By Gary Klein

The new players spied him watching from outside the weight room.

The offensive coordinator saw him there too.

Rams quarterback Jared Goff went through rookie indoctrination last year, after the Rams selected him No. 1 in the draft, so he could only observe the action on the practice fields during last weekend’s minicamp for this year’s draftees and free agents.

The two-day camp, conducted under the watchful eye of new coach Sean McVay and his staff, enabled the newcomers to get comfortable and demonstrate their talent.

But like just about everything surrounding the Rams, the subtext was all about Goff — and developing weapons that might help him live up to his billing as a franchise quarterback.

That’s why general manager Les Snead carried out McVay’s request to identify and draft specific players for his pass-oriented offense.

After about 50 players completed the final workout Saturday, McVay praised tight end Gerald Everett, receivers Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds, and fullback Sam Rogers.

While explaining how the rookies might fit, he did not mention Goff by name. But one comment spoke volumes.


“I think we want to be an offense that you give the quarterback answers,” McVay said.

Right now, of course, there are only questions.

The most pressing: Can this staff elevate Goff’s performance?

It’s too soon to know whether the latest draftees can adequately fill roles that will enable Goff to develop into an efficient passer and perhaps help the Rams end a 13-year playoff drought.

They showed positive signs during the minicamp.

Kupp, in particular, stood out.

The all-time leading receiver in the NCAA’s Football Championship Subdivision had arrived with a reputation for exacting preparation. And it seemed to pay off.

“He’s still being Coop,” said linebacker Samson Ebukam, Kupp’s teammate at Eastern Washington. “He’s still catching balls and making people look silly.”

The 6-foot-3 Reynolds also impressed, separating from defensive backs on long routes. He gave McVay and offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur reason for optimism.

Consider: Rams receiver Tavon Austin is listed at 5-8, Robert Woods is an even 6-0 and Pharoh Cooper 5-11.

Height is not a prerequisite for NFL receiver stardom. Or production. But if Reynolds can provide a rangier target, that gives LaFleur, play-caller McVay and, most important, Goff more options.

Everett caught passes fairly consistently and ran well, prerequisites for a role in McVay’s tight end-heavy scheme. Rogers showed sure hands on routes out of the backfield.

During the last few seasons, the Rams have seen a few first-year players immediately excel. Running back Todd Gurley and defensive tackle Aaron Donald were NFL rookies of the year. But others such as tight end Tyler Higbee got limited opportunities after standing out during training camp.

“We’re expecting some of these guys to contribute,” McVay said of offensive players in this year’s draft class. “They certainly have to earn it.”

McVay said he was “encouraged” by the performances of Everett, Kupp and Reynolds.

“You hope that it’ll project when we get out here with all the veterans and things are ramped up a bit,” he said.

But it all comes back to Goff.

LaFleur said the second-year pro was a “sponge,” that he was picking up the new offense. As a passer, Goff is “a little more accurate than I anticipated,” LaFleur said.

“I know he’s excited about some of the pieces we’ve added,” he said.

When organized team activities begin May 23, the new offensive players will practice with Goff in a full-squad setting. Rookie defensive players — safety John Johnson, Ebukam and fellow linebacker Ejuan Price and defensive tackle Tanzel Smart — will try to make their mark too.

Kupp worked out with Goff before the draft. He spoke of Goff’s tenacity and desire to win.

He will spend the next few days making sure he knows the offense.

“So when the quarterback steps out on the field, I’ve got things dialed and ready to go,” Kupp said, “because I know he’s going to be ready to roll.”

[www.latimes.com]

The Los Angeles Rams move from St. Louis to LA is a lingering story not going away anytime soon, as litigation is due to get under way. http://ramblinfan.com/2017/05/13/los-angeles-rams-in-st-louis/
One Los Angeles Rams story that continues to trudge along is the messy divorce between the city of St. Louis, the Rams, and the National Football League. It’s also a story winding its way into a courtroom.
In a piece filed by Jim Thomas at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, we learn that the the NFL is sending its best and brightest from legal to St. Louis for the breach of contract lawsuit over the relocation of the Rams to Los Angeles.
The Washington-based law firm of Covington & Burling will represent the league and 31 of their 32 teams. The 32nd team, which is the the Rams, is represented by Kirkland & Ellis, headquartered in Chicago.

The suit seeks unspecified damages and restitution of profits. The suit claims that the Rams and the NFL failed to meet relocation guidelines, made intentional false statements, and “unjustly enriched themselves.”

The move from St. Louis to LA has been contentious for Stan Kroenke and his team. The last season in 2015 was one met with attendance issues, signs expressing all matters of discontent with the fan base, and a sense that the move west was a “fait accompli.”

Toss in a losing team nursing what has become a decade of dreadful play, and the wrap up in St. Louis has fostered a lot of ill wil
As for the NFL, they would issue a statement the day the suit was filed saying there was no legitimate basis for the litigation.

Something says the city of St. Louis may have the last word on that one.

HEAD COACH SEAN McVAY

What are the differences in the route tree for guys like Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds in the NFL compared to what they were doing in college? “It’s going to be a little bit different, just because at Texas A&M they’re a little bit more spread out. [Josh Reynolds is] pretty much lined up outside of the numbers, and he’s kind of running straight-stem routes. Cooper was kind of moving all around the formation throughout the course of his career. I think we’re going to ask them to do things a little bit differently. But, what you can appreciate about both of those guys is they did a good job of being able to translate some of our verbiage, understand some of the little routes that we were putting in this week. You could see they’re both smart, conscientious players. It was good to see them move around this weekend.”

How might you try to balance the number of targets for the new receivers vs. the ones who are already on the roster? “[Y]ou certainly try to call plays to get certain guys involved, but when you feel like you’ve got a handful of playmakers, I think the idea is to kind of have that quarterback be a point guard and be a great distributor to all your guys. You want to be able to get them touches and get them involved. I’ve been a part of some offenses that we feel like we were able to do that and we’ll look to try and do the same here.”

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR MATT LaFLEUR

Aside from how quickly he’s picked up the offense, has anything else surprised you about Jared Goff? “I’ll be honest with you, I think he’s a little more accurate than I anticipated, so that got me excited. Obviously, he’s got a big arm. Until you work with a guy you don’t really know. Obviously, I studied him coming out in the draft and knew that he had some of the characteristics that you look for. He’s a natural thrower. He’s tough and he’s throwing the ball with, like I said before, surprisingly with really good accuracy.”

What excites you about Cooper Kupp? “I think the first thing you know about Cooper is he’s a pro and you can see that. He came in here not like most rookies do. He’s an extremely polished route runner, got great hands, is a precise route-runner. You can tell he works at his craft each and every day. He does a great job.”

