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49ers to employ unique power structure
Posted by Mike Florio on February 9, 2017, 11:34 PM EST
AP
There’s a fine line between thinking outside the box and effin’ nutty. Time will tell where the new San Francisco power structure falls on that spectrum.

Officially unveiled on Thursday along with the introduction of coach Kyle Shanahan, new G.M. John Lynch explained the division of authority as follows: “I can tell you Kyle has control of the 53. I have the 90. Free agency and draft, I think I have. But, in all of those, it’s also written that, subject to approval of the other guy. And so, that’s the way we wanted it.”

If Shanahan and Lynch form a true partnership, with consensus building and compromise the norm, none of this will be an issue. If they don’t, however, the arrangement has the potential to become a mess.

As explained by Lynch, each guy has veto power over the other guy’s decision-making authority. Which means that Shanahan actually has final say over the 90-man roster, free agency, and the draft and that Lynch has final say over the 53-man roster.

More specifically, disagreements that can’t be resolved could devolve into tit-for-tat gridlock, with veto power becoming the basis for trading horses and/or mutual back-scratching and/or mutually-assured destruction.

Again, if it ever comes to that, the battle already has been lost. The goal should be to always work together, without having to pull out the contract and determine who has what power and how much of it.

Given the Baalke-Harbaugh Bay Area imbroglio, the relationship between Shanahan and Lynch is far more critical than the nuts and bolts of the power structure. So forget about the respective power of coach and G.M. and focus instead on whether they can successfully run the three-legged race.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/02/09/49ers-to-employ-unique-power-structure/

New Rams Coach Sean McVay answers a question during his introductory news conference. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)



Sean McVay announces coaching staff: Can it make the Rams playoff contenders?

By Gary Klein

Sean McVay said he would surround himself with experienced veterans and up-and-coming assistants on his Rams coaching staff.

The staff, finalized Wednesday with the addition of offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, reflects McVay’s vision.

The question: Can it take the Rams from a 4-12 finish in 2016 to the level of playoff contender?

McVay, 31, announced a staff that features nine coaches in their 30s, three in their 40s, four in their 50s and 69-year-old defensive coordinator Wade Phillips. One offensive and one defensive assistant are in their 20s.

The average age of coaches on the staff, including McVay, is 41.

“We have a great group of talented coaches that I’m very excited to work with this year,” McVay said in a statement. “They have a vast array of experiences and the qualities we are looking for as we build this staff.

“Their unique insight to the game will collectively make this team better as we prepare for the 2017 season.”

Most of the assistants have experience as NFL coordinators or position-group coaches. Three — tight ends coach Shane Waldron, cornerbacks coach Aubrey Pleasant and safeties coach Ejiro Evero — will be in charge of NFL position groups for the first time.

The staff met for the first time Tuesday and began an intense evaluation of the roster in preparation for the NFL scouting combine, the start of free agency and the draft.

Their mission is to help turn around a franchise that has not had a winning season since 2003 and has been absent from the playoffs since 2004.

Special teams coordinator John Fassel, running backs coach Skip Peete and offensive line assistant Andy Dickerson are the only holdovers from former coach Jeff Fisher’s staff.

Phillips, an NFL coach since 1976, was in place when McVay was introduced as Rams coach last month. McVay and Phillips then convened near McVay’s home in Virginia to interview many prospective assistants.

LaFleur, the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterbacks coach the last two seasons, was the final piece. The Rams had to wait until Monday to request permission to speak with LaFleur because the Falcons advanced to the Super Bowl, where they lost to the New England Patriots.

LaFleur, McVay and quarterbacks coach Greg Olson will now turn their attention to developing quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft. Goff started the final seven games last season but struggled in the NFL’s worst offense.

Offensive line coach Aaron Kromer will be charged with fixing a position group that struggled mightily to open holes for running back Todd Gurley and protect Goff.

Kromer was the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line coach the last two seasons. He also has coached in the NFL with the Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders.

Other offensive staff members include: Eric Yarber (receivers); Zac Taylor (assistant wide receivers); and Zak Kromer (offensive quality control).

Other defensive staff members include: Bill Johnson (defensive line); Joe Barry (linebackers); Chris Shula (assistant linebackers) and Thad Bogardus (defensive quality control).

Ted Rath is the strength and conditioning coach.


RAMS COACHING STAFF

The Rams announced their coaching staff Wednesday. Here is a list of staff members with their most recent coaching stops:

Head coach: Sean McVay

(Offensive coordinator, Washington Redskins, 2014-16)

Offensive coordinator: Matt LaFleur

(Quarterbacks coach, Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16)

Defensive coordinator: Wade Phillips

(Defensive coordinator, Denver Broncos, 2015-2016)

Quarterbacks: Greg Olson

(Offensive coordinator, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2015-16)

Running backs: Skip Peete

(Running backs, Rams, 2016)

Receivers: Eric Yarber

(Receivers, UCLA, 2012-2016)

Offensive line: Aaron Kromer

(Offensive line, Buffalo Bills, 2015-16)

Tight ends: Shane Waldron

(Offensive quality control, Washington Redskins, 2016)

Defensive line: Bill Johnson

(Defensive line, New Orleans Saints, 2009-16)

Linebackers: Joe Barry

(Defensive coordinator, Washington Redskins, 2015-16)

Cornerbacks: Aubrey Pleasant

(Assistant defensive backs coach, Washington Redskins, 2016)

Safeties: Ejiro Evero

(Defensive quality control, Green Bay Packers, 2016)

Special teams coordinator: John Fassel

(Special teams coordinator, Rams, 2012-2016)

Assistant offensive line: Andy Dickerson

(Assistant offensive line, Rams, 2012-16

Offensive quality control: Zak Kromer

(Offensive quality control, Buffalo Bills, 2016)

Assistant linebackers: Chris Shula

(Defensive quality control, San Diego Chargers, 2015-16)

Assistant wide receivers: Zac Taylor

(Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks, University of Cincinnati, 2015-16)

Defensive quality control: Thad Bogardus

(Defensive quality control, Denver Broncos, 2015-16)

Strength and conditioning coach: Ted Rath

(Strength and conditioning coach, Miami Dolphins, 2016)

[www.latimes.com]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/w...desperate-teams-from-diving-in-wallets-first/

NFL free agency is fool's gold. Always has been. Always will be.

Now more than ever. Forever and forever.

Amen.

I've been singing this chorus and preaching this sermon for roughly a decade now, and nothing has changed. Except, well, the free-agency classes grow shallower and shallower. The number of true impact players available plummets and plummets. The number of ill-advised contracts grows steeper and steeper. The chasm between the supply of truly significant players on the open market vs. the demand for such players grows deeper and deeper.

When it comes to team building, you can say your prayers and swallow your vitamins and eat your Wheaties and hold your nose and write those massive checks, but in the NFL, less than nothing is guaranteed (not even the contracts). And the plight of the would-be big spender is getting only more bleak.

Year after year, I feel as if I proclaim that this is, unequivocally, the weakest free-agent class ever, and year after year I am proven wrong. Because there is always another pot of would-bes, could-bes, never-weres and maybes who prove me wrong and show that they are actually less efficient and valuable than the free-agent class that proceeded them.

So why should this year be any different? Well, let me give you a heads-up: This year won't be any different.

In fact, with the salary cap now rising at a rapid rate and about to jump roughly $15 million, and with all teams now forced to spend at least 89 percent of the cap, and with this collective-bargaining agreement no longer sneaking up on anyone, and with the franchise and transition tags still in place, and with rookie-contract wages now so concrete and finite that players on their first deals are steals ... well, the rules (through incentives) encourage extending your own young players now more than ever.

