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Alright ROD,Gut check Time.
- By Zero
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 53 Replies
Guys.I already have the damn butterflies.
Have not had this feeling this far away from game time all year.
Usually happens right before kickoff.
The last time I got the butterflies this early was probably the last time
we played a playoff game.
Man,It's good to have these feelings again!!!!
So, How ya'll Mofo's feeling?
Have not had this feeling this far away from game time all year.
Usually happens right before kickoff.
The last time I got the butterflies this early was probably the last time
we played a playoff game.
Man,It's good to have these feelings again!!!!
So, How ya'll Mofo's feeling?
Rams make PS moves
- By OldSchool
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 2 Replies
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View: http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Sign-Cameron-Lynch-Waive-Dominique-Hatfield/0dd70d3b-c220-4b9e-b24f-7172876ed949
Cameron Lynch off the PS and Hatfield waived. Unless there's another DB out there Wade likes I'd expect Hatfield to be back on the PS. Funny too the article talks about Lynch who's #57 but has a pick of #50 who is Ebukam.
With two of their starting linebackers listed as questionable, the Rams have made a move to bolster their depth.
Los Angeles signed linebacker Cameron Lynch
off its own practice squad on Saturday morning. Cornerback Dominique Hatfield has been waived as the club’s corresponding move.
The Rams signed Lynch to their practice squad earlier this week. Originally an undrafted linebacker out of Syracuse, Lynch signed with the Rams in the spring of 2015 and spent his rookie year with the club. Lynch appeared in all 16 games that year as a heavy contributor on special teams.
Lynch was waived when Los Angeles reduced its roster to 53 players at the start of the regular season last year. He went on to spend the 2016 season and much of the 2017 season with the Buccaneers.
Middle linebacker Alec Ogletree (elbow) and outside linebacker Connor Barwin(forearm) are both listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest against the Eagles. If they are unable to play, Bryce Hager and Samson Ebukam would start in their places, respectively. As such, Lynch could provide depth and take snaps on special teams to provide some relief for Hager and Ebukam.
Cameron Lynch off the PS and Hatfield waived. Unless there's another DB out there Wade likes I'd expect Hatfield to be back on the PS. Funny too the article talks about Lynch who's #57 but has a pick of #50 who is Ebukam.
With two of their starting linebackers listed as questionable, the Rams have made a move to bolster their depth.
Los Angeles signed linebacker Cameron Lynch
off its own practice squad on Saturday morning. Cornerback Dominique Hatfield has been waived as the club’s corresponding move. The Rams signed Lynch to their practice squad earlier this week. Originally an undrafted linebacker out of Syracuse, Lynch signed with the Rams in the spring of 2015 and spent his rookie year with the club. Lynch appeared in all 16 games that year as a heavy contributor on special teams.
Lynch was waived when Los Angeles reduced its roster to 53 players at the start of the regular season last year. He went on to spend the 2016 season and much of the 2017 season with the Buccaneers.
Middle linebacker Alec Ogletree
(elbow) and outside linebacker Connor Barwin(forearm) are both listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest against the Eagles. If they are unable to play, Bryce Hager and Samson Ebukam would start in their places, respectively. As such, Lynch could provide depth and take snaps on special teams to provide some relief for Hager and Ebukam.Rams Sign Cameron Lynch, Waive Dominique Hatfield
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 18 Replies
This could be a sign that Tree can't go.
With two of their starting linebackers listed as questionable, the Rams have made a move to bolster their depth.
Los Angeles signed linebacker Cameron Lynch off its own practice squad on Saturday morning. Cornerback Dominique Hatfield has been waived as the club’s corresponding move.
The Rams signed Lynch to their practice squad earlier this week. Originally an undrafted linebacker out of Syracuse, Lynch signed with the Rams in the spring of 2015 and spent his rookie year with the club. Lynch appeared in all 16 games that year as a heavy contributor on special teams.
Lynch was waived when Los Angeles reduced its roster to 53 players at the start of the regular season last year. He went on to spend the 2016 season and much of the 2017 season with the Buccaneers.
Middle linebacker Alec Ogletree (elbow) and outside linebacker Connor Barwin(forearm) are both listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest against the Eagles. If they are unable to play, Bryce Hager and Samson Ebukam would start in their places, respectively. As such, Lynch could provide depth and take snaps on special teams to provide some relief for Hager and Ebukam.
[www.therams.com]
With two of their starting linebackers listed as questionable, the Rams have made a move to bolster their depth.
Los Angeles signed linebacker Cameron Lynch
off its own practice squad on Saturday morning. Cornerback Dominique Hatfield has been waived as the club’s corresponding move.The Rams signed Lynch to their practice squad earlier this week. Originally an undrafted linebacker out of Syracuse, Lynch signed with the Rams in the spring of 2015 and spent his rookie year with the club. Lynch appeared in all 16 games that year as a heavy contributor on special teams.
Lynch was waived when Los Angeles reduced its roster to 53 players at the start of the regular season last year. He went on to spend the 2016 season and much of the 2017 season with the Buccaneers.
