http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-miller-top-nfls-most-indispensable-defenders

NFL's most indispensable defenders

It's summertime. We're months away from real, live football games. So I'm here to supply something that we need. Well, actually, something NFL teams need.

It's time for my annual rundown of indispensable players.

To jog your memory, let's review the meaning of the word indispensable. According to Dictionary.com, it means "absolutely necessary, essential, or requisite." In NFL terms, it's those players teams simply cannot live without.

Now, let me remind you of a couple things about this particular list of mine:

1) THIS IS NOT A LIST OF THE NFL'S BEST PLAYERS. AGAIN, IT'S THE MOST INDISPENSABLE.

2) AS USUAL, I DIDN'T INCLUDE QUARTERBACKS ON THE OFFENSIVE SIDE OF THINGS. OTHERWISE THAT POSITION WOULD OWN THE ENTIRE LIST.

Please re-read those two caveats before you @ me on Twitter with your complaints. Landon Collinsis a star. He's not on this list.

With all that as the backdrop, here's my annual list of indispensable defensive players, Schein Nine style.

1) Khalil Mack, DE, Oakland Raiders

The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has 30-sack potential. That's not my opinion -- that's according to his quarterback, Derek Carr.

Mack, who did indeed earn my AP vote for DPOY last season, is an all-around terror on the gridiron, excelling against the pass and run. And he not only has a knack for sacking the quarterback and forcing fumbles and batting down passes, but he has a knack for doing so at the exact right time in the game. Need proof? Check out the 35-32 win over the Panthers in Week 12. With one minute left in the first half, Mack picked off a Cam Newton screen pass and took it to the house, giving the Raiders a 24-7 lead. Then, with one minute left in the fourth quarter and the Raiders clinging to a three-point lead, Mack put away the game with a strip-sack of Newton.

The Raiders have numerous question marks on defense. Mack is the reason the unit doesn't crumble -- and a major reason why I think Oakland will host a playoff game this season.

2) Von Miller, LB, Denver Broncos

Yes, the Broncos have an outstanding group of cornerbacks. But Miller is a game-wrecking star who keeps quarterbacks up at night. After guiding the Broncos to a Super Bowl championship in 2015 -- racking up five sacks, two forced fumbles and a pick in the last two games of the title run -- Miller loaded up the stat sheet again in 2016, with 78 tackles, 13.5 sacks and three forced fumbles.

The five-time Pro Bowler -- and three-time first-team All-Pro -- has recorded double-digit sacks in five of his six pro seasons (with the lone outlier being the 2013 campaign, when he only played in nine games). And with the Broncos having an up-in-the-air quarterback situation, a shaky offensive line, a new head coach and no more Wade Phillips, Miller is beyond indispensable.

3) Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers

Kuechly is the pulse of the Panthers, the leader of the team. Kuechly missed six games due to concussion issues last season. In a related story, the Panthers crashed to last place in the NFC South at 6-10. Carolina sorely missed Kuechly's tackling, coverage, confidence and ability to alter a game with a play.

Luke Kuechly is, quite simply, the best middle linebacker in the NFL. And he's a modern, every-down player. He's a tackling machine, with 100-plus takedowns in each of his five NFL seasons (yes, even in last year's abbreviated campaign). But he's also very capable in coverage. Remember when he logged pick-sixes in back-to-back weeks in the 2015 playoffs?

Kawann Short and Thomas Davis are undoubtedly high-impact players on Carolina's defense, but Kuechly's the straw that stirs the drink.

4) Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams

I didn't put Donald on this list last year for all of the right reasons -- I thought the Rams would be terrible, regardless of his contributions -- and the fan base wasn't happy with me. Well, I think with a new head coach in Sean McVay and Wade Phillips in to run the defense, the Rams will be better than people think. And Donald gives them a fighting chance. He's the best defensive tackle in the league. And no one will be surprised if he takes home Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2017.

Donald's disruptive abilities are extraordinary, as evidenced by his 28 sacks in three NFL seasons. Remember: He's an interior defensive lineman. That's not a normal sack total. But Donald's not a normal player. In fact, analytics hub Pro Football Focus just ranked Donald as the No. 1 player ... in the entire league!

5) Vic Beasley, OLB, Atlanta Falcons

Quick quiz: Who led the NFL in sacks last season? Yep, Mr. Beasley, with 15.5. The Atlanta pass rusher made a young defense believe and overachieve all year en route to the Super Bowl. Without Beasley, Atlanta doesn't get to the big game, plain and simple.

While Dan Quinn's D is on the rise -- with the continued develop of young guys like Deion Jones, Keanu Neal and Grady Jarrett, as well as the offseason additions of Dontari Poe and Takkarist McKinley, and the return to health of Desmond Trufant -- the unit lacks proven edge-rushing ability behond Beasley. No. 44 is absolutely crucial in Atlanta's attempt to get back to Super Bowl Sunday.

6) J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans

Quite a conundrum ranking Watt, who was the best defensive player in the NFL the last time he was healthy. But Houston won the division and made it to the second round of the playoffs without him (and without getting anything at quarterback). Not to mention, the Texans ranked No. 1 in total defense(though they were 11th in scoring D).

But for Houston to be taken seriously as a Super Bowl contender, this team needs Watt. If J.J. returns to form and sacks the quarterback close to 20 times, the Texans could have the best defense in the NFL -- by whatever measurement you want to employ. Watt's a game changer, a game wrecker. With him back at peak form, this defense could overcome any potential growing pains for the Deshaun Watson-led offense.

7) Tyrann Mathieu, S, Arizona Cardinals

Mathieu hits and covers and breaks up passes. He changes games by creating turnovers. And most importantly, he is the heart and soul of this Cardinals team. With a banged-up Mathieu last year -- the safety missed six games with a shoulder injury -- the Cardinals missed the playoffs. There is a direct correlation. He's that special.

Mathieu is just such a crucial chess piece, with all the mismatch players and formations NFL offenses are rolling out these days. His skill set is extremely hard -- if not impossible -- to replace. And that, folks, is what we mean by indispensable.

8) Bobby Wagner, LB, Seattle Seahawks

It's tough to include any one Seahawks defender -- because you're inherently separating him from the sea of stars. I love Earl Thomas, who made the list last year. Richard Sherman is still great -- as is a healthy Kam Chancellor. And Michael Bennett is such a versatile talent up front.

But there's something special about Wagner, the only member of Seattle's defense to earn first-team All-Pro honors in 2016. He's the glue to this great D. Wagner is a star and a steady presence, something essential in Seattle with the volatility of certain personalities.

9) Fletcher Cox, DT, Philadelphia Eagles

This final slot came down to a pair of game-wrecking defensive tackles: Cox and Tampa Bay's Gerald McCoy. McCoy makes everyone on the Bucs' defense better, stuffing the middle, sacking the quarterback and generally terrorizing offensive lines. But I also think McCoy's Bucs are more talented than Cox's Eagles -- especially on the offensive side of the ball. So I think McCoy is just a bit less indispensable to Tampa Bay than Cox is to Philly. That's the tiebreaker here.

Cox has become a fixture on this annual list because the Eagles couldn't function without him. The 26-year-old defensive lineman never gets enough credit. He does it all. And a lot of what he does -- routinely destroying opposing blockers -- doesn't show up on the stat sheet.

Batman Legend Adam West Has Died At 88

[www.cinemablend.com]

While 2016 was devastating in regards to celebrity deaths, this year hasn't been without its tragedies. Roger Moore's passing affected generations of James Bond fans, and now the same will now occur with the Batman fandom. Because the legendary Adam West, of Batman '66 fame, has unfortunately passed away at the age of 88.

This news comes to us from THR, who reports that Adam West has died after a short battle with Lukemia. West was reportedly surrounded by loved ones in his final moments, and is survived by his wife, six children, five grandchildren, and two great grand children.

Adam West's passing will surely affect the many fans who grew up watching his iconic performance as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the campy 1960's Batman TV series. West played the role for a whopping 120 episodes over the course of two years, alongside Burt Ward's Robin. The series even aired multiple times a week, with a cliffhanger encouraging the audience to watch both episodes.

This version of Batman would also gain even more popularity following the 1966 film Batman. Filmed after the show's first season, Batman was the first full length movie adaptation of the Dark Knight, and featured much of the TV show's cast reprising their roles. The movie further cemented Adam West's iconography as the character, including some massively quotable moments like "Some days you just can't get rid of a bomb".

Adam West's career would struggle a bit following his role as Batman. The legend has publicly revealed his struggles with typecasting, and how he and his Batman co-stars tried booking work after the series wrapped. He would eventually go into voice acting, which would open up West's talents to new audiences.

Most notably, Adam West had a recurring role in the animated comedy Family Guy, playing a fictionalized version of himself. Family Guy's Adam West was the mayor of the town of Quahog, often delivering somewhat random but nonetheless Batman-esque lines during the series. A character signifying political corruption, Mayor Adam West was often shown wasting taxpayer money, although he was also a sleeper KGB agent in one episode. He would later appear in the series in live-action opposite Rob Lowe. This wasn't the first time that West would play a fictionalized version of himself, as he did the same in campy 90's mockumentary Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Adam West's passing is sure to affect generations of Batman fans. While we've seen many actors don the cowl over the years, the light hearted and witty Batman that West played was the the first. And as Baby Boomers had children of their own, West's portrayal of Bruce Wayne was passed down to the younger generations. Add in his role in Family Guy, and it's unlikely that you haven't heard of the legendary Adam West.

Our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time. Thanks for the memories, Bats

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When I was younger I would climb trees, rooftops, gaze over balconies, hang Christmas lights off the roof like a monkey...

Now? Holy geez I am afraid of heights. Not in a weird paralyzingly way, thankfully... I suffer no problem looking out the window of a tall building... but, put me in a place where I could see myself falling and I get pretty scared... like a tall Ferris wheel, repairing a shingle on the roof, etc.

Strangely, I've gone skydiving 2x and it was so high... I wasn't scared.

But yeah, a fear of heights for me.

I believe all free agents are paid, undrafted and otherwise. But what about the drafted rookies. How are they compensated between being drafted and signing their rookie contracts?

http://m.therams.com/news-and-event...-Johnson/ce06cc87-62d5-4d3f-b8ab-f1389d810590



PHOTOS: Rookies Officially Sign Contracts
The Rams took care of some remaining offseason business on Friday, signing draftees Gerald Everett, Cooper Kupp, and John Johnson.

Across the NFL, different teams go through various ways of having all of their draft picks sign their first rookie contract. Some like to get it done as soon as possible, having many of the players sign during the weekend of rookie minicamp. Others spread out the relatively simple process throughout Phase II and Phase III of the offseason program.

Los Angeles took care of their second and third-round picks on Friday. Here's what Everett, Kupp, and Johnson had to say upon putting pen to paper.

TIGHT END GERALD EVERETT

You've said that you have already fallen in love with the organization. What's made you fall in love with it? "Just the area, and the coaches - the entire environment. It's the love that's around this place, with us just coming back to L.A. from St. Louis. And I just fell in love with this place. And just the scheme of things - of course, myself being a tight end, and just the way we use the position. I just don't see anything but positivity."

WIDE RECEIVER COOPER KUPP

What does it mean to you to be a L.A. Ram?"This is incredible. One, my wife loves it down here. I trained down here in Irvine. She loves it down here in SoCal - loves soaking up the sun. So, 'Happy wife, happy life.' So that's a good thing for me already.

"And just to be a part of this program, guys that I grew up watching - Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Kurt Warner, some of these guys who were just incredible football players. And now being able to be a part of this organization is an incredible feeling."

SAFETY JOHN JOHNSON

Is there someone thought about when you signed your first contract? "Definitely my mother and my father. They've stuck with me throughout the whole process, coming out of high school, going to college. And to pay them back for all the sacrifices they made for me, it'll be great."

