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http://www.footballzebras.com/2016/12/13/week-15-referee-assignments-2016/

Rams at Seahawks — Brad Allen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brad_Allen

Allen's 2016 NFL officiating crew consists of umpire Fred Bryan, head linesman Jim Mello, line judge Tom Symonette, field judge Tom Hill, side judge David Meslow, and back judge Shawn Hochuli (the son of senior NFL referee Ed Hochuli).

I feel as if the Rams are going to make a push for a big name coach that will generate a lot of buzz. In order to get that coach the Rams will have to give a bunch of control to that coach. The Rams did the same with Fisher. I think that's the wrong move. I think they are better off getting a top notch President/GM who can identify talent and have them be the boss of the coach. It just seems like when you give one guy that much power things tend to get off track.

Colin Cowherd said it on the radio as well but...

Could you cheer for good ol Pete Cheat?

I was wondering that...

We don't know if Les Snead will survive as GM, but at least he's a football person.

If he doesn't survive, what other football people are in the building? That's an honest question.

Kevin Demoff is NOT a football person and should have zero say in football operations. I think something about this was mentioned on Skip and Shannon, but I haven't gotten on Youtube, yet.

So, if Les Snead isn't part of the decision, who is going to be at the vanguard in selecting the next Rams HC?

Or are the Rams going to pick a GM first? or perhaps hire them in tandem? And if in tandem, how does that work? How would the evaluation of the HC candidates work in that case?

The logistics of this process evades me.

I'm the pattern guy and this process is already starting out to be...problematic. Not saying the end product will be bad. Hopefully, it will be fantastic.

That said, this process can't be done in the same way as Demoff does business development.

It's football. It just isn't the same.

I think we have a top 10 team on paper, but they are very young and make too many mistakes. Most people don't see it this way though, I think a coach would jump on a chance to coach this much talen. What do you guys honestly think ? Are we a playoff team with new leadership ? Or are we years away still ?

OK, so the masses have been heard and Fisher has been forced out. This is not a debate on whether or not this should happened, this is merely a take on what I'm concerned about now that we are moving on without him.

1) Special Teams. Yes Fassel coaches these guys. But one cannot argue that ST superiority is on par with, if not above, the ground and pound philosophy for Fisher. Fassel was the perfect guy to run JF's vision here. Were they perfect? No. Too many BS penalties on returns. But the threat of fakes has played a big part in Hekker's domination, don't kid yourself. I would hate to take a step back here, as many coaches view this third squad as an afterthought.

CRAZY NOTE: I actually think they didn't fake enough. When they faked this year, they picked the single worst time to do it. Although the THREAT definitely yielded dividends, I actually would have loved to see HS QB Hekker throw more. Why not come out in punt formation on third and long? We never converted anyway. This could have given JH the option of throwing or punting. Even throwing it away would be fine. Just punt on 4th. Anyway, I digress..

2) Professionalism. Towards the end, the stress clearly got to JF and I bet he'd take back a few of his recent actions, but along the way he took a JOKE of a front-office and mismanaged Ram team and replaced it with credibility. We started to beat the Seahawks for a change. We weren't concerned about the equipment guy getting fired for no reason. I actually enjoyed listening to his weekly Jeff Fisher show and gained insight into some of the behind the scenes nuances that I missed during Sunday's game. I hope the new guy brings at least this to the table.

3) Defense. It's one thing to claim you are a defense minded coach. JF proved this from his playing days to his DC selection, to his draft capital. This is a good defense. We'd be reaping the proper rewards if we weren't such a fustercluck on offense. Even the GSoT was able to do what they did because they had a good (way underrated) defense. After beating the Titans, remember what happened the next season? Our D was horrible, and it no longer mattered what miracles our offense could pull off or how many points they could put on the board, we couldn't win many. Then we went and got Lovey to fix things. I'd like to think the new guy isn't a O first, F the D kind of pick.

Excited to see what comes next.

GO RAMS!

The Rams need to be looking at guys who will be under contract next year, particularly the young kids, and getting them more snaps over the last three games. Here's what I'd like to see:

Increased Snaps:

1. WR Cooper. He's not the big target everyone wants, but his catch radius is very good for his size and I think this kid is going to play in a real passing offense. IMO the Rams should have pushed more snaps for him prior, as guys like Quick and Britt are not part of the future of this team. Now is the time to do that.

