https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ared-defensive-beasts/?utm_term=.3d0e1d545cf2

By Mark Bullock June 2 at 9:43 AM

Aaron Donald will be in Wade Phillips’s 3-4 scheme this season. (Jeff Haynes/AP Images)
When the Rams hired Wade Phillips to be their defensive coordinator, many wondered exactly how the team’s best defensive player, Aaron Donald, would fit into Phillips’s 3-4 scheme. Since entering the NFL, Donald has been one of the best defensive tackles in the league, playing as a three-technique in the Rams 4-3 scheme. Some Rams fans were concerned that switching to a 3-4 might force Donald to line up in different spots and take away from his effectiveness.

But that concern is based in a stereotype of the 3-4 defense. Certainly, there are 3-4 schemes which would take away from what Donald does best. A two-gap 3-4 defense wouldn’t be a good fit for Donald, who is all about bursting quickly off the line of scrimmage and making plays in the backfield, not reading blockers and defending two gaps. But Phillips runs a one-gap 3-4, which makes it not all that different to the 4-3 system Donald is used too.




Here against the Cardinals, Donald lines up in his typical three-technique spot, over the outside shoulder of the right guard. While the Rams were a 4-3 team last season, this particular play shows a lot of similarities with a 3-4 defense. Next to Donald is a zero-technique nose tackle lined up directly over the center, with a five-technique defensive end lined up over the left tackle. Linebacker Mark Barron lines up outside the five-technique, just like a 3-4 outside linebacker would.

For comparison, here is an example of one of Phillips’s fronts with the Broncos last season.




Phillips’s 3-4 scheme has some similarities to the Rams’ 4-3 front above. Phillips has a three-technique defensive tackle, a zero-technique nose tackle that is slightly shaded to the strong side of the offensive line, and a five-technique defensive end lined up head up over the right tackle.

Despite being a 3-4 instead of a 4-3, both schemes play with a three-technique, a zero-technique and a five-technique along the defensive line. That means Phillips will be able to keep Donald at his preferred three-technique spot on first and second down to stop the run. The main different Donald will notice is switching sides. Last year, the Rams lined up their three-technique defensive tackle to the strong side of the offensive line (the side of the tight end). But Phillips prefers to have his three-technique on the weak side (away from the tight end’s side).

Using the three-technique on the weak side of the offensive line is something Phillips does consistently. He did it with the Broncos and as we can see here, he did it with the Texans back in 2013 too.




The Rams played Donald on the strong side because he was quick enough to penetrate and disrupt zone blocking schemes that were run at him, as we can see here.



Donald lines up as a three-technique, on the outside shoulder of the right guard. He gets a terrific burst off the snap, staying low and getting into the chest of the right guard, driving him back into the running back before peeling off to make the tackle for a loss.

However, there were times when he was double-teamed by power running schemes that managed to negate his quickness. Power teams prefer to run to the strong side. With Donald on that strong side, he would get double-teamed by down blockers and washed out of the play.


Here, the Patriots run a power run right at Donald. He gets double-teamed by the left guard and left tackle, forcing him inside while the right guard pulls and leads the way for the running back.

In that sense, switching to the weak side could be a beneficial move for Donald. By switching him to the weak side, Phillips can make the most of Donald’s first step quickness. Against zone teams, he’ll be too quick for backside blockers to reach and cut him off, as seen against the Panthers here.

The Panthers run the ball to their right here, with Donald lined up between the left tackle and left guard. The tackle has to try and reach Donald to cut him off, but Donald is just too quick, getting to the running back in the back field as he attempts to cut back.

Zone teams also like to run the ball to their weak side. But as we’ve seen, Donald is perfectly capable of disrupting zone plays run at him.

Lining him up on the weak side against power would make him a nightmare for the offensive line to deal with.




Pulling the weakside guard means the center would then have to work across two gaps to reach Donald and cut him off. Asking the center to cut off a three-technique on a power run is tough against any defensive tackle, but against someone as quick as Donald, it’d be virtually impossible because he’s just too quick.

On third downs and other obvious passing situations, Donald should be able to continue doing what he does best. He could easily just stick to playing the three-technique, matching up against guards. Phillips likes to send enough rushers to ensure he has one-on-one matchups across the board, with no offensive linemen free to help out others.




This philosophy would practically guarantee Donald faced a one-on-one with the guard of his choice, where he could continue to produce plays like this.


Alternatively, Phillips may try and convince Donald to move around and make the most of his athletic ability. With the Texans, Phillips had defensive lineman J.J. Watt line up all over the defensive line in obvious passing situations.




Here, Watt lines up as a seven-technique defensive end, outside the right tackle.







A few plays later, Watt switches to the other side, lining up outside the left tackle.




On the next series, Watt kicks inside to a more conventional three-technique, over the outside shoulder of the right guard.

Watt and Donald are different players, but Donald has the athleticism, quickness and strength to challenge any offensive lineman. If he’s open to the idea of moving around, Phillips has shown he is able to create schemes to make the most of a special talent like Donald in the past. But as previously noted, Donald would be just as effective lining up as a three-technique for the vast majority of the snaps, which is where I think Phillips will use him with the Rams.

Rams fans shouldn’t be worried about a marriage between Donald and Phillips’s 3-4 scheme. Phillips has always been excellent at matching his scheme to his talent and quite frankly, he won’t have to make many adjustments to fit in Donald. The Rams and Donald are likely to come to an agreement on a new contract soon that will make him one of the top paid defensive linemen in the NFL and under Wade Phillips, he’ll almost certainly be worth every penny.

Hope and hype. Hard to separate at times but here are players I think may benefit from Phillips's 3-4 scheme. Ogletree, Alexander, Joyner, and even Quinn. Run D has never been Quinn's strength and stand up roll may keep him on the field. Alexander to SS, Joyner to FS and Tree able to react & attack, I like it. Oddly enough the ones who may not benefit are TruJo (on an island) and Donald but you could probably play Aaron at CB and he'd find a way to get it done. lol

Off-season report card: Los Angeles Rams

By Chris Burke

2016: 4–12, third in NFC West

Significant additions: Head coach Sean McVay, DE Connor Barwin, RB Lance Dunbar, QB Aaron Murray, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, C John Sullivan, DT Tyrunn Walker, CB Kayvon Webster, OT Andrew Whitworth, WR Robert Woods, TE Gerald Everett (R2), WR Cooper Kupp (R3), S John Johnson (R3), WR Josh Reynolds (R4)

Significant losses: C Tim Barnes, WR Kenny Britt, S T.J. McDonald, DE Eugene Sims

The best news about Jared Goff’s rookie year is that it’s over. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft looked lost and overwhelmed during his seven starts last season, games in which the Rams finished 0–7 with a combined scoreline of 221–85. Los Angeles finished the season with the league’s worst offense, both by points and yardage.

The Rams earnestly began their attempt to solve their production woes (and to reverse course on Goff’s trajectory) by hiring new coach Sean McVay, a 31-year-old wunderkind who helped Kirk Cousins play his way into back-to-back franchise tags. In free agency, Rams GM Les Snead revamped his offensive line with the signings of center John Sullivan and outstanding veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth. And then he attempted to find Goff some help via the skill positions by signing free agent Robert Woods and drafting rookies Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds and move TE Gerald Everett.

“I don’t think you can ever have enough playmakers,” McVay said during a press conference following Day 2 of the draft. “And if those guys merit it by the way that they compete in practice, then those guys will be on the field, as well.”

Without question, there are more options for Goff this season. Will they be effective options, though?