Middle linebacker Alec Ogletree
(elbow) and outside linebacker Connor Barwin(forearm) are both listed as questionable for Sunday’s contest against the Eagles. If they are unable to play, Bryce Hager and Samson Ebukam would start in their places, respectively. As such, Lynch could provide depth and take snaps on special teams to provide some relief for Hager and Ebukam.[www.therams.com]
Bonsignore: GM Les Snead deserves share of credit for Rams turnaround
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 20 Replies
Bonsignore: GM Les Snead deserves share of credit for Rams turnaround
First-year Rams coach Sean McVay has quickly become a fan of Les Snead, the club’s general manager, since joining the Rams. ‘What Les and his staff have done is incredible,’ McVay said. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)
By VINCENT BONSIGNORE | vbonsignore@scng.com | Daily News
PUBLISHED: December 8, 2017 at 3:02 pm | UPDATED: December 8, 2017 at 4:00 pm
In the months leading up to the 2017 NFL draft, over the course of meeting after meeting in which schematic philosophies were discussed and physical skill-sets and preferences were articulated and potential draft day scenarios were laid out – complete with precise responses and courses of action to respond to every situation – Sean McVay would sometimes sit back and marvel at Les Snead.
This was the first draft that McVay, the Rams first-year head coach, was directly involved from beginning to end, covering all positions across both sides of the ball. Where previously his input was confined to the specific position group he coached or the offense as an offensive coordinator, he was now intimately involved in every phase of the operation.
And Snead was the general manager McVay was working alongside. Almost joined at the hip, really, as both men went about the business of resetting the culture, roster and fortunes of a franchise that hadn’t had a winning season in 14 years.
As we now see upon observing a rookie draft class provide immediate and consistent contributions – in spite of the Rams not having a first-round pick – and a free-agent class that’s helped change the entire dynamic of a team in desperate need of an infusion of veteran leadership and production, McVay and Snead might as well have been Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger with all the home runs they launched in the draft and in free agency.
It’s resulted in a turnaround as dramatic and decisive as any we’ve seen in the NFL, with the Rams now emerging as an NFL power mere months after the 4-12 season they stumbled through last year.
Yes, Jared Goff and Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald and Alec Ogletree and Trumaine Johnson and Michael Brockers and Lamarcus Joyner are invaluable holdovers that have helped fuel the unprecedented U-turn the Rams made.
But it’s hard to imagine this level of success without the contributions of Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan and Robert Woods and Kayvon Webster and Connor Barwin and Sammy Watkins, the key veterans the Rams added through free agency and trade.
Or the production of Cooper Kupp and Gerald Everett and John Johnson and Tanzel Smart and Samson Ebukam and Josh Reynolds, the handful of rookies that have either earned starting or rotational roles or flourished upon stepping in for injured veterans.
And while McVay is out front as the face of the Rams remarkable transformation, Snead deserves no less credit for the way he orchestrated an NFL offseason for the ages.
Absolutely,” McVay said. “What Les and his staff have done is incredible.”
But maybe not surprising, considering the chemistry that was apparent between Snead and McVay from the moment they first met.
The veteran general manager and young head coach struck an immediate chord during the interview process that ultimately led to McVay being hired. That Snead was even a part of the coaching search was a bit of a surprise, as many assumed he would meet the same fate as former head coach Jeff Fisher, who was fired last December after failing to produce a winning record in five seasons.
But while Snead was the general manager during Fisher’s entire Rams’ run, the two were never the “package deal” some had assumed. And the Rams believed Snead deserved the chance – and could flourish – while working alongside a fresh, new voice.
It was obvious early in the interview process a Snead/McVay tandem could work. While McVay and Rams owner Stan Kroenke, Vice President of Football Operations Kevin Demoff and senior assistant Tony Pastoors mostly talked big picture and general philosophy and finances, it was Snead with whom McVay got down to the nuts and bolts about football and football players and what made for a competitive team and healthy locker room.
“As we went back and forth it was obvious we had a similar approach,” McVay said.
To the point McVay began hoping a working relationship would soon come to fruition.
“In the back of my head I was thinking, if this opportunity presented itself, I’d get the chance to work with someone I enjoyed right off the bat.” he said.
His instincts proved correct. And as he observed Snead during the draft process, it struck McVay how thoroughly Snead covered all his bases. For an obsessive game planner like McVay, it was like looking in a mirror.
“You’re meeting over and over and over and you play out certain scenarios to the point where you realize that’s his way of game planning and calling a game,” McVay said. “OK, on third down and two to five, here are your priority calls based on coverages. It’s the same exact thing. Well, we’re sitting here in the second round, and if this happens and this happens, now who are we taking if that guy goes?
“When you have that foresight, that thorough planning and that mindset and mentality, that’s where you’re putting yourself in the best possible position to make good decisions. You’re never caught off guard.”
Snead declined a request by the Southern California News Group to talk about Rams turnaround – and the role he’s played in it – opting to talk at the conclusion of the season instead.
But in canvassing McVay and others, they describe a general manager who attacked last offseason after immediately landing on the same page with his new coach on how best to lift the Rams out of a near two-decade long rut.
The picture they paint is of a sound, thorough personnel executive who welcomes and encourages input, feedback and dialogue. The objective is creating a consensus.
“I think the best thing about Les is, he works really hard and is really good at what he does and we’re able to have healthy dialogue to where we are very much on the same page,” McVay said. “But if there is something we see a little differently as we are making a decision, we communicate openly and honestly with one another and once we make that decision, it’s a Rams decision and we’re all in it together.”
