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Nice prediction Joey Aucoin ...
- By Riverumbbq
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 5 Replies
48
Might as well mark these down as truths that just haven’t taken place yet. However, they will this evening in Oakland, California.
by joeyaucoin Aug 19, 2017, 11:00am CDT T
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56269405/831470044.0.jpg)
Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
There’s an eager anticipation in the air, as the Los Angeles Rams are starting to hand some solid playing time to their stars. Yes, developing the depth of the team is a significant goal at this point in the preseason, but just as important is putting your star players in the thick of it.
Here are my instantly regrettable predictions about tonight’s away game against the Oakland Raiders :
Might as well mark these down as truths that just haven’t taken place yet. However, they will this evening in Oakland, California.
by joeyaucoin Aug 19, 2017, 11:00am CDT T
There’s an eager anticipation in the air, as the Los Angeles Rams are starting to hand some solid playing time to their stars. Yes, developing the depth of the team is a significant goal at this point in the preseason, but just as important is putting your star players in the thick of it.
Here are my instantly regrettable predictions about tonight’s away game against the Oakland Raiders :
- Jamon Brown is going to keep his job in a triumphant effort. What can I say? I like Brown’s happy go-lucky vibe, as if he’s unaware that the Rams fanbase is loudly freaking out that the Rams are going to be starting a bag of crushed up newspapers at right guard. I think Jamon Brown heard a whole boatload of negative comments about him this week and it fired it up. He’s going to prove that he’s belongs on that O-line with strong footwork and no sacks — and offensive line coach Aaron Kromer is going to get the lion’s share of the credit.
- It won’t be a bad game for Sammy Watkins, but he’s not going to light up the scoreboard. I feel that Watkins is healthy, but still learning the playbook. He’ll have a moment where he looks good, but keep your expectations in check. I see Watkins with two targets and one reception for 8 yards.
- Ejuan Price will have a strong showing, making a strong case for a starting job in week one. I’m a big fan of this guy. I love his quickness and his willingness to never give up on the play. Price will log one sack, three tackles, and a deflection.
- Two touchdown passes for Jared Goff and both of them will go to Josh Reynolds. Reynolds fills such a need for the receiving core and it will become extremely apparent tonight against the Raiders. The rangy wideout is going to make the plays of the game, making a spectacular diving catch in the end zone — twice.
- Justin Davis will not fumble the ball and he will turn heads, break ankles, and prove to the coaching staff that he should be the backup to Todd Gurley. Davis will score a touchdown and rack up 46 yards. (It will be noted here that I desperately want Davis to get over his ball security issues because I think he’s super fast.)
Paul Allen finds lost WWII ship USS Indianapolis
For those that don't know the history of this ship, It was a top secret mission for the first Bomb dropped on Japan. When it sank, nobody knew, so rescue was hindered.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...i-ship-uss-indianapolis/ar-AAql9Fy?li=BBnb7Kz
Paul Allen finds lost WWII ship USS Indianapolis
7 / 24
USA TODAY
Leigh Hedger 5 hrs ago
© Provided by Bureau of Ships Collection in the U.S. National Archives At the Mare Island Navy Yard after her final overhaul, July 12, 1945. Circles on photo mark recent alterations to the ship. Note stripped Cleveland class light cruiser in the right…
"We've located the wreckage of the USS Indianapolis in Philippine Sea at 5500m below the sea."
That tweet from entrepreneur and billionaire Paul Allen around 12:20 p.m. Saturday confirmed what many have been searching for since the ship was sunk on July 30, 1945.
Allen, who is leading a 13-person team on his 250-foot research ship, the R/V Petrel, said the wreckage was found at a depth of more than 18,000 feet.
The heavy cruiser, carrying 1,197 sailors and Marines, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine while sailing back to the Philippines after delivering components for "Little Boy," the atomic bomb that helped end World War II. It took only 12 minutes to sink.
While 900 crewmen made it through the initial sinking, only 316 survived to be rescued when help arrived five days later on Aug. 2. Many had died of exposure or thirst, drowned or were attacked by sharks.
Families of those aboard the ship found out about the deaths of their loved ones just as the rest of the country was celebrating the conclusion of World War II.
The latest break in the search for the wreckage came in July 2016, when the Naval History and Heritage Command Communication and Outreach Division reported that a sailor had confirmed that a tank landing ship, LST-779, had passed the Indianapolis 11 hours before the torpedo struck. That backed up the testimony of Captain Charles McVay III and was confirmed by deck logs.
That finding narrowed the search — to a 600 square miles of open ocean
“To be able to honor the brave men of the USS Indianapolis and their families through the discovery of a ship that played such a significant role in ending World War II is truly humbling,” Allen said in a statement. “As Americans, we all owe a debt of gratitude to the crew for their courage, persistence and sacrifice in the face of horrendous circumstances. While our search for the rest of the wreckage will continue, I hope everyone connected to this historic ship will feel some measure of closure at this discovery so long in coming.”
Allen’s team is still surveying the site of the wreckage and plans to conduct a live tour of the wreckage in the next few weeks. The crew is working with the Navy and plans to honor the remaining 22 USS Indianapolis crew members and families of crew members.
"Even in the worst defeats and disasters there is valor and sacrifice that deserves to never be forgotten," said Sam Cox, director of the Naval History and Heritage Command, in a statement. "They can serve as inspiration to current and future Sailors enduring situations of mortal peril. There are also lessons learned, and in the case of the Indianapolis, lessons re-learned, that need to be preserved and passed on, so the same mistakes can be prevented, and lives saved."
In March 2015, an Allen expedition team discovered the remains of the Japanese battleship Musashi, and this past March his team found the Artigliere, a World War II destroyer.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world...i-ship-uss-indianapolis/ar-AAql9Fy?li=BBnb7Kz
Paul Allen finds lost WWII ship USS Indianapolis
7 / 24
USA TODAY
Leigh Hedger 5 hrs ago
"We've located the wreckage of the USS Indianapolis in Philippine Sea at 5500m below the sea."
That tweet from entrepreneur and billionaire Paul Allen around 12:20 p.m. Saturday confirmed what many have been searching for since the ship was sunk on July 30, 1945.
Allen, who is leading a 13-person team on his 250-foot research ship, the R/V Petrel, said the wreckage was found at a depth of more than 18,000 feet.
The heavy cruiser, carrying 1,197 sailors and Marines, was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine while sailing back to the Philippines after delivering components for "Little Boy," the atomic bomb that helped end World War II. It took only 12 minutes to sink.
While 900 crewmen made it through the initial sinking, only 316 survived to be rescued when help arrived five days later on Aug. 2. Many had died of exposure or thirst, drowned or were attacked by sharks.
Families of those aboard the ship found out about the deaths of their loved ones just as the rest of the country was celebrating the conclusion of World War II.
The latest break in the search for the wreckage came in July 2016, when the Naval History and Heritage Command Communication and Outreach Division reported that a sailor had confirmed that a tank landing ship, LST-779, had passed the Indianapolis 11 hours before the torpedo struck. That backed up the testimony of Captain Charles McVay III and was confirmed by deck logs.
That finding narrowed the search — to a 600 square miles of open ocean
“To be able to honor the brave men of the USS Indianapolis and their families through the discovery of a ship that played such a significant role in ending World War II is truly humbling,” Allen said in a statement. “As Americans, we all owe a debt of gratitude to the crew for their courage, persistence and sacrifice in the face of horrendous circumstances. While our search for the rest of the wreckage will continue, I hope everyone connected to this historic ship will feel some measure of closure at this discovery so long in coming.”
Allen’s team is still surveying the site of the wreckage and plans to conduct a live tour of the wreckage in the next few weeks. The crew is working with the Navy and plans to honor the remaining 22 USS Indianapolis crew members and families of crew members.