The best players get new deals after their third or fourth years (as will be the case with guys like Odell Beckham Jr. this offseason), and the also-ran teams are left to pick through the leftovers of the weaker drafting teams.

Welcome to Darwinism, NFL style.

There are no more adjustments to be made regarding how this CBA operates. Everyone is five years into these rules now and understands exactly how the various workplace stipulations function. There is no excuse for losing premier talent to free agency, by and large, unless your roster is truly overwhelmed with young studs, and even then if you are as proactive as you should be in identifying your top candidates for extensions, then you will still prosper under this CBA.

Therefore, before we look forward, let us all look back.

The heaviest spender in free agency in 2016, Giants GM Jerry Reese, kept his job by pouring hundreds of millions of free-agent dollars into his roster, but he had no 2016 playoff victories to show for it, and still has many holes to fill. Of the final remaining playoff teams, the Super Bowl champion Patriotssigned restricted free-agent receiver Chris Hogan -- whom Buffalo could have kept had they spent a few hundred thousand more to put a second-round tender on -- and Chris Long, who was cut by the inept Rams. The Steelers did basically nothing, as usual, and the Packers re-signed a few of their players. The Falcons signed a new center (Alex Mack) and a possession receiver in Mohamed Sanu. But the teams most often involved in the final two weekends of NFL football (New England, Pittsburgh, Seattle, Green Bay) basically eschew free agency and focus on retaining their own.

By the time late February arrives, and players like Le'Veon Bell of Pittsburgh, Kirk Cousins of Washington, Chandler Jones of Arizona, Dont'a Hightower of New England, Terrelle Pryor of Cleveland, Kawann Short of Carolina, A.J. Bouye of Houston, Dontari Poe and/or Eric Berry of Kansas City are all off the market with the franchise tag or new deals, this already bereft market of impact players will look even more challenged than it does now.

Which explains why desperate teams go to desperate measures, and why guys like Brock Osweiler get $37 million guaranteed, and why malfunctioning owners will be chasing around another group of lacking free agents with open checkbooks and damning smiles again this March.

Don't get me wrong here -- this crop of players stinks even if it weren't getting cherry picked by the teams that currently hold these players' rights. But after the fact, it will be the least exciting free-agent class since the mid-1990s. It's downright perilous once you factor in the top talent that clearly will not be leaving its existing team. This is like trolling for guppies, by and large, which is why stalwarts like Packers offensive lineman T.J. Lang and linebacker Nick Perry -- while not exactly household names -- are in line for some of the biggest paydays of 2017. And the Cardinals -- who will keep Jones, undoubtedly, but could lose defensive lineman Calais Campbell and defensive back Tony Jefferson -- stand to lose the most of any team in the NFL as others chase their players in earnest.

As always, teams will be spending big money and crossing their fingers.

Can Jason Pierre-Paul get it done on a long-term deal in the aftermath of his 2015 fireworks disaster? Does DeMarcus Ware have anything left in the tank despite empirical evidence he probably does not? (Ditto for Julius Peppers.) But considering how few pass rushers are ever available on the open market, and the steep price the Giants paid for the rare young one who pops free (Olivier Vernon a year ago), you know someone will bid high for their services.

Can Alshon Jeffery stay healthy over any real period of time? Are DeSean Jackson's bouts of selfishness enough to counter his ability to break a game open with an 80-yard bomb at a moment's notice? Is there a team out there that somehow opted not to watch the film of Adrian Peterson's last eight games before he got hurt this season -- it's painful, and he gained only 2.5 yards per carry -- who then decides to spend more than like $3 million guaranteed to sign him? (Yeah, there will be, this league is nothing if not inefficient).

Someone will break the bank for Melvin Ingram of the Chargers, feeling like he will be the true pass rushing ace of this uber-limited class over time. Another team will figure Dre Kirkpatrick will live up to his pre-draft billing once he leaves Cincinnati (probably not). If the Bengals let Kevin Zeitler hit the market, he will cash in, but the team that signs him had best already have a competitive line in place given the position he plays, and, again ... well, those truly top-echelon teams abstain from big free-agent deals for players not already homegrown. And if you are looking for a young receiver with a pedigree to suggest he could do anything at the NFL level at all, you are left with hopes and scraps after Pryor (whom the Browns have no excuse not to franchise even though they drafted five receivers a year ago).

As far as edge players, maybe you kid yourself into thinking Dion Jordan can stay off the league's perpetually suspended list (and that he can actually play), or that Charles Johnson has much left at age 30. Personally, I would rather take a chance that Lorenzo Alexander -- an exemplary human being and longtime special-teams stalwart who emerged as a pass rushing beast for the Bills in 2016 -- can duplicate his improbable breakout. If you are looking for a corner who can actually cover, you had better go all out to sign the Rams' Trumaine Johnson the way the Giants signed former Rams corner Janoris Jenkins a year ago, because the class of corners is ridiculously weak beyond him and Bouye.

Frankly, this is without a doubt the most suspect, unproven, and most likely inept group of free agents I have seen since the post-Plan-B free-agency era, and it might not even be close. Yeah, some team will do very well with under-the-radar finds like Rams running back/return specialist Benny Cunninghamand Ravens fullback Kyle Juszczyk, but that's not exactly the kind of "sexy" signings that get fans churning and get the message boards humming.

But particularly in times like these, those are the very players I would be approaching, as there are far more misses than hits lurking out there in the free-agent waters in 2017, and beyond. So avoid this plague, do the right thing, and pray to the NFL gods that your general manager doesn't get lurked into thinking there is some quick fix out there in 2017. Because there is not.

Explore trades whenever possible. Look for bargains and fits on the waiver wire. And stay away from the first week of free agency, because the risks invariably outweigh the rewards.

http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and...-In-2017/ff565b21-eb94-49b2-ba0a-e2be767b9f14

Carson Palmer Will Play In 2017
Darren Urban/azcardinals.com



In what seemed inevitable – especially after wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald announced he would play in 2017 – Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer informed team president Michael Bidwill Thursday he too would play this season.

Palmer had, multiple times, said he expected to play this season. But he left some doubt by saying he wanted to first see how his body responded to down time. Health was the major factor for the 37-year-old, who coach Bruce Arians said “got the hell beat out of him this year.”

“My intent was to take some time after the season to get away and see where I was physically and mentally," Palmer said. "On both fronts, I can say I’m ready to get back to work and prepare for the 2017 season. This is a phenomenal group with a very special opportunity in front of it. I know how rare that is and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of it.”

Palmer's 2017 salary of $15.5 million becomes fully guaranteed Friday.

Palmer was sacked 40 times – 15 more than in 2015 – and was hit the third-most in the NFL this season.

But Palmer’s return always trended toward likely. Even Arians acknowledged that recently when he noted Palmer “said earlier he wanted to play and I think he does.”

After the final home game of the 2016 season, Palmer was asked if he was going to play in 2017.

“I haven’t even thought about that,” Palmer said at the time. “But, I expect to. I’d like to.”

Once Fitzgerald committed – a move many believe wouldn’t have happened without the confidence Palmer would be his quarterback – Palmer’s similar move never felt that far behind.

Palmer missed one game this season due to a concussion. He still set a personal high for pass attempts with 597, completing 364 for 4,233 yards, 26 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

He is signed through the 2018 season.

Rams QB Jared Goff struggled as a rookie playing for a team led by coaches with defensive backgrounds. USA TODAY Sports

Rams' new staff has the right credentials for QB Jared Goff

By Alden Gonzalez

LOS ANGELES -- When the Los Angeles Rams began the 2016 season, their entire staff had combined to coach NFL quarterbacks for one year. That's right, one -- an unfathomable lack of experience when considering how much was riding on the development of rookie quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 draft.