It was important to McVay the dynamic of trust and open dialogue was in place. And just as important, a level of mutual respect for each other’s role.
It’s a component that was instilled in him by his grandfather, John McVay, a former NFL head coach and general manager who, having served both roles, has a unique understanding of the common thread that needs to be in place for both to function productively.
“In the conversations we had in terms of figuring out what’s best for our football team – and I know it sounds cliche – but we were truly on the same page with everything,” McVay said. “And when we have a question, we’re very intentional about every decision we make and I think that’s where you give everyone a chance to find solid ground and be on the same page as far as what we want to accomplish.
“When we, as a coaching staff, can articulate some of the needs, some of the things we value, it helps Les and his staff prioritize free agents and the draft board. What do you want your football team to look like, what kind of players do you want to bring into your locker room?”
From the outset, Snead and McVay prioritized intelligence, conscientiousness and a love for football in the players they pursued.
“When you find smart football players that are conscientious the game doesn’t feel too big to them,” McVay said.
[www.ocregister.com]
First-year Rams coach Sean McVay has quickly become a fan of Les Snead, the club’s general manager, since joining the Rams. ‘What Les and his staff have done is incredible,’ McVay said. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)
By VINCENT BONSIGNORE | vbonsignore@scng.com | Daily News
PUBLISHED: December 8, 2017 at 3:02 pm | UPDATED: December 8, 2017 at 4:00 pm
In the months leading up to the 2017 NFL draft, over the course of meeting after meeting in which schematic philosophies were discussed and physical skill-sets and preferences were articulated and potential draft day scenarios were laid out – complete with precise responses and courses of action to respond to every situation – Sean McVay would sometimes sit back and marvel at Les Snead.
This was the first draft that McVay, the Rams first-year head coach, was directly involved from beginning to end, covering all positions across both sides of the ball. Where previously his input was confined to the specific position group he coached or the offense as an offensive coordinator, he was now intimately involved in every phase of the operation.
And Snead was the general manager McVay was working alongside. Almost joined at the hip, really, as both men went about the business of resetting the culture, roster and fortunes of a franchise that hadn’t had a winning season in 14 years.
As we now see upon observing a rookie draft class provide immediate and consistent contributions – in spite of the Rams not having a first-round pick – and a free-agent class that’s helped change the entire dynamic of a team in desperate need of an infusion of veteran leadership and production, McVay and Snead might as well have been Giancarlo Stanton and Cody Bellinger with all the home runs they launched in the draft and in free agency.
It’s resulted in a turnaround as dramatic and decisive as any we’ve seen in the NFL, with the Rams now emerging as an NFL power mere months after the 4-12 season they stumbled through last year.
Yes, Jared Goff and Todd Gurley and Aaron Donald and Alec Ogletree and Trumaine Johnson and Michael Brockers and Lamarcus Joyner are invaluable holdovers that have helped fuel the unprecedented U-turn the Rams made.
But it’s hard to imagine this level of success without the contributions of Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan and Robert Woods and Kayvon Webster and Connor Barwin and Sammy Watkins, the key veterans the Rams added through free agency and trade.
Or the production of Cooper Kupp and Gerald Everett and John Johnson and Tanzel Smart and Samson Ebukam and Josh Reynolds, the handful of rookies that have either earned starting or rotational roles or flourished upon stepping in for injured veterans.
And while McVay is out front as the face of the Rams remarkable transformation, Snead deserves no less credit for the way he orchestrated an NFL offseason for the ages.
Absolutely,” McVay said. “What Les and his staff have done is incredible.”
But maybe not surprising, considering the chemistry that was apparent between Snead and McVay from the moment they first met.
The veteran general manager and young head coach struck an immediate chord during the interview process that ultimately led to McVay being hired. That Snead was even a part of the coaching search was a bit of a surprise, as many assumed he would meet the same fate as former head coach Jeff Fisher, who was fired last December after failing to produce a winning record in five seasons.
But while Snead was the general manager during Fisher’s entire Rams’ run, the two were never the “package deal” some had assumed. And the Rams believed Snead deserved the chance – and could flourish – while working alongside a fresh, new voice.
It was obvious early in the interview process a Snead/McVay tandem could work. While McVay and Rams owner Stan Kroenke, Vice President of Football Operations Kevin Demoff and senior assistant Tony Pastoors mostly talked big picture and general philosophy and finances, it was Snead with whom McVay got down to the nuts and bolts about football and football players and what made for a competitive team and healthy locker room.
“As we went back and forth it was obvious we had a similar approach,” McVay said.
To the point McVay began hoping a working relationship would soon come to fruition.
“In the back of my head I was thinking, if this opportunity presented itself, I’d get the chance to work with someone I enjoyed right off the bat.” he said.
His instincts proved correct. And as he observed Snead during the draft process, it struck McVay how thoroughly Snead covered all his bases. For an obsessive game planner like McVay, it was like looking in a mirror.
“You’re meeting over and over and over and you play out certain scenarios to the point where you realize that’s his way of game planning and calling a game,” McVay said. “OK, on third down and two to five, here are your priority calls based on coverages. It’s the same exact thing. Well, we’re sitting here in the second round, and if this happens and this happens, now who are we taking if that guy goes?
