Practice Report 12/30: Last Session of 2016

By Myles Simmons


Another season of practice has come and gone, with interim head coach John Fassel lamenting its ending.

“I guess the only thing on my mind now is I’m going to miss football practice,” Fassel said. “It’s great to always be able to come out here on the grass, huddle the guys up, and pick some dirt and grass up, and said this is pretty sacred stuff – this green grass and dirt that’s between the lines. Just never take it for granted. Practice is fun, man, and it’s a long time before we get to do it again. I’m going to miss it.”

The Rams will take on the Cardinals in the season finale for both teams. Los Angeles won the first divisional matchup with Arizona in Week 4, coming away with a 17-13 victory in a game that seems like it was played a very long time ago.

Though both the Cardinals and Rams are constituted differently than they were during the first quarter of the season, going against a fellow member of the NFC West can aid either team from a gameplan standpoint.

“It helps because you’re not going against somebody you don’t know, or you haven’t gone against them for the first time,” defensive tackle Michael Brockers said. “So, just going back looking at our old game, trying to see what we did good versus them the first time and kind of repeat it the second time, so we can leave the Coliseum with a victory.”

“it’s the same gameplan and a little more,” middle linebacker Alec Ogletree said. “You can’t base [your plan] on what you did last game [because it] is not going to happen the same way in this game. Each game is different.”

One element that’s unique to a Week 17 matchup is how teams will deal with players approaching milestones. Fassel cited running back Todd Gurley and Ogletree as two Rams who will likely be monitored for that reason in this game.

“‘Tree’ needs, I think, five more tackles to get his career best, or something like that,” Fassel said. “That would be a factor. Week 17, at this point in the season, you try to get guys to achieve their goals — whether if you have to manufacture a play-call, or something like that.”

There’s the incentives aspect of motivation, but then there’s also pride. That’s what Ogletree brought up when addressing how he’s staying in it for this final game.

“Just the fact that you get to suit up one more time with guys that you trained with all summer and it’s the last game of the season,” Ogletree said. “And it sucks that we don’t have one after this, but we have to put all our effort into this one game and go try to win.”

But because of the coaching change, this contest also represents the last time the Rams will play as currently constructed. And for a group as close as the 2016 Rams have become, that’s tough.

“You know, you tend to be closer to guys when you’ve been through a struggle,” offensive lineman Rodger Saffold said. “This group is just very resilient. They’re very tough. With everything that’s been going on, all these distractions going on, it’s been a distant memory. We haven’t used any excuses. So that’s the type of guys you want to run with.”


“It’s different every year. The only difference this time is it’s a whole different coaching staff that may come in,” Ogletree said. “Right now, our focus is on Arizona this week and that’s all that we can control at this moment. So, the guys that are here, they’re putting all the effort into coming out here and trying to win this game this weekend. And we’ll worry about the rest later.”

And with the final game coming on New Year’s Day, getting a win would make for some nice symbolism.

“I think it would be big because we’d be 1-0 in 2017,” Fassel said this week. “It would be a great start to a very much needed new year.”

INJURY REPORT

The Rams have four players with an injury status for Sunday’s game.

Wide receiver Kenny Britt (shoulder), right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle), and defensive back Lamarcus Joyner (ankle) are all listed as doubtful. Neither Britt, Havenstein, nor Joyner practiced this week.

Wide receiver Mike Thomas (hip) is listed as questionable after practicing on a limited basis Wednesday and fully on Friday.

And safety Maurice Alexander (concussion) is expected to play after practicing in full on Friday.

Additionally, wide receiver Nelson Spruce was on the practice field for the first time since being placed on injured reserve. The Rams had not had a player return from injured reserve all season, and Friday marked six weeks since the wideout was put on the list. Thus, he was able to participate.

[www.therams.com]

Despite one game to go, the season has defined itself... in pictures.

Are Todd Gurley's struggles a sophomore slump, or a troubling omen for the Rams?

Rams running back Todd Gurley, center, has found tough going all season, including on this play as he is stopped by Falcons middle linebacker Deion Jones and cornerback Jalen Collins. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

By JACK WANG / STAFF WRITER

THOUSAND OAKS – His emotions trickled out, then broke wide open.

On the night of Dec. 11, after weeks of quiet discontent, Todd Gurley finally let loose. He described the Rams as having “a middle-school offense.” He questioned his teammates’ effort. And when a reporter asked how the team might fix things moving forward, the running back replied: “I really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really don’t know.”

This Friday, two days before his team’s season finale against the Cardinals, the reigning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year acknowledged his frustrations.

“But if you’re not getting frustrated,” Gurley added, “then I don’t think you have the passion for the game.”

With no playoff hopes and no full-time head coach, there is little at stake for the Rams (4-11) on Sunday at the Coliseum.

For Gurley, however, there is at least personal pride. Mired in an ugly sophomore slump, the 22-year-old needs 155 yards to reach 1,000 for the season. Nearly 450 days have passed since he last rushed for that many in a single game. He has yet to top 85 yards this year.

The fear for Rams’ fans – and of course, for the organization itself – is that this is the new normal.

After recovering from a torn ACL, Gurley grabbed the NFL by the collar and essentially screamed, “Here I am.” In his first four starts, the former Georgia star ran for 566 yards, the most prolific debut since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

Those four games, however, now account for 29 percent of his career rushing yards.

“He comes in and he’s off to a roaring start,” Rams general manager Les Snead said recently. “And he’s just roaring, and roaring, and roaring.

“And I think what occurred is, defensive coordinators saying, ‘Wait a minute. That guy right there is … We’ve got to stop him.’ Bam. And they went to stopping him. And I think where we’re at now is, teams came into this year doing the same thing.”

Gurley has rushed for just 845 yards in 2016, well short of his 2015 total of 1,106 despite starting three more games. His yards per carry have dropped from 4.8 to 3.2. And after leading the league with 14 runs of at least 20 yards, he has managed just two this season: a 24-yard score against the Dolphins, and a 22-yard run against the Seahawks.

Since Gurley was born on Aug. 3, 1994, the Associated Press has voted 11 other running backs as the league’s top offensive rookie.

Of those, only four saw their rushing yards drop from Year 1 to Year 2. Two went on to have fine careers: Marshall Faulk, a Hall of Famer and two-time MVP, Curtis Martin, a five-time Pro Bowler. The two others were Mike Anderson, a former Marine who entered the league at 26 years old, and Cadillac Williams, whose career was derailed by injuries.

Which path Gurley takes is unclear. Jared Goff could make a dramatic leap after a full offseason as the Rams’ first-string quarterback, which could open up more room for the running back in 2017. The Rams could acquire more offensive pieces, or effectively develop 2016 draft picks such as tight end Tyler Higbee and receiver Pharoh Cooper. A new coaching staff could shake things up for the better.

Gurley seems to be taking it all in stride. He said Friday that he’s gotten better on not judging himself against the past, and focusing more on the present and the future.

“Everybody’s not going to have eight good years in a row, unless you’re ... ”

He paused to think.

“I don’t know, I can’t name anybody. Tom Brady. But every year is not going to be the year.”

