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The Misunderstood Art of Play-Calling(Includes comments by Sean McVay)
- By Prime Time
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 10 Replies
https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/8/24/16193394/play-calling-strategy-bruce-arians-sean-mcvay
The Misunderstood Art of Play-Calling
How do some of the NFL’s best offensive minds design their game plans—and gain a sense for when to abandon them?
BY ROBERT MAYS
:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56342857/mastermind_mays_playcalling_getty_ringer_2.0.jpg)
Getty Images/Ringer illustration
As we’ve already told you, football can be hard to understand. Playbooks weigh as much as physics textbooks, and when you hear a quarterback barking in the huddle, it can sound like you’ve intercepted an alien transmission.
For there to be order in the chaos, the game requires people who have mastered its specifics. Welcome to Masterminds Week, where we’ll spotlight those who have shown expertise in various aspects of the sport—from the big and all-encompassing to the random and hyperspecific.
* * *
In his new book, The Quarterback Whisperer: How to Build an Elite NFL Quarterback, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians spends a chapter discussing his history and methodology as a play-caller. He gets into his background calling plays as a high school and college quarterback, and emphasizes its importance throughout his football life. “It’s something that I’ve always done and have enjoyed doing,” Arians writes. “Probably, if I had to give it up, I’d get out of coaching.”
Now entering his fifth season in Arizona, Arians is one of the dozen or so NFL head coaches who calls his team’s offensive plays—a list that counts X’s-and-O’s savants like Asshole Face, Adam Gase, and Andy Reid. This fall, first-year head coaches Kyle Shanahan, with the 49ers, and Sean McVay, with the Rams, will join those ranks.
“I think it’s important that some of the reasons that you get the job, you keep doing that stuff [as a head coach],” Shanahan said at a press conference during this March’s combine, in regard to holding onto play-calling duties. “I enjoyed being a coordinator; I enjoyed calling plays. And I will always do that if I feel it helps the team.”
Most offensive coordinators who become head coaches rise to that level largely on the strength of their play-calling résumés, and the appeal of retaining that responsibility in the top job often goes beyond pragmatism. Great play-callers fall in love with the process and mechanics that go into formulating a call sheet and building the perfect game plan.
Calling plays is equal parts probability, practiced precognition, and spur-of-the-moment improvisation. And for this breed of coaches, the sense of satisfaction when a call comes together is the most intoxicating part of what they do.
“There’s nothing better than when you call a play, you get the look that you want, and you put your players in a position where they’re able to execute,” McVay tells The Ringer.
To hear a trio of the league's best offensive minds—Arians, McVay, and Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt—tell it, play-calling is an art form. It also requires a rare blend of dedication and flexibility. The best play-callers are not only adept at crafting the ideal scripted approach to a given game; they also know when and how to abandon that plan.
* * *
The concept of scripting offensive plays came to the NFL with legendary 49ers head coach Bill Walsh. Entering each game, Walsh would devise a 15- to 25-play script for his offense to follow. “Scripting is planning; it’s contingency planning,” Walsh told The New York Times for a story on play-calling in 1996. “The fewer decisions to be made during the game, the better. You don't want to live by your instincts. It’s isolating each situation that comes up and establishing what comes up.”
At the start of every the game, Walsh would simply move down his list of plays until a specific situation—like a third-and-short, for example—arose that necessitated straying from the script. For most play-callers, that’s the way that the system still works.
During the week leading up to a matchup, the Cardinals jot a few hundred plays on the whiteboard in the quarterback room. The goal for Arians is to sift through that swath of calls and whittle it down to 30: 15 runs (picked by offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin and running backs coach Freddie Kitchens) and 15 passes (selected by the quarterbacks).
Of the six “shot” plays Arians brings into every game, designed to beat defenses deep down the field, four are typically scripted. “Unless the quarterbacks didn’t pick them,” Arians says, cracking a smile. “Then I’ve got to talk them into it.”
After the list is finalized, Arians’s challenge becomes deciding how to order the 30 plays at his disposal. For Walsh, the script was a means of staying committed to the game plan he’d built throughout the week; for most coaches these days, the ordering of a script’s plays comes with a lot of competing motivations.
“[I want] to get [an opponent’s] substitution patterns early,” Arians says. “A lot of times, you [want] to get a receiver or two involved quickly, if you can, just to get their spirits up so they’ll block.”
* * *
In their 31-19 win over the Saints in Week 1 of the 2015 season, Arizona started the game with consecutive completions to wide receivers John Brown and Michael Floyd. The ensuing drive was a picturesque use of an introductory script: The Cardinals didn’t face a third down until the final play of the possession, and by then, they had already moved into their red zone menu.
Running seven plays before reaching the New Orleans 20-yard line likely meant burning a considerable chunk of Arians’s script in the game’s first five minutes, but that’s a problem the coach would welcome any time. “You’ve had a great two drives if you’re running out of stuff early,” he says.
One of Arians’s primary objectives in the first quarter is figuring out how a defense will respond to the various personnel groupings that the Cardinals use, and that means cycling through different formations and concepts as a means of collecting information. In setting his script’s order, Arians also studies his habits as a play-caller.
When preparing for a familiar opponent, Arians likes to go back through tape of Arizona’s past six games against that team and search for any revealing tells. “Was it run-run-pass-pass, how [the plays] unfolded?” Arians says. “You’re always self-scouting for tendencies.”
* * *
McVay notes that he comes into each game with 20 “openers” or “priority plays”—calls that “knowing we’re in normal down-and-distance, operating where you’ve got your run-pass balance, [that] we know at some point we want to get it called.”
For most coaches, third-down plays have a separate section on the call sheet; in fact, many are broken down into subsections depending on the circumstance. “If things go great, you’re going to just go right down that list,” McVay says. “[But] it’s not realistic.”
That last part is key: What’s misunderstood about play-calling scripts is that they’re rarely followed in order. Building that perfect initial game plan comprises a considerable portion of a play-caller’s job in the days before a game, but it can take one only so far. The need to react and riff on concepts is equally critical, and that’s where things can get dicey.
“You’ve got to be mindful about staying on schedule but also being ready to adjust to the different situations within the framework of a drive,” McVay says.
Before serving a stint as the 49ers general manager in the late 1990s, John McVay, Sean’s grandfather, worked as a member of the franchise’s front office during Walsh’s head-coaching tenure. One lesson John picked up and passed along to Sean is the importance of “playing the game before the game,” or imagining every outcome that may arise days before it could conceivably happen.
Between his own 5-yard line and the opponent’s 20, McVay knows that any second-and-8 play that doesn’t result in a turnover has two outcomes: a move to the third-down menu of plays or a slide back to his priority call sheet. By knowing on Thursday what plays might work best in that situation, the stress on Sunday weighs less.
