Okay... I need to be careful framing this topic to keep it from becoming about the cities involved... instead the topic is about; has the NFL underestimated the impact of relocation to its fan base?

A survey by ESPN claims half of the US population are NFL fans. Half equals 160 million.

The metro area population of STL, SD, and OAK are as follows;

STL 2.8MM
SD 3.1MM
OAK 3.0MM

It's a little hard to pin down the Oakland number because it is usually grouped with San Francisco.

Regardless...

That's about 9MM. Half equals 4.5 million.

4.5MM is about 3% of 160MM from ESPN's survey.

Where am I going...?

3% seems like a dangerous number of fans to piss off. I'm not predicting doom and gloom for the NFL, but thats a big kick to the teeth of some of their customers.

Even if my stats are off, and we should include international fans... or use Nielsen ratings for market size... or offset the losses by gains in the new markets... any way you slice it a LOT of paying customers impacted. More than the NFL has ever seen.

Will the NFL see a tipping point with fans, and if so, could the slide in ratings continue?

Rather than this topic turn into another exchange about cities or greedy owners, I'm more curious your thoughts on if this impacts the NFL ratings and popularity?

http://www.espn.com/blog/cleveland-...ble-qbs-only-one-guy-ready-to-play-right-away

PHOENIX -- Only one of the quarterbacks eligible for the NFL draft is ready to play right away.

That's the word from Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, who addressed the draft class at the NFL's annual spring meetings.

"I’m not going to mention names," Arians said. "I think one of them is ready to start as a rookie. I think all the rest there are some really talented arms that need a year of learning how to play the position, especially at this level.”

The natural discussion that followed was to try identifying the one who can play immediately. It was all guesswork.

His one-guy assessment perfectly illustrates the challenge for the quarterback-needy Cleveland Browns as they prepare for the draft. They traded a pick a year ago that could have been Carson Wentz, and now they must choose between several players with talent, most of whom will require a 1-15 team to be patient and wait for the right time to put them on the field.

Arians is one of the true NFL "quarterback whisperers," and his resume supports it. His history is filled with quarterbacks he coached who played well. He worked with Peyton Manning. He got the best years out of Tim Couch (whom he stands by to this day, part of the reason players love him) and he got a 400-plus-yard playoff game out of Kelly Holcomb. He helped make Ben Roethlisberger what he is, had great success with Andrew Luck and has had success with Carson Palmer in Arizona.

One of the great failings of the Browns, post-1999, was that they failed to hire him as coach -- not once, but twice. (Alas we digress.)

Mitch Trubisky of North Carolina, Deshaun Watson of Clemson, DeShone Kizer of Notre Dame, Patrick Mahomesof Texas Tech and Davis Webb of Cal.

Arians wasn't mentioning names of who can and can't play right away because he may be in the market to draft one. But he did give this individual evaluation of Trubisky: "Really talented player. The growth potential is obviously there. The question is why wasn’t all that talent starting for the last three years? That’s always bugging me. So you have to go and answer those questions with him, with his coach. But the physical talent is there.”

He also chuckled at anyone comparing Trubisky to Aaron Rodgers, a future Hall of Famer who started 25 games at Cal.

“That’s a hell of a scout; I don’t know how you can compare those two," Arians said. "When Aaron was coming out, he was in a totally different offense. I’m old enough to know when Aaron came out because I evaluated him. I think Mitch probably has a stronger arm coming out than Aaron did. But to say anybody reminds you of somebody, to me it’s just physically stature-wise or just arm-strength wise.

"I wouldn’t put that much pressure on a guy to say he’s Aaron Rodgers.”

One of the key traits Arians looks for in a quarterback is the ability to process information quickly and under duress.

"What’s my protection? Am I hot? Do I have a sight adjustment weak side? What’s the coverage? Who do I throw to in this coverage? That all happens in 1.5 seconds," he said. "If you can’t process that information, you probably can’t play.”

Arians also laments the changes in the college game to spread formations and calling plays quickly from the sidelines. That offense limits the number of plays a quarterback runs and complicates the transition to the far more complex pro game.

Almost all of the draft-eligible quarterbacks come from that system, where the emphasis is on pace and calling plays quickly as opposed to pre-snap reads for coverage and protections. One element of the transition that Arians said is among the most difficult is something that from the outside seems natural: calling plays from the huddle.

"[Spread quarterbacks] never got in a huddle [in college] and looked at 10 other guys who’ve got families to feed, and had to call a play," Arians said. "They just look to the sideline, kick their foot and roll.

“That’s the hardest thing for these kids, to come to minicamp, get in a professional huddle and try to lead these guys. You have to give them a wristband because they can’t spit it out. Or you have to give them a wristband and then all the guys in the huddle get pissed off because he can’t call the play.

"I’m not making eye contact with you and you don’t have a helluva lot of confidence that I know what I’m talking about.

“We had a young guy in Pittsburgh who had all the talent in the world, but he could not call a play and he could not go to the line and use a snap count. It destroyed all of his confidence."

Browns coach Hue Jackson said that's one reason he emphasizes private workouts over pro days -- to give himself every chance possible to get as much information as he can.

"Trust me," Jackson said. "We go the extra mile with these guys. We really do. We spend a lot of time with them, and there's a lot of specific things that we ask them to do. I think if you talk to a lot of the quarterbacks, it's probably different than any other place that they've had to deal with thus far."

“Again, that’s the evaluation," Arians said. "If you’re [looking] for plug-and-play, again this draft is very small. But if you have time to bring them along, then this draft is large. But the plug-and-play guys are very small.”

He didn't mean in stature -- he meant in numbers. The challenge for the Browns is finding that one guy who is most ready to play in an NFL offense.

"Some guys might be really able to process football but can't play as well," Jackson said. "Some guys play as well and can't process football. So somewhere in between it's the right fit and the right medium for a player -- for us to consider to be a quarterback on our football team."