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/pag...ediest-player-all-32-nfl-teams-2017-offseason

Who are the speediest players on each NFL team?
ESPN.com

The Cincinnati Bengals have a rookie in John Ross who ran the fastest 40-yard dash time ever recorded at the combine. The San Francisco 49ers have a wide receiver in Marquise Goodwin who is an Olympian and claims he is "still the fastest in the league." The New Orleans Saints added a veteran in Ted Ginn Jr. who was part of a relay team that beat Usain Bolt.

The NFL has some elite speedsters, and NFL Nation reporters reveal the players on each team who are the fastest and can back it up:



NFC WEST

Los Angeles Rams
WR Tavon Austin

A standout sprinter in high school, Austin wowed scouts at the 2013 combine by running the 40-yard dash in 4.34 seconds and completing the 20-yard shuttle in 4.01 seconds. His breakneck speed made him the No. 8 overall pick out of West Virginia and has prompted the Rams to do everything they can to get him the ball in space -- on screens, out of the backfield and through punt returns.

The new staff, led by rookie head coach Sean McVay, would like Austin to establish himself as more of a deep threat. They believe his speed can create the separation he needs, even though he's a 5-foot-8 receiver. -- Alden Gonzalez

San Francisco 49ers
WR Marquise Goodwin

Goodwin is not only the fastest player on the Niners but also has a legitimate claim to fastest in the NFL. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.27 seconds at the 2013 combine and competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics as a long jumper.

According to Goodwin, that speed is still prevalent, and even after watching John Ross run a blazing 4.22 40 at this year's combine, Goodwin holds firm in his belief he can outrun anyone in the league. "There's a lot of questions out there, and I'm going to put that out there," Goodwin said in March. "Yes, I'm still the fastest in the league, and I'm willing to prove it." -- Nick Wagoner

Seattle Seahawks
WR Cyril Grayson

He didn't play football in college but participated in LSU's pro day, and the Seahawks clocked him at a 4.32 in the 40-yard dash. Grayson was a track star with the Tigers, and he earned All-American honors while excelling in the 400 meters.

Compliance issues prevented him from joining the football team after his track career was over. Even so, the Seahawks saw enough from Grayson at his pro day to sign him to a contract, and he'll now compete for a back-end roster spot at wide receiver. -- Sheil Kapadia

Arizona Cardinals
WR J.J. Nelson

He was a high school state champion in the 100 and 200 meters, and he ran what's now tied for the fifth-fastest 40-yard dash in combine history, at 4.28 seconds. But Nelson doesn't just have straight-line speed. He can burn rubber in pads, and that's one reason the Cardinals drafted him in 2015. -- Josh Weinfuss

NFC SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons
WR Taylor Gabriel

The 5-foot-8, 165-pound wide receiver showed opposing defensive backs just how much of a blur he can be while averaging 42.7 yards on six touchdown receptions last season. Gabriel said he ran a wind-aided 4.27 in the 40 coming out of Abilene Christian University. His video-game-like moves make him look even faster. No wonder they call him "Turbo Taylor" now. -- Vaughn McClure

Carolina Panthers
WR Damiere Byrd

Before Ted Ginn Jr. signed with New Orleans during the offseason, the title of the fastest player on the Panthers' roster was up for debate. But with Ginn gone, the honor has to go to Byrd, who posted a time of 4.28 seconds on grass in the 40-yard dash before the 2014 draft.

His prime competition would be 2017 second-round pick Curtis Samuel, who ran the 40 in 4.31 seconds at the combine. But speed is Byrd's forte, and it's the reason he's still on the team as an undrafted player. -- David Newton

New Orleans Saints
WR Ted Ginn Jr.

Even at 32 years old, Ginn is probably still one of the fastest players in the NFL (I'd love to see a footrace between him and the guy he replaced, Brandin Cooks). A former track star in high school, Ginn was part of a 4x100 relay team that beat a team featuring Usain Bolt, and he could have been an Olympian if he hadn't chosen football.

Ginn didn't run the 40-yard dash at the combine because of an injury but has reportedly been clocked below 4.3 seconds. He was measured running 22.44 mph by the NFL at age 30. ... If it isn't Ginn, it might be another Ohio State and Glenville High School product: rookie CB Marshon Lattimore, who ran the 40 in 4.36 seconds at the combine. -- Mike Triplett

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
WR DeSean Jackson

He ran a 4.35 at the combine in 2008, the fastest time by a wide receiver that year. He might be 30 now, but he still can fly. When the NFL released its "Next Gen Stats" for 2016, Jackson registered the third-fastest overall speed and fastest reception time, with 22.6 mph on a 59-yard pass from Kirk Cousins.

The only player who was clocked faster on the field last season was Tyreek Hill, and both of his plays came on special teams. Quarterback Jameis Winston called Jackson a "Bentley with a Ferrari engine." -- Jenna Laine

NFC NORTH

Chicago Bears
WR Kevin White

White ran a blistering 4.35-second 40-yard dash two years ago at the NFL combine. That's moving for a player listed at 6-foot-3, 216 pounds. Now, since the Bears drafted White seventh overall in 2015, he has suffered a pair of fractures in his left leg. White might not be quite as fast anymore, but he still looked quick last season before going on injured reserve. There didn't appear to be a huge drop-off in his speed. -- Jeff Dickerson

Detroit Lions
CB Darius Slay

This is a tough thing to judge because of Lions players who are in a similar range when it comes to speed, including defensive end Ezekiel Ansah, who was once a sprinter and had a 4.26-second 20-yard shuttle at the combine.

But Slay has shown consistent short- and long-range speed, including a 4.21-second 20-yard shuttle and a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the 2013 combine, fastest among defensive backs that year. In a poll on the team's website of fastest players last season (relative to speed ratings in Madden), Slay was a landslide winner. -- Michael Rothstein

Green Bay Packers
WR Jordy Nelson

Forget 40 times. When was the last time you saw anyone stop Nelson on a deep route? Yes, his 40 time of 4.51 seconds pales in comparison to that of his fellow Packers receivers Trevor Davis and Jeff Janis, who both ran 4.42 40s at their combine workouts.

But Nelson's football speed is second to none on the Packers' roster. Even after he came back from his torn ACL, Nelson blew by defenders with relative ease last season. -- Rob Demovsky

Minnesota Vikings
CB Xavier Rhodes

There are four players on the Vikings' current roster who ran faster 40 times than Rhodes' 4.43 -- Latavius Murray, Trae Waynes, Jerick McKinnon and Jarius Wright -- but in terms of playing speed, it's tough to think of someone on the Vikings' roster who covers more ground than Rhodes, whether he's running downfield with some of the game's top receivers or hitting 22.4 mph on his 100-yard interception return touchdown in November.

That play, according to NFL.com, was the fastest by a defensive player in the league last season. -- Ben Goessling

NFC EAST

Dallas Cowboys
RB Ezekiel Elliott

Cornerback Anthony Brown might take home the title based on 40-yard dash times from the combine (4.35 seconds), but two plays exhibited Elliott's speed last season. He had a 60-yard touchdown run against Cincinnati in which he went untouched, splitting the safeties.

He also had an 83-yard score on a screen pass in which he ran by -- not through -- Pittsburgh defenders. He was timed at 4.47 seconds in the 40 in the 2016 combine, but he was a Missouri state champ in the 100, 200, 110 high hurdles and 300 hurdles. Elliott has excellent timed speed, but he has faster playing speed. -- Todd Archer

New York Giants
WR/KR Kevin Snead

The Giants just signed the "fastest man in college football." Snead ran a 40-yard dash that was timed anywhere from 4.22 seconds to 4.26 seconds; he was aiming for a ridiculous 4.19. Snead was a collegiate track star at Carson-Newman.

The question is whether he can play football. Odell Beckham Jr. (4.43) and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (4.33) have proved themselves as Pro Bowl players, and they would be right behind Snead in a race. But they also have football speed. -- Jordan Raanan

Philadelphia Eagles
WR Torrey Smith

With a 4.43-second 40-yard dash coming out of Maryland, Smith has leaned heavily on his speed in the pros. That has led to some explosive plays: Since 2011, Smith's 17.0 yards-per-catch average is second only to DeSean Jackson's 17.4. -- Tim McManus

Washington Redskins
RB Keith Marshall

With WR DeSean Jackson gone, Marshall becomes the fastest Washington player. A 2016 seventh-round pick, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds at the 2016 combine and is just ahead of rookie corner Fabian Moreau, who ran a 4.35 at the combine. The Redskins hope all of Marshall's speed returns after he missed last season with a knee injury. He will need an impressive camp to make the roster. -- John Keim

AFC EAST

Buffalo Bills
WR Rashad Ross

Until Tuesday, the Bills' fastest player was WR Kolby Listenbee, who ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash before being drafted in the sixth round by Buffalo in 2016. But hernia surgery prevented Listenbee from ever practicing with the Bills, and they waived him Tuesday to sign Ross.

Nicknamed "The Rocket," Ross ran a 4.36-second 40 at his 2013 pro day and clocked the league's fastest play in 2015 by reaching 21.5 mph on a 101-yard kick return for the Washington Redskins. -- Mike Rodak

Miami Dolphins
WR Jakeem Grant

At 5-foot-6, Grant is a miniature lightning bolt on the field. Miami's 2016 sixth-round draft pick, he wasn't invited to the NFL combine, but his pro-day 40 time of 4.38 ranked at the top among last year's rookies. He made several plays in the return game for the Dolphins last season but needs to improve ball security if he wants a bigger role. -- James Walker

New England Patriots
WR Brandin Cooks

He clocked a 4.33 at the 2014 combine, and it wasn't long after he arrived in New England this year that players talked about setting up a race to see who truly is the fastest Patriots player.

"That was probably one of the first things that they talked about doing -- guys giving us a hard time," Cooks said when asked if he has challenged other speedsters on the roster, such as special-teams captain Matthew Slater, second-year CB/special-teamer Jonathan Jones and safety Devin McCourty.

"You know, it's all about right now getting better individually and taking care of business, but I'm sure that time will come." -- Mike Reiss

New York Jets
WR Robby Anderson

He stands out on a team that doesn't have many true burners. Coming out of Temple in 2016, Anderson was unheralded and didn't participate in the combine, but he caught the Jets' attention by running a 4.34 40 at his pro day. The Jets tried to capitalize on his deep speed, as he averaged 16.3 air yards per target, second only to the Cardinals' J.J. Nelson (16.9). -- Rich Cimini

AFC NORTH

Baltimore Ravens
WR Mike Wallace

Even at age 30, Wallace was the seventh-fastest player in the NFL last season, according to NFL tracking sensors worn during games. He reached 22.34 mph while catching a 70-yard completion from Joe Flacco. That said, wide receiver Breshad Perriman would probably like to race Wallace to see who is the fastest Raven. -- Jamison Hensley

Cincinnati Bengals
WR John Ross

This one isn't even a question. Ross ran a 4.22-second 40 at the 2017 combine, the fastest time ever recorded at the event. Ross has often been referred to as a player with track-star speed, but he ran track for only one year in high school and didn't even like it.

Track star or not, he is certainly the fastest player on the Bengals and perhaps in the NFL. Cincinnati Reds outfielder Billy Hamilton tried to challenge Ross to a race to test his speed, but that was shut down quickly by Bengals coach Marvin Lewis. -- Katherine Terrell

Cleveland Browns
WR Corey Coleman

Coleman ran a 4.37-second 40 at his pro day (he did not run at the combine because of a sports hernia surgery) and was part of Baylor's 4x100-meter and 4x200-meter relay teams. -- Pat McManamon

Pittsburgh Steelers
WR Darrius Heyward-Bey

DHB might be 30, but he has yet to be unseated for the Steelers' speed throne. Teammates say Heyward-Bey once hit 25 mph on the team's GPS technology used for practices. That's 1 mph better than that of athletic freak Martavis Bryant. Heyward-Bey famously ran a 4.25 40 at the 2009 combine, and he believes he has maintained his elite speed. The one thing that slowed him down in 2016 was a foot injury. -- Jeremy Fowler

AFC SOUTH

Houston Texans
WR Wendall Williams

The speedy wide receiver made a name for himself last year, when he ran a hand-timed 4.19 40-yard dash at the NFL regional combine, though the laser said his time was 4.32. While playing football at University of the Cumberlands, Williams also competed on the track team in the 100- and 200-meter dash as well as the long jump.

