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Case Keenum reveals which Rams player will try to get in his head Sunday
- By Riverumbbq
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 15 Replies
By: Cameron DaSilva | 3 hours ago
At this exact point last season, the Los Angeles Rams were 4-5 and coming off of an ugly 9-6 win over the Dolphins. Case Keenum was the starting quarterback, but he was benched in favor of No. 1 pick Jared Goff for Week 11 and beyond.
Now, they’re set to square off against each other on a big stage in Minnesota on Sunday. Both teams are 7-2, both quarterbacks are playing relatively well, and both are realizing how much easier the quarterback position is without Jeff Fisher at the helm.
Film room: Breaking down Robert Woods’ historic 171-yard day vs. Houston
Some will call this the “Case Keenum revenge game,” but the former Ram doesn’t view it that way. He spent two seasons with the Rams, going 7-7 in 14 starts before joining the Vikings this offseason.
“I’m definitely excited about playing these guys. I’ve had this one circled, just to see everybody. I know everybody, from the training room to the equipment room to some of the coaches and players, so I’m excited to see those guys,” Keenum said on the Dan Patrick Show Tuesday. “I’ve been competing against those guys on defense in practice for the last three years.”
There has been a significant amount of turnover on the Rams’ roster this year, but Keenum knows there are still a few guys who will try to talk to him and get in his head.
“You know, I can already hear Michael Brockers’ voice right now: ‘Hey Case,’” Keenum said, laughing. “There’s a bunch of those guys. Aaron Donald’s probably the guy that will try to crush me and not say a word. … He’s won a lot of awards and I still think he’s underrated. He’s a heck of a player, I got a lot of respect for him.”
The Rams’ front is playing as well as any in the NFL right now, ranking fifth in the league with 28 sacks. Donald and Brockers are responsible for eight of those, proving to be one of the best duos in football.
Keenum has his work cut out for him on Sunday.
http://theramswire.usatoday.com/201...s-rams-minnesota-vikings-case-keenum-week-11/
Condensed game......did I miss?
- By Da-Rock
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 2 Replies
Hello,
I can't seem to find the weekly condensed game that is posted. NFL Redzone did a piss poor job of showing anything. Did I miss it or has it stopped being posted?
I can't seem to find the weekly condensed game that is posted. NFL Redzone did a piss poor job of showing anything. Did I miss it or has it stopped being posted?
Amid talk of playoffs and division title, Rams insist their focus remains narrow
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 14 Replies
Amid talk of playoffs and division title, Rams insist their focus remains narrow
The Rams’ Mark Barron (26) is congratulated after intercepting a Texans pass during Sunday’s 33-7 victory at the Coliseum. The Rams play in Minnesota this week – the site of this season’s Super Bowl – but don’t expect them to be looking nealy that far ahead. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
By RICH HAMMOND | rhammond@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: November 13, 2017 at 7:09 pm | UPDATED: November 13, 2017 at 7:11 pm
THOUSAND OAKS — Rams quarterback Jared Goff majored in sociology at Cal, and apparently the football schedule didn’t allow for any theater classes. Goff’s dramatic straight face needs a bit of work.
“We’ve got Minnesota next week, right?” Goff said. “I don’t know who we have after that.”
Well, after the Rams play the Vikings (7-2) on Sunday, they face New Orleans (7-2). Then it’s Philadelphia (8-1) two weeks later. They face another current division leader, Tennessee, on Christmas Eve.
“Do we?” Goff said, before he finally cracked and acknowledged that, yes, he is aware of the schedule. These are fun times for the Rams, who are 7-2, atop the NFC West and on a four-game winning streak, but now they enter the meat of their schedule with a chance to define how they will be remembered.
“It’s a good challenge for us to see where we are as a team,” running back Todd Gurley said after the Rams beat Houston on Sunday. “We want to be in the playoffs and right now, if we keep doing what we’re doing, we will. These teams are going to be in the playoffs as well, so it’s a great challenge for us.”
The simple math looks good for the Rams. Arizona (4-5) and San Francisco (1-9) also are on the December schedule, so victories in those games, and one win in a quintet of games against Minnesota, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Seattle and Tennessee would get the Rams to 10-6.