McVay got his first crack at calling plays as Washington’s offensive coordinator in the 2015 season, at just 29 years old. As he reflects on that experience, he recalls too many moments when he was caught on his heels. “It’s the plays where you get caught off guard that really bother you the most,” McVay says. “That’s where you go back and you say, ‘I didn’t prepare the way that I should have to be ready for this situation when it comes up.’”
He specifically points to the second half of Washington’s 34-20 loss to the Jets in Week 6. His offense faced a series of similar third-down situations, and McVay feels that he went back to the same passing concept too often. “I don’t think I did a good job of mixing it up,” McVay says. “I kind of stayed vanilla, in terms of repeating a couple calls.”
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9106939/ezgif.com_video_to_gif__2_.gif)
Part of that problem can be alleviated through extra preparation. McVay devotes an entire section on his call sheet to “get back on track” plays installed explicitly for situations in which the offense is stonewalled on first down and needs a chunk of yards to steady itself. But part of it is knowing how to find a play-calling rhythm, a state that’s revered among the game’s premier play-callers.
* * *
For Arians, the pursuit of finding this rhythm seeps into the script-creation process. “When I put that script together, I tried to do it as I’m going down the field in my mind, not just grabbing plays off the board,” he says. “If we’ve got the ball on the 25, [after this play] we should be right about the 40. What do I like here? What runs are going to set up passes? One leads to the other.”
The game’s exceptional play-callers distinguish themselves by regularly ascending to this exalted sense of flow. Chargers coordinator Whisenhunt describes it best. When asked about settling into his rhythm, he stops and poses what seems like an odd question—“Are you a Seinfeld fan?”—before going on to explain. In an episode from Season 2, “The Busboy,” Elaine raves about a frantic drive to the airport that involved her weaving in and out of heavy traffic, anticipating openings before they appeared.
“To me, it’s a little bit like that,” Whisenhunt says. “Sometimes you’ve got to get in an area where you know what you want to do. You get on a string, and you’re seeing two or three plays ahead.”
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8AS_tisvQI
That type of groove may sound like it’s predicated on an ability to see the future, but in reality, gaining a feel for dialing up the perfect play is honed over time. It’s based on the ability to predict what coverages a defense will use in certain scenarios, and as games go on and teams move further off-script, play-callers hope that they can use their understanding of an opponent’s core coverage tendencies to their advantage. In the second halves of games, creativity and feel for the moment truly shine.
* * *
By that point, play-calling is best left to the experts. The challenge is calibrating the right combination of plays that worked in the first half and presenting them with a twist in order to keep a defense off-balance. Arians tries to avoid calling for the same pass from the same formation twice in one game, while simultaneously returning to the concepts that are working.
McVay calls this balance “the illusion of complexity,” a notion he picked up from Jay Gruden during their time together in Washington. By forecasting how a defense will respond to formations and tweaking successful attempts to attack them, play-callers can maintain the upper hand.
“I think as a play-caller, you’re always trying to play percentages and put your players in great situations,” McVay says. “But what you realize is that it’s an imperfect deal.”
The best moments for a play-caller often come directly before the snap, when an offense lines up and gets the coverage and front it planned for given the personnel. The challenge—and the reason the best play-callers in the league can never rest—is that even those moments can sometimes lead to failure.
That’s when it’s back to the whiteboard, and the process begins anew. “As long as you’ve thought through your decisions, and you’re not just throwing stuff by the wayside, I can always live with it,” McVay says. “As long as you try to give your players an answer.”
The Misunderstood Art of Play-Calling
How do some of the NFL’s best offensive minds design their game plans—and gain a sense for when to abandon them?
BY ROBERT MAYS
Getty Images/Ringer illustration
As we’ve already told you, football can be hard to understand. Playbooks weigh as much as physics textbooks, and when you hear a quarterback barking in the huddle, it can sound like you’ve intercepted an alien transmission.
For there to be order in the chaos, the game requires people who have mastered its specifics. Welcome to Masterminds Week, where we’ll spotlight those who have shown expertise in various aspects of the sport—from the big and all-encompassing to the random and hyperspecific.
* * *
In his new book, The Quarterback Whisperer: How to Build an Elite NFL Quarterback, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians spends a chapter discussing his history and methodology as a play-caller. He gets into his background calling plays as a high school and college quarterback, and emphasizes its importance throughout his football life. “It’s something that I’ve always done and have enjoyed doing,” Arians writes. “Probably, if I had to give it up, I’d get out of coaching.”
Now entering his fifth season in Arizona, Arians is one of the dozen or so NFL head coaches who calls his team’s offensive plays—a list that counts X’s-and-O’s savants like Asshole Face, Adam Gase, and Andy Reid. This fall, first-year head coaches Kyle Shanahan, with the 49ers, and Sean McVay, with the Rams, will join those ranks.
“I think it’s important that some of the reasons that you get the job, you keep doing that stuff [as a head coach],” Shanahan said at a press conference during this March’s combine, in regard to holding onto play-calling duties. “I enjoyed being a coordinator; I enjoyed calling plays. And I will always do that if I feel it helps the team.”
Most offensive coordinators who become head coaches rise to that level largely on the strength of their play-calling résumés, and the appeal of retaining that responsibility in the top job often goes beyond pragmatism. Great play-callers fall in love with the process and mechanics that go into formulating a call sheet and building the perfect game plan.
Calling plays is equal parts probability, practiced precognition, and spur-of-the-moment improvisation. And for this breed of coaches, the sense of satisfaction when a call comes together is the most intoxicating part of what they do.
“There’s nothing better than when you call a play, you get the look that you want, and you put your players in a position where they’re able to execute,” McVay tells The Ringer.
To hear a trio of the league's best offensive minds—Arians, McVay, and Chargers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt—tell it, play-calling is an art form. It also requires a rare blend of dedication and flexibility. The best play-callers are not only adept at crafting the ideal scripted approach to a given game; they also know when and how to abandon that plan.
* * *
The concept of scripting offensive plays came to the NFL with legendary 49ers head coach Bill Walsh. Entering each game, Walsh would devise a 15- to 25-play script for his offense to follow. “Scripting is planning; it’s contingency planning,” Walsh told The New York Times for a story on play-calling in 1996. “The fewer decisions to be made during the game, the better. You don't want to live by your instincts. It’s isolating each situation that comes up and establishing what comes up.”
At the start of every the game, Walsh would simply move down his list of plays until a specific situation—like a third-and-short, for example—arose that necessitated straying from the script. For most play-callers, that’s the way that the system still works.
During the week leading up to a matchup, the Cardinals jot a few hundred plays on the whiteboard in the quarterback room. The goal for Arians is to sift through that swath of calls and whittle it down to 30: 15 runs (picked by offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin and running backs coach Freddie Kitchens) and 15 passes (selected by the quarterbacks).
Of the six “shot” plays Arians brings into every game, designed to beat defenses deep down the field, four are typically scripted. “Unless the quarterbacks didn’t pick them,” Arians says, cracking a smile. “Then I’ve got to talk them into it.”