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR WADE PHILLIPS

How much pride do you take in defenses improving quickly once you arrive? “I’ve had a lot of good players. But, I attribute some of it to the way that we teach them, we don’t make many mistakes. We make sure we don’t make many mental mistakes, as far as alignment and assignment. Then, we work really hard on fundamentals and techniques and try to improve each player.”

Where did the inspiration come from to write your book, Son of Bum? “We’d been working on it for about a year and a half, so it took a little while to get it done because coaches don’t have much time off, especially during the year. During the offseason Vic Carucci and I worked on it. I think it came out well, at least it got over what I wanted to get over, which is how great my dad was and how he influenced a lot of positive things in me and a lot of people. It’s a great Father’s Day present.”

WIDE RECEIVER COOPER KUPP

Coming from a small school, did you go to the combine and private workouts thinking you had something to prove? “No. Anytime you come out there and you’re trying to prove something, you’re trying to be something more than what you are. If you’re trying to prove something, you’ve got a weight on your chest. There’s no room for error. But I’m just trying to come out and be who I am. I’m just going to play football. I know I’m a great player. So I’m going to come out and just let that show. That should be enough.”

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER SAMSON EBUKAM

What have been your impressions of Wade Phillips? “He’s chill, man. Like he’s just right there trying to get you better. And that’s what I like about him. He’s just trying to get us better. Because if we mess up all he cares about his effort. If you give effort, man, you can make play even if you make a mistake.”

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER JUAN PRICE

What do you remember about Aaron Donald from your shared time at Pitt? Ferociousness, strength, naturally gifted, hard worker. He’s probably one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen. So just to be that naturally gifted and that of a worker really says something about him.

Did you think Donald would be as good as he is? “Yeah. We even went back to high school. We were rivals in high school and he did crazy stuff to our O-line. So I’ve been seeing it in him, even though he was a smaller guy coming out of high school just like me. But he’s been a top dog, so I’m not surprised he’s doing what he’s doing.”

[www.therams.com]

http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0655163367740153703-4

Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer

It's no certainty that Tavon Austin will return punts this year. Sean McVay said special teams coordinator John Fassel is keeping it open, though Austin and Pharoh Cooper are the main guys under consideration.

On Austin, McVay said: "Any time you've got a guy like that who can create with the ball in his hands, you want to be able to create those opportunities. But I know there's other players in place that can do that, as well."

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...ice-excited-to-learn-from-aaron-donald-051317

Rams rookies Smart, Price excited to learn from Aaron Donald

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) Tanzel Smart and Ejuan Price share the same admiration for Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. However, that respect was built from different vantage points.

Price was a college teammate of Donald’s at Pittsburgh for three seasons, watching him dominate the Big East and Atlantic Coast Conference up close. Smart was just starting his collegiate career at Tulane as Donald was closing his out by receiving multiple national awards and honors.

Now, the defensive tackle Smart and outside linebacker Price hope to carve out successful NFL careers with the Rams by using Donald as a role model and resource.

”It’s crazy because I was a college player the same time he was,” Smart said. ”I was a sophomore in college and I just kept hearing his name, `Aaron Donald this, Aaron Donald that.'”

Smart, who was drafted in the sixth round, and Price, a seventh-round selection, already share one trait with Donald. All three lack the prototypical physical attributes typically associated with their given positions at the professional level. Price describes himself as a ”short, rangy guy” without the usual wingspan of a pass-rusher, while the stocky 296-pound Smart is built like Donald.

But height and weight aren’t everything. Both newcomers recognize that Donald has become a two-time first-team All-Pro because of force of will, something they identified years ago. Price saw it in the weight room, on the practice field and at the ping-pong table, where Donald usually bested his fellow Panthers.

Price hopes to get a chance to avenge those defeats, eventually.

”Don’t say that yet. Let me practice for a couple weeks,” Price said with a laugh.

Smart spotted Donald’s relentless competitiveness from watching him on tape.

”He’s just not going to be stopped, no matter what,” Smart said.

Smart similarly cites his heart as one of his best attributes, along with quickness off the ball and hand usage. Those traits allowed him to accumulate 18 1/2 tackles for loss with 5 1/2 sacks as a senior, earning first-team honors in the American Athletic Conference in each of his last two seasons.

Smart will need to display those disruptive tendencies to find a role in the Rams’ deep defensive line, alongside Donald, Michael Brockers and Dominique Easley. Coincidentally, that accumulation of talent up front is what Smart knew about the Rams before he was drafted by them.

”That’s the first thing that went in my head,” Smart said. ”Learning from all those guys like Brockers, (Robert) Quinn and Aaron Donald, it’s just going to be amazing.”

Price, who alternated between defensive end and outside linebacker at Pitt, is also looking forward to trading tips with Donald. They briefly reconnected after Price was drafted, and will get to do so more formally in the weeks to come.

”We kind of working against some of the same disadvantages,” Price said. ”I’ll definitely pick his brain and steal some of his moves.”

The Rams concluded their two-day rookie minicamp on Saturday, leaving Smart and Price upbeat about their prospects in spite of a format not exactly conducive to showing off their particular skill sets. Head coach Sean McVay used more 7-on-7 work, which made sense given the Rams’ needs at wide receiver and cornerback. Smart was one of three defensive linemen in attendance, while Price was among the five outside linebackers participating.

”I mean, it was my first foot in the door, so it was definitely a great learning experience,” Price said. ”I’m definitely fired up and ready to get going and continue to keep working.”

—

For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

THOUSAND OAKS >> The only real benefit to going undrafted in the NFL is the player’s ability to choose, as a free agent, his destination. Offensive linemen Jake Eldrenkamp chose a challenge.

Even before the end of the seventh round last month, the Rams already had been in touch with Eldrenkamp’s agent, to signify their desire to sign him. The interest came with one caveat: the Rams wanted Eldrenkamp to be a center, a position he hadn’t played since high school.

No problem. Eldrenkamp, a solid tackle and guard during his four-year college career at Washington, looked relatively smooth as he snapped the ball during the Rams’ two-day rookie mini-camp at Cal Lutheran, which ended Saturday afternoon.

“I love it,” Eldrenkamp said. “I think it’s the best fit for me. My game is about the mental side as much as the physical side. When you talk about applying my strengths to the game, I think center is the best place to do it.”

As a free agent, Eldrenkamp could have picked a different team to sign with, one that might have kept him within his comfort zone at guard. But Eldrenkamp made a decision that could boost his NFL future.

Not only did Eldrenkamp choose center, the position that likely bests fits his body type and skill set at the NFL level, but he chose the Rams, whose situation at center isn’t exactly secure. Coach Sean McVay said Saturday that Eldrenkamp would get a chance to compete for the job.