In a conference call with Arizona reporters this week, Rams interim coach John Fassel acknowledged that Gurley has “struggled to maintain” his confidence, but expressed faith in the running back’s resilience. On Friday at Cal Lutheran, he echoed that sense of optimism, spinning Gurley’s 2016 season as something that could make him better in the long run.

“I think, in a real twisted way, it’s really good for a coach or a player that’s been successful to have to go through a tough time,” Fassel said, “and kind of see really what they’re made of and see how they respond to either the critique, or lack of production from what they’re used to. ...

“I think he’s handled it really well, and I think it’ll be good for him going forward to go into the offseason with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder and a little extra hunger.”

[www.ocregister.com]

Looking back over Mike Martz's career, wherever he was, good things followed for the QBs and WRs. Why don't our players use that? I don't mean why don't the Rams hire Martz. Personally, I don't think Martz wants to work as an assistant coach (below OC) at this point in his career.

However, during the off-season, why don't our players hire Martz as a coach to work with them? Let's look back at the highlights of Martz's career:
1995 - Rams QB Coach: Developed Chris Chandler from a bust to a solid starting QB
Chandlers first 6 years in the NFL (prior to Martz): 39 starts, 54.9% completion percentage, 34 TDs to 48 Ints, and a 66.1 QB Rating
Chandler's next 8 years in the NFL (with and after Martz): 98 starts, 59.4% completion percentage, 127 TDs to 79 Ints, and a 86.9 QB Rating

1996 to 1997 - Rams WR Coach: Developed Isaac Bruce into a HOF WR
Bruce produced 203 catches, 3119 yards, and 20 TDs across those two years after putting just under 300 yards and 3 TDs as a rookie

1997 to 1998 - Redskins QB Coach: Developed QB Trent Green from an 8th round pick with no starts before his 28th birthday into a solid starting QB

1999 to 2006 - Rams OC/HC: There are a long list of guys he developed for us. But the fact is that he developed Kurt Warner (UDFA), Trent Green (8th round pick), and Marc Bulger (6th round pick) into Pro Bowl QBs. He also found Ryan Fitzpatrick in the 7th round.

Add it all together, Mike Martz developed Chandler, Warner, Green, and Bulger all into Pro Bowl QBs. Chandler was the highest drafted of the four. He was a 3rd round pick. He was also a total bust prior to Martz.

Why are our guys not using him as a resource? Our organization should strongly suggest to Goff that he work with Mike Martz over the off-season. The guy might be the greatest QB evaluator and developer in NFL history.

I also would have recommended it to our young WRs like Tavon years ago.

http://insidethepylon.com/nfl/front-office/2016/01/07/2016-nfl-general-manger-candidates/




2016 NFL General Manager Candidates
January 7, 2016 4 CommentsFront OfficeBy Dan Hatman

Putting together a successful football team is a daunting task, and finding the right person for that task is crucial. The candidate must be capable of evaluating talent, managing the salary cap, and performing many other duties. Dan Hatman explains the NFL general manager position and reveals some of the potential GMs currently in the NFL.
The fans in Detroit, Nashville, and to some extent Cleveland are very interested in who will be the individuals leading their football clubs for the foreseeable future. In researching general manager hiring since 2006 and looking at the candidates year-in and year-out, a few groups emerge. It is critical to understand the position of the “general manager” and what it takes to put together a coaching staff and 53-man roster, but we can touch on those skills later in the piece. For now, let’s look at each group and this year’s candidates (listed alphabetically):

GMs-in-Waiting: These candidates have been discussed for various GM jobs the last few years, but have been incredibly selective in interviewing, with many observers assuming they are waiting to take control in their current organizations:

• Nick Caserio – director of player personnel – New England Patriots
• Eric DeCosta – assistant general manager – Baltimore Ravens
• Will McClay – senior director of college and pro scouting – Dallas Cowboys
• George Paton – assistant general manager – Minnesota Vikings
• Duke Tobin – director of player personnel – Cincinnati Bengals
• Eliot Wolf – director of player personnel – Green Bay Packers

Caserio (Miami, 2014) has interviewed only once, and consistently turns down interview requests. Both he and DaCosta are paid handsomely and are in great positions to take over excellent organizations. DaCosta, McClay and Wolf are sought after by many, but have never interviewed for a GM job and, like Caserio, have turned down interview requests. Paton interviewed for the Rams job in 2012 and with Carolina in 2013. He is close with current Minnesota GM Rick Spielman and the most likely to leave out of this group, but he turned down numerous interviews in 2014-15. Tobin is highly respected in league circles, but mainly unknown to fans, and is described as already having the job in Cincinnati.

Bridesmaids: These candidates recently entered the interview circuit and just missed on landing the big job:

• Chris Ballard – director of football operations – Kansas City Chiefs
• Brian Gaine – director of player personnel – Houston Texans
• Tom Gamble – senior personnel executive – San Francisco 49ers
• Trent Kirchner – co-director of player personnel – Seattle Seahawks
• Jon Robinson – director of player personnel – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Marc Ross – director of player evaluation – New York Giants

This is the group that I expect to see the most action over the coming weeks with the Lions, Titans, and any other GM jobs that could come open. Each name on this list has interviewed in the past, with Gaine having participated in five interviews since 2012, but none have had the chance to lead a team. Gamble’s stock took a bit of a hit on his “poor interview” with the Jets and termination by Philadelphia, but many still believe he has the tools. Kirchner is reportedly interviewing with the Lions this week.

New on the Scene: These candidates have paid their dues, and most are expected to get their first GM interviews:

• Scott Fitterer – co-director of player personnel – Seattle Seahawks
• Terry McDonough – vice president of player personnel – Arizona Cardinals
• Bob Quinn – director of pro personnel – New England Patriots
• Louis Riddick – NFL analyst – ESPN
• Sheldon White – interim general manager – Detroit Lions

White has been doing the job since Detroit fired Mayhew and is being strongly considered for the job. Quinn is already on the Lions’ interview list as teams look to the next in the Patriots’ line with Caserio not moving. Guys like McDonough, Fitterer, and Riddick should be household names.

Former GMs: These candidates have held the job before and many believe they deserve another shot:

• Martin Mayhew – former general manager – Detroit Lions
• Scott Pioli – assistant general manager – Atlanta Falcons
• Chris Polian – director of player personnel – Jacksonville Jaguars
• Ted Sundquist – former general manager – Denver Broncos
• Brian Xanders – senior personnel executive – Detroit Lions

The NFL is the worst in professional sports in hiring GMs a second time, but that narrative fails to take into account the potential for growth and development that comes with having actually done the job before. Sundquist has Super Bowl rings, Polian and Xanders have made their way back into the interview circuit and Mayhew is on the Fritz Pollard Alliance’s list of candidates for teams to track.

