Case Keenum is doing a good job for them.
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http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...idgewater-active-sam-bradford-out-for-season/

Vikings announce Teddy Bridgewater active, Sam Bradford out for season
Posted by Michael David Smith

Teddy Bridgewater‘s season may soon begin, and Sam Bradford‘s season is over.

The Vikings made it official today, announcing that they have activated Bridgewater to the 53-man roster while putting Bradford on injured reserve.

It’s the most encouraging news yet for Bridgewater, who suffered an injury so severe in training camp last year that there were concerns he might never play again. Now it appears a return to live game action is close.

But it’s another setback for Bradford, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and managed to play just 16 games for the Vikings after they sent a first-round pick and a fourth-round pick to Philadelphia to acquire him last year.

It’s unknown whether the Vikings will bench Case Keenum, who has played well since Bradford got hurt, for a healthy Bridgewater. But Bridgewater is now healthy enough to raise that question. That in and of itself is a great comeback story.

As much as I like reading all the accolades about or team, maybe, just maybe it's going to our heads a bit too much?

It's been a long time since we have supported a team this good, and maybe we should pump the brakes a bit until the Rams actually clinch a playoff berth


JMHOOC

.....what could we expect to receive. I know this is an unpopular discussion during the season as AD has been a beast since he re-joined the team, and has made life better for the players around him, but I'm having a difficult time with offering him a mega deal contract that eats up a large part of our salary cap for just one player. I really believe in McVay and the coaching staff to build a "team" rather than center around 1 individual player on defense. Plus with him holding out all pre-season and missing the first game of the season, it has left a sour taste in my mouth, and whose to say he is not going to do the same thing this upcoming off season. I really believe we could have an incredible defense without him, save a boatload of money to be spread around many other players, and walk away in a trade with a first and second round pick at least. As someone said in another thread, Cleveland has the money to sign AD to a long term contract, and the draft picks to make the deal. And they sure as heck could use AD to be the point of there defense. What do you think.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-2017-mid-season-pff-nfl-all-rookie-team

2017 mid-season PFF NFL All-Rookie Team
BY NATHAN JAHNKE


Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

We have reached the half way point of the season, which means it is time to see which rookies have played the best with the PFF All-Rookie Team for the midway point of the season. For some positions like running back and cornerback, there was a lot of worthy players who missed out. For others, some players made the team by default of being the only player with significant playing time.

This team comes from our exhaustive All-22 review process and the play by play grading of every player on every team in the NFL, giving you the most comprehensive analysis of who the top players really are anywhere on the planet.

This year we will match the new and improved All-Pro system when it comes to offensive and defensive formation, with a flex player for both sides of the ball that can be either a receiver, slot weapon, tight end or running back on offense, and anybody in the defensive secondary on defense. This gives us the flexibility to reward the player that best deserves it across multiple positions, rather than shoehorning in somebody just to fit a slot receiver or cornerback role.

OFFENSE


Quarterback – Deshaun Watson, Houston Texans
PFF Grade: 75.1

Elite Stat: Watson has an NFL passer rating of 124.1 when not under pressure; best in the league.

We’ve gone into detail about why we aren’t as high on Watson’s start as others, but he had clearly been the best rookie quarterback of the group so far, before injury. In his last game of the season against Seattle he had the best game yet. The Texans will miss him the rest of the season, but once Watson fully recovers, Houston’s future will be bright.

Running back – Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
PFF Grade: 90.5

Elite Stat: Hunt has had 42 players miss tackles on his carries which is 12 more than any other running back.

While Hunt has slowed down in recent weeks, he played well enough early in the season to maintain the top running back spot on both the all rookie team as well as the All-Pro team. He has 498 yards after contact which is tied for the most, and he’s also in the top five for running backs in yards after the catch. The only other rookie back within half the number of rushing missed tackles is Leonard Fournette at 25.

Wide receiver – Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
PFF Grade: 76.0

Elite Stat: Kupp has had seven defenders miss tackles on his catches which is the most for wide receivers.

The majority of highly drafted rookie wide receivers haven’t had a large impact on their team, but Kupp has been making an impact since Week 1, seeing 30 or more snaps in every game. His biggest impact has come after the catch where his 151 YAC is second-best for rookie wide receivers to this point.

Wide receiver – JuJu Smith-Schuster, Pittsburgh Steelers
PFF Grade: 71.3

Elite Stat: Smith-Schuster has 1.94 yards per route run which leads all rookie wide receivers.

Smith-Schuster makes the team almost entirely off of his Week 8 game against the Lions where he had 193 yards on seven catches. Thanks in large part to that game he has 219 yards after the catch. The only rookie wide receiver with more total yards than Smith-Schuster has after the catch is Kupp. His run blocking needs to improve to help his grade, but he is primed for more opportunities in the second half of the season.

Tight end – Evan Engram, New York Giants
PFF Grade: 50.3

Elite Stat: Over the last four weeks, Engram has 2.26 yards per route runwhich is fourth-best for tight ends.

It took injuries to the Giants wide receivers for Engram to become a big part of the offense, but he’s taken advantage. Engram is the only tight end with 30 or more yards after the catch in each of the last three games. He also has a touchdown in each of those three games. His run blocking has brought his grade down, but in almost every statistical category he leads the rookie tight ends.

Flex O – RB Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers
PFF Grade: 78.7

Elite Stat: McCaffrey has a drop rate of 1.8 which is the lowest for running backs with at least 35 catchable passes.

While McCaffrey is technically a running back, he’s outperformed most rookie wide receivers when lined up at receiver. Isolating just the plays where he lines up at wide receiver, he has a receiving grade of 76.5 which is third-best for rookies behind Kupp and Smith-Schuster. He’s also coming off his best rushing performance of the season where he averaged 2.5 yards per carry after contact.

LT – Garett Bolles, Denver Broncos
PFF Grade: 68.3

Elite Stat: Bolles has a 95.1 pass blocking efficiency in his last four games after having a 92.7 pass blocking efficiency in his first four.

Which Bolles has had some rough games in pass protection against better pass-rushers, he’s graded out as one of the best tackles in run blocking. His pass protection has improved in recent weeks, allowing three or fewer pressures in each of the last three games.

LG – Dan Feeney, Los Angeles Chargers
PFF Grade: 79.5

Elite Stat: Feeney allowed no pressures across 30 pass-blocking snaps in his first start in Week 8.

Feeney has spent most of the season coming in sparingly before finally receiving his first start in Week 8. He has yet to allow a sack this season and has been equally good in run blocking as he has been in pass protection. No rookie guard has started more than three games this season, which is why Feeney can make the team with one start.

C – Pat Elflein, Minnesota Vikings
PFF Grade: 41.4

Elite Stat: Elflein has a pass blocking efficiency of 98.0 over the last two games after having a pass blocking efficiency of 94.9 in his first six.

Elflein is the only rookie center to start every game, where the most any other rookie center has started is three. On the bright side, he hasn’t allowed a sack in seven of his eight games. He has also notably graded well on screen blocks. On the down side, he has allowed more pressures than one would like from a center, and hasn’t graded well as a run blocker.

RG – Jermaine Eluemunor, Baltimore Ravens
PFF Grade: 39.3

Elite Stat: Eluemunor is the only rookie right guard with over 100 pass block snaps.