After last season, the Rams released incumbent center Tim Barnes, then made a failed attempt to sign restricted free agent Ryan Groy. Then ended up signing John Sullivan, a veteran with whom McVay worked in Washington, but a player with a significant injury past.

Behind Sullivan is only Demetrius Rhaney, a special-teams contributor and a natural guard who has started only one game in two seasons. The Rams did not draft a center -- or any offensive lineman -- this year, but shortly after, they signed Eldrenkamp and Anthony McMeans from New Mexico State.

It’s not ridiculous to think that Eldrenkamp, well regarded by Rams offensive line coach Aaron Kromer, could make the roster in the fall as the backup center.

“He’s a guy that’s got good movement,” McVay said. “He’s got some flexibility to be able to play on the interior line, but he was a guy that Coach Kromer, our scouts, did a nice job identifying as a player that we feel like could project well with some of the things we’re looking for. It’ll be exciting to kind of watch him.”

“I think the biggest difference for most guys is just having to make all the calls,” Eldrenkamp said, “and knowing how every piece of the offense works together. That’s something that I’d been doing in Washington, so it was a pretty easy carry-over. That wasn’t too hard, but that trips a lot of guys up. The physical side is, you’ve just got to square your feet up and get the ball back.”

WATCHING EYES

The Rams’ veteran players were allowed to use the practice facility during the rookie camp. Linebacker Robert Quinn watched a bit of the practices, but the most notable viewer was quarterback Jared Goff.

A year ago, Goff was a rookie-camp participant. Now he enters the 2017 as the clear-cut starting quarterback, and Rams coaches took note of Goff’s effort to be more of a leader.

“I love it, that he’s around,” offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur said. “I don’t think, if you go around the league, you’re going to find too many teams where the starting quarterback is sitting there watching these rookies in their rookie mini-camp. I know he’s excited about some of the pieces we’ve added. I think it’s great for us, as an organization.”

The Rams will return to the field on May 23 for the third and final phase of their offseason workouts. That’s when the rookies will join the veterans, and Goff will get a chance to throw to newly drafted teammates such as receivers Cooper Kupp and Josh Reynolds and tight end Gerald Everett.

It also will be another opportunity for the Rams’ new coaches to evaluate Goff. Thus far, they seem impressed with Goff’s offseason work.

“I’ll be honest with you. I think he’s a little more accurate than I anticipated,” LaFleur said.

That got me excited. Obviously he’s got a big arm. Until you work with a guy, you don’t really know. I studied him coming out in the draft, and I knew he had some of the characteristics that you look for. He is a natural thrower. He’s tough and he’s throwing the ball with surprisingly, really good accuracy.”

THROWBACK DAYS


The Rams announced that they will wear their 1980s-style blue-and-gold throwback uniforms for the Oct. 8 home game against Seattle and the Dec. 31 home game (and season finale) against San Francisco.

The NFL allows teams to wear throwback uniforms twice a year. The Rams previously announced that they will wear blue and white helmets, and mostly white uniforms at home, in 2017, and they’re expected to have a full-uniform rebrand for the 2019 season.

[www.dailynews.com]

http://www.ocregister.com/2017/05/1...d-everett-is-where-he-always-believed-hed-be/

The path was rocky, but Rams TE Gerald Everett is where he always believed he’d be

Every single one of the 30 or so dreamers lining the Rams practice field this weekend in Thousand Oaks has a story to tell. You don’t just pull up at an NFL rookie minicamp, a place where lifetime dreams are allowed to continue or meet their bitter ends, without toting an extraordinary amount of baggage the result of roads less traveled.

For every high draft pick with a lucrative contract on the way, there’s three undrafted free agents hoping to make enough of an impression to get a training camp invite.

For every former five-star recruit from USC or Alabama, there’s a former no-star recruit who flashed just enough at tiny Tarleton State to earn an NFL tryout.

Yet here they all wound up at the same place at the same time with the same singular objective.
“And it’s funny when you think about it,” Rams rookie tight end Gerald Everett observed. “We all want to end up at the same place, but everyone’s path is a little different. There’s really no one path to the NFL.”

But there is one common thread.

“You just have to keep working for your dream,” Everett said, “No matter where you start, or what obstacles are in your way. Just keep fighting.”

Everett is a case in point.

In the back of his mind he always felt he would find his way onto the NFL radar. The raw athletic ability was always noticeable growing up in Atlanta. From a physical standpoint, there were compelling components to work with.

On the other hand, he did set football aside when he got to high school to focus on basketball and track and field. At the time it seemed like the beginning of the end of his football career. But in retrospect it turned out to be a shrewdly brilliant decision.

The basketball skill-set he honed is one he he presently leans on to help beat defenders to the football. At 6-foot-3, Everett’s vertical leap enables him to outjump defenders for the ball but he can also box-out to secure his fair share of 50/50 balls.

“My basketball background really helps me on the football field,” he said.

A reality he soon learned upon circling back to football his senior year of high school after moving from Martin Luther King High to Columbia in Decatur, Ga.

It turned out to be one of those just-in-the-nick of time decisions that set him on his current path.
Albeit one with enough twists and turns to fill a page-turning best seller.

Everett earned All-State honors at Columbia after a breakout senior season, only his sudden arrival to the recruiting party was entirely too late to garner scholarship interest.

Bethune Cookman, an FCS program, did offer a scholarship and Everett immediately accepted. But as enrollment day drew near, he had a change of heart and decided he was better served taking the JC route, which is how he ended up at Juco powerhouse Hutchinson Community College.

Everett sat out the 2012 season, but in 2013 put together a standout season that eventually landed him a scholarship to Alabama Birmingham.

His first season resulted in 17 catches for 292 yards and a touchdown, a foundation Everett hope to build on over his final two seasons.

Only for a major roadblock to come crashing down in front of him.

Alabama Birmingham abruptly decided to cancel its football program, a crushing, shocking development that left more than a hundred players, coaches and staff members scrambling to figure out there futures.

The fact they announced it immediately after the Jaguars became bowl eligible was a particularly low blow.

“I was disgusted,” Everett said. “At the same time, it put it in perspective that this is a business and you don’t always have control over what happens.

Everett allowed himself one day to mourn. If nothing else, just to process everything that just happened.

But not only was he determined to not let someone else’s decision be the reason his dreams got squashed, he instinctively knew every second counted in terms of getting his future back on track.

Any concerns were put to rest within a day or so.

“My phone started ringing. There were programs showing interest in me.” he said. “I knew I was going to be fine.”

Everett eventually followed his Alabama Birmingham offensive coordinator Bryant Vincent, to South Alabama.

“It turned out to be a great decision for me,” Everett said. “That’s when things really started to fall into place.”