"Even in the worst defeats and disasters there is valor and sacrifice that deserves to never be forgotten," said Sam Cox, director of the Naval History and Heritage Command, in a statement. "They can serve as inspiration to current and future Sailors enduring situations of mortal peril. There are also lessons learned, and in the case of the Indianapolis, lessons re-learned, that need to be preserved and passed on, so the same mistakes can be prevented, and lives saved."
In March 2015, an Allen expedition team discovered the remains of the Japanese battleship Musashi, and this past March his team found the Artigliere, a World War II destroyer.
19-Handicap
- By flv
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 5 Replies
Just a reminder that the sign-up for this Pick'em is now open. This is a straight Pick'em with an unusual scoring system. Essentially you're picking against the Vegas money line rather than picking the team that has a better than 50-50 chance to win. There is a ROD$10K entry fee. The prize fund is ROD$25K + 125% of entry fees. 68% of the prize fund will go to the 17 weekly winners. The sign-up is here:
ramsondemand.com/sportsbook/19-handicap-unofficial-rod-straight-pickem-2017-rod-10k-entry.1625/
Good luck!
ramsondemand.com/sportsbook/19-handicap-unofficial-rod-straight-pickem-2017-rod-10k-entry.1625/
Good luck!
Rams at Raiders Preview: Preseason Game #2
- By Florida_Ram
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 0 Replies
Oakland Raiders: What we learned from the exhibition opener
By JIMMY DURKIN
PUBLISHED: August 12, 2017
Derek Carr suited up but never needed his helmet as only three offensive starters ever saw the field. Most of their starting defense was out there, as it should have been considering the work it needs, but Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin didn’t play.
Marshawn Lynch experienced an interesting night as he suited up for the Raiders for the first time. There was never a chance that he was going to play, but he did put on the pads for pre-game warmups.
Also a non-issue for Del Rio is the Gareon Conley injury situation. Conley tweeted on Thursday that he doesn’t have shin splints, which ran counter to what general manager Reggie McKenzie said 11 days earlier. It appears to be a minor mix-up with Conley dealing with an injury to his shin, but not specifically shin splints.
Here’s what we learned from the exhibition opener:
THREE IMPRESSIONS
1. Playing it safe: The Raiders could’ve given Carr a token possession with a few handoffs, but they didn’t bother. It was an automatic they’d sit guys who have been dealing with injuries like Amari Cooper, Mack, Irvin, Obi Melifonwu and Gareon Conley, who is still on the physically unable to perform list.
But they played it extra cautious by keeping out Michael Crabtree, Jared Cook, the starting interior offensive line of Rodney Hudson, Kelechi Osemele and Gabe Jackson and fullback Jamize Olawale.
Most of those guys will see action at some point in the exhibition season, but there’s no reason to expose them this early on.
2. Defense not fixed: The Raiders pegged so many of their defensive issues last season on poor communication they expected to have cleaned up this year. That wasn’t immediately evident.
On Arizona’s first drive, either TJ Carrie or Reggie Nelson blew the coverage and Jaron Brown was running free down the middle of the field. But Carson Palmer overthrew Brown as the Raiders escaped giving up a truly ugly play.
Two drives later, the Raiders only had 10 players on the field when fortunately an alert Karl Joseph called a time out. These are issues you expect to see in the exhibition season, but it’s easy to overreact so early when you consider the issues from last season.
3. Manuel maintains lead: E.J. Manuel has long held the apparent edge in the backup quarterback battle and that didn’t change Saturday. He played the first half and completed 10 of 12 passes for 107 yards despite not having Cooper, Crabtree or Cook to throw to. His best pass was a 30-yarder to tight end Clive Walford that he nicely dropped in.
Connor Cook was 10 of 21 for 82 yards, with his longest pass of 29 yards coming on a screen play that John Crockett turned into a big gain.
THREE WHO HELPED THEMSELVES
1. Safety Karl Joseph: The second-year safety is already a locked-in starter of course, but he showed the early signs of being more of an impact player. He raced in to deliver a big thumping hit on one of Arizona’s first running plays of the night and was highly active while he was out there — so much so that he looked like one of those key starters that should’ve been sitting on the bench.
2. Defensive tackle Treyvon Hester: It’s no secret the Raiders need some interior push on that defensive front. Hester showed he may be able to provide that. He received rotational snaps with the starting defense and helped anchor the second-team line and delivered a pair of sacks and a quarterback hurry.
3. Linebacker LaTroy Lewis: Where did he come from? An undrafted free agent out of Tennessee, he hasn’t really drawn any attention during training camp but proved to be worth watching a little more after coming off the edge to notch two sacks. Sure, he did it against backup linemen, but for a team in need of some secondary pass rushers behind Mack and Irvin, he could earn himself an extra look.
THREE WHO HURT THEMSELVES
1. Cornerback Sean Smith: The night couldn’t have gone worse for Smith, whom the Raiders gave a four-year, $38 million contract to last year. He looks more like a candidate to be cut — even with a guaranteed $9.5 million salary this season — than he does to start.
Smith was called for pass interference on his first snap of the night, then picked up an illegal contact penalty later in the game when the Cardinals’ Chris Hubert beat him deep and he just reached out and grabbed him.
He got beat another time on what should’ve been a touchdown but Arizona backup quarterback Drew Stanton overthrew the pass.
While he’s a sunk cost for this year, the Raiders might have to consider eating that money if he continues on this path.
2. Linebacker Marquel Lee: The rookie middle linebacker has a lot riding on him to help stabilize this defense and he didn’t get off to a great start. Lee, a fifth-round pick, was constantly getting blown out of run plays and chasing from behind in coverage on pass plays. He did have a fumble recovery, finished with six tackles and had a couple flashes in coverage, but overall it wasn’t the best debut.
3. Right tackle Vadal Alexander: The Raiders’ biggest leverage in the Donald Penn holdout is to have their line play well in his absence. Alexander, who would’ve been battling Marshall Newhouse for the right tackle job if Penn was in camp, was beat badly on a play that led to Manuel getting crushed for a nine-yard sack. The Raiders don’t want to see their QBs taking big hits like that.
EXTRA POINT
— The Raiders are already thin at offensive tackle with Penn’s holdout and David Sharpe dealing with an injury that kept him out and then saw Denver Kirkland leave in the third quarter with some type of leg injury. The versatile Kirkland started the game at left guard and was playing left tackle with the second unit when he got hurt.
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/08/...s-what-we-learned-from-the-exhibition-opener/
Raiders Renew Longstanding Preseason Series With Rams
By Jerry Knaak Team Historian
The Raiders have a long and varied history with the Los Angeles Rams in the preseason. Let's take a look at it.
The Raiders have a long and varied history with the Los Angeles Rams in the preseason. Although the teams have met just 13 times in the regular season since 1972, the Raiders and Rams have battled 19 times in regular season tune-ups since 1970.
The Raiders lead the all-time preseason series 12-7 and have won the last four meetings, all in Oakland.
The series has been played out in four different cities (Berkeley, Oakland, St. Louis, and Los Angeles) and in five different stadiums (Cal’s Memorial Stadium, the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Edward Jones Dome, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and Anaheim Stadium).
The Raiders and Rams met annually in the preseason from 1970-73, traditionally in Week 3 of a six-game exhibition schedule. The Rams won the first meeting, 34-23, in Los Angeles, with the Raiders winning the next three.
The second meeting, a 20-7 Raiders win in 1971, was held at Cal’s Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, as was the fourth, a 16-3 Raiders victory in 1973.
Rams quarterback Roman Gabriel, who was originally drafted by the Raiders in the first round of the 1962 AFL Draft, as well as by the Rams in the 1962 NFL Draft, was a top NFL quarterback (1969 NFL MVP) for the Rams and played in this rivalry from 1970-72.
After a year off, the teams resumed their annual meetings with five in a row from 1975-79. The Rams won the 1975 and ’76 contests, with the ’76 match-up serving as the Raiders only loss of the 1976 preseason.
The six-game preseason schedule was shortened to four (with exceptions for American Bowls overseas and Hall of Fame games) after the 1977 campaign, and then Rams would go on to win the next three match-ups in the series, 1978, ’79 and 1992.