2. TE Higbee. Another obvious one that needs to happen. I am so tired of seeing Kendricks muck his way through things, dropping passes and making dumb mistakes. Higbee is going to make mistakes too. He's going to F it up, but more snaps now will be a good investment for the team. Higbee is going to be a very good TE in this league IMO. Just like with Coop he needs to be in there now, I would demote Kendricks and start the more talented kid.

3. WR Thomas. That flub he had on Sunday really irked me. But he has more than earned his roster spot with his performance as gunner, playing at a very high level. Still think if he doesn't work out as WR he might have a spot as a DB, IMO he's got some natural skill there. Again, though, more snaps for this kid are warranted to see what we have. Not saying he should get featured in the offense like I think Coop should be, but start to give him more of Britt's snaps.

4. OL. This unit needs to start showing us something here down the last several games. Not going to focus in on any one guy, but there is depth on this roster and NOW is the time for whatever changes you feel will help to be made. Even if it's something like Donnal getting some looks at RT for example, given how Havenstein's been struggling with that kick slide, or Rhaney at Center, given the way Barnes gets blown into the backfield far too much. More competition down the stretch, that's what I want to see on this unit. Pressure from the staff to shake things up.

5. CB Jordan and Hill. Jordan I want to see more of, obviously. And I'd also like to see Hill added to the roster so we can get some more tape of the kid prior to the offseason. I know he effed it up, but whatever. Hopefully he'll know better now and I like what both those guys add.

Decreased Snaps:

1. WR Britt and Quick. Not saying to sit these guys, but both of them should see a drop in snaps that correlate to the guys who will be part of things moving forward. Neither of them will be wearing horns next year.

2. CB Gaines. I don't know wtf is going on with him, I know he's been injured or whatever, but he is not the same guy so I'd sit him the rest of the way and he's a bubble guy in camp next year. Is what it is.

3. S McDonald. I personally would let him walk as he has never developed into a leader in that secondary that I hoped he'd be. And thus I'd start cutting some snaps for him and seeing more of Davis. But only the Rams know whether he's a priority to re-sign, and they won't know that until the new regime takes charge and crunches tape.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-coach-farmer-20161212-story.html

Buckle up. This won’t be a typical NFL coaching search.

The Rams opening, created Monday when they fired Jeff Fisher, is viewed differently around the league than most.

First, it’s for a job in the nation’s No. 2 market and all the potential that entails, especially with a $2.6-billion stadium scheduled to open in 2019. There’s the appeal of working with No. 1 pick Jared Goff, who has had a bumpy start but nonetheless is still seen as a player with a high ceiling.

Then there’s the reality that Stan Kroenke, among the league’s richest owners, has so much at stake with the Inglewood Stadium, and selling personal seat licenses, that he will need to think big when it comes to hiring the next coach — and has the wherewithal to pay accordingly.

With that in mind, the spectrum of possible candidates is wide and flashy. Several household names already have bubbled to the surface, coaches who might not be mentioned in more routine searches.

Some will prove to be real candidates, while others probably won't get past the rumor stage.

Among the most intriguing names circulating Monday were Michigan Coach Jim Harbaugh and Super Bowl-winning-coach-turned-broadcaster Jon Gruden, both of whom specialize in working with quarterbacks. Hiring either probably would require Kroenke to break the bank and pay more than $10 million per year, something he hasn’t shown a particular willingness to do to this point. (He was paying Fisher about $6.5 million annually, quite generous for a coach whose Rams career consisted of five consecutive losing seasons.)

Rams' decision to fire Jeff Fisher was 'solely a performance-related issue'

In his second season at Michigan, Harbaugh is college football’s top-paid coach at $9 million a year. He’s a rock star there, just as he was in San Francisco, where he turned around the 49ers and got them to a Super Bowl and three consecutive NFC title games. Whether he burns out on places or places burn out on him, he doesn’t stay in jobs long and has yet to stay put anywhere for more than four seasons.

It’s not yet known whether he’d be a serious candidate for the Rams job. That didn’t stop Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson from weighing in on the topic in the wake of Fisher’s firing.

“People are talking about Jim Harbaugh,” Dickerson said. “That would be a good fit. He develops quarterbacks. He had Alex Smith in San Francisco. He had an offensive line he had to rebuild. It’s almost the same situation you have here.”