• SOPHOMORE SPURT OR SLUMP? Where Jared Goff and other second-year QBs stand

Lacking, for the moment, is a clear-cut No. 1 receiver—perennial source of frustration Tavon Austin doesn’t fit that bill, nor does Woods, who served as Sammy Watkins’s sidekick in Buffalo and is cut from a complementary-WR cloth. Kupp was the go-to guy on his Eastern Washington offense, but he doesn’t necessarily have the physical or athletic traits to project as an NFL lead dog. The likeliest candidate is Reynolds, a lanky 6' 3" wide receiver capable of making big plays downfield—at the very least, he could step in as Goff’s preferred target in the red zone. Last year’s team leader in touchdowns (as well as receptions and yards), Kenny Britt, signed a free-agent deal with Cleveland.

How rapidly any development occurs from the newcomers will go a long way in dictating Goff’s chances this season. In reality, though, the recent additions on offense are as much about the future as they are about the ’17 season. L.A. drafted a combination of three tight ends and receivers in 2016 (WRs Pharoh Cooper and Mike Thomas, TE Tyler Higbee), then matched that number last month.

The benefit, in theory, is that all of these fresh faces can mature together, headed by Goff. Woods, Austin, Whitworth and Sullivan all have been around the block enough times that they should be able to offer some guidance.

But growing pains are inevitable.

For one, McVay still has to decipher exactly how mesh Goff’s skill set with RB Todd Gurley’s game. The former comes from a West Coast-scheme, shotgun-heavy background; the latter is better suited to attack in downhill fashion, with his QB under center.

• GREATEST SHOW ON TURF: How Mike Martz’s Rams kicked off an NFL revolution

McVay put both concepts to work in Washington, and he figures to do so again. The additions of Whitworth and Sullivan up front should help the Rams across the board up front, while the overstocked roster of receivers and tight ends will allow McVay to spread the field when he so chooses.

Again, though, this is going to be a steep uphill climb for a bit, which will shift a great deal of pressure onto the Rams’ defense. Helping the cause there is new coordinator Wade Phillips, who brings decades of experience to supplement McVay’s youthful energy. In tune with the transition from their base 4–3 defense to Phillips’s more flexible, 3–4 plan, the Rams picked up Barwin to add a little pop off the edge. They also added D-line depth in Smart and Walker.

The defense kept the Rams in several games last season, only to crumple down the stretch under the weight of the offense’s issues. McVay’s presence, another off-season’s worth of development for Goff and the free-agent/draft additions to the Los Angeles attack should help a bit in 2017.

But expecting too much, too soon would be a mistake. Repairing Goff will be a substantial challenge for McVay, and Goff can be only as good as the unproven talent around him.

Grade: B+

[www.si.com]

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http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2017/6/2/15729694/la-rams-todd-gurley-2017-fantasy


As I said in Thursday’s installment, I spend the majority of my day uncovering unique stats to paint a picture about a specific player. I especially love doing this when that player is a highly-polarizing one. I suggested yesterday(link) that Colin Kaepernick might be the most polarizing player in football in terms of which side of the debate you fall (he’s a distraction and not worth a job, or he’s a starter-level talent being blacklisted.) This was possibly true, but if not for Kaepernick, the crown might actually belong to Todd Gurley.

Gurley has become one of the most-debated players this offseason. Either he’s a generational talent in a bad situation due for a monster bounceback year, or he’s the next Trent Richardson. There seems to be no in between. Except that, when asked for my opinion on his fantasy value, to everyone’s disappointment, I am somewhere in between. But today, I did do that thing I do, where I uncovered some unique statistics that help explain what went wrong and why he might still be a fantasy value.

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In 2015, among all running backs with at least 150 carries, Todd Gurley had the highest percentage of runs to go for 25 or more yards (8 of 229.) In 2016, he ranked dead-last by this same metric with zero runs of 25 or more yards on 278 attempts.

In 2015, 32.9 percent of his Gurley’s rushing yardage came from runs of 25 or more yards — the highest rate in the league. Gurley ranked eighth-best in yards per carry (4.83) that season, but if we take away all of his carries of 25 or more yards, he would have ranked last in the NFL (3.36.)

This is surely a main culprit for Gurley’s disappointing 2016 season, but I’m not sure why this is the case. Let’s dig a little deeper into his numbers.

Since Week 9 of 2015, Gurley leads the NFL in carries, but ranks last of all 31 running backs with at least 200 carries over this span in yards per carry (3.43.) During this timeframe, there were 135 instances of a running back totaling 100 rushing yards or more in a game, with Gurley accounted for just one. For perspective, Jordan Howard (13 starts) and Ezekiel Elliott (15 games played) accounted for seven each. This is really not good.

But wait, it gets worse!

In the entire history of the NFL, there are 320 instances of a running back accumulating at least 275 carries in a single season. Among these 320 seasons, Gurley’s 2016 season ranks fifth-worst in yards per carry.



So, that’s the bad news. The good news, if we can call it that, is that four of the 12 worst seasons came from a running back coached by Jeff Fisher. This is likely not a coincidence. I’ve said some very unflattering things about Fisher in articles before, but my editor, keep-me-from-offending-people mage that he is, always takes them out. Just know that I am very much not a fan, and do think his departure means good things for Gurley.

What does this mean for fantasy?
I broke down running backs by a number of unique metrics earlier in the offseason. Gurley was not at a serious disadvantage when it came to strength of schedule or stacked boxes. He was, however, hurt by a poor offensive line. Last season, Los Angeles ranked fifth-worst in yards before contact per attempt, suggesting his offensive line didn’t give him very much room to run. I’m optimistic that this improves with the arrival of Andrew Whitworth – who ranked among our six-highest-graded offensive tackles in run blocking in two of the last three seasons. Director of PFF Fantasy Jeff Ratcliffe shares my optimism and broke down the significance of the signing here.

While I’m excited about Fisher’s exit and the improvement of the offensive line, I’m still concerned by Gurley’s lack of efficiency, tough 2017 schedule, and likely reduction in target volume. I’m not sure he’ll break off as many long runs as he did in 2015, but I am optimistic for an improvement on his 2016 season. Gurley leads the league in rushing attempts since his first NFL start, and should again see a high rushing workload, but is a much less-attractive option in PPR leagues (in part because the Rams brought in pass-catching back Lance Dunbar this offseason). I’m fine taking him in the late second of standard leagues, but will likely wait a full round in PPR leagues.

Go behind-the-scenes for our Rams Legends Reunion where former players gathered to mentor current Rams, tour the facility and more.

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We are proud to announce that Kayvon Webster will be joining us next week. Can't wait to share it with you guys. What are your thoughts? Let me know! Also, if you have no idea where to find our Downtown Rams podcast you can locate them here:

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http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/06/02/nfl-season-reports-grades-cardinals-rams-49ers-seahawks

Off-Season Report Cards: NFC West
Sizing up the off-season moves of the Cardinals, Rams, 49ers and Seahawks, and how they’ll influence the 2017 campaign
by Chris Burke


Photo: Mark J. Terrill/AP

LOS ANGELES RAMS
2016: 4–12, third in NFC West

Significant additions: Head coach Sean McVay, DE Connor Barwin, RB Lance Dunbar, QB Aaron Murray, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, C John Sullivan, DT Tyrunn Walker, CB Kayvon Webster, OT Andrew Whitworth, WR Robert Woods, TE Gerald Everett (R2), WR Cooper Kupp (R3), S John Johnson (R3), WR Josh Reynolds (R4)

Significant losses: C Tim Barnes, WR Kenny Britt, S T.J. McDonald, DE Eugene Sims

The best news about Jared Goff’s rookie year is that it’s over. The No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 NFL draft looked lost and overwhelmed during his seven starts last season, games in which the Rams finished 0–7 with a combined scoreline of 221–85. Los Angeles finished the season with the league’s worst offense, both by points and yardage.