During the 1970s, numerous Hall of Fame players on both sides took the field in this preseason series.
For the Raiders: tackle Ron Mix, center Jim Otto, quarterback/kicker George Blanda, quarterback Ken Stabler, cornerback Willie Brown, guard Gene Upshaw, tackle Art Shell, linebacker Ted Hendricks, tight end Dave Casper, wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff, tackle Bob Brown, punter Ray Guy, and Head Coach John Madden.
For the Rams: Head Coach George Allen, defensive end Deacon Jones, guard Tom Mack, defensive tackle Merlin Olsen, tackle Jackie Slater, and defensive end Jack Youngblood.
From 1970-79, the Raiders and Rams each qualified for the playoffs seven times, and played in five conference championship games each during that span. The Silver and Black defeated the Minnesota Vikings 32-14 in Super Bowl XI after the 1976 season.
The Vikings defeated the Rams in the NFL title game that year. The Rams would go on to win the NFC Championship and lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl after the 1979 season.
The Raiders played in five straight AFC Championship games from 1973-77, while the Rams played in three straight NFL title game from 1974-76, and two straight from 1978-79.
The 1979 and 1992 contests featured rare preseason overtime finishes. The Rams won both, 20-14 in ’79, and 19-16 in '92; both games were held in Los Angeles with the Rams as the home team. Longtime Rams running back Eric Dickerson (1983-87) joined the Silver and Black in 1992 after playing for the Indianapolis Colts (1987-91).
The Raiders moved to Los Angeles after the 1981 campaign and set up shop at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The two teams only met three times in the 1980s, all in the regular season.
The Raiders won the next two match-ups against the Rams, both in Los Angeles with the Rams as the home team, 1993-94, which happened to be the last two times the teams would meet as the Los Angeles Raiders vs the Los Angeles Rams in the preseason.
They would face each other during the 1994 regular season.
Both teams would move after the 1994 season, with the Raiders returning to Oakland, and the Rams relocating to St. Louis. From 1995 – 2015, the Raiders won six of the seven preseason meetings between the two teams, with all but one of those match-ups taking place in Oakland.
The Rams only win during this time period came in 2000 in St. Louis, as Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner and the Rams celebrated their 1999 Super Bowl title, and the team unveiled new uniforms.
The Raiders won the last match-up, 18-3 in Oakland in 2015, in Jack Del Rio’s debut as Raiders head coach. The Rams returned to Los Angeles in 2016.
In the preseason, the two teams played twice in Berkeley, eight times in Los Angeles, twice in St. Louis and seven times in Oakland. Well over 30 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame have participated in this rivalry.
As for the regular season, the Raiders lead the series 8-5, with the Rams winning the last three in St. Louis and the Raiders winning the last two in Oakland. The two teams have eight Super Bowl appearances between them.
When the Raiders and Rams renew their preseason rivalry Saturday night in Oakland, the Rams will once again be wearing new uniforms, with the new look harkening back to the days when this series first began. And the next time the Raiders take to the road to face the Rams, it’ll be in Los Angeles where the whole thing began.
Raiders vs Rams Preseason Series:
Aug. 22, 1970: Raiders at LA Rams, L 34-23
Aug. 21, 1971: Raiders vs LA Rams, W 20-7, Berkeley
Aug. 19, 1972: Raiders at LA Rams, W 34-9
Aug. 18, 1973: Raiders vs LA Rams, W 16-3, Berkeley
Sept. 11, 1975: Raiders at LA Rams, L 6-0
Aug. 21, 1976: Raiders vs LA Rams, L 23-14
Sept. 9, 1977: Raiders at LA Rams, W 21-0
Aug. 6, 1978: Raiders vs LA Rams, L 28-3
Aug. 4, 1979: Raiders at LA Rams, L 20-14 OT
Aug. 15, 1992: LA Raiders at LA Rams, L 19-16 OT
Aug. 28, 1993: LA Raiders at LA Rams, W 20-19
Aug. 20, 1994: LA Raiders at LA Rams, W 29-20
Aug. 12, 1995: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 27-22
Aug. 7, 1999: Raiders at STL Rams, W 18-17
Aug. 5, 2000: Raiders at STL Rams, L 31-17
Aug. 8, 2003: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 7-6
Sept. 2, 2004: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 28-24
Aug. 24, 2007: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 20-10
Aug. 14, 2015: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 18-3
(Series Trend) The Raiders have won 8 of the last 9 preseason games vs the Rams
http://www.raiders.com/news/article...ith-Rams/1a85ea44-5736-4d42-b3a4-4e6892d47bbf
Jack Del Rio didn't leave the fans waiting on the status of the Raiders starters for their second preseason game.
By Jeff Smith
Published: August 18, 2017
So, it looks like Raider Nation will get their first look at the full 2017 Raiders starters, and it'll be for more than a quarter of action.
In the Oakland Raiders preseason opener, many big names like Derek Carr, Amari Cooper. Khalil Mack, Marshawn Lynch and Michael Crabtree were all spectators.
Apparently, that will all change in the team's second preseason game Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams.
In head coach Jack Del Rio's press conference after practice Thursday, he was asked about the starters playing in the game and said they would all play into the second quarter.
http://oak.247sports.com/Gallery/Oa...eed-to-bounce-back-in-second-presea-106297131
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Even though this is considered a meaningless 2nd preseason game by the general fan base and media, the Raiders should be a step up in class compared to the backup units the Cowboys put on the field last weekend at Los Angeles.
Other than the Cowboys O-Line last Saturday, Jason Garrett held out several of his regular season starters and the game overall had the look of a sloppy exhibition match.
McVay also held out some of his key players last weekend and according to NFL media pundits, he bubble wrapped Goff (only giving him limited snaps) as if he was a proven 5 year starter that didn't require any extra reps.
Regardless of last week, the match-up tonight at Oakland should display most of the projected starters for both teams in the first quarter and give us a few clues and answers heading into the more important 3rd preseason game.
August 19, 2017 at Oakland, California 7pm Pacific time..
AT
*Previewing* the obvious list of Rams things to watch for in the (first quarter) and maybe a series or two in the second quarter of tonight's 2nd preseason game at Oakland.
1) Will the starting offensive line (Center, Left & Right side) create running lanes that Gurley can see?
2) How will the O-Line look in pass protection? (especially in obvious passing downs)
3) Will Jared Goff
Throw a TD pass?
Have any fumbles?
Look like polished second year QB with his arrow pointing up?
Fling the ball too high over the heads of open receivers?
Fail to go through his progressions and just stare down his primary targets?
Show some leadership signs and make accurate throws?
Take unnecessary sacks when his WR's/TE's are covered because he holds onto the ball too long?
Over or Under throw his targets down the field of more than 20 yards?
4) Will Wade's defense in the first quarter hold up against the talented skill players of the Raiders?
5) Will Sammy Watkins, Woods and Kupp ever be on the field together in a 3 WR set?
6) Will Josh Reynolds get any receptions and have at least one target over 25 yards ?
7) Will rookie RB Justin Davis have the most yards per attempt again minus the fumbles?
8) How many flags will be thrown in the first half?
9) Will the surprise players on defense vs Cowboys last Saturday show up again at the Raiders?
10) Can the Rams offense score more than one touchdown in the first half?
11) Will Quinn, Barwin, Ogletree Barron, Brockers or Westbrooks make any impact plays in their limited snaps?
12) Will Higbee, Everett or Hemingway score a TD or at least make a splash more than than 15 yards?
13) Will Mo Alexander and L.Joyner both be on the field together and protect there areas of the field?
14) Will the peoples choice FB named Sam Rogers do anything in this game that we can talk about tomorrow?
15) Who will be the surprise players that weren't mentioned in last Saturday's preseason game?
No matter how good or bad this game goes, we all pretty much agree that the most important thing tonight is none of the projected starters get injured for either team.
Hopefully the first half of this game doesn't look like a sloppy preseason (comedy of errors) exhibition match.