“When you have that foresight, that thorough planning and that mindset and mentality, that’s where you’re putting yourself in the best possible position to make good decisions. You’re never caught off guard.”
Snead declined a request by the Southern California News Group to talk about Rams turnaround – and the role he’s played in it – opting to talk at the conclusion of the season instead.
But in canvassing McVay and others, they describe a general manager who attacked last offseason after immediately landing on the same page with his new coach on how best to lift the Rams out of a near two-decade long rut.
The picture they paint is of a sound, thorough personnel executive who welcomes and encourages input, feedback and dialogue. The objective is creating a consensus.
“I think the best thing about Les is, he works really hard and is really good at what he does and we’re able to have healthy dialogue to where we are very much on the same page,” McVay said. “But if there is something we see a little differently as we are making a decision, we communicate openly and honestly with one another and once we make that decision, it’s a Rams decision and we’re all in it together.”
It was important to McVay the dynamic of trust and open dialogue was in place. And just as important, a level of mutual respect for each other’s role.
It’s a component that was instilled in him by his grandfather, John McVay, a former NFL head coach and general manager who, having served both roles, has a unique understanding of the common thread that needs to be in place for both to function productively.
“In the conversations we had in terms of figuring out what’s best for our football team – and I know it sounds cliche – but we were truly on the same page with everything,” McVay said. “And when we have a question, we’re very intentional about every decision we make and I think that’s where you give everyone a chance to find solid ground and be on the same page as far as what we want to accomplish.
“When we, as a coaching staff, can articulate some of the needs, some of the things we value, it helps Les and his staff prioritize free agents and the draft board. What do you want your football team to look like, what kind of players do you want to bring into your locker room?”
From the outset, Snead and McVay prioritized intelligence, conscientiousness and a love for football in the players they pursued.
“When you find smart football players that are conscientious the game doesn’t feel too big to them,” McVay said.
[www.ocregister.com]
I love living in a football city
- By Angry Ram
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 28 Replies
There is just too much negativity when it comes to football these days. But today, I have a positive story:
Has nothing to do with our Rams, but earlier this week I found out there was a Texans Fan Friday thing at Fuddruckers. Wear something Texans related and score a free milkshake. That's all I was really interested in. Then I get there, get my food and the cheerleaders and PR team set up a little booth and said there was a raffle. OK, why not, so I entered. Got a cheerleader poster and my ticket. The guy told me only like 4 other people showed up because it was so cold out. At 12:30 was the first drawing, and about 15 total ended up being there. That drawing was an 8x10 photo. I didn't get that. Oh well.
At 1:00, there was another. And guess who won a SIGNED football??? And not just some random 2nd string cornerback. It's a JADVEON CLOWNEY signed football. It's just an awesome thing to have.
Oh and their cheerleaders are hot obviously, but they are super nice girls too. I feel like most cheer squads are uppity and don't do a lot of fan interactions, but that's one thing this squad does great. Oh sorry for my awkward posing..I don't do pictures that well.
Has nothing to do with our Rams, but earlier this week I found out there was a Texans Fan Friday thing at Fuddruckers. Wear something Texans related and score a free milkshake. That's all I was really interested in. Then I get there, get my food and the cheerleaders and PR team set up a little booth and said there was a raffle. OK, why not, so I entered. Got a cheerleader poster and my ticket. The guy told me only like 4 other people showed up because it was so cold out. At 12:30 was the first drawing, and about 15 total ended up being there. That drawing was an 8x10 photo. I didn't get that. Oh well.
At 1:00, there was another. And guess who won a SIGNED football??? And not just some random 2nd string cornerback. It's a JADVEON CLOWNEY signed football. It's just an awesome thing to have.
Oh and their cheerleaders are hot obviously, but they are super nice girls too. I feel like most cheer squads are uppity and don't do a lot of fan interactions, but that's one thing this squad does great. Oh sorry for my awkward posing..I don't do pictures that well.
Beyond Special
- By Zero
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 22 Replies
I'm hearing all kind of match-up advantage predictions going into this week.
Goff vs Wentz - Rams O vs Eagles O - Rams O vs Eagles D - Rams D vs Eagles O
The one thing you rarely hear mentioned is the Rams special teams.
John Fassel is hands down the best ST coordinator in the NFL and the Rams special teams
are second to none.There are very few teams who can confidently say that their ST's
are true difference makers,but that's exactly what Fassel's crew is.
I have put together some stats that show just how Dominant this group is.
I'm sure I have missed some or may be incorrect on something,so feel free to add
or correct any errors.
Before you dive in for the stats,here's a word from Bruce Arians, spokesperson for
the good people at Charmin.
" I don't cry after every game..Just the ones I lose,and when I lose nothing beats
the sassy soft plushness of Charmin. sniff sniff "
http://www.abc15.com/sports/sports-...-blocked-kicks-during-rams-game-were-illegal-
#1 In blocked punts
#1 In field goals 40-49 range going 12 for 12
#1 In field goals made
# 2 in 50+ field goal average going 6 for 7
# 1 in average starting field position for offense
#3 In net punting yds
Pharoh Cooper #1 kick return average 28.7 yds per return 1TD --- #3 in punt return average 12.6 yds per return
Johnny Hekker has punted 44 times-22 of those never made it out of the 20 yd line.