In the past six seasons, 63 of 67 teams that finished with a 10-6 record or better have made the playoffs. No 11-5 team has missed the playoffs since New England in 2008, through a tiebreaker.
So even if the Rams go 4-4 the rest of the way, they’re seemingly in line for their first playoff appearance since 2004. The more relevant question, at least at this point, might be whether the Rams will limp into the playoffs or whether they will finish strong and stamp themselves as Super Bowl contenders.
Good luck getting any comment on that. Rams coach Sean McVay barely flinched Monday when reminded that the Rams will play Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, the site of this season’s Super Bowl.
“If we don’t get to our eighth win, then nothing else matters,” McVay said in his news conference at Cal Lutheran. “You kind of speak something into existence when you talk about it so often. You almost really do put blinders on, because of what a competitive, tough league this is, and how humbling.
“Certainly you have an awareness of what is going on. That’s not to say you don’t know and pay attention to the other teams in this league, but all that really matters to us is, we’re focused on Minnesota and how, against a really good football team, how we can find a way to get to 8-2.”
That won’t be easy. Improbably, the Vikings are atop the NFC North, even though they’ve suffered season-ending injuries to quarterback Sam Bradford and highly touted rookie running back Dalvin Cook.
A stifling defense has carried Minnesota to five consecutive victories. The Vikings allow 3.4 yards per rushing attempt (tied for second-fewest in the NFL this season) and 6.5 yards per pass attempt (tied for fourth-fewest). Minnesota has yet to allow more than 30 points in a game this season,
Former Rams quarterback Case Keenum has guided a steady Vikings offense, and last week against Washington, Keenum threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns.
In a bit of understandable gamesmanship, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has yet to announce whether he will start Keenum or Teddy Bridgewater, who hasn’t appeared in a game since the end of the 2015 season because of a devastating knee injury.
“I think he’s a huge reason why they’ve been so productive offensively,” McVay said of Keenum. “Whether it’s him or Teddy, you know you’re going to be facing a very good quarterback, and that offense is playing really well behind (offensive coordinator Pat) Shurmur’s leadership”
INJURY REPORT
McVay said the Rams remained in “good shape,” in terms of injuries, after Sunday’s victory over Houston. Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold left the game in the second half with a sprained ankle, but McVay said Saffold is “going to be OK.”
Linebacker Robert Quinn, who missed the game because of an undisclosed illness, is expected to return to practice Wednesday (after Tuesday’s normal off day), but McVay said Quinn could be limited then and that he remains uncertain about Quinn’s availability for the Minnesota game.
[www.ocregister.com]
The Rams’ Mark Barron (26) is congratulated after intercepting a Texans pass during Sunday’s 33-7 victory at the Coliseum. The Rams play in Minnesota this week – the site of this season’s Super Bowl – but don’t expect them to be looking nealy that far ahead. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
By RICH HAMMOND | rhammond@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: November 13, 2017 at 7:09 pm | UPDATED: November 13, 2017 at 7:11 pm
THOUSAND OAKS — Rams quarterback Jared Goff majored in sociology at Cal, and apparently the football schedule didn’t allow for any theater classes. Goff’s dramatic straight face needs a bit of work.
“We’ve got Minnesota next week, right?” Goff said. “I don’t know who we have after that.”
Well, after the Rams play the Vikings (7-2) on Sunday, they face New Orleans (7-2). Then it’s Philadelphia (8-1) two weeks later. They face another current division leader, Tennessee, on Christmas Eve.
“Do we?” Goff said, before he finally cracked and acknowledged that, yes, he is aware of the schedule. These are fun times for the Rams, who are 7-2, atop the NFC West and on a four-game winning streak, but now they enter the meat of their schedule with a chance to define how they will be remembered.
“It’s a good challenge for us to see where we are as a team,” running back Todd Gurley said after the Rams beat Houston on Sunday. “We want to be in the playoffs and right now, if we keep doing what we’re doing, we will. These teams are going to be in the playoffs as well, so it’s a great challenge for us.”