MOD EDIT; This is not the original article title. I changed it because the original felt a little misleading. CGI

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/o...in-a-super-bowl-with-carson-wentz-as-your-qb/

There were plenty of ups and downs during Carson Wentz’s first season with the Eagles, an unexpected year in terms of it featuring Wentz starting 16 games.

Wentz was drafted No. 2 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft after the Eagles traded a ton of future capital in a blockbuster trade for the rights to nab him there .

The youngster started out white hot, with the Eagles winning their first three games and Wentz looking like some freakish combination of every single great quarterback ever .

Then regression reared its ugly head a bit -- in the final 11 games of the season, Wentz threw nine touchdowns to 13 interceptions and people started questioning his mechanics.

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But the consensus that Wentz will be a good quarterback moving forward largely remains. Dave Zangaro of CSN Philly spoke to multiple coaches, GMs, etc., at the NFL owners meetings and “plenty of folks [he] talked to from around the league think the future is still extremely bright” for Wentz.

“You can win a Super Bowl with that kid,” one head coach told Zangaro.

The Eagles are a good position thanks to some savvy navigation by Howie Roseman. They grabbed Wentz, who appears to be the answer for the franchise at the quarterback position, but didn’t completely drain their draft resources in doing so.

Yes, it was expensive to trade for Wentz. But in the process -- and thanks to some luck, spurred by an unfortunate injury to Teddy Bridgewater -- the Eagles were able to recoup a first-round pick by trading Sam Bradford to the Vikings before the 2016 season began.

The net result is a loss of just two draft slots, with Philadelphia getting the No. 14 overall pick from Minnesota and giving the No. 12 overall pick to the Browns. Philly is also sending a third-round pick in the draft, but it feels negligible relative to the acquisition of a quarterback.

If Wentz is the type of guy that you can win a Super Bowl with, giving up what the Eagles gave up to get him looks like a pretty smart move.

Downtown Rams Scouting Report: Iowa TE George Kittle

https://www.downtownrams.com/single...wn-Rams-Scouting-Report-Iowa-TE-George-Kittle

In this new series we are going to start breaking down our favorite players using media, our own knowledge of the game of football and what to look for in a prospect. This first edition of our Downtown Rams Scouting Report we bring you a guy that should see his stock start to shoot up. George Kittle shows off what it means to be an Iowa Hawkeye but adds his own spin on it. We will now take an in-depth look at his game both from the positive and negative side.

George Kittle
6-foot-4
247 pounds
33 1/8 inch arms
9 1/4 inch hands
4.52 forty yard dash
18 reps on 225 lb bench press
35 inch vertical jump
132 inch broad jump

Here is Kittle's combine workout in what was quite possibly the best of the day by any tight end.
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Overview:
George Kittle is one of the biggest sleeper TE prospects due to the fact he made a reputation for himself as just a blocking tight end. During his time at Iowa he played 25 games, he finished with 48 receptions for 737 yards and 10 touchdowns. Unfortunately, Kittle was not utilized in such as way that would showcase his full potential and because of that it's probably why he isn't a guaranteed second round pick right now. Kittle has ideal size at 6-foot-4 and 247 pounds. He's not the big and giant TE that teams may want but he gets away with it with his premier athleticism and blocking technique. He played all three phases of a tight end's possible game - inline, H-back and outside at WR. Kittle has the bloodline with his father playing for Iowa's 1982 team which played in the Rose Bowl. One thing coaches are going to love with Kittle is the fact he works as hard as anyone in a game or on the practice field it doesn't really matter because Kittle is going to play every down like it's his last.

Strengths:

Explosiveness

What you have here is a player that is supposed to take on this defense end and block him in one place so the pulling guard can get around to the left side and forcefully attack his man opening up a running lane for the running back. Instead, Kittle doesn't want to just stop there he shows his explosion off of the line of scrimmage by blasting his man back almost ten yards. That's a defensive end folks that he just rag-dolled in this first clip. Pure explosion and that is one of the key elements that make Kittle so dangerous.

Ability to accelerate on a dime

Here in this play QB C.J. Beathard runs play action, Kittle is on the left side acting as a blocker but instead it's more of a chip block that he hits his defender with at the line of scrimmage. While that is real impressive what is even more impressive is how quickly Kittle is able to stop and go on this play. Unfortunately, it becomes all for nothing because Beathard overthrows Kittle by a half a step. Again though, this right here shows another reason why Kittle can be dangerous. Being able to use Kittle off the line with Higbee could be a nightmare scenario for the NFC West.

Receiving ability and field awareness

This is a simple FB wheel route that is executed to perfection after Beathard uses the play action once with the running back and then another time with the receiver faking the end around. Kittle gets behind enemy lines by following his assignment and executing a perfect play. Beathard puts the ball right on the money for Kittle who gives Iowa a huge play in a tight game versus North Dakota State. Kittle shows off his ability to be a serious threat for the defense if they don't account for him. Adding a player like Kittle to the Rams would ensure that double teams would be non-existent. Having an I formation with Gurley and Kittle is going to be hard to stop if the Rams select Kittle.

Spectacular hands and vertical threat upside

Right here is a gem of a play that will go right on any highlight tape for Kittle. He powers through one defensive back that tries to jam him at the line, then he accelerates up the center of the field splitting the secondary. Beathard throws another inaccurate pass but Kittle bails him out with a spectacular one-handed grab. This is just a sample of what Kittle can do at the next level. He was very aggressive in this play and because he never slowed down or hesitated and thus he was able to stay with it and make a tough catch down the seam.

Menacing blocker with a tank that never runs out of gas

This video went pretty viral like the Aaron Donald vs Cyril Richardson senior bowl one (I don't think I have to tell you who won that one). Anyway, Kittle shows off his explosion again but this time he launches this defensive end almost out of bounds. Kittle shows great technique as he puts his head right into the defenders pads and drives him him back with serious authority. This right here is going to give Kittle the blocker reputation I previously mentioned. This won't go away when he enters the NFL. Yes, maybe that DE isn't exactly like having a Jason Pierre-Paul like end coming at Kittle but still Kittle eats his lunch in this clip and it's just brutal. A clear non-stop motor.