On the Scene Soon: These candidates are starting to get their names out and will be hot candidates in the years to come:

• Brandon Beane – assistant general manager – Carolina Panthers
• Morocco Brown – vice president, player personnel – Cleveland Browns
• Brian Gutekunst – director of college scouting – Green Bay Packers
• Alonzo Highsmith – senior personnel executive – Green Bay Packers
• Rex Hogan – senior director of college scouting – New York Jets
• Jim Monos – director of player personnel – Buffalo Bills
• Vince Newsome – director of pro personnel – Baltimore Ravens
• Monti Ossenfort – director of college scouting – New England Patriots
• Eric Schaffer – vice president of football administration – Washington
• Kevin Abrams– assistant general manager – New York Giants

The first four categories get us to 21 candidates, but this time of year, many other names make their way around, and the names in this fifth group are some to watch both in this cycle and in years to come. These are very capable personnel people who have just not hit the spotlight, or may have been stuck behind someone who has not properly positioned them.

Buying the Groceries
One of the most desirable jobs in all of sports is undoubtedly that of the general manager. A GM is generally responsible for the overall control and direction of the organization, including, perhaps most importantly, the success of the team on the field. But the question for NFL owners, who make the hiring decisions on the GM, is: Who is qualified for the job? To answer that, you need to understand the job. NFL analyst Pat Kirwan aptly summarized the difficulties of the GM position:

“[r]unning an NFL franchise isn’t easy. Can you evaluate personnel, manage a salary cap, negotiate contracts, select a head coach, handle the media, make tough decisions, cooperate with an owner, deal with the league office and, most importantly, carry out a vision for a winning franchise? If so, then you qualify for the job.”

Depending on the organizational structure, a GM may have decision-making authority or advisory input in all or most aspects of the club. The job description will certainly include football operations such as coach and staff selection, management of scouting departments, contract negotiations, and most importantly, player personnel decisions. It may also include business operational items such as finance, marketing, stadium development, media and community relations. As the business of the NFL has grown, so too have the legal, financial and operational complications therein. NFL front offices have consequently grown to cover these many areas. GMs now not only oversee a large, complex network of individuals working in a variety of fields, but also must be experts or near-experts in those fields.

No matter the approach, an NFL GM clearly has a difficult job in terms of building a championship roster. He must balance the salary cap, determine when to pay veteran players and when to let them go, decide whom the club will select in the draft and what trades are necessary, and must also work with other GMs to see if trades are available to improve the roster. All these moves should build a roster of 90 players that provide the coaching staff with enough talent to install its game plans. The GM then must whittle that roster down to 53 players with enough talent to perform on a high level on offense, defense and special teams, while still providing depth at each position. All of this must occur while managing the personalities in the locker room and among the coaching staff. This is not possible alone, therefore great GM’s surround themselves with talented scouts and personnel executives who can aid the GM in making the best decisions for the team.

The GM is generally responsible for not only choosing the players but also the selection of the head coach who will develop those players. So owners need to make their decisions on whom they want to run their football operation quickly as to be in position to maximize their head coach search. Over the last few years, teams have run simultaneous HC and GM searches for fear of losing candidates, something Steve Underwood of the Titans discussed this Tuesday in a press conference.

So in the aftermath of Black Monday and the pending changes to the top of many organizations, owners ask themselves: What type of leader do I want? An experienced personnel man that comes in with a proven plan? A younger executive with less experience but new and fresh ideas? Someone closer to the age of the owner who can relate to the boss? Someone who can recruit the best coach possible? A man who really knows the talent floating around the country in the draft and on the free agent market? How about a guy with a business-savvy approach?

There is no single right profile when it comes to hiring a GM. As with any human capital acquisition, the owner must decide what skills the organization has to have to be successful and ensure there is a plan to cover every aspect of running the organization. Teams have used many models and still made the playoffs; the owner model (Dallas and Cincinnati), the head coach model (New England, Seattle, New Orleans), and the traditional GM model (Baltimore, New York Giants, Green Bay, Pittsburgh and Arizona). As Jim Collins says, you have to get the right people ‘on the bus’ and ‘in the right seat’ in order to move forward successfully. So for this wave of GM hires, that means the owner and interview committee need to have a strong plan on how to identify, vet, and acquire the right person.

Follow Dan on Twitter @Dan_Hatman

She got absolutely punished and TKO'd in 48 seconds.

Login to view embedded media View: https://twitter.com/Real923LA/status/815074634424954882

My season seats are section 7L row 70 seats 13, 14 and 15 @ the 45 yd line.
If interested hit me up. Parking is a short walk to seats and in the structure. Easy in and out.
Thx
Don
Been a long season and change is here lets all hope we right this ship because I know our time is near.

I prefer the GM to pick the groceries for the chef. Now the chef as a given has input but he needs to allow/trust the GM to do his thang & vice versa.

From 2007 to 2016 the Rams compiled a record of 46 wins and 112 losses with 1 tie. In contrast, the Cleveland Browns, who many believe are the worst team in the NFL, over that same ten year span compiled a record of 48 wins and 111 losses(and they have a Factory of Sadness).

I don't know if we're all nuts or addicted or what. Seriously, what is wrong with us? But after all, the word "fan" is short for "fanatic."

So a big thanks goes to all ROD members who log on here every day(or whenever you have time) to make us think or laugh or argue with us. It would be weird to have no one to argue with but yourself. And to every Rams fan that comes here to just read the comments and articles, we know your pain.

2016 was a momentous year for our team, with relocation and now the housecleaning that is already in progress and will only accelerate beginning Monday. Like every fan of every sports team, hope springs eternal during the offseason. One way or another we will have much to discuss.

We salute you all!

Now lets watch Angus play his red Gibson SG.

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fPf6L0XNvM

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/12/30/nfl-coach-firings-black-monday-primer

NFL Black Monday: What to Expect as the Carousel Spins
Three teams already have sideline vacancies. Who’s next? Here’s a primer on what to watch for as Week 17 concludes, including a separation in San Diego, postseason or bust in Detroit and a potential rare coaching trade
by Albert Breer


Photo: Getty Images

Black Monday isn’t what it used to be.

The Rams and Jaguars are already in the thick of research to find new coaches. The Bills are getting their search started. And the 2016 season doesn’t even end for another couple days.

So some of the drama that usually lurks on the final Sunday and into Monday morning won’t be there the way it usually is.

But history says we’re not done yet. There have been a staggering 45 coaching changes over the past six years, with no less than seven in any single year over that stretch. That number—45—is even crazier when you consider 25 of the league’s 32 teams have accounted for all the changes.

Think that gives the seven clubs that have remained stable (Packers, Patriots, Ravens, Saints, Seahawks, Steelers, Bengals) an edge?

Some of the usual suspects will be back on the block again next week. Some, like the Bills and Jags—each looking for their fourth coach over that six-year stretch—are already there. It won’t lack drama or intrigue. So here, as the carousel starts to spin, and following weeks of conversations with people in front offices and on coaching staffs on these matters, are some things to keep an eye on …

THREE THINGS TO WATCH FOR

1. Postseason movement isn’t always only caused by terminations. Could we see a retirement or two? While neither has lent validity to the idea first-hand, there continues to be speculation in league circles about whether Arizona’s Bruce Arians or Denver’s Gary Kubiak could walk away in the near future. Both had health issues this year, and both had 2015 seasons that rubber-stamp their legacies as head coaches.

Arians is 64; Kubiak is 55. If either of those jobs were to open up, they’d be considered top-of-the-NFL type positions. And along those lines, there also have been questions about whether Packers GM Ted Thompson could retire after this season, with Eliot Wolf a potential heir to the throne his dad, Ron, once held.