By JIMMY DURKIN
PUBLISHED: August 12, 2017
Derek Carr suited up but never needed his helmet as only three offensive starters ever saw the field. Most of their starting defense was out there, as it should have been considering the work it needs, but Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin didn’t play.
Marshawn Lynch experienced an interesting night as he suited up for the Raiders for the first time. There was never a chance that he was going to play, but he did put on the pads for pre-game warmups.
Also a non-issue for Del Rio is the Gareon Conley injury situation. Conley tweeted on Thursday that he doesn’t have shin splints, which ran counter to what general manager Reggie McKenzie said 11 days earlier. It appears to be a minor mix-up with Conley dealing with an injury to his shin, but not specifically shin splints.
Here’s what we learned from the exhibition opener:
THREE IMPRESSIONS
1. Playing it safe: The Raiders could’ve given Carr a token possession with a few handoffs, but they didn’t bother. It was an automatic they’d sit guys who have been dealing with injuries like Amari Cooper, Mack, Irvin, Obi Melifonwu and Gareon Conley, who is still on the physically unable to perform list.
But they played it extra cautious by keeping out Michael Crabtree, Jared Cook, the starting interior offensive line of Rodney Hudson, Kelechi Osemele and Gabe Jackson and fullback Jamize Olawale.
Most of those guys will see action at some point in the exhibition season, but there’s no reason to expose them this early on.
2. Defense not fixed: The Raiders pegged so many of their defensive issues last season on poor communication they expected to have cleaned up this year. That wasn’t immediately evident.
On Arizona’s first drive, either TJ Carrie or Reggie Nelson blew the coverage and Jaron Brown was running free down the middle of the field. But Carson Palmer overthrew Brown as the Raiders escaped giving up a truly ugly play.
Two drives later, the Raiders only had 10 players on the field when fortunately an alert Karl Joseph called a time out. These are issues you expect to see in the exhibition season, but it’s easy to overreact so early when you consider the issues from last season.
3. Manuel maintains lead: E.J. Manuel has long held the apparent edge in the backup quarterback battle and that didn’t change Saturday. He played the first half and completed 10 of 12 passes for 107 yards despite not having Cooper, Crabtree or Cook to throw to. His best pass was a 30-yarder to tight end Clive Walford that he nicely dropped in.
Connor Cook was 10 of 21 for 82 yards, with his longest pass of 29 yards coming on a screen play that John Crockett turned into a big gain.
THREE WHO HELPED THEMSELVES
1. Safety Karl Joseph: The second-year safety is already a locked-in starter of course, but he showed the early signs of being more of an impact player. He raced in to deliver a big thumping hit on one of Arizona’s first running plays of the night and was highly active while he was out there — so much so that he looked like one of those key starters that should’ve been sitting on the bench.
2. Defensive tackle Treyvon Hester: It’s no secret the Raiders need some interior push on that defensive front. Hester showed he may be able to provide that. He received rotational snaps with the starting defense and helped anchor the second-team line and delivered a pair of sacks and a quarterback hurry.
3. Linebacker LaTroy Lewis: Where did he come from? An undrafted free agent out of Tennessee, he hasn’t really drawn any attention during training camp but proved to be worth watching a little more after coming off the edge to notch two sacks. Sure, he did it against backup linemen, but for a team in need of some secondary pass rushers behind Mack and Irvin, he could earn himself an extra look.
THREE WHO HURT THEMSELVES
1. Cornerback Sean Smith: The night couldn’t have gone worse for Smith, whom the Raiders gave a four-year, $38 million contract to last year. He looks more like a candidate to be cut — even with a guaranteed $9.5 million salary this season — than he does to start.
Smith was called for pass interference on his first snap of the night, then picked up an illegal contact penalty later in the game when the Cardinals’ Chris Hubert beat him deep and he just reached out and grabbed him.
He got beat another time on what should’ve been a touchdown but Arizona backup quarterback Drew Stanton overthrew the pass.
While he’s a sunk cost for this year, the Raiders might have to consider eating that money if he continues on this path.
2. Linebacker Marquel Lee: The rookie middle linebacker has a lot riding on him to help stabilize this defense and he didn’t get off to a great start. Lee, a fifth-round pick, was constantly getting blown out of run plays and chasing from behind in coverage on pass plays. He did have a fumble recovery, finished with six tackles and had a couple flashes in coverage, but overall it wasn’t the best debut.
3. Right tackle Vadal Alexander: The Raiders’ biggest leverage in the Donald Penn holdout is to have their line play well in his absence. Alexander, who would’ve been battling Marshall Newhouse for the right tackle job if Penn was in camp, was beat badly on a play that led to Manuel getting crushed for a nine-yard sack. The Raiders don’t want to see their QBs taking big hits like that.
EXTRA POINT
— The Raiders are already thin at offensive tackle with Penn’s holdout and David Sharpe dealing with an injury that kept him out and then saw Denver Kirkland leave in the third quarter with some type of leg injury. The versatile Kirkland started the game at left guard and was playing left tackle with the second unit when he got hurt.
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/08/...s-what-we-learned-from-the-exhibition-opener/
Raiders Renew Longstanding Preseason Series With Rams
By Jerry Knaak Team Historian
The Raiders have a long and varied history with the Los Angeles Rams in the preseason. Let's take a look at it.
The Raiders have a long and varied history with the Los Angeles Rams in the preseason. Although the teams have met just 13 times in the regular season since 1972, the Raiders and Rams have battled 19 times in regular season tune-ups since 1970.
The Raiders lead the all-time preseason series 12-7 and have won the last four meetings, all in Oakland.
The series has been played out in four different cities (Berkeley, Oakland, St. Louis, and Los Angeles) and in five different stadiums (Cal’s Memorial Stadium, the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the Edward Jones Dome, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and Anaheim Stadium).
The Raiders and Rams met annually in the preseason from 1970-73, traditionally in Week 3 of a six-game exhibition schedule. The Rams won the first meeting, 34-23, in Los Angeles, with the Raiders winning the next three.
The second meeting, a 20-7 Raiders win in 1971, was held at Cal’s Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, as was the fourth, a 16-3 Raiders victory in 1973.
Rams quarterback Roman Gabriel, who was originally drafted by the Raiders in the first round of the 1962 AFL Draft, as well as by the Rams in the 1962 NFL Draft, was a top NFL quarterback (1969 NFL MVP) for the Rams and played in this rivalry from 1970-72.
After a year off, the teams resumed their annual meetings with five in a row from 1975-79. The Rams won the 1975 and ’76 contests, with the ’76 match-up serving as the Raiders only loss of the 1976 preseason.
The six-game preseason schedule was shortened to four (with exceptions for American Bowls overseas and Hall of Fame games) after the 1977 campaign, and then Rams would go on to win the next three match-ups in the series, 1978, ’79 and 1992.
During the 1970s, numerous Hall of Fame players on both sides took the field in this preseason series.
For the Raiders: tackle Ron Mix, center Jim Otto, quarterback/kicker George Blanda, quarterback Ken Stabler, cornerback Willie Brown, guard Gene Upshaw, tackle Art Shell, linebacker Ted Hendricks, tight end Dave Casper, wide receiver Fred Biletnikoff, tackle Bob Brown, punter Ray Guy, and Head Coach John Madden.
For the Rams: Head Coach George Allen, defensive end Deacon Jones, guard Tom Mack, defensive tackle Merlin Olsen, tackle Jackie Slater, and defensive end Jack Youngblood.
From 1970-79, the Raiders and Rams each qualified for the playoffs seven times, and played in five conference championship games each during that span. The Silver and Black defeated the Minnesota Vikings 32-14 in Super Bowl XI after the 1976 season.
The Vikings defeated the Rams in the NFL title game that year. The Rams would go on to win the NFC Championship and lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl after the 1979 season.
The Raiders played in five straight AFC Championship games from 1973-77, while the Rams played in three straight NFL title game from 1974-76, and two straight from 1978-79.