The simple math looks good for the Rams. Arizona (4-5) and San Francisco (1-9) also are on the December schedule, so victories in those games, and one win in a quintet of games against Minnesota, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Seattle and Tennessee would get the Rams to 10-6.
In the past six seasons, 63 of 67 teams that finished with a 10-6 record or better have made the playoffs. No 11-5 team has missed the playoffs since New England in 2008, through a tiebreaker.
So even if the Rams go 4-4 the rest of the way, they’re seemingly in line for their first playoff appearance since 2004. The more relevant question, at least at this point, might be whether the Rams will limp into the playoffs or whether they will finish strong and stamp themselves as Super Bowl contenders.
Good luck getting any comment on that. Rams coach Sean McVay barely flinched Monday when reminded that the Rams will play Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium, the site of this season’s Super Bowl.
“If we don’t get to our eighth win, then nothing else matters,” McVay said in his news conference at Cal Lutheran. “You kind of speak something into existence when you talk about it so often. You almost really do put blinders on, because of what a competitive, tough league this is, and how humbling.
“Certainly you have an awareness of what is going on. That’s not to say you don’t know and pay attention to the other teams in this league, but all that really matters to us is, we’re focused on Minnesota and how, against a really good football team, how we can find a way to get to 8-2.”
That won’t be easy. Improbably, the Vikings are atop the NFC North, even though they’ve suffered season-ending injuries to quarterback Sam Bradford and highly touted rookie running back Dalvin Cook.
A stifling defense has carried Minnesota to five consecutive victories. The Vikings allow 3.4 yards per rushing attempt (tied for second-fewest in the NFL this season) and 6.5 yards per pass attempt (tied for fourth-fewest). Minnesota has yet to allow more than 30 points in a game this season,
Former Rams quarterback Case Keenum has guided a steady Vikings offense, and last week against Washington, Keenum threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns.
In a bit of understandable gamesmanship, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has yet to announce whether he will start Keenum or Teddy Bridgewater, who hasn’t appeared in a game since the end of the 2015 season because of a devastating knee injury.
“I think he’s a huge reason why they’ve been so productive offensively,” McVay said of Keenum. “Whether it’s him or Teddy, you know you’re going to be facing a very good quarterback, and that offense is playing really well behind (offensive coordinator Pat) Shurmur’s leadership”
INJURY REPORT
McVay said the Rams remained in “good shape,” in terms of injuries, after Sunday’s victory over Houston. Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold left the game in the second half with a sprained ankle, but McVay said Saffold is “going to be OK.”
Linebacker Robert Quinn, who missed the game because of an undisclosed illness, is expected to return to practice Wednesday (after Tuesday’s normal off day), but McVay said Quinn could be limited then and that he remains uncertain about Quinn’s availability for the Minnesota game.
[www.ocregister.com]
Bonsignore: Rams put the NFL on notice with one play
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 2 Replies
Bonsignore: Rams put the NFL on notice with one play
Robert Woods’s 94-yard touchdown reception was significant on many levels in addition to spearheading the Rams’ 33-7 vistory over Houston on Sunday at the Coliseum. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer)
y VINCENT BONSIGNORE | vbonsignore@scng.com | Daily News
PUBLISHED: November 13, 2017 at 7:54 am | UPDATED: November 13, 2017 at 5:21 pm
As if the Rams weren’t becoming a big enough problem for the NFL, over the past few weeks they’ve added an important and scary weapon.
The Rams, it seems, can score from anywhere on the field.
Last week it was Sammy Watkins and Jared Goff waylaying the Giants on a 67-yard touchdown pass, their first hook-up on a long ball after weeks of trying.
Later on, it was Robert Woods taking a screen pass on third-and-33 to the house for a 52-yard touchdown.
All of which was merely a prelude to what happened Sunday against the Houston Texans.
Leading 9-7 early in the third quarter against a Houston defense that, frankly, was having its way against Goff and the Rams, and backed up at their own 6-yard line, the assumption was the Rams would play it safe and try to buy themselves some breathing room with a few safe run plays.
“Obviously you’re always looking to score, but at the very least you want to get a couple of first times for your punt team and turn the field back over,” Rams center John Sullivan said.