And where the NFL began coming into better focus.

Everett arrived at South Alabama at 220 pounds, but at the urging of his coaches began putting on weight. The goal was to make a permanent move to tight end, with the added girth enabling him to be a better blocker but also be able to stand up physically against bigger defenders.
And while Everett’s body got bigger, he didn’t lose any of his athletic ability.

The result was a matchup nightmare for Sun Belt Conference linebackers and defensive backs.
As a junior, Everett caught 41 passes for 575 yards and eight touchdowns. He followed that up with 49 catches for 717 yards and four touchdowns last year as a senior to earn a spot at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine.

His postseason work immediately caught the interest of the Rams, specifically new head coach Sean McVay whose offense has a strong tight end component.

“I can tell you that through this process and you’ve gotten to know Sean, what his scheme requires and as you eluded to with the tight end, I have a feeling that Gerald’s one of Sean’s favorite players in the draft,” Rams general manager Les Snead said.

In Everett, McVay saw a tight end he could use as a complement to second-year tight end Tyler Higbee and perhaps even Temarrick Hemingway, who has impressed McVay so far in offseason workouts.

No surprise, then, the Rams made Everett their first selection of the NFL draft with the 44th pick overall, with the hope of developing him into the Rams’ version of Jordan Reed, a tight end McVay effectively utilized as the Washington Redskins offensive coordinator.

“Going back to just talking about Higbee and what (we) saw from Hemingway, those are encouraging things,” McVay said. “I don’t think you can ever have enough playmakers and if those guys merit it by the way that they compete in practice, then those guys will be on the field as well.”

In doing so, it proved a point that friends and coaches within Everett’s circle continually stressed to him throughout his long, winding road.

“The NFL will find you no matter where you are,” Everett said. “You know, coming out of high school I wanted to go to a big-time program. But my path didn’t end up in that direction. But I want to be a testament that no matter where you are, if you keep working hard and believing in yourself, you’ll find your way.”

By VINCENT BONSIGNORE | vbonsignore@scng.com | Daily News

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/w...e-their-starting-debuts-heres-our-best-guess/

When will Class of 2017 quarterbacks make their starting debuts? Here's our best guess

In a perfect world, every quarterback selected in the 2017 NFL Draft should sit the entire season. Redshirt them all. None of them -- to an unbiased scouting eye -- seem particularly ready to lead an NFL team right now, or very likely by September. All of them have warts and, based on pure analysis of all the talent available in the draft, and eliminating the "need factor," none of them would have been considered top-20 prospects.

But the NFL is far from a perfect world. Long-term player development quite often takes a backseat to ownership demand to play a particular quarterback rightbleepingnow, or the need to sell tickets or the need to sell fans (false, in many cases) hope. Politics, and where you were drafted and who you were drafted by and the current job security of those individuals, as well as mounting pressure -- both internal and external -- all matter. In some cases, it matters quite a lot. To say nothing of the inevitable rash of injuries that will befall veteran NFL quarterbacks once the pads and helmets come back on, and consequently push these green novices up the depth chart.

It stands to reason that many of the quarterbacks who just entered the league a few weeks ago will be playing in meaningful NFL action far sooner than most would assume. Unfortunately for them, many are joining lousy teams who will be effectively eliminated from contention by midseason, which will put coaches and management in a similar plight as, oh, say the Los Angeles Rams last season. When the need to placate fans, and to adhere to some degree of common sense, made it only logical to begin to determine what young Jared Goff was capable of, the Rams, for better or worse, played him after mortgaging so much to move up the draft to get him.

Of all 10 quarterbacks selected last month, the one who finds himself in the best situation, both short and long term, is Patrick Mahomes II. He goes to a playoff team in Kansas City with a great structure and continuity, with a bevy of dynamic playmakers and an established coach and GM who are both about to get long-term extensions, under a QB guru in Andy Reid with a knack for developing passers of all types. That is as close to ideal as it will get for anyone in this group.

Most of these novice passers -- almost all of whom either played sparingly in college, or played in a gimmicky system that doesn't translate well to the NFL, or played against weak competition, or have severe limitations in physical potential – will end up somewhat compromised this season. Many of them will end up likely fighting for their lives come Sundays late fall, on teams with poor rosters and supporting casts, without a Reid-level coaching staff around them, when all of their flaws and inexperience will be further exploited and exposed.

With that in mind, I thought I would peer into my crystal ball and try to forecast how quickly these youngsters end up starting an NFL game. It's an impossible task, and the teams themselves don't even know exactly what they have with these rookies or how circumstance will collude to force them into action. But I'll take a shot at sizing it up anyway based on the mitigating factors that already exist and the growing pressure that will naturally manifest itself, especially when considering the lengths some teams went to in landing them.

Mitch Trubisky, Bears, No. 2 overall
Week 5: I don't care what the Bears gave Mike Glennon -- $18.5 million guaranteed in Year 1(!) -- or how much they still talk him up and how ideal they would have you believe their quarterback situation will be. They just gave up a bounty to move up one spot to select the first quarterback in the NFL Draft, despite the fact he would have just been sitting there at third overall anyway. Selling Glennon as the long-term answer was perilous at best. This team does not have a competitive roster and the coach and general manager will be fighting for their jobs. Unless Glennon somehow performs like Johnny Unitas despite playing with a weak supporting cast, he won't be the starter there for long.


How quickly will Mitchell Trubisky be pressed into starting? USATSI

This has the potential to get ugly, fast, and if the Bears were smart they would try to execute an Osweiler NBA-style trade to pawn that contract elsewhere. I wouldn't be shocked if Trubisky is under center before Week 5, but considering the Bears face Atlanta, Tampa, Pittsburgh and Green Bay in the first four weeks, and will be playing a second straight prime-time game in Week 5, and this one is at home, against rival Minnesota, I say it's conservative to set the over/under there for a Trubisky starting debut.

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs, No. 10 overall
Week 1, 2018: There is no reason to play the kid this year. Reid will keep his focus on the long-term plan with this raw but potentially exceptional youngster, and this remains Alex Smith's team … for one more year. The Chiefs have veteran Tyler Bray, entering his fifth year in Reid's system to serve as the primary backup, and he would be the next man up if Smith got hurt. No reason to expedite the arrival time for Mahomes, who will be groomed to take over next fall.

Deshaun Watson, Texans, No. 12 overall
Week 1: If he can't beat out Tom Savage then something is up. Coach Bill O'Brien finally gets an early-round quarterback after the team won the division in spite of Brock Osweiler a year ago. They need to have Watson looking more like a veteran by December for a playoff push and they are more or less in Super Bowl or bust mode. You don't make the trade they made, after giving away a pick just to shed Osweiler, to then deprive Watson of high volume reps early on -- the same reps Savage will require given how little he has played to this point. Savage has definite upside, and O'Brien trusted him in the past, but the organization just went all in on the kid who won the national championship. He's going to be playing a lot of football this season.