The 1979 and 1992 contests featured rare preseason overtime finishes. The Rams won both, 20-14 in ’79, and 19-16 in '92; both games were held in Los Angeles with the Rams as the home team. Longtime Rams running back Eric Dickerson (1983-87) joined the Silver and Black in 1992 after playing for the Indianapolis Colts (1987-91).
The Raiders moved to Los Angeles after the 1981 campaign and set up shop at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The two teams only met three times in the 1980s, all in the regular season.
The Raiders won the next two match-ups against the Rams, both in Los Angeles with the Rams as the home team, 1993-94, which happened to be the last two times the teams would meet as the Los Angeles Raiders vs the Los Angeles Rams in the preseason.
They would face each other during the 1994 regular season.
Both teams would move after the 1994 season, with the Raiders returning to Oakland, and the Rams relocating to St. Louis. From 1995 – 2015, the Raiders won six of the seven preseason meetings between the two teams, with all but one of those match-ups taking place in Oakland.
The Rams only win during this time period came in 2000 in St. Louis, as Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner and the Rams celebrated their 1999 Super Bowl title, and the team unveiled new uniforms.
The Raiders won the last match-up, 18-3 in Oakland in 2015, in Jack Del Rio’s debut as Raiders head coach. The Rams returned to Los Angeles in 2016.
In the preseason, the two teams played twice in Berkeley, eight times in Los Angeles, twice in St. Louis and seven times in Oakland. Well over 30 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame have participated in this rivalry.
As for the regular season, the Raiders lead the series 8-5, with the Rams winning the last three in St. Louis and the Raiders winning the last two in Oakland. The two teams have eight Super Bowl appearances between them.
When the Raiders and Rams renew their preseason rivalry Saturday night in Oakland, the Rams will once again be wearing new uniforms, with the new look harkening back to the days when this series first began. And the next time the Raiders take to the road to face the Rams, it’ll be in Los Angeles where the whole thing began.
Raiders vs Rams Preseason Series:
Aug. 22, 1970: Raiders at LA Rams, L 34-23
Aug. 21, 1971: Raiders vs LA Rams, W 20-7, Berkeley
Aug. 19, 1972: Raiders at LA Rams, W 34-9
Aug. 18, 1973: Raiders vs LA Rams, W 16-3, Berkeley
Sept. 11, 1975: Raiders at LA Rams, L 6-0
Aug. 21, 1976: Raiders vs LA Rams, L 23-14
Sept. 9, 1977: Raiders at LA Rams, W 21-0
Aug. 6, 1978: Raiders vs LA Rams, L 28-3
Aug. 4, 1979: Raiders at LA Rams, L 20-14 OT
Aug. 15, 1992: LA Raiders at LA Rams, L 19-16 OT
Aug. 28, 1993: LA Raiders at LA Rams, W 20-19
Aug. 20, 1994: LA Raiders at LA Rams, W 29-20
Aug. 12, 1995: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 27-22
Aug. 7, 1999: Raiders at STL Rams, W 18-17
Aug. 5, 2000: Raiders at STL Rams, L 31-17
Aug. 8, 2003: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 7-6
Sept. 2, 2004: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 28-24
Aug. 24, 2007: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 20-10
Aug. 14, 2015: Raiders vs STL Rams, W 18-3
(Series Trend) The Raiders have won 8 of the last 9 preseason games vs the Rams
http://www.raiders.com/news/article...ith-Rams/1a85ea44-5736-4d42-b3a4-4e6892d47bbf
Jack Del Rio didn't leave the fans waiting on the status of the Raiders starters for their second preseason game.
By Jeff Smith
Published: August 18, 2017
So, it looks like Raider Nation will get their first look at the full 2017 Raiders starters, and it'll be for more than a quarter of action.
In the Oakland Raiders preseason opener, many big names like Derek Carr, Amari Cooper. Khalil Mack, Marshawn Lynch and Michael Crabtree were all spectators.
Apparently, that will all change in the team's second preseason game Saturday against the Los Angeles Rams.
In head coach Jack Del Rio's press conference after practice Thursday, he was asked about the starters playing in the game and said they would all play into the second quarter.
http://oak.247sports.com/Gallery/Oa...eed-to-bounce-back-in-second-presea-106297131
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Even though this is considered a meaningless 2nd preseason game by the general fan base and media, the Raiders should be a step up in class compared to the backup units the Cowboys put on the field last weekend at Los Angeles.
Other than the Cowboys O-Line last Saturday, Jason Garrett held out several of his regular season starters and the game overall had the look of a sloppy exhibition match.
McVay also held out some of his key players last weekend and according to NFL media pundits, he bubble wrapped Goff (only giving him limited snaps) as if he was a proven 5 year starter that didn't require any extra reps.
Regardless of last week, the match-up tonight at Oakland should display most of the projected starters for both teams in the first quarter and give us a few clues and answers heading into the more important 3rd preseason game.
August 19, 2017 at Oakland, California 7pm Pacific time..
AT
*Previewing* the obvious list of Rams things to watch for in the (first quarter) and maybe a series or two in the second quarter of tonight's 2nd preseason game at Oakland.
1) Will the starting offensive line (Center, Left & Right side) create running lanes that Gurley can see?
2) How will the O-Line look in pass protection? (especially in obvious passing downs)
3) Will Jared Goff
Throw a TD pass?
Have any fumbles?
Look like polished second year QB with his arrow pointing up?
Fling the ball too high over the heads of open receivers?
Fail to go through his progressions and just stare down his primary targets?
Show some leadership signs and make accurate throws?
Take unnecessary sacks when his WR's/TE's are covered because he holds onto the ball too long?
Over or Under throw his targets down the field of more than 20 yards?
4) Will Wade's defense in the first quarter hold up against the talented skill players of the Raiders?
5) Will Sammy Watkins, Woods and Kupp ever be on the field together in a 3 WR set?
6) Will Josh Reynolds get any receptions and have at least one target over 25 yards ?
7) Will rookie RB Justin Davis have the most yards per attempt again minus the fumbles?
8) How many flags will be thrown in the first half?
9) Will the surprise players on defense vs Cowboys last Saturday show up again at the Raiders?
10) Can the Rams offense score more than one touchdown in the first half?
11) Will Quinn, Barwin, Ogletree Barron, Brockers or Westbrooks make any impact plays in their limited snaps?
12) Will Higbee, Everett or Hemingway score a TD or at least make a splash more than than 15 yards?
13) Will Mo Alexander and L.Joyner both be on the field together and protect there areas of the field?
14) Will the peoples choice FB named Sam Rogers do anything in this game that we can talk about tomorrow?
15) Who will be the surprise players that weren't mentioned in last Saturday's preseason game?
No matter how good or bad this game goes, we all pretty much agree that the most important thing tonight is none of the projected starters get injured for either team.
Hopefully the first half of this game doesn't look like a sloppy preseason (comedy of errors) exhibition match.
The L.A. Coliseum, Home of the Rams, Is the Best Stadium in the Whole NFL
- By Prime Time
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 31 Replies
https://www.theringer.com/nfl/2017/8/14/16141724/rams-los-angeles-coliseum-best-stadium
The L.A. Coliseum, Home of the Rams, Is the Best Stadium in the Whole NFL
An evening at the temporary home of one of L.A.’s two pro football teams
BY BRYAN CURTIS
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Getty Images/Ringer illustration
What’s the best place to catch an NFL game right now? I’d argue the correct answer is the L.A. Coliseum, the rickety, temporary home of the Rams. As evidence, let me tell you what I saw when the Rams played the Cowboys on Saturday night.
The first thing to like about the Coliseum is that it’s the rare pro stadium that exists in a neighborhood rather than a parking lot. On Saturday, I exited the 110 freeway, turned right, and drove about four blocks. A man and a woman waved me into an office parking lot. The woman directed me into a space that said “Tow Away Zone.”
“I’m not going to get towed, am I?” I asked as I handed over 20 bucks.