Rams head coach Sean McVay had other ideas. The Texans were sticking with the same first-half plan of loading the line of scrimmage with defenders, and it offered McVay the chance to cash in on the big payday he anticipated after some coy first-half play-calling.
“Look, I’m not going to pretend to understand what plays Sean was setting up in the first half for the second,” Sullivan said with a sly smile. “But I know based on how they were playing, they were running linebackers through and changing their techniques at the snap. They wouldn’t play us straight up and in that way they were doing a good job of shutting down the run. But when you commit as many guys as they did to the box, eventually it burns you.”
That became clear when, on second-and-8, Jared Goff went to hand off to Todd Gurley to the left, the same side of the line of scrimmage the Rams had run Gurley a handful of occasions in the first half. As suspected, the Texans defense flowed in that direction.
Only for Goff pull the ball back and drop back to pass.
Woods, lined up to the far right, ran a post pattern and from the right slot Cooper Kupp ran alongside him. As Woods and Kupp sprinted downfield, three Houston defenders converged on them in coverage.
Kupp eventually broke to the right after 15 yards, dragging his defender with him and forcing the safety to commit to him as well.
That left Woods, who continued running up field, in one-on-one coverage. It was a mismatch of epic proportions, and as Woods turned on the burners he easily eluded his defender. Goff, operating from a safe pocket after the play-action pass, double-cocked and heaved the ball 55 yards in the air to a wide-open Woods. The former USC star easily gathered it in and sprinted untouched to the end zone for a back-breaking 94-yard touchdown.
Just like that, the Rams led 16-7 on their way to a 33-7 blowout.
“It was crazy. Like I said, it was – they sent the ‘WILL’ (weak inside linebacker), they sent the corner and we picked it up, let (QB Jared) Goff get some space, do what he do and Rob do what he do,” Gurley said. “Ran right past the guy and go 94 yards. It doesn’t get much better than that for you to start right there inside (your end zone) and be able to go and execute.”
And in the process, they put something else out there on film.
Not only to plant a seed for future opponents, but also to add to their already growing self-confidence.
It’s the ability to deliver knockout punches from anywhere on the field.
And the peace of mind that when rhythm is hard to come by or running lanes aren’t easily available, they can strike quickly and powerfully with the big play.
The Rams have been successful mounting long scoring drives this year. It sure makes things easier when they can do it in one play sometimes.
“Anytime that you’re able to create some of the explosives that we did, I think it’s very, very helpful,” McVay said. “It’s too hard in this league to go 12 and 15 plays all the time against some of these defenses. So, to be able to get some of those chunk plays that alleviate the stress on having to just kind of having to go four and five (yards) all the way down the field was critical, and when you’ve got explosive playmakers like we do, it was big.”
The Rams came into Sunday with 40 plays of 20 yards or more – second in the NFL to the New Orleans Saints.
In addition to Woods’ 94-yard score, Gurley had a 34-yard run and a 43-yard pass reception and Watkins had a 24-yard catch-and-run.
More importantly, the Goff-to-Woods hook-up took a bite out of the Texans’ fight while igniting the Rams.
They went on to score 21 points in the third quarter to bust open a close game.
“It was fun. It was a lot of fun,” Goff said. “When it starts rolling like that, we start getting turnovers. Crowd gets into it, we start hitting big plays. We start hitting big plays, we score on the play after the turnover, that’s when you really starting getting the momentum you want. And I thought Sean (McVay) did a great job handling that with the play calls and just giving us stuff to succeed in the second half, especially just putting us in good spots.
“In his own way, his own self-evaluation, he’s done a great job of that all year just continuing to put us in great spots and I thought he did that all day.”
As if the Rams weren’t scary enough.
[www.ocregister.com]
Robert Woods’s 94-yard touchdown reception was significant on many levels in addition to spearheading the Rams’ 33-7 vistory over Houston on Sunday at the Coliseum. (Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer)
y VINCENT BONSIGNORE | vbonsignore@scng.com | Daily News
PUBLISHED: November 13, 2017 at 7:54 am | UPDATED: November 13, 2017 at 5:21 pm
As if the Rams weren’t becoming a big enough problem for the NFL, over the past few weeks they’ve added an important and scary weapon.