The Rams earnestly began their attempt to solve their production woes (and to reverse course on Goff’s trajectory) by hiring new coach Sean McVay, a 31-year-old wunderkind who helped Kirk Cousins play his way into back-to-back franchise tags.

In free agency, Rams GM Les Snead revamped his offensive line with the signings of center John Sullivan and outstanding veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth. And then he attempted to find Goff some help via the skill positions by signing free agent Robert Woods and drafting rookies Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds and move TE Gerald Everett.

“I don’t think you can ever have enough playmakers,” McVay said during a press conference following Day 2 of the draft. “And if those guys merit it by the way that they compete in practice, then those guys will be on the field, as well.”

Without question, there are more options for Goff this season. Will they be effective options, though?

Lacking, for the moment, is a clear-cut No. 1 receiver—perennial source of frustration Tavon Austin doesn’t fit that bill, nor does Woods, who served as Sammy Watkins’s sidekick in Buffalo and is cut from a complementary-WR cloth. Kupp was the go-to guy on his Eastern Washington offense, but he doesn’t necessarily have the physical or athletic traits to project as an NFL lead dog.

The likeliest candidate is Reynolds, a lanky 6' 3" wide receiver capable of making big plays downfield—at the very least, he could step in as Goff’s preferred target in the red zone. Last year’s team leader in touchdowns (as well as receptions and yards), Kenny Britt, signed a free-agent deal with Cleveland.

How rapidly any development occurs from the newcomers will go a long way in dictating Goff’s chances this season. In reality, though, the recent additions on offense are as much about the future as they are about the ’17 season. L.A. drafted a combination of three tight ends and receivers in 2016 (WRs Pharoh Cooper and Mike Thomas, TE Tyler Higbee), then matched that number last month.

The benefit, in theory, is that all of these fresh faces can mature together, headed by Goff. Woods, Austin, Whitworth and Sullivan all have been around the block enough times that they should be able to offer some guidance.

But growing pains are inevitable.

For one, McVay still has to decipher exactly how mesh Goff’s skill set with RB Todd Gurley’s game. The former comes from a West Coast-scheme, shotgun-heavy background; the latter is better suited to attack in downhill fashion, with his QB under center.

McVay put both concepts to work in Washington, and he figures to do so again. The additions of Whitworth and Sullivan up front should help the Rams across the board up front, while the overstocked roster of receivers and tight ends will allow McVay to spread the field when he so chooses.

Again, though, this is going to be a steep uphill climb for a bit, which will shift a great deal of pressure onto the Rams’ defense. Helping the cause there is new coordinator Wade Phillips, who brings decades of experience to supplement McVay’s youthful energy.

In tune with the transition from their base 4–3 defense to Phillips’s more flexible, 3–4 plan, the Rams picked up Barwin to add a little pop off the edge. They also added D-line depth in Smart and Walker.

The defense kept the Rams in several games last season, only to crumple down the stretch under the weight of the offense’s issues. McVay’s presence, another off-season’s worth of development for Goff and the free-agent/draft additions to the Los Angeles attack should help a bit in 2017.

But expecting too much, too soon would be a mistake. Repairing Goff will be a substantial challenge for McVay, and Goff can be only as good as the unproven talent around him.

Grade: B-plus

* * *


Photo: Ross D. Franklin/AP

ARIZONA CARDINALS
2016: 7-8-1, second place in NFC West.

Significant additions: S Antoine Bethea, LB Karlos Dansby, K Phil Dawson, QB Blaine Gabbert, OLB Jarvis Jones, LB Haason Reddick (R1), S Budda Baker (R2), WR Chad Williams (R3), G Dorian Johnson (R4)

Significant losses: DE Calais Campbell, TE Darren Fells, S Tony Jefferson, LB Kevin Minter, OLB Alex Okafor, S D.J. Swearinger, LB Daryl Washington, G Earl Watford

The Cardinals—featuring the ultra-talented RB David Johnson and potential Hall of Fame WR Larry Fitzgerald on Bruce Arians's chance-taking offense, and dynamic playmakers like Deone Bucannon, Tyrann Mathieu and new rookies Budda Baker and Haason Reddick on one of the NFL's more unique defensive rosters—should be one of the NFL's most entertaining teams in 2017. But the big question here—will Arizona be any better than their 2016 selves?

There are reasons to believe they will, not the least of which is their recent, pre-2016 track record—the Cardinals played in the 2015 NFC title game and chalked up a combined 34 victories from 2013 to ’15. Even with WR John Brown scuffling through injury last season and QB Carson Palmer unable to drum up any consistency, the offense ranked in the top 10 in both points and yards.

The front office and coaching staff must trust that the points will come. Aside from swapping OT Jared Veldheer from the left side to the right to accommodate D.J. Humphries, the Cardinals' additions on offense were mostly limited to the draft: Williams, Johnson, Logan and OT Will Holden. All could contribute, but it's possible none plays an expansive role this coming season.

The status quo might be good enough to keep the offense in rhythm. The defense, on the other hand, has undergone some changes.

Where it gets most interesting (read as: exciting or dicey, depending on your personal confidence level) is at defensive end and safety. The Cardinals let longtime D-line stalwart Calais Campbell walk in free agency this off-season, and then decided to look in-house for solutions.

When asked at the combine how the Cardinals planned to make up for Campbell's loss, Arians replied, “We hope we've done that in the draft the last two years, with Rodney [Gunter] and Robert [Nkemdiche].”

If it turns out that the Cardinals do improve this season, they will be able to thank their commitment to versatility on defense. That's specifically true at the safety spot, where the Cardinals lost two players to free agency: D.J. Swearinger, who saved his career with his play in Arizona, and the wholly underrated Tony Jefferson.

Competing for their spots in the desert will be ex-Colts veteran Antoine Bethea and rookie Budda Baker. They’ll join incumbent star Tyrann Mathieu and others in what could be a deep secondary.

There is a bit of a challenge in how to utilize all of those safety pieces (plus Tyvon Branch and CB convert Harlan Miller).

Mathieu’s role could be the key to unlocking everything else. Currently working his way back off a season-ending shoulder injury, Mathieu initially was expected to transition back to his old spot as a hybrid corner, playing close to the line of scrimmage—he spent significant chunks of last year at free safety.

However, Bethea, despite having extensive experience at free safety himself, is more of a strong safety at this point in his career; and Baker tells SI that the Cardinals are prepping him for a nickel safety/slot corner role, too.

“At the end of the day, [Tyrann’s] a safety and he [also] has all the tools to be all the other things” Baker says. “They just wanted to get another one in me, I feel like it’s going to be beneficial, you’re getting a player who can play any position.”

The Cardinals have leaned into this approach of “draft first, figure it out later” as much as any team in the league. They've moved Mathieu all over their secondary, and Bucannon is a safety turned linebacker. This year, Arizona will add in Baker and first-rounder Haason Reddick, who played DE at Temple but projects to be a linebacker in the NFL. They also return OLB Chandler Jones, a pass rusher and then some.

As a result, Arians's team has an enviable ability to dictate matchups on their terms, rather than try to adjust to what an offense throws at it.

“I think it's important to have hybrid players at all levels, whether it is your defensive line, your linebackers or secondary” Cardinals GM Steve Keim said at the combine. “Because when you do things like we do—multiple fronts, multiple coverages—you have that position flexibility where you can play inside, you can play outside. … To have a guy like Tyrann Mathieu who can invert, play in the slot, play in the nickel for you, the more flexibility you have, the more you can do.”