“Don’t worry,” the woman said. “We’ll stay with your car all night.” That wasn’t a “no,” but close enough.
I walked east on 39th Street. I passed homeless tent cities and a 60ish man pushing an ice cream cart with a bell on it. The street was filled with enough fans in Cowboys jerseys that if you added a few 7-Elevens it could have been Arlington. I made a list of the Cowboys jerseys I saw before spotting my first Rams jersey: Dak, Dez, Zeke, Aikman, Zeke, Dak, Morris Claiborne, Witten, Romo, Ware, and Dak (the last with pink numbers). Only then did I see a Todd Gurley.
The Coliseum’s second redeeming feature is that it strips away the icy, dictatorial order you usually encounter at an NFL stadium. Last year, my pal Matt and I joined 89,000 other people at the Cowboys-Rams preseason game that marked the return of pro football to L.A. “You mean the night we were unorganized and ran out of water?” one Coliseum security guard asked me Saturday, when I reminded her of the marvelous chaos that ensued.
I have two indelible memories of last year’s game. The first came in the stands. When Matt and I sat in our seats near the 50, we sniffed the air, looked at each other, and said, “Is that pot?” The smell was stronger in the fourth quarter than it was in the first.
The second memory came after the game, when the Coliseum was overrun with a churning mass of humanity trying to squeeze through the exits and Matt and I came face-to-face with a terrified Michael Irvin.
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If you’ve never been to the Coliseum, you may not be aware of its lack of basic features. It has no upper deck. On Saturday, the usher looked at my ticket, noted I was sitting on Row 76, and pointed up a flight of steps toward what looked like the summit of Kilimanjaro.
On Row 76, I sat on a wooden bench with the seat numbers carved into the back. The bench was once red, but now it had the sun-scorched salmon color of a bench you see in a city park or at a highway rest stop.
The Coliseum will host the Rams for three more seasons until construction is finished on the Rams’ new stadium in Inglewood. (An extra year was added to the stay after construction delays.) This is the period when the Coliseum will be the most interesting stadium in America, because you can watch a fan base wrap its collective mind around a new-old team in real time.
The Rams desperately want L.A. to love them. Last season, they hired a PA man, Sam Lagana, who uses a booming, overwrought voice to sell an unappealing product. “Your Los Angeles Rams are coached by MR. SEAN MCVAY!” he yelled Saturday. He sounded like the late Rod Roddy hawking ant killer on the old The Price Is Right.
In the first half on Saturday, when the stadium’s videoboard asked, “Whose House?” only a few people answered, “Rams House!” As we’ll see, the reaction would be different as the game wore on.
In the stands, you can spot a few Rams old-timers in Jack Youngblood jerseys who’ve returned to the team’s fold. When Pharoh Cooper makes a catch (he has 14 in his NFL career), fans chant, “Coooop!” But I still remember the opener last year, when Rams old-timers were outnumbered by trolls in Raiders jerseys who showed up at the Coliseum screaming, “The Raiders are back!”
Where else in sports can you see fans forgiving their favorite team live? Or not, in some cases. On Saturday, the video board showed a tribute to Jerry Jones, who just got into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jones was instrumental in moving the Rams to L.A. At the end of tribute, everybody stood up and made noise—call it 70 percent cheers.
In the second quarter, the video board showed a tribute to Kurt Warner, who helped the Rams’ franchise win their one and only Super Bowl title. The Coliseum greeted that tribute with dead silence. Who’s Kurt Warner? I dunno. Some guy who played in St. Louis.
If the Coliseum lacks an upper deck, it also lacks a true undercarriage—the warren of tunnels and bathrooms and foodstands that lies under most stadiums. For eating, this has proved to be a godsend. The best personnel move the Rams made since drafting Aaron Donald is outsourcing their concessions to an army of independent food sellers who set up stands and even food trucks outside the stadium.
Walk around the exterior of the Coliseum and you find signs that are oddly specific (“Tacos, Burritos, and Carne Asada Tater Tots”). This is L.A., so the vendors’ names are achingly twee: Cheezus Designer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, say, or Lobsterdamus. Before Saturday, I was morally opposed to serving hipster food at a stadium. By the time I wolfed down a Kobe beef melt and chased it with a four-pack from Randy’s Donuts, I had gratefully converted. By the way, Randy’s also has two beers on draft.
I grazed inside a circle of food trucks parked under the old Olympic torch. It was a breezy night, and the palm trees around the stadium shook from side to side as they do in Jurassic Park. Inside the stadium, I could hear Lagana, the PA man, madly trying to get the crowd hyped up: “Here we go with the second half! Rams 7, Cowboys 3. Arrrrre you ready?!” I was ready for another doughnut.
On the asphalt track that circles the Coliseum, at least during the preseason, it’s possible to meet the kind of eccentrics you find on Hollywood Boulevard or in Venice Beach. I met a Zeke Elliott impersonator, who performed Elliott’s “Feed me!” bit as soon as I pulled out my camera. A few Raiders trolls were still lurking about with impish smiles. The coolest jersey on sale at the merch stands wasn’t Jared Goff’s but Irwin M. Fletcher’s.
By the time I made the ascent back to my seat for the fourth quarter, the sun had disappeared behind the grandstand. At JerryWorld or any other new stadium, the stands are so brightly lit that you feel like you’re sitting in an operating room.
At the Coliseum, I glanced at the note paper I held in my hands and saw that it was bathed in shadow. Shadow! In the age of the modern mega-stadium, that counts as a design feature. In the Coliseum, you sit in darkness and look at a field that’s fully lit. It’s more like watching boxing than pro football.
With the clock ticking down and the Rams up by three, the fans that had hung around decided to get into the game. When a pass was broken up by Michael Jordan (a second-year DB out of Missouri Western State), everyone went nuts.
“The GOAT!” someone behind me said.
“Whose House?” the video board asked.
“Rams House!” the crowd yelled, louder this time.
The Cowboys had the ball. It was third-and-short. The errant snap got by third-stringer Luke McCown, and the Rams recovered the ball in a dog pile near midfield. Every Rams fan in that place celebrated. It might be the best thing to happen to the team all year.
We probably underrate temporary stadiums. A decade ago, I spent a great afternoon watching the Washington Nationals amid empty seats at RFK. I wish I’d seen the Oilers’ one season at the Liberty Bowl and the Vikings’ cameo at the University of Minnesota.
Such a visit isn’t liable to produce grand, tell-your-kids-about-it history, but it is liable to produce weird, tell-your-sports-friends-about-it history. Between heaven and a seat bond is a temporary stadium.
After the game, I walked back down 39th Street to my car. The couple that sold me the parking spot were still standing sentry, just like they promised. My last image of the Coliseum was a heavyset Rams fan in an Aaron Donald jersey who was screaming at no one in particular as the clock ticked down. “You people think this is Texas?” he was shouting. “This is L.A.! This is RAMS HOUSE!” So it is, for three more years. Every thinking NFL fan ought to get here immediately.
The L.A. Coliseum, Home of the Rams, Is the Best Stadium in the Whole NFL
An evening at the temporary home of one of L.A.’s two pro football teams
BY BRYAN CURTIS
Getty Images/Ringer illustration
What’s the best place to catch an NFL game right now? I’d argue the correct answer is the L.A. Coliseum, the rickety, temporary home of the Rams. As evidence, let me tell you what I saw when the Rams played the Cowboys on Saturday night.
The first thing to like about the Coliseum is that it’s the rare pro stadium that exists in a neighborhood rather than a parking lot. On Saturday, I exited the 110 freeway, turned right, and drove about four blocks. A man and a woman waved me into an office parking lot. The woman directed me into a space that said “Tow Away Zone.”
“I’m not going to get towed, am I?” I asked as I handed over 20 bucks.
“Don’t worry,” the woman said. “We’ll stay with your car all night.” That wasn’t a “no,” but close enough.