2 Blocked punts - 1 blocked field goal - 1 blocked extra point
Thanks to AENEAS1 @ Rams Fans United for helping me with the blocked field goal stats.
Goff vs Wentz - Rams O vs Eagles O - Rams O vs Eagles D - Rams D vs Eagles O
The one thing you rarely hear mentioned is the Rams special teams.
John Fassel is hands down the best ST coordinator in the NFL and the Rams special teams
are second to none.There are very few teams who can confidently say that their ST's
are true difference makers,but that's exactly what Fassel's crew is.
I have put together some stats that show just how Dominant this group is.
I'm sure I have missed some or may be incorrect on something,so feel free to add
or correct any errors.
Before you dive in for the stats,here's a word from Bruce Arians, spokesperson for
the good people at Charmin.
" I don't cry after every game..Just the ones I lose,and when I lose nothing beats
the sassy soft plushness of Charmin. sniff sniff "
http://www.abc15.com/sports/sports-...-blocked-kicks-during-rams-game-were-illegal-
#1 In blocked punts
#1 In field goals 40-49 range going 12 for 12
#1 In field goals made
# 2 in 50+ field goal average going 6 for 7
# 1 in average starting field position for offense
#3 In net punting yds
Pharoh Cooper #1 kick return average 28.7 yds per return 1TD --- #3 in punt return average 12.6 yds per return
Johnny Hekker has punted 44 times-22 of those never made it out of the 20 yd line.
2 Blocked punts - 1 blocked field goal - 1 blocked extra point
Thanks to AENEAS1 @ Rams Fans United for helping me with the blocked field goal stats.
In late stretch, Rams will rely on playoff-tested veterans like Andrew Whitworth
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 2 Replies
In late stretch, Rams will rely on playoff-tested veterans like Andrew Whitworth
On a team lacking much playoff experienced, Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth stands out. He’s made the postseason five of the past six seasons and is a player Coach Sean McVay can lean on to keep teammates from getting over-anxious during key late-season games like Sunday’s against Philadelphia. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
By RICH HAMMOND | rhammond@scng.com | Orange County Register
December 6, 2017 at 5:32 pm
THOUSAND OAKS — It’s December, which in the Rams’ locker room typically has represented a time to book that ski lodge or that flight to Cabo San Lucas. Now, all eyes are on something new: the playoffs.
Of the Rams’ 22 offensive and defensive starters, only four – linemen Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan, linebacker Connor Barwin and cornerback Kayvon Webster – have been to the postseason. Now, with the Rams about to embark on a season-defining stretch, it’s time to rely on those guys.
Sunday’s game against Philadelphia at the Coliseum features two division leaders and the NFL’s highest-scoring teams. It’s uncharted territory for most of the Rams, including their coach, who has been a part of only two playoff games, but it’s nothing to fear, according to their most-veteran player.
“You play this game for these big moments,” said Whitworth, the first-year Ram who made the playoffs six times in 11 seasons with Cincinnati. “The approach is to be excited about them, and not being worried about them. Be excited about those opportunities that you’ve worked a long time for.”
The message from Coach Sean McVay seems to be: don’t change anything. The Rams’ narrow-focus approach has carried them to a 9-3 record and the top of the NFC West, and even though another top team, the 10-2 Eagles, are coming to town, the Rams aren’t attempting to do anything different.
Except they were forced to on Wednesday, because of air quality from the fires in Southern California. The Rams decided to cancel their normal afternoon practice at Cal Lutheran and instead held only their normal morning walk-through practice, which they held at an on-campus gym.
Professional athletes are notorious creatures of habit, but McVay said he didn’t feel concerned about the change in routine, and said he saw it as a positive to get his players some late-season rest.
“Our guys, they just kind of adjust and adapt,” McVay said. “I think we’ve become a mature team as the season has progressed. The goal, at the end of the day, is to make sure our players are as fresh as possible on Sunday. … I think our players will feel fresher.”
Given the unconventional week, McVay might rely on his veteran players more than ever. That starts with Whitworth, who turns 36 next week and has made the playoffs in five of his past six seasons.
The start was a bit bumpy, though. In 2009, Whitworth’s fourth season, the Bengals hadn’t made the playoffs in four years but they got off to a 9-3 start then closed the regular season with three losses in their last four games, and lost their first-round playoff game (and then went 4-12 in 2010).
The obvious lesson is, late-season games are tough, and the Rams will start the final quarter of their season with what seems to be their toughest game, against the well-rounded Eagles.
“Tremendous football team. They’re great in every aspect of the game,” Whitworth said. “Much like the Minnesota game and the Saints game, this is a playoff game. It’s one of those games where, every little tiny play can affect the game, because both teams are that good.”
The pressure increases in December, but it’s a welcome change for a player such as Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who arguably has been the NFL’s top defensive player since his arrival in 2014 but who hasn’t enjoyed much winning until this season.
Now, Donald gets to play in a showcase game against a potent offense, and a division showdown looms next Sunday at Seattle.
“I’m loving it. I’m loving it,” Donald said. “Any time you’re winning, you’re going to feel good about it. We’ve got a lot of good players that are still hungry. We’re not comfortable.”