Eluemunor has seen playing time due to Ravens starting right guard Matt Skura seeing an injury. He has played as expected, allowing one or two pressures per game in most games, and struggling the most against the strong Vikings defense. In that start, he allowed three pressures and was also penalized twice.

RT – Ryan Ramczyk, New Orleans Saints
PFF Grade: 77.2

Elite Stat: Ramczyk has a 96.7 pass blocking efficiency which is tied for 10th-best among all offensive tackles.

Ramczyk has been the most impressive rookie offensive linemen to date. He’s made starts at both left tackle and right tackle, hasn’t missed a snap yet, and has never allowed more than three pressures in a game. His most recent start against the Buccaneers was his first not allowing a pressure in a game.

DEFENSE


Defensive interior – Dalvin Tomlinson, New York Giants
PFF Grade: 83.7

Elite Stat: Tomlinson has 13 run stops which leads all rookie defensive tackles.

While the Giants run defense hasn’t lived up to expectations, Tomlinson against the run has exceeded his. He is coming off of his first four-run stop performance. His 15.4 run stop percentage this past week was the second-best for all defensive tackles. He has also made more of an impact as a pass-rusher in recent weeks. He has five hurries in the last two games compared to two over the first six.

Defensive interior – Jonathan Allen, Washington
PFF Grade: 81.3

Elite Stat: Allen has a pass-rushing productivity of 12.0 which is second-best for all 3-4 defensive ends.

Due to injuries, Allen has only been able to play in five games this season, and he might not be back this year. Despite the limited time, his three sacks leads all rookie interior defenders, as do his three quarterback hits and 10 hurries. While he’s mostly played in pass-rushing situations, he’s made his presence known in the run game with five run stops; tied for the most for rookie 3-4 defensive ends.

Edge defender – Carl Lawson, Cincinnati Bengals
PFF Grade: 82.3

Elite Stat: Lawson has a pass-rushing productivity of 15.1 which is third-best for edge defenders behind Von Miller and Cameron Wake.

Rushing almost exclusively from the right side of the defensive line, Lawson has gone up against opposing team’s best pass protectors with great success. He has brought in 35 total pressures this season, tied for fifth-most among all 4-3 defensive ends. All 35 of those pressures have come from the right side, as he leads the league’s edge defenders in pressures from the right.

Edge defender – Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns
PFF Grade: 82.5

Elite Stat: Of 4-3 defensive ends with at least 50 pass-rushes from the right side, Garrett has the best pass-rushing productivity on that side at 15.4.

Garrett has only played in three games so far, but in those three games he has looked exactly like the kind of player you expect in a first overall pick. His four sacks all from the right side are tied for fifth-most for 4-3 defensive ends despite everyone with equal or more sacks to him having more than twice as many pass-rushes.

Linebacker – Zach Cunningham, Houston Texans
PFF Grade: 80.2

Elite Stat: Cunningham averages 0.63 yards allowed per coverage snapwhich is second-lowest among all inside linebackers

Cunningham has made his mark on the Texans run defense with a few big games including this last week. He had four stops against the Colts which was his second four-stop performance of the year. His 11 run stops on the season is the most for rookie inside linebackers.

Linebacker – Reuben Foster, San Francisco 49ers
PFF Grade: 86.2

Elite Stat: Foster has 16 tackles, which is the most for all inside linebackers who haven’t missed a tackle this season.

While other rookie linebackers have had larger roles over the first half of the season, Foster’s play has stood out enough in his limited time to make the team. He is coming off of an eight-stop performance against the Cardinals. In coverage, he has a pass breakup and no touchdowns allowed.

Cornerback – Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints
PFF Grade: 94.1

Elite Stat: Lattimore has allowed a passer rating of 37.4 which is second-lowest among cornerbacks.

Lattimore is one of two members to make both the All-Pro Team and the All-Rookie Team. Of cornerbacks with at least 250 coverage snaps, he has allowed the second-fewest yards at 160. He has yet to allow more than 38 receiving yards in a game, and hasn’t allowed a touchdown. In nine short weeks, he has already become one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.

Cornerback – Tre’Davious White, Buffalo Bills
PFF Grade: 87.1

Elite Stat: White has nine pass breakups which is second-most for all cornerbacks.

While White’s season has been overshadowed by Lattimore, he’s had an excellent season for a rookie cornerback. He’s allowed a 50 percent catch rate or lower in all but one game this season. Despite some teams testing him, he hasn’t allowed more than four catches in a game.

Safety – Eddie Jackson, Chicago Bears
PFF Grade: 81.2

Elite Stat: Jackson has a 14.5 tackling efficiency which is the best for all rookie safeties.

Jackson became a Day 1 starter with the Bears, and after a slow start to the season has been excellent in coverage. He’s allowed just 37 yards over the last six games, and has an interception and two pass breakups in that time. He doesn’t have as many interceptions as other rookie safeties, but he has played more mistake-free.

Safety – Marcus Williams, New Orleans Saints
PFF Grade: 79.2

Elite Stat: Williams has allowed 0.21 yards per coverage snap which is second-lowest for rookie safeties.

While Lattimore has played a big role in the Saints defense turning things around, their second-round safety Williams has also played a pivotal role. He’s allowed just three catches while playing an every-down role all season. On those plays, he allowed just nine yards after the catch, and also has an interception on the season.

Flex D – Slot CB Desmond King, Los Angeles Chargers
PFF Grade: 84.0

Elite Stat: King is 1-of-6 cornerbacks with 170 or more coverage snaps in the slot, and no touchdowns allowed from the slot.

King has emerged as the Chargers slot cornerback in their nickel defense, and has played well especially over the last month of the season. Since Week 5, he’s allowed 6.8 yards per catch, which is the lowest for cornerbacks who have allowed 10 or more catches.

SPECIALISTS

Kicker: Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles
Elliott has made 14 field goals this season with a distance of 40 yards or more, which is the most for all kickers this season.

Punter: Rigoberto Sanchez, Indianapolis Colts
Only 26 percent of Sanchez kicks have been returned this season despite only one kick ending as a touchback. His rate is the second-lowest in the league. 20 times he has pinned opponents within their 20-yard line which is tied for second-most among punters.

Kick/Punt Returner: Adoree’ Jackson, Tennessee Titans
Jackson is one of two players this season to manage 150 or more return yards as both a kick returner and a punt returner. While he hasn’t had a return of more than 50 yards and hasn’t had a return touchdown yet, he’s consistenly been able to get yards more often then most.

Special Teamer: Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals
He’s made nine tackles on special teams plays so far, which is the third-most for all special teams players, and the most for all rookies.

Click link below to see all of the picks.
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https://www.si.com/nfl/2017/11/08/super-bowl-52-lii-predictions-midseason-nfl-playoffs

Who Will Win Super Bowl LII? Our NFL Midseason Predictions
By The MMQB Staff

Good luck finding a consensus when it comes to Super Bowl favorites this season. Eighteen members of The MMQB/SI NFL staff took a crack at predicting the postseason, and each voter's bracket is below. As for who we think is going to Minneapolis in February, no one got more than half the vote.