Goal line finisher
Login to view embedded media It's an inside zone run here in which Nebraska does a nice job of penetrating the backfield. If George Kittle doesn't step up in the red zone and drive his man out of the way the play likely backfires. Kittle of course rises to the occasion and does just that by driving his man completely out of the way for LeShun Daniels to scamper in the end zone. Last year Kittle could have helped clear a path for Todd Gurley. On this play you see Kittle use all of his leverage and take over the play. The Rams will have a red zone threat in Kittle if selected due to his ability to make plays as a receiver but also act as a human battering ram for the ball carrier.

Weaknesses:
The weaknesses are minimal and mainly they are things that couldn't really be controlled by Kittle himself. First of all Kittle didn't really get a ton of chances to play. When he came in to catch passes he was effective, but it wasn't extremely often. Due to the lack of usage and under-utilizing Kittle he comes to the NFL with some question marks.

Route running
He wasn't used in different type of routes like the majority of the tight ends in this class. Basically Kittle ran wheel routes, stop-and-go routes, in and out routes, seam routes and screens. He really wasn't used in anything too complex and thus when he gets to the NFL you will notice a player that will need to refine his cutting ability. He rounds off his routes at times and if he's going to be your starting TE that needs to be fixed.

Durability
Kittle battled injuries in 2016 and 2015 which caused him to miss seven games over those two seasons alone. We have seen injuries derail rookies like Tyler Higbee last year. Kittle can't afford to battle injuries in the NFL. He will make his money as an every down inline TE or even as a fullback.

Lack of experience
This is a weakness whether it was Kittle's fault or not the fact is that despite how great he looked at the combine it doesn't change the fact Iowa didn't use him a lot in the passing game like some of the other tight ends in this class. That could hurt him or it might not. I think all this really does is make it so Kittle has to play as the second tight end as supposed to carrying the load by himself.

Final Conclusion:
This is one of my favorite players I have watched film on this draft season period. I keep saying it and I'm not going to stop saying it. Kittle embodies everything new Rams HC Sean McVay wants in a football player. This is a player that is going to step on the practice field right away and earn his role. He plays like every down is his last. Players take plays off? Kittle wouldn't even be able to comprehend the idea of taking a play off. Kittle just is a different breed of football player. He is the ultimate team player and you see that with the way he blocks. Totally selfless and on top of it he's pretty darn talented as well. This is a player you see come around and you think blocker. Kittle is going to stun defenses when his offensive coordinator learns how to play him to his strengths.

I think Kittle is either going late third or early fourth round. I think that McVay will ultimately find Kittle too valuable to pass up on as he is the culture change McVay wants to make. McVay has been a TE's coach and he's also been an offensive coordinator so he will know how to get him involved. The Rams released Lance Kendricks so it's just Tyler Higbee, Temarrick Hemingway and Cory Harkey left on the roster. McVay leans heavily on a play action heavy scheme with multiple tight ends and so he will likely need to add one more to the fray and that will be and rightfully should be Kittle. There is already one Hawkeye on the Rams by the name of Andrew Donnal so I am sure he could attest to Kittle's hard-working demeanor.

Overall, I found Kittle was actually the hardest to find a player comparison for out of anyone I scouted. I think ultimately he's a mixture of former Indianapolis Colt legend Dallas Clark, Buffalo Bill Charles Clay and former Redskin Chris Cooley. Kittle is a similar receiver to Clark but he runs like Clay and blocks like Cooley. I think Kittle is a new breed, I don't think I have ever seen this type of athlete able to stretch the field and block the way he does.

What are your thoughts on Kittle Rams fans? Let us know and stay tuned because we have two big-time SEC players on tap for you in our next Downtown Rams Scouting Reports.

Rams have met with OT/G Forrest Lamp twice. Could he be the pick in the 2nd round?

https://www.downtownrams.com/single...p-twice-Could-he-be-the-pick-in-the-2nd-round

One of our early pre-draft crushes we wrote about (here) Forrest Lamp has gained a ton of traction as a potential first round pick. It also appears that the Rams really seem to be interested in Lamp.

The Rams met with Lamp back during the Senior Bowl and he apparently started to shoot up draft boards during that time. The Rams put a lot of stock in the Senior Bowl . . . mainly general manager Les Snead so this could mean something. On top of the Senior Bowl though, the Rams privately worked out the Western Kentucky offensive lineman. They join a list of two other teams: Los Angeles Chargers and Atlanta Falcons who have also met with Lamp multiple times.

Lamp, I compared to Pro Bowl guard Zack Martin. Martin is a player that played tackle and because of his shorter arms he was forced to slide inside at guard. Many believe that is Lamp's fate, but quite honestly if the Rams are this interested it makes me think he could play inside to start and maybe play outside as insurance for Greg Robinson or Andrew Whitworth. One thing you notice after consistently watching and researching prospects is that draft experts love to throw OT's at guard. Lamp I think is another sign of that "clumping" we often see come draft time. When watching him against Alabama's top edge rushers in Tim Williams and Ryan Anderson he really holds his own. Lamp was one of the top offensive tackles in all of football at the college level so in this writers opinion it's a little lazy to just say he's only going to be a guard.

At the combine Lamp showed off some serious athleticism that would make me believe he could be dominant in getting to the second level and acting as a convoy for Todd Gurley. Here are his numbers according to the NFL combine:

Height: 6-4
Weight: 309
40 yard dash: 5.00 sec
Bench Press: 34 reps
Vertical: 27.5 inches
Broad Jump: 111.0 inches
3 Cone: 7.55 sec
20 yard shuttle: 4.62 sec

The same experts that throw him at guard say that he doesn't have the NFL strength which the 34 reps shows is completely untrue. Lamp is just a well-rounded prospect that can play tackle. He may need to start off at guard but this was a kid that started four straight years protecting the blind spot and did a real nice job.