The Rams are taking a far different approach now.

On Wednesday, they announced the coaching staff under rookie head coach Sean McVay, a contingent that boasts a combined 18 years as an NFL quarterbacks coach by three different assistants. Matt LaFleur -- the offensive coordinator, though McVay will call plays -- served as quarterbacks coach for the Redskins from 2010 to '13 and the Falcons from 2015 to '16. Greg Olson, the Rams' new quarterbacks coach, held the same role with the 49ers (2001), Bears (2003), Lions (2004-05), Buccaneers (2008-11) and Jaguars (2012). Even Zac Taylor, the assistant wide receivers coach, served as quarterbacks coach for the Dolphins from 2013 to '15.

And that doesn't even include McVay, who spent the past three years as the Redskins' offensive coordinator, implementing a quarterback-friendly offense that is widely credited for the development of Kirk Cousins.

Last season, Goff's coach was Chris Weinke, a former Heisman Trophy winner who entered with only one season of experience as an NFL quarterbacks coach. His previous five years were spent as director of football at IMG Academy. The head coach, Jeff Fisher, and the assistant head coach, Dave McGinnis, came up coaching defenses. The offensive coordinator, Rob Boras, previously coached tight ends.

Goff never stood a chance. He came in as the NFL's youngest quarterback, having never taken a snap from under center or called a play from the huddle in college, and finished with a horrific 22.2 Total QBR in seven starts, all losses. The Rams' focus has since turned to bringing in coaches who can improve the offense, a unit that has amassed the NFL's fewest yards each of the past two seasons. And in doing so, they have put together a staff stocked with quarterback expertise.

LaFleur worked with Robert Griffin III when he was Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012 and with Matt Ryan when he was MVP in 2016. Olson, who also has extensive experience as an offensive coordinator, got the most out of established quarterbacks like Jeff Garcia and Joey Harrington. He oversaw a Pro Bowl season from Marc Bulger in 2006, helped Josh Freeman break out in 2010, guided Derek Carr through his rookie year in 2014 and helped Blake Bortles take strides as a second-year player in 2015. Taylor spent three years working with Ryan Tannehill, who compiled an 87.7 passer rating under his watch despite playing behind a bad offensive line.

The Rams desperately need Goff to take major strides in his second season, and they believe they have the coaching staff to guide him through it.

[www.espn.com]

http://www.timesunion.com/sports/article/First-openly-gay-NFL-player-shares-story-10916280.php

Former NFL player Michael Sam said he always felt like an outsider — the deaths of two older brothers, the bullying he endured by other family members and even his mother's religion, Jehovah's Witness, made him feel apart from his peers. But nothing made him feel more like an outsider than being gay in the NFL.

"I had to prove myself, to show that I was one of the guys," said Sam, who spoke Tuesday night as part of Sexuality Month at the University at Albany. "I was cut from the Rams, even though I was in the top five in sacks. Then I went to the Cowboys and had to do it all over again. And then I was cut there. I always felt like an outsider looking in."

Sam assured the few hundred students who came to hear him in the Campus Center that "everything happens for a reason."

The difficult childhood and NFL disappointment led him to become a motivational speaker urging others to be true to themselves.

"When I came out to the world on Feb. 9, 2014, I got tons of emails from people telling me how they were condemned for their sexuality," said Sam. "It made me sad and angry. I spoke to one girl who told me that because I came out, she didn't commit suicide. I was speechless."

After high school in Hitchcock, Texas, Sam, a defensive end, was recruited to play for the University of Missouri. Named an All-American and Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, he expected to be drafted in the second or third round of the 2014 draft. But his prospects plummeted the day after he announced he was gay. He wasn't drafted until the seventh round for the St. Louis Rams.

"When I was drafted I thought the headline would be 'NFL has first openly gay player,' but instead it was 'Sam kisses boyfriend.' Should I have kissed a girl? The media made it a distraction."

He said it was also difficult that he, as a rookie, garnered constant media attention.

"I'm still baffled," said Sam. "I thought it would be a story for two weeks and then it would go away."

Sam remains wary of the media. He refused interviews with the local press and stopped his talk to ask the television crews to turn off their cameras.

The attention and what he believes is the sports' discomfort with homosexuality ultimately destroyed his career. After being cut from the Rams and then waived by the Dallas Cowboys, he joined the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League. That stint didn't last either. He said he left preseason camp for personal reasons.

"I tried to earn their trust, make them believe I belonged," said Sam. "Now I speak from the heart."

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...f-zgonina-will-be-49ers-defensive-line-coach/

Report: Jeff Zgonina will be 49ers’ defensive line coach
Posted by Zac Jackson on February 8, 2017


Autograph Warehouse

Former NFL defensive lineman Jeff Zgonina will be the 49ers’ new defensive line coach, Alex Marvez of The Sporting News reported Wednesday.

Zgonina had been the assistant defensive line coach with the Giants and previously held the same role with the Texans. The 49ers officially hired Kyle Shanahan as their head coach earlier this week and will formally introduce him Thursday. Shanahan is still putting together his staff.

A seventh-round pick of the Steelers in 1993, Zgonina played 17 NFL seasons. By the time he retired in 2009 he had played for the Steelers, Panthers, Dolphins, Falcons, Rams, Colts and Texans.

Zgonina played in 219 career games and had 26 sacks.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Zgonina#Professional_career

Zgonina signed a two-year contract with the St. Louis Rams on March 12, 1997. He played in 15 games in 1997, producing two sacks and 21 tackles. He was released by the Rams on August 21, 1998.

Zgonina re-signed with the Rams on March 27, 1999. He spent four seasons with the Rams, becoming their starting defensive tackle during the 2000 season. He earned a Super Bowl ring in 2000 after St. Louis beat the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV.

He was also a member of the 2001 NFC Champion Rams, starting 13 games and playing in Super Bowl XXXVI. He recorded 144 tackles, 10.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries in his second tenure with the Rams.

Just received my renewal pkg for season tix.

Im pretty pissed about the no seat movement. If they think everyone, including the masses of tix agencies who lost $$ last year are all going after 8 tix each again are out of their fucking minds. It's insulting. They should be doing a complete seat re-assignment program. GUARANTEED everyone would have the opportunity to get better seats.

I'm not savvy enough to figure out how to add the info PDF. It states that there will be no guarantee of seat change. It says if you pay before 3/1/17 you MIGHT have an opportunity.


The Email....

Dear Gregory,

On behalf of the Los Angeles Rams, thank you for your tremendous enthusiasm during our inaugural year back home in Los Angeles. With the 2017 offseason now officially underway, we are excited about the upcoming year which will be shaped by our new Head Coach Sean McVay and his staff. At the same time, we are looking towards the future as construction continues on the Los Angeles Stadium and Entertainment District at Hollywood Park that is scheduled to open in 2019.

We look forward to welcoming you back for the 2017 season. Our home schedule has exciting games against division rivals like the Seahawks and 49ers as well as a visit from the Eagles, Redskins, and Saints, among others. In addition to being there as we open a new chapter with Coach McVay, here are some highlights of the ticket renewal process and what that means for you.

• By renewing your season tickets for 2017, you will be in the first group of fans who have the opportunity to choose seats at the new L.A. Stadium at Hollywood Park. Only 2017 season ticket members will maintain their priority to select seating locations at the new stadium and choose the best possible inventory.
• 2017 season ticket prices will not increase from 2016.
• Your 2017 season ticket invoice is due in full by Friday, March 17, 2017. Please view the Season Ticket Renewal Packet for more information.
• If you have any questions or would like to make any changes to your account, please contact the Member Services Team at 818-338-0011 or info@rams.nfl.com.

Thank you again for your support.

Go Rams!



