play LT in college and you know he can play it in the NFL if all works out. It's going to take some fine tuning but Parris could be a legitimate top 20 LT in the NFL if developed the right way. Rams OL coach Aaron Kromer would be chomping at the bit to make this happen.
6th round - 194th overall (via Detroit): Matthew Gono, OT/G, Wesley College (6-4, 316 pounds)
Matthew Gono is one of those diamond in the rough type of offensive lineman you simply have to take a flyer on any time you have four sixth-round picks and not a lot of needs. Gono is an extremely athletic offensive lineman that played LT in college. Coming out of Wesley, this player simply has not been tested physically like he will be in the NFL but you see some things you have to like about Gono. His quickness and the way he's able to explode in short area situations while being able to also get up the field and into the second-level is something to watch. Gono is someone that shows the ability to be a monster of a pulling guard.
Gono has a mean streak and his play is very technically sound. He may not have enormous upside but you could see Gono if developed correctly becoming a starting guard in the NFL.
6th round - 195th overall (via Bills): Aaron Stinnie, OT/G, James Madison (6-5, 309 pounds)
Another sleeper in this draft and quite frankly a project and even a wild-card is Aaron Stinnie. The former defensive tackle really showed out in the FCS as a left tackle. Stinnie has been moving up draft boards a bit and could see himself getting as high as the sixth round. I like the pick here, someone that has athleticism and things to work with. As previously mentioned, the Rams have an offensive line that is aging and will need to develop future players quickly. The sixth-round of this draft could be boring for a lot of Rams fans but if you draft four offensive linemen and you have the caliber of coaching that the Rams do in Aaron Kromer, then there is a good chance at least one of them will be an above-average starter and another will be an average starter. When you dip into the sixth-round those are the risks for waiting on a certain position.
I do believe the Rams will avoid taking a center since they really like Austin Blythe. Stinnie has the upside, the strength, the quickness and the overall consistency to warrant the pick here. He was an All-American in college and with next-level NFL coaching, he could develop into an above-average starter.
Potential UDFA's (16):
RB Quinton Flowers, South Florida
WR Devonte Boyd, UNLV
WR DJ Myers, Midwestern State
TE Ben Johnson, Kansas
OT Nick Gates, Nebraska
G Salesi Uhatafe, Utah
DT Bilal Nichols, Delaware
EDGE Davin Bellamy, Georgia
EDGE Dewey Jarvis, Brown
ILB Matt Boesen, TCU
ILB C.J. Johnson, East Texas Baptist
ILB Nyles Morgan, Notre Dame
CB Jalen Davis, Utah State
CB Mike Ford, SE Missouri State
S Jamar Summers, UConn
S Damon Webb, Ohio State
UPDATED RAMS DEPTH CHART:
- BOLD (drafted player)
- Italics (UDFA signed player)
QB: Jared Goff/Sean Mannion/Brandon Allen
RB: Todd Gurley/Kalen Ballage/Malcolm Brown/Justin Davis/Lenard Tillery/Quinton Flowers
FB: Sam Rogers
XWR: Brandin Cooks/Josh Reynolds/Mike Thomas
ZWR: Robert Woods/Fred Brown/Devonte Boyd
SWR: Cooper Kupp/Pharoh Cooper/Tavon Austin/DJ Myers
TE: Tyler Higbee/Gerald Everett/Temarrick Hemingway/Johnny Mundt/Henry Krieger-Coble/Ben Johnson
LT: Andrew Whitworth/Timon Parris/Aaron Stinnie
LG: Rodger Saffold/Tony Adams/Salesi Uhatafe
C: John Sullivan/Austin Blythe/Aaron Neary
RG: Jamon Brown/Jake Eldrenkamp/Matthew Gono
RT: Rob Havenstein/Darrell Williams/Michael Dunn/Nick Gates
LE: Michael Brockers/Ethan Westbrooks/Morgan Fox
NT: Ndamukong Suh/Omarius Bryant/Bilal Nichols
RE: Aaron Donald/Dominique Easley/Tanzel Smart
OLB: Uchenna Nwosu/Matt Longacre/Carlos Thompson/Dewey Jarvis
ILB: Cory Littleton/Bryce Hager/Shaun Dion Hamilton/Nyles Morgan/Matt Boesen
ILB: Mark Barron/Ramik Wilson/Shaquem Griffin/C.J. Johnson
OLB: Samson Ebukam/Garrett Sickels/Ejuan Price/Davin Bellamy
CB: Marcus Peters/Sam Shields/Dominique Hatfield/Taurean Nixon/Jalen Davis
CB: Aqib Talib/Troy Hill/Kevin Peterson/Marcus Sayles/Mike Ford
NB: Nickell Robey-Coleman/Blake Countess
FS: LaMarcus Joyner/Marqui Christian/Damon Webb
SS: John Johnson III/Isaiah Johnson/Jamar Summers
K: Greg Zuerlein/Sam Ficken
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
Targeted marketing gone awry
I sometimes buy clothing for the girlie girl from a couple of online retailers than have good values.