DeShone Kizer, Browns, No. 52 overall
Week 6: It would be easy to say Week 2, given the fact the Browns systematically got their QBs maimed last season starting with the first half of the first game (the offensive line improvements should at least give their passers a puncher's chance this year). And I honestly would not be surprised if he is the Week 1 starter. But considering how far this team still is from contending, and given the fact that they bailed out of first-round quarterbacks, I'm going to err on the side of caution with this projection as well, as the Browns might want to pretend Cody Kessler has starting upside after over-drafting him a year ago and let that play out a few weeks.


Expect DeShone Kizer to make starts early in his rookie year. USATSI

So I'm hedging a bit here. I don't think Osweiler will get meaningful reps -- why waste them on him? -- and the Browns won't abandon hopes of dealing that contract at some point if they can incentivize another team sufficiently to do it, as was the case with them taking him on from Houston in the first place. That was a paper transaction with "Brock Lobster," and he won't hold Kizer back. The Browns face Watson and the Texans in Week 6, and I can't see Kizer not running the offense by then.

Davis Webb, Giants, No. 87 overall
Week 1, 2019: Eli Manning could be out of his contract after the 2018 season, and I'm not sure he'll be as driven to hang on to the very end the way his brother was. Plus, Manning already has his two rings and a potential Hall of Fame career. He has seen two of his brothers deal with very significant football injuries, and he has made more money than he could ever spend. If Webb shows he can build on his one year at Cal and has legit upside, then I could see a changing of the guard two seasons from now.

C.J. Beathard, 49ers, No. 104 overall
Week 6, 2019: OK this is a totally random guess. But Kyle Shanahan knows what he wants from his quarterbacks and he selected this kid, higher than some would have projected, for a reason. Brian Hoyer is the guy this season and if Kirk Cousins is a free agent in 2018, he'll be in San Francisco a year from now. Or they'll draft a kid high next year who is close to ready.

In the meantime, Beathard will be developed into the ultimate system guy Shanahan trusts, who could be a long-term high-end backup able to function in the offense for half a season or so. He'll be limited but smart, and if/when the starter gets hurt a few years from now, he'll get an opportunity to play. Shanahan has had guys like Matt Schaub and Rex Grossman in the past, and Beathard could be in the role for years to come.

Joshua Dobbs, Steelers, No. 135 overall
Week 4, 2018: No, Big Ben isn't retiring after this upcoming season. And Dobbs is years away from being the possible long-term solution. And, yes, the Steelers will carry three quarterbacks this season, and Landry Jonescould still be the starter in a pinch due to a Ben Roethlisberger injury this season.


Joshua Dobbs will soon be the latest to fill in for an injured Ben Roethlisberger. USATSI

But let's be honest, Roethlisberger takes a ton of abuse and absorbs big hits. He's a huge target, and he doesn't run like he used to. Injuries are inevitable with the way he plays the game, and Dobbs won't be third on this depth chart for long. I could even see him starting a game this year. Think of how many times Charlie Batch or Dennis Dixon or Jones have had to play in big game. It tends to happen.

Nathan Peterman, Bills, No. 171 overall
2019? This one is hard to figure. He's not beating out Tyrod Taylor for 2017 and I don't think Taylor is going anywhere for two years (the Bills will want to pick up that 2018 roster bonus). He has been highly durable despite doing as much as he does outside the pocket.

Of course, Peterman wouldn't be here if new coach Sean McDermott didn't think he had something to offer, and McDermott is definitely the central figure in that organization moving forward. Could he be seen as the guy by the start of 2019? I suppose, but Taylor will still only be 29 then, and he could be working on his fourth contract with the Bills by that point, too.

Brad Kaaya, Lions, 215th overall
2020? If Kaaya develops he'll likely be trade bait, though it remains to be seen how quickly he can pick up this offense. The reality is Matthew Stafford isn't going anywhere, and he'll soon enough be the highest-paid player in the league once his contract extension gets done. And it's hard to see that extension not being for five or six years. I could conceive of Kaaya being the top backup by 2018, and thus the next man up if/when Stafford suffers an injury. But I could also see him playing out his rookie contract and flashing some preseason promise, as Taylor once did, and then getting a starting shot elsewhere.

Chad Kelly, Broncos, No. 253 overall
Week 12, 2019: Taking a wild guess here, but by next year the Broncos could be positioned to trade whichever young quarterback does not win the job this year (I expect it to be Trevor Siemian who is shopped, given what the Broncos did to land Paxton Lynch a year ago). So, by 2019, could Kelly be the No. 2? It's possible. John Elway knows his QBs, and Kelly will have ample time to get healthy. The Broncos believe they have the infrastructure to help him grow off the field as well. But if Lynch were to suffer an injury a few years from now, then Kelly might be in line to take the reigns. If that were to happen by the middle of next season as well, that wouldn't entirely shock me either.

Courtney of TonyHunter87 off The Herd Board.

Rams Rookie Minicamp Roster

Posted 1 hour ago

By TheRams.com

A total of 51 players are taking part in Rams Rookie Minicamp at Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks, Calif., this weekend. Here's the full list:

Draft Picks:
81 Everett, Gerald — TE, South Alabama
18 Kupp, Cooper — WR, Eastern Washington
43 Johnson, John — DB, Boston College
50 Ebukam, Samson — OLB, Eastern Washington
83 Reynolds, Josh — WR, Texas A&M
92 Smart, Tanzel — DT, Tulane
39 Rogers, Sam — FB, Virginia Tech
51 Price, Ejuan — OLB, Pittsburgh

Signed UDFAs:
48W Collins, Jared — CB, Arkansas
42 Davis, Justin — RB, USC
60W Davis, Kevin — LB, Colorado State
60B Eldrenkamp, Jake — OL, Washington
67 McMeans, Shaq — OL, New Mexico State
70B Miller, Kwayde — OL, San Diego State
48B Mundt, Johnny — TE, Oregon
66W Orimolade, Adefolarin — LB, Dartmouth
5W Penton, Aarion — CB, Missouri
70W Sayles, Casey — DT, Ohio
41 Tillery, Lenard — RB, Southern
45 Wright, Dravious — DB, North Carolina State