The flexibility, that athleticism may have to be enough. The Cardinals did not aggressively chase any upgrades at cornerback, nor did they nab a legitimate fallback option should Palmer falter (no, Blaine Gabbert does not count). It was an off-season of minor, if intriguing, tweaks for a team that finished below .500 a year ago.

Grade: C-plus

* * *


Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
2016:2–14, fourth in NFC West

Significant additions: GM John Lynch, Heach coach Kyle Shanahan, QB Matt Barkley, RB Kapri Bibbs, OLB Brock Coyle, WR Pierre Garcon, OT Garry Gilliam, WR Marquise Goodwin, K Robbie Gould, RB Tim Hightower, QB Brian Hoyer, FB Kyle Juszczyk, DT Earl Mitchell, TE Logan Paulsen, WR Aldrick Robinson, OLB Malcolm Smith, C Jeremy Zuttah, DL Solomon Thomas (R1), LB Reuben Foster (R1), CB Ahkello Witherspoon (R3), QB C.J. Beathard (R3), RB Joe Williams (R4), WR Trent Taylor (R5), TE George Kittle (R5)

Significant losses: S Antoine Bethea, CB Tramaine Brock, K Phil Dawson, RB Shaun Draughn, LB Gerald Hodges, QB Colin Kaepernick, OL Marcus Martin, WR Quinton Patton, WR Torrey Smith

The 49ers have not exactly been a model of stability recenty, so making any long-term assumptions about the organization may be a mistake. Nevertheless, one could assume that rookie GM John Lynch and rookie coach Kyle Shanahan will be afforded a little leeway as they attempt their rebuild of a struggling team.

Two storylines central to that project’s rate of completion are underway: 1) What Lynch has done in an attempt to fix the league’s worst defense; 2) What he does next to address the 49ers’ quarterback position. At of the start of free agency, the 49ers had exactly zero quarterbacks on their roster—Colin Kaepernick opted out of his contract, and Lynch chose not to re-sign Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder or Thad Lewis.

“A lot people look at it like, ‘Oh my gosh. You don’t have any quarterbacks,’” Lynch said at the time. “But that also is somewhat liberating in that you can create this thing in that position, that is so critical, in the way that you want it.”

The immediate path he and Shanahan took: signing Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley out of free agency, then trading up in Round 3 of the draft for Iowa’s C.J. Beathard. The plan as of now is for Hoyer—most experienced of the three with 31 career starts—to handle the No. 1 gig, followed by Barkley and Beathard, in that order, on the depth chart.

That’s an acceptable strategy if Lynch already has his sights set on 2018 quarterback targets, be they Kirk Cousins (who played under Shanahan from ’12–13) or an intriguing crop of potential draft picks. It is less encouraging if the 49ers believe they are in solid shape at QB for the long term.

To that end, Shanahan raved to The MMQB’s Peter King about Beathard: “He processes the game so well,” Shanahan said. “Tough as s---. Got a chance. He reminds me a lot of Kirk Cousins.”

A GM can tweak a roster as many times as he’d like, but there is little success to be had without getting things right at the quarterback spot. Hoyer did hold his own as a starter for the Browns during the 2014 season, with Shanahan as his coordinator.

He at least offers experience in Shanahan’s system, an element that should ease the transition into 2017. Eventually, though, the 49ers likely are going to need an upgrade at the game’s most important position.

They’re not exactly set throughout the rest of the offensive roster, though, hence Hoyer’s status as an adequate "bridge QB." San Francisco trotted out arguably the NFL’s worst collection of receivers last season, a group that should be better in 2017 thanks to the arrivals of Garcon, Goodwin and Taylor. Shanahan will try to recreate some of the magic he revealed in Atlanta’s attack last year, but he of course does not have Matt Ryan or Julio Jones (among others) at his disposal.

Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is facing a similar challenge. He spent three seasons as a Seahawks assistant and then another three under Gus Bradley in Jacksonville, and the 49ers are planning to implement a version of the Bradley-inspired Seattle defense. But Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman aren’t walking through that door.

Which brings us back to point No. 1: Lynch’s moves to repair the defense. A year ago, the 49ers were ghosts when the opposition had the football, allowing a ludicrous 165.9 yards per game on the ground.

So, Lynch spent his first three draft picks on that side of the ball: DL Solomon Thomas, LB Reuben Foster and CB Ahkello Witherspoon. It’s not fair to say the success of Lynch’s tenure hinges on Thomas and Foster—it would be more fair to say the quarterback situation will be the driving force. However, for Saleh and the 49ers to take steps forward on defense, both Thomas and Foster need to be everything they’re promised to be.

Thomas stands to occupy a critical inside-out role along the defensive line, perhaps not all that dissimilar from how Seattle has used Michael Bennett. Foster, meanwhile, could be the fast-flowing anchor of San Francisco’s linebacking corps. If he’s healthy, that is—shoulder surgery has his 2017 status in limbo.

If Thomas and Foster are All-Pro talents, the defense could be formidable in short order. If Foster labors in getting on the field and Thomas’s development plateaus, well ...

The 49ers do appear to have a plan in place, which is more than could be said for the ill-fated Chip Kelly era. The results probably won’t come in 2017—the roster Lynch inherited was a mess. Whether or not the turnaround takes hold in ’18 or ’19 hinges in large part on the Thomas/Foster tandem and what else Lynch has planned at QB.

Grade: B-minus

* * *


Photo: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images Sport

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
2016: 10-5-1, first in NFC West, lost in divisional round

Significant additions: OT Oday Aboushi, DE David Bass, LB Arthur Brown, RB Mike Davis, OL Luke Joeckel DE Dion Jordan, RB Eddie Lacy, S Bradley McDougald, K Blair Walsh, DT Malik McDowell (R2), C Ethan Pocic (R2), CB Shaq Griffin (R3), S Delano Hill (R3), DT Nazair Jones (R3), WR Amara Darboh (R3), S Tedric Thompson (R4),

Significant losses: OLB Brock Coyle, OT Garry Gilliam, K Steven Hauschka, DT John Jenkins, TE Brandon Williams

From 2012–15 the Seahawks rushing attack ranked as follows, in terms of yards: third, fourth, first, third.

Last season: 25th.

QB Russell Wilson’s injury woes (ankle, knee, pectoral) played heavy in the tumbling production. So, too, did the seemingly ever in-flux offensive line (more on that group in a moment). Above all, though, the Seahawks just flat out missed Marshawn Lynch.

Or rather, missed the “Beast Mode” version of Lynch that tore apart defenses during the 2014 season. Lynch wasn’t anywhere close to the same during an injury-plagued 2015, and he “retired” ahead of 2016, leaving the Seahawks to pick up the pieces. His expected replacement, Thomas Rawls, then missed seven games last season himself to a fractured fibula.

Without their bruising run game, the Seahawks lacked any tangible identity of offense. A priority for GM John Schneider this off-season, then, was to find a big back capable of wearing down opposing defenses.

Eddie Lacy, welcome aboard.

“We want to work really hard about regaining the mentality about running the football,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said on ESPN710’s The John Clayton Show, shortly after Lacy signed. “That’s something that’s really important to us. We knew that we lost that edge last year when Russell [Wilson] was hurt and when Thomas [Rawls] was hurt.”

Is Lacy the right guy to bring it back? The answer all depends on which version of Lacy the Seahawks will get.

When the 2013 second-round pick has been in shape and motivated, he has been among the NFL’s toughest backs to tackle—according to Pro Football Focus, only Lynch, DeMarco Murray and LeSean McCoy broke more tackles between 2013 and ’16. But his effectiveness, like his weight, has waxed and waned during his four-season NFL career.