Fellow Texans wide receiver Will Fuller also ran a 4.32, which would make for a fun race between teammates. -- Sarah Barshop

Indianapolis Colts
WR T.Y. Hilton

The sixth-year player doesn't have the nickname "The Ghost" for no reason. It's because he's hard to find if teams don't jam him at the line of scrimmage. His blazing speed is the reason Patriots coach Bill Belichick often shadows a safety to the side of the field on which Hilton is lined up when the Colts and Patriots play. Hilton led the NFL in receiving yards (1,448) while averaging 15.9 yards per catch in 2016. -- Mike Wells

Jacksonville Jaguars
WR Corey Grant

The third-year player ran unofficial times of 4.25 and 4.27 in the 40-yard dash at Auburn's pro day in 2015 (he wasn't invited to the combine). He wasn't able to showcase that speed on the field until the 2016 season finale against Indianapolis.

Grant ripped off a 57-yard touchdown run in which he cut back to his left, broke a tackle and outran two defensive backs to give the Jaguars a 17-0 lead. -- Mike DiRocco

Tennessee Titans
RB Khalfani Muhammad

The seventh-round running back out of Cal blazed a 4.34 40 at his pro day, and if he makes it as the Titans' third back, he will offer quite a changeup to DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry, who both run well but do so with a more punishing style. Nickel corner Brice McCain ran a 4.33 when he came into the NFL, but that was eight years ago. -- Paul Kuharsky

AFC WEST

Denver Broncos
CB Bradley Roby

In terms of timed speed, this one might be close to a tie with cornerback Taurean Nixon, given that Nixon was timed at his pro day a couple of years ago at 4.36. But Roby was electronically clocked at a 4.39 at the 2014 combine when he entered the league, and he has been a key part of the Broncos' ability to finish back-to-back seasons as the league's top pass defense.

If he weren't behind two All-Pros at the position in Aqib Taliband Chris Harris Jr., Roby would get a little more notice. He routinely plays more than 60 percent of his team's snaps on defense as a third cornerback and has repeatedly made big plays, including two touchdown returns last season and one touchdown return in 2015. -- Jeff Legwold

Kansas City Chiefs
WR/KR/PR Tyreek Hill

Hill reportedly ran a 4.24 40 at his pro day at West Alabama. He hasn't slowed since. Hill had the two fastest speeds for NFL players last season, according to NFL.com's next-gen stats. He hit 23.2 mph on a 105-yard kickoff return against the Texans that was wiped out by a teammate's penalty, and he hit almost 22.8 mph on an 86-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Broncos. -- Adam Teicher

Los Angeles Chargers
WR Tyrell Williams

With Jason Verrett and Travis Benjamin still recovering from knee injuries this offseason, I'll go with Williams. At 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, the Western Oregon product ran a blazing 4.42-second 40 time at his pro day two years ago. Williams' 16.2 yards-per-catch average is sixth in the NFL among receivers the past two seasons. -- Eric D. Williams

Oakland Raiders
RB Taiwan Jones

Fittingly, Jones is the lone remaining position player in Oakland drafted by the late Al Davis, who, like Goose and Maverick in "Top Gun," had a need for speed. Jones, a fourth-round pick out of Eastern Washington in 2011, is technically a running back but has played cornerback and returned kicks for the Raiders in his tenure.

He has run a 4.33-second 40, and as a rookie, he dreamed of taking on then-Raiders speedsters Darrius Heyward-Bey, Darren McFadden and Jacoby Ford in a sprint. Alas, the footrace never came to fruition, but Jones, entering his seventh season, proved that he could go a longer distance -- on the Raiders roster. -- Paul Gutierrez

Yes, I know it says St.Louis but that is who they were. This offense was amazing. IMO, the greatest of all time. I never really knew how early they pulled the starters but they could have easily put up 45 ppg. If we can get half the production out of this years offense then I would be ecstatic.

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Rams mailbag: New uniforms timeline, Aaron Donald situation, Jared Goff and Rams vs. ... Warriors?

June 9, 2017
By Gary KleinContact Reporter


The Rams completed organized team activity workouts this week and will hold a mandatory minicamp Tuesday through Thursday.

Defensive tackle Aaron Donald did not attend OTAs because of his contract situation. The absence did not cost him money because they were voluntary. Missing all of minicamp would cost him more than $70,000 in fines.

Now, on to your questions. Keep them coming at @latimesklein or gary.klein@latimes.com

When can we expect to hear if Rams are doing the uniforms/rebranding in 2019 or 2020?

The Rams had planned for a rebrand and new uniforms to coincide with moving into their new stadium in 2019.

But with the stadium delayed until 2020, those plans could change.

Kevin Demoff, the Rams’ chief operating officer, said last month that a decision about when to introduce new uniforms would be made “in the coming months.”

I would not expect a decision to be made until perhaps the end of the year.

What's the word on Aaron Donald and Tru??? How's the offensive like looking??

Aaron Donald did not participate in OTAs. He wants a new contract going into his fourth NFL season. And Rams general manager Les Sneadsaid said the team is attempting to negotiate a new deal.

But this probably won’t get done quickly. J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans went through a similar situation in 2014 after his third season. He did not get a new deal until the eve of the season opener.

Cornerback Trumaine Johnson missed the second week of OTAs because of what he described as a personal situation. He returned on Monday.

Johnson is set to earn nearly $17 million in his second year with the franchise tag. The Rams have until July 15 to sign him to an extension, or he will play on the one-year deal.

The Rams did not wear pads or engage in live contact during OTAs, so it is difficult to accurately assess how the offensive line is performing as a unit.

Aaron Donald signed by mini camp next week?

No. It would not be a surprise, though, if Donald attends the mandatory minicamp to avoid a fine.

What's the salary cap looking like in 2018, After an impending @AaronDonald97 extension ?

There are too many variables to accurately assess the salary cap situation for 2018, especially without knowing if and/or how a Donald deal might be structured.

The Rams also have said linebacker Alec Ogletree is in line for an extension.

Just remember, NFL teams can get creative – and cold – when it comes to making cap room.

No one has talked about the D-line yet. How's the adjustment/competition going for that group?

The biggest story with the defensive line, of course, is tackle Aaron Donald’s absence.

But as noted in a previous mailbag, new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is not going to tinker much with a three-time Pro Bowl player, regardless of scheme.

Robert Quinn is getting accustomed to playing from a stand-up position as an outside linebacker at times rather than a three-point stance as a defensive end. But his mission remains essentially the same: Get to the quarterback.

Tackle Michael Brockers looks like he’s still jamming traffic inside and Connor Barwin is transitioning easily into a system he ran under Phillips with the Texans.

Ethan Westbooks, Dominique Easley, Tyrunn Walker, Mike Purcell and rookie Tanzel Smart are among others competing for roles.

Who has looked better to you in OTAs, Goff or Mannion?

Starting quarterback Jared Goff has looked better than backup Sean Mannion during OTAs, but that, of course, comes with a couple of qualifiers:

Goff has taken all of the first-team reps and his confidence appears to grow with each workout.

Mannion is relegated to working with backups. He also has performed well.

Don’t be fooled by coach Sean McVay’s talk about there being a competition for this particular job. Goff is the starter until he suffers an injury or plays his way out of the position.

Is it raining TDs in OTAs?

It has been mostly sunny skies in Thousand Oaks during OTAs.

Goff and Mannion have both passed for touchdowns in various drills, but I would not describe it as a storm.

Has Kaepernick been considered?

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick remains unsigned.

The Rams are one team that saw just how capable Kaepernick can be: In last season’s finale, Kaepernick in the fourth quarter ran for a touchdown, passed for another and then ran for a game-winning two-point conversion in a 22-21 victory.

The Rams have Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in 2016, and Mannion, their third-round pick in 2015. They recently signed Dylan Thompson, but he appears to be more of a camp arm that will probably be released at the end of training camp.

When will tavon be ready to go??

Receiver Tavon Austin is recovering from surgery on his left wrist, so he did not participate in team drills during OTAs.

He has been on the field and appears to be working hard with a strength and conditioning coach to maintain his fitness. Most of the drills appear to include Austin catching tennis balls. Austin is expected to be ready for training camp.

How is Nelson Spruce looking in practice? Is he past his injury from last season and do you think he'll make it on the roster?

Receiver Nelson Spruce appears fully recovered from the injuries that sidelined him last season.

He is running crisp routes and showing the sure hands that earned him a roster spot as an undrafted free agent last season. On Monday, he Goff connected for a long touchdown.

Spruce will be fighting for a spot. Austin, Robert Woods, Pharoh Cooper, Mike Thomas, Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds are already penciled in.

Now that jamon brown is getting a majority of the first team snaps, in what ways has he looked better than Greg Robinson?

Jamon Brown, who played guard his first two seasons with the Rams, displaced Greg Robinson at right tackle during the second week of OTA workouts.

Remember, players do not wear pads and there is no live contact allowed during OTAs. So getting any kind of read on how Brown compares to Robinson is difficult, especially since reporters have only been allowed to view a few workouts.

Robinson acknowledged that he made unspecified mistakes during the first week and was aiming to correct them and compete for the spot.

It probably didn’t help that he then was absent from the first workout of the third week because of what McVay described as a personal situation. McVay sounds encouraged by Brown’s progress.

Goff says that McVay's system is easier for QBs to learn. Have any Olinemen commented on how the new system has impacted them?

Offensive linemen have mostly commented on playing new positions and the influence of new left tackle Andrew Whitworth.

Rob Havenstein moved from right tackle to right guard, Brown moved from guard to right tackle and Robinson moved from left tackle to right tackle.

All have spoken about the differences between their new and former positions. But none have indicated that the system itself is easier or more difficult to learn.

Besides Whitworth, Robinson and Brown, who are next at OT?

On a 53-man roster, there is a need for linemen who can play more than one position.

Veteran Rodger Saffold is starting at left guard but he has played tackle and could play either side in a pinch. Andrew Donnal filled in at left tackle last season and did an adequate job. Pace Murphy also can play tackle.

Gary, without a doubt Phillips is a fantastic defensive coordinator but he hasn't had a long tenure with anyone team. Why?

I do not know all of the particulars of Phillips’ tenures at multiple coaching stops.

But when you’ve been coaching in the NFL since 1976, I’m sure you run into every situation imaginable.

Sometimes, coaches are caught up in the whims of owners. Sometimes, riffs can develop among coaching staffs. Sometimes, a contract expires and another team wants to pay you more money.

Is there anything new/notable that McVay, or one of his staffers, has brought to the Rams in terms of athletic training, nutrition?

Like McVay, new strength and conditioning coach Ted Rath appears to have injected enthusiasm into the Rams’ facility.

New head coaches routinely talk about changing culture, and new strength coaches are usually trumpeted for bringing new techniques and technology that improve performance.

We’ll have to wait how Rath’s influence plays out, but players appear to be embracing the change.

Besides Cooper Kupp, is there any other rookies that have jumped out during OTA's?

Receiver Kupp, a third-round pick from Eastern Washington, has been the most obvious rookie.

Tight end Gerald Everett and receiver Reynolds also have had their moments.

Most rookies at this point are a bit overwhelmed by the transition to the NFL and learning all that comes with that. I would expect to see more rookies stand out during training camp.