AFC CHAMPION: Patriots (9 votes), Chiefs (5), Steelers (4)

NFC CHAMPION: Eagles (9), Seahawks (4), Rams (2), Vikings (2), Saints (1)

SUPER BOWL LII CHAMPION: Eagles (4), Patriots (4), Steelers (3), Chiefs (2), Rams (2), Vikings (2), Seahawks (1)



By Peter King

I am all-in on the Rams, which can be pretty dangerous. The franchise hasn't finished over .500 since 2003. Their coach just began shaving in May. Also in May: Their quarterback looked like a bust. But I see what I see. I see a smart and high-powered offense that can protect the quarterback and is as scary on the ground as it is through the air. I see an imaginative coach with a good grip on his team.

I see a voracious front seven with a big star (Aaron Donald) playing better than his rep. I see a team in the last three weeks that has won three, seven and three time zones away from home, respectively. (Did you know the Rams won their last three straight by double-digits at 1 p.m., 10 a.m and 10 a.m. on their body clocks?)

The road thing will come in handy during the playoffs, in my calculation, because the Rams could well have to win in a hostile environment against an excellent team like Philadelphia to win it all. But will that really matter? This team is 2-8 at the Coliseum since the return of the franchise to Los Angeles, and the Rams are 5-0 away from home this year.

As for climbing Mount Belichick, I'm sure some wise guy out there will point out that, on the day that Bill Belichick coordinated the Giants' defense that shut down John Elway in Super Bowl XXI, Sean McVay was 1 year and 1 day old, and how on earth could the great Belichick ever lose to a guy less than half his age? My counter: The coaches won't be putting on pads that day. The Rams, except at quarterback, will be deeper and better on Super Sunday.

By John Depetro

The NFC Divisional matchup between the Cinderella Los Angles Rams and the 15-1 juggernaut Philadelphia Eagles is the true Super Bowl LII. Goff's Rams edge Wentz's Eagles in an all-time classic. Old-man Drew Brees' last best shot at a title ends in a half-empty Los Angeles Coliseum. The Kansas City Chiefs grind through three tough playoff games, overcoming the Bills, Steelers and the Patriots. Weary from the cold and brutal road to the Minneapolis, the Chiefs fall short and the once-dead Rams franchise wins its first Lombardi trophy since 1999, and Tinseltown is now home to the Oscars and the 2017 Super Bowl Champs.

Bonsignore: Rams winning with newfound poise, maturity


Jared Goff, who threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns in a 51-17 rout of the Giants on Sunday, says the Ramss maturity for being as young as they are is a testament to the coaches and the training staff. (Rob Carr/Getty Images)

By VINCENT BONSIGNORE | vbonsignore@scng.com | Daily News
PUBLISHED: November 6, 2017 at 8:47 am | UPDATED: November 6, 2017 at 11:47 am

EAST RUTHERFORD NJ – The Rams’ pummeling of the Giants was nearly complete Sunday when Jared Goff started spreading a message to teammates.

On the verge of completing a 3-0 sweep of games in far-away Jacksonville, London and New Jersey, the Rams had done more than just set themselves up beautifully for a second-half playoff run.

Sitting at 6-2 – and as they would discover just a few hours later, alone atop the NFC West standings – the Rams had answered questions, quelled concerns, turned skepticism into belief and altered a long-standing national narrative.

If not one that permeated their own building.

It’s a hell of a thing, turning around a franchise-wide mentality of losing and fear and a lack of confidence and composure. It can take years, if it ever happens at all.

But as Goff walked the sidelines at MetLife Stadium with the Rams on the brink of going 6-2 for the first time since 2001 and positioned to end a 13-year run of non-winning seasons, what he saw was a team, coaching staff and franchise for which something dramatic finally clicked.

One that’s well equipped to meet challenges, be it on the personnel or coaching level. And physically and mentally strong enough to keep forging ahead to a bright, exciting future,.

“We are a mature team. I think we have a lot of maturity,” Goff recalled talking to teammates about Sunday. “Although we are young, we do have some veterans that lead us really well. We are mature for being as young as we are. We are able to handle that stuff really well. It’s a testament to the coaches and the training staff. Everyone that puts that plan together, how we’re going to eat and all that stuff that goes into it. It’s been awesome.”

It would be easy to simply point to the additions of Andrew Whitworth, John Sullivan, Robert Woods and Connor Barwin – the four free agents the Rams sought out as much for their on-field impact as their off-field – as the catalyst for that infusion of maturity. And while each has been a home run import in all the ways the Rams hoped – greatly enhancing their skill level at key positions while also providing professionalism, wisdom and leadership – none of it would have mattered had they encountered a resistant or skeptical locker room or a coaching staff too insecure to provide them the necessary voice to spread their foresight and knowledge.

In fact, they encountered the exact opposite.

New head coach Sean Mcvay wasn’t just emphatic about seeking veteran savviness during free agency, he was ardent in giving those leaders the platform to advance their gospel. Not every coaching staff has the confidence or self-awareness to do that, worried it might usurp their authority or undermine their message. And you don’t have to trace back far in the Rams’ coaching lineage to find some that were resistant to giving too much of a voice to players.

McVay lacks nothing when it comes to confidence, even at the age of 32 and in the first year of his first head coaching gig. It also helps that he’s remarkably genuine and supremely talented in scripting and communicating a decisive, believable plan that compels those around him to not only buy in, but eagerly execute and embody it.

“The buy-in level was immediate,” Rodger Saffold told me Sunday.

Or, as Goff put it: “Coach McVay and his staff has done a great job implementing that high standard and expectation. Never settling. Just trusting what we do day in and day out. Trusting our process and never wavering from that.”

Just as importantly, what McVay and the newcomers like Whitworth and Woods found upon arriving in Los Angeles was a locker room thirsty for leadership and, in the cases of Alec Ogletree and Trumaine Johnson and Aaron Donald and others, players who were on the brink of ascending to positions of authority but, be it a previous coaching staff that subtly discouraged them or few credible veterans around them to serve as examples, hadn’t yet emerged as leaders.

They were all open to learning a new, better way. And eager to lead.

From the earliest stages of OTAs, Whitworth explained how he’d sometimes sit back and observe his new teammates to get a feel for their authenticity. He was impressed by what he saw. How serious guys were about earnestly and professionally going about their business day after day.

“We preach it every single day that we work,” Ogletree said. “It pays off in the long run, just being consistent.”

After the Rams lost a winnable game to the Washington Redskins in Week 2 at the Coliseum, some 30 minutes or so after the loss Whitworth observed to me about how well he felt the Rams had responded to the bitter defeat and how confident it made him about moving forward.

The Rams are 5-1 since that loss.

That maturity and professionalism is about to be tested in a major way.

As the Rams approach the second half of their season, three games beckon against teams currently in the NFC playoff picture – the Vikings (Nov. 19), Saints (Nov. 26) and Eagles on Dec. 10. In addition, they play in Seattle on Dec. 17 – the Seahawks are a game behind the Rams in the NFC West – and play the AFC South-leading Titans on Christmas Eve.

In case you’re wondering if the Rams are aware of what’s ahead, the answer is yes. Big time.

That awareness is also coupled with a level of confidence after going 6-2 over the first half and answering one pressing question after another.

“As long as we keep it up and keep doing what we are doing, we’ll be fine,” Donald said. “But that’s on us and that’s up to us, and the way we prepare and continue to stay hungry.”