PLANS CHANGE
There was only a slight smell of smoke in the air at Cal Lutheran on Wednesday afternoon, so the Rams intend to have a normal practice on Thursday afternoon. Should the situation get worse, the Rams have contingency plans to practice at USC this week. McVay said no players, coaches or staff members have homes that were impacted by the fires.
SMALL CHANCE
The Rams have a chance this week, albeit a slim one, to clinch their first playoff spot since 2004. The Rams must beat the Eagles, then hope five other games break their way, including two big upsets.
The victorious Rams also would need the following losses: by Atlanta (to New Orleans on Thursday), by Carolina (to Minnesota), by Green Bay (to Cleveland), by Detroit (to Tampa Bay) and by Dallas (to the New York Giants).
ROSTER MOVES, INJURIES
Even though the Rams didn’t practice Wednesday, they were required to issue an injury report. McVay said, if the Rams had practiced, they would have been without Sullivan (rest), Whitworth (rest), Mark Barron (rest), Barwin (arm), Alec Ogletree (elbow) and Robert Woods (shoulder).
McVay said Ogletree, who suffered a hyperextended elbow last Sunday, remains on track to play against the Eagles, and that backup running back Malcolm Brown should return.
The Rams added linebackers Ejuan Price and Cameron Lynch to their practice squad. Price, a seventh-round draft pick in April, was waived from the main roster on Saturday. Lynch played for the Rams in 2015 but was waived in Sept. 2016 and spent time with Tampa Bay.
[www.ocregister.com]
On a team lacking much playoff experienced, Rams offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth stands out. He’s made the postseason five of the past six seasons and is a player Coach Sean McVay can lean on to keep teammates from getting over-anxious during key late-season games like Sunday’s against Philadelphia. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
By RICH HAMMOND | rhammond@scng.com | Orange County Register
December 6, 2017 at 5:32 pm
THOUSAND OAKS — It’s December, which in the Rams’ locker room typically has represented a time to book that ski lodge or that flight to Cabo San Lucas. Now, all eyes are on something new: the playoffs.
Of the Rams’ 22 offensive and defensive starters, only four – linemen Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan, linebacker Connor Barwin and cornerback Kayvon Webster – have been to the postseason. Now, with the Rams about to embark on a season-defining stretch, it’s time to rely on those guys.
Sunday’s game against Philadelphia at the Coliseum features two division leaders and the NFL’s highest-scoring teams. It’s uncharted territory for most of the Rams, including their coach, who has been a part of only two playoff games, but it’s nothing to fear, according to their most-veteran player.
“You play this game for these big moments,” said Whitworth, the first-year Ram who made the playoffs six times in 11 seasons with Cincinnati. “The approach is to be excited about them, and not being worried about them. Be excited about those opportunities that you’ve worked a long time for.”
The message from Coach Sean McVay seems to be: don’t change anything. The Rams’ narrow-focus approach has carried them to a 9-3 record and the top of the NFC West, and even though another top team, the 10-2 Eagles, are coming to town, the Rams aren’t attempting to do anything different.
Except they were forced to on Wednesday, because of air quality from the fires in Southern California. The Rams decided to cancel their normal afternoon practice at Cal Lutheran and instead held only their normal morning walk-through practice, which they held at an on-campus gym.
Professional athletes are notorious creatures of habit, but McVay said he didn’t feel concerned about the change in routine, and said he saw it as a positive to get his players some late-season rest.
“Our guys, they just kind of adjust and adapt,” McVay said. “I think we’ve become a mature team as the season has progressed. The goal, at the end of the day, is to make sure our players are as fresh as possible on Sunday. … I think our players will feel fresher.”
Given the unconventional week, McVay might rely on his veteran players more than ever. That starts with Whitworth, who turns 36 next week and has made the playoffs in five of his past six seasons.
The start was a bit bumpy, though. In 2009, Whitworth’s fourth season, the Bengals hadn’t made the playoffs in four years but they got off to a 9-3 start then closed the regular season with three losses in their last four games, and lost their first-round playoff game (and then went 4-12 in 2010).
The obvious lesson is, late-season games are tough, and the Rams will start the final quarter of their season with what seems to be their toughest game, against the well-rounded Eagles.
“Tremendous football team. They’re great in every aspect of the game,” Whitworth said. “Much like the Minnesota game and the Saints game, this is a playoff game. It’s one of those games where, every little tiny play can affect the game, because both teams are that good.”
The pressure increases in December, but it’s a welcome change for a player such as Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who arguably has been the NFL’s top defensive player since his arrival in 2014 but who hasn’t enjoyed much winning until this season.
Now, Donald gets to play in a showcase game against a potent offense, and a division showdown looms next Sunday at Seattle.
“I’m loving it. I’m loving it,” Donald said. “Any time you’re winning, you’re going to feel good about it. We’ve got a lot of good players that are still hungry. We’re not comfortable.”
PLANS CHANGE
There was only a slight smell of smoke in the air at Cal Lutheran on Wednesday afternoon, so the Rams intend to have a normal practice on Thursday afternoon. Should the situation get worse, the Rams have contingency plans to practice at USC this week. McVay said no players, coaches or staff members have homes that were impacted by the fires.