After the list is finalized, Arians’s challenge becomes deciding how to order the 30 plays at his disposal. For Walsh, the script was a means of staying committed to the game plan he’d built throughout the week; for most coaches these days, the ordering of a script’s plays comes with a lot of competing motivations.
“[I want] to get [an opponent’s] substitution patterns early,” Arians says. “A lot of times, you [want] to get a receiver or two involved quickly, if you can, just to get their spirits up so they’ll block.”
* * *
In their 31-19 win over the Saints in Week 1 of the 2015 season, Arizona started the game with consecutive completions to wide receivers John Brown and Michael Floyd. The ensuing drive was a picturesque use of an introductory script: The Cardinals didn’t face a third down until the final play of the possession, and by then, they had already moved into their red zone menu.
Running seven plays before reaching the New Orleans 20-yard line likely meant burning a considerable chunk of Arians’s script in the game’s first five minutes, but that’s a problem the coach would welcome any time. “You’ve had a great two drives if you’re running out of stuff early,” he says.
One of Arians’s primary objectives in the first quarter is figuring out how a defense will respond to the various personnel groupings that the Cardinals use, and that means cycling through different formations and concepts as a means of collecting information. In setting his script’s order, Arians also studies his habits as a play-caller.
When preparing for a familiar opponent, Arians likes to go back through tape of Arizona’s past six games against that team and search for any revealing tells. “Was it run-run-pass-pass, how [the plays] unfolded?” Arians says. “You’re always self-scouting for tendencies.”
* * *
McVay notes that he comes into each game with 20 “openers” or “priority plays”—calls that “knowing we’re in normal down-and-distance, operating where you’ve got your run-pass balance, [that] we know at some point we want to get it called.”
For most coaches, third-down plays have a separate section on the call sheet; in fact, many are broken down into subsections depending on the circumstance. “If things go great, you’re going to just go right down that list,” McVay says. “[But] it’s not realistic.”
That last part is key: What’s misunderstood about play-calling scripts is that they’re rarely followed in order. Building that perfect initial game plan comprises a considerable portion of a play-caller’s job in the days before a game, but it can take one only so far. The need to react and riff on concepts is equally critical, and that’s where things can get dicey.
“You’ve got to be mindful about staying on schedule but also being ready to adjust to the different situations within the framework of a drive,” McVay says.
Before serving a stint as the 49ers general manager in the late 1990s, John McVay, Sean’s grandfather, worked as a member of the franchise’s front office during Walsh’s head-coaching tenure. One lesson John picked up and passed along to Sean is the importance of “playing the game before the game,” or imagining every outcome that may arise days before it could conceivably happen.
Between his own 5-yard line and the opponent’s 20, McVay knows that any second-and-8 play that doesn’t result in a turnover has two outcomes: a move to the third-down menu of plays or a slide back to his priority call sheet. By knowing on Thursday what plays might work best in that situation, the stress on Sunday weighs less.
McVay got his first crack at calling plays as Washington’s offensive coordinator in the 2015 season, at just 29 years old. As he reflects on that experience, he recalls too many moments when he was caught on his heels. “It’s the plays where you get caught off guard that really bother you the most,” McVay says. “That’s where you go back and you say, ‘I didn’t prepare the way that I should have to be ready for this situation when it comes up.’”
He specifically points to the second half of Washington’s 34-20 loss to the Jets in Week 6. His offense faced a series of similar third-down situations, and McVay feels that he went back to the same passing concept too often. “I don’t think I did a good job of mixing it up,” McVay says. “I kind of stayed vanilla, in terms of repeating a couple calls.”
Part of that problem can be alleviated through extra preparation. McVay devotes an entire section on his call sheet to “get back on track” plays installed explicitly for situations in which the offense is stonewalled on first down and needs a chunk of yards to steady itself. But part of it is knowing how to find a play-calling rhythm, a state that’s revered among the game’s premier play-callers.
* * *
For Arians, the pursuit of finding this rhythm seeps into the script-creation process. “When I put that script together, I tried to do it as I’m going down the field in my mind, not just grabbing plays off the board,” he says. “If we’ve got the ball on the 25, [after this play] we should be right about the 40. What do I like here? What runs are going to set up passes? One leads to the other.”
The game’s exceptional play-callers distinguish themselves by regularly ascending to this exalted sense of flow. Chargers coordinator Whisenhunt describes it best. When asked about settling into his rhythm, he stops and poses what seems like an odd question—“Are you a Seinfeld fan?”—before going on to explain. In an episode from Season 2, “The Busboy,” Elaine raves about a frantic drive to the airport that involved her weaving in and out of heavy traffic, anticipating openings before they appeared.
“To me, it’s a little bit like that,” Whisenhunt says. “Sometimes you’ve got to get in an area where you know what you want to do. You get on a string, and you’re seeing two or three plays ahead.”
Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8AS_tisvQI
That type of groove may sound like it’s predicated on an ability to see the future, but in reality, gaining a feel for dialing up the perfect play is honed over time. It’s based on the ability to predict what coverages a defense will use in certain scenarios, and as games go on and teams move further off-script, play-callers hope that they can use their understanding of an opponent’s core coverage tendencies to their advantage. In the second halves of games, creativity and feel for the moment truly shine.
* * *
By that point, play-calling is best left to the experts. The challenge is calibrating the right combination of plays that worked in the first half and presenting them with a twist in order to keep a defense off-balance. Arians tries to avoid calling for the same pass from the same formation twice in one game, while simultaneously returning to the concepts that are working.
McVay calls this balance “the illusion of complexity,” a notion he picked up from Jay Gruden during their time together in Washington. By forecasting how a defense will respond to formations and tweaking successful attempts to attack them, play-callers can maintain the upper hand.
“I think as a play-caller, you’re always trying to play percentages and put your players in great situations,” McVay says. “But what you realize is that it’s an imperfect deal.”
The best moments for a play-caller often come directly before the snap, when an offense lines up and gets the coverage and front it planned for given the personnel. The challenge—and the reason the best play-callers in the league can never rest—is that even those moments can sometimes lead to failure.
That’s when it’s back to the whiteboard, and the process begins anew. “As long as you’ve thought through your decisions, and you’re not just throwing stuff by the wayside, I can always live with it,” McVay says. “As long as you try to give your players an answer.”
Practice Report 8-23
- By shovelpass
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 8 Replies
http://m.therams.com/s/30854/409?itemUri=40892409/1291216311123119413330226
2017-08-23 8:10 PM | Kristen Lago
Practice Report: Goff, McVay Excited for What's Ahead
The Rams wrapped up their first full-padded practice of the week on Wednesday afternoon at Cal Lutheran. On Saturday, the team will return to the Coliseum to face the Chargers in Week 3 of preseason action.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM GOFF?
More of the same.
Goff has been steadily improving on field throughout the preseason, becoming a more vocal leader and a strong presence at the line of scrimmage. Over the two exhibition contests, he has completed 19-of-24 passes for 194 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.