I walked east on 39th Street. I passed homeless tent cities and a 60ish man pushing an ice cream cart with a bell on it. The street was filled with enough fans in Cowboys jerseys that if you added a few 7-Elevens it could have been Arlington. I made a list of the Cowboys jerseys I saw before spotting my first Rams jersey: Dak, Dez, Zeke, Aikman, Zeke, Dak, Morris Claiborne, Witten, Romo, Ware, and Dak (the last with pink numbers). Only then did I see a Todd Gurley.
The Coliseum’s second redeeming feature is that it strips away the icy, dictatorial order you usually encounter at an NFL stadium. Last year, my pal Matt and I joined 89,000 other people at the Cowboys-Rams preseason game that marked the return of pro football to L.A. “You mean the night we were unorganized and ran out of water?” one Coliseum security guard asked me Saturday, when I reminded her of the marvelous chaos that ensued.
I have two indelible memories of last year’s game. The first came in the stands. When Matt and I sat in our seats near the 50, we sniffed the air, looked at each other, and said, “Is that pot?” The smell was stronger in the fourth quarter than it was in the first.
The second memory came after the game, when the Coliseum was overrun with a churning mass of humanity trying to squeeze through the exits and Matt and I came face-to-face with a terrified Michael Irvin.
Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/bryancurtis/status/764662780632850432
If you’ve never been to the Coliseum, you may not be aware of its lack of basic features. It has no upper deck. On Saturday, the usher looked at my ticket, noted I was sitting on Row 76, and pointed up a flight of steps toward what looked like the summit of Kilimanjaro.
On Row 76, I sat on a wooden bench with the seat numbers carved into the back. The bench was once red, but now it had the sun-scorched salmon color of a bench you see in a city park or at a highway rest stop.
The Coliseum will host the Rams for three more seasons until construction is finished on the Rams’ new stadium in Inglewood. (An extra year was added to the stay after construction delays.) This is the period when the Coliseum will be the most interesting stadium in America, because you can watch a fan base wrap its collective mind around a new-old team in real time.
The Rams desperately want L.A. to love them. Last season, they hired a PA man, Sam Lagana, who uses a booming, overwrought voice to sell an unappealing product. “Your Los Angeles Rams are coached by MR. SEAN MCVAY!” he yelled Saturday. He sounded like the late Rod Roddy hawking ant killer on the old The Price Is Right.
In the first half on Saturday, when the stadium’s videoboard asked, “Whose House?” only a few people answered, “Rams House!” As we’ll see, the reaction would be different as the game wore on.
In the stands, you can spot a few Rams old-timers in Jack Youngblood jerseys who’ve returned to the team’s fold. When Pharoh Cooper makes a catch (he has 14 in his NFL career), fans chant, “Coooop!” But I still remember the opener last year, when Rams old-timers were outnumbered by trolls in Raiders jerseys who showed up at the Coliseum screaming, “The Raiders are back!”
Where else in sports can you see fans forgiving their favorite team live? Or not, in some cases. On Saturday, the video board showed a tribute to Jerry Jones, who just got into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Jones was instrumental in moving the Rams to L.A. At the end of tribute, everybody stood up and made noise—call it 70 percent cheers.
In the second quarter, the video board showed a tribute to Kurt Warner, who helped the Rams’ franchise win their one and only Super Bowl title. The Coliseum greeted that tribute with dead silence. Who’s Kurt Warner? I dunno. Some guy who played in St. Louis.
If the Coliseum lacks an upper deck, it also lacks a true undercarriage—the warren of tunnels and bathrooms and foodstands that lies under most stadiums. For eating, this has proved to be a godsend. The best personnel move the Rams made since drafting Aaron Donald is outsourcing their concessions to an army of independent food sellers who set up stands and even food trucks outside the stadium.
Walk around the exterior of the Coliseum and you find signs that are oddly specific (“Tacos, Burritos, and Carne Asada Tater Tots”). This is L.A., so the vendors’ names are achingly twee: Cheezus Designer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches, say, or Lobsterdamus. Before Saturday, I was morally opposed to serving hipster food at a stadium. By the time I wolfed down a Kobe beef melt and chased it with a four-pack from Randy’s Donuts, I had gratefully converted. By the way, Randy’s also has two beers on draft.
I grazed inside a circle of food trucks parked under the old Olympic torch. It was a breezy night, and the palm trees around the stadium shook from side to side as they do in Jurassic Park. Inside the stadium, I could hear Lagana, the PA man, madly trying to get the crowd hyped up: “Here we go with the second half! Rams 7, Cowboys 3. Arrrrre you ready?!” I was ready for another doughnut.
On the asphalt track that circles the Coliseum, at least during the preseason, it’s possible to meet the kind of eccentrics you find on Hollywood Boulevard or in Venice Beach. I met a Zeke Elliott impersonator, who performed Elliott’s “Feed me!” bit as soon as I pulled out my camera. A few Raiders trolls were still lurking about with impish smiles. The coolest jersey on sale at the merch stands wasn’t Jared Goff’s but Irwin M. Fletcher’s.
By the time I made the ascent back to my seat for the fourth quarter, the sun had disappeared behind the grandstand. At JerryWorld or any other new stadium, the stands are so brightly lit that you feel like you’re sitting in an operating room.
At the Coliseum, I glanced at the note paper I held in my hands and saw that it was bathed in shadow. Shadow! In the age of the modern mega-stadium, that counts as a design feature. In the Coliseum, you sit in darkness and look at a field that’s fully lit. It’s more like watching boxing than pro football.
With the clock ticking down and the Rams up by three, the fans that had hung around decided to get into the game. When a pass was broken up by Michael Jordan (a second-year DB out of Missouri Western State), everyone went nuts.
“The GOAT!” someone behind me said.
“Whose House?” the video board asked.
“Rams House!” the crowd yelled, louder this time.
The Cowboys had the ball. It was third-and-short. The errant snap got by third-stringer Luke McCown, and the Rams recovered the ball in a dog pile near midfield. Every Rams fan in that place celebrated. It might be the best thing to happen to the team all year.
We probably underrate temporary stadiums. A decade ago, I spent a great afternoon watching the Washington Nationals amid empty seats at RFK. I wish I’d seen the Oilers’ one season at the Liberty Bowl and the Vikings’ cameo at the University of Minnesota.
Such a visit isn’t liable to produce grand, tell-your-kids-about-it history, but it is liable to produce weird, tell-your-sports-friends-about-it history. Between heaven and a seat bond is a temporary stadium.
After the game, I walked back down 39th Street to my car. The couple that sold me the parking spot were still standing sentry, just like they promised. My last image of the Coliseum was a heavyset Rams fan in an Aaron Donald jersey who was screaming at no one in particular as the clock ticked down. “You people think this is Texas?” he was shouting. “This is L.A.! This is RAMS HOUSE!” So it is, for three more years. Every thinking NFL fan ought to get here immediately.
McVay’s history shows Rams can’t afford to be pass-happy on offense
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 0 Replies
McVay’s history shows Rams can’t afford to be pass-happy on offense
Rams head coach Sean McVay gives instructions to his players during a training camp practice at Crawford Field in UC Irvine in Irvine on Monday, August 14, 2017.(Photo by Kyusung Gong, Orange County Register/SCNG)
By Rich Hammond
OAKLAND >> Coach Sean McVay is a quarterbacks guru who loves tight-end mismatches and now gets to plan with receiver Sammy Watkins. But don’t forget the Rams’ running backs. McVay should not.
The Rams have Todd Gurley, who underachieved badly in 2016 but seems poised for a bounce-back season after a strong training camp. McVay, the Rams’ rookie coach and their play-caller, might be tempted to throw the ball a lot, but his recent history suggests that the ground game works.
McVay’s second preseason game as a head coach takes place today, when the Rams play at Oakland. Last week against Dallas, the Rams totaled 33 pass plays and 28 run plays.
“When you put together any offensive system,” Rams running backs coach Skip Peete said this week, “you try to have some form of balance, with the run and the pass. When you go back and look at Coach’s history, as far as his time in Washington when he was calling plays, that’s what he did. There was a balance between the run and pass.”