Here he is getting some serious love from Pro Football Focus.
Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/PFF_College/status/823912902524600321

Here is Lamp against a top five 2018 prospect in LSU EDGE Arden Key
Login to view embedded media Login to view embedded media Forget about the Alabama game, check out this game in which he puts a guy with more talent than the two Alabama edge rushers combined in his place. Lamp honestly looks like a mystery box in this draft. By that I mean he can realistically play every position on the line.
Login to view embedded media Listen to the above clip. Not only are the Rams listed as a landing spot for Lamp, but Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network believes Lamp can be a center at the next level and so if he moves all way inside to center he would be filling a need and would likely make the Rams an exciting and highly intriguing offensive line. Steve Smith even said during the combine that Lamp can be your franchise. Lamp is one of the most unique cases for this year's NFL draft. The crazy thing to keep in mind about Lamp is that if teams view him as that guy that can play every position it may devalue players like Ethan Pocic from LSU, Pat Elflein from Ohio State and Tyler Orlosky from West Virginia and force centers further down the board which ultimately if the Rams miss out on the Lamp sweepstakes there will be higher value guys for the taking later in the draft.

How special is Lamp? Could he fall to the Rams in the second round? Is he as good as gone? We ask you Rams fans! You tell us your thoughts on Forrest Lamp. Is it worth him starting at tackle first? Is it worth moving him to guard or center? We want to get your thoughts.

Got to thinking what makes you/us a fan of a team, any team?
Let's use the Rams as an example.
Most of us are old enough to have been Ram fans in pre the 1995 LA era, when they moved to St. Louis we were still fans, so it's not the city. They have changed uniforms a few times, so it's not the look. We've seen dozens of head coaches, that's not it. Player turnover... Forget about it. We've been good, we've sucked, that's not it. So what the hell makes us a loyal fan of any team?
Maybe the best test would be, if the Rams and Colts swapped EVERYTHING, city, name, players, uniforms and coaches would you be a Colts fan or a Rams fan?

Rams to have pre-draft visit with big bodied Richmond FS David Jones

The Rams have scheduled their second of 30 private visits with the small school stud from Richmond David Jones according to Greg Auman.

David Jones is a 6-foot-3 and 215 pound safety that suffered his second forearm fracture of his career in the same game the picture up top was taken in versus Albany. Jones has worked hard to get back to where he needs to be and offers some intriguing potential with his big size at the safety spot and his elite speed which he showcased at his pro day in running a 4.43 forty yard dash. He also flashes some serious game-breaking ability with his run after the catch and his ability to pick up passes like a receiver. His hands are above average for a defensive back and if he ever gets the chance he could make some noise as a starting safety.

Jones is likely going to be a free safety in the NFL but he may need to earn his way into that role by showing he can be a special teams contributor. It's very intriguing the Rams scheduled a visit with a 6-foot-3 free safety to start off a long process of scheduling visits. Does Wade Phillips want a lot of size in the back end of the secondary? It sure could be the case with Jones.

Here is Jones' highlight tape for your viewing pleasure:

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April Fools lol sorry, I couldn't resist

I rewatched this game last night on gamepass. Just going to leave a few observations that I had

Robert Kelley kind of reminded me of Gurley but he doesn't have anywhere near the explosion or physical size of Gurley.

Lance Dunbar will be filling the Chris Thompson role. Those guys are very similar players and watching that made me understand why Benny is gone.

Mcvay's passing game really attacks the entire field. Guys were consistently open too. Cousins had a few really inaccurate passes.

The design on the play that sprung Crowder for a TD was great

The offensive line really struggled in this game. I can't remember how many false start penalties there were. I think there was a false start on the first few plays from the Skins offense.

The skins really struggled to get into the endzone. Had to settle for a few field goals that you'd want to see your offense capitalize on (one of those due to a Cousins inaccurate pass).

It was an entertaining game to watch. The Cards came out on top I think it was 31-23. Skins probably win that game if they find more success in the red zone.

http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/...ings-from-top-to-bottom-afc-west-is-nfls-best

The AFC West is going places. And we don't just mean L.A. and Vegas.

No division in the NFL is better from top to bottom, according to ESPN's post-free agency power rankings -- thanks in large part to the Oakland Raiders' rise under young stars such as Khalil Mack, Derek Carr and Amari Cooper.

The AFC West boasts three teams in the top 10 (No. 7 Raiders, No. 8 Chiefs and No. 10 Broncos), according to votes from a panel of more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities.

Only one other division had two top-10 teams (the NFC East, with the No. 4 Cowboys and No. 9 Giants).

ESPN took those rankings, assigned a point value for each team (the No. 1 Patriots received 32 points, all the way down to one point for the 32nd-ranked Browns) and created a division-by-division power index -- which starts and ends on the West Coast:

1. AFC WEST: Last year, the AFC West was the first division since 2013 to produce two 12-win teams (the Raiders and Chiefs), and the Broncos just won a Super Bowl 14 months ago. The Chargers, meanwhile, aren't exactly dead weight, with Philip Rivers capable of leading a resurgence as they move north to Los Angeles. None of these teams made major waves in free agency, but it wasn't necessary to earn this ranking.

2. NFC EAST: The dynamic sophomore duo of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott has the Cowboys aiming for their first Super Bowl in 22 years (even though their secondary took a bit of a hit in free agency). Credit the Giants for making free agency cool again last year when they spent mega-millions to radically revamp their defense, and now they've boosted their offense with the addition of receiver Brandon Marshall. The Redskins are coming off back-to-back winning seasons. And the Eagles just added perhaps the biggest impact newcomer in the division with receiver Alshon Jeffery.