The Rams, it seems, can score from anywhere on the field.
Last week it was Sammy Watkins and Jared Goff waylaying the Giants on a 67-yard touchdown pass, their first hook-up on a long ball after weeks of trying.
Later on, it was Robert Woods taking a screen pass on third-and-33 to the house for a 52-yard touchdown.
All of which was merely a prelude to what happened Sunday against the Houston Texans.
Leading 9-7 early in the third quarter against a Houston defense that, frankly, was having its way against Goff and the Rams, and backed up at their own 6-yard line, the assumption was the Rams would play it safe and try to buy themselves some breathing room with a few safe run plays.
“Obviously you’re always looking to score, but at the very least you want to get a couple of first times for your punt team and turn the field back over,” Rams center John Sullivan said.
Rams head coach Sean McVay had other ideas. The Texans were sticking with the same first-half plan of loading the line of scrimmage with defenders, and it offered McVay the chance to cash in on the big payday he anticipated after some coy first-half play-calling.
“Look, I’m not going to pretend to understand what plays Sean was setting up in the first half for the second,” Sullivan said with a sly smile. “But I know based on how they were playing, they were running linebackers through and changing their techniques at the snap. They wouldn’t play us straight up and in that way they were doing a good job of shutting down the run. But when you commit as many guys as they did to the box, eventually it burns you.”
That became clear when, on second-and-8, Jared Goff went to hand off to Todd Gurley to the left, the same side of the line of scrimmage the Rams had run Gurley a handful of occasions in the first half. As suspected, the Texans defense flowed in that direction.
Only for Goff pull the ball back and drop back to pass.
Woods, lined up to the far right, ran a post pattern and from the right slot Cooper Kupp ran alongside him. As Woods and Kupp sprinted downfield, three Houston defenders converged on them in coverage.
Kupp eventually broke to the right after 15 yards, dragging his defender with him and forcing the safety to commit to him as well.
That left Woods, who continued running up field, in one-on-one coverage. It was a mismatch of epic proportions, and as Woods turned on the burners he easily eluded his defender. Goff, operating from a safe pocket after the play-action pass, double-cocked and heaved the ball 55 yards in the air to a wide-open Woods. The former USC star easily gathered it in and sprinted untouched to the end zone for a back-breaking 94-yard touchdown.
Just like that, the Rams led 16-7 on their way to a 33-7 blowout.
“It was crazy. Like I said, it was – they sent the ‘WILL’ (weak inside linebacker), they sent the corner and we picked it up, let (QB Jared) Goff get some space, do what he do and Rob do what he do,” Gurley said. “Ran right past the guy and go 94 yards. It doesn’t get much better than that for you to start right there inside (your end zone) and be able to go and execute.”
And in the process, they put something else out there on film.
Not only to plant a seed for future opponents, but also to add to their already growing self-confidence.
It’s the ability to deliver knockout punches from anywhere on the field.
And the peace of mind that when rhythm is hard to come by or running lanes aren’t easily available, they can strike quickly and powerfully with the big play.
The Rams have been successful mounting long scoring drives this year. It sure makes things easier when they can do it in one play sometimes.
“Anytime that you’re able to create some of the explosives that we did, I think it’s very, very helpful,” McVay said. “It’s too hard in this league to go 12 and 15 plays all the time against some of these defenses. So, to be able to get some of those chunk plays that alleviate the stress on having to just kind of having to go four and five (yards) all the way down the field was critical, and when you’ve got explosive playmakers like we do, it was big.”
The Rams came into Sunday with 40 plays of 20 yards or more – second in the NFL to the New Orleans Saints.
In addition to Woods’ 94-yard score, Gurley had a 34-yard run and a 43-yard pass reception and Watkins had a 24-yard catch-and-run.
More importantly, the Goff-to-Woods hook-up took a bite out of the Texans’ fight while igniting the Rams.
They went on to score 21 points in the third quarter to bust open a close game.