Tryout Players:
62W Davis, Drew — OLB, Western Kentucky
2 Davis, Matt — QB, Southern Methodist
69 Dunn, Michael — OL, Maryland
53 Fiso, Salano — LB, Arizona State
8 Germany, CJ — WR, Notre Dame College
36W Hatfield, Dominique — CB, Utah
25 Herd, Steffon - DB, Northeastern State
32 Jackson, Kalen — S, South Alabama
12 Liggins, Justice — WR Stephen F. Austin
Likely, William — CB, Maryland
27 Llorens, De’mard — RB, Northwestern State
35 Mack, Alfonso — CB, Bowling Green
38 Martin, Domin — CB, Tarleton State
33 Myles, Jay’onn — CB, UNLV
16 Ryan, Shakeir — WR, Northwestern State
3 Scott, Bryan — QB, Occidental College
77 Smith, Dimitrius — DT, Monmouth
49 Smith, Teidrick — OLB, Mary Hardin-Baylor
9 Tabuyo, Jeremy — WR, Texas A&M
65 Toth, Jon — OL, Kentucky

Veteran Tryout Players:
62B Fabuluje, Tayo — OL, TCU
5B Thompson, Dylan — QB, South Carolina
58 Walsh, Jordan — OL, Iowa
57B Watt, Christopher — OL, Notre Dame

On Roster/Eligible to Participate:
36B Green, Aaron — RB, TCU
57W McKinzy Cassanovs — OLB, Auburn
19 McRoberts, Paul — Southeastern Missouri State
56 Northup, Reggie — LB, Florida State
47 Peterson, Kevin — CB, Oklahoma State
82 Shippen, Brandon — WR, Temple
87 Wilson Travis — TE, Utah

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https://www.pscp.tv/RamsNFL/1ypJdrMWAQLKW?t=56

Jared Goff receiving rave reviews from Rams coaches over his development

https://www.downtownrams.com/single...eviews-from-Rams-coaches-over-his-development

After coming off one of the worst rookie seasons in recent memory, Rams hopeful franchise QB Jared Goff is looking to erase any doubt in himself being the future. He apparently appears to be off to a great start from the way the coaches have talked about him.

The Rams brought in Matt LaFleur from the Atlanta Falcons to be the offensive coordinator and he didn't hesitate to absolutely gush about his new QB.

"Goff's been awesome man. He wants to be great. He's done everything we've asked of him. He's coming in early. He's staying late."

Just want you want to hear early on in camp. Goff appears to be doing the dirty work and it's looking like it could pay off down the road, but for starters he's leaving a great impression with the new regime. LaFleur, of course, was the QB coach in Atlanta and dealt with last year's MVP Matt Ryan. This isn't just about Goff's offensive coordinator though.

Steve Wyche of NFL.com reported that coaches believed that Goff had "exceeded expectations." Wyche also went on to talk about how Goff in his first year had noticeable struggles within the language of an NFL playbook and especially had a hard time reading NFL defenses and adjusting at the line of scrimmage. That however appears to be way in the past as he reported that the Rams coaches said "Goff is right on point."

All of what Wyche was referring to came from veteran mini-camp which was held before the draft. While all that is great, Goff wan't done making all the right moves and doing all the right things. Rookie mini-camp started yesterday which excludes veterans, making it non-mandatory to attend. Many veterans use that time during rookie mini-camp as a time to quickly relax again and almost like a quick vacation before OTAs. However, Goff was at rookie mini-camp watching his future teammates and supporting them. Regardless of who says what, Goff showed a tremendous leadership trait in being there to support his rookie teammates. He didn't have to attend and maybe to some this isn't a big deal, but the Rams' third-round pick Cooper Kupp would seem to disagree.
It's not about how you start, but how you finish. Goff started off his career 0-7 and not a lot to show for being the No.1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. However, he's starting to make significant strides towards improvement. The coaches seem to love him and so do the players. Goff is receiving praise and is earning the respect of his teammates. Now, in his second season there is no Case Keenum or Sean Mannion to compete with him. This is Jared Goff's job and it's time for him to take what he did at Cal and transfer it over to the NFL gridiron.

Alden Gonzalez
ESPN Staff Writer

[www.espn.com]


Mark Barron has played a hybrid linebacker/safety position in the past, but will strictly be a linebacker for Wade Phillips. "He's really instinctive," Phillips said. "He's got great speed, and we can utilize his coverage ability at linebacker. It gives you more options as far as things you want to do defensively. If you get a guy like that who can cover people, then we're going to utilize that."

Willowy rookie receiver Josh Reynolds says he's at 193 pounds and wants to get somewhere between 200 and 205. "I think that'll be a great weight for me to still be able to move the way I can and then for me to have more strength."

New offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, on his impressions of Jared Goff: "I'll be honest with you, I think he's a little more accurate than I anticipated. That got me excited."

New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, on working with Sean McVay: "He has a clear purpose of how he wants to handle the team, what he wants to do with them." ...

Rams rookie OLB Samson Ebukam, on his first impressions of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips: "I thought he was going to be a hard ass. Because he's an old dude, you know what I'm saying? He's an old dude, and I thought he was just going to be one of those hard-ass dudes that's just like, 'Do this, do this, do this.' But he's chill, man."

TE Gerald Everett, the 44th overall pick, on his first day: "It's a change of pace, but I feel like I handled it extremely well and cut it loose today."

The Rams want Tavon Austin to be more of a downfield threat, so I asked Sean McVay if he's seen anything on tape to indicate that he can become that. Here's what he said ...




Rams coach Sean McVay, on rookie camp standouts: "I thought Cooper Kupp showed why we like him so much. Savvy, he's a polished route runner, good aggressive hands."

Rams rookie safety John Johnson, a third-round pick out of Boston College: "I didn't think the weather was going to be like this, but it's not too hot, not too cold. It's beautiful." It really is.

"I love it that he's around," Rams offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur said of QB Jared Goff.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Rams' weight room is located on the east end of their facility and opens up to their two practice fields on the Cal Lutheran University campus. Jared Goff stood there for most of Friday morning, stationed beneath a blue overhang while watching 51 rookies -- some drafted, some undrafted, some merely taking up space -- navigate through a practice of little importance to a franchise quarterback.

off, coming off a catastrophic rookie season, has been exceedingly present this spring. Every weekday since the start of the team's offseason program April 10, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick has been at Rams headquarters, studying film, learning verbiage, slinging footballs and familiarizing himself with teammates, even the rookies who won't make it past this weekend.

He wants to be great," new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur said Friday, the start of the Rams' two-day rookie minicamp. "He’s doing everything that we’ve asked him to do, and then some. He’s working hard every day. I think he’s getting better every day."

Goff struggled mightily in the seven games he played last season, all of them losses. He completed 54.6 percent of his passes, averaged 5.3 yards per attempt, threw five touchdowns to seven interceptions and finished it all with a 22.2 Total QBR, the NFL's second-worst mark from Weeks 11 to 17.