Jake Bye
Vice President - Consumer Sales & Marketing

Rams Head Coach SEAN MCVAY announced today that his 18-member coaching staff is complete.

“We have a great group of talented coaches that I’m very excited to work with this year,” McVay said. “They have a vast array of experiences and the qualities we are looking for as we build this staff. Their unique insight to the game will collectively make this team better as we prepare for the 2017 season.”

McVay previously announced WADE PHILLIPS as defensive coordinator on Jan. 19. Joining him as coordinators are MATT LAFLEUR who will oversee the offense and JOHN FASSEL who returns to the Rams for his sixth season as special teams coordinator.

McVay’s offensive staff will consist of ANDY DICKERSON (assistant offensive line), AARON KROMER (offensive line), ZAK KROMER (offensive quality control), GREG OLSON (quarterbacks), SKIP PEETE (running backs), ZAC TAYLOR (assistant wide receivers), SHANE WALDRON (tight ends) and ERIC YARBER (wide receivers).

Making up the defensive staff are JOE BARRY (assistant head coach/linebackers), THAD BOGARDUS (defensive quality control), EJIRO EVERO (safeties), BILL JOHNSON (defensive line), AUBREY PLEASANT (cornerbacks), and CHRIS SHULA (assistant linebackers). TED RATH (strength and conditioning) rounds out McVay’s staff and will enter his first season with the team as the strength and conditioning coach.

2017 LOS ANGELES RAMS COACHING STAFF

• Sean McVay (Head Coach)

• Matt LaFleur (Offensive Coordinator) – Entering his first NFL season as an offensive coordinator following a two-year stint with the Atlanta Falcons (2015-16) coaching quarterbacks, where he concluded the 2016 season with an NFC Championship title. Held the same position with the Washington Redskins (2010-13) where he coached alongside McVay. First NFL coaching position came in 2008 where he served as an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans (2008-09). Made five collegiate coaching stops over the course of his career which began in 2003 at his alma mater, Saginaw Valley State.

• Greg Olson (Quarterbacks) – Joins the Rams for his second coaching stint with the club where he previously served as an offensive coordinator from 2006-07. Resume includes nine seasons as an offensive coordinator in the NFL with four franchises and 30 years total of coaching experience.

• Aaron Kromer (Offensive Line) – Was the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line coach the last two seasons and prior to that, served as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach of the Chicago Bears (2013-14). Other NFL stops include the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders. Coached nine years on the collegiate level prior to entering the NFL ranks.

• Andy Dickerson (Assistant Offensive Line) – Enters his 11th NFL season and sixth with the Rams after serving as an assistant for the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. Also worked in operations for the New England Patriots and played offensive line at Tufts University in Boston.

• Eric Yarber (Wide Receivers) – Most recently coached wide receivers at UCLA dating back to 2012 after two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and five seasons in the NFL overall. Other coaching stops include the Seattle Seahawks, Oregon State, San Francisco 49ers, University of Washington and Arizona State. Was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1986 and was part of the team that won Super Bowl XXII.

• Zac Taylor (Assistant Wide Receivers) – Comes to Los Angeles after spending 2016 as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Began his NFL coaching career coaching quarterbacks for the Miami Dolphins staff in 2012 and was named offensive coordinator in 2015. His brother, Press, is an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Eagles.

• Shane Waldron (Tight Ends) – Was a member of the Washington Redskins’ staff last season and served as the team’s offensive quality control coach. His other professional football coaching experience includes the wide receivers for the Hartford Colonials (UFL), and tight ends and offensive quality control for the New England Patriots.

• Skip Peete (Running Backs) – Veteran of 18 seasons as an NFL assistant returns to Los Angeles for his second season. His previous coaching stops include coaching running backs for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and Oakland Raiders. His father, Willie, was a longtime college and NFL coach, and his brother, Rodney, played 16 seasons as an NFL quarterback.

• Zak Kromer (Offensive Quality Control) – Comes to Los Angeles after coaching in the same capacity for the Buffalo Bills during the 2016 season. Prior to joining the Bills, he was a student assistant for the University of Oklahoma’s football team.

• Wade Phillips (Defensive Coordinator) – Brings 39 seasons of coaching experience to Los Angeles, which includes 25 as a coordinator (seven teams) and nine as a full-time head coach (three teams). Previously held the same position with the Denver Broncos the past two seasons where he helped led the club to a victory in Super Bowl 50. Named Assistant Coach of the Year twice by the Pro Football Writers of America (2011 & 2015). Started his NFL career with the Houston Oilers under his father, Head Coach Bum Phillips.

• Joe Barry (Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers) – Now in his 16th NFL season, including four as a defensive coordinator with the Washington Redskins (2015-16) and the Detroit Lions (2007-08). In his first stint coaching linebackers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he helped lead the team to their first championship with a 48-21 win over the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.

• Chris Shula (Assistant Linebackers) – Hired as a defensive quality control by the San Diego Chargers in 2015 and previously served as defensive coordinator at John Carroll University. Played college football with McVay at Miami (Ohio) and is the son of former Bengals Head Coach David Shula and grandson of Don Shula, Hall of Fame head coach of the Colts and Dolphins.

• Bill Johnson (Defensive Line) – Coached defensive line for nearly four decades and boasts 16 years of NFL experience. Comes to Los Angeles from New Orleans where he developed the Saints defensive line for eight years. Served in the same role with the Denver Broncos (2007-08) and the Atlanta Falcons (2001-06). Son, Billy, is entering his fifth year with the Rams as an area scout.

• Aubrey Pleasant (Cornerbacks) – Coached with McVay at the Washington Redskins for four seasons beginning in 2013. Started his NFL career as an offensive assistant in Washington before transitioning to a defensive quality control a year later. Became the Redskins’ assistant defensive backs coach in 2016.

• Ejiro Evero (Safeties) – Begins his first season with Los Angeles after spending 2016 as the defensive quality control coach for the Green Bay Packers. Spent five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2011-2015) as a defensive assistant, offensive assistant and quality control coach. Name is pronounced e-JEE-row EV-uh-row.

• Thad Bogardus (Defensive Quality Control) – Joins the Rams for his fourth season as an NFL assistant. Started his NFL career in 2014 with the Buffalo Bills as a defensive quality control coach and went to the Denver Broncos for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Began his career as a graduate assistant at Ball State (2012-13).

• John Fassel (Special Teams Coordinator) – Served as the Rams’ special teams coordinator for the past five seasons where his units have consistently finished in the top tier of league rankings. Was Los Angeles’ interim head coach for the final three games of 2016. Led the Oakland Raiders’ special teams (2008-11) and served as an assistant in Baltimore (2005-07) prior to joining the Rams in 2012. Is the son of former Giants Head Coach Jim Fassel.

• Ted Rath (Strength and Conditioning) – Enters his ninth NFL season and first with Los Angeles after spending 2016 with the Miami Dolphins as the club’s strength and conditioning coach and the previous seven seasons with the Detroit Lions in the same capacity (2009-15).

http://www.therams.com

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Rams Head Coach SEAN MCVAY announced today that his 18-member coaching staff is complete.

“We have a great group of talented coaches that I’m very excited to work with this year,” McVay said. “They have a vast array of experiences and the qualities we are looking for as we build this staff. Their unique insight to the game will collectively make this team better as we prepare for the 2017 season.”

McVay previously announced WADE PHILLIPS as defensive coordinator on Jan. 19. Joining him as coordinators are MATT LAFLEUR who will oversee the offense and JOHN FASSEL who returns to the Rams for his sixth season as special teams coordinator.