[www.ocregister.com]

http://m.therams.com/s/30854/409?itemUri=40892409/71541444014560127511991559
He deserves it

Does Arizona have a chance tomorrow night against the seachicks. After watching Peterson run the ball 37 times against the niners, I think they may have a slim chance. It would be so sweeeeeeetttt to see Carrol's face when the final whistle blows and the cardinals win....he may choke on his friggin while crying to the referee.

Langford, if healthy, would be a great pick up for the Rams. He has played for the Rams in the past and was highly regarded. I think he started for the Saints last year.

what's up all? (For those of you that remember me anyway) just dropping in to say hi...I haven't been active at all for the past year as I was going through basic training and missed all of last season, and am now deployed in Korea and have yet to be able to see a game this season. Though I am atleast able to see the highlights and pop in here to get some updates. This site has truly been a breath of fresh air for me and I feel like I'm a part of the season reading through all your comments. It's a little ironic that I suffered through the last decade plus of terrible football never missing a game and now the Rams are finally good and I can't watch but what are ya gonna do.

I am beyond pumped about how we are playing and think McVay is a godsend a la bill bellicheck. We certainly have a bright future and I look forward to a deep playoff run this year and many more winning seasons in the future. And my boy Jared goff is finally showing the world he's forreal. (I'm sure some of you remember me in the heated goff v wentz debates.)

Anyway I miss you guys and just wanted to say thank you for keeping this place what it is. It's truly a highlight of my time here when I get the chance to pop in a read up.

God bless, and let's beat the texans!

I couldn't figure out which quarterback earned the Dumbass of the Day award Sunday, so I thought I'd put it up to a vote. Please vote in the poll. (So glad we didn't draft one of these idjits.)

Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/MaQvViWmBb0


Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/7qnwxn1t5Ho

On his coach’s show, McVay was asked about Watkins’ TD catch. Sean mentioned how happy he was for Sammy and Jared. He also pointed out how pleased he was about Sammy’s blocking...including the block he threw on Woods’ TD. Sean is glad Sammy can stretch the field...but he has a couple others who can too. Sean then went to complimenting other players. I find fhis instructive.

Unless Watkins keeps progressing into McVay’s we, not me, mindset...he is gone. I take two things from this. Firstly, Watkins will likely conform and his new contract will reflect that. But if not, Reynolds, Thomas, Woods, or a rookie next year will take his role. I love Sammy...but not unless he buys in.

I believe he is...and he will.

07 Nov 2017

Week 9 DVOA Ratings
by Aaron Schatz

Football Outsiders has been driving the Los Angeles Rams bandwagon since I first put together early projections for ESPN Insider in April. Readers were surprised to open up Football Outsiders Almanac 2017 and find the Rams with a mean projection of 8.0 wins. Our preseason simulation put the Rams in the playoffs 38 percent of the time.

But I never, ever, thought we would be talking about the 2017 Los Angeles Rams as the best team in the NFL.

And yet, according to DVOA, that's what the Rams have been. After flaying the rotting carcass of what used to be the New York Giants, by the score of 51-17, the Rams move past the Pittsburgh Steelers and take over the No. 1 spot in DVOA this week.

Perhaps what's most remarkable is how well-rounded the Rams are in 2017. Our preseason projection was based on the idea that the Rams would be near the top of the league on defense and special teams. That prediction came true, as the Rams are third in defense and first in special teams. But the Rams are also now ninth in offensive DVOA, and that's not because of the Todd Gurley show. The Rams are 15th in rushing DVOA, but second in passing DVOA. Only the New England Patriots have a better passing game than the Rams this season.

It has been a long, long time since the Rams were this good. The Rams had not been in the DVOA top ten any later than Week 1 since they ranked No. 6 in Week 8 of 2003. They were last No. 1 in Week 4 of 2001. (Despite going 14-2, that Rams team was behind the Philadelphia Eagles in DVOA for most of the season.) The offense also hasn't been any higher than tenth since Week 7 of 2004.



It's certainly possible that we're overrating the Rams a bit because of a couple of runaway wins, but most of the good fortune the Rams have had this season is already filtered out of the DVOA ratings. The Rams' schedule ranks 29th so far, but opponent adjustments are almost full strength by this point, and even if they were full strength it wouldn't bump the Rams out of the top spot. The Rams have also had serendipity with opposing special teams, but we don't give them credit for that in our special teams ratings. Not only do the Rams lead the league in actual special teams value, they also lead the league in "hidden" special teams value. Opposing kickers are just 11-of-17 on field goals, with two of those misses coming from less than 40 yards. They've also missed two extra points. Only half of opposing kickoffs have gone for touchbacks, compared to 65 percent league-wide, and opposing punts have also been shorter than average.

So the Rams aren't quite as good as their league-leading point differential of 108 points would otherwise indicate, but even if we adjust for that, they're still No. 1. This team was 30th in DVOA a year ago. That's a phenomenal turnaround. There's no guarantee the Rams will stay this good for the entire season, but right now, this would be the greatest year-to-year turnaround in DVOA history.



The Rams are part of a wave of fairly balanced teams at the top of the DVOA ratings in 2017. The defining trend in the NFL last season was an almost total absence of teams that were above average on both sides of the ball. No team finished the year in the top 10 for both offense and defense. Only three teams were above-average on both sides of the ball: New England (second on offense, 16th on defense), Pittsburgh (7/11), and Washington (12/14). A fourth team, Seattle, was ranked in the top half of the league on both sides of the ball although their No. 16 offensive DVOA was below zero.

The 2017 season has seen a lot of parity, without a historically dominant team. But the best teams of the year are still pretty good, and they're very well-rounded. As of this week, there are now four different teams that rank in the top 10 on both sides of the ball, two of which are in the top 10 on special teams as well. The Rams are one, and the 8-1 Philadelphia Eagles are the other. In fact, the Eagles are even better-balanced than the Rams are. They rank ninth or higher if we break down the game into five phases instead of three: pass offense (4), pass defense (8), run offense (9), run defense (8), and special teams (5).

The other two teams, which are strong on offense and defense but not special teams, are Pittsburgh (sixth on offense, fourth on defense) and New Orleans (third on offense, eighth on defense).

But wait, there's more! Not only do we have four teams in the top 10 for both offense and defense, we have five other teams that rank in the top half of the league on both sides of the ball.

Jacksonville is 12th on offense, first on defense. Yes, that's correct. Jacksonville is 12th on offense with Blake Bortles at quarterback. Blake Bortles has an above-average DVOA this year. He is 17th in passing DVOA at 7.5%. We have been waiting for years and wondering: Will Blake Bortles ever develop? Not even into a star, but can he be just an average NFL quarterback? For half a season, at least, the answer is yes. Even if you want to discount his rating a bit because of all the blowouts, it's hard to argue that Blake Bortles has not been an actual average NFL starting quarterback this season. Jacksonville moves up to fourth in overall DVOA this week and is the clear favorite to win the AFC South. Seattle and Tennessee are their only future opponents that currently have winning records.

That's one team. There are four more. Minnesota is 11th on offense, ninth on defense. The Vikings are also 14th on special teams, the third team (besides Los Angeles and Philadelphia) to be above average in all three phases. Houston is 13th on offense, 15th on defense, although it seems very unlikely that the Texans will still be ranked that high when we get to the end of the season. Washington is 14th on offense and 12th on defense. Seattle is 15th on offense and seventh on defense.