Nothing fancy, jeans, tops just stuff I think she would look good in..........
Well, of course they follow you with ads now and again which is no big deal to me. I can ignore it and I only go when I want to get her something. I got her some sexy lingerie a couple of weeks ago..........and that may have been a mistake.
The other day (I've been meaning to post this) an ad with several items is on the right side of a site and included this pic.
I thought I'd investigate because the pic is hilarious and that WAS a mistake. Now I am getting images that are even crazier.
I'd post a couple but I'm afraid they would be deleted, not that they are x rated but they are fairly racy.
Anyway I will leave it to you guys to decide what these undies actually DO.
Nothing fancy, jeans, tops just stuff I think she would look good in..........
Well, of course they follow you with ads now and again which is no big deal to me. I can ignore it and I only go when I want to get her something. I got her some sexy lingerie a couple of weeks ago..........and that may have been a mistake.
The other day (I've been meaning to post this) an ad with several items is on the right side of a site and included this pic.
I thought I'd investigate because the pic is hilarious and that WAS a mistake. Now I am getting images that are even crazier.
I'd post a couple but I'm afraid they would be deleted, not that they are x rated but they are fairly racy.
Anyway I will leave it to you guys to decide what these undies actually DO.
Walt's Los Angeles Rams Mock Selections
- NFL DRAFT / COLLEGE FOOTBALL
- 16 Replies
I know some of you are not fans of this site, but quite frankly, besides drafting a WR with the last selection, I think I could live with this draft and would be stoked if Crosby lasted until the 3rd round.
Walt's Los Angeles Rams Mock Selections
Read more: http://walterfootball.com/mocks/nfl/2018/los-angeles-rams#ixzz5BziYzBFT
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/mocks/nfl/2018/los-angeles-rams#KFXEIPH2sfhPLTC7.99
Walt's Los Angeles Rams Mock Selections
- Rd. 3, Pk. 23 Tyrell Crosby, OT, Oregon
i
Andrew Whitworth won't be around for much longer, so the Rams will need to groom someone to replace him.
Pick change; previously Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, DE/OLB
- Rd. 4, Pk. 11 Kemoko Turay, DE/3-4OLB, Rutgers
With Robert Quinn gone, I think the Rams could select as many as three edge rushers in the first five rounds of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Pick change; previously Tyquan Lewis, DE
- Rd. 4, Pk. 35 Azeem Victor, ILB, Washington
The Rams traded Alec Ogletree away because he didn't fit the defense very well. They'll have to find some help at linebacker as a result.
- Rd. 4, Pk. 36 Hercules Mata'afa, DE, Washington State
As mentioned earlier, the Rams could stand to obtain lots of edge rushers, given their huge need.
Pick change; previously Fred Warner, LB
- Rd. 6, Pk. 9 Kyle Hicks, RB, TCU
i
The Rams want to use a mid-round pick on a running back so that Todd Gurley's workload isn't as heavy.
Pick change; previously Will Richardson, OT
- Rd. 6, Pk. 20 Timon Parris, OT, Stony Brook
The Rams could stand to get better play out of their right guard, so here's a potential upgrade down the road.
- Rd. 6, Pk. 21 Ade Aruna, DE/3-4OLB, Tulane
i
Here's yet another edge rusher for a team that is so desperate for them.
Pick change; previously Ralph Webb, RB
- Rd. 6, Pk. 24 Darren Carrington, WR, Utah
Another receiver should be considered, given Sammy Watkins' departure and Robert Woods' inconsistency throughout his career.