2. Would the Saints trade Asshole Face a year after signing him to a five-year, $45 million contract extension? I know from having talked to Payton that he values living in New Orleans and being a short flight away from watching his son play high school football in Dallas. But the potential lure of California (where his daughter is in college) has come up before. That could put the Rams in play again, as they would’ve been if they’d had an opening last year.

And I wouldn’t rule out the Rams doing a deal, provided they’re comfortable that Payton still has the drive he had in rebuilding the Saints. But remember, L.A. doesn’t have a ton to give after last year’s trade for Jared Goff, and the Rams sort of went down that high-profile road before with Jeff Fisher. My sense is the Saints, after 11 years with Payton, would listen if another team came calling.

3. What do the Colts do? This will be the second straight year that Indianapolis has failed to make the playoffs, and the Texans and Titans both appear to be ascending in what has been a soft AFC South. That said, I don’t think owner Jim Irsay cuts the cord with Chuck Pagano and Ryan Grigson.

There are three years remaining on their contracts, and the team’s history suggests that the Colts would be hesitant to eat all that dough in order to make a change, plus Grigson put into motion a renewed focus on making the team younger this year.

THREE THINGS THAT ARE ASSUMED

1. A divorce in San Diego. Chargers coach Mike McCoy survived last year, and got a one-year extension in the process to ensure he wouldn’t be a lame duck in 2016. The Chargers will finish with double-digit losses for the second straight season. Now, McCoy has dealt with horrific injury luck and the looming presence of a potential move to L.A. two years in a row, so it’s not like this is all on him.

And I think the line of teams waiting to hire him as a coordinator are proof that the Bolts should think hard about this before pulling the trigger. But there is a feeling in league circles that this one is a fait accompli. Potential mitigating factor: If the Chargers are moving, it’d be tough to run a proper coaching search. Would that stop the Spanos family from making a change? Probably not.

2. The Niners are going to be making changes. The brass has already begun looking at every facet of its operation to determine what has gone so terribly wrong over the past three years. Chances are, the fix will start with a new general manager to take Trent Baalke’s place. (Eliot Wolf’s name has been bandied about here, too.)

The Niners like coach Chip Kelly and what he’s done through a trying year, but his future likely won’t be determined until the GM situation is sorted out. Is that fair? Kelly was handed a bottom-three roster and the team has continued to fight, so the fair thing would be to let him find a quarterback.

The truth is, it’d look a little ridiculous to drop the hammer considering the circumstances, and it wouldn’t make anyone look good to have consecutive head coach one-and-dones. But the NFL isn’t a fair place, and this will likely be a different-looking organization in 2017.

3. Something has to happen in Cincinnati. Marvin Lewis’ contract expires after 2017. Three years in a row he’s gotten a one-year extension. He’s been adamant over the past few weeks that he’s not retiring. So do the Bengals give him another one-year deal? Do they extend him long-term?

Last year Lewis and Hue Jackson discussed a potential succession plan, before Lewis’ OC left for Cleveland, so it’s not as if he hasn’t contemplated walking away. Next year would be Lewis’ 15th as Bengals coach.

THREE THINGS THAT GAMES COULD INFLUENCE

1. Playoffs or bust for Caldwell? Most people would agree that Jim Caldwell has assembled a rock-solid staff and generally done a good job since taking over in Detroit in 2014. If the Lions win Sunday, they’ll be playoff-bound for the second time in three years, the first such stretch since the ’90s. If they lose? Well, there are least some on staff who feel uneasy about their futures.

By all accounts Caldwell and GM Bob Quinn have forged a great working relationship. But sometimes a new GM wants his own guy. And because 2017 is the final year of Caldwell’s contract, and someone like Quinn’s former staffmate Josh McDaniels might be off the market after this January, it seems like this would be the time for Quinn to decide if Caldwell’s the coach to whom he wants to hitch his future.

2. Bye-week interviews. Three offensive coordinators figure to be in play for a number of places—McDaniels, Atlanta’s Kyle Shanahan and Dallas’ Scott Linehan. It’s likely all three will have byes next week and thus have the chance to interview. What’s less certain is when any of the three will be available to actually hire.

Would a team be willing to wait until after the Super Bowl to poach one of them? The Falcons—who waited for Dan Quinn two years ago—would be one example of the benefit of showing patience. After all, if these are viewed as 10-year decisions for franchises, what’s a couple weeks?

3. Lasting impression in Chicago and Minnesota. The Vikings and Bears played Halloween night at Soldier Field. In the time since, the rivals are a collective 3-12. They play again Sunday in Minneapolis. The future for both teams is interesting.

Speculation about John Fox’s job status has run rampant the past couple months. The Vikings could be looking at some more subtle changes in the wake of their second-half collapse. In both cases, you get the feeling the final impression the team leaves will mean something.

In light of Wentz buying his OL shotguns, here are some thoughtful gift ideas for his offense:

For the OL near to his heart portable turnstiles! At the low price of less than 4k each it would be a very affordable way to demonstrate his affection for the way they have helped keep defenders at bay.

For the WRs and TEs who have supported him and Keenum so well by demonstrating such superior hands the obvious choice is their own juggs machines. Not that they'll use them or anything.

Lastly, for Scott Boras and Mr. Weinke and the rest of the soon-departing staff what could be more valuable than some good reading material? Yes indeed, the gift that keeps giving while they continue their coaching tours at remote state technical universities all across the US.

http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2016/1...ents-tj-mcdonald-trumaine-johnson-case-keenum

The Los Angeles Rams had their work cut out for them prior to the 2016 season...especially on the defensive side of the football, where they’re strongest.

But as the dust settled on the last free agency period, the Rams lost quite a bit. Arguably the best cornerback on their team, Janoris Jenkins signed with the New York Giants. He’s ballin’.

Free safety Rodney McLeod also found himself in the NFC East with the Eagles.

The Rams had no answer at filling their spots, and what they intended on doing didn’t come close to replicating their level of play.

And with one week left in the regular season, it’s safe to say the Rams (4-11) can turn their attention to the offseason. Because the Rams have more work - maybe more than last year - to do prior to the 2017 year.

The Rams will soon name a new head coach. And with him, a new staff. The scheme will change. The personnel will change. Things will change.

And looking at the upcoming year, there are nine Rams who may have already played their last game in a Rams’ uniform.

Here’s their list of 2017 unrestricted free agents:

(CB) Trumaine Johnson (26)
He may have been the best corner on the team when Janoris was in town. He’s clearly the best in his absence. And it’s not even close. He should be a priority for the Rams, but the price tag may dictate whether or not he’s retained.

Spotrac has him valued (in 2017) at 4 years, $57M ($14M per year)

(WR) Kenny Britt (28)
28 years young, Kenny Britt has been a bright spot on the Rams’ offense in 2016. He’s their biggest receiving threat, and surpassed the 1,000 yard last week...something that hasn’t been accomplished since Torry Holt in 2007.