“It was fun. It was a lot of fun,” Goff said. “When it starts rolling like that, we start getting turnovers. Crowd gets into it, we start hitting big plays. We start hitting big plays, we score on the play after the turnover, that’s when you really starting getting the momentum you want. And I thought Sean (McVay) did a great job handling that with the play calls and just giving us stuff to succeed in the second half, especially just putting us in good spots.
“In his own way, his own self-evaluation, he’s done a great job of that all year just continuing to put us in great spots and I thought he did that all day.”
As if the Rams weren’t scary enough.
[www.ocregister.com]
The Rams had fools gold in Kenny Britt now they have Robert Woods who is legit
- By JKBOGEN
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 20 Replies
The Rams had fools gold in Kenny Britt now they have Robert Woods who is legit
Last season the Rams had their first 1,000 yard receiver Kenny Britt for the first time since Torry Holt was in uniform. However, that translated to just a measly 4-12 record. For many, Britt looked like a must-sign but now the Rams are finding that letting go of their big-play receiver of last season has led to bigger and better things.
Now, this is not a let's trash Kenny Britt piece because this is mainly about the impact of Robert Woods but as great as Britt looked on the stat sheet he severely lacked in certain areas, areas that Woods excels in. The Rams let Britt walk after cleaning house of pretty much all of their coaching staff. At the time for some it seemed puzzling that the Rams wouldn't pay their top receiver eight million a year to come back but for others it was obvious. Britt was part of the old culture, the culture that was responsible for the Rams going 7-9 at best. He even proved he wasn't part of the culture that Sean McVay as built long before the season started with an N.S.F.W. (Not Suitable for Work) rant about his former teammate Tavon Austin. With the Rams and McVay mainly implementing the "We Not Me" culture, there was clearly no room for a player like Britt.
The Rams did end up paying a receiver eight million annually over five years and that man was aforementioned Robert Woods. Woods, of course, is the anti-Britt. What do I mean by that? Team player, precise route runner, adamant blocker and someone that possesses smooth hands, something Britt simply did not have. Britt was for sure the Rams top big-play receiver last year but Woods has stepped in and has filled that void in no time. So why make a big deal over Woods and not make a big deal over Watkins? The answer is simply that Woods is the guy, he's possibly turning into a star that he was always thought to be coming out of USC. He wasn't utilized as much as he should have been in Buffalo and he is clearly proving that in Los Angeles playing pretty much in the confides of his old home which has become his current home.
So let's cut to the chase, why is Britt fools gold? He had a good year and maybe I am too hard on him. Perhaps. However, what if I told you that the same 1,000-yard receiver has been a non-factor after signing in Cleveland. Britt only has 166 receiving yards on the season, two touchdowns and has a terrible 38.7 catch percentage. Woods, on the other hand, had less of a contract year and this season he is at 622 yards (which is 78 yards away from being a career-high), four touchdowns and has a good catch percentage of 66.1. The fact is this, the Rams could have been fooled by Britt's season last year and to be completely honest had they not canned Jeff Fisher and company Britt probably is still with the Rams and likely underachieving after being given a long term deal. Let's also take into an account that he is four years older than Woods and has been way more immature off the field. Britt obviously has his woes back when he was in Tennessee that almost derailed his career in the first place but on top of that he is a veteran wide receiver that missed curfew for the Browns this year. He's the same receiver that has been listed as a healthy scratch this season as well even on a winless Browns team.
Woods meanwhile is being praised left and right for his accountability that goes back to week two after he arguably cost the Rams the game versus the Redskins on a drop and a couple of penalties near the end of the game. Woods has also received rave reviews from his teammate that was also with him in Buffalo and has always been considered the star over Woods in Sammy Watkins. Watkins had this to say according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN: "For me, it’s Robert Woods who’s leading this group. The way he practices, the way he plays the game, the way he does everything moves this wide receiver group." Huge praise and obviously well deserved praise. Coach McVay has always been complimentary about Woods and raved about him when the Rams pulled the trigger to sign him and he is likely one of the best signings in the league from this past free agency class. Not Britt who doesn't even have as many yards as the Rams rookie TE and sixth receiving yards leader Gerald Everett. Clearly, the Rams made the right move in moving on from Britt to Woods.