Read more: http://walterfootball.com/mocks/nfl/2018/los-angeles-rams#ixzz5BziYzBFT
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/mocks/nfl/2018/los-angeles-rams#KFXEIPH2sfhPLTC7.99
-
Poll
Top Ten Rams Draft Pairings (With Poll)
- By Farr Be It
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 37 Replies
Well, gentlemen. (And the not-so-gentle, and not so manly) Draft time approaches. As draft day 2018 beckons, ROD fans are weighing in as to how we should spend all those 4th and 6th rounders. 
Should McSnead go for an edge rusher? A middle backer? Offensive lineman? Best available athlete surprise? (TE, RB or, gasp...a CB?)
It is said, that if a team can pick up two good players in a draft, that draft can be considered a success. Sounds like a low bar to set. When each NFL team has, on average, five to ten picks a year, and teams of scouts looking at the hundreds of college candidates each year, it would seem that they could hit on many of those picks.
But the fact is, many drafted players never make the team. First rounders often bust. Seventh rounders and undrafted players often make teams and have successful and productive careers. Just a pair of good players. That is success. Two guys, that have a long, successful career.
So examining the Rams historical drafts, under this standard, which drafts are the top ten drafts of all time? Which Ram drafts have had the best two-man pairings, all time? My question is not which drafts have been the greatest, or deepest of all time. Then, perhaps, we would be talking about the 1975 draft, 1977, 1980 or 2012.
The question I undertake in this post is this: Which two-man groupings, drafted in the same year, are the greatest in Ram history? Below, working up to number one, I humbly submit my list:
(Edit: there are other very good picks in these years, I chose what I thought to be the best pairings. Deacon Jones, and a ham sandwich is a good pairing in itself. I found that there was another very productive player that year that qualified them for this list.)
10. 1977. Nolan Cromwell and Vince Ferragamo
9. 1972 Lawrence McCutcheon and Larry Brooks
8. 1985 Jerry Gray and Kevin Greene
7. 1976 Jackie Slater and Carl Ekern
6. 2014 Aaron Donald and LaMarcus Joyner
5. 1961 Joe Scibelli and Deacon Jones
4. 1970 Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds and Rich Saul
3. 1971 Isiah Robertson and Jack Youngblood
2. 1962 Roman Gabriel and Merlin Olsen
1. 1983 Eric Dickerson and Henry Ellard
Should McSnead go for an edge rusher? A middle backer? Offensive lineman? Best available athlete surprise? (TE, RB or, gasp...a CB?)
It is said, that if a team can pick up two good players in a draft, that draft can be considered a success. Sounds like a low bar to set. When each NFL team has, on average, five to ten picks a year, and teams of scouts looking at the hundreds of college candidates each year, it would seem that they could hit on many of those picks.
But the fact is, many drafted players never make the team. First rounders often bust. Seventh rounders and undrafted players often make teams and have successful and productive careers. Just a pair of good players. That is success. Two guys, that have a long, successful career.
So examining the Rams historical drafts, under this standard, which drafts are the top ten drafts of all time? Which Ram drafts have had the best two-man pairings, all time? My question is not which drafts have been the greatest, or deepest of all time. Then, perhaps, we would be talking about the 1975 draft, 1977, 1980 or 2012.
The question I undertake in this post is this: Which two-man groupings, drafted in the same year, are the greatest in Ram history? Below, working up to number one, I humbly submit my list:
(Edit: there are other very good picks in these years, I chose what I thought to be the best pairings. Deacon Jones, and a ham sandwich is a good pairing in itself. I found that there was another very productive player that year that qualified them for this list.)
10. 1977. Nolan Cromwell and Vince Ferragamo
9. 1972 Lawrence McCutcheon and Larry Brooks
8. 1985 Jerry Gray and Kevin Greene
7. 1976 Jackie Slater and Carl Ekern
6. 2014 Aaron Donald and LaMarcus Joyner
5. 1961 Joe Scibelli and Deacon Jones
4. 1970 Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds and Rich Saul
3. 1971 Isiah Robertson and Jack Youngblood
2. 1962 Roman Gabriel and Merlin Olsen
1. 1983 Eric Dickerson and Henry Ellard