There's even a tenth team this year that is above average on both offense and defense, even though it isn't in the top half of the league. The Los Angeles Chargers are 17th in offensive DVOA, but 0.7% is above average. They're also 17th in defensive DVOA, but -1.8% is above average. The Chargers have been doomed by the worst special teams in the league at -10.1% DVOA.

With all these balanced teams, what happened to the great unbalanced teams of last year? Don't worry, we've got them too. Five of the top eight offenses in DVOA rank in the bottom 10 in defensive DVOA. Those teams are led, of course, by the New England Patriots, although the Patriots are no longer in last place on defense. The Oakland Raiders dropped below them this week. Kansas City, Dallas, and Atlanta finish up this group of five teams.

Only two teams are really the flip, competitive based on defense and special teams without a good offense. Baltimore is second on defense and third on special teams, but 24th on offense. Carolina is also in the top ten for both defense and special teams, but 22nd on offense.

One team you didn't find mentioned here was the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are this week's big DVOA loser, dropping from 10th to 17th after a loss to the New York Jets. That win also pulled the Jets out of the group that I've been calling the Awful Eight. Or perhaps it is more accurate to say that the floundering Tampa Bay Buccaneers have dropped enough to make that group the Awful Nine.

These are the Football Outsiders team efficiency ratings through nine weeks of 2017, measured by our proprietary Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) system that breaks down every single play and compares a team's performance to the league average based on situation in order to determine value over average. (Explained further here.)

OFFENSE and DEFENSE DVOA are adjusted to consider all fumbles, kept or lost, as equal value. SPECIAL TEAMS DVOA is adjusted for type of stadium (warm, cold, dome, Denver) and week of season. Opponent adjustments are currently at 90 percent strength, and will hit full strength next week. As always, positive numbers represent more points so DEFENSE is better when it is NEGATIVE.

WEIGHTED DVOA represents an attempt to figure out how a team is playing right now, as opposed to over the season as a whole, by making recent games more important than earlier games.

To save people some time, please use the following format for all complaints:

<team> is clearly ranked <too high/too low> because <reason unrelated to DVOA>. <subjective ranking system> is way better than this. <unrelated team-supporting or -denigrating comment, preferably with poor spelling and/or chat-acceptable spelling>



http://www.footballoutsiders.com/dvoa-ratings/2017/week-9-dvoa-ratings

Aaron Donald of course, Rodger Saffold and Pharoh Cooper get honorable mentions, but no mention whatsoever of Greg Zuerlein or Johnny Hekker?



https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-nfl-2017-pff-mid-season-all-pro-team

NFL 2017 PFF mid-season All-Pro Team
BY SAM MONSON

With half of the NFL season in the books, and every NFL team now at least eight games into their schedule, it’s time to take a look at the PFF All-Pro team for the first half of the season.

This team comes from our exhaustive All-22 review process and the play by play grading of every player on every team in the NFL, giving you the most comprehensive analysis of who the top players really are anywhere on the planet.

This year we will match the new and improved All-Pro system when it comes to offensive and defensive formation, with a flex player for both sides of the ball that can be either a receiver, slot weapon, tight end or running back on offense, and anybody in the defensive secondary on defense.

This gives us the flexibility to reward the player that best deserves it across multiple positions, rather than shoehorning in somebody just to fit a slot receiver or cornerback role.

OFFENSE – FIRST TEAM


Quarterback – Tom Brady, New England Patriots
PFF Grade: 92.7

Elite Stat: Brady fields the league’s highest passer rating when under pressure at 101.7, a full 7.0 points higher than the next closest QB.

Tom Brady has once again set the standard for quarterback play in the NFL despite approaching the age players used to be inducted into the Hall of Fame at, let alone playing your best football. Brady has just eight turnover worthy plays all season, or 1.35 percent of his snaps, and has a passer rating over 100.0 both when kept clean in the pocket and when hurried.

Honorable mention: Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Running back – Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs
PFF Grade: 90.5

Elite Stat: Hunt is the only running back with double-digit forced missed tackles on both runs and receptions, good enough for an elusive rating of 96.2, the second-best mark in the league.

His pace may have slowed in recent weeks, but Kareem Hunt’s start was so sensational that he still deserves to hold off the competition and maintain his place on the mid-season All-Pro team. He still leads all running backs in broken tackles, with 56 total to his name, 21 more than the next closest back, and for the season he has gained 3.2 yards per carry after contact.

Honorable mention: Devonta Freeman, Atlanta Falcons

Wide receiver – Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers
PFF Grade: 92.5

Elite Stat: Brown has the league’s top yards per route run average at 2.97yards per route run.

Antonio Brown leads the league in yards per route run with 2.97, marginally ahead of Julio Jones, with that pair some way clear of the chasing pack. Brown is a complete receiver and can do everything his team needs despite his size, and has one of the plays of the season to his credit with his late touchdown to lift the Steelers over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Honorable mention: DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans

Wide receiver – Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons
PFF Grade: 88.3

Elite Stat: Julio averages the second-highest YPRR at 2.94 yards per route run.

The Falcons offense hasn’t been nearly as dominant as a season ago, but Julio Jones is still the receiver that can most terrify opposing cornerbacks with his blend of athleticism, speed and size. A horrendous drop this past weekend notwithstanding, Jones has been extremely productive, even if it hasn’t resulted in the touchdowns that fantasy owners have been craving.

Honorable mention: Golden Tate, Detroit Lions

Tight end – Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
PFF Grade: 89.8

Elite Stat: Kelce’s 2.14 yards per route run are good enough for third-best from the tight end spot this year.

There is no better tight end in the game after the catch than Travis Kelce, who can run like a wide out once he gets the ball in his hands. Kelce has 11 broken tackles this season, more than twice as many as any other TE, and has gained 4.9 yards per carry after the catch, dropping just two of the 65 passes thrown his way.

Honorable mention: Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans

Flex O – Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks
PFF Grade: 88.3

Elite Stat: Baldwin has seen 42 targets from the slot without a drop this year, second-most targets from the slot without a drop in the NFL behind only Golden Tate.

Doug Baldwin is one of the league’s most underrated players, but he can consistently get open against even the game’s best defensive backs. This past week we saw that on display as he left Washington CB Josh Norman grasping at air, missing his jam at the line of scrimmage before Baldwin was able to walk in for a deep touchdown over the top.

Honorable mention: Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas Cowboys

LT – Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns
PFF Grade: 86.4

Elite Stat: Despite injury, Thomas is still the only tackle in football to have logged 300 or more pass block snaps, and not allow a single QB sack.

The best two left tackles in the game this season have both been lost for the season, with Joe Thomas and Jason Peters both getting shut down. Both are worthy of their spot on the All-Pro team for the first half of the season though, as they each racked up more than 400 snaps before going down. In that time, Thomas did not allow a sack, and surrendered just 11 total pressures in seven games.

Honorable mention: Jason Peters, Philadelphia Eagles

LG – Joel Bitonio, Cleveland Browns
PFF Grade: 84.0

Elite Stat: Bitonio’s 97.4 pass blocking efficiency is 15th in the NFL, and seventh in the AFC.

All of the best-performing guards in the game this season have been on the right side of the line, but Joel Bitonio has been the best left guard in the league by some margin. For the Browns he has allowed 11 total pressures across eight games despite blocking for quarterbacks that do not make his job any easier.