After shedding pounds last off-season, Lacy played just five games (and scored zero touchdowns, despite 5.1 yards per carry) before landing an ankle injury planted him on I.R. He also has not had a 25-carry game since 2014.

As for the weight, Lacy just claimed a bonus for checking in below the 255-pound mark, and Carroll said upon Lacy’s signing that he wants his back in the 240s.

The truth is that Lacy is not so much a Lynch successor as another dart for the Seahawks to toss as they dream of a reinvigorated run game.

“I’ve been asked that for 15 years, if it’s better to have two running backs or one,” said Carroll at February’s combine. “I’ve always thought that it’s really valuable when you can have two or three guys that you can work in. ... If there’s a guy that’s so dominant that nobody else deserves the playing time, then you’ve got a great one.”

Keeping Wilson healthy would provide a natural boost to the entire offense. He averaged better than 600 yards rushing over his first four seasons but was limited by his injuries to 259 yards and a career-low 72 attempts a year ago.

Then there’s the offensive line. An annual rite of off-season passage has been to discuss Seattle’s moves (or lack thereof) up front. It’s rather stunning that this continues to be such a bugaboo for the Seahawks, year in and year out.

This time around, the Seahawks acquired Luke Joeckel and Oday Aboushi via free agency and drafted versatile LSU product Ethan Pocic. Joeckel figures to be in the starting lineup for Week 1, either at guard or tackle, and Pocic could join him at a to-be-determined spot.

The line, on paper, still does not stand to be anywhere near dominant, but Pocic’s arrival alone is reason for optimism. The Seahawks at least have better O-line depth than they did.

That’s also true in the secondary, another area ravaged by injuries a year ago, namely to safety Earl Thomas. As a safeguard—and to start planning for the future—GM John Schneider drafted Hill, Griffin, Thompson and DB Mike Tyson. The reinforcements along the D-line include second-rounder Malik McDowell and third-rounder Nazair Jones.

Provided Sherman isn’t dealt, the defense should be formidable, as always. The offense will go as the run game does, and the run game really could use the Lacy of old.

Grade: B

http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/20...hinks-the-la-rams-are-a-playoff-team-the-rams
by Seth Cox

There are times when I read the mass amounts of information that are shared with me and just shake my head.


This is one of them.




Last week, I posted about Mike Sando of ESPN picking the Cardinals as the team that got measurably worse in the 2017 offseason, of course he did a really nice job of hedging that saying he could see them winning more games this season.

Well, the NFL Insiders at ESPN have added another topic, this time non playoff teams from 2016 who will make the 2017 NFL Playoffs.

For those unaware, the Arizona Cardinals were not a playoff team in 2016, so they seemed like a good candidate for this... Nope, two writers did pick another NFC West team though: Dan Graziano and Aaron Schatz each picked the Los Angeles Rams, yes those Rams, to make the 2017 field.


From Graziano:

I like the Los Angeles Rams. Coordinator Wade Phillips' impact on the defense and head coach Sean McVay's intelligence and energy will be enough to vault them to their first winning season since 2003. Also helping their case: The Cardinals are due for a downturn and Seattle's ship looked a little leaky last year. Obviously, there's some concern about how Jared Goff meshes with the new coaching staff and learns a whole new system. But I'll give that staff and running back Todd Gurley the benefit of the doubt. Don't underestimate the impact of veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth on the offensive line, either.

From Schatz:

I'm driving the Rams bandwagon this year. OK, I guess it's more of a minivan, but more folks should be hopping aboard once they realize Phillips' phenomenal record of improving defenses in his first year as coordinator. (I wrote about that in detail here.) The offense isn't going to be good, but there's no way it will be as bad as last year. The 2016 Rams had the fourth-worst offense in the history of our DVOA stats, which stretches all the way back to 1987. The other teams in the bottom dozen improved by an average of three wins the next year, and three of those teams had winning records.

Look, I get that the Fisher to McVay move is a plus automatically, especially with Wade Phillips coming over, but Jared Goff is making that big of a jump?


I guess the additions on the offensive line help drive this idea, but this is crazy to me.

Year one of a new regime?

I guess it worked for the Arizona Cardinals.
*********************************************************************************

THERE ARE 16 COMMENTS.
Hmmm...
"The Cardinals are due for a downturn …But I’ll give [the Rams coaching] staff and running back Todd Gurley the benefit of the doubt."

I guess somehow they deserve "the benefit of the doubt" and the Bruce "3 double-digit wins in 4 seasons" Arians regime doesn’t.

You get Pro Bowls from the top of the draft. You get Super Bowls from the rest of the draft.

Posted by BirdgangRising on Jun 1, 2017 | 5:06 PM
Oh, and Schatz?
"The other teams in the bottom dozen improved by an average of three wins the next year"

Someone needs to tell him that a three win improvement makes them 7-9.

You get Pro Bowls from the top of the draft. You get Super Bowls from the rest of the draft.

Posted by BirdgangRising on Jun 1, 2017 | 5:09 PM
Maybe the theory is they get the average bump to 7-9, then on top of that you add Phillips, Whitworth, and a bounceback from Gurley?
It still seems like a bad prediction though.

I'm a veteran, and I support Kaepernick's protest.

Posted by Wade8813 on Jun 1, 2017 | 5:26 PM

We have heard this about the rams for the past 5 years
"Watch out for the rams this season, this is the year they’ll take the next step" Look, the Cardinals do best when given no respect at all. Let’s not be mad but secretly happy this is happening again. Want more proof? Last off season my father predicted an 8-8 season and I laughed in his face and look like a dope now. His prediction this season is 11-5 or 12-4. Here’s hoping he’s right again

I TAKE THIS SH*T SERIOUSLY!

Posted by Redbird Nation #1 on Jun 1, 2017 | 5:22 PM
old guys are wise

2017 Cardinals- "The best revenge is massive success" - The Chairman of the Board

Posted by risky business on Jun 1, 2017 | 5:54 PM
if Lambs make it to playoffs
i will Schatz myself

sorry dont see it

2017 Cardinals- "The best revenge is massive success" - The Chairman of the Board

Posted by risky business on Jun 1, 2017 | 5:56 PM
I could see them hanging around in the wildcard race
IF:
Their D makes that improvement
Gurley regains his rookie form
The O Line holds up
Most importantly, Goff shows he can actually play NFL football…

I don’t see all those things happening in 2017, especially Goff. I doubt he ever turns into anything good.

Posted by Spikedriver on Jun 1, 2017 | 6:04 PM

Like being dismissed,
The national press is focused on their favorites, They are still thinking the Cards are Bill’s old team and style of play.. They are not giving the team of Michael and BASK any respect… OK, it is not about what they think but how we do on the field. We have often given the press more credit than they give the Cards….

Posted by Cards will rise up on Jun 1, 2017 | 6:07 PM
This projection by ESPN may explain why their ratings are down.
I mean – why should anyone pay to listen to these idiots.

Posted by rjwil35 on Jun 1, 2017 | 6:58 PM
Is this what we are ranting about today?

The draft is about the future, not a SB run this year

Posted by Gungus on Jun 1, 2017 | 7:44 PM

Kroenke doesn't own playoff teams

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ - Don't even know what it means but it sure is cute

Posted by TakeFive on Jun 1, 2017 | 9:02 PM

Largest markets?
Most ridiculous press.

Posted by Jra805 on Jun 1, 2017 | 10:07 PM
Wait, people still go to ESPN for serious content?

Posted by Redbird Thunder on Jun 1, 2017 | 10:11 PM
Only the Lemmings.