Let's also keep in mind what Woods was signed to be... .a number one receiver. That was also long before the thought of Sammy Watkins (or at least our thought of Watkins) popped up for the Rams. Woods was expected to be the starter next to either Tavon Austin or Cooper Kupp at the beginning of training camp. He suddenly became the number two guy behind his old teammate he left behind in Buffalo in Watkins. Now, despite everything, despite the fact that maybe he isn't 6-foot-3 like Kenny Britt. Despite the fact that maybe he isn't a big and thick receiver that can break tackles like Watkins. Despite the fact that he does not have the speed that Austin has for the Rams. He is sitting atop of the team and he's on pace for 1,106 yards receiving and seven touchdowns which would shatter his career-high. Yup, just like many doubted. Many did not believe. Robert Woods was not only not overpaid by the Rams but he is giving them more than they could ever ask for and for the same price as Kenny Britt is in Cleveland giving you less than 200 yards receiving and knucklehead decision making at five years older.
You may not have Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Randy Moss or any totally dominant 6-foot-4 receiver at your disposal in Woods but you do have a reliable, hard-working, high-motor, intelligent, exciting and classy player donning Rams horns, wearing number 17 and giving young QB Jared Goff a star in the making in what is looking like the beginning of a special Hollywood story. It's official guys, Kenny Britt was fools gold and could have broken the Rams but Robert Woods has been and is a legit number one receiver and one that will be available for years to come.
Last season the Rams had their first 1,000 yard receiver Kenny Britt for the first time since Torry Holt was in uniform. However, that translated to just a measly 4-12 record. For many, Britt looked like a must-sign but now the Rams are finding that letting go of their big-play receiver of last season has led to bigger and better things.
Now, this is not a let's trash Kenny Britt piece because this is mainly about the impact of Robert Woods but as great as Britt looked on the stat sheet he severely lacked in certain areas, areas that Woods excels in. The Rams let Britt walk after cleaning house of pretty much all of their coaching staff. At the time for some it seemed puzzling that the Rams wouldn't pay their top receiver eight million a year to come back but for others it was obvious. Britt was part of the old culture, the culture that was responsible for the Rams going 7-9 at best. He even proved he wasn't part of the culture that Sean McVay as built long before the season started with an N.S.F.W. (Not Suitable for Work) rant about his former teammate Tavon Austin. With the Rams and McVay mainly implementing the "We Not Me" culture, there was clearly no room for a player like Britt.
The Rams did end up paying a receiver eight million annually over five years and that man was aforementioned Robert Woods. Woods, of course, is the anti-Britt. What do I mean by that? Team player, precise route runner, adamant blocker and someone that possesses smooth hands, something Britt simply did not have. Britt was for sure the Rams top big-play receiver last year but Woods has stepped in and has filled that void in no time. So why make a big deal over Woods and not make a big deal over Watkins? The answer is simply that Woods is the guy, he's possibly turning into a star that he was always thought to be coming out of USC. He wasn't utilized as much as he should have been in Buffalo and he is clearly proving that in Los Angeles playing pretty much in the confides of his old home which has become his current home.
So let's cut to the chase, why is Britt fools gold? He had a good year and maybe I am too hard on him. Perhaps. However, what if I told you that the same 1,000-yard receiver has been a non-factor after signing in Cleveland. Britt only has 166 receiving yards on the season, two touchdowns and has a terrible 38.7 catch percentage. Woods, on the other hand, had less of a contract year and this season he is at 622 yards (which is 78 yards away from being a career-high), four touchdowns and has a good catch percentage of 66.1. The fact is this, the Rams could have been fooled by Britt's season last year and to be completely honest had they not canned Jeff Fisher and company Britt probably is still with the Rams and likely underachieving after being given a long term deal. Let's also take into an account that he is four years older than Woods and has been way more immature off the field. Britt obviously has his woes back when he was in Tennessee that almost derailed his career in the first place but on top of that he is a veteran wide receiver that missed curfew for the Browns this year. He's the same receiver that has been listed as a healthy scratch this season as well even on a winless Browns team.