Honorable mention: Rodger Saffold, Los Angeles Rams

C – Jason Kelce, Philadelphia Eagles
PFF Grade: 90.8

Elite Stat: Over his last three games, Kelce has allowed just five pressuresincluding not allowing any in his last outing against Denver in Week 9.

Jason Kelce has returned to form his best play this season for the Eagles and has been a major part of their offensive line being so dominant. Kelce has allowed 13 total pressures, which is more than ideal for a center, but his run blocking in Philadelphia’s zone blocking concepts has been fantastic, and catapults him to the top of PFF’s center rankings.

Honorable mention: Travis Frederick, Dallas Cowboys

RG – David DeCastro, Pittsburgh Steelers
PFF Grade: 91.2

Elite Stat: On 286 pass blocking snaps, DeCastro has not allowed Big Ben to be hit, allowing just eight hurries but no QB hits or sacks.

David DeCastro and Zack Martin have been going toe to toe at the top of the guard rankings all season, and each deserves this spot almost equally, but we have given the edge to DeCastro. Who has yet to allow a sack or a hit on QB Ben Roethlisberger yet, surrendering just eight hurries in eight games.

Honorable mention: Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys

RT – Demar Dotson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PFF Grade: 86.4

Elite Stat: Dotson has allowed just eight pressures all season for the Bucs, for the second-highest pass blocking efficiency mark of 98.1.

Demar Dotson has been one of the best performers of the league on the quiet so far. For the disappointing Bucs, Dotson has been a rock at right tackle, surrendering just eight total pressures in eight games. Dotson hasn’t been nearly as good a run blocker as he has been a pass protector, but in keeping his QB upright he has been as good as anybody, left or right side of the line.

Honorable mention: Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles

DEFENSE – FIRST TEAM


Defensive interior – Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams
PFF Grade: 96.1

Elite Stat: No interior defender has more pressures than Donald’s 44, and he even missed a game this season.

Aaron Donald may be the best player in the NFL at any position. He has 44 total pressures, the second-most in the league at any position. He also has a top-10 run defense grade among all interior defenders and is able to play in the backfield with quickness and unparalleled ability to shed blocks and penetrate the line of scrimmage.

Honorable mention: DeForest Buckner, San Francisco 49ers

Defensive interior – Ndamukong Suh, Miami Dolphins
PFF Grade: 91.2

Elite Stat: Nadmukong Suh ranks 10th with a pass-rush productivity score of 7.8 this season.

The second spot inside was a tight battle, with several players in the running. Suh is only really held back by his penalty count, which is again the highest mark among interior defenders (nine). Suh though has the second-best PFF grade among all interior defenders against the run (93.0) and has 23 total pressures.

Honorable mention: Damon Harrison, New York Giants

Edge defender – Von Miller, Denver Broncos
PFF Grade: 92.6

Elite Stat: Miller leads the league’s edge defenders with his 16.1 pass-rush productivity mark from 231 pass-rushing snaps.

Von Miller may be the best pure pass rushing talent in the game, and he leads the league in total pressures with 47, three clear of any other defender. Miller is also criminally underrated against the run, where his plays often go unnoticed or uncredited, but remain exceptionally impressive.

Honorable mentions: Melvin Ingram, Los Angeles Chargers, Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders

Edge defender – Brandon Graham, Philadelphia Eagles
PFF Grade: 92.1

Elite Stat: Graham has 41 total pressures this season, which is tied for the third-most among edge defenders.

Brandon Graham has picked up in 2017 where he left off in 2016, dominating right tackles and racking up pressure on an Eagles defensive front that may be the best in football. Graham has 41 total pressures and 21 defensive stops on the season across 403 total snaps.

Honorable mentions: Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints, Calais Campbell, Jacksonville Jaguars, DeMarcus Lawrence, Dallas Cowboys

Linebacker – Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks
PFF Grade: 95.6

Elite Stat: Wagner goes 11.8 snaps in coverage, per reception he allows, second among all inside linebackers with at least 200 snaps in coverage.

Bobby Wagner has been exceptional at the heart of a Seattle defense that has shown cracks they haven’t had in the past. Wagner’s speed when it comes to reading and reacting in the middle of that defense is peerless, and he is grading well in all facets of the game, including racking up ten total pressures on the blitz.

Honorable mention: Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers

Linebacker – Lavonte David, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PFF Grade: 93.7

Elite Stat: David has brought down 17 total run stops, second among 3-4 outside linebackers this season.

Lavonte David seems to have developed a knack for stripping the football and forcing fumbles this season, but his overall game has been back to his best for the Bucs. He has 25 defensive stops, and has impressive grades both in coverage and against the run despite the Buccaneers defense struggling overall.

Honorable mention: Telvin Smith, Jacksonville Jaguars

Cornerback – Marshon Lattimore, New Orleans Saints
PFF Grade: 94.1

Elite Stat: Lattimore has allowed a passer rating of 37.4 when targeted this season, second-lowest among all cornerbacks.

There may be no more impressive debut than that of Marshon Lattimore, who hasn’t just been exceptional for a rookie, but has been the best cornerback in the game over the first half of his first season in the league. Lattimore has allowed less than half (48.5 percent) of the passes thrown his way to be caught and has yet to allow a touchdown.

Honorable mention: Jason McCourty, Cleveland Browns

Cornerback – Jalen Ramsey, Jacksonville Jaguars
PFF Grade: 91.4

Elite Stat: Ramsey sees just a 42.0 passer rating when targeted this year, fourth-lowest among the league’s cornerbacks..

If there’s a corner that can rival Lattimore over the first half of the season it’s Jalen Ramsey, who has been close to shutdown for the Jaguars. He has allowed a passer rating into his coverage of just 42.0, while picking two passes off and breaking up another six.

Honorable mention: Patrick Robinson, Philadelphia Eagles

Safety – Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings
PFF Grade: 93.7

Elite Stat: Smith allows just 0.16 yards per snap in coverage, the seventh-lowest among all safeties, and lowest among safeties with at least 10 targets into their coverage.

The Vikings may have the best defense in the league, but Harrison Smith is the only player that makes the first half All-Pro team from it, despite a couple of other players running it close. Smith has been back to his best as the game’s most complete safety, excelling in any coverage and any area of the field for Minnesota, and intercepting three passes while breaking up another two.

Honorable mention: Kevin Byard, Tennessee Titans

Safety – Adrian Amos, Chicago Bears
PFF Grade: 92.0

Elite Stat: Despite being one of the more-frequently targeted safeties at 11.5 snaps in coverage per target, Amos only gives up 0.21 yards per coverage snap, 11th-lowest among safeties..

The play of Chicago’s defense has been one of the surprises of 2017, and in particular their coverage has been a revelation, with third-year Adrian Amos having a career year so far. Amos has made big plays all season, including scoring himself on defense, and over the last month in particular has been spectacular.

Honorable mention: Glover Quin, Detroit Lions

Flex D – Jimmy Smith, Baltimore Ravens
PFF Grade: 89.6

Elite Stat: Smith allows the league’s lowest passer rating when targeted at 27.9 this season.

In 2014 it looked like Jimmy Smith may have been on his way to being one of the game’s best cornerbacks, finally teaming his immense physical talent with play on the field. This is the first season he has been back to that level, and has actually surpassed it in 2017. He has allowed just 106 receiving yards all season, giving up a passer rating of just 27.9 when thrown at, more than ten points worse than if quarterbacks had just thrown the ball at the dirt instead.