What is the current status of @TeidrickSmith ? Where does T fit in with the team? What are coaches saying about this @crufootball alum?

Linebacker Teidrick Smith, who played in college at Mary Hardin-Baylor, made the OTA roster after a tryout during rookie minicamp.

Smith’s best shot at making the regular-season roster — or the practice squad — probably will be through special teams.

Why is LA so insecure abt itself that press need ask every new player for positive affirmation abt weather there? Do you not know it's nice?

Not sure it’s accurate to say the press asks every new player for positive affirmation about the weather.

Perhaps some reporters do.

My experience is that many players bring it up without being directly asked about it. Cornerback Nickell Robey-Coleman, for example, described the weather in Thousand Oaks as a way of comparing what it was like to play in Buffalo.

For the record, it is sunny, the sky is clear and the temperature is 75 degreesas I answer this question.

Bigger mismatch: Rams v Warriors in 3 on 3 basketball OR Rams v Warriors in 7 on 7 football?

The way Kevin Durant, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Co. are playing right now, it would be tough to pick against the Warriors in any sporting format.

Given the relative inexperience of the Rams’ tight ends, it would be also be fun to see how LeBron James of the Cavaliers might fit in McVay’s offense.

Thanks for all the great questions. Let’s do it again next week.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-mailbag-20170609-htmlstory.html


https://twitter.com/ThinkBlue47

It just struck me that I do. (I blame Selassie's African Genius post.) I also miss the Real American Heroes commercials that played before the RMOG. They were during the time of the GSOT and for me were part of the background noise of that very best time to be a Rams fan.

It's here guys! Kayvon Webster was able to get on our podcast and we had a great time interviewing him. He's going to be a Rams star sooner than later. So be sure to take a listen and please let me know what you think and if you liked it go spread the word! Thanks guys!

Login to view embedded media View: https://soundcloud.com/downtownrams/kavyon-webster

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/f...ek-roadmap-jets-0-16-season-article-1.3231817

TANKS FOR NOTHING: Here's the week-to-week roadmap of the Jets' 0-16 season
By Gary Meyers

Welcome to Tank Town, USA and the Sweet Sixteen.

Jets Nation, this is going to be ugly. The 2017 Jets have a realistic chance of being worse than the 1-15 Rich Kotite atrocity of 1996, a team that actually had a lot of talent, unfortunately none of it in the head coach’s office.

The Jets could make this the Sweet Sixteen season.

It might be even harder to finish 0-16 than 16-0. There’s been only one of each. The 2008 Lions were winless one season after the Patriots were undefeated. By mistake, a team usually wins one game. With a bad bounce, even the great teams manage to lose a game.

The Jets need to secure the first pick in the draft, which is expected to be quarterback Sam Darnold of USC unless Josh Allen of Wyoming or Josh Rosen of UCLA jump ahead by next April.

Considering the Browns and 49ers are also going to be really awful, the only way to guarantee the No. 1 pick is to finish 0-16, which would include a loss to the Browns, and hope the 49ers win a game along the way. It would just be another sad chapter in the Jets history if they finish 0-16 and so do the 49ers and then the Jets lose the strength-of-schedule tie-breaker for the first pick.

How can the Jets put together the first winless season in the history of New York sports?

Here’s the week-by-week roadmap. Hang on tight.


HOWARD SIMMONS/NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Week 1 - Jets at Bills
Final Score: Bills 20, Jets 3

The Bills defense is so fired up they no longer have to listen to the identical twin geniuses Rex and Rob that they play their best game since Bruce Smith and Cornelius Bennett. Josh McCown is 7-for-24 for 75 yards with two interceptions and three sacks. Todd Bowles says he didn’t considering putting in Christian Hackenberg. He says the second-year QB is still getting used to his uniform after dressing for only one game last season.

Record: 0-1

Week 2 - Jets at Raiders
Final Score: Raiders 38, Jets 10

Why Woody Johnson decided to cut Jets' David Harris, Eric Decker

Derek Carr, the pre-season MVP favorite, lights up the Jets for 374 yards passing with two touchdowns to Amari Cooper. Marshawn Lynch scores from the one and immediately sends the tape to Pete Carroll. McCown is 15-for-30 for 125 yards and two more INTs. Bowles says he didn’t consider putting in Hackenberg.

Record 0-2

Week 3 - Dolphins at Jets
Final Score: Dolphins 17, Jets 14

McCown throws an interception with 10 seconds left as the Jets were moving into field goal range. He spared the fans having to watch overtime in the home opener. Woody Johnson, assuming by now he is officially named Ambassador to the United Kingdom, returns from his London home at the Winfield House in Regent Park’s and wishes he hadn’t. He refuses all questions about the job security of Bowles and President Trump.

Christian Hackenberg ready to take advantage of Jets opportunity

Record: 0-3

Week 4 - Jaguars at Jets
Final Score: Jaguars 10, Jets 9

Jags executive VP of football operations Tom Coughlin makes a triumphant return to MetLife Stadium, blowing kisses to the crowd and inviting fans to kiss his Giants rings. McCown throws for just 60 yards and says he came out flat because the Jags were not one of his former teams. The Jets are his 10th. Bowles has Hackenberg warming up on the sidelines in the fourth quarter but leaves him there.

Record: 0-4

Week 5 - Jets at Browns
Final Score: Browns 20, Jets 10

The Tank Bowl. This game has major draft implications. Browns second-round pick DeShone Kizer, in his first start, throws a 70-yard touchdown pass to Corey Coleman with 40 seconds remaining. McCown is given a standing ovation by Browns fans, who appreciate his 1-10 record in Cleveland during the 2015-16 seasons. Still no Hackenberg. LeBron James is at the game. Jets players taunt him with chants of “KD, KD, KD.”

Record 0-5

Week 6 - Patriots at Jets
Final Score: Patriots 42, Jets 17

Despite the offensive outburst – Bilal Powell runs for 175 yards and two touchdowns – the Jets can’t control Tom Brady, who throws a pair of 70-yard TDs to Brandin Cooks. McCown is bad once again, running his career record to 18-48. Bowles announces that Hackenberg will start next week in Miami.

Record: 0-6

Week 7 - Jets at Dolphins
Final Score: Dolphins 31, Jets 7

Hackenberg picks up where he left off at Penn State and is bad. He throws three interceptions and the Jets only score is a 40-yard interception return for a touchdown by rookie-of-the-year candidate Jamal Adams. As usual in Miami, there are more Jets fans than Dolphins fans. Jarvis Landry proposes to the goal post after his third touchdown, challenging his pal Odell Beckham Jr., to get to the altar first with the kicking net.

Record: 0-7

Week 8 - Falcons at Jets
Final Score: Falcons 31, Jets 17

For the first and what won’t be the last time, the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets chant is replaced by S-U-C-K Suck Suck Suck for Sam as Hackenberg throws three more interceptions. Johnson has remained in London, electing to save money on the cross-Atlantic flight.

Record: 0-8

Week 9 - Bills at Jets
Final Score: Bills 27, Jets 26

Leonard Williams picks up Darron Lee and shoves him into the Gatorade bucket after he missed a tackle on Tyrod Taylor’s game-winning 5-yard touchdown run on the final play. It’s the third year in a row the Jets and Bills play on a Thursday night. It’s the Jets only national TV appearance of the season. Hackenberg has his best game: Two TD passes to Quincy Enunwa.

Record: 0-9

Week 10 - Jets at Bucs
Final Score: Bucs 31, Jets 21

DeSean Jackson has 175 yards receiving and backpedals into the end zone on each of his two TD scores. Jameis Winston throws for 325 yards. Jets fans argue with Bucs fans about Darrelle Revis: Was he worse in Tampa in 2013 or New York in 2016? 0-16 is looking real.

Record: 0-10

Week 11 - Bye
Whew

Week 12 - Panthers at Jets
Final Score: Panthers 24, Jets 14

Rookies Christian McCaffrey and Brooklyn’s Curtis Samuel rip apart the Jets defense, combining for 250 yards and three touchdowns. With the Giants off after having played on Thanksgiving night, Brandon Marshall shows up in the Jets locker room and picks a fight with Sheldon Richardson.

Record: 0-11

Week 13 - Chiefs at Jets
Final Score: Chiefs 35, Jets 10

At the Saturday night team meeting, Todd Bowles displays a picture of ex-Chief Jeremy Maclin and warns his players not to invite Andy Reid if they are planning to get married. Rookie QB Patrick Mahomes comes off the bench and completes a 60-yard TD to Tyreek Hill, who created a 15-yard cushion on Buster Skrine. Jets fans starting chanting, “We Want Revis. We Want Revis.” Well, not really.

Record: 0-12

Week 14 - Jets at Broncos
Final Score: Broncos 30, Jets 10

Richardson Snapchats himself on bench in the fourth quarter eating a hot dog Bowles doesn’t fine him but warns hot dogs during games could cause indigestion. Peyton Manning tweets that after watching the Jets defense he wished he was still playing.

Record: 0-13

Week 15 - Jets at Saints
Final Score: Saints 49, Jets 28

Hackenberg throws four touchdowns and four interceptions. Drew Brees throws for 480 yards – hey, it’s Drew Brees in the Superdome, he does that – and Adams, the rookie from nearby LSU, is embarrassed and says he may petition the NCAA to get his eligibility restored.

Record: 0-14

Week 16 - Chargers at Jets
Final Score: Chargers 13, Jets 12

Only two to go to 0-16. Ho-ho-ho. The Jets set a record when only 12,874 fans show up at MetLife on Christmas Eve day. The Jets clinch the No. 1 pick. No other team has fewer than two victories. New kicker Roberto Aguayo, the Jets fifth kicker of the season, misses 30-yarder with no time left.

Record: 0-15

Week 17 - Jets at Patriots
Final Score: Patriots 35, Jets 0

The Pats have the No. 1 seed locked up, but Bill Belichick shows no mercy and plays Brady the entire game. It’s New Years’ Eve and Belichick is partying like it’s Jan. 4, 2000, the day he resigned as head coach of the NYJ. Johnson shows up for the first time in two months and announces Bowles and GM Mike Maccagnan will return. “I’m pleased with the progress,” he says. “We didn’t have any butt fumbles.” Then he gets on a plane back to London.

Record: 0-16

This idea comes from a different thread and I thought that it deserved its own thread. Think of rookies Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Flipper Anderson, and Henry Ellard. These guys had great hands from the get-go. They were also great route runners, if memory serves. This is why it seems that most of the guys from last year are fools gold to me. People are hyping Thomas right now and Tavon is being relied on to be this great "go" receiver. Tavon is a great gadget guy who can take over a game...but at other times, he's swallowed whole by a defense.

For these reasons, I am counting on Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp../.both run great routes and have great hands. I think Josh Reynolds will become a monster #1 WR in time, and he too has great hands and toughness to go up for the ball AND CATCH IT. Don't know much about Everrett, except that he is supposed to be an athletic freak, but can that freak catch???

So what do you guys think? What guys with hands of stone in the NFL, ever developed into great receivers? I'd be interested to know if they exist...

Courtesy of our very own @Rams43

[jimrome.com]

From interviewing him for the head coaching position of the Los Angeles Rams to working with him through the 2017 NFL Draft and into the team’s offseason activities, General Manager Les Snead said one thing remains oblivious about Sean McVay. His age.

Snead joined The Jim Rome Show Thursday on CBS Sports Radio and said you’d never be able to tell McVay is the youngest head coach in the history of the NFL.

“You never think 31. I don’t even know if you think 40, 50, 20. What you do think? Ok, wait a minute, this guy is a special leader,” Snead said. “He’s very smart, especially when it comes to football and what he wants and how he wants to accomplish it, and there’s an ultra-passion and enthusiasm for the game, and not only for the game, but how to prepare for the game.”