3. NFC SOUTH: Before that epic Super Bowl collapse, the Falcons were the NFL's breakout team of 2016 (a trend that should continue with their addition of disruptive defense tackle Dontari Poe). A year earlier, the Panthers were the breakout team. Now it seems like the Buccaneers are a popular pick for 2017 -- thanks in part to the arrival of dynamic free-agent receiver DeSean Jackson. The Saints traded away their own dynamic deep threat in Brandin Cooks, but they have sleeper potential, too, if they can finally fix the defense.

4. NFC NORTH: Leave it to the NFC North to make its biggest moves in free agency on offensive linemen, running backs and tight ends -- an ode to the division's classic smashmouth reputation. The improved offensive lines in Detroit and Minnesota and the addition of running back Latavius Murray to the Vikings should help both teams gain a little ground on the No. 3-ranked Packers. The Bears made the biggest splash in the division by signing quarterback Mike Glennon, but for now they're the anchor in this group, all the way down at No. 29.

5. AFC NORTH: Of course the Browns deserve the biggest share of the blame for this ranking, since they're dead last at No. 32. But the Bengals have quietly plummeted over the past year, too. They're down to No. 23 now after losing two key free-agent offensive linemen: Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler. The Steelers are still the class of the division, but the Ravens hope to close the gap after signing free-agent safety Tony Jefferson, among others.

6. AFC EAST: We've come to the flaw in this power rankings formula -- there is no extra credit available for the Patriots. The reigning Super Bowl champs maxed out at 32 points with their No. 1 ranking despite adding the likes of receiver Brandin Cooks and cornerback Stephon Gilmore in a rich-getting-richer offseason. The Dolphins (No. 15) did make the playoffs last year, but the Bills and Jets are both ranked among the bottom seven teams.

7. AFC SOUTH: The good news: Any of the four teams in the AFC South could realistically win the division this season -- assuming the Jaguars' latest free-agent spending spree (defensive lineman Calais Campbell, cornerback A.J. Bouye, safety Barry Church, etc.) can finally lift them out of mediocrity. The bad news: Any of the four teams in the AFC South can realistically win because they don't have a single one ranked higher than 13th. This division needs J.J. Watt, Andrew Luck and Marcus Mariota all to come back strong from injuries.

8. NFC WEST: My, how the mighty divisions have fallen. It wasn't long ago that the NFC West would have ranked first on a list like this (they went a combined 42-22 in 2013). But now they are the only division that has two bottom-five teams in the power rankings (the 49ers at No. 31, the Rams at 28). Both of those teams are hoping to change that by hiring offensive whiz kids Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay as head coaches. Other than that, none of the four teams made a major splash in free agency.

Not only did Fisher's Rams lose too much... they were not much fun to watch. Run first. High percentage passing. Careful with the football. Bend don't break defense. Keep the game close. Etc.

Simply put; Fisher's approach, even when it worked, was... well... boring.

The NFL/Rams are selling entertainment. We watch to have fun. So even when winning... I wonder if the Ram's brass (Kevin D and Kroenke) felt they had a product the fans wanted?

Fast forward to today.

McVay brings the promise of a creative offense. The Rams will score more. Is that enough to make the Rams enjoyable even if they lose?

The short answer is; probably not. Winning trumps all.

Or... maybe not completely?

For me, it comes down to believing in the actions of a team. I can handle second guessing if we should have done this or that (in game decisions)... But I had a really hard time aligning to Fisher's game strategy. I didn't believe in it.

So, under McVay, if the game strategy is something I align with... will I enjoy the team more?

Not sure if this makes any sense? Hopefully I've described it well enough for you to comment.

Robert Woods
Login to view embedded media View: https://youtu.be/X-hE_KvOd2U


Lance Dunbar
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Connor Barwin
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Andrew Whitworth
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Kayvon Webster
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I know most of you have probably seen these. But I figured we could use this thread to discuss our new guys.

I think I'm most impressed with Whitworth. Holy cow is that guy a beast. He will be a leader for the whole team this year. It's nice to finally have some veteran all pros.

LOS ANGELES -- Sean McVay has spent a significant portion of his first three months as an NFL head coach seeking out advice. And one of his central guides has been Adam Gase, fresh off a successful first season guiding the Miami Dolphins. McVay and Gase were part of a group of young, offensive-minded coaches who clung together at the major offseason events. At the scouting combine, you would usually find them huddled near the end zone, often-times listening to long-time coach Clyde Christensen tell stories about Peyton Manning.

"Some guys have gone on to college, some guys have stayed in the pros," Gase said. "There's a good group of us that have hung around long enough to where we became coordinators and head coaches."

as McVay intends to do. "I'm probably not the only one that he's talked to. He's probably combed most of the league trying to figure out what's the best way to go about this first year. You have to learn on the fly a little bit. The fact that he's doing that (seeking advice) is going to give him a little bit more of an advantage than probably a couple of us had last year.”

McVay was influenced mostly by the two Grudens, Jon and Jay, and the two Shanahans, Mike and Kyle.

During the NFL owners meetings this week, he began to pick everyone else's brain.

McVay sat down with Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn to ask him about how he handled his first team meeting. He bumped into Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh at check-in, walked the halls with Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Dirk Koetter, chatted with New Orleans Saints coach Asshole Face and got a chance to learn from Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, a man whose distinctive presence he admires.


"This is probably the first time that it's starting to kind of set in, what a unique experience it is," McVay told the assembled media during breakfast on Wednesday, his final day at his first owners meetings. "You actually slow down a little bit when you come to these, as opposed to how fast things are going back in L.A. and trying to get everything settled and situated. What a unique thing and what a refreshing experience it has been with how willing everyone has been to share.”

McVay's first on-the-job learning came long before that, from Wade Phillips, his 69-year-old defensive coordinator. The Rams will begin their voluntary offseason program on April 10, and McVay planned on meeting with the entire team for about half an hour at the start of each week. But then Phillips approached him and suggested meeting with the entire team each day, so that everyone feels connected.

They'll do that now.