McVay’s offensive staff will consist of ANDY DICKERSON (assistant offensive line), AARON KROMER (offensive line), ZAK KROMER (offensive quality control), GREG OLSON (quarterbacks), SKIP PEETE (running backs), ZAC TAYLOR (assistant wide receivers), SHANE WALDRON (tight ends) and ERIC YARBER (wide receivers).

Making up the defensive staff are JOE BARRY (assistant head coach/linebackers), THAD BOGARDUS (defensive quality control), EJIRO EVERO (safeties), BILL JOHNSON (defensive line), AUBREY PLEASANT (cornerbacks), and CHRIS SHULA (assistant linebackers). TED RATH (strength and conditioning) rounds out McVay’s staff and will enter his first season with the team as the strength and conditioning coach.

2017 LOS ANGELES RAMS COACHING STAFF

• John Fassel (Special Teams Coordinator) – Served as the Rams’ special teams coordinator for the past five seasons where his units have consistently finished in the top tier of league rankings. Was Los Angeles’ interim head coach for the final three games of 2016. Led the Oakland Raiders’ special teams (2008-11) and served as an assistant in Baltimore (2005-07) prior to joining the Rams in 2012. Is the son of former Giants Head Coach Jim Fassel.

• Matt LaFleur (Offensive Coordinator) – Entering his first NFL season as an offensive coordinator following a two-year stint with the Atlanta Falcons (2015-16) coaching quarterbacks, where he concluded the 2016 season with an NFC Championship title. Held the same position with the Washington Redskins (2010-13) where he coached alongside McVay. First NFL coaching position came in 2008 where he served as an offensive assistant with the Houston Texans (2008-09). Made five collegiate coaching stops over the course of his career which began in 2003 at his alma mater, Saginaw Valley State.

• Wade Phillips (Defensive Coordinator) – Brings 39 seasons of coaching experience to Los Angeles, which includes 25 as a coordinator (seven teams) and nine as a full-time head coach (three teams). Previously held the same position with the Denver Broncos the past two seasons where he helped led the club to a victory in Super Bowl 50. Named Assistant Coach of the Year twice by the Pro Football Writers of America (2011 & 2015). Started his NFL career with the Houston Oilers under his father, Head Coach Bum Phillips.

• Joe Barry (Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers) – Now in his 16th NFL season, including four as a defensive coordinator with the Washington Redskins (2015-16) and the Detroit Lions (2007-08). In his first stint coaching linebackers for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he helped lead the team to their first championship with a 48-21 win over the Raiders in Super Bowl XXXVII.

• Thad Bogardus (Defensive Quality Control) – Joins the Rams for his fourth season as an NFL assistant. Started his NFL career in 2014 with the Buffalo Bills as a defensive quality control coach and went to the Denver Broncos for the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Began his career as a graduate assistant at Ball State (2012-13).

• Andy Dickerson (Assistant Offensive Line) – Enters his 11th NFL season and sixth with the Rams after serving as an assistant for the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets. Also worked in operations for the New England Patriots and played offensive line at Tufts University in Boston.

• Ejiro Evero (Safeties) – Begins his first season with Los Angeles after spending 2016 as the defensive quality control coach for the Green Bay Packers. Spent five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2011-2015) as a defensive assistant, offensive assistant and quality control coach. Name is pronounced e-JEE-row EV-uh-row.

• Bill Johnson (Defensive Line) – Coached defensive line for nearly four decades and boasts 16 years of NFL experience. Comes to Los Angeles from New Orleans where he developed the Saints defensive line for eight years. Served in the same role with the Denver Broncos (2007-08) and the Atlanta Falcons (2001-06). Son, Billy, is entering his fifth year with the Rams as an area scout.

• Aaron Kromer (Offensive Line) – Was the Buffalo Bills’ offensive line coach the last two seasons and prior to that, served as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach of the Chicago Bears (2013-14). Other NFL stops include the New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders. Coached nine years on the collegiate level prior to entering the NFL ranks.

• Zak Kromer (Offensive Quality Control) – Comes to Los Angeles after coaching in the same capacity for the Buffalo Bills during the 2016 season. Prior to joining the Bills, he was a student assistant for the University of Oklahoma’s football team.

• Greg Olson (Quarterbacks) – Joins the Rams for his second coaching stint with the club where he previously served as an offensive coordinator from 2006-07. Resume includes nine seasons as an offensive coordinator in the NFL with four franchises and 30 years total of coaching experience.

• Skip Peete (Running Backs) – Veteran of 18 seasons as an NFL assistant returns to Los Angeles for his second season. His previous coaching stops include coaching running backs for the Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, and Oakland Raiders. His father, Willie, was a longtime college and NFL coach, and his brother, Rodney, played 16 seasons as an NFL quarterback.

• Aubrey Pleasant (Cornerbacks) – Coached with McVay at the Washington Redskins for four seasons beginning in 2013. Started his NFL career as an offensive assistant in Washington before transitioning to a defensive quality control a year later. Became the Redskins’ assistant defensive backs coach in 2016.

• Ted Rath (Strength and Conditioning) – Enters his ninth NFL season and first with Los Angeles after spending 2016 with the Miami Dolphins as the club’s strength and conditioning coach and the previous seven seasons with the Detroit Lions in the same capacity (2009-15).

• Chris Shula (Assistant Linebackers) – Hired as a defensive quality control by the San Diego Chargers in 2015 and previously served as defensive coordinator at John Carroll University. Played college football with McVay at Miami (Ohio) and is the son of former Bengals Head Coach David Shula and grandson of Don Shula, Hall of Fame head coach of the Colts and Dolphins.

• Zac Taylor (Assistant Wide Receivers) – Comes to Los Angeles after spending 2016 as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the Cincinnati Bearcats. Began his NFL coaching career coaching quarterbacks for the Miami Dolphins staff in 2012 and was named offensive coordinator in 2015. His brother, Press, is an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Eagles.

• Shane Waldron (Tight Ends) – Was a member of the Washington Redskins’ staff last season and served as the team’s offensive quality control coach. His other professional football coaching experience includes the wide receivers for the Hartford Colonials (UFL), and tight ends and offensive quality control for the New England Patriots.

• Eric Yarber (Wide Receivers) – Most recently coached wide receivers at UCLA dating back to 2012 after two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and five seasons in the NFL overall. Other coaching stops include the Seattle Seahawks, Oregon State, San Francisco 49ers, University of Washington and Arizona State. Was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1986 and was part of the team that won Super Bowl XXII.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...sanders-says-colts-stole-other-teams-signals/

NFL Network’s Deion Sanders says Colts stole other teams’ signals
Posted by Michael David Smith on February 8, 2017

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Hall of Fame cornerback and NFL Network commentator Deion Sanders says the Indianapolis Colts stole other teams’ defensive signals, everyone in the NFL knew about it, and no one did anything.

Sanders made the allegation on NFL Network after his colleague, LaDainian Tomlinson said some critics will put an asterisk next to the Patriots’ success because of Spygate.

“Those same critics, did they say anything about the wins that the Indianapolis Colts had? You want to talk about that too? Because they were getting everybody’s signals,” Sanders said. “Come on, you don’t walk up to the line and look over here and the man on the sideline giving you the defense that they’ve stolen the plays of. We all knew. L.T. knew. Everybody in the NFL knew. We just didn’t let the fans know. That was real and that was happening in Indy.”

Sanders did not say when that was happening or who was involved, but he sounded like he was describing the years when Peyton Manning was the Colts’ quarterback. Sanders has criticized Manning in the past, but we’ve never heard this allegation before.