Snead also shared some interesting observations of his starting quarterback, the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, Jared Goff, and his first year in the bright lights of the nation’s second biggest city.

“If you start it at first year, obviously guess what, Los Angeles Rams come back to Los Angeles trade up to the one pick, that’s kind of a Los Angeles thing to do,” Snead said. “He kind of walks into L.A. let’s call it a red carpet moment, and then he spends time behind Case Keenum and then we insert him, and then the end of the season doesn’t go so well.

“So you go from that red carpet moment to uh-oh, like we all do in life.”

But Snead said it’s how Goff has handled that adversity that is encouraging.

“What you learned about Jared through that, number one, he doesn’t blink,” Snead said. “It doesn’t bother him in a sense that what happened doesn’t affect what he’s going to do, try to fix what happened, and I think that’s what quarterbacks need. I don’t think there was a day he took off. I don’t know if he left southern California. I don’t know if he left the valley except to go down to Orange County and work with the group, Tom House and his group down there, but he spent a lot of time in our building. Hey getting to know the players who were still coming around for treatment, workouts, what have you. Getting to know our new coaches as they came in, there wasn’t a day he took off and the most important thing, there wasn’t a moment where last year’s unsuccessful start to his career affected how he’s preparing to be successful the rest of the way.”

Snead said Goff is now a completely different player today than he was at the end of the season and continues to take each step forward in his growth.

“Any time you get to take snaps in this league, you’re going to learn something, whether you like it or not, because this is a really really competitive football league,” Snead said. “But what I think what you’ve seen in those OTA’s is hey, he turned 22, we’ve went from 21 to 22. He also had to learn new offense. But in that, learning the new offense from the ground up has been really beneficial to him. I think he’s been able to absorb it and we’ve seen, let’s call it from our first mini-camp through the OTA’s and we will do our second mini-camp next week, you’ve now seen him go to where he’s processing things quicker, not thinking about them, not thinking about what Sean wants him to do, but actually coming to the line of scrimmage and knowing what he wants to do, and I think the next step will be when you actually go play an opponent, a group, if you want to call an enemy for the day who actually, there’s going to be eleven people out there trying to disrupt what you want to do, and I think that’s the next step in this process is him being able to go out and execute those moments.”

Probably should have said a VERY good D under Wade, huh?

But man, there's gonna be some serious tinkering before opening day, that's for sure.

Outside CB opposite TruJo?
Slot CB candidates?
Is Joyner gonna be a star at FS?
Where, how, and when does JJ get his snaps?
How many CB's and how many S's to keep?
LB depth is gonna be another fierce position battle group. Might be about ST play as the final decider?
And the DL after the starters? Another dogfight.

So many moving parts.

Wade is gonna be busy sorting all this out. But he's got almost 3 months to do it and I have no doubt that he'll enjoy the process.

Top 10 D for sure. Maybe even top 5, or better?

video: [youtu.be]

Hope you enjoy.

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/33994/mike-thomas-tyler-higbee-look-to-move-up-rams-depth-chart

Alden GonzalezESPN Staff Writer

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Tavon Austin remained off to the side, running routes and catching tennis balls while wearing a guard on his surgically repaired left wrist, and Mike Thomas was on the field with his teammates, taking snaps with the Los Angeles Rams' first-team offense on Monday afternoon. The Rams have 17 pass-catchers on their roster, 14 of whom are heading into their first or second season in the NFL.

In other words, they're young at the position.

And while Austin and free-agent addition Robert Woods will serve as the two primary receivers, the Rams must still figure out how the second-year players will mix in with the rookies. It's an interesting dynamic because of the sheer volume, and it's fascinating because Sean McVay, the Rams' rookie coach, only hand-picked about half of them.

Suddenly a group that includes Pharoh Cooper, Tyler Higbee and Thomas, among others, is competing against Gerald Everett, Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds, all of whom were acquired in this year's draft.

Nelson Spruce, a ballyhooed undrafted free agent from 2016 who never stepped on the field. Thomas has been the one getting most of Austin's reps.

He believes he has made "tremendous growth" since his rookie season.

"My rookie year, I was a little hesitant," Thomas said. "I wasn’t feeling myself as far as playing fast. But now, I know what to expect."

Thomas, a sixth-round pick out of Southern Mississippi, made critical mistakes in the scant playing time he received last season. Against the Falcons in Week 14, he fumbled the opening kickoff. Against the Seahawks in Week 15, he dropped a well-placed deep pass from Jared Goff while wide open. But the Rams badly need a deep threat. At 5 foot 8, Austin may be too small and Reynolds may be too raw. Thomas could emerge in that role this season.

"I feel like they see my potential in this offense, and Coach Bones [special teams coordinator John Fassel] sees my potential on special teams," Thomas said. "You can’t really define a player off his mistakes; you've just got to define him off how he comes back from those mistakes. I feel like I came back pretty well, and I didn’t let that get to me. Last year, my rookie year, I feel like I got all my mistakes in on the field. I got them out of the way."

Thomas is among 12 receivers; Higbee is among five pass-catching tight ends.

Higbee's primary competition is Everett, the 44th overall pick who built a name for himself as an athletic pass-catcher who can stretch the deep middle of the field. Higbee, a fourth-round pick out of Western Kentucky in 2016, seemed destined for a primary role in Jeff Fisher's offense last summer. But the 6-foot-6, 257-pound Higbee was targeted only seven times in the first seven games and only 29 times all season.

"It was a coaching decision," Higbee said. "Whatever they thought was best, that’s what they did."

In the offseason, the Rams thought it best to let veteran Lance Kendricks leave via free agency and stay young at tight end. Temarrick Hemingway, a sixth-round pick in last year's draft, and Travis Wilson, the former Utah quarterback who recently made the transition to tight end, could factor into the mix. But it figures to be mainly Higbee and Everett at the position, and both could play a big role.

"You see what Coach McVay’s done in Washington with those tight ends," Higbee said, alluding to a 2016 Redskins team that led the NFL in tight end receiving yards. "He had two great guys with Vernon Davis and Jordan Reed over there. Not saying we have a Jordan Reed/Vernon Davis over here, but I think we’re going to be all right."

Jared Goff: Rookie Bust to Second Year Breakout

The Rams No. 1 overall pick from a season ago did not have the type of rookie season he, or anyone, had envisioned when his name was called on draft night. He didn’t get his first start until Week 10 of the season, he threw only five TDs with seven interceptions, and he was sacked 26 times in seven games.

His fantasy numbers were even worse. He averaged 11.7 fantasy points per game (four points per TD) ranking him as the 41st QB in fantasy last year. Quarterbacks Brock Osweiler, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and even fellow Rams QB Case Keenum all averaged more fantasy points per game. It doesn’t get much worse than that, but on the bright side, there is only one way to go and that’s up.

The Rams made a number of offseason moves that will go a long way to making Goff a viable fantasy starter or at the very least a “play the matchup” QB that could be a nice bye-week fill-in.

The first thing they did was add veteran leadership to their offensive line by signing free agent Pro Bowl LT Andrew Whitworth. The Rams offensive line was ranked 27th by Pro Football Focus, and for the seven games that Goff started they gave up nearly four sacks per game. Whitworth in an immediate upgrade and should go a long way to shoring up some of their issues up front. They also added veteran WR Robert Woods. Woods may not jump off the page as a huge weapon but will be a reliable receiver for Goff in 2017.

In the draft, they upgraded their offensive weapons by using three of their first four picks on pass catchers. They took TE Gerald Everett in the second round. Yes, many experts thought that was too early to draft Everett, but the fact remains that he is an upgrade over what they had last year. Everett has upside as a pass catcher in this offense and standing at 6-foot-3 will be a big target in the middle of the field for Goff.

In rounds three and four they took two WRs; Cooper Kupp of Eastern Washington and Josh of Reynolds Texas A&M. It is still unclear what the WR corps will look like to start 2017, with Woods, Tavon Austin and last year’s rookies Pharoh Cooper and Mike Thomas already on the roster, but it will breed some good competition in camp and nothing bad comes from competition.

Finally, in what may have been their biggest and most impactful move, St. Louis fired incumbent HC Jeff Fisher and replaced him with Sean McVay. McVay coached one of the best offenses in the NFL last year as the offensive coordinator of the Redskins, and he will look to bring some of that magic to an offense that was downright putrid in 2016.

When you combine all the offseason moves with an expected bounce-back season from Todd Gurley, Jared Goff may have just enough firepower on this team to become fantasy relevant and show everyone why he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2016.

My prediction for him is 4,000 yards 26 TDs and 16 INTs which would have put him in "Jameis Winston" territory had he put up those numbers in 2016. Winston was a top 15 QB last year and is about what I’m expecting from Goff in 2017.

https://www.fantasypros.com/2017/06/jared-goff-rookie-bust-to-second-year-breakout-fantasy-football/

I've been trying get a feeling for how McVay will be lining up the Rams Offense by formation. He is known for his use of two TE sets but it appears when passing he only uses mostly 0 TE or 1 TE formations. Looking at the TE formations the Skins and McVay had success throwing using 2 TE sets with a 73.6 completion percentage and 10.4 YPA but, a very limited 87 attempts. The majority of passes came with 0 or 1 TE sets 205 to 260 attempts and 62 to 69.6 completion percentages. The YPA were very similar at 7.5 to 7.8. An overwhelming majority of TDs came with 1 TE on the field with 14.

We can't know the exact formation nor when the throws happen just from these numbers here. I'm going to assume that with 2 TE run formation McVay surprises defenses with some throws and has great success. I always like keeping defenses honest by doing the opposite of what they expect at times.

What I came away with here is that Higbee and Everett on the field together in run sets with some highly successful passing attempts. Like the rest of the league the 3 and 4 WR sets get the bulk of the passing attempts, yards and TD passes.

Thoughts.


http://www.espn.com/nfl/team/splits/_/name/wsh/washington-redskins

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/19581272/body-ex-buffalo-bills-receiver-james-hardy-found-river
Coroner identifies body in river as ex-Bills WR James Hardy

The Allen County (Indiana) Coroner's Office on Thursday identified the body of a man found in the Maumee River on Wednesday as former Buffalo Bills receiver James Hardy.

Hardy's cause of death has not yet been determined.

His body was found lodged in a dam in the river, according to the Fort Wayne Police Department.

According to multiple reports, Hardy's mother reported her son was missing on May 30.

The 31-year-old Hardy, who is from Fort Wayne, played two season for the Bills (2008 and '09).

The Bills sent their condolences to the Hardy family on Thursday.

The Bills selected Hardy in the second round (41st overall) of the 2008 draft after the receiver had 191 receptions for 2,740 and 36 touchdowns at the Indiana University.

He appeared in 16 games (three starts) in his NFL career, catching 10 passes for 96 yards and two touchdowns.

Hardy was arrested in Los Angeles for resisting arrest in 2014 but a judge later ruled him mentally incompetent to stand trial.

Click the link below to watch video.
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http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/06/06/sean-mcvay-los-angeles-rams-24-hours-nfl

24 Hours With ... Sean McVay
He may be the youngest coach in NFL history, but the Rams’ new head man is in unquestioned command of his team. Word for the wise—no daydreaming in meetings!
By Andy Benoit

After seven years in Washington, the last three as Jay Gruden’s offensive coordinator, a soon-to-be 31-year-old Sean McVay took over the Los Angeles Rams in January, becoming the youngest head coach in NFL history (modern era).

It’s been a whirlwind first off-season, though if you observe McVay running the team, you’d think he’s been at it for a decade. In May, during the Rams’ third OTA session (which meant full days with the players and live practices), McVay welcomed us behind the curtain.