On Wednesday, McVay expressed his satisfaction with Goff's progress thus far and said he will continue to look for steady improvement from the quarterback this weekend.
"I think you want to see consistency," McVay said. "If you can string together good decisions, throw the ball with great timing, rhythm, and accuracy, that's going to give you the chance to play the quarterback position at a high level [and] I thought he did a good job of that last week....I want to see the same type of thing this week moving onto an excellent defense with the Chargers."
After leading the Rams to three scoring drives against the Raiders, Goff said he and the rest of the team have gained confidence moving forward. But the development of the offense as a whole, from last year to this year, has been anything but surprising for its starting quarterback.
"It wasn't like it was shocking," Goff said of the offensive production against the Raiders. "It's something that we expected to do. We expected to play like that, we expect to play well and we expect to move the football."
JUST ANOTHER STEP ON THE LADDER
At least that's what wide receiver Robert Woods
had to say when asked about the Rams' progress heading into Saturday's game.
"Everybody is excited by our play in Oakland, but it's just a preseason game, it's early," Woods said after practice. "It's really just one step up the ladder."
Week 3, he says, will present the team with another one.
"We looked good this past game, but it's just consistency. That's the biggest thing we want is every time we hit the field [to] have a consistent drive and put up points," Woods added.
This week the Rams' will face the team across town in the Chargers. And though there has been much made of a growing rivalry between both L.A. teams, McVay doesn't quite see it that way.
"What it does, is it offers a great opportunity for two teams, in a great market, to try to put a sound product out there," McVay said. "I think it'd be a little different if we were both in the NFC."
And while the teams' two joint practices did feature a few intense moments between the players, Woods said he hopes his team will "handle [themselves], just go out there and play [their] game."
"We have our own goals, our own purpose - just going out there and running our plays, to execute, to put up points," he said. "And our main objective is to win the game."
PARTICIPATION REPORT
Before Wednesday's practice, the Rams signed defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker, waiving defensive tackle A.J. Jefferson as a corresponding move. The addition of Walker further boosts the Rams' depth on defense.
Cornerbacks Kevin Peterson, Michael Jordan, and Troy Hill did not participate in today's session along with linebackers Mark Barron and Robert Quinn. Joining them on the sidelines this afternoon was wide receiver Nelson Spruce.
Spruce has been set back this preseason with mild injuries, similar to his situation last year when he went down with a knee injury after a standout performance in Week 1. McVay said the staff "feels good about the receiver depth" that they do have - calling Spruce "a conscientious football player, [who] has a good feel for the game" when he's been available.
The receiver will continue to rehab in the hopes of making the 53-man roster come the regular season.
PRESS POINTS
After practice McVay was asked about the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight happening directly after the Ram's matchup with the Chargers. Catch up on who he believes will take the fight and watch his full interview below.
On who he is picking in the Floyd Mayweather - Connor McGregor fight: "It's going to be an interesting fight. I have a lot of respect for both of those guys. I think McGregor has been excellent as a UFC fighter. Mayweather is one of the best fighters of all-time, in terms of boxing. I think I'll have to go with my guy that's the boxer.
2017-08-23 8:10 PM | Kristen Lago
Practice Report: Goff, McVay Excited for What's Ahead
The Rams wrapped up their first full-padded practice of the week on Wednesday afternoon at Cal Lutheran. On Saturday, the team will return to the Coliseum to face the Chargers in Week 3 of preseason action.
WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM GOFF?
More of the same.
Goff has been steadily improving on field throughout the preseason, becoming a more vocal leader and a strong presence at the line of scrimmage. Over the two exhibition contests, he has completed 19-of-24 passes for 194 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.
On Wednesday, McVay expressed his satisfaction with Goff's progress thus far and said he will continue to look for steady improvement from the quarterback this weekend.
"I think you want to see consistency," McVay said. "If you can string together good decisions, throw the ball with great timing, rhythm, and accuracy, that's going to give you the chance to play the quarterback position at a high level [and] I thought he did a good job of that last week....I want to see the same type of thing this week moving onto an excellent defense with the Chargers."
After leading the Rams to three scoring drives against the Raiders, Goff said he and the rest of the team have gained confidence moving forward. But the development of the offense as a whole, from last year to this year, has been anything but surprising for its starting quarterback.
"It wasn't like it was shocking," Goff said of the offensive production against the Raiders. "It's something that we expected to do. We expected to play like that, we expect to play well and we expect to move the football."
JUST ANOTHER STEP ON THE LADDER
At least that's what wide receiver Robert Woods
had to say when asked about the Rams' progress heading into Saturday's game. "Everybody is excited by our play in Oakland, but it's just a preseason game, it's early," Woods said after practice. "It's really just one step up the ladder."
Week 3, he says, will present the team with another one.
"We looked good this past game, but it's just consistency. That's the biggest thing we want is every time we hit the field [to] have a consistent drive and put up points," Woods added.
This week the Rams' will face the team across town in the Chargers. And though there has been much made of a growing rivalry between both L.A. teams, McVay doesn't quite see it that way.
"What it does, is it offers a great opportunity for two teams, in a great market, to try to put a sound product out there," McVay said. "I think it'd be a little different if we were both in the NFC."
And while the teams' two joint practices did feature a few intense moments between the players, Woods said he hopes his team will "handle [themselves], just go out there and play [their] game."
"We have our own goals, our own purpose - just going out there and running our plays, to execute, to put up points," he said. "And our main objective is to win the game."
PARTICIPATION REPORT
Before Wednesday's practice, the Rams signed defensive tackle Tyrunn Walker
, waiving defensive tackle A.J. Jefferson as a corresponding move. The addition of Walker further boosts the Rams' depth on defense. Cornerbacks Kevin Peterson
, Michael Jordan, and Troy Hill did not participate in today's session along with linebackers Mark Barron and Robert Quinn. Joining them on the sidelines this afternoon was wide receiver Nelson Spruce. Spruce has been set back this preseason with mild injuries, similar to his situation last year when he went down with a knee injury after a standout performance in Week 1. McVay said the staff "feels good about the receiver depth" that they do have - calling Spruce "a conscientious football player, [who] has a good feel for the game" when he's been available.
The receiver will continue to rehab in the hopes of making the 53-man roster come the regular season.
PRESS POINTS
After practice McVay was asked about the Mayweather vs. McGregor fight happening directly after the Ram's matchup with the Chargers. Catch up on who he believes will take the fight and watch his full interview below.
On who he is picking in the Floyd Mayweather - Connor McGregor fight: "It's going to be an interesting fight. I have a lot of respect for both of those guys. I think McGregor has been excellent as a UFC fighter. Mayweather is one of the best fighters of all-time, in terms of boxing. I think I'll have to go with my guy that's the boxer.