If Sanders can back up this assertion, he should — and the NFL should thoroughly investigate. If he can’t back it up, it’s incredibly odd that he’d say it on the league’s own network, a network that the Colts partially own.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ling-signals-its-been-done-legally-for-years/

Tony Dungy on stealing signals: It’s been done legally for years
Posted by Michael David Smith on February 8, 2017

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Former Colts coach Tony Dungy says he’s baffled that Deion Sanders would suggest the Colts were doing something wrong by stealing signals during Dungy’s tenure as coach and Peyton Manning’s tenure as quarterback, because Dungy says all 32 teams steal each other’s signals.

Dungy said this morning on PFT Live that stealing signals is a legal and smart tactic in the NFL, and Sanders is wrong to conflate it with Spygate, in which the Patriots broke NFL rules by videotaping opposing teams’ signals from the sideline.

In a long explanation of the history of signal stealing, Dungy said it happens all the time and has for most of NFL history.

“I think we have to go back to what is cheating,” Dungy said. “People accusing us of cheating? I don’t think that’s the case. Stealing signals? You can go back to the 1800s in baseball, you can go anywhere there were signals done, and people were looking and watching and trying to get signals.

Back in the early days of football the quarterbacks called the plays and the middle linebackers called the defenses and there was no signaling. When coaches decided they wanted to call plays you had to find ways to get the information in and there were people watching.

My coach, Chuck Noll, was a messenger guard for Paul Brown in the ’50s because Paul Brown didn’t want to have to signal because people are going to watch them. So that’s what happens and it’s been done legally for years.

“I remember in 1991, I was an assistant coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. Steve DeBerg was our quarterback. He had played seven or eight years earlier for the 49ers. We were playing the 49ers and they hadn’t changed their signals at all.

Steve DeBerg called every play for us on the defensive sideline because Joe Montana and Bill Walsh hadn’t changed the signals since they’d been there. They beat us 28-14. We knew every play and they beat us. So that’s been part of football.

“Deion, I’m sure on every scouting report that he ever got, the first thing that’s on there on the defensive scouting reports, who is the live signal caller, who signals the personnel groups in. And that’s what happened. And you looked over there because you wanted to know as a defensive player: Is it going to be three wide receivers? Is it going to be two tight ends? Who’s in the game?

There’s a person over there signaling and Deion Sanders and every other defensive player would look at the offensive sideline to get that signal. So that is football. And I’m not sure what Deion is referring to, really.”

Dungy pointed out that the NFL now allows the quarterback and a defensive player to wear a headset in their helmets to hear from the coaches, which has changed — but not eliminated — signal stealing.

“That’s why you see these college teams now with four and five people signaling, with the posters and the pictures and all these different things because they don’t want people to have their signals.

In the NFL, they’ve gotten away from that with the coach to quarterback and coach to middle linebacker communication. But, yes, if you signal, there are going to be people who watch your signals and know what’s going to happen.

“When I was a defensive coordinator we went to wristbands because people steal signals. So you have a wristband that says No. 1 is this defense, No. 2 is this defense, you change it and everybody has done that for years and years and years. In our Super Bowl, we scored a touchdown to Reggie Wayne on a blown coverage because one of the Chicago players read the wristband wrong trying to get ahead of us.

I’ll give you the opposite side of the coin. We’re playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. I’m the coach of the Indianapolis Colts on a Monday night. Peyton Manning came to me before the game and said, ‘Bruce Arians used to be with us, is now coaching there, I know he’s told them our hand signals. I’m going to get them because I’m going to give a fake run signal and I know they’re going to bite because Bruce has told them our signals.’

And on the first play of the game, he gave a signal to Marvin Harrison, Ike Taylor, Pittsburgh’s corner, thought it was a run play, and it was an 82-yard touchdown.

“That’s all part of the game, but doing it legally and illegally, that’s the difference. I hope Deion is not saying we did something illegally. Of course we got signals when we had an opportunity to do that, and so did Deion.”

What was different with Spygate is that teams had specifically been instructed not to videotape opposing teams’ signals on the sideline during the game, and the Patriots did it anyway.

“It wasn’t getting signals, it was the process of videotaping and using electronic equipment during the game,” Dungy said of the difference between the Patriots and other teams.

What’s still unclear is why Sanders chose to single out the Colts for blame when, as Dungy says, the Colts did the same thing as everyone else. We’d like to hear Sanders clarify that.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/02/08/claims-of-colts-stealing-signals-arent-new/

Claims of Colts stealing signals aren’t new
Posted by Mike Florio on February 8, 2017

When NFL Network’s Deion Sanders accused the Colts of stealing signals, many reacted by saying, “Why is this the first time we’re hearing this?”

It actually wasn’t.

More than eight years ago, I posted a blurb regarding a contention from John Madden of NBC’s Sunday Night Football that then-Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera believed the Colt had obtained San Diego’s defensive signals.

“If the Colts had the Chargers’ signals, would that mean that the Colts were cheating?” I wrote at the time. “It depends on how the Colts got them. If Indy’s advance scouts used a pencil and paper to crack the code, it’s fair game. But if they videotaped the signals, then it’s cheating.”

That’s essentially how former Colts coach Tony Dungy explained the situation during Wednesday’s PFT Live. We’ll be giving Deion a chance to join the show to elaborate on his claims — and to explain why he singled out the Colts for something that any other team could have been doing.

Follow Jason Cole on Twitter for even more coverage.
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There's a video in the link that says Goff tried to get the receivers together on an off day and not one receiver showed. I know the reputation Jason Cole has, nonetheless, if there is any validity to this I will be pretty disappointed with our guys.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cap/2017/

A real-time look at the 2017 salary cap totals for each NFL team, including estimated cap space. Assumes a $168,000,000 team salary cap.
-----------------------------------------------------
LA Rams:

Signed: 58, #8

Average age: 24.57, #32

Offense: $61,171,773, #23

Defense: $62,890,805, #16

Dead: $2,007,335, #13

Adjustments: $304,311, #31

Top 51 cap: $129,318,686, #23

Cap space w/top 51: $38,985,625, #14

Cap space w/all: $35,730,625, #15

Let's hope this is accurate! Up until now, I've yet to hear anyone say.. "Holy Crap!!..this is gonna be a bitch!" If all indicators are correct, it could be very mild growing pains at worst.

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angele...4-scheme-may-not-be-a-big-adjustment-for-rams


Wade Phillips' 3-4 scheme might not be a big adjustment for Rams
4:00 AM PT

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  Alden GonzalezESPN Staff Writer

LOS ANGELES -- Wade Phillips wore his Super Bowl ring as he made the rounds in Houston last week. As he did interviews, Phillips explained that the Denver Broncos, his former team, were defending champions right up until the end of Super Bowl LI. And though their one-year reign ended with the Patriots, who beat the Falcons by orchestrating the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history, Phillips is bringing a championship pedigree with him to the West Coast, as the Los Angeles Rams' new defensive coordinator.

Phillips, 69, was the first hire made by 31-year-old rookie head coach Sean McVay. Phillips has nine seasons as a full-time head coach and was a defensive coordinator for 25 other seasons. Since joining the NFL in 1976, Phillips has been part of 20 top-10 defenses and coached 30 Pro Bowlers, five of whom are in the Hall of Fame. And in each of his last six stops as a defensive coordinator, Phillips has overseen drastic improvement. When he took over the Broncos the first time, they went from 27th to fourth in DVOA in one season. The Bills went 19th to 10th; the Falcons: 26th to 12th; Chargers, 30th to 13th; and Texans: 31st to sixth.

In his second stint with the Broncos, they went from fourth to first.

Phillips' Broncos were the NFL's best defense each of the last two seasons, one of which ended in that Super Bowl 50 title. Though perhaps not as dynamic and deep, Phillips inherits another solid defense with the Rams, led by arguably the game's best interior lineman in Aaron Donald. Phillips will convert the unit from a 4-3 to a 3-4, but it might not be all that different.