Sometimes, yes.
McVay called plays last season as Washington’s offensive coordinator. In the team’s eight victories, it ran the ball on 47.2 percent of its plays. In seven losses, Washington ran on only 29.1 percent of its plays.
Washington ran the ball more as the 2016 season progressed, but in total, the team passed on 61.6 percent of its plays, the seventh-highest average in the NFL last season. Washington averaged 24.8 points per game, only the 12th-highest average in the league.
Will that change with the Rams? They have a second-year quarterback in Jared Goff, and they don’t know exactly what to expect from Gurley or from an offensive line that seems upgraded but struggled badly last season in pass and run blocking, as the Rams compiled some of the NFL’s worst offensive stats.
The tendency, with a coach, quarterback and organization all attempting to make a good impression in Los Angeles, might be to sling the ball around the field, but that’s not always the most prudent plan. For instance, New England in 2016 averaged 34.4 pass attempts and 30.1 run attempts per game.
“It’s hard to be a dominant offense if you’re not balanced,” Rams center John Sullivan said. “You have to make teams worry about both facets. Obviously, everybody loves seeing big-chunk plays and throwing the ball down the field, but the way you open that up sometimes is by running the ball effectively. One feeds off the other.”
Sullivan should know. He spent most of last season in Washington as the backup center.
Washington started last season 0-2, and in those games attempted 89 passes and only 29 runs. So astounding was the disparity that McVay actually went before local reporters and said he would call more run plays.
He did. Washington won its next four games, in which it attempted 138 passes and 109 runs. Washington kept running the ball, even after a midseason injury to lead back Matt Jones. McVay turned to Rob Kelley, an undrafted free agent, who became a trusted option.
Now, McVay has Gurley, who averaged only 3.2 yards per carry last season behind a struggling offensive line and alongside a sputtering pass game.
McVay recently praised Gurley as a “violent runner” and certainly is talking a good game, in terms of making Gurley a focal point of his offense.
“He’s definitely a complete back,” McVay said. “I think he’s motivated in the right way. I can’t say enough about what he’s done right now and the challenge, just like anything else is, ‘Can we continue to sustain that over time?’ That consistency that we’re striving for and Todd’s been a great example of that for our team so far.”
McVay clearly attempted to line up his running backs upon his arrival. He inherited Gurley, then the Rams signed free agent Lance Dunbar to emulate Washington’s Chris Thompson. McVay regularly used Thompson as a pass threat out of the backfield, and Dunbar mirrors Thompson’s size and skill set.
The only problem is, Dunbar hasn’t made it onto the field in preseason practices because of a bad knee. Gurley has been getting more work as a pass-catcher, and the Rams like the effort of undrafted free agent Justin Davis, who is shifty in the open field.
So, the evolution of the Rams’ offense continues, and it will get a longer look Saturday, as the starters are expected to play into the second quarter against the Raiders.
“I think it’s about attacking and winning football games,” Sullivan said. “We scored a ton of points last year, and now that’s the expectation in Los Angeles, that we’re going to do the exact same thing. We’re going to use all facets of the game to attack teams, and we’re going to try to put defenses on their heels.”
ROSTER MOVES
The Rams on Friday signed outside linebacker Davis Tull and cornerback Carlos Davis, and waived receivers C.J. Germany and Justin Thomas.
Tull spent last season on Atlanta’s practice squad and most recently had been in the Canadian Football League. Davis went undrafted this year out of Mississippi.
[www.dailynews.com]
Rams head coach Sean McVay gives instructions to his players during a training camp practice at Crawford Field in UC Irvine in Irvine on Monday, August 14, 2017.(Photo by Kyusung Gong, Orange County Register/SCNG)
By Rich Hammond
OAKLAND >> Coach Sean McVay is a quarterbacks guru who loves tight-end mismatches and now gets to plan with receiver Sammy Watkins. But don’t forget the Rams’ running backs. McVay should not.
The Rams have Todd Gurley, who underachieved badly in 2016 but seems poised for a bounce-back season after a strong training camp. McVay, the Rams’ rookie coach and their play-caller, might be tempted to throw the ball a lot, but his recent history suggests that the ground game works.
McVay’s second preseason game as a head coach takes place today, when the Rams play at Oakland. Last week against Dallas, the Rams totaled 33 pass plays and 28 run plays.
“When you put together any offensive system,” Rams running backs coach Skip Peete said this week, “you try to have some form of balance, with the run and the pass. When you go back and look at Coach’s history, as far as his time in Washington when he was calling plays, that’s what he did. There was a balance between the run and pass.”
Sometimes, yes.
McVay called plays last season as Washington’s offensive coordinator. In the team’s eight victories, it ran the ball on 47.2 percent of its plays. In seven losses, Washington ran on only 29.1 percent of its plays.
Washington ran the ball more as the 2016 season progressed, but in total, the team passed on 61.6 percent of its plays, the seventh-highest average in the NFL last season. Washington averaged 24.8 points per game, only the 12th-highest average in the league.
Will that change with the Rams? They have a second-year quarterback in Jared Goff, and they don’t know exactly what to expect from Gurley or from an offensive line that seems upgraded but struggled badly last season in pass and run blocking, as the Rams compiled some of the NFL’s worst offensive stats.
The tendency, with a coach, quarterback and organization all attempting to make a good impression in Los Angeles, might be to sling the ball around the field, but that’s not always the most prudent plan. For instance, New England in 2016 averaged 34.4 pass attempts and 30.1 run attempts per game.
“It’s hard to be a dominant offense if you’re not balanced,” Rams center John Sullivan said. “You have to make teams worry about both facets. Obviously, everybody loves seeing big-chunk plays and throwing the ball down the field, but the way you open that up sometimes is by running the ball effectively. One feeds off the other.”
Sullivan should know. He spent most of last season in Washington as the backup center.
Washington started last season 0-2, and in those games attempted 89 passes and only 29 runs. So astounding was the disparity that McVay actually went before local reporters and said he would call more run plays.
He did. Washington won its next four games, in which it attempted 138 passes and 109 runs. Washington kept running the ball, even after a midseason injury to lead back Matt Jones. McVay turned to Rob Kelley, an undrafted free agent, who became a trusted option.
Now, McVay has Gurley, who averaged only 3.2 yards per carry last season behind a struggling offensive line and alongside a sputtering pass game.
McVay recently praised Gurley as a “violent runner” and certainly is talking a good game, in terms of making Gurley a focal point of his offense.
“He’s definitely a complete back,” McVay said. “I think he’s motivated in the right way. I can’t say enough about what he’s done right now and the challenge, just like anything else is, ‘Can we continue to sustain that over time?’ That consistency that we’re striving for and Todd’s been a great example of that for our team so far.”
McVay clearly attempted to line up his running backs upon his arrival. He inherited Gurley, then the Rams signed free agent Lance Dunbar to emulate Washington’s Chris Thompson. McVay regularly used Thompson as a pass threat out of the backfield, and Dunbar mirrors Thompson’s size and skill set.
The only problem is, Dunbar hasn’t made it onto the field in preseason practices because of a bad knee. Gurley has been getting more work as a pass-catcher, and the Rams like the effort of undrafted free agent Justin Davis, who is shifty in the open field.
So, the evolution of the Rams’ offense continues, and it will get a longer look Saturday, as the starters are expected to play into the second quarter against the Raiders.
“I think it’s about attacking and winning football games,” Sullivan said. “We scored a ton of points last year, and now that’s the expectation in Los Angeles, that we’re going to do the exact same thing. We’re going to use all facets of the game to attack teams, and we’re going to try to put defenses on their heels.”
ROSTER MOVES
The Rams on Friday signed outside linebacker Davis Tull and cornerback Carlos Davis, and waived receivers C.J. Germany and Justin Thomas.
Tull spent last season on Atlanta’s practice squad and most recently had been in the Canadian Football League. Davis went undrafted this year out of Mississippi.
[www.dailynews.com]