SMALL CHANCE
The Rams have a chance this week, albeit a slim one, to clinch their first playoff spot since 2004. The Rams must beat the Eagles, then hope five other games break their way, including two big upsets.
The victorious Rams also would need the following losses: by Atlanta (to New Orleans on Thursday), by Carolina (to Minnesota), by Green Bay (to Cleveland), by Detroit (to Tampa Bay) and by Dallas (to the New York Giants).
ROSTER MOVES, INJURIES
Even though the Rams didn’t practice Wednesday, they were required to issue an injury report. McVay said, if the Rams had practiced, they would have been without Sullivan (rest), Whitworth (rest), Mark Barron (rest), Barwin (arm), Alec Ogletree (elbow) and Robert Woods (shoulder).
McVay said Ogletree, who suffered a hyperextended elbow last Sunday, remains on track to play against the Eagles, and that backup running back Malcolm Brown should return.
The Rams added linebackers Ejuan Price and Cameron Lynch to their practice squad. Price, a seventh-round draft pick in April, was waived from the main roster on Saturday. Lynch played for the Rams in 2015 but was waived in Sept. 2016 and spent time with Tampa Bay.
[www.ocregister.com]
Rams making the right adjustments at halftime, especially on defense
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Rams making the right adjustments at halftime, especially on defense
Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips credits his assistants for the success the team has had with halftime adjustments this season. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
By RICH HAMMOND | rhammond@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: December 7, 2017 at 5:36 pm | UPDATED: December 7, 2017 at 6:12 pm
THOUSAND OAKS — Twelve minutes. For those in the seats, it’s barely enough to grab a hot dog and drink. For the Rams’ Wade Phillips, apparently it’s enough to change the complexion of a game.
Phillips, the Rams’ veteran defensive coordinator, makes the most of the brief halftime break. The Rams’ ability to tighten up in the third quarter is a major reason why they’re atop the NFC West, and why they have a fighting chance to stifle Philadelphia’s high-powered offense on Sunday at the Coliseum.
The Rams haven’t allowed a point in the third quarter in six consecutive games, and they’ve allowed only one third-quarter touchdown this season (in a September victory over San Francisco). The Rams have outscored opponents in the third quarter by an astounding margin of 92-13.
“I think our guys are just ready to play when they come out,” Phillips said after Thursday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. “You’d like to say, ‘Yeah, it’s coaching,’ but it would be the other coaches, not me.”
What does a typical halftime look like for the Rams’ defensive coaches? Phillips said they meet as a group at the start of the break. Linebackers coach Joe Barry proposes run-defense adjustments for the second half, while defensive backs coaches Aubrey Pleasant and Ejiro Evero talk about pass defense.
Then the coaches take the second-half strategy to players, just a couple minutes before kickoff.
“We discuss it all,” Phillips said. “We say, ‘Hey, this is what we’ve got to get done,’ then they go in there and present it to the team. The adjustments, we do it all together, and those (assistant coaches) communicate well with their own (position) people.”
Much of the Rams’ second-half defensive improvement has come on the ground. Opponents have run for an average of 83.7 yards in the first half, but only 40.0 yards in the second half.
Part of that involves game situations. The Rams have led at halftime in eight of their 12 games, so naturally, teams will throw more in the second half when playing from behind. But, overall, the Rams have allowed an average of only 142.7 yards in the second half, compared to 191.3 in the first half.
Plus, the improvement against the run isn’t all based on the score. Last Sunday, the Rams held only a six-point halftime lead and lost middle linebacker Alec Ogletree to injury. The Cardinals, who ran for 100 yards in the first half, totaled only 18 rushing yards in the second half and got only a field goal.
The Rams’ reputation as a second-half defensive team started two months ago at Dallas, when the Rams trailed 24-14 at halftime and looked helpless against the Cowboys’ offense, particularly a running game that gained 133 yards in the first half behind Ezekiel Elliott and Alfred Morris.
On their first four drives of the second half, the Cowboys gained only 41 yards on 13 plays, punted three times and threw an interception. Dallas totaled only 66 rushing yards in the second half and the Rams pulled away from an early-season-defining 35-30 road victory.
That was the start of a nine-game stretch in which the Rams haven’t allowed a third-quarter touchdown. They shut out Dallas, Arizona (twice), the New York Giants, Houston, Minnesota and New Orleans, and allowed only a field goal to Seattle and Jacksonville.
It’s a remarkable run that certainly will get tested Sunday by an Eagles team that is tied with the Rams for the most points in the NFL this season.
The challenge for the Rams might be to stay in the game early. The Eagles have outscored opponents by a margin of 78-28 in the first quarter this season and, three times, Philadelphia has taken a lead of at least 17 points into halftime.
“It’s going to be a dog fight,” defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. “We’re going to be ready for it.”
All clear
The Rams were able to hold a full practice Thursday. Concerns over air quality because of fires in the region led the Rams to cancel their Wednesday practice and hold only an indoor walk-thru session.
Coach Sean McVay expressed his support and sympathy for Southern California residents who have been impacted by the fires this week, and praised his players for their ability to adjust.
“They’ve handled it really well,” McVay said. “These are serious things that are going on right now. I’ve been very impressed with the maturity they’ve demonstrated the last couple days.”