Spotrac has him valued (in 2017) at 3 years, $20.1M ($6.7M per year)

(QB) Case Keenum (28)
Case is an admirable backup. And at the same time, there might be a younger, more viable suitor at his position. Having a veteran QB as a backup is nice...but I think the fans are hoping to see more of Sean Mannion.

(WR) Brian Quick (27)
What more do you need to see?

(RB) Benny Cunningham (26)
There was a slight fear that Benny would be lost in free agency prior to the onset of the 2016 season. He’s a very solid RB2 (averaging 4.8 ypc on limited work) and has performed admirably as a kick returner for the Rams. Oddly, despite his contributions, it seems as though he may be on his way out.

(K) Greg Zuerlein (29)
It’s hit or miss with Greg. And that’s reality. And when did he get so football old?!

(RB) Chase Reynolds (29)
A special teams savant. He’s occupying a space on the active roster for special teams’ purposes only. I can’t imagine he’s brought back with Jeff Fisher out of the picture.

(DE) Cam Thomas (30)
Flip a coin. Cam has been on the field quite a bit this year. He’s a depth player, and wouldn’t make a significant impact on the salary cap regardless.

(S) T.J. McDonald (25)
A bone cruncher in the secondary, McDonald is entering the final year of his rookie deal. He’ll make more highlight reel hits than INT’s, but should definitely be in consideration to be re-signed, regardless of whether or not Gregg Williams sticks.

Are any of these guys top priorities in the upcoming offseason? Who should they aim to keep? And who is free to a new home?

http://www.scout.com/nfl/rams/story/1741483-jared-goff-keen-to-carson-palmer-s-advice

Heading into his final game of his rookie campaign, Los Angeles Rams rookie quarterback Jared Goff has dealt with plenty of struggles in his first NFL season.

The 22-year-old has the weight of expectations thrust on his shoulders as the first overall pick in this year's draft with the hope that he can not only become the team's franchise quarterback but also lead them to success. It's something that Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer can draw many similarities from his own experience.

Palmer was the first overall pick of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals coming off a record-setting senior year at USC where he won the Heisman Trophy. Despite the Bengals already having a veteran quarterback in Jon Kitna in place, he was viewed as the future of the organization. Along those same lines, he has come to understand how to handle those lofty expectations that come with the territory.

In response to that, he has been able to put together a productive career that includes earning the AFC Player of the Year award (2005), NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2015), a Second-Team All-Pro selection, and three Pro Bowl nods while playing for the Bengals, Oakland Raiders, and Cardinals. He has thrown the seventh-highest amount of passing yards since entering the league, which ranks him 14th all-time in NFL history.

Although he is experiencing a sub-par 2016 season, Palmer is just a year removed from his best individual campaign where he set Cardinals' single-season records for passing yards (4,671), touchdowns (35), and passer rating (104.6). Ahead of the season finale, the 37-year-old offered some strong words of advice for the Rams' quarterback.

“I think when you go through struggles early and bad things happen early, I think it’s so important to learn from them and not bury them away and be disappointed by them," Palmer said. "Using all those experiences, every experience your first couple of years, re-watching that game film, even though it’s a loss and it’s hard to watch, watch it over and over and over again and take something from it – versus this coverage, I should have done this or versus this blitz, I should have done this.

"It’s so easy to sit there and fast forward through it, seeing yourself get sacked or whatever it is that happens. Making sure you file that away in your brain and notebooks and however it is that you study and you go about your business and your studying, using those as opportunities to learn from.”

Goff has already experienced much of that through his first six starts. He has posted 969 yards on a 53.5 completion percentage while throwing five touchdowns, seven interceptions, and holds a 25.0 quarterback rating. This includes recording at least one interception in four out of the six games played while passing for fewer than 200 yards four times.

With all that mind, Goff plans on taking Palmer's advice to heart moving forward in his own career.

“Definitely," Goff said. "I’ve learned from my mistakes since OTAs, I think all the way through summer, through training camp, up until this point, in-game experience and in practice – continuing to learn, continuing to get better. Understand that you’re going to make mistakes and try not to make them twice. That’s kind of what I’ve done. So, that does resonate a lot.”

Goff believes that Palmer has been a great source of inspiration given the manner that his career has unfolded earning numerous accolades for his success on the field throughout his 15 years in the league.

“Yeah. I think him and a lot of guys," Goff said. "You look around, a lot of guys ended up being really good, that as rookies weren’t very good. There’s prime examples in the league right now – teams that have turned it around. In reference to us, I kind of expect a similar thing to happen in the future. ”

On a similar note, he took the initiative vocally following last Saturday's loss to San Francisco 49ersvowingthat he would do "everything in my heart and soul to get it all fixed."

This was something that he reiterated on Wednesday placing more emphasis on the confidence that he has that the Rams can follow through on his high aspirations.

“I want the people that truly support us and the people that are truly supportive to understand that its growing pains – it’s not easy for us and it’s certainly not easy for them," Goff said. "We’re going to come out of it. I’m positive it’s going to happen. It may not be overnight, but it will happen and it’s going to happen with the people in this building.”

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/a...-for-the-best-and-worst-nfl-signings-of-2016/

The 2016 regular season is coming to a close, which means it's time to hand out honors for the best and worst signings. This is the fourth consecutive year that I've assessed the NFL's financial landscape through awards for CBSSports.com. These awards differ from the traditional NFL honors because they are from an economic perspective emphasizing 2016 veteran acquisitions. Players acquired by trades or in free agency can have a tremendous impact on an NFL team's fortunes. Rookies weren't given any consideration because their salaries are a function of draft position and the rookie wage scale.

Here is the good, bad and ugly when it comes to free-agent signings in 2016:

Most Valuable Acquisition

DeMarco Murray RB / Tennessee Titans

Murray has bounced back in a big way after failing to live up the expectations of the five-year, $40 million free agent contract he received from the Eaglesin 2015. That deal included $21 million in guarantees and was worth a maximum of $42 million through salary escalators. Murray was traded to the Titans early this past offseason in an exchange of 2016 fourth-round picks following an awful 2015.

Murray was the NFL Offensive Player of Year in 2014 after rushing 392 times for 1,892 yards behind the Great Wall of Dallas. But he was a bust in Philly the following season. He accrued the second-worst rushing total in his five NFL seasons -- 702 yards -- on a career low 3.6 yards per carry in 2015. In the trade to the Titans, Murray cut $5.45 million out of the remaining four years of his contract while adding $1.85 million of annual incentives to make the trade work.

Murray has thrived as the workhorse running back in head coach Mike Mularkey's "exotic smashmouth" offense. He's third in the NFL with 1,266 rushing yards and tied for sixth with 12 touchdowns. A receiving threat out of the backfield, Murray has also caught 52 passes for 379 yards. He is fourth in the NFL with 1,645 yards from scrimmage (combined rushing and receiving yards) and was selected to his third Pro Bowl this season.

Murray has been a major catalyst in the Titans going from securing the rights to the first overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft with a 3-13 record in 2015 to staying in playoff contention up until losing to the Jags in Week 16. The Titans are assured of finishing with at least a .500 record regardless of the outcome in the season finale.