We'll isolate three key traits from Phillips' defense in Denver in 2015 to '16. You can find the same for McVay's offense with the Washington Redskins in this post.

A 3-4 that acts like a 4-3

A lot has been made about the Rams going from four down linemen to three under Phillips, but Phillips himself has stressed that "those who can rush are going to rush."

Under Phillips these last two years, the Broncos used three pass-rushers on only 41 offensive snaps, lower than all but four teams during that time. ESPN Stats & Info has the Broncos ranking fourth in the amount of times they utilized five pass-rushers during that stretch, slightly more than Gregg Williams' defense with the Rams. But ESPN Broncos reporter Jeff Legwold, who charts every defensive play, will tell you that Phillips used four pass-rushers the vast majority of the time, continually varying which linebacker he used to get to the quarterback.

For the Rams, it seems like that extra rusher will mainly be Robert Quinn, a two-time Pro Bowler who will probably transition from defensive end to outside linebacker. In all likelihood, Quinn will still spend most of his time trying to get around the edge to get to the quarterback. And nothing will change for Donald; he will remain a three-technique, which means he will continue to line up on the outside shoulder of the opposing guard.

Below are a couple of looks at how Phillips lined his defense up early in Week 4 against the Buccaneers this past season. The first is a first-down situation early in the game, where you'll notice a three-technique down lineman and two outside linebackers at the line of scrimmage ready to rush (or, because it eventually became a run to the outside, contain the outside).

Michael Brockers and William Hayes, respectively. On the very next play, 2nd-and-9, Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston lined up in the shotgun and Phillips used one of his linebackers in coverage. He still had a rushing linebacker, a three-technique and two other down linemen, essentially serving the purpose of a 4-3.

Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. on the outside -- he did.

The Broncos were one of only three teams -- along with the Texans and Vikings -- to allow just one regular-season game of 300 or more passing yards over the last two seasons. They ranked first in DVOA against the pass in each of those seasons. The Rams, who mainly used five defensive backs, slipped to 20th in 2016. Their top three cornerbacks outside of Trumaine Johnson, a pending free agent, are no taller than 5-foot-10.

Phillips might have to play a lot more zone in L.A.

Adjusting to the opponent

The Broncos won it all last year largely because of the way Phillips adjusted. It's evident in the way he navigated the last two games, the AFC Championship against the Patriots and the Super Bowl against the Panthers.

The Broncos couldn't have faced two more different offenses.

The Patriots focused mostly on Tom Brady getting rid of the football quickly, using an assortment of short to intermediate routes that gained chunk yardage. The Panthers featured a dynamic running game -- with running back Jonathan Stewart and quarterback Cam Newton -- and also liked to throw the ball downfield, often using max protection to give Newton enough time in the pocket.

Against the Patriots, Phillips disguised pass rushes without being so aggressive that his defensive backs were too often in space. On Cover-2 looks, his safeties were aggressive attacking short throws, which allowed them to sustain the Patriots' assortment of pick plays, as pointed out by Cian Fahey in this Football Outsiders post. Below is an example of a second-down stop on a short route that eventually led to a punt, with the safety's pursuit highlighted ...

as noted by Andy Benoit of MMQB.com. His biggest decision was what to do with his extra defender, who would be on either a tight end or a fullback who would be used frequently to help an inadequate offensive line. Phillips decided to blitz that extra defender, putting constant pressure on Newton and allowing some of his best pass rushers -- Von Miller, for example -- to go up against man-to-man coverage.

The Broncos hit Newton 13 times in that game, and below is a look at just how many pass-rushers they used at times ...

This was McVay at radio row during the Super Bowl frivolities -- dig the Gruden face he's sporting.

Anyway, this needs a caption -- let 'er rip, fellas:

With LaFleur being announced as the OC, it seems our coaching staff is pretty much set. I'm excited to see what we do this off-season. I think we have a bright future ahead of us.
Cut
HB Tre Mason
TE Lance Kendricks
DE Eugene Sims
C Tim Barnes

Re-sign
CB Trumaine Johnson - 5 years $55 million
K Greg Zuerlein - 3 years $7.5 million
HB Benny Cunningham - 3 years $4.5 million
DT Dominique Easley - RFA Tender
DT Louis Trinca-Pasat - ERFA Tender
DE/OLB Matt Longacre - ERFA Tender

Trades
Rams trade DE William Hayes
Browns trade DE Desmond Bryant

The Rams and Browns swap two guys who are better fits for each team's new scheme.

Free Agency - Big Money Acquisitions
Ronald Leary LG - 5 years $40 million

We need OL help. There were rumors that Dallas was trying to trade Leary before the season. With the injury to La'El Collins, Leary stepped back into his starting spot. He was also a starter on the dominant 2014 Cowboys OL. Leary is a mauling run blocker who has the versatility to play in either a ZBS or a PBS. He's also a quality pass protector. Either ways, he's a huge upgrade on what we have.

Jabaal Sheard SOLB - 4 years $26 million

Sheard comes over from the Patriots defense where he played a similar role. Sheard has proven to be a disruptive pass rusher throughout his career in the NFL. He's never been a 10+ sack per year guy, but he's often sat in the 7 to 8 sack per year range. Sheard doesn't need to be J.J. Watt on our defense. He just needs to give us an additional credible pass rushing threat, which he does. Sheard also can drop into coverage and stop the run.

DeSean Jackson WR - 3 years $24 million

Initially, I had some concerns about Jackson coming to LA because of his reported ties to gang members. However, it genuinely seems like McVay and Jackson have a very close relationship. With Jackson being from LA, I think he'd be willing to come here if we match his best offer. He definitely offers us a nice skill-set. He put up 1000+ yards in McVay's offense this year.

Free Agency - Cheaper Signings
Stefen Wisniewski C/OG - 2 years $5 million
Manti Te'o ILB - 2 years $5 million
Dekoda Watson ILB/OLB - 2 years $2 million
Sean Lissemore NT/DE - 2 years $2 million
Louis Vasquez OG - 1 year $1 million

NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #5 - Juju Smith-Schuster WR Southern Cal
Summary: Juju was a very productive WR for the Trojans. At 6'1" to 6'2" 215 to 220 pounds, he's a built to be a possession WR in our scheme. Juju does not possess breakaway speed to win vertically with consistency or the hands to dominate at the catch point like Alshon Jeffery or Mike Evans. However, he is an incredibly strong and physical WR who uses his size and craftiness to bully CBs and create separation. Juju also is an intelligent WR who understands how run routes to create separation against man coverage and find the soft spots against zone coverage. Juju is also arguably the best YAC WR in this class using his strength, physicality, balance, and quickness to create yardage after the catch. I think Juju compares favorably to Michael Crabtree and Hakeem Nicks. My biggest concern with Juju is that his physical style of play will shorten his NFL career (like it did for Nicks).

Round 3 Pick #5 - Ahkello Witherspoon CB Colorado
Summary: Ahkello is one of my favorite under the radar prospects in this draft. He was one of the national leaders in passes defensed in 2016, and his coverage metrics when targeted were off the charts good. Ahkello is 6'2" 195 with outstanding ball-skills, impressive quickness and hip flexion for his size, and the long speed needed to play outside the numbers in the NFL. Ahkello is one of the most physically talented players in this class. He's a tad raw in terms of technique, but he has gobs of upside at CB. Plus, he's a highly intelligent kid who has aspirations of becoming a doctor. We need more intelligent players. This kid has the potential to be one of the best CBs in the game.