* * *

Los Angeles, Calif.
May 24, 2017
9:43 p.m. PT

Sean McVay answers the door to his contemporary-style house in Encino Hills, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley northwest of downtown L.A. He moved in a few weeks earlier. His mother, an interior designer in Atlanta, has been furnishing the place. She’s off to a strong—and, to McVay’s occasional astonishment, expensive—start. But her work is far from done. About half of the home’s 4,660 square feet remain bare. McVay lives here with his girlfriend, Veronica, who moved with him from Virginia.

After McVay, the former offensive coordinator in Washington, got the Rams job on Jan. 12, he planned on returning to his Reston, Va., townhouse to gather his things. But there was too much to do in California. So Veronica and a few friends took care of clearing the townhouse, and it sold in a day. McVay never made it back.

He’s wearing his usual: shorts, t-shirt and running shoes. “Come in, make yourself at home,” he says.

* * *

10:01 p.m.

McVay toured six houses when he got to L.A. The fourth felt like the winner. But then he saw this one. It overlooks Burbank and has an enormous open patio. The bells and whistles abound: a gas fire table near the edge of the balcony; a miniature balcony overlooking the pool; floodlights—remarkably powerful floodlights; surround sound inside and outside; an Alexa system that controls the lights on command. (“Alexa, turn all off.”) And a glass wall that slides open at the push of a button, converting the living room into essentially a fancy covered patio.

“Pretty cool, huh?” McVay says as he reveals each nook and cranny. He’s too earnestly impressed to be bragging. He grabs a beer and takes a seat near the gas fire table, only to discover that the cushions of his new patio furniture are damp. Oh well. He’s calling it a night soon anyway. The youngest head coach in NFL history explains that the consequence of waking up early is going to bed at the hour of an old man.

* * *

May 25
4:01 a.m.

The alarm was set for 3:45 a.m. And now he’s ready for work. The plan was to leave a little after 4:00. The camera crew following him today was to arrive at 4:10. They show up at 4:06. McVay is welcoming but clearly eager to go. The day is already slipping away.

* * *

4:17 a.m.

McVay winds his black BMW 750i through nearly two miles of his Encino Hills neighborhood to the freeway. His commute to the Rams’ temporary football offices at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks is 28 to 30 minutes at this hour, depending on how you hit the lights.

Some mornings McVay will listen to an audiobook. (Lately it’s been Extreme Ownership: How Navy SEALs lead and win.) Other mornings he’ll call people back east. He can catch his parents at this hour. Today he just chats with the camera crew, as hip-hop plays quietly in the background.

* * *

4:37 a.m.

McVay’s office is sparse. There’s a large oak L-shaped desk and cabinet, and four screens: two computer monitors, a laptop and a large flat-screen, which displays the contents of McVay’s main computer. On the wall is a blowup picture of Rams linebacker Alec Ogletree leading a huddle. That’s it.

There’s also a blowup of running back Todd Gurley and a painting of Eric Dickerson, but they’re yet to be hung. The room comfortably fits two large leather arm chairs, a small leather sofa and a round table with three chairs. On the table is a list of hour-by-hour daily schedules covering all the way through August. In the back is a one-man locker room equipped with a shower and toilet.

Photo: The MMQB

McVay, drinking black coffee and a sparkling water (Rams general manager Les Snead got him on it), is at his desk watching clips of plays from Atlanta and Washington that he’ll be installing today for his young Rams offense. It’s Day 3 of the third OTA session.

Practice is from noon to 2:00, but players will arrive for meetings at 8:00 a.m. McVay wants to show examples of how these new designs play out against different defensive looks. “One thing about going through all these clips,” he says with a smile, “is you gain a real appreciation for how good some of your former players were.”

* * *

6:10 a.m.

He’s still watching clips. The only break is for a bowl of cereal, which he takes back to his desk. Today it’s Frosted Flakes; the cafeteria was out of Frosted Mini-Wheats. He eats with a plastic spoon out of a small paper bowl. Distractions keep popping up, and he winds up barely finishing half. It’s all McVay will consume for the next eight hours.

* * *

6:41 a.m.

Offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur pops into the office. McVay and LaFleur have been friends since 2011, when they worked together on Washington’s staff. They discuss a wide receiver screen play.

“I think it’s so hit-or-miss for a running back to block this defender when he’s offset,” McVay says, pointing to an example on the video.

“So you want me to switch it out?” LaFleur asks.

“Well, I’m asking your opinion here, too.”

“Yeah, I think it just depends. If you do have the running back aligned there, you have to have other plays off of that.”

The discussion continues for several minutes. They go over which plays to install today and which to hold until next week. There’s a fine line here, because in the NFL you don’t have plays per se; you have variations of concepts. It all must tie together.

* * *

7:03 a.m.

Tight ends coach Shane Waldron stops in. McVay also solicits his opinion as well on whether to put in the package he discussed with LaFleur. It directly affects Waldron’s players, and he’d prefer to wait until next week. “If you don’t mind,” Waldron says.

“Not at all,” McVay says. “That’s why I’m asking.”

* * *

7:08 a.m.

Now it’s Rams head trainer Reggie Scott who drops by. He has injury updates. McVay asks him which player so far has run the most total yards in OTAs. (The Rams track this data with a GPS program.) McVay guesses wide receiver Mike Thomas, and he’s correct.

(Naturally; wide receivers run farther downfield on each snap than any other player, plus they must jog to and from the huddle.) McVay also guesses Todd Gurley is near the top because of the way he continues to run through the whistle. Scott’s polite tone suggests this guess is close but not spot on. “Yeah, he’s top third,” Scott says.

* * *


Photo: The MMQB

Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is in the defense meeting room, addressing his whole unit. He’s wearing a red plaid shirt but will later change into Rams gear. McVay stands in the back alongside cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant.

In a few minutes, Pleasant and safeties coach Ejiro Evero will take over, addressing the defensive backs. They’ll go back and forth, playing off one another and challenging safeties and corners to understand who is providing help in Los Angeles’s matchup coverages. McVay sits quietly in the back, taking notes.

* * *

8:55 a.m.

Now it’s McVay’s turn to run a meeting. He’s addressing the entire offense. He jumps right in, no intro. “Today we’re going to be exclusively in ‘11’ personnel (one back, one tight end), working against pressures.”

McVay calls on players at random throughout the meeting. Rams employees have come to fear this. Nothing is worse than the head coach catching you daydream in front of the entire room. From quarterback Jared Goff to the quality control assistants, many have learned the hard way to pay undivided attention.

Some have even taken to keeping a cheat sheet at the front of their binder, listing all the Ram slogans and acronyms that McVay asks about. It’s not unusual for McVay to call on a potential victim and hear frantic page-turning.

A few weeks ago star defensive back Trumaine Johnson was asked to name one of the two C’s that define their culture. With abrupt certainty that only a corner can conjure, Johnson said commitment. Wrong. “But he was so confident about it,” McVay later recounts for Veronica and friends, “that I paused and thought, ‘son of a gun, am I wrong about the two C’s?” (For the record, it’s character and communication.)

Towards the end of the meeting, McVay goes through a tight red zone route combination. “Here we’d tell the F receiver on this stick route to tight-turn it.” The video shows a Washington receiver catching a short pass and turning upfield towards the end zone.

The next clip shows the same play, only run a little crisper. “We tight-turn it, get a little further away from the nickelback.” On screen, the receiver pushes the ball down just a yard short of the goal-line. “And then we give Todd [Gurley] another TD.”

* * *

9:50 a.m.

Special teams coordinator John Fassel—known as “Bones” for his lanky build—is leading the next meeting. It’s in the same room as the offensive meeting and is slated to start at 9:50. The second the clock ticks over from 9:49, McVay calls out, “What time does this 9:50 meeting start?” He’s busting Fassel’s chops, but the veteran assistant hastens anyway. Fassel dives in, full energy, a few seconds before the clock ticks to 9:51.

* * *

10:10 a.m.

It’s time for the full team meeting. This is where today’s emotional tone is set. McVay explains that there will be a competitive session near the end of practice, offense vs. defense at full speed (no pads, so no tackling). Three drives, each valued at one point. The offense gets a point by either gaining three first downs or 40 yards. The defense gets a point by forcing a punt or turnover before then.

McVay reiterates some of the mantras that he wants his team to live by. He talks about the importance of operating with poise and tempo. Of communicating. Of pursuing daily excellence. “We expect to achieve and live our highest standards,” he bellows, pacing back and forth.

“You know those three things we have. Coach Wade Phillips, what’s one of those three things?” McVay keeps pacing, knowing his renowned veteran defensive coordinator will answer quickly and get the ball rolling.

Except Phillips says nothing.

McVay stops and turns. “Our APP [slogan], what’s one of its three things?” McVay asks again. Saying the three letters—APP—is a disguised lifeline for Phillips; a few weeks earlier Phillips himself had come up with the acronym.

He’d picked off three values McVay commonly preaches—approach, preparation and performance—and proudly announced, “I have an ‘app’ for that.” Now here’s Phillips sitting in Row 1, before the entire team, drawing a blank.

He starts to blush. “Help him out!” McVay barks. “Approach, preparation and performance,” nearly 100 dumbfounded voices mutter. Giggles start to creep across the room. Purely by accident, McVay has caught his unlikeliest daydreaming victim yet. Phillips can only laugh.

* * *


Photo: The MMQB

10:25 a.m.

More meetings with the offense. McVay focuses on wide receivers, going over the nuances of spacing, blocking rules and how to set up routes that achieve separation. There also is discussion about Jared Goff’s progressions. The emphasis is not just on where the ball goes, but also why. This is for everyone to understand.

One player McVay calls on consistently is Robert Woods, a free-agent wide receiver formerly with the Bills. (And always by full name. What’s our rule for five-step timing on this play, Robert Woods? What do you do here against two high safeties, Robert Woods?)

Shortly after the meeting, on McVay’s way out, Woods, a diligent student with what’s planned to be a big role in Los Angeles’s passing attack, stops the head coach with a question. By the time he and McVay wrap up, five other players have gathered to listen.

* * *

Noon

Practice time. McVay recently tore a quad sprinting, so he’s not running from station to station as much as he normally would. Though an observer would never know. The coach traverses the Rams’ two fields, spending most of his time with the offense.

It’s McVay’s prime area of expertise, plus the defensive staff is highly experienced, starting with Phillips, who has served as a head coach in Denver, Buffalo, Houston and Dallas. Those coaches can run much of their own show.

* * *

12:21 p.m.

The first of many offense vs. defense sessions is beginning. “Left hash, ‘11’ personnel!” McVay yells. “Let’s start this thing off right!” Then he turns his attention to his young quarterback. “Alright Jared, here we go buddy. Right tight, Y-left, draw left, 16-4 vice blaze. Hey, let’s set the tempo here. Let’s have a good day. If something bad happens, don’t blink.”

* * *

12:30 p.m.

The Rams are practicing a run alert play. That’s when the huddle call is a run but Goff has the option to throw a quick slant depending on the defense. McVay takes Robert Woods through it. “L 17-dancer, 13-slider. You get these corners, they play off just in no man’s land on you, when you get into a reduced split.

We get it to you, right through that outside ’backer who’s up on the line of scrimmage. You catch that thing clean, man. Julio [Jones] caught a couple of balls for about 20 yards. It’s a great way to make people pay. And you throw the ball about four feet.”

* * *

12:41 p.m.


Photo: The MMQB

The receiver drills need more precision. “Hey, listen! Listen! Listen! Listen! Listen!” McVay yells. “When we do this, in routes on air, come on man, you’re too on top of this, be three yards inside the numbers, right? You’re selling this through to the hash. Give somebody room to feel this, know what I mean?”

* * *

12:54 p.m.

“Hey Robert Woods! Good finish, man.”

* * *

1:02 p.m.

Backup quarterback Sean Mannion is intercepted on a deep ball. A receiver ran the wrong route, bringing the free safety into play. Mannion watched it happen and threw anyway.