Runner-up: Patriots TE Martellus Bennett

Least Valuable Acquisition

Brock Osweiler QB / Houston Texans

The Texans giving Osweiler a four-year, $72 million contract containing $37 million fully guaranteed after just seven career starts has been a complete disaster. Texans owner Bob McNair, desperate for a significant upgrade at quarterback over the much-maligned Brian Hoyer, made the deal with little input from head coach Bill O'Brien. Instead of being the answer at quarterback, Osweiler's play has almost made the Texans long for the days when Matt Schaub was a pick-six machine in 2013. The Texans have defended their AFC South title in spite of the big-money free agent.

Osweiler ranked near the bottom in a majority of major statistical categories before losing his starting job to Tom Savage when he was pulled from Week 15's contest against the Jaguars. He has completed 59.5 percent of his passes (280 of 470 attempts), which ranks 25th in the NFL. Osweiler's 71.4 passer rating is 29th out of the 30 quarterbacks with enough pass attempts to qualify for league rankings. His 16 interceptions are tied for the fourth-most in the NFL. With only 14 touchdown passes (tied for 26th in the NFL), he is one of three qualified passers, along with Ryan Fitzpatrick and Case Keenum, that have a negative touchdown-to-interception ratio.


Brock Osweiler has been a complete disaster in Houston. USATSI

Osweiler's play has neutered DeAndre Hopkins. He has been unable to develop chemistry with Houston's best and most dangerous offensive weapon. Hopkins arguably had the most impressive 2015 season of any wide receiver (111 catches/1,521 yards/11 touchdowns) considering he had a bunch of mediocre-at-best quarterbacks (Hoyer, Ryan Mallett, Brandon Weeden and T.J. Yates) throwing to him. The 2015 All-Pro only has 71 catches for 831 yards and four touchdowns this season.

The Texans can't realistically move on from Osweiler after this season because his $16 million 2017 base salary is fully guaranteed. Osweiler's dismal play and the guarantee destroy his trade value. His 2017 salary cap number is $19 million. Houston would have a $25 million cap charge by releasing Osweiler. This is because of the guarantee and $6 million of signing bonus proration from his 2018 and 2019 contract years immediately hitting Houston's books. It isn't helpful for Houston to prevent the future bonus proration from accelerating onto the 2017 salary cap by waiting until June 2 to release Osweiler or giving him a post-June 1 designation. There would still be a $19 million salary cap charge next year, which is the same as his 2017 cap number, under these circumstances.

Osweiler being a colossal failure with a limited track record should serve as a cautionary tale for other teams. It remains to be seen if fiscal restraint is exercised if New England trades 2014 second-round pick Jimmy Garoppolo, who has two career starts and will be in a contract year in 2017, to a quarterback-needy team in the offseason. The same goes for impending free agent Mike Glennon. He has hardly played in his two seasons as Jameis Winston's backup with the Buccaneers.

Runners Up: Buccaneers RB Doug Martin; Dolphins DE Mario Williams; Cowboys MLB Rolando McClain

Offensive Signing of the Year

LeGarrette Blount RB / New England Patriots

Blount languished on the open market for about month before returning to the Patriots on a one-year, $1-million deal worth up to $2 million through incentives. He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Month for September because he helped keep the Patriots afloat with a 3-1 record while Tom Bradyserved his four game Deflategate suspension. Blount has a career high 1,110 rushing yards, which is eighth-most in the NFL. He also has a league-leading 17 rushing touchdowns. Blount has nearly doubled his 2016 compensation by earning $750,000 of his incentives for reaching the 1,100 rushing yard mark.

Runners-up: Texans RB Lamar Miller (RB); Ravens WR Mike Wallace

Defensive Signing of the Year

Casey Hayward CB / San Diego Chargers

Green Bay's loss has been San Diego's gain. Packers general manager Ted Thompson let Hayward walk because of perceived depth at cornerback. Hayward could only muster a three-year, $15.3 million deal in free agency from the Chargers. Expected to be San Diego's third cornerback, Hayward has been up to the task of increased responsibility and tougher assignments with Jason Verrett tearing an ACL four games into the season and Brandon Flowers missing a majority of games because of two concussions.

Hayward has earned his first Pro Bowl berth this season. He leads the NFL with seven interceptions and 27 pass breakups. The four-year, $36.1 million contract that Flowers signed in 2015 illustrates how much of bargain Hayward is. The $18 million fully guaranteed in Flowers' deal is more than Hayward's entire three-year contract.

Runners-up: Bills OLB Lorenzo Alexander; Ravens safety Eric Weddle; Giantsfree-agent spending spree (DT Damon Harrison, CB Janoris Jenkins and DE Olivier Vernon)

Biggest Steal

Lorenzo Alexander OLB / Buffalo Bills

The Bills never imagined Alexander would make a tremendous defensive impact when he was given a one-year deal at his league minimum of $885,000. The 33-year-old journeyman was expected to contribute primarily on special teams. 2016 first round pick Shaq Lawson's rookie minicamp shoulder injury, which required surgery and kept him out of action for the first six games, opened the door for Alexander.

He started the season with a seven-game sack streak and earned AFC Defensive Player of the Month honors for October. Alexander was leading the NFL in sacks until a midseason hamstring injury slowed him. He is tied for fourth in the NFL with 11.5 sacks. Alexander earned a Pro Bowl berth because of his emergence as a sack artist at such a late stage in his career. Prior to this season, Alexander had nine sacks during his nine-year NFL career. If Mario Williams had performed in 2015 like Alexander is currently, the Bills may have been willing to pay him his scheduled $14.5 million salary on a $19.9 million cap number this season instead of releasing him in March.


Lorenzo Alexander has been a pleasant surprise in Buffalo. USATSI

Runners-up: Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount; Bills ILB Zach Brown

Best Use of a Contract Year

Terrelle Pryor WR / Cleveland Browns

Pryor has successfully made a difficult transition from quarterback to legitimate starting wide receiver in the NFL. He emerged as Cleveland's best and most reliable receiving option due to 2016 15th-overall pick Corey Coleman missing several games with a broken hand and Josh Gordon's indefinite suspension for repeated violations of the NFL's Substance Abuse Policy.

Pryor leads the Browns with 70 receptions, 913 receiving yards and four touchdown catches. Although Pryor has a knack for getting under the skin of opposing defensive backs with excessive trash talk, retaining the 6-foot-4, 223-pound speedster is a priority for the Browns. Preliminary contract extension talks were reportedly held with Drew Rosenhaus, Pryor's agent, earlier in the season. The $10,012,500 per-year offseason extension Rosenhaus got Allen Hurns from the Jaguars, which helps set the market for No. 2 wide receivers, could be the salary floor for the converted quarterback.

Runners-up: Texans CB A.J. Bouye; Redskins QB Kirk Cousins

Worst Use of a Contract Year

Michael Floyd WR / New England Patriots

A disappointing season got worse when Floyd was arrested on December 12 with a blood alcohol level close to three times the legal limit after falling asleep in the driver's seat of his running car at a traffic light. He was released by the Cardinals a couple of days later. The Patriots extended an NFL lifeline to Floyd by claiming him through waivers. Since Arizona has one of the nation's toughest DUI laws, Floyd could be facing jail time. Suspensions under the NFL's Substance Abuse and Personal Conduct Policies could be in order.