NFL rules didn't allow Goff to communicate with the new staff for the first three months of the ensuing offseason, so with the blessing of LaFleur and rookie head coach Sean McVay, he worked with noted quarterback guru Tom House in Los Angeles. And over the past five weeks, he has immersed himself into the Rams, more present and available than any other returning player.

"He’s coming in early and staying late," LaFleur said. "He’s really grasped the offense surprisingly fast, especially for a new guy. When you get a new guy in an offense, there is a transition period with that, but he’s doing a nice job of picking it up at a surprisingly quick pace."

LaFleur, 37, was the quarterbacks coach when Robert Griffin III was Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Redskins in 2012 and when Matt Ryan was the MVP with the Falcons in 2016. He traveled west and found Goff to be particularly eager. LaFleur called him "a sponge" and said it has been "a joy to work with him thus far."

Rookie slot receiver Cooper Kupp, a third-round pick out of Eastern Washington, said he's seen Goff everywhere.

"I worked out with him during this draft process, and it was very clear the tenacity he has and the desire he has to win," Kupp, who shares an agent with Goff, said Friday. "That’s going to show. It just so happens that there’s people here to see it, but that’s something that’s going to be going on when there’s no cameras here. These are off days, and he’s going to be at the facility."

Goff will be 22 for another five months. He's still one of the youngest players in the league, but he is being groomed to be the face of this franchise. And now, unlike last year, his starting job is solidified from the onset.

LaFleur sees Goff "really trying to take that step and be the leader we need him to be."

"I think that encourages those guys that are coming in," LaFleur said. "I love it that he’s around. I don’t think, if you go around the league, you’re going to find too many teams where the starting quarterback is sitting there watching these rookies in their rookie minicamp. I know he’s excited about some of the pieces we’ve added."

[www.espn.com]

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/small-schoolers-everett-kupp-could-be-big-catches-for-rams-051217

Small-schoolers Everett, Kupp could be big catches for Rams

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) Tight end Gerald Everett played at two junior colleges and a university that dropped its football program before finishing up at a school that had never produced a drafted NFL player before him.

Cooper Kupp set a barrel of NCAA receiving records, but he did it far away from the national spotlight at Eastern Washington.

These two products of smaller schools have been united by the Los Angeles Rams, who hope they’ll grow up to become major targets for Jared Goff.

Everett and Kupp went through their first workouts Friday in the opening session of rookie minicamp with the Rams, who used their top two draft picks on pass-catchers with plenty to prove at the highest level of football.

”There’s nothing like football, nothing like it,” said Kupp, whose finger was already heavily bandaged after a minor injury. ”These are the kinds of things I live for.”

Despite their small-school backgrounds leading to the usual pre-draft questions about their achievements relative to their level of competition, Everett was chosen in the second round by the Rams, and Kupp was taken in the third. Along with free-agent receiver Robert Woods, the youngsters are the most important skill-position additions to the roster that produced the NFL’s worst offensive numbers last season.

”You don’t want to mess up,” Everett said. ”You want to move 100 miles an hour and do the right things every play. But it happens, especially being in rookie minicamp and the first day out here. So I think I had a couple of errors, but not too many for my first day. Tomorrow I’ll be better.”

Goff was in the Rams’ training complex while his new teammates worked out under Sean McVay and the rest of Los Angeles’ new coaching staff. McVay also put the players through 90 minutes of meetings before two-a-day workouts.

”Cooper Kupp showed why we like him so much,” McVay said. ”(He’s) savvy. He’s a polished route runner. Good, aggressive hands.”

Everett is used to learning new offenses after the lengthy collegiate road that led him to South Alabama, but the size and scope of McVay’s scheme have left him expecting to spend plenty of time studying in the next few months.

”I came into a completely new offense, so it’s a change of pace,” Everett said. ”But I felt like I handled it extremely well and cut it loose today. I caught some deep balls, and I felt like I was moving pretty well.”

Everett and Kupp both overcame questions about their pedigrees with strong performances at the draft combine and private workouts. Both players are eager to show they’ve got the football sense to compensate for any physical shortcomings.

”Anytime you come out there and you try to `prove something,’ you’re trying to be more than you are,” Kupp said. ”If you’re trying to prove something, you’ve got a weight on your chest. There’s no room for error. I’m just going to come out and be who I am. I’m just going to play football. I know I’m a great player, so I’m going to come out and just let that show, and that’s going to be enough.”

Kupp is 17 months older than Goff, who went 0-7 in his first season as the Rams’ starter. The rookie already knows his new quarterback from offseason workouts because they are represented by the same group of agents.

The Rams are hoping Goff grows up along with Everett and Kupp during the long weeks and months of workouts ahead of September’s season opener.

”It was very clear, the tenacity (Goff) has, and the desire he has to win,” Kupp said. ”That’s going to show. That’s something that’s been going on with no cameras here. That’s been going on during off days. He’s going to be putting this team in the best position to win.”

NOTES: Former UCLA CB Ishmael Adams was expected to join the Rams as an undrafted free agent, but they waived him Friday after he failed a physical. … Los Angeles also waived former Auburn G Alex Kozan due to a non-football injury. … The Rams added former Utah DB Dominique Hatfield to their rookie group. The Los Angeles native played at Crenshaw High School.

—

For more NFL coverage: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL

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LaFleur Impressed with Goff's Accuracy, Leadership

This weekend’s practices are for the rookies and tryout players, but there was one observing veteran who made an impression.

A year ago quarterback Jared Goff was participating in rookie minicamp. Today he stood outside the team’s weight room during the morning session, watching all that was happening on the field.

It was a sign of leadership that Goff’s coaches and newest teammates certainly noticed.

“I think that encourages those guys that are coming in,” offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur said. “I love it, that he’s around. I don’t think, if you go around the league, you’re going to find too many teams where the starting quarterback is sitting there watching these rookies in their rookie minicamp. I know he’s excited about some of the pieces we’ve added. I think it’s great for us, as an organization.”

“This isn’t the first time I’ve seen Jared around,” wide receiver Cooper Kupp said. “I worked out with him in during this draft process. And it was very clear the tenacity he has, and the desire he has to win. And that’s going to show. It just so happens that there’s people here to see it, but that’s something that’s going to be going on when there’s no cameras here.”

But more than that, LaFleur said he’s been impressed with how quickly Goff has picked up the new scheme since the start of the offseason program.

“Goff has been awesome, man,” LaFleur said. “When you get a new guy in an offense, there is a transition period with that. But he’s doing a nice job of picking it up at a surprisingly quick pace.”

After spending the last two years as Atlanta’s quarterbacks coach, LaFleur noted there is an adjustment from working with a seasoned veteran like Matt Ryan to a second-year QB in Goff. But Goff’s attitude in striving to improve has made it that much easier.