"He's got a subtle way about just what he picks up on and what he notices, just those fundamental things," McVay said of Phillips. "You quickly realize why he's such a good coach. I know I'm going to learn a lot from him. "

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...okie-coach-sean-mcvay-is-not-doing-this-alone

I've seen mocks that had us taking as many as 6 different positions there, depending on who fell.

These are the most widely diverse draft projections for our first pick that I can recall, offhand. Ever.

Here's my process of elimination take at this point.

The Joyner to FS talk seems to be genuine. If so, then a FS at #37 most likely comes off the table.

The DE/Edge need is reduced by the Wade hire and the Barwin signing. So those players probably also come off the table for us at #37, too.

Any LB at #37 seems quite unlikely. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if Wade kinda likes his LB roster at this point. Just not enough value/need at LB to justify a pick at #37. I think.

TruJo is currently on a one year rental. And trade rumors are still out there swirling around. Some questions about Webster and Gaines, as well. That makes CB a screaming need, imo.

But McVay is an O oriented HC and he inherits the worst O in the league for the past 2 years. Moreover, he's already made comments about providing Goff with more weapons and that a team can never have enough playmakers.

Sooooo...

Add all of that up and what do you get?

My best guess is one of the following:

WR
CB
TE

And in any order.

Hard to separate their respective likelihood any further right now, at least for me. Could be any of those positions. Literally.

I'll say this. There will be multiple outstanding players sitting there at our pick. Several 1st round quality players will fall.

So, it just depends on how they've stacked their board AND how they've ranked their needs AND how they've projected which players will likely fall to their pick at #69. That last part might well be the tiebreaker.

I do see those 3 positions all picked by the end of round four. But the exact order? Man, who knows?

Lots and lots of moving parts within our '17 draft strategy, huh?

Thoughts?

Seriously, why? Wasn't Hard Knocks and actually watching the games punishment enough?

Login to view embedded media

This is a old clip,but I just found it.It breaks down Goff's performance
in his first two starts.Goff is definitely doing some good things.
All this kid needs is solid coaching,some decent protection
and competent targets.He does too many little things well,to
think otherwise.

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYslN9ROAFY

I sure have my share but I'll start with this one. People that fuck up a stapler and leave it there like nothing happened for me to fix it. So what should be a split second of stapling together a few pieces of paper takes a few mintutes unclogging the stapler. I'm NEVER the guy that just gets to staple. I'm ALWAYS the stapler surgeon.

Login to view embedded media View: http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Quality-Over-Quantity-Rams-Most-Improved-in-NFC-West/a9804643-554a-4077-bccc-990b82b74a95


Through the first big wave of free agency, Bleacher Report has named the Los Angeles Rams the offseason's most improved team in the NFC West division.

The Rams kickstarted their 2017 by hiring a new head coach in Sean McVay. The NFL's youngest head coach quickly recruited defensive coordinator Wade Phillips (Broncos) and offensive coordinator Matt LeFleur (Falcons) to join him in L.A.

McVay's first order of business was improving the offense and bringing in a veteran presence to the locker room.

According to Bleacher Report's analysis:

The Los Angeles Rams didn't necessarily make huge waves in free agency, and they didn't sign as many outside free agents as the divisional-rival San Francisco 49ers. But ... The Rams providedm QB Jared Goff with an experienced new left tackle in Andrew Whitworth, who's coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons in Cincinnati. They also replaced top receiver Kenny Britt with the younger Robert Woods, who at least gives them more ceiling space at that position.

These free agency moves give fans in Los Angeles a reason to smile heading into April's NFL Draft. The Rams first selection will come at No. 37 in the second round on Friday, April 28. The Rams are currently the only NFC West team without a first round draft pick.

Bleacher Report explained its NFC West choice by stating:

While the Niners signed a lot of players, including two quarterbacks and potential offensive difference-makers Pierre Garcon and Kyle Juszczyk, it does look like San Fran took more of a quantity-over-quality approach. And those quarterbacks—Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley—are not seen as long-term solutions.

There wasn't a lot of room for the Seattle Seahawks to improve, and the Arizona Cardinals might have taken a step backward after losing defenders Calais Campbell, Tony Jefferson, D.J. Swearinger, Alex Okafor and Kevin Minter. San Francisco and Los Angeles undoubtedly got better, but the Rams can exit free agency with fewer concerns.

The Rams did a great job with their coaching hires and made good use of their resources in Free Agency to put Jared Goff in the best position to succeed. Moving forward in the draft the Rams need to continue that trend by drafting players at that fit what McVay and Wade want to do. This draft will attempt to do that, analyze all new players who weren't mentioned in version 1.0, and introduce good players who may not have a ton of exposure on this board. I'll try to put the best tape I can find above my breakdown so you can see a full picture of the players skill set. Long winded as usual, but hopefully worth it.




2. Evan Engram, TE, Ole Miss.
Size: 6'3 235
Defining athletic traits: Speed (4.42 40), Quickness (6.92 Three cone)
Login to view embedded media Jordan Reed made the Redskins offense go more than any other Redskins weapon. It was interesting seeing Jay Gruden admit as much at the NFL coaches breakfast when asked about the loss of Garcon and DeSean Jackson. Reed's ability to be a mismatch against LB and safeties at all levels of the field and especially in the redzone was a huge part of McVay's offense. Engram can fill a similar role for the rams. Engram is an elite athlete and produced at an elite level in the SEC which is an automatic plus in Snead's book. With his speed, quickness, and overall athleticism Engram can come in be a mismatch in the slot and lined up out wide against LBs and Safeties. Engram had more reps inline early in his career and did a great job stretching the seam from that alignment. Engram is certainly not a good blocker from any alignment, but that's not what you are bringing him in to do. He also looks better in contested situations outside the hashes as opposed to inside the hashes. Engram is more polished than Reed coming out of college who didn't settle in as a TE until late in his college career. However, like Reed Engram has the moldable traits to grow into that mismatch role and I wouldn't discount a productive rookie season like Reed's. The Rams have shown a ton interest meeting with him at senior bowl and bringing him in for a predraft visit. His speed and quickness complement Higbee's size and the two could form a dangerous TE combo. If anyone know how to best utilize his both skills sets together and separately it is former TE coach Sean McVay.