Greatest Rams Alphabetically...J
- By Farr Be It
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 7 Replies
J has a ton of great players representing Ram history and current Rams as well. I tried to keep a keen eye out to make sure I didn't scan past a Ram legend this time...
...hopefully I succeeded.
I could have made a fairly impressive "Jones" list alone.
Notable: Ron Jaworski, Bert Jones, AJ Jones, Jimmie Jones, Robert Jones.
No: Barrett Jones
Draft Day Train Robber: Jesse James:wabbit:
...hopefully I succeeded.I could have made a fairly impressive "Jones" list alone.
- David "Deacon" Jones :boxing:
- Steven Jackson
- Harold Jackson
- Johnnie Johnson
- Cody Jones
- Ron Jessie
- Gary Jeter
- Trumaine Johnson
- Mike Jones :bow:
- Damone Johnson
Notable: Ron Jaworski, Bert Jones, AJ Jones, Jimmie Jones, Robert Jones.
No: Barrett Jones
Draft Day Train Robber: Jesse James:wabbit:
Sleeper NFL Draft prospects at each position you need to watch this season
- By JKBOGEN
- NFL DRAFT / COLLEGE FOOTBALL
- 22 Replies
Sleeper NFL Draft prospects at each position you need to watch this season
We are shifting gears a little bit now and as previously mentioned Downtown Rams will be covering the NFL Draft all season long as well as fantasy football on top of the obvious Los Angeles Rams. In this piece, Jake brings you his sleeper draft prospects you may or may not already know, but you need to make sure you watch during the college football season this year.
Quarterback: Luke Falk, Washington State
First off, you may have already heard of this kid, but believe it or not, he would be considered a sleeper. He's my number two overall QB prospect going into this season only behind Sam Darnold, but I may only know one other person that shares the opinion with me. If you didn't know before Falk the Washington State Cougars have had a record of 56-82 dating back to 2004. With Falk though, the Cougars have been competitive with a 21-18 record and a preseason top 25 ranking. Clearly, this program had been disastrous for awhile until number four came to town and his 10,888 yards passing plus his 89 touchdowns and only 26 interceptions in just three years. If that doesn't get you excited for this guy perhaps his comeback story of being a walk-on and working hard enough to be a starter might.
Falk still has this upcoming season which will be his last year. At 6-foot-4, 223 pounds he has the size to easily see over the line and make impressive plays on the field. Falk is in my opinion outstanding with his accuracy. He doesn't just give his receiver a chance to make a play, no he makes sure the ball is going only where the receiver can get it. What often gets overlooked though besides Falk's arm strength which is, in all honesty, NFL-ready, is his mobility. Sure, Falk may not run some crazy 40-time at the combine, but one thing I love his mobility inside the pocket. This kid will orchestrate himself to bounce around all over the pocket and roll outside as long as it can be used to help extend a play.
Falk threw 38 touchdowns in back-to-back seasons, but it's time to get excited. No one talks about him in the Heisman race, but Falk could be in for a serious season. So while Darnold, Rosen and Allen are the names talked about, go be the one to bring up Falk in a discussion. Listen to how many people say "who?" because this kid is going to be the real deal and is going to prove the doubters wrong.
Running back: L.J. Scott, Michigan State
Michigan State has groomed running backs along the lines of Le'Veon Bell and Jeremy Langford to name a couple recent ones. Now, it's time for the country to be welcomed (if you haven't already) to their next back L.J. Scott. The 6-foot-1, 231 pound back is going into his junior season with a career total of 330 carries for 1,693 and 17 touchdowns. It wasn't what he was expecting last season as the Spartans had a rough time every getting off the ground. They appeared stuck in neutral at times, but Scott continued to truck along as the Mack truck he is and push out an almost 1,000-yard season in his sophomore year.
Now, Scott could seriously be eyeing the NFL draft after this upcoming season and there is no reason to see why he wouldn't. Scott is likely a sleeper based on the fact all we hear are the names, Guice and Barkley. However, Scott runs with a hammer mentality, patience, and athleticism to make us ponder for a second whether or not we could be looking at the next Le'Veon Bell. Crazy I know, but the patience, the power, and the athleticism make him look like a possible future Bell.
If Scott wasn't already on your list of players to watch this season, he definitely should be now.
Wide receiver: Dante Pettis, Washington
John Ross has left the University of Washington so that means a likely bigger role for Dante Pettis. Pettis is the son of Gary Pettis who played professional baseball and the brother of former Rams WR Austin Pettis. Dante is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver that is coached by the same coach that his brother Austin had, Chris Petersen. Dante is set to become the number one receiver for young star QB Jake Browning as the Washington Huskies venture for a back-to-back college football playoff appearance.
What Pettis seems to bring to the table is versatility in his usage whether he's a big play go route type of guy, quick slant over the middle, bubble screen or even an end zone back shoulder fade he does it all. Pettis in a sense reminds me a bit of new Rams WR Josh Reynolds. Despite the fact Reynolds is bigger though, I do feel as though Pettis brings more to the table and isn't just going to be a red zone guy. We will see where the NFL scouts have him on the board, but for now, Pettis is definitely a player to watch this season.
Tight end: Mike Gesicki, Penn State
Mike Gesicki really made his presence known for me during the extraordinary Rose Bowl game versus USC when he showed off his size (6-foot-6, 252 pounds), speed and overall athleticism in a big way. Gesicki leads the Big 10 among returning tight ends in yards per route run according to Pro Football Focus. With receiver Chris Godwin now in the NFL, Gesicki could have an extended role.
It's uncertain if Gesicki will ever learn how to block at an above average clip because if he does he's likely the top tight end in this class. He made the smart decision to pass on jumping head first into the 2017 draft. He clearly could use another year to refine his skills as a receiver and acquire skills as a blocker. Regardless, Gesicki is going to be a fun watch for college football fans and definitely one to hone in on besides the obvious star at Penn State, Saquan Barkley.
Offensive lineman: Tyrell Crosby, Oregon
Perhaps this time last year you wouldn't be calling a possible first round tackle a sleeper, but ever since the former true freshman went down with a foot injury he's been virtually non-existent on draft boards and lists. His name is Tyrell Crosby and he's looking to show his team he can be a leader and show the NFL the same too moving forward.
Crosby has the skill and size to succeed at the next level. The key with Crosby is proving he's not an injury concern and he can be a model of consistency. Next time you turn on Royce Freeman tape or just the Oregon game to watch Freeman. Make sure you give No.73 a look. It seems stupid to buy into a guy coming off a season ending injury, but I believe Crosby could be a really good tackle moving forward.
Interior lineman: Maurice Hurst, Michigan
Michigan football is littered with talent every year it seems. Last year we saw Taco Charlton, Ryan Glasgow and Chris Wormley all have production for the Wolverines and move onto the NFL. Now, we have Rashan Gary who was a true freshman last year and someone who is ready to become an absolute star in college football. However, there is a trend here and for the most part, it happens everywhere. What is that you ask? Well, when you have too much talent on your roster players are often times overlooked and forgotten. That may have been the case with Maurice Hurst on the defensive line. All of that talent made No.73 hidden and will likely continue with the continued emergence of the star in the making, Rashan Gary.