The defense, which has talked trash for much of the scrimmage, goes nuts. Someone yells, “Yes sir!”

“No, no that’s not ‘yes sir,’” McVay hollers. “That’s what happens when you do your own shit. I love that that just happened.” He walks over to Mannion. “Hey, don’t let [the receiver] screwing you cause you to make a bad decision. Because you’re going to bring the safety over there.”

“I just don’t want to throw from one side to the other,” Mannion says.

“And here’s what I would say to you: Throw it away,” McVay responds. “Because that’s the only play [available] when he screws you. Because when you stay on that side, that safety’s going to key over the top.”

McVay keeps Mannion on the field for the next snap.

“Alright buddy, let’s do this: right hash, ‘12’ group, 3-jet Y bird slice.”

Before the snap, LaFleur whispers something to McVay about the interception. “I know, you can’t do that,” McVay agrees. “Because you’re going to take the safety to the freaking play. That’s what I said to him.”

Mannion’s throw on the 12 group, 3-jet Y bird slice is complete. McVay perks up. “Good. There you go right there. Good job, Sean.”

* * *

1:17 p.m.

Mannion’s interception is one of several poor plays for the offense. McVay says for anyone in his vicinity, “Defense, you guys are kicking our ass on offense.”

* * *


Photo: The MMQB

1:26 p.m.

There’s a problem: Soon-to-be-32-year-old center John Sullivan, a former Viking in his first year with the Rams, is too smart. He’s reading the defense and immediately calling out perfect offensive adjustments. That’s great in live action but counterproductive in practice when you’re trying to develop your second-year quarterback. “Hey, John,” McVay barks. “Let him”—Goff—“make these calls!”

* * *

1:45 p.m.

The defense continues to defeat the offense. McVay gets frustrated at his second unit. At the end of a third-down play that, in an actual game, would have surely been measured by the chain gang, he yells “Two’s are off! [i.e., Second team, leave the field.] Point to the defense!”

A little later, after the defense has won the drive-battle 3-0, left tackle Andrew Whitworth approaches McVay and tells him he got it wrong. The offense should have been granted a first down at the end of that second drive. The score should have been 2-1 defense.

* * *

2:05 p.m.

Practice is over. The entire team is gathered at midfield. “First of all,” McVay says, “it’s a good start for next week. What we know is this: We go through some of those situations, it’s a great test of our poise, for everybody. But our communication, getting in and out of the huddle, we’ve got to be better with that. It starts with me, okay?

We’ve had three days of great work. Love your effort, love your intensity. Let’s see if we can start tightening up the screws. In the competitive period, give it up for the defense today, you guys got the best of us.” Muffled applause.

“But we’ll come back, we’ll continue to compete, we’re all making each other better. Where’s Robert Quinn at? Give us a breakdown, Robert Quinn! Give us a breakdown, Big Rob!”

1-2-3 Rams!

* * *

2:16 p.m.

Drinking one of the dozens of smoothies that team nutritionist Joey Blake prepared for the team, McVay sits at his desk watching film of the practice, which ended seven minutes ago. In a few minutes the entire offensive staff will watch and analyze it together. Various staffers flow in and out, many catching snippets of McVay’s concerns.

There were some time-related issues that hindered the practice’s flow. The passing game could have been sharper. A receiver got hurt. The offense got shorted some yards by unfavorable spots of the ball. That one isn’t a big deal, but still. Most maddening of all: The film reveals that defensive linemen consistently lined up offside. No one noticed.

* * *

2:53 p.m.

In the offensive meeting room, McVay sits at the head of a long table, opposite the projector screen. The other eight chairs are filled by assistant coaches. They’ll be there for the next three hours.

McVay calls out every play beforehand, often analyzing from memory what’s about to happen. He runs the remote, which can be maddening. He’s known as a “remote tyrant”—someone who rewinds plays again and again. He used to drive Jay Gruden crazy in Washington.

* * *

3:02 p.m.

“They’re lined up offsides,” McVay says, pausing to examine the defensive line before the snap. “No shit,” deadpans offensive line coach Aaron Kromer. The helmets of three defensive linemen are clearly in the neutral zone. “Look at these guys,” McVay whispers.

* * *


Photo: The MMQB

3:17 p.m.

“This is not a good route,” McVay says. “Watch this. He’s been better than this.” The film shows Robert Woods getting absorbed by a press corner. “He’s not threatening anybody vertical on this play.” Woods already knows this. He’s the type who harps on his own mistakes.

He had approached McVay after practice. Toward the end of the film meeting, when the position coaches each sum up their final thoughts, receivers coach Eric Yarber will admit that Woods is generally more consistent than he was today. Two bad routes were the difference. No one is worried.

* * *

4:41 p.m.

McVay wonders something: Is his presence on the field during the hurry-up drills hindering the offense? Does he need to let the players grow under fire a bit more? He honestly doesn’t know and asks the room what they think. Every coach assures him the current setup is fine.

* * *

4:49 p.m.

“Good progression by Todd, man,” McVay says, watching Gurley make a blitz pickup from his running back position. In the offensive meetings earlier, Gurley had worn an affable, subtly bemused smile, making you wonder if his mind wasn’t drifting toward topics a little more entertaining than the protection rules that were up on the whiteboard.

But McVay called on Gurley several times, and each time his answer was quick and spot on. And now his actions on film verify his focus. McVay turns to running backs coach Skip Peete. “Gurley’s a smart guy, isn’t he coach?” Peete concurs.

* * *

5:11 p.m.

“This is where my blood really boiled,” McVay says. The film shows the second-team offense lining up incorrectly just before McVay called off their drive in the scrimmage. “I yelled ‘Two’s are off! Points for the defense!’” He laughs.

* * *

5:33 p.m.

One thing the film reveals: Whitworth was right. The offense had indeed gained three first downs on one of its drives. “I love that he cares so much, that he’s so competitive,” McVay says. This presents a golden opportunity: When practice resumes the following week, McVay will announce the mistake.

The defense, which had been cocky and believed it won the scrimmage 3-0, will learn that the score had actually been 2-1. They’ll throw a fit and cry politics. (McVay, being so offense-minded, constantly worries about playing favorites.) And from that, the next scrimmage will be infused with competitive energy.

* * *

5:42 p.m.

McVay broaches an interesting topic with Peete and Kromer: Gurley needs to keep his shoulders squared downfield when running “duo,” which is an inside zone run with two double-team blocks. In the formation they’re watching now, Gurley knows the run will often bounce outside. That’s why he’s turning his shoulders outside.

But if he stays square, defenders will react differently and, long story short, it’ll create better blocking angles for when the ball does bounce outside. McVay stands up to demonstrate. Peete and Kromer fully agree. “That’s why I think Matt Forte was so good for you guys in Chicago,” McVay says to Kromer, who was the Bears’ offensive coordinator under Marc Trestman.

“He was patient to the line, and he could jump cut with his shoulders square. Who’s the other best duo runner in the league? Le’Veon Bell. Those guys are patient. They play with their shoulders square to the line of scrimmage. I think Todd’s going to be awesome at this play.”

* * *

6:16 p.m.

The meeting is over. The building is mostly empty. A three-day weekend is coming up, which McVay will parlay into a four-day break for everyone. After finishing some miscellaneous office work, he heads over to the trainers room to meet with Reggie Scott.

There’s an update on the injured receiver. Scott also advises that the 35-year-old Whitworth and 30-year-old free-agent defensive end Connor Barwin should have their practice reps reduced.

McVay agrees. Both veterans will hate it, but you have to save them from themselves. Before he goes, McVay gets instructions for healing his injured quad: light running over the next four days, but only on a treadmill, where he can regulate his speed.

* * *


Photo: The MMQB

6:37 p.m.

Time to head home. But first, a quick shower in the one-man locker room at the back of his office. Usually McVay does this right after practice, before the coaches watch the day’s film. Today there wasn’t time.

* * *

6:46 p.m.

On the drive home, McVay calls Robert Woods. “Hey, I was thinking about our conversation after practice. We can definitely clean up a couple of those routes—you can run them better—but don’t let that take away from all the good stuff that you’ve been doing, man.” McVay and Woods spend a few minutes discussing the specifics of those routes.

“But the main reason I was calling is because I could name about 25 good things you’ve done over last week and dating back to the minicamp, too. So, keep being hard on yourself because that’s why you are who you are, but don’t let it affect your weekend, man.

You’re wired to separate, and you’ve done it consistently. And just watching how conscientious you are, and how you’re competing—showing the other guys how to compete, you’re making them better, too. And that’s what it’s about.”

* * *

7:08 p.m.

McVay gets a call from Mom. Just a quick check-in. Before hanging up, he remembers something. “Hey those cushions on the patio chairs—how are they at absorbing moisture? It didn’t rain last night but they were a little damp.”

* * *

8:15 p.m.

Veronica has just gotten back from the gym and isn’t sure that she’s presentable enough to be seen by The MMQB’s cameras, which have followed McVay inside. Her boyfriend chuckles at this.


Photo: The MMQB

Rams assistant linebackers coach Chris Shula (son of Dave, nephew of Mike, grandson of Don) comes downstairs. He and McVay were friends in college at Miami of Ohio, and now Shula lives in one of the six bedrooms at McVay’s a house.

The two coaches have a beer by the fire on the balcony while Veronica and a friend visiting from back east get ready to go out. The group has a 9:30 reservation for sushi on Sunset Boulevard. The fireside conversation never veers from football.

* * *

9:04 p.m.

McVay trails the group out the door. “Alexa, lights off,” he says. Nothing happens. He tries again, this time with a more deliberate delivery, like how you talk to a dog that won’t sit. “Alexa, lights off.” Still nothing. “Alexa….lights…..off.” Finally, darkness.

“He loves that light-switching thing,” Veronica says.

* * *

9:17 p.m.

An Uber takes the group to sushi. Just one complication: The driver speaks zero English. McVay, in the van’s middle-row seat, pitches ideas to Shula (front seat) for how to explain that after the car reaches its first destination—Shula’s girlfriend’s house—it needs to continue on to the restaurant. That means a whole separate Uber ride.

It’s only a matter of time until the ride ends and the gentleman behind the wheel is left wondering why no one is exiting his vehicle. Nothing Shula says to the driver gets through. Thankfully, at the girlfriend’s place, the driver produces a vocal translating device on his phone. McVay couldn’t be more impressed with the app.

* * *

9:42 p.m.

The group gets a table near the front of the restaurant. It’s a trendy place devoid of sports atmosphere. McVay goes unrecognized the entire dinner. He and Shula drift in and out of conversations about football. At one point they quiz Shula’s girlfriend:

How many wide receivers are on the field in “12” personnel? She says three but then quickly remembers that you subtract both of the personnel digits, 1 and 2, from five, not six. “Two! Two!” she says. Even at dinner, you must be prepared to answer McVay’s pop quiz questions in front of everyone.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000813550/article/why-you-should-root-for-the-los-angeles-rams

• 
• By Adam Rank NFL.com

Interested in rooting for one of the NFL's 32 teams -- but don't know where to start? Adam Rank has you covered with this series, which will present a handy guide to becoming an instantly rabid fan of each organization in the league. Below, find out why you should root for the Los Angeles Rams.

What you need to know so you don't sound stupid


The Rams are back in Los Angeles -- where they belong? Well ...

The team started in Cleveland (Cleveland!), then moved to Los Angeles for the 1946 season, becoming the biggest thing on the West Coast. The Rams won the NFL title in 1951, the same year Norm Van Brocklin set a single-game record with 554 passing yards (a mark that still stands today). They went to Super Bowl XIV in January of 1980, but moved to Anaheim the next season. Threatened to move to Baltimore. That fell through. Signed an agreement to move to St. Louis. Denied. Some money changed hands, and the move was approved in 1995. Then the team came back to Los Angeles in 2016. So where they actually belong is kind of tough to gauge.