Honorable mention: Casey Hayward, Los Angeles Chargers

SPECIALISTS

Kicker: Matt Prater, Detroit Lions
Prater hasn’t been quite as dominant in recent weeks, but has been perfect on field goals of under 50 yards, and is tied for the NFL lead with five made field goals from 50 and beyond.

Honorable mention: Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles

Punter: Brett Kern, Tennessee Titans
Kern has been a monster for the Titans this year, averaging 46.6 net yards per punt, 1.1 yards more than the next best punter. 16 of his 38 punts have landed inside the opposing 20 yard line, and 51.5 yards kicked average also leads the league by over a yard.

Honorable mention: Marquette King, Oakland Raiders

Kick/Punt Returner: Adoree’ Jackson, Tennessee Titans
Jackson might not have found the endzone yet, but he has been consistently impressive on both punt and kick returns. Despite having a long of 46 yards, he has still managed to average 10.6 yards per return on his 16 punt returns.

Honorable mention: Pharoh Cooper, Los Angeles Rams

Special Teamer: Derrick Coleman, Atlanta Falcons
Coleman is tied for the NFL lead in special teams tackles, making 10 on the year so far. He’s also yet to miss a tackle. A consistent force for the Atlanta Falcons on kickoffs, he’s having a great year.

http://www.footballzebras.com/2017/11/07/week-10-referee-assignments-2017/

Texans at Rams — Pete Morelli



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Morelli

Morelli's 2017 NFL officiating crew consists of umpire Bryan Neale, down judge Steve Stelljes, line judge Tim Podraza, field judge Brad Rogers, side judge Boris Cheek, and back judge Greg Steed.

Live in Houston, and looking to watch the game at a sports bar either in midtown or near galleria area. Bringing a couple of buddies(also Rams fans) along, so if any of you live here and are going someplace to watch the game, let me know and I’ll try to meet up!

This pass traveled 61 yards by the way, from the point it left Goff's hand and entered Watkins'.

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Apparently you have to retweet to vote which is stupid. meh.

Just in case you guys need something to listen to during your workday.

http://www.espn.com/espnradio/losangeles/play?id=21320003

Most mainstream media seems to have had the same reaction: the Giants are terrible. People seem impressed with the Rams, but the trend seems to have been to first react to how bad the Giants are.

But the thing is....the Giants were actually playing pretty well from week 3 all the way up through the bye week:

@PHL - it took a last second FG, at HOME, for the "most complete team in the NFL" to beat the lowly Giants

@TB - Bucs aren't a good team, but the Giants lost this on a last second FG, and it was their 3rd road game in 4 weeks to start the year

Chargers - Giants lost this one at home, late in the game - the Chargers keep it close with everyone and this was a game the Giants easily could have won

@Broncos - perhaps the biggest surprise of the year, and the beginning of the end for Denver - the Giants dominated them

Seahawks - score was 10-7 going into the 4th quarter before Seattle scored 2 TDs late


Adding the Lions onto this list to cover all their home games - it was a 17-10 game in the 4th quarter before the Lions scored a TD to seal it


So, a few things here:

First, the Giants were competitive in every home game, and every game of the year aside from week 1 against Dallas until this week

Second, the most points scored against them was 27 - and that includes playing in Philadelphia


Now, maybe the Giants gave up over the bye week - at 1-6, that's certainly a possibility - but another is that the Rams are the best team they faced this year.

I’m having a hard time remembering when I’ve had such utter confidence in a coaching staff to make all the right moves.

Maybe the GSOT?

Naw, not even then. Oh, there was never much doubt about their talent on O. But sometimes even then there were head scratcher decisions by Martz.

Needlessly exposing his QB to hits.
Running up scores when the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Stubbornness in play calling (SB 36?)
Do I have to mention their drafting?
The D in 2000.

But I digress...

Anyway, I’m beyond impressed with our current FO and coaching staff.

Talent acquisition that “fits” their needs via draft and FA, not to mention UDFA.
Excellent game plans every week.
Rapid player development, including vets that underperformed previously.
Ability to make in game adjustments.
These guys win games! That, alone, is enough, don’t you think? Lol.

A guy could get spoiled really easily after 12+ years of incompetence, you know?

Seriously, I’m still getting used to this feeling of comfort I have regarding this organization now. It seems strange, but it’s a nice strange. I LIKE it.

Over the remaining 8 games to outscore the 2015 & 2016 Rams.
Combined

I know a number of fans in the offseason were chomping at the bit for that guy (Groy?) to be signed, but I really do think that Sullivan has been a solidifying rock on the O-line for the Rams, the guy seems to be smart and a bit of a bruiser at the same time, I'm sure that having him under centre has helped the development of Goff into the QB he is this season.

There are a number of times on the short goal line runs this year where I've seen him manhandle D-lines and then physically push Gurley over that line, I saw it again against the Giants.

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View: https://youtu.be/j-fXyEQSEyw


I just love the fact that our o-line is a totally legitimate unit this year.

I know Kromer has done an outstanding job - and I will hold my hand up and say this was the signing I wasn't sure of (initially). Sure is as plain as night and day the difference from last year...

I know all of you die-hards who are on this site will show up (while I'm basking in zero degree Montana weather this morning) but how many others will be at the Coliseum on Sunday? I totally understand why fringe Rams fans haven't supported the team in the last ten years but now that we have one of the most exciting teams in the NFL, it would be nice to see us gain some sort of home field advantage. I'm hoping that as the season progresses and we continue to win, the attendance will rise accordingly. I'm hoping for 73,000 screaming Ram fans there this weekend. Wish I was there. What are your predictions?

https://www.bigblueview.com/2017/11/4/16602256/the-cleveland-rams-head-west

The Cleveland Rams head West
by Barry Shuck



What did the Cleveland Rams do after winning the 1945 NFL Championship? They up and moved.

After a stellar 9-1-0 campaign and a Western Division crown, the Rams were pitted against the Eastern Division champion Washington Redskins in the NFL title game. On-the-field, everything was roses for the Rams. Away from the gridiron was an entirely different matter.

The Rams’ owner, Dan Reeves, served in World War II until just before the 1945 season. Gas rationing was widespread all across the United States. The Rams had a rookie quarterback and unknown pro talent in Bob Waterfield. Their home field, the cramped 30,000 seat League Park, was built in 1921 and still equipped with wooden seating. It was more famous for being the home field of the Negro League World Series Champions Cleveland Buckeyes rather than the Rams’ home turf.


1937 Rams uniform

The Rams had only one winning season (1936) and that was a member of another pro football entity with the second American Football League. Since joining the NFL, the only thing Cleveland fans were accustomed to were bad squads, a coaching carousel, abandonment of the entire 1943 season (due to World War II) and horrid draft choices.

Finally a winner
But for 1945, the franchise took a turn for the best. Adam Walsh, who had developed under Knute Rockne, was named head coach. The club introduced the league’s very first logos on helmets. Waterfield was an elite college athlete albeit just a rookie. The offensive line had finally gelled. The roster had two excellent offensive weapons in wide receiver Steve Pritko and halfback Fred Gehrke.