Michael Floyd has cost himself serious free-agent money. USATSI

Prior to his release, Floyd was having the worst season of his five-year NFL career with 33 catches for 446 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. A one-year prove-it deal in the $3 million to $4 million neighborhood with incentives where as much as $5.5 million could be made, like Michael Crabtree and Hakeem Nicks previously signed, is probably on the horizon since a long-term deal to Floyd's liking is unlikely to materialize in free agency.

Runner-up: Ryan Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick

Best Contract Year Extension (for a team)

Spencer Ware RB / Kansas City Chiefs

Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West signed identical $4.2 million contracts (worth a maximum of $8.2 million with salary escalators) in the offseason covering three years. In Ware's case, it's a two-year extension with a base value of $3.6 million since he was already under contract this season for $600,000. Ware is taking advantage of the increased workload created by Jamaal Charles' knee problems. He has a career high 921 rushing yards this season, which was increased his 2017 base salary from $700,000 to $1.3 million. It will be $1.9 million if Ware can gain 79 yards on the ground against the Chargers in the season finale to reach 1,000 yards.

Either way, Ware is tremendous value compared to Charles, who he is replacing. Charles is making $5,187,500 this season. The success over the last two seasons largely without Charles and Ware's emergence probably means Charles' days in Kansas City are numbered. The 30-year-old is scheduled to make $7 million next season.

Runners-up: Falcons OT Ryan Schraeder; Titans TE Delanie Walker

Worst Contract Year Extension (for a team)

Tavon Austin WR / Los Angeles Rams

Mark Barron capitalizing on the Rams declining his fifth option year may have influenced the decision to pick up Austin's $12.268 million fifth-year option for 2017 when the 2013 eighth overall pick's production hadn't warranted it. Austin had career bests of 52 receptions, 473 receiving yards and five touchdown catches in 2015 when the option was exercised. He also rushed for a career high 434 yards on 52 attempts (8.3 yards per carry) and added another 284 yards returning kicks last season.

The Rams doubled down on their faith in Austin by giving him a head-scratching four-year extension averaging approximately $10.5 million per year with $28.5 million of guarantees during the preseason. The deal could easily be worth a lot more because of $14 million of incentives and base salary escalators, which wouldn't be too hard to achieve with Austin producing like a good wide receiver. 1,000 combined receiving and rushing yards this season is worth $250,000. Every 125 combined yards up to 1,375 is worth an extra $250,000, except the highest threshold also requires at least nine wins by the Rams or a playoff berth. The amount earned would also be added to Austin's 2017 base salary.


The Rams grossly overpaid for Tavon Austin. USATSI

If Austin's performance remotely matched his contract, making a minimum of $1 million annually under these clauses would be a realistic possibility. There are also annual incentives for touchdowns between $250,000 and $500,000 with 10 scores as the highest threshold. Since Austin currently has 648 combined yards (491 receiving and 157 rushing) and four touchdowns, he won't earn anything this season.

Austin's contract is not only a headache for the Rams but the rest of the NFL. Kenny Britt, the Rams' leading receiver with 68 receptions, 1,002 yards and five touchdown catches, is in his contract year. It's going to be hard for the Rams to justify offering him less than Austin to re-sign when he is almost twice as productive. Other impending free-agent wide receivers, such as Pryor, DeSean Jackson and Kenny Stills, are likely to use Austin's deal as a salary benchmark for their own contracts.

Had the Rams passed on Austin's fifth-year option, which would have been a reasonable decision, he would have become an unrestricted free agent after this season and he could have been re-signed for pennies on the dollar. It's highly unlikely a strong free agent market would have developed for him.

Runner-up: Panthers OT Michael Oher

Rams' coaching search adds uncertainty for undrafted rookies

By JACK WANG / STAFF WRITER

THOUSAND OAKS – On Christmas Eve, Paul McRoberts and Aaron Green made their NFL debuts, officially suiting up eight months after they signed with the Rams. Their days with the team, however, could be numbered.

The two are among the seven undrafted rookies currently on the Rams’ 53-man roster, a list that also includes offensive tackle Pace Murphy, linebackers Cory Littleton and Nic Grigsby, defensive end Morgan Fox, and cornerback Mike Jordan. The team ends the regular season Sunday at the Coliseum against the Cardinals, which could be the last chance for these first-year players to make a case for their long-term futures.

The Rams, of course, fired Head coach Jeff Fisher earlier this month. That means these rookies, who already entered the league as underdogs, will have to impress a whole new coaching staff – one that will likely pore over this season’s game film to decide which players are worth keeping.

Does that add any extra pressure this weekend?

“Nah, not necessarily,” said Green, who ran for 1,272 yards in his final season at TCU but has taken only four snaps for the Rams – all on special teams. “I know how good I am. I trust my abilities. Regardless of who comes in, I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

“It’s uncertainty, but you’ve just got to go with the flow of life,” McRoberts added. “It’s out of your control, at the end of the day.”

Confidence can’t hurt, though it won’t change daunting odds. When the Rams changed coaches five years ago, they ended the 2011 season with four undrafted rookies on their active roster. Fullback Ben Guidugli never dressed for a game, while offensive lineman Kevin Hughes and cornerback Chris Smith each played in three. None of them lasted past the following August – or made another NFL appearance.

There is reason for hope. Fisher, who was then replacing Steve Spagnuolo, did retain longsnapper Jake McQuaide. Center Tim Barnes and running back Chase Reynolds also stuck around after spending the entire 2010 campaign on the practice squad. All three have become mainstays in the locker room, though Reynolds is playing out the one-year contract.

And considering that many current rookies are only getting playing time because of injuries, they have little room for error. Green and McRoberts were promoted from the practice squad a week ago, after the Rams placed second-year receiver Bradley Marquez on injured reserve. Fox was promoted after the team ruled out starting defensive end Robert Quinn for the rest of the season.

But no one caught a bigger break than Jordan, who joined the active 53 shortly after fellow cornerback Troy Hill’s DUI arrest in November. With Hill waived and demoted to the practice squad for several weeks, Jordan started two games for a secondary that was also missing starter E.J. Gaines.

While he didn’t criticize Hill by name, Jordan did mention his ability to “stay focused, stay out of trouble” as one of the reasons behind his own success.

“A lot of people, including me, are new to this L.A. lifestyle, you know what I mean?” Jordan said. “So just not being one of those guys who have to go out every single night. Things like that. A lot of people don’t know how to handle themselves, and they get in trouble with the lifestyle.”

INJURY REPORT

The Rams (4-11) did not practice Thursday, but listed three starters as non-participants on their estimated injury report: receiver Kenny Britt (shoulder), defensive back Lamarcus Joyner (ankle), and right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle). McRoberts could get more playing time as a reserve if Britt sits out the season finale, and Murphy could potentially replace Havenstein in the starting lineup.

Starting safety Maurice Alexander (concussion) and rookie receiver Mike Thomas (hip) were both listed as limited.

[www.ocregister.com]

For all of those interested in OL play, Geoff Schwartz (former NFL OL) wrote an interesting article on how NFL teams help out their OLs:
http://www.sbnation.com/2016/12/27/14066912/nfl-pass-protection-offensive-line-how-to

I recommend giving it a read. I'll be keeping an eye out in the Arizona game to see what sort of help we give our OLs.