3. Mack Hollins, WR, North Carolina
Size: 6'4 221
Defining Athletic Traits: size speed combo 4.53 40 time (pulled up injured)
Login to view embedded media At 6'4 221 with legit deep threat ability Hollins, has everything the Rams WR core is currently lacking. McVay's offense which is heavily influenced by Kyle Shanahan and Jay Gruden and needs a big time deep threat. Lafleur's and McVay's and mentors had dynamic guys like Julio Jones, AJ Green, DeSean Jackson, Andre Johnson, and Josh Gordon. Last year the skins drafted Josh Doctson because they thought he was similar to AJ Green. If I had to compare Hollins to any of those guys it would be Josh Gordon at his best, because Hollins is a big guy who gets up to elite top speed quickly and can win in contested situations. Unlike Gordon Hollins is a high character guy who initially walked on primarily playing as a great special teamer then became a team captain and one of the premier deep threats in the ACC. It was really unfortunate seeing him suffer a broken collar bone ending his senior season early and a calf injury at combine on his first 40 attempt where he still ran a 4.53 that derailed his pre draft process. On film he uses a variety of release moves to beat defenders off the line and once he gets past them he's gone. He can run by DBs even when they have safety help and can really track the deep ball and run it down. He is also quicker out of his breaks than expected for a WR his with size. You would like to see more career production, but I his TD rate of 20 TDs on 81 catches highlights his big play ability. I also like seeing him being productive against elite college secondaries like Clemson and Florida State who are constantly loaded with NFL talent. Hollins is not a finished product, but he is a good blocker, a hard worker, and has NFL deep threat chops so he can fit in to "the basketball team" multi faceted WR group McVay is trying to build. At worst he is initially a situational deep threat. Some would argue this is early for him, but Hollins is as talented as any WR in this draft and has the makeup to make sure his potential is fulfilled.

4. Shaquill Griffin, CB, Central Florida
Size: 6'0, 32 3/8' arms.
Defining Athletic Traits: Speed (4.38 top 5 combine), Explosion (38.5 VJ, 132 BJ both positional top 5), Quickness (top 10 Short shuttle and three cone)
Login to view embedded media Griffin has great size, long arms, and is an elite athlete in all regards. On the field he has loose hips, speed, and physicality to play in Wade's press man scheme. With his size, cover skills, and athletic traits he definitely should go higher, but his technique can get sloppy and his coverage instincts are not fully refined. He and his teammates struggled against Michigan las year, but the whole team was over matched. He may not be able to play heavy snaps right away, but he may not be asked to with Gaines and Joyner being options in the Nickel. Griffin has starting CB upside with the right coaching, and by all accounts Aubrey Pleasant is a terrific CB coach.

4. Deatrich Wise, DE, Arkansas
Size: 6'5 275, 35 5/8' arms
Defining Athletic Traits: Power (22 bench reps with freakishly long arms)
Login to view embedded media Wise and his freakishly long arms have the power to rag doll blockers and be effective in the run and pass game playing 3-4 DE in Wades scheme. He had better production in 2015 compared to 2016 playing mostly as a 4-3 DE, but IMO his power and lack of pure edge rush ability make him a better fit as a defensive interior player. Additionally, being productive in the SEC is always a plus in Snead's eyes. With his length and power Wise provides a different skill set behind Easley and has starter potential down the road. Wise tore up the shrine game as you can see above.

5. Keion Adams, EDGE, Western Michigan
Size: 6'2 247
Defining Athletic Traits: Burst (4.68 40 time at pro day)
Login to view embedded media Adams is one of my favorite edge rushers in the draft and I could see him going as early as round 3. He has the pure pass rush ability every team craves. Adams posses an explosive first step with the ability to bend that make his speed rush a nightmare for tackles. He is developing a quick inside counter move and and a spin move that needs more refinement. Right now Adams doesn't have the play strength to consistently set the edge in the NFL, but his pass rush ability and ability to penetrate in the run game will allow him to get on the field early. His best fit is learning and developing behind Quinn as an open ended rusher. Adams will only become more effective as he continues to develop counter moves to go with his devastating speed rush.

6. Avery Moss, EDGE, Western Kentucky
Size: 6'3 264, 34.5' arms
Defining Athletic Traits: No outstanding combine results, but length is a huge asset.
Login to view embedded media (Moss is #9 usually lined up on the opposite end of the highlighted guy Rivers)
Moss is an interesting player who could go higher, but has character issues. He was kicked out of Nebraska for exposing himself to a woman, so those issues will hurt his draft projection especially in the current NFL climate. On the field Moss has long arms, decent power, and experience playing with his hand in the ground and standing up. He was very productive playing opposite Derek Rivers who could get drafted as early as round 2. Moss has natural ability, can set the edge, but isn't a refined pass rusher yet. However, he gives Wade and his staff alot of tools to work with and refine in order to develop him into a complete player.