Maurice Hurst is a very good football player and is the perfect sleeper prospect to get behind and start rooting for. Hurst is a 22-year old senior set to finally get his chance to really shine. Sure, Gary will get the majority of the publicity, but Hurst and his quick-footed and explosive nature will likely get his fair share of the wealth. The problem overall with Hurst is that many scouts are likely going to overlook him because of his small "undersized" defensive tackle stature. At 6-foot-2, 282 pounds Hurst is going to get overlooked. Yes, teams are still overlooking shorter players and have not yet learned their lesson with Aaron Donald and Russell Wilson.
Hurst is extremely intelligent with his maneuvers on the football field and it jumps out at you on tape. He makes sure to handle double teams the right way by turning his back to them since that's what he dealt with a lot last year. In the same instance, Hurst encourages double teams to give his teammates one-on-one opportunities while he does all of the dirty work. Hurst because of this shows off ownership, leadership, and toughness on top of the money other traits he possesses. So next time you turn on the Michigan Wolverines game key in on number 73.
EDGE rusher: Dorance Armstrong Jr., Kansas
Before I get into why he's still my sleeper I need to address the elephant in the room. Yes, Dorance Armstrong is finally getting recognition and with that the recognition, he deserves. But, he's still the first sleeper I had long before this new year. I have seen plenty of Kansas games to know they may have a hard time winning football games, but their coach David Beaty has them on the right track recruiting wise. Armstrong is the cream of the crop, a likely first round pick and yet the CBS Sports' of the world are still sleeping on him. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report might have been the first to agree with me on Armstrong being a top edge rusher.
Going into this season Armstrong is a junior ready to break out more than ever. At the size of 6-foot-4, 246 pounds Armstrong might need to put on some more weight for the NFL, but make no mistake he's going places. This might be the last year he's playing for Kansas over an NFL team, but Armstrong is going to lay it all on the line. His impressive blend of speed, quickness, and strength is set to terrorize the big 12 conference after 10 sacks in his sophomore year. Armstrong might not be from Texas A&M, but his coach is and he could very well be the next Myles Garrett.
Linebacker: Micah Kiser, Virginia
He's not a top notch athlete by any means, but Micah Kiser is the exact guy you want in the middle of your football team's defense. The senior stands at 6-foot-2, 240 pounds and is considered another tackling machine. He's a student of the game and you can see the passion and intelligence right away when you turn on the tape. He is a stout run stuffer who shows some serious physicality.
Kiser is one of those players who isn't the fastest, strongest, biggest name or the most impressive on the field, but it's the little things he does that make such a huge difference. This player is instinctive and is able to dissect what is going on. Again, Kiser isn't the greatest linebacker in the world and still struggles a bit in pass coverage, but overall he's fun to watch and is a player that will likely be pushing towards a day two pick in the NFL draft.
Cornerback: Kareem Orr, Chattanooga
Yes, I know the cornerback is wearing a Sun Devils jersey and it says Chattanooga up top. Unfortunately, I am not crazy and Kareem Orr has transferred to Chattanooga for personal reasons and to mainly come back to his home state of Tennessee. You may not want to turn on ESPN3 and watch Chattanooga, but I recommend giving them a watch since Orr is the type of talent that is worth even tuning into a game of theirs.
The game breaking explosive talent is a little shorter than the majority of the top corners at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds. He offers serious speed and the hands to pick off passes and take anyone of them to the house. Orr is a real dynamic player that the Sun Devils fans will miss instantly.
Safety: Cole Reyes, North Dakota
Remember what I said above about ESPN3. Cole Reyes has the size (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) and the speed to really play safety at the next level. He is likely going to get forgotten about and turn into an ultimate value selection for the smart team that sticks with him during the draft process. Reyes' tape is covered in dynamic plays in which make you ask yourself if you are watching a highlight reel and instead you realize you are not. Reyes' disruption does not go unnoticed whether it's showing off his vertical jumping ability making a play on the ball, his acceleration to chase down the ball carrier and make the tackle or even his quickness to creep up and stuff the run behind the line of scrimmage.
Reyes is going to be a great prospect going into next year's draft. All that goes against him is his level of competition. There is a chance this will be the first of many time's you hear this man's name before draft day.
Those are my sleeper prospects going into the 2017 college football season. What are yours? Leave us some comments on your thoughts on my sleepers and give us some of yours. As always keep it right here for all the latest NFL Draft coverage all year long.
We are shifting gears a little bit now and as previously mentioned Downtown Rams will be covering the NFL Draft all season long as well as fantasy football on top of the obvious Los Angeles Rams. In this piece, Jake brings you his sleeper draft prospects you may or may not already know, but you need to make sure you watch during the college football season this year.
Quarterback: Luke Falk, Washington State
First off, you may have already heard of this kid, but believe it or not, he would be considered a sleeper. He's my number two overall QB prospect going into this season only behind Sam Darnold, but I may only know one other person that shares the opinion with me. If you didn't know before Falk the Washington State Cougars have had a record of 56-82 dating back to 2004. With Falk though, the Cougars have been competitive with a 21-18 record and a preseason top 25 ranking. Clearly, this program had been disastrous for awhile until number four came to town and his 10,888 yards passing plus his 89 touchdowns and only 26 interceptions in just three years. If that doesn't get you excited for this guy perhaps his comeback story of being a walk-on and working hard enough to be a starter might.
Falk still has this upcoming season which will be his last year. At 6-foot-4, 223 pounds he has the size to easily see over the line and make impressive plays on the field. Falk is in my opinion outstanding with his accuracy. He doesn't just give his receiver a chance to make a play, no he makes sure the ball is going only where the receiver can get it. What often gets overlooked though besides Falk's arm strength which is, in all honesty, NFL-ready, is his mobility. Sure, Falk may not run some crazy 40-time at the combine, but one thing I love his mobility inside the pocket. This kid will orchestrate himself to bounce around all over the pocket and roll outside as long as it can be used to help extend a play.
Falk threw 38 touchdowns in back-to-back seasons, but it's time to get excited. No one talks about him in the Heisman race, but Falk could be in for a serious season. So while Darnold, Rosen and Allen are the names talked about, go be the one to bring up Falk in a discussion. Listen to how many people say "who?" because this kid is going to be the real deal and is going to prove the doubters wrong.
Running back: L.J. Scott, Michigan State
Michigan State has groomed running backs along the lines of Le'Veon Bell and Jeremy Langford to name a couple recent ones. Now, it's time for the country to be welcomed (if you haven't already) to their next back L.J. Scott. The 6-foot-1, 231 pound back is going into his junior season with a career total of 330 carries for 1,693 and 17 touchdowns. It wasn't what he was expecting last season as the Spartans had a rough time every getting off the ground. They appeared stuck in neutral at times, but Scott continued to truck along as the Mack truck he is and push out an almost 1,000-yard season in his sophomore year.