Woods meanwhile is being praised left and right for his accountability that goes back to week two after he arguably cost the Rams the game versus the Redskins on a drop and a couple of penalties near the end of the game. Woods has also received rave reviews from his teammate that was also with him in Buffalo and has always been considered the star over Woods in Sammy Watkins. Watkins had this to say according to Alden Gonzalez of ESPN: "For me, it’s Robert Woods who’s leading this group. The way he practices, the way he plays the game, the way he does everything moves this wide receiver group." Huge praise and obviously well deserved praise. Coach McVay has always been complimentary about Woods and raved about him when the Rams pulled the trigger to sign him and he is likely one of the best signings in the league from this past free agency class. Not Britt who doesn't even have as many yards as the Rams rookie TE and sixth receiving yards leader Gerald Everett. Clearly, the Rams made the right move in moving on from Britt to Woods.
Let's also keep in mind what Woods was signed to be... .a number one receiver. That was also long before the thought of Sammy Watkins (or at least our thought of Watkins) popped up for the Rams. Woods was expected to be the starter next to either Tavon Austin or Cooper Kupp at the beginning of training camp. He suddenly became the number two guy behind his old teammate he left behind in Buffalo in Watkins. Now, despite everything, despite the fact that maybe he isn't 6-foot-3 like Kenny Britt. Despite the fact that maybe he isn't a big and thick receiver that can break tackles like Watkins. Despite the fact that he does not have the speed that Austin has for the Rams. He is sitting atop of the team and he's on pace for 1,106 yards receiving and seven touchdowns which would shatter his career-high. Yup, just like many doubted. Many did not believe. Robert Woods was not only not overpaid by the Rams but he is giving them more than they could ever ask for and for the same price as Kenny Britt is in Cleveland giving you less than 200 yards receiving and knucklehead decision making at five years older.
You may not have Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Randy Moss or any totally dominant 6-foot-4 receiver at your disposal in Woods but you do have a reliable, hard-working, high-motor, intelligent, exciting and classy player donning Rams horns, wearing number 17 and giving young QB Jared Goff a star in the making in what is looking like the beginning of a special Hollywood story. It's official guys, Kenny Britt was fools gold and could have broken the Rams but Robert Woods has been and is a legit number one receiver and one that will be available for years to come.
OK then ...
- By Riverumbbq
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 6 Replies
Ravens add offensive lineman Andrew Donnal, release Bobby Rainey
2:55 PM PT
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens continued their efforts to upgrade their depth along an injury-filled offensive line Monday, when they signed Andrew Donnal and released running back/returner Bobby Rainey.
Donnal, a 2015 fourth-round pick out of Iowa, was released by the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. He had been the Rams' top backup guard and tackle over the past three seasons, starting a total of six games.
Donnal has good size (6 feet 7, 313 pounds) and versatility, but he can get pushed back by stronger defensive linemen. The Ravens have been searching to bolster the interior of their offensive line since losing starting guards Marshal Yanda and Alex Lewis for the season.
The release of Rainey likely indicates that wide receiver Michael Campanaro is ready to resume his role as the team's primary returner. Campanaro, who has missed the past two games with a shoulder injury, ranks second in the NFL with a 13.8-yard punt return average.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/m/0aec...e57f4e76/ss_ravens-add-offensive-lineman.html
2:55 PM PT
Jamison HensleyESPN Staff Writer
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens continued their efforts to upgrade their depth along an injury-filled offensive line Monday, when they signed Andrew Donnal and released running back/returner Bobby Rainey.
Donnal, a 2015 fourth-round pick out of Iowa, was released by the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday. He had been the Rams' top backup guard and tackle over the past three seasons, starting a total of six games.
Donnal has good size (6 feet 7, 313 pounds) and versatility, but he can get pushed back by stronger defensive linemen. The Ravens have been searching to bolster the interior of their offensive line since losing starting guards Marshal Yanda and Alex Lewis for the season.
The release of Rainey likely indicates that wide receiver Michael Campanaro is ready to resume his role as the team's primary returner. Campanaro, who has missed the past two games with a shoulder injury, ranks second in the NFL with a 13.8-yard punt return average.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/m/0aec...e57f4e76/ss_ravens-add-offensive-lineman.html