Round 4 Pick #5 - Jon Toth C/OG Kentucky
Summary: Toth started 48 games in his college as a four-year starter at Kentucky. He had a strong Senior Bowl week and graded out as the top offensive lineman in the Senior Bowl game according to PFF. Toth has NFL size at 6'5" 308 with 33 inch arms. Some feel that he's too tall to play Center and will be better off at OG. I disagree. I thought he did an impressive job of keeping his pad level down while firing out of his stance in college. Toth is a technically sound player who lacks dominant physical talent. He's a solid athlete with solid strength. But he more than compensates for his only solid physical tools with his great body control, polished footwork, and consistent hand use. He will not make it easy for Wisniewski to hold onto the Center job.

Round 4 Comp Pick - Josh Carraway OLB Texas Christian
Summary: Carraway is built like you would expect a 3-4 OLB to be built. At 6'4" 250, he's long and lanky. Carraway is an easy mover with the bend to threaten the edge and the length to develop into more than just an edge rusher with development. At this point in time, Carraway is just an edge rusher using his speed, bend, and length to attack the edge. When he doesn't win with speed, Carraway shows the motor to make effort sacks and tackles. Carraway has the movement skills to be able to drop into coverage; although, he did not do that much at TCU. Carrraway needs to get stronger at the POA, learn to better use his hands as a pass rusher and run stopper, and build a more diverse set of pass rush moves in order to become an impact player in the NFL.

Round 5 Pick #5 - Joshua Holsey CB Auburn
Summary: Holsey is another guy on my list of underrated CBs. This is such a deep and talented class that a guy like Holsey can go unnoticed. Holsey had two torn ACLs in his career, so that is a concern with him. However, he has exceptionally quick feet, the speed to run with WRs deep, loose hips, and good ball-skills. He can get a little grabby at times, but as we all know, some CBs use that to their advantage (*cough* Richard Sherman). Holsey is a CB who hides it well and uses it to his advantage. Holsey handled a number of top college WRs, including Mike Williams, during his senior season at Auburn.

Round 6 Pick #5 - Michael Roberts TE Toledo
Summary: Roberts is a very intriguing kid because he's 6'4" 260 with 11.625 inch hands. He also posted 16 receiving TDs in 2016 for Toledo and has the potential to be a major red-zone mismatch. Obviously, Roberts possesses strong hands and good athleticism for his size. He has the potential to be a good pass-catcher in the NFL. The real issue with him right now is that he doesn't show consistent effort as a blocker. When Roberts wants to block, he has shown that he has the strength and size to be effective as an inline blocker. But he too often just half-asses it and more or less gets in the way of the defender while not trying to do much else. NFL teams don't have much patience for disinterested blockers. Roberts has a high ceiling, but he'll need to develop a better attitude to reach it.

Round 6 Comp Pick - Joey Ivie DE Florida
Summary: Ivie is an underrated player in this class. He's an underrated athlete with a relentless motor who has the ability to be a productive rotational interior DL at the NFL level. Ivie uses his hands well and does a nice job of stacking and shedding blocks in the run game. He's athletic enough to disrupt plays in the back-field and pressure QBs in the passing game. I think there's a strong chance that Joey Ivie's best football is ahead of him.

Round 7 Pick #5 - Praise Martin-Ogbuike OLB Temple
Summary: Praise is a guy that I was very intrigued by while watching Haason Reddick. Praise has very crazy backstory. He was kicked off Temple's football team after being accused of rape. He refused to give up and eventually proved that the girl made it all up because he didn't want to be in a relationship with her. Praise returned to Temple and posted 29 TFLs and 19 sacks over 3 years. At 6'2" 250, Praise has the right size for a 3-4 OLB. He has shown the ability to dip under OTs and use his short stature to effectively win the edge. Praise has had a lot of success beating college OTs around the corner due to his bend, burst, and hand use. At the NFL level, he'll need to develop a more diverse set of pass rush moves and get stronger to allow him to convert his speed to power. He has potential to develop into a rotational pass rusher behind Quinn for us.

Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Juju Smith-Schuster
ZWR: DeSean Jackson
SLWR: Tavon Austin
TE: Tyler Higbee
LT: Greg Robinson vs. Rodger Saffold
LG: Ronald Leary
C: Stefen Wisniewski vs. Jon Toth
RG: Jamon Brown vs. Greg Robinson vs. Rodger Saffold vs. Louis Vasquez
RT: Rob Havenstein

LDE: Desmond Bryant
NT: Michael Brockers
RDE: Aaron Donald
SOLB: Jabaal Sheard
SILB: Manti Te'o
WILB: Alec Ogletree
WOLB: Robert Quinn
LCB: Trumaine Johnson
RCB: Ahkello Witherspoon vs. Joshua Holsey vs. E.J. Gaines
SLCB: LaMarcus Joyner
FS: Maurice Alexander
SS: Mark Barron

K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
KR: Benny Cunningham
PR: Tavon Austin

Six is a show about Seal team Six. Interesting story with lots of action. Walton Goggins is very good in it. Other actors, Barry Sloane and Kyle Schmid are well cast. 'Rip' gets captured as a merc by the group that captured the school girls in Africa. I read that it is based on true accounts, but I don't know to what extent.

It is on the history channel.

I have been watching this show, Santa Clarita Diet on Netflix. It has been pretty funny. I don't laugh at many shows but this has a lot of really funny lines and an entertaining story. It is very well made too, unlike some major network sitcoms. Drew Barrymore is great in it as the lead and it is well cast overall.

I highly recommend it if your looking for something light and funny.

With former Atlanta Falcons quarterback coach Matt LaFleur the next Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator, how will that affect Jared Goff?

As the quarterback coach for Atlanta, LaFleur led Matt Ryan to an MVP-caliber season and an NFC Championship victory. Pro Football Focus provided some context for productivity during previous seasons with LaFleuer as quarterback coach.



For context, Goff had a 39.7 PFF Grade during the 2016 season. Case Keenum wasn’t much better — with a 49.6 mark.

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New Rams OC Matt Lafleur has been a QB coach since 2010. What does this mean for Jared Goff?

QB grades under Lafleur's tutelage:

12:50 PM - 7 Feb 2017

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To complete the list with the full Rams staff, let’s look at what quarterbacks have done under Sean McVay since he took over as offensive coordinator in Washington in 2014.

Cousins had a PFF grade of 85.9 in 2016, which ranked in the NFL’s top ten. The previous season, he had a 78.3 rating.

Olson, the quarterback coach for the Rams, was the offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016. His quarterback, Blake Bortles, had a 53.0 PFF rating last season. During 2015, he had a slightly better 69.7 PFF rating.


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Vincent Bonsignore @DailyNewsVinny
With HC Sean McVay, OC Matt LaFleur and QB coach Greg Olson #Rams tripling down on QB development expertise for second-year QB Jared Goff

11:50 AM - 7 Feb 2017

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The new Rams quarterback coach has also coached quarterbacks like Alex Smith, Kordell Stewart, Derek Carr and Josh Freeman — when Freeman was playing his most impressive football for Tampa Bay.

Olson also coached Drew Brees when Brees was in college at Purdue.

With St. Louis, quarterback Marc Bulger threw for over 4,000 yards while Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt both eclipsed 1,000 yards when Olson was the offensive coordinator.

Goff struggled significantly in 2016. But with three new coaches to help tutor him to success, he is in a much better place entering the upcoming season.

Click to expand...

http://theramswire.usatoday.com/201...fleuer-rams-offensive-coordinator-jared-goff/

I need to get rid of this cancerous growth on my face! Where can I get a good new avatar??

Another update here, got a message from ESPN stating the Rams are expected to make the hiring of Falcons qb coach Matt LaFleur official...Pretty good hire here...

Just got an ESPN update that the Falcons are going to lure Steve Sarkisian to become the new Oc. Hopefully that will allow for us to interview and proceed to hire the qb coach for our oc job.