Now, Scott could seriously be eyeing the NFL draft after this upcoming season and there is no reason to see why he wouldn't. Scott is likely a sleeper based on the fact all we hear are the names, Guice and Barkley. However, Scott runs with a hammer mentality, patience, and athleticism to make us ponder for a second whether or not we could be looking at the next Le'Veon Bell. Crazy I know, but the patience, the power, and the athleticism make him look like a possible future Bell.
If Scott wasn't already on your list of players to watch this season, he definitely should be now.
Wide receiver: Dante Pettis, Washington
John Ross has left the University of Washington so that means a likely bigger role for Dante Pettis. Pettis is the son of Gary Pettis who played professional baseball and the brother of former Rams WR Austin Pettis. Dante is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver that is coached by the same coach that his brother Austin had, Chris Petersen. Dante is set to become the number one receiver for young star QB Jake Browning as the Washington Huskies venture for a back-to-back college football playoff appearance.
What Pettis seems to bring to the table is versatility in his usage whether he's a big play go route type of guy, quick slant over the middle, bubble screen or even an end zone back shoulder fade he does it all. Pettis in a sense reminds me a bit of new Rams WR Josh Reynolds. Despite the fact Reynolds is bigger though, I do feel as though Pettis brings more to the table and isn't just going to be a red zone guy. We will see where the NFL scouts have him on the board, but for now, Pettis is definitely a player to watch this season.
Tight end: Mike Gesicki, Penn State
Mike Gesicki really made his presence known for me during the extraordinary Rose Bowl game versus USC when he showed off his size (6-foot-6, 252 pounds), speed and overall athleticism in a big way. Gesicki leads the Big 10 among returning tight ends in yards per route run according to Pro Football Focus. With receiver Chris Godwin now in the NFL, Gesicki could have an extended role.
It's uncertain if Gesicki will ever learn how to block at an above average clip because if he does he's likely the top tight end in this class. He made the smart decision to pass on jumping head first into the 2017 draft. He clearly could use another year to refine his skills as a receiver and acquire skills as a blocker. Regardless, Gesicki is going to be a fun watch for college football fans and definitely one to hone in on besides the obvious star at Penn State, Saquan Barkley.
Offensive lineman: Tyrell Crosby, Oregon
Perhaps this time last year you wouldn't be calling a possible first round tackle a sleeper, but ever since the former true freshman went down with a foot injury he's been virtually non-existent on draft boards and lists. His name is Tyrell Crosby and he's looking to show his team he can be a leader and show the NFL the same too moving forward.
Crosby has the skill and size to succeed at the next level. The key with Crosby is proving he's not an injury concern and he can be a model of consistency. Next time you turn on Royce Freeman tape or just the Oregon game to watch Freeman. Make sure you give No.73 a look. It seems stupid to buy into a guy coming off a season ending injury, but I believe Crosby could be a really good tackle moving forward.
Interior lineman: Maurice Hurst, Michigan
Michigan football is littered with talent every year it seems. Last year we saw Taco Charlton, Ryan Glasgow and Chris Wormley all have production for the Wolverines and move onto the NFL. Now, we have Rashan Gary who was a true freshman last year and someone who is ready to become an absolute star in college football. However, there is a trend here and for the most part, it happens everywhere. What is that you ask? Well, when you have too much talent on your roster players are often times overlooked and forgotten. That may have been the case with Maurice Hurst on the defensive line. All of that talent made No.73 hidden and will likely continue with the continued emergence of the star in the making, Rashan Gary.
Maurice Hurst is a very good football player and is the perfect sleeper prospect to get behind and start rooting for. Hurst is a 22-year old senior set to finally get his chance to really shine. Sure, Gary will get the majority of the publicity, but Hurst and his quick-footed and explosive nature will likely get his fair share of the wealth. The problem overall with Hurst is that many scouts are likely going to overlook him because of his small "undersized" defensive tackle stature. At 6-foot-2, 282 pounds Hurst is going to get overlooked. Yes, teams are still overlooking shorter players and have not yet learned their lesson with Aaron Donald and Russell Wilson.
Hurst is extremely intelligent with his maneuvers on the football field and it jumps out at you on tape. He makes sure to handle double teams the right way by turning his back to them since that's what he dealt with a lot last year. In the same instance, Hurst encourages double teams to give his teammates one-on-one opportunities while he does all of the dirty work. Hurst because of this shows off ownership, leadership, and toughness on top of the money other traits he possesses. So next time you turn on the Michigan Wolverines game key in on number 73.
EDGE rusher: Dorance Armstrong Jr., Kansas
Before I get into why he's still my sleeper I need to address the elephant in the room. Yes, Dorance Armstrong is finally getting recognition and with that the recognition, he deserves. But, he's still the first sleeper I had long before this new year. I have seen plenty of Kansas games to know they may have a hard time winning football games, but their coach David Beaty has them on the right track recruiting wise. Armstrong is the cream of the crop, a likely first round pick and yet the CBS Sports' of the world are still sleeping on him. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report might have been the first to agree with me on Armstrong being a top edge rusher.
Going into this season Armstrong is a junior ready to break out more than ever. At the size of 6-foot-4, 246 pounds Armstrong might need to put on some more weight for the NFL, but make no mistake he's going places. This might be the last year he's playing for Kansas over an NFL team, but Armstrong is going to lay it all on the line. His impressive blend of speed, quickness, and strength is set to terrorize the big 12 conference after 10 sacks in his sophomore year. Armstrong might not be from Texas A&M, but his coach is and he could very well be the next Myles Garrett.
Linebacker: Micah Kiser, Virginia
He's not a top notch athlete by any means, but Micah Kiser is the exact guy you want in the middle of your football team's defense. The senior stands at 6-foot-2, 240 pounds and is considered another tackling machine. He's a student of the game and you can see the passion and intelligence right away when you turn on the tape. He is a stout run stuffer who shows some serious physicality.
Kiser is one of those players who isn't the fastest, strongest, biggest name or the most impressive on the field, but it's the little things he does that make such a huge difference. This player is instinctive and is able to dissect what is going on. Again, Kiser isn't the greatest linebacker in the world and still struggles a bit in pass coverage, but overall he's fun to watch and is a player that will likely be pushing towards a day two pick in the NFL draft.
Cornerback: Kareem Orr, Chattanooga
Yes, I know the cornerback is wearing a Sun Devils jersey and it says Chattanooga up top. Unfortunately, I am not crazy and Kareem Orr has transferred to Chattanooga for personal reasons and to mainly come back to his home state of Tennessee. You may not want to turn on ESPN3 and watch Chattanooga, but I recommend giving them a watch since Orr is the type of talent that is worth even tuning into a game of theirs.