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I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. -Michael Jordan

Foxsports recently named Linehan as one of five NFL coordinators who will become head coaches in 2017, so his inclusion on the NFL's list shouldn't come as too big a surprise.

The Cowboys are third in yards, fourth in points, first in rushing and are 8-1 – all of this with rookies at quarterback and running back. Linehan has done a remarkable job devising a game plan and scheme that suits Dak Prescott’s game. While he’s certainly great in the pocket, Linehan has drawn up more moving pockets, more read-option, and simpler reads for Prescott than he would have with Tony Romo under center. He took a seemingly disastrous situation with Romo and Bryant injured yet again and turned Dallas into the league’s best team.

Linehan had a brief head coaching stint with the Rams from 2006-08, going 11-25 in that span. He rebounded by working with Matthew Stafford and the Lions for a few years before joining the Cowboys last year. Dallas would love to have him back in 2017, but he might choose to test the waters as a head coach somewhere.

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/gallery/nfl-head-coach-coordinators-2017-patriots-cowboys-eagles-111816

Login to view embedded media View: https://mobile.twitter.com/oakposts/status/814325470351106048/video/1

I know this is not the Rams. But I figured we could take the time to appreciate a young, intelligent QB who really takes command of his team. The guy is a leader in a half and knows exactly where his guys need to be. Love when he screamed at the receiver for not running a go route.

He was even calm when he broke his leg. Hard not to root for the guy.

This Idea came to me, and it only took about 5 minutes to write:"Coach Fassel, You have stated you have a Brief motivational speech in mind for your pre-game speech this week-end. Here is one for you to use If you wish!

" Gentleman, this week you have done what others won't do so today you can accomplish what other can't! Now is the time to do it!

There are important people to your career watching, and a lot of Loyal Fans!"

I want you to go out there and keep one thing in mind. As the Great Jack Youngblood has said. Play every snap as if it was the final snap of your career!! Because Gentleman it Damn well could be!!
Now on 3 GO RAMS!!
Please use any or all of this, as you wish! Signed Dave Fan since 1951!!"

Any thoughts!? Am I right of Full of shit again!?!

Rams insider Myles Simmons and Super Bowl Champion DT D’Marco Farr recap Los Angeles’ loss to San Francisco, examine why LT Greg Robinson was deactivated for a second time, and discuss how attractive the Rams’ head coaching job might be compared to others around the league.

Listen to Between the Horns Podcast


Go to the 34 minute point for Coaching discussion

Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins is still benefiting from his work with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, which is one reason the Rams would be smart to go after Shanahan, now offensive coordinator of the Falcons. (AP Photo/Richard Lipski)

Kirk Cousins didn’t get much playing time as a rookie quarterback with Washington in 2012.

As a lowly fourth-round pick playing for a team that just invested three first-round draft picks to move in position to draft Robert Griffin III second overall, he was destined to be a sideline mainstay.

Especially with RG3 on his way to a Rookie of the Year season while pushing Washington to the playoffs,

As professionally frustrating as that season might have been, it wasn’t a total waste for Cousins, who eventually supplanted RG3 and now has Washington on the brink of the playoffs.

In fact, the insight he gained observing then Washington offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan provided a class study in game-planning and play-calling. The lessons from which Cousins still marvels at to this day.

Albeit from afar now that Shanahan has moved on to the Atlanta Falcons.

Which brings us to the Rams and their coaching search, which kicks into high gear next week when they finally get to sit down with current NFL assistant coaches for interviews.

Shanahan sits among the top of potential candidates for the Rams, and for good reason.

In need of vision, imagination, a proven track record of developing, fine tuning and pushing multiple quarterbacks and teams to high-level offensive plateaus, Shanahan checks off almost all the boxes the Rams should be mindful of as they prepare to make one of the most important decisions in franchise history.

Just listen to what Cousins had to say about his former coach last year ahead of a Washington-Atlanta showdown.

“When you look at creativity and the ability to not be predictable, I was on the Redskins with Kyle, knew the system and didn’t know what was coming,” Cousins said. “I don’t mean to say he was pulling stuff out of left field. The ability to be thinking of the next play and being a step ahead, I think there’s a level of having the innate ability to do it that requires a quick mind. Kyle has that.”

It’s something Cousins immediately realized.

“I remember our very first game against the Saints, when Robert Griffin and I were rookies,” he explained. “I remember calling my dad after the game and saying, ‘I cannot believe how well-called that game was.’ They kept the Saints on their toes the whole game. They had no idea what was coming next. All of it was positive plays that put (Griffin) and the offense in a good situation to be successful. So, that was kind of my first taste of how good of a play-caller Kyle really was.”

If you’re the Rams, this should leave your ears ringing.

Even though it only scratches the surface of why the 37-year-old Shanahan makes so much sense for them.

As we’ve all seen this year, the Rams are in desperate need of an offensive overhaul as they try to grow and prosper around rookie quarterback Jared Goff.

From scheme to talent to play calling, to position development , nothing short of a complete renovation is required.

Short of prying a proven head coach away from his present job, the Rams will look to current coordinators for their next head coach. Almost undoubtedly one with an offensive track record.

Shanahan and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are the two most popular names, but while McDaniels’ resume is limited to working with Tom Brady and a complete nosedive in his two years as head coach of the Denver Broncos, Shanahan brings a wide-ranging resume that includes successful coordinator stops with Houston, Washington and now Atlanta.

In fact, RGIII, Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, and the Falcons’ Matt Ryan have all had their best seasons working under Shanahan, who also oversaw strong running games at all three stops.

You can argue McDaniels is simply the product of working with Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Brady.

But with Shanahan, you’re talking about someone whose scheme, system and expertise have consistently resulted in top-10 offenses. It’s an attack based on a quick-strike, rhythm passing game that can get aggressive downfield in a hurry by spreading the ball around with boot-leg action quarterback roll-outs and a wide-zone run game grandfathered to him by zone-blocking guru Alex Gibbs, the offensive line coach under Shanahan’s father, Mike, during their time with the Denver Broncos.

The result being a balanced attack everywhere Shanahan has laid down roots.

It’s a resume that’s rightfully grabbed the attention of the Rams, who desperately need someone to bring out in Goff and young running back Todd Gurley everything they have to offer.

But also re-tool and develop an offensive line and overhaul a wide receiver group that presently strikes fear in no one.

That isn’t to say Shanahan will work immediate miracles if he’s hired.

But with a body of work like that, he’s exactly what the Rams should be focused on.

And if it means his father joining him in some capacity, preferably in a position that impacts personnel, all the better.

After all, with the Rams in need of a talent infusion along the offensive line and at wide receiver, you could do worse than Mike Shanahan calling those shots. And with his son making the transition from assistant to head coach, he wouldn’t be a bad confidante to have nearby.

The Rams figure to touch base with a number of candidates over the next few weeks.

But from this vantage point, Kyle Shanahan is well qualified.

Bonsignore: Here's why Kyle Shanahan should be high on Rams' coaching search list