Pass and you have an exciting offense that scores. Pound the ball down their throats in the 4th quarter and you win.

Posted by Riggodrill on Jun 2, 2017 | 6:18 AM
I will say this.
I won’t judge any quarterback in his rookie year. I don’t care how bad he played, it’s forgiven and year two should show a very marked improvement. I also have money that defense finally plays to the level of it’s talent. Wade Philipps is a defensive wizard and he’s proven it so many times you’d be a fool to think their D won’t be very tough. Rank teams in the NFC West by their level of improvement.

1. Gotta be 49’rs-New staff, by all accounts solid. Great draft. Big jump up cuz how could they possibly not.
2. Rams. Getting rid of Fisher and getting Wade a huge plus. New start for everyone in LA. They picked up some offensive weapons in the draft for Goff. McVay loves to use the tight end ( listening BA?), which we coincidentally suck at defending.
3. Us? Remains to be seen in my opinion. If our first two picks show up and both JB’s come back 100%, we vault up.
4. Seaturds. They’ve been great for years and thats tough to sustain. I don’t see a big improvement. Ok draft, kinda wait and see. I think Wilson is in for a long year. I love that guy but he has won a lot of games due to his ability to buy time with his legs. He finally started taking some hits and I suspect that will continue this year.

Pass and you have an exciting offense that scores. Pound the ball down their throats in the 4th quarter and you win.

Posted by Riggodrill on Jun 2, 2017 | 6:44 AM

If the Cards don't make the playoffs..
I can honestly say I don’t care who in the NFCW does..

Posted by Ditship on Jun 2, 2017 | 7:43 AM

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...-practice-makes-games-easy-for-rodger-saffold

Blocking Aaron Donald in practice makes games 'easy' for Rodger Saffold

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Rodger Saffold has spent the vast majority of his past three seasons as a guard for the Los Angeles Rams, which means he has spent a lot of time -- too much time -- matching up in practice against Aaron Donald, indisputably the game's best interior defensive lineman.

Donald has been absent from the Rams' voluntary organized team activities while his representatives negotiate a potential extension.

Saffold, solidified as the starting left guard, has missed blocking him, believe it or not.

"Let me tell you something -- my man AD, man, he knows how to go," Saffold said after OTAs on Tuesday. "Obviously, I’ve seen some crazy things out of him over the last three years, but I love going against him. It makes everything else easier through the season. I love it."

Donald compiled 28 sacks from 2014 to '16, the most by a defensive tackle during that stretch. In each of the past two seasons, Pro Football Focus graded him the game's best defensive player, regardless of position. Last season, he led the NFL with 31 quarterback hits and was tied for first with 17 tackles for loss. Donald has made the Pro Bowl in all three of his NFL seasons, and in the days leading up to most of his games, Saffold has been the one trying to keep him in check.

"He makes you want to do your technique better," said Saffold, by far the Rams' best offensive lineman last season. "You’re not as loose. You want to get your feet down, you want to make sure that you get your hand placement right. The thing that I like most is that because he makes so many different moves, if one move doesn’t work, he goes to the next one, and the next one, and the next one. It helps me move my feet. It helps me re-fit my hands. And then when I get to the game, it’s easy."

Donald -- joined on the absentee list by franchise cornerback Trumaine Johnson earlier this week -- won't get fined until he misses the three-day veteran minicamp June 13-15, a three-day stretch that would cost him somewhere in the neighborhood of $75,000. He could then be fined about $40,000 for each day he skips during training camp, which doesn't start until late July.

Rams general manager Les Snead said last week he is "very hopeful" the two sides will figure something out. But these things can get complicated when the player is that good and still has two years left before being eligible for free agency.

Saffold said he has "a lot of trust" that Donald will do the right thing and show up ready, whenever that is.

"We have to continue to focus on getting better as a team," Saffold said. "Once he gets back here, we’re going to lift him up and he’s going to be right there with us as soon as he gets back. Let those other people figure that stuff out; we have to work on this."

Eric Dickerson, Jackie Slater attend Rams Legends event in a show of team unity across eras

By Gary Klein

It’s been nearly 70 years since Jim Hardy played quarterback for the Rams.

But at 94, Hardy still apparently maintains his skills.

“Even to this late date, I’ll get out in the neighborhood and punt and pass with the local kids,” Hardy said Thursday during a Rams Legends reunion event in Thousand Oaks. ”I can still throw a tight spiral and turn my punts around.

“I just don’t want to get hit anymore.”

Hardy, a USC star before playing for the Rams from 1946 to 1948, was among about 50 former Rams players from the Los Angeles and St. Louis eras who met current players and coaches and sat in on meetings.

Pro Football Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson, Jackie Slater, Orlando Pace and Tom Mack were among the attendees.

Dickerson was at the center of controversy last season when he became embroiled in a conflict with former coach Jeff Fisher. The dust-up sprung from his criticism of the team and his request for extra sideline passes to a game.

New coach Sean McVay has said that he welcomed Dickerson and former Rams players.

The three-day Legends event is an attempt to “bridge the gap” between generations, to allow former players to interact with current players and coaches and reconnect with teammates they might not have seen for years, said Kyle Eversgerd, the Rams’ director of external football affairs.

“When you have a guy that played in the 70s standing next to a guy that played in the 2000s, it’s just a really unique way to build the NFL brotherhood, as we call it, specifically the Rams brotherhood,” Eversgerd said.

Torry Holt earned Pro Bowl recognition seven times during his 10 seasons as a Rams receiver. He said he enjoyed speaking with Rams receivers such as rookie Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds.

“I’m a Ram forever,” said Holt, a 1999 first-round pick who won a Super Bowl title as a rookie.“Whether we’re in St. Louis, whether we’re here, whether we’re in Cleveland. Hell, if we’re on the moon.

“I’m a Ram, so it feels good to get back home.”

Slater, an offensive tackle who played for the Rams from 1976 to 1995, said bringing together players from the Los Angeles and St. Louis eras “gives you kind of a harmonious feeling and what it means to have played with this organization.”

During an offensive line meeting, Slater said the former linemen “all stood up and gave our two cents on what we thought was important.”

Nolan Cromwell, a safety who played for the Rams from 1977 to 1987, was encouraged by the “We Not Me” slogan that McVay has adopted.

“When I played with guys, we were all talking, it was all we played for each other, we played together,” Cromwell said. “And I think the thing has really swung to a ‘Hey, look at me’ concept in today’s game, and I hope this message gets across to the team and he’s able to preach and they go with it.”

One of my favorites and a great first name as well.

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From Max

OK. When #65 says it, I'm in. I now trust the new OL coaching.

[www.therams.com]

Buffalo Bills lead league in yards before contact per attempt by offensive line


Buffalo Bills center Eric Wood (70) prepares to snap the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game on Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, in Orchard Park, N.Y.

By Ryan Talbot | Contributing writer
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on December 22, 2016 at 5:40 PM, updated December 22, 2016 at 7:02 PM

The Buffalo Bills lead the league in rushing through 15 weeks with 2,290 yards.

It's no surprise that the Bills lead the league in this category with the NFL's fifth leading rusher, LeSean McCoy, and Tyrod Taylor, the NFL's top rushing quarterback. One area that is somewhat underappreciated is Buffalo's offensive line.

Richie Incognito gets praise for his run blocking, which is well deserved, but Buffalo's offensive line as a whole has done a good job of opening running lanes for McCoy, Taylor, Mike Gillislee and others.

Just how good has the Bills' offensive line been this season? Through 15 weeks, Buffalo's offensive line leads the NFL in rushing yards before contact per attempt.