1945 was also the year that the hash marks were brought in 3 1/2 yards closer to the center of the field which gave the offense more room to maneuver. Touchdowns had dropped considerably the past few seasons while defensive units were larger and with better athletes than decades before so the owners decided to give the offensive units more area in which to work.

And more room for the offense to operate was exactly what the Rams needed.

After capturing the Eastern Division crown, the Rams were set to host the NFL Championship Game against the 8-2-0 Redskins. The Rams decided to move the game to the 80,000 seat Cleveland Stadium, home of the baseball Indians in anticipation of the prospect of Waterfield, who won the league MVP award, vs. Sammy Baugh, Washington’s flashy quarterback better known as Slingin’ Sammy.

But there were several huge issues with the title game. For starters, a massive cold front dropped on the city of Cleveland all week with a forecast of snow and ice. The Rams brought in 9,000 bales of pine straw to cover the playing field to keep it from freezing. On the day before the game, 18 inches of snow descended upon the city.


1945 NFL Championship - pine straw moved to sidelines which doubled for warmth

The Rams were responsible for the field while the City of Cleveland was accountable for the stadium and parking lots. On game day, Reeves gathered 275 workers to remove the pine straw from the playing field, but the trucks that were to be loaded with the straw could not reach the stadium because of snow-blocked roadways. So, the ocean of pine straw was pushed against the walls all around the stadium. Also, none of the parking lots were shoveled or cleared by the City for patron vehicles.

Another disadvantage was that none of the taxi services were running that day; and not because of the eight below zero temperature at game time. The Yellow Cab Company was owned by Mickey McBride, the owner of the infant Cleveland franchise in the newly formed All-America Football Conference (AAFC) slated to begin play in 1946. Only a paid crowd of 32,178 braved the weather to watch their hometown Rams win its first NFL title by a 15-14 score.

Reeves’ 60% home team revenue share did not even cover the pine straw, the delivery of the chaff nor the workers hired to remove it. But the Rams had their championship and at least the bars and restaurants that were nearby had warmth and comfort.

Financial problems still a reality
Every season in Cleveland, Reeves had lost money. Even in the championship season, his Rams lost a little over $64,000. And the following year, a new pro football team was about to hit the field, this one coached by Ohio legend Paul Brown. Reeves knew he could not keep going like this and break-even - much less prosper.



A change was needed. And Reeves knew exactly what that change should be.

For almost a decade, the NFL had received several applications for a franchise to be located in Los Angeles, but the league was based mainly in the Northeast and Midwest states and the owners liked it that way. Back then, all travel was done via railroad or bus. Many an off day was spent on a train either headed towards or coming back from another NFL city. The last thing the owners wanted was a week-long trek to the West Coast.

But one event changed the landscape of the United States forever in 1946: air travel.

A plea to relocate
At the annual owner’s meeting at the Commodore Hotel in New York City on January 11, 1946, the first thing on the agenda was to vote on a new league commissioner. The second item on the day’s itinerary was the fact that the NFL Brooklyn Dodgers was about to leave the league to join the AAFC as a charter member club because of disputes with the Giants and home dates. Next up was Dan Reeves’ motion to relocate his Cleveland Rams to either Dallas, Texas or Los Angeles, California.

His arguments detailed how much money he had lost in Cleveland (including the championship season), the new AAFC entry which was in all likelihood set to be the best team in the new league, plus Cleveland’s fan base would not financially support two pro football squads. Another reason was that the AAFC was placing franchises in San Francisco and Los Angeles; both were large west coast cities that the NFL should not ignore as potential club regions that another league would suddenly have a foothold in.

Eight votes were needed for the relocation. The first vote was six yes votes, three votes no, and one abstention. The NFL gave Reeves the reason was the added costs of the travel. Even though air travel was now a viable option, the cost to fly was considerably more than traveling by rail.

At that point, Reeves stood up and told the owners that his club was no longer a member of the National Football League. If the Dodgers could leave and join that other new league, what was stopping him?

In the past, owners have said things that were eye-popping and controversial, but only one had actually taken their club and joined another rival league, and that was the Dodgers earlier in the same meeting.

That fact was freshly toxic in the minds of the other owners.

At Reeves’ hotel later that day, he told the trio of owners that had gathered to calm him down that it was either a relocation to Dallas or Los Angeles or his Rams would not be a member of the NFL any longer. Imagine the publicity hit that the NFL would suffer knowing their league champion had blessed that new rival league.

The following day at the owner’s meeting, they discussed how feasible the travel costs would be if the Rams did indeed relocate to Los Angeles. The owners did not want to concede virgin territory to another upstart league and decided the West Coast, and especially California, was the best vehicle to begin their “national” expansion. They presented Reeves with an offer to relocate with the stipulation that all visiting teams would receive a $5,000 stipend over and above the visitor’s gate revenue cut.

And with that, the Los Angeles Rams were born. Well, sort of.

A city with only one large football stadium
The only place big enough to play football in the Los Angeles area was the Los Angeles Coliseum, a 75,000-seat venue which was also home of the USC Trojans and the UCLA Bruins football squads. Plus, the newly-formed Los Angeles Dons of the AAFC had applied to play there for their maiden season of 1946.



The Coliseum was owned by the city, county and state governments. And the governing board of the Coliseum had only one question for the Dons as well as the Rams: why do your franchises not have any black players.

At the time, the NFL was devoid of ANY black players. Not that the NFL had not had any black players before. But at this time, since 1934 there was an unwritten rule where none of the owners would hire any nor invite any to camps regardless of their college accolades and achievements. And the Coliseum wanted to know why.

At the meeting attended by representatives of the Dons and Rams, the question was raised. The Coliseum, you see, was owned by municipalities which are owned by the public. All races of the public. So the use of the facility should be for, and used, by all people. Although the Dons were just forming and may have had a built-in excuse, the Rams already had a decade of rosters devoid of black players; and a public facility was not going to be rented by an entity which excluded a certain race of people. Period.

Rams’ GM Chile Walsh then told the commission that former UCLA standout Kenny Washington was invited for a Ram's tryout as well as Illinois star running back Buddy Young; who incidentally was considered to be one of the best collegiate athletes about to graduate. The Dons also made proclamation that several black players had been invited to their training camp in order to make the roster.



The Rams did indeed sign Washington to a three-year contract along with Illinois WR Woody Strode. Two weeks later, both the Dons and Rams were approved for play at the Coliseum and both played their home games there.

One year later, baseball’s Jackie Robinson would integrate the Major Leagues.



Did you know?

The Rams invented logos on helmets. With leather helmets, most teams painted colors on the helmets but were devoid of any logos. Halfback Fred Gehrke played for both the Rams’ teams in Cleveland and then Los Angeles.

He was an art major from the University of Utah. He had played around with ram horns on a helmet to which Ram’s head coach Bob Snyder liked the idea and told Gehrke to show it to Dan Reeves, the club’s owner. Reeves loved the idea and asked the NFL for a ruling on whether his franchise could paint logos on helmets.

The NFL responded that it was his club and could do what he wanted. With that, Reeves commissioned Gehrke to paint 75 helmets for $1 each during the summer of 1948. The helmet’s debut occurred in a pre-season game against the Washington Redskins.

The sellout crowd of 105,000 gave the team a 5-minute ovation. The following season, the plastic helmet was standard issue and Riddell used baked on paint for the Ram horns. One of the original 75 helmets now resides in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.