The game breaking explosive talent is a little shorter than the majority of the top corners at 5-foot-11, 195 pounds. He offers serious speed and the hands to pick off passes and take anyone of them to the house. Orr is a real dynamic player that the Sun Devils fans will miss instantly.
Safety: Cole Reyes, North Dakota
Remember what I said above about ESPN3. Cole Reyes has the size (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) and the speed to really play safety at the next level. He is likely going to get forgotten about and turn into an ultimate value selection for the smart team that sticks with him during the draft process. Reyes' tape is covered in dynamic plays in which make you ask yourself if you are watching a highlight reel and instead you realize you are not. Reyes' disruption does not go unnoticed whether it's showing off his vertical jumping ability making a play on the ball, his acceleration to chase down the ball carrier and make the tackle or even his quickness to creep up and stuff the run behind the line of scrimmage.
Reyes is going to be a great prospect going into next year's draft. All that goes against him is his level of competition. There is a chance this will be the first of many time's you hear this man's name before draft day.
Those are my sleeper prospects going into the 2017 college football season. What are yours? Leave us some comments on your thoughts on my sleepers and give us some of yours. As always keep it right here for all the latest NFL Draft coverage all year long.
The ROD Tattoos
- OFF TOPIC
- 33 Replies
(I used the search option, like Mods have recommended prior, couldn't find any results for tattoos so here we go). I'm open to a different title, too. 
[GALLERY=media, 245]IMG-20170523-WA0065 by BatteringRambo posted Aug 23, 2017 at 10:30 PM[/GALLERY]
[GALLERY=media, 244]IMG-20170523-WA0039 by BatteringRambo posted Aug 23, 2017 at 10:29 PM[/GALLERY]
[GALLERY=media, 243]IMG-20170523-WA0048 by BatteringRambo posted Aug 23, 2017 at 10:28 PM[/GALLERY]
[GALLERY=media, 245]IMG-20170523-WA0065 by BatteringRambo posted Aug 23, 2017 at 10:30 PM[/GALLERY]
[GALLERY=media, 244]IMG-20170523-WA0039 by BatteringRambo posted Aug 23, 2017 at 10:29 PM[/GALLERY]
[GALLERY=media, 243]IMG-20170523-WA0048 by BatteringRambo posted Aug 23, 2017 at 10:28 PM[/GALLERY]
Browns trying to trade Brock Osweiler
- By Prime Time
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 33 Replies
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/08/23/browns-trying-to-trade-brock-osweiler/
Browns trying to trade Brock Osweiler
Posted by Michael David Smith on August 23, 2017
AP
Could Brock Osweiler be traded for the second time this year?
The Browns have renewed their attempt to trade Osweiler, something it was clear they were trying to do when they showcased him as their starter in two preseason games even though it appears that they plan to start DeShone Kizer when the regular season begins.
The question, of course, is why any team would want to trade for Osweiler and his $16 million salary. That salary is the reason the Browns were able to get the Texans’ 2018 second-round draft pick when Osweiler was traded from Houston to Cleveland in March. No one is trading for Osweiler at his current salary.
But if the Browns are able to work out a deal that includes Cleveland paying part of Osweiler’s salary, perhaps he’d be attractive enough that some team would give up a late-round draft pick for him. The Browns’ top priority is acquiring draft picks to build for the future, and if they can pull off two Osweiler trades that bring them picks in one year, they’ll take that as a big win.
Browns trying to trade Brock Osweiler
Posted by Michael David Smith on August 23, 2017
AP
Could Brock Osweiler be traded for the second time this year?
The Browns have renewed their attempt to trade Osweiler, something it was clear they were trying to do when they showcased him as their starter in two preseason games even though it appears that they plan to start DeShone Kizer when the regular season begins.
The question, of course, is why any team would want to trade for Osweiler and his $16 million salary. That salary is the reason the Browns were able to get the Texans’ 2018 second-round draft pick when Osweiler was traded from Houston to Cleveland in March. No one is trading for Osweiler at his current salary.
But if the Browns are able to work out a deal that includes Cleveland paying part of Osweiler’s salary, perhaps he’d be attractive enough that some team would give up a late-round draft pick for him. The Browns’ top priority is acquiring draft picks to build for the future, and if they can pull off two Osweiler trades that bring them picks in one year, they’ll take that as a big win.
Discredited Every Snowflake Placated Now Network Predictably Disrespects Goff Again
- By Farr Be It
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 15 Replies
The moronic ESPN fake news network strikes again. Fresh off their brilliant demotion of the clearly racist Chinese color commentator Robert Lee, they've used their superior discernment skills to write this:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.tu...nks-bottom-of-nfl-in-espn-2017-power-rankings
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.tu...nks-bottom-of-nfl-in-espn-2017-power-rankings
Greatest Rams Alphabetically...H-I
- By Farr Be It
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 10 Replies
As we approach the middle of the alphabet I become aware that the season approaches! (You will truly know the regular season is just days away when I post my final X-Y-Z list! 
Which coincidentally is National 'Examine Your Zipper Day'. )
I added a fun little category in order to cram in a bunch of worthy blue collar dudes.
Lots of H's. Only a few I's. So I put them here. Cuz, the J's are going to be crazy.
Honorable mention: William Hayes, James Harris (QB), Ritchie Incognito, Tony Horne, Bill Hawkins, Cliff Hicks, Pat Haden, James Hall, Steve Israel, Dale Hatcher, Josh Hull, Thomas Homco, Tony Hargrove.
Blue Collar "H"all of Fame: David Hill, Tony Hunter, James Hodgins, Robert Holcombe, Michael Hoomanawanui, Madison Hedgecock, Cory Harkey.
"H"all of Shame: Daryl Henley
Notable: Father/son: Britt/Bryce Hager, Al Harris, Kim Herring, Mark Herman, Craig Heyward, Shaun Hill.
No: Tye Hill
Which coincidentally is National 'Examine Your Zipper Day'. )I added a fun little category in order to cram in a bunch of worthy blue collar dudes.
Lots of H's. Only a few I's. So I put them here. Cuz, the J's are going to be crazy.
- Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch
- Dennis Harrah
- Johnny Hekker
- Ken Iman
- Leroy Irvin
- Kent Hill
- Pete Holohan
- Az Hakim
- John Hadl
- Drew Hill
Honorable mention: William Hayes, James Harris (QB), Ritchie Incognito, Tony Horne, Bill Hawkins, Cliff Hicks, Pat Haden, James Hall, Steve Israel, Dale Hatcher, Josh Hull, Thomas Homco, Tony Hargrove.
Blue Collar "H"all of Fame: David Hill, Tony Hunter, James Hodgins, Robert Holcombe, Michael Hoomanawanui, Madison Hedgecock, Cory Harkey.
"H"all of Shame: Daryl Henley
Notable: Father/son: Britt/Bryce Hager, Al Harris, Kim Herring, Mark Herman, Craig Heyward, Shaun Hill.
No: Tye Hill