6. Treyvon Hester, DL, Toledo
Size: 6'2 300
Defining Athletic Traits: N/A Missed Pro Day and Combine due to Shoulder Injury will work out April 13
Login to view embedded media Hester could be a versatile reserve DL. As the 6th DL he probably wont be active on game day, but could play as a pass rushing nose or a 3-4 DE. Hester has good hand usage, can penetrate, and holds up decently against double teams. He ducks his head and looses the ball a little too often, but could be a versatile d line reserve in the future

7. Levon Myers, OL, Northern Illinois
Size: 6'5 309
Defining Athletic Traits: Mean Streak (not athleticism but it's the trait that makes him effective)
Login to view embedded media Myers was heavily recruited out of high and could have gone to Lineman U Wisconsin, but chose to make his own mark at Northern Illinois. He has good size, is technically sound, plays mean, and has power. Myers profiles as swing tackle prospect who could also play guard. Rams paid a lot of attention to him at his Pro Day and he fits the profile for a Kroemer lineman.
(For those interested late round OL tape)

QB: Goff, Mannion, Murray
RB: Gurley, Dunbar, Brown, Green
X WR: Hollins, Thomas
Z WR: Woods, Spruce
Y WR: Tavon, Cooper
TE: Engram, Higbee, Harkey, Hemingway
LT: Whitworth, Myers
LG: Saffold, Donnal
C: Brown, Sullivan
RG: Havenstein, Wichman
RT: Robinson,

LE: Easley, Wise
NT: Brockers, Hester
RE: Donald, Walker
SOLB: Barwin, Moss, Littleton
MIKE: Ogletree, Forrest
MO: Barron, Hager
WOLB: Quinn, Adams `
LCB: Tru, Griffin, Jordan
RCB: Webster, Gaines
FS: Joyner, Davis
SS: Alexander, Randolph

LS: McQuaide
K: Zuerline
P: Hecker

Here are the Los Angeles Rams prospects that the team has met with during the East-West Shrine Game, Senior Bowl, the Combine and Pro Days.

We will update this database below. All sources are hyperlinked to the place of origin in the report. Players in bold make a lot of sense for the team; if they are written in red, it does not seem likely that the Rams will draft them.

If you see any prospect meetings that we have not yet added, let us know on Twitter at @TheRamsWire.




http://theramswire.usatoday.com/2017/03/30/los-angeles-rams-prospect-meetings-nfl-draft-pro-day/

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/t...eam-in-the-best-division-in-football-in-2017/

PHOENIX -- There is a rising, young, confident team in the NFC South, and it isn’t who you think.

While the Falcons were a blown 25-point lead away from being the Super Bowl champions in February, there’s another young team a little south of Atlanta that might be poised to take the next step, possibly unseating the division champs.

Yep, watch out for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

A year ago, under first-year coach Dirk Koetter, the Bucs finished 9-7, just missed the playoffs and beat the Falcons at the Georgia Dome in the first week of the season. It’s that type of season, combined with having a franchise passer in Jameis Winston and a group of young, improving players, that has the Bucs as a team you should know more about in 2017.

You might get your chance, too.

There is a strong possibility that the Bucs could be the team that is featured on the HBO series “Hard Knocks.” They are one of several being considered, but it looks like it very well might be Tampa Bay that lets the NFL voyeurs spend training camp getting to know this team better.

Most coaches would cringe at the idea of having cameras around 24 hours a day, but Koetter isn’t one of those -- if indeed Tampa Bay is that team. It would be good to get this team national exposure, which has been lacking in recent years.

“I think it would be good,” Koetter said. “When a team has not been one of the main faces of the league for a while, it can be a contribute to that. The No. 1 thing that contributes to that is winning football games.”

This is a team that won nine last season, and is being built around Winston, the third-year quarterback who was the top overall draft pick in 2015. Winston would be one of the stars of “Hard Knocks” if the Bucs are chosen, but he’s also the star of the offseason -- as usual.

Winston is a grinder who never seems far away from working on his game. He trains with Tim Grover, the former trainer for Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. Koetter said Winston also got his Tampa Bay receivers together in Houston to work out recently, and when he’s in Tampa, he calls local college receivers together at a park.

“The one guy I know who will be ready to roll on April 17 [first day of OTAs] will be Jameis Winston,” Koetter said.

Winston threw for 4,080 yards with 28 touchdown passes last season, but he also threw 18 interceptions. That gives him 33 interceptions in his first two seasons in the league, which is way too many.

That’s because Winston takes chances. He is a gunslinger who will try to fit passes into tight windows, looking to make big plays. But Koetter said that’s one thing that Winston has to change moving forward, and it’s something that will be even more of an emphasis as he matures.

“The next thing Jameis has to do is understand the ball is the most important thing, and that every play does not have to be a great play,” Koetter said. “He’s been really good at turning bad plays into good plays, but when we look at all of our tape we spend more time on our bad plays than good plays. All plays aren’t going to be home runs. Jameis has to learn when it’s time to cut our losses and get to the next play. Sometimes going to the next play is punt.”

To help Winston, the Bucs signed former Redskins receiver DeSean Jacksonas a free agent. He will give them deep speed opposite Pro Bowl receiver Mike Evans.

The defense made big strides as well last season under coordinator Mike Smith. With the addition of free-agent defensive tackle Chris Baker, and likely using their first-round pick on that side of the ball, the Tampa Bay defense should improve on its ranking of 15th in points allowed.

There are still some issues on offense. The offensive line is just OK, and their best runner is Doug Martin, who will be suspended the first three games. That’s why when a picture of Winston working out with Adrian Peterson hit the internet Tuesday, it got a lot of attention.

“I’ve seen Adrian Peterson many times -- one of the best running backs to ever play,” Koetter said. “I’m anxious to talk to Jameis and ask him about how his workouts went.”

The defense has some issues as well. They don’t have a great edge pass rusher, although second-year player Noah Spence has that ability. They need help in the secondary as well.

Then there’s the division itself. The Falcons won it last season on their way to the Super Bowl; the Panthers won it in 2015 when they made the Super Bowl. The Saints have reloaded some this offseason, improving their defense, and you know the Asshole Face-Drew Brees marriage will again roll up big offensive numbers.

It has a chance to be the best division in football this season, and winning it will be an accomplishment.

“The last two Super Bowl teams have come out of our division, teams we know well, so our guys say, ‘This is possible because we beat those teams and then watched them make it to the Super Bowl,’’’ Koetter said. “Expectations are a good thing. If you don’t have them, you’re not going to be around as a player or a coach. If you are a in the NFL, you have to have high expectations. If you can’t have high expectations, and you players don’t have high expectations, you probably don’t want those guys on your team.”

Get to know this team, whether they do Hard Knocks or not. They will be a playoff team in 2017 -- maybe even a lot more than that.