View image on Twitter


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Jeff Ratcliffe

Yards before contact per attempt by offensive line through Week 15 of the NFL seas4:05 PM - 21 Dec 2016


On average, Buffalo's runners are getting 2.88 yards per attempt before contact. The Bills have been at their best when running to the left (3.10 YPA before contact). Cordy Glenn and Richie Incognito are considered to be Buffalo's top offensive linemen so it's no surprise to see the Bills having the most success when running to the left.

Up the middle, the Bills are averaging 3.00 yards per attempt before contact. Buffalo's starting guards and the combination of Eric Wood and Ryan Groy have fared well this season in run blocking.

Buffalo's yards before contact number drops on the right side of their line (2.68 YPA). This makes sense considering that the weakest part of Buffalo's offensive line is at right tackle. Despite the drop off in yards per attempt, the 2.68 yards is still first in the league on the right side. The Bills were first in the league on the left side and up the middle as well.
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Todd Gurley didn't get much that kind of support.

http://ramsondemand.com/threads/5-rams-on-espn-list-of-99-people-who-will-shape-2017-season.49748/
started by @KNUCKLEHEAD

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-shape-regular-season-playoffs-super-bowl-lii
18. Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams. Gurley's 1.59 yards before first contact in 2016 ranked 41st in the NFL. He had no room to run. The Rams hope the installation of a zone scheme under Sean McVay and the additions of veteran offensive linemen Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan will help

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Alright, lemme give you some background. I'm currently in the process of backing up all my work (I do this normally) but this is the first time I've run into this. I use a Mac, use to be a PC man but not anymore. So when I transitioned from PC to Mac, I partitioned my external HD into two parts. 1 Part, mac, the other part I left NTFS which is a format for windows to hold all my old files from my PC work days. Well, I've been keeping backups on my partitioned part for the backups/work however the other partition, has all my old files. I've recently stumbled upon a gold mine of my old work, and was just about to start transferring it over when I ran into the problem of not being able to delete these files off that partition. So my question is 1.) How do I delete these files? I already have the ones I wanna keep copied over to my first part, but I no longer need these on the second part. 2.) It does not allow me to delete them because the partition is NTFS, if that's so is there anyway to delete this partition? or is it basically stuck?

Or does the NFL mandate the minimum seating capacity for teams?

If not, then the Chargers playing a few years in the much smaller stadium might pose an opportunity for cities or team owners or both to arrive at a much more cost effective solution for future stadiums.

The fans in attendance will certainly benefit from a much smaller stadium. Much closer to the field of play. Much smaller crowd to deal with. Less traffic to deal with in the vicinity of the stadium. Easier to sell out games to get the games broadcast locally. Would most likely increase the price of tickets though.

Some stadiums around the NFL are already blocking off sections of the stands that they cannot fill and others are buying out seats to have the game broadcast locally. Smaller stadiums closer to 40,000 may be the future compared to the 70,000+ that seem to be the norm today.

:shocking: Keeping arm day in his rotation still. And every picture I've ever seen of Whitworth I'm amazed he's as good as he is because he looks like he has stick arms and legs for a tackle lol. But if it works, don't fix it.

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Also, Torry "The Finger" Holt
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To all the camp reporters I wanted to send out a thanks before they even came being in STL I got used to going to camp and then reading the reports from our posters here at Rod. I was a little disappointed last year because we got mostly twitter feeds. I like reading the opinions of the posters here idk it just makes it more real because we have discussions all the time. So to those that can make it and report back to the rest of us. Thanks and us fans that can't make it definitely appreciate the work.

Have The LA Rams Found Two More Gems?

Benny Cunningham. Rodney McLeod. Johnny Hekker. The Rams have had success finding UDFA gems. Did they land two more this offseason?

by misone May 31, 2017, 9:37am CDT

Since the Los Angeles Rams hired General Manager Les Snead in 2012, the Rams have had very good success finding undrafted free agents (UDFA) at the conclusion of drafts who can stick on the roster long-term.

Whether it's a do-it-all Swiss army knife like Chicago Bears — and former Rams — RB Benny Cunningham, a top ten safety in the mold of Philadelphia Eagles — former Ram — FS Rodney McLeod, or a perennial All-Pro and Pro Bowler like P Johnny Hekker or even the great depth and core special teams signings of players like Daren Bates, Cody Davis, Chase Reynolds or Bradley Marquez, the Rams have routinely found contributors post-draft.

Now, with the conclusion of the 2017 NFL Draft, there's another UDFA haul with the potential to unveil a quality player or two.

Have the Rams landed two more?

The Rams signed two players that stand out to me. There's obviously the signing of former Washington Huskies guard — though he'll play center for the Rams — Jake Eldrenkamp. But this time I'm looking at the less obvious.

DE/OLB Teidrick Smith and RB Lenard Tillery are two prospects that might have what it takes to make the team and then some.

Mary Hardin-Baylor DE/OLB Teidrick Smith
Smith is quite the specimen. First and foremost, he simply looks the part at 6’1” 240 with an absolute shredded physique. Just check out his Instagram page. Not that looking the part means much. Smith also simply plays the part.

He combines speed and power in a way that reminds me of a young James Harrison, minus the crazy demeanor. It’s actually quite impressive watching him convert speed into power, and vice versa. He sets the edge violently when defending the run, often times creating a tackle for loss for a teammate or just doing the entire job himself.


It looks like he enjoys blowing up guards or lead blockers on run plays almost like he’s waiting for it each time. He’s already a very good run defender which is something most pass rushers have to develop with time. That ability to play the run might be his key to making the roster. It’s one of the more exciting parts to this game.

He plays a very physical brand of football, and each sack looks like he hit the hit stick button. He literally blows the guy away on each tackle. He demonstrates one speed only, and that’s all in. Whether he’s coming around the edge for the sack or in pursuit of the ball carrier, he comes screaming like a missile every single time. The high effort that he regularly demonstrates is the kind of play and mentality that special teams coordinators crave. Special Teams Coordinator John “Bones” Fassel, will surely be eager to test him out on kick coverage when the pads are on in camp.

Then there’s his pass rush skills. Of course everything else about his game is nice, but it’s his ability to get to the quarterback that got this little known Division III prospect from Mary-Hardin Baylor University this golden opportunity.


Smith does an excellent job getting to the quarterback using a wide range of moves. He has very good hand usage, and it could even be described as advanced, considering the level he’s coming from and the fact that most college players lack consistent hands. He usually has a move for a move for a move, showing the ability to adjust to good blocks by throwing something else at the lineman back to back to back all during the same play. He can get around the edge using either speed or power, as he uses his natural leverage (6’1’ frame) to get under the lineman’s pads. His leg drive on the bull rush is highly impressive, and he has a blazing get off on the snap. At times, it looked like he knew the snap count.

Have a look at these almost unreal stats:

Teidrick Smith
Year Tackles TFL Sacks FF FR Int PBU
2013 61 19 9.5 1 3
2014 47 14.5 9 1 2 1 9
2015 64 27 18 1 4
2016 60 23.5 15.5 1 1 4
Career Totals: 232 84 52 3 3 2 20

Smith also blocked six kicks in one season — Bones will love this kid — and scored a defensive touchdown and was three times the conference defensive player of the year, all done in 55 games. That is a ridiculous amount of sacks and tackles for loss in just 55 games. I don’t care what level you did it at.

However, its not all sunshine and rainbows. Smith has a tendency of playing entirely too high. Two things have worked in his favor to this point: the level of competition and his shorter-than-ideal height. In a lot of games, the opposition played too high as well. He also does not show the consistent flexibility around the edge. You just don’t see that bend, to dip under the tackle and get to the quarterback, although him playing too high might be the reason for this, and getting lower could remedy both issues. He often gets around the edge by simply being faster than an over-matched tackle, or using that surprisingly strong bull rush that he possesses. However, he should find it more difficult at this level, without showing flexibility.

Southern RB Lenard Tillery
And then there is Lenard Tillery. Is it odd that he signed with the Rams and the player he most reminds me of is Benny Cunningham whom the Rams just lost to free agency?

I can’t say his feet are as sweet as Cunningham’s, something I loved about Benny when predicting he would make the team and what kind of impact he would have years ago. That’s not to say Tillery doesn’t have nice feet though, because he really does. He has a highly impressive jump cut, just like Benny. And his vision and patience — then burst through the hole — is exactly what you want out of your back.

He runs with unbelievably good balance. Guys can come downhill as hard as they want, but you simply can’t knock the kid off his feet. He breaks a lot of tackles. You have to wrap him up, and you have to drive your feet. Even then, there is no guarantee he’s going to go down. At 5’09” and 205 lbs., he runs extremely hard,and plays a lot bigger than you’d expect.


Tillery’s most impressive traits are probably his burst and open field running ability. He doesn’t have blow you away top end speed, but he pulls away from defenders due to his initial acceleration. He is about average as it gets for an NFL running back in regards to top end speed (4.56 and 4.58 40-yard dash times). Once Tillery makes his cut, he is usually sticking that foot in the ground and pushing that ball upfield with no hesitation. If he gets in the open field, there is a really good chance something special will happen.

Lenard Tillery
Year Rushes Yards YPA TDs REC Yds YPC TDs
2013 184 784 4.3 9 17 135 7.9
2014 209 1196 5.7 9 19 196 10.3
2015 197 1211 6.1 14 19 173 9.1 1
2016 247 1665 6.7 13 20 307 15.4 2
Career Totals: 837 4856 22.8 45 75 811 10.675 3
Tillery is a very good receiver, and it’s usually pretty wise to throw him the ball, as it gives him a chance to show off that special open field running ability. However, much remains to be seen in the pass pro department. He could turn out to be a very good third down back like Cunningham, but also like Benny, he enters as a poor pass protector. However, one thing Benny knew was he was not going to make the team solely based on his running ability and had to perfect his craft in the area of special teams and pass pro, he even said as much in an OTA interview as a rookie. Tillery, will have to adopt the same mentality.

Tillery is a former walk-on player who went on to set new records at Southern University. It displays a good work ethic, as history shows, some of the best diamonds have been a walk-on at their respected colleges (Danny Amendola, Wes Welker, Ezekiel Ansah, or the most extreme example, Clay Mathews, plus many more). These guys usually tend to outwork everyone, and Tillery could do the same, and be the next guy up.

[www.turfshowtimes.com]

Signs point to fewer catches, better season for Rams' Todd Gurley

The Rams' Todd Gurley struggled last season, thanks in part to a bad offensive line and an inept passing game. Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports

Alden Gonzalez

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Todd Gurley was one of the most disappointing fantasy running backs -- not to mention actual running backs -- amid the Los Angeles Rams' 4-12 season in 2016. ESPN ranked Gurley fifth in its preseason rankings last September, behind only Adrian Peterson and three big-time receivers -- Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr. and Julio Jones. But by the end of the season, Gurley didn't even finish within the top 65 in standard scoring leagues.

Gurley did, at least, recoup some value in points-per-reception leagues by more than doubling his catch total from his rookie season.

Fantasy players might not be able to count on that in 2017.

The Rams, under a new offensive-minded head coach in Sean McVay, are determined to help Gurley recapture his big-play ability. But they might not count on him to be as much of a factor in the passing game. They have replaced Benny Cunningham, a more traditional backup running back who saw a lot third-down snaps, with Lance Dunbar, who, when healthy, can be a major pass-catching threat out of the backfield.

The Rams want Dunbar to establish himself in a role similar to that of Chris Thompson, who totaled 84 receptions for McVay's offenses in Washington the past two seasons.

That should mean less catches for Gurley, who saw his targets rise from 26 in 2015 to 58 in 2016.

Last week, Gurley was asked if he expects to catch more passes in 2017.

"We'll see," he said.

Would he like to?

"Yeah, I would. But we’ll see what happens."

The Rams just want Gurley to be a force on the ground again. Because he was recovering from a torn ACL, Gurley waited until the Rams' fourth game to make his first start in 2015. But he still finished with 1,106 rushing yards, third-most in the NFL. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, and conventional wisdom presumed that he would get even better if given an additional year of learning the league and recovering from a major injury.

But the Rams' offensive line was a disaster, their passing game was ineffective and Gurley didn't do a good enough job hitting what few holes presented themselves. He started all 16 games in 2016, but he gained only 885 yards on the ground, the fewest in history for a running back with at least 275 carries. Gurley compensated somewhat with 43 catches for 327 yards through the air. But he totaled only six touchdowns, four fewer than what he amassed in 12 starts the prior season.


With Andrew Whitworth now at left tackle and quarterback Jared Goff taking the proverbial step forward in his second season, the Rams expect Gurley to have more room to run in 2017.

Last season, with defenses stacking the box on nearly every play, Gurley averaged only 1.59 yards before first contact, ranking 41st among 42 qualified running backs. He was on the field for 90 third-down snaps, 12 fewer than Cunningham and ranked 26th at his position. And he received 10 carries within five yards of the end zone, a workload topped by 15 players.

All of those numbers should improve, even if the receiving numbers decline.

"I like it," Gurley said when asked for his sense of how he fits into the new offense. "It’s not the same. But mostly every offense is the same, [just] kind of different schemes. The coaches have just been doing a great job of coaching us up and making sure we’re focused [on] the details and the little things."

[www.espn.com]

https://sports.yahoo.com/m/0ec9411a-b1f1-37c6-972d-e227ea3150c1/watch:-sneak-peek-at.html
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Is it just me or does this piss you guys off too?
I mean in my opinion this is not The Rams and Chargers stadium.
This is our Freakin stadium and the Chargers are the mother-in-law
that nobody wants living there.
Hey Spanos,get a job and buy your own stadium.
OK I'm done.I think.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...-shape-regular-season-playoffs-super-bowl-lii

Culture-changers
5. Wade Phillips, defensive coordinator, Los Angeles Rams. He is 39 years older than Sean McVay, the head coach who just hired him, but Phillips' track record as a high-impact coordinator is unquestioned. Aaron Donald, Trumaine Johnson & Co. should be better just for Phillips' presence and take a lot of pressure off young Jared Goff and the offense.


Stars who need some help
18. Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams. Gurley's 1.59 yards before first contact in 2016 ranked 41st in the NFL. He had no room to run. The Rams hope the installation of a zone scheme under Sean McVay and the additions of veteran offensive linemen Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan will help.


Defensive MVP race
27. Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams. Only nine players have more than Donald's 28 sacks the past three seasons, and all nine of them play on the edge. So do the eight players who follow Donald on that list. No one else dominates from the interior of the defensive line the way Donald does right now.


What's in store in Year 2?
76. Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams. A new coaching staff is in place that had nothing to do with drafting Goff No. 1 overall in 2016. They're stuck with him for at least a couple of years, so we'll see how Sean McVay & Co. do developing a guy they didn't pick. His future and theirs depend on it.


Underrated additions
98. Andrew Whitworth, OT, Los Angeles Rams. The Rams lured the veteran left tackle from Cincinnati by guaranteeing him $15 million over the next two years. He and veteran center John Sullivan are being asked to stabilize the line in front of young QB Jared Goff and young RB Todd Gurley.