I'll admit: I grew up going to Rams games at Anaheim Stadium. My neighbor had season tickets, and I always found a way to sneak an invite to some preseason games. Before one game, my friend Vandy -- with a photo of Eric Dickerson in one hand and a Sharpie in the other -- called for the running back, but Dickerson just waved and ran past. It was the second-most-heartbreaking thing that would happen to us that year with Dickerson, but more on that in a moment.

Thankfully, current Rams running back Todd Gurley signed an autograph for my daughter, Ahsoka, so we're already ahead of the game.

What about all those years in St. Louis?


This is a tough one to navigate. Most folks (including me) lost interest in the Rams once they left Southern California. My mentor, Earl, still supported the club because, as he groused, he wasn't able to afford the games anyway and only watched them on TV, so the Rams' move was like your favorite TV show changing its set location. Solid point. I didn't agree. But solid point.

Similarly, most people in St. Louis have given up on this team now that it's back in Southern California. Of course, it's not like St. Louis never happened. Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk and Torry Holt had one of the most exciting offenses in NFL history in St. Louis, leaving me to just kind of watch the games like they were my ex and I was stalking them on Facebook. That said, I'm sure most current Los Angeles Rams fans don't care about the time in St. Louis, including that Super Bowl win over the Titans. To me, it's like the titles the Lakers won in Minneapolis. Cool that they happened, but ultimately, I don't care. Sorry not sorry.

Wait, so are you back with this team?


I'm not, personally. It's like this. The Rams were your high school sweetheart. But she moved away. Became an actor. Won an Oscar. Took the stage and, instead of thanking you, said leaving you was the best thing she ever did. Then she quit acting and moved back to town to live with her parents, and now she doesn't understand why you don't want to meet up with her at La Cabana. Look, Rams: There is still some love there. We shared something special. I wish you well in the future. I hope you make a great life for yourself. But I've moved on.

Man, this should be a movie. I think Patrick Dempsey should play me, though he's going to have to shave his head.

Don't ever talk about ...

The Dickerson trade.

I was trick-or-treating in an Eric Dickerson jersey in 1987. I came home that night to find out he had been traded to the Colts. As you could imagine, I didn't give a crap about Halloween for a while. And it was my favorite holiday, too!

The star running back was dealt away for a bunch of draft picks in what really could have been the equivalent of the Herschel Walker trade for the Rams. But Rams decision maker John Shaw was clearly no Jimmy Johnson. In 1988 and '89, the Rams whiffed on their draft picks like so many defenders trying to catch Dickerson. Yes, Flipper Anderson was dope, but the rest were also-rans: Gaston Green, Aaron Cox and a bunch of jobbers whose main contribution on defense was allowing John Taylor to catch two 90-yard touchdown passes on a Monday night game on Dec. 11, 1989 -- the day after my birthday.

In that span, the Rams passed on future Hall of Famers Randall McDaniel, Dermontti Dawson and Thurman Thomas (and they could have drafted all those guys and still landed Flipper).

About Son of Bum


My favorite personality on today's Los Angeles Rams is new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. This dude is hilarious. And not just in a "funny for a football coach" way, but as an actual, charming human being. If you're not following him on Twitter, please do so, because, well ...

View image on Twitter


Follow
Wade Phillips

✔@sonofbum
I still love the Lakers




Follow
Wade Phillips

✔@sonofbum
Thanks to people in Denver who lined up to buy my book-Son of Bum

10:48 AM - 16 May 2017


If there was one person who could bring me back, it'd be Wade.

Fearsome onesome


The Rams of the 1960s had the Fearsome Foursome (legends Deacon Jones, Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier and Lamar Lundy). The current Rams have Aaron Donald. Donald is my pick as the best defensive player in the game, or at least the best at pingpong. The dude is a beast -- I mean on the field, too.

Damn, I was at Radio City Music Hall when the Rams chose Donald 13th overall in 2014. I nearly spat my gum out of my mouth, I was so shocked. I thought for sure he was going to be drafted by the Bears at No. 14. At least that's what all of the mocks had. He's been a force ever since.


Don't be a Gurley man


Mention the name Todd Gurley, and you're likely to get some heat from a lot of people -- mostly, of course, fantasy enthusiasts who used a first-round pick on him last season. Now, let's commence with the real talk: I'd put Gurley's miserable 2016 (885 rushing yards and six touchdowns) on then-coach Jeff Fisher, the same guy who nearly ruined Eddie George.

I know the fantasy community is up in arms about the notion that Gurley might catch fewer passes. But I'm not worried. Gurley is going to bounce back this season under new coach Sean McVay, who actually knows how to run a modern NFL offense. Gurley's 2016 campaign was the equivalent of trying to put a flash drive in a VCR -- it just wasn't meant to be. The Gurley of 2015 (1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games) will return this season. I swear.

The NFL's Jackie Robinson


The Rams enjoyed great success in Los Angeles in the 1950s, but it wouldn't have been possible without the contributions of Kenny Washington and Woody Strode.

Black players were not allowed in the NFL from 1934 through 1946. But when the Cleveland Rams wanted to move to Los Angeles, they faced pressure to integrate their roster. The choice was easy for the Rams: Kenny Washington. (Strode would be added to make it an easier transition for Washington.)

Washington was a local standout from Lincoln High and UCLA. He was an instant draw, even though he was a few years removed from his time in Westwood. He also had a number of knee injuries, which took their toll. But still, you could see his skills, as he averaged more than 6 yards per touch that first season, and just over 7 yards per touch in three seasons.

And realize that he faced the same resentment as his college teammate, Jackie Robinson, when Robinson integrated Major League Baseball -- though it was especially hard to escape at the bottom of a pile.

The franchise's best


David "Deacon" Jones is the pick here. Jack Youngblood and Kevin Greene were my dudes when I was a kid. (I had a Jack the Ripper T-shirt, which seems wildly inappropriate to me now, though I would love to find one again.) But it's hard to argue with the dominance of Deacon. What I wrote about him after he died in 2013 sums it up:

Deacon towered over players with his 6-foot-5 frame, giving him the size to bully opponents, but it was his hands that truly set him apart. Deacon perfected the "head slap," a jarring jolt delivered to the side of an offensive lineman's head. He delivered it with the grace of an artist's stroke, but it packed the devastation of a bomb.

Jones coined the term sack, and nobody had more of them during his career and for many years after. The sack wasn't counted as an official statistic until 1982, but he unofficially had 173.5. Clearly the leader in the clubhouse.

(BTW, I know you've reached a certain level of narcissism when you're quoting your own stories.)

Not enough credit


Kenny Washington is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This seems like a rather jarring omission. Even if his career numbers weren't legendary, you can't argue against his contributions to the game. Thankfully, there is a group of students in upstate New York who have made it their cause to have Washington inducted.

Go get 'em, kids.

Way overrated


The narrative that Southern California didn't support the Rams. It's nonsense. The Rams had a lot of great fans, especially in Anaheim. There were dudes with watermelons on their heads. But what did you want us to do when the team was dismantled like it was in the movie "Major League" or something? The Dickerson trade was just the start. After all, the club still managed to be good after that. But bad personnel decisions and the swirling rumors of relocation dogged the team in the 1990s. Even Jerome Bettis as Offensive Rookie of the Year couldn't save this squad. Don't blame the fans.

Hipster jersey

I'm a Jim Everett guy. Dude threw for 3,964 yards and 31 TDs in 1988 and 4,310 yards and 29 TDs in 1989 -- back when those were gaudy numbers, not just the norm. He was second to Dan Marino in yards in '88, but got Marino in yards in '89 and touchdowns in both of those seasons. Dude was talented. (I know which joke you're going to make about him, so just stop it. Because I don't really want to hear it.) Everett was the best Rams QB of my lifetime (I wasn't alive for Norm Van Brocklin), and I don't care about you guys wearing that Mitchell & Ness Vince Ferragamo jersey that became all the rage a few years ago.

Closing fun fact

The Rams' 1951 NFL championship was the state of California's first major professional championship, and it still stands as the club's only title in Southern California.

Final snap


The Rams would be a great team to root for. Despite what I said earlier, I was torn when this team returned to Southern California. I'll let my daughter decide which NFL team she's going to follow, even though she still has a Bears helmet in her room and both of my parents were ardent Bears fans. I will allow her the chance to keep the synergy with the Angels, Kings and Lakers.

Plus, there is a lot of excitement building here. They have a young, enthusiastic head coach in Sean McVay, which is awesome. After all, the retread route isn't always the best option. (I mean, unless it's Phil Jackson. That worked out well for L.A. But then again, Pat Riley was a 30-something wonder with a cool hairstyle who led L.A. to the promised land.) And the Rams are a lot closer to competing than everybody wants to give them credit for. I mean, Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator makes them instantly credible. (Again, don't forget to follow him on Twitter, because he is awesome.) It would be pretty cool if the Rams were ever to win it all out of Southern California. And that new stadium looks like it'll be amazing -- no matter when it opens.

Number ONE...Don't ever embarrass me on national television again...Now where does the sun rise?

PHOTOS: OTAs Day 9

[www.therams.com]

Sean McVay's new offense for Rams brings challenges, opportunity for Jared Goff

Lindsay H. Jones , USA TODAY Sports

The good news for Jared Goff this offseason was that the Los Angeles Rams hired a new head coach with a track record of working with young quarterbacks.

The bad news is that he has plenty to learn as he adopts Sean McVay's attack heading into his second season – and first full year as the Rams’ starter.

A new offense and coaching staff make this offseason especially critical for the passer's development, former Rams quarterback Kurt Warner told USA TODAY Sports. And how Goff handles learning the new plays and terminology will determine how much of a jump he can make in Year 2.

“I always thought it took about 12 months to get fully comfortable in an offense where you knew all the nuances and you could just play football. That's going to be the biggest thing for him, in this new offense: How comfortable can he be by the time training camp and the first game comes around?” Warner said in a phone interview with USA TODAY Sports. “Or is he back in that learning mode, where it's going to take another six to 12 months for him to actually show what he's capable of because he's done thinking and he's just reacting?”

McVay and Goff only have been able to work together on the field for the last few weeks, but the duo will have more extended practice time together at the Rams’ mandatory minicamp next week. That is crucial time to continue installing the offense in advance of training camp, when Goff will get his first real action against the Rams’ defense.

“I think what he’s done above the neck in terms of the way that he’s handled the different things and situations that we’ve put him in, been very pleased so far,” McVay said this week. “We know that game-like atmosphere, you try to create that so that you can mimic and emulate those situations in practice. But, until you’re actually live as a quarterback, that’s when you truly get challenged.”

After the Rams gave up a considerable haul to move up and draft him No. 1 overall last year, Goff threw five touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing just 55% of his throws in his seven starts. But the offense, which ranked last by a considerable margin in both yards (262.7 per game) and points (14 per game), was plagued by a nearly non-existent running game and a struggling line long before he took over.

The coaching change from Jeff Fisher, who was fired on Dec. 13, to the 31-year-old McVay, the former offensive coordinator in Washington, was made in part to energize a young group led by Goff. The Rams made other offensive additions, including signing veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth and former Buffalo Bills receiver Robert Woods, to try to give Goff more support.

But Warner, who will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, said Goff's relationship with McVay, as well as offensive coordinator Matt LeFleur and quarterbacks coach Greg Olson, will be more critical to his success.

“I think when players have their greatest success, it's when they're around somebody that either understands how they see the game or sees the game like that,” Warner, currently working as an analyst for NFL Network, said. “There are guys that are really good quarterbacks, but they don't have a guy who sees the game or designs the game the same way and they can struggle. That will be a big question mark going in, is Sean McVay and the staff they brought in, are they on a similar page? If so, I think there's a chance for Jared to get exponentially better. If not, it's going to continue to be a struggle.”

[www.usatoday.com]