Injury report
Middle linebacker Alec Ogletree, who hyperextended his left elbow last Sunday, did not practice Thursday, and his availability for Sunday’s game seems to be in question. The loss of Ogletree, a team captain and the Rams’ defensive signal-caller, would be a big one, particularly against the Eagles.
“Alec is making good progress,” McVay said. “I think (Friday) will serve as a great measuring stick, as far as being able to get some pressure on that (elbow).”
Safety Lamarcus Joyner (shoulder) also missed practice but is expected to play Sunday, McVay said. Receiver Robert Woods (shoulder) and linebacker Connor Barwin (arm) remain out of a practice and are not expected to play against the Eagles.
[www.ocregister.com]
Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips credits his assistants for the success the team has had with halftime adjustments this season. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
By RICH HAMMOND | rhammond@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: December 7, 2017 at 5:36 pm | UPDATED: December 7, 2017 at 6:12 pm
THOUSAND OAKS — Twelve minutes. For those in the seats, it’s barely enough to grab a hot dog and drink. For the Rams’ Wade Phillips, apparently it’s enough to change the complexion of a game.
Phillips, the Rams’ veteran defensive coordinator, makes the most of the brief halftime break. The Rams’ ability to tighten up in the third quarter is a major reason why they’re atop the NFC West, and why they have a fighting chance to stifle Philadelphia’s high-powered offense on Sunday at the Coliseum.
The Rams haven’t allowed a point in the third quarter in six consecutive games, and they’ve allowed only one third-quarter touchdown this season (in a September victory over San Francisco). The Rams have outscored opponents in the third quarter by an astounding margin of 92-13.
“I think our guys are just ready to play when they come out,” Phillips said after Thursday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. “You’d like to say, ‘Yeah, it’s coaching,’ but it would be the other coaches, not me.”
What does a typical halftime look like for the Rams’ defensive coaches? Phillips said they meet as a group at the start of the break. Linebackers coach Joe Barry proposes run-defense adjustments for the second half, while defensive backs coaches Aubrey Pleasant and Ejiro Evero talk about pass defense.
Then the coaches take the second-half strategy to players, just a couple minutes before kickoff.
“We discuss it all,” Phillips said. “We say, ‘Hey, this is what we’ve got to get done,’ then they go in there and present it to the team. The adjustments, we do it all together, and those (assistant coaches) communicate well with their own (position) people.”
Much of the Rams’ second-half defensive improvement has come on the ground. Opponents have run for an average of 83.7 yards in the first half, but only 40.0 yards in the second half.
Part of that involves game situations. The Rams have led at halftime in eight of their 12 games, so naturally, teams will throw more in the second half when playing from behind. But, overall, the Rams have allowed an average of only 142.7 yards in the second half, compared to 191.3 in the first half.
Plus, the improvement against the run isn’t all based on the score. Last Sunday, the Rams held only a six-point halftime lead and lost middle linebacker Alec Ogletree to injury. The Cardinals, who ran for 100 yards in the first half, totaled only 18 rushing yards in the second half and got only a field goal.
The Rams’ reputation as a second-half defensive team started two months ago at Dallas, when the Rams trailed 24-14 at halftime and looked helpless against the Cowboys’ offense, particularly a running game that gained 133 yards in the first half behind Ezekiel Elliott and Alfred Morris.
On their first four drives of the second half, the Cowboys gained only 41 yards on 13 plays, punted three times and threw an interception. Dallas totaled only 66 rushing yards in the second half and the Rams pulled away from an early-season-defining 35-30 road victory.
That was the start of a nine-game stretch in which the Rams haven’t allowed a third-quarter touchdown. They shut out Dallas, Arizona (twice), the New York Giants, Houston, Minnesota and New Orleans, and allowed only a field goal to Seattle and Jacksonville.
It’s a remarkable run that certainly will get tested Sunday by an Eagles team that is tied with the Rams for the most points in the NFL this season.
The challenge for the Rams might be to stay in the game early. The Eagles have outscored opponents by a margin of 78-28 in the first quarter this season and, three times, Philadelphia has taken a lead of at least 17 points into halftime.
“It’s going to be a dog fight,” defensive tackle Aaron Donald said. “We’re going to be ready for it.”
All clear
The Rams were able to hold a full practice Thursday. Concerns over air quality because of fires in the region led the Rams to cancel their Wednesday practice and hold only an indoor walk-thru session.
Coach Sean McVay expressed his support and sympathy for Southern California residents who have been impacted by the fires this week, and praised his players for their ability to adjust.
“They’ve handled it really well,” McVay said. “These are serious things that are going on right now. I’ve been very impressed with the maturity they’ve demonstrated the last couple days.”
Injury report
Middle linebacker Alec Ogletree, who hyperextended his left elbow last Sunday, did not practice Thursday, and his availability for Sunday’s game seems to be in question. The loss of Ogletree, a team captain and the Rams’ defensive signal-caller, would be a big one, particularly against the Eagles.
“Alec is making good progress,” McVay said. “I think (Friday) will serve as a great measuring stick, as far as being able to get some pressure on that (elbow).”
Safety Lamarcus Joyner (shoulder) also missed practice but is expected to play Sunday, McVay said. Receiver Robert Woods (shoulder) and linebacker Connor Barwin (arm) remain out of a practice and are not expected to play against the Eagles.
[www.ocregister.com]