Those close to Gruden have indicated he would listen to a Rams pitch, however, and that he might be interested in a return to coaching after seven years as color analyst for ESPN’s “Monday Night Football.” He knows quarterbacks, turned around a dead-in-the-water Oakland Raiders franchise and won a Super Bowl in Tampa Bay at the end of the 2002 season (by beating his former Raiders team).

It’s worth noting that Gruden and Kevin Demoff, the Rams’ top executive, worked together with the Buccaneers.

In their last two games, the Rams lost to the New England Patriots and Atlanta Falcons, teams with hot-handed offensive coordinators in Josh McDaniels of the Patriots and Kyle Shanahan of the Falcons.

Firing of Jeff Fisher is a good start to win back Rams fans

In 2009, McDaniels was hired at age 33 to replace Mike Shanahan — Kyle’s father — as coach of the Denver Broncos. His teams went 8-8 and 3-9 before he was fired late in the 2010 season. He was widely viewed at the time as bright but immature. He was offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams in 2011 and has had that job for the better part of four years with the Patriots.

After the Rams lost at New England in Week 13, McDaniels was hanging around outside the visitors’ locker room, chatting with his former colleagues. That was an interesting scene, considering Fisher was already on thin ice.

Jacksonville Jaguars General Manager Dave Caldwell is believed to be interested in McDaniels, so the Rams’ being on the hunt for a coach could impact how the Jaguars deal with Coach Gus Bradley, who is 14-47 in nearly four seasons.

Kyle Shanahan oversees the NFL’s No. 3 offense, one that averages 402.3 yards a game but garnered only 286 in Sunday’s victory over the Rams.

In his news conference Monday, Demoff said the investment in the Rams offense doesn’t necessarily mean that the club will hire an offense-minded head coach to follow the defense-minded Fisher. The Rams are ranked 32nd on offense.

“You may find an unbelievable head coaching candidate who you meet with and believe is absolutely perfect for the Los Angeles Rams who has a defensive background,” Demoff said. “I think what’s most important is they have a plan to maximize the offense.”

Rams players bemoan Jeff Fisher's firing
UCLA is coming off a 4-8 season but Jim Mora had success as coach of the Falcons, guiding them to the NFC championship game in 2004. He didn’t get much of a chance to implement a long-term plan with the Seattle Seahawks, who replaced after one 5-11 season when they got a chance to hire Pete Carroll. Mora’s a possible Rams candidate.

Norv Turner had some successes as a head coach but is widely regarded as an excellent offensive coordinator who helped develop some of the better quarterbacks in the game. He plans to coach again after walking away from his job as offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings earlier this season.

Mike Martz was the architect of the “Greatest Show on Turf” offensive units that secured the only Super Bowl victory in Rams history. He has been retired since 2011, his last season as offensive coordinator in Chicago. He told The Times earlier this year that he would consider a return to coaching if the right role.

“One of the good parts and the bad parts of this process in the NFL is there is no proven way to get it done,” Demoff said. “You can hire first-time head coaches, you can hire college coaches, you can hire coaches who have been fired before. You can point to any examples of ones who have had great success, or ones who have struggled. What’s most important is finding the right fit.”

Copyright © 2016, Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Rams Jeff Fisher Jim Harbaugh Super Bowl NFL Stan Kroenke Jon Gruden

Glazer: Rams job 'most desired one' in league

FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reports the Rams' head-coaching job is "the most desired one" by coaches.

Per Glazer, even head coaches who have stability elsewhere want the Rams job. Jeff Fisher truly ran this organization into the ground, but there's a ton of talent, especially young talent, on the roster. On top of the young talent and big market, owner Stan Kroenke showed extreme patience with Fisher, sticking with him for nearly five years when most teams would have canned him after around three. It wouldn't be a shock to see this team turn around quickly if the Rams can get a coach who has the ability to develop talent, instead of suppress it like Fisher. This roster needs a coach that enforces discipline, instead of being okay with personal foul penalties and mistakes. There are rumors (strictly rumors) that the Rams could pursue Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.
Source: Jay Glazer on Twitter
Dec 12 - 8:28 PM

http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/galler...head-coach-replacement-candidates-list-121216

7 candidates to replace Jeff Fisher as the Rams’ coach

By Cameron DaSilvaDec 12, 2016 at 4:34p ET
7 names the Rams should consider

The Los Angeles Rams made a big move on Monday, firing head coach Jeff