“I think anytime you’re dealing with a young quarterback, you never assume anything,” LaFleur said. “What’s been so much fun for me is, he’s a sponge and he is soaking up everything that you tell him. It’s been a joy to work with him thus far. Hopefully we keep chopping wood and get a little better every day.”

And on the field, Goff has apparently excelled from the voluntary veteran minicamp through the on-field Phase II workouts.

“I’ll be honest with you — I think he’s a little more accurate than I anticipated. That got me excited,” LaFleur said. “Obviously, he’s got a big arm. Until you work with a guy, you don’t really know. Obviously I studied him coming out in the draft, and I knew he had some of the characteristics that you look for. He is a natural thrower. He’s tough and he’s throwing the ball with surprisingly, really good accuracy.”

It’s those qualities that have rookies like Kupp excited to get on the field with Goff.

“I can’t wait,” Kupp said. “Going through this, learning the offense, and making sure these next few days I’m getting everything down as best I can so when the quarterback steps out on the field, I’ve got things dialed and ready to go because I know he’s going to be ready to roll.”

Five Rams non-draftees to be excited about at rookie mini-camp

https://www.downtownrams.com/single...ftees-to-be-excited-about-at-rookie-mini-camp

Football just keeps getting closer and now the Rams have started their rookie mini-camp. They boast a big roster, but mainly full of players that are trying out. Here are five of the most exciting players that weren't drafted by the Rams that are either participating in mini-camp or trying out.

Chris Watt, C, Notre Dame (drafted in third round by Chargers in 2014)

This name should look familiar to you if you are a football fan. Chris Watt formerly of the Notre Dame was drafted in the third round of the 2014 NFL draft by the now-Los Angeles Chargers. He was supposed to be the center of the future for him, but injuries hindered his development and the Chargers eventually moved on.

The Rams are bringing in a player that is former third round pick that has the talent if everything comes together to be a possible starter at center for the Rams. This is just on a tryout basis keep in mind, he is not on the roster yet, but nonetheless probably one of the bigger names you will hear of on this roster.

Jon Toth, C, Kentucky

This is a name that many Rams fans including me have been buzzing about. Jon Toth, while he may not be the most athletic or smoothest center in the world, he's definitely solid and reliable. I felt as though this type of player could have gone in the fifth round and he ended up falling out of the draft and going undrafted.

Toth has said to be injured and was waiting to sign a contract with a team. Now he comes to Los Angeles on a tryout basis and I think he is a real threat to make the 53 if he indeed's receives a contract.

William Likely, CB, Maryland

William Likely is just a total gamer. This is a guy that stands at 5-foot-7, but he played as hard and as tenacious as any cornerback in college football. Unfortunately, Likely went down with a torn ACL in October of 2016. His tape is electrifying in my humble opinion. If he was a 6-feet tall? Likely is a top three corner in this draft hands down. He has it all and has the hard-worker trait that Sean McVay is looking for.

The Rams are trying him out and if his knee is good to go like I believe it is and he says it is...there should be no question Likely makes the Rams 90-man roster and competes hard and heavy for a job. Likely should have by all accounts been drafted, he's much too talented and if he's healthy this could be a total gem of a player the Rams acquire.

Lenard Tillery, RB, Southern

This is more of a hidden gem, while the guys up top played in bigger settings. Tillery is coming from Southern and his conference foes know the talent he possesses. Tillery reminds me a lot of how Benny Cunningham was coming out of small school Middle Tennessee State. He's a quicker than fast type of back that shows the elusiveness and the vision to be an interesting rotational back.

We have no idea how the Rams new regime views Malcolm Brown and Aaron Green, but It's worth noting Tillery is the only one on this list that is officially signed to the Rams 90-man roster. I don't see him getting the ax anytime soon either.

Justice Liggins, WR, Stephen F. Austin

Everyone seems to be either talking about the Flying Hawaiian Jeremy Tabuyo or Shakeir Ryan as sleepers, but I have my own sleeper. Justice Liggins from Stephen F. Austin has some crazy measurables and some crazy circus type of catches on film. Liggins is trying out with the Rams and I believe he could be in line for a contract if he shows out.

Liggins has ideal wide receiver size at 6-foot-1 and 206 pounds. He ran a 4.51 which is identical to fourth-round pick Josh Reynolds, 16 bench reps which is solid, a 10 foot and seven-inch broad jump, but the crazy thing he did at his pro day? Try a 39 inch vertical on for size. This is a player that deserves a chance and if he somehow does make it onto the 90-man roster anything is possible. If he can hang onto the ball and use that crazy vertical to perfection, he will be in business as a red zone target.

If you don't already know or need a refresher, here is the Rams official rookie mini-camp roster per Joe Curley of the Ventura County Star



Those are my five to watch out for. Who are yours? Let us know!

The Downtown Rams podcast is back with episode two and this time the guys bring on a special guest. JB Long, the voice of the Los Angeles Rams joins the show to discuss the NFL Draft as well as the roster and training camp.

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Good news! We are also on iTunes. Be sure to go to our channel and click subscribe. Also please leave us a five-star review. We want to be the best Rams podcast on iTunes and that starts with you guys the fans. Leave us a review and subscribe. It goes a long way.

Be sure to listen to our latest episode on iTunes here: Episode 2 (ft JB Long Part 1)

You can also subscribe to our channel here: Subscribe to our channel

In this episode Jake and Blaine discuss:

1. The top training camp battles on offense this offseason.

-The Rams have a lot of wide receivers and only so much roster space. Who stays, who goes, who starts? Can a guy like Nelson Spruce make the roster? The Rams have depth at the position which will make this a must follow during the offseason.

- The guys also discuss the position battles on the offensive line, running back, and tight end.

2. JB Long, the voice of the Los Angeles Rams joins the show in what will be a two part interview

-JB and the guys discuss the Rams' draft and what there is to like about it in part one of this two part interview. Who was the Rams' most impressive pick? What roles will they have in their rookie years?

3. Time Travel - If you could go back in time and change one moment in Rams history, what would it be?

4. Storylines - What's one storyline everyone will be watching come training camp?

5. Questions - We answer questions from the listeners.

I know, I know, many of you don't do Snapchat and don't understand why anyone would have it. . .

However I follow Kayvon on Snapchat. He and Tru have been getting in a lot of work together lately. From the looks of it they have a trainer working with them on quick twitch skills and ball skills. I've seen them doing a lot of drills on grass. I also saw the other day they were doing work in a waist deep pool.

I really love that they are both getting after it together. No doubts that Tru and Kayvon will be our starting outside corners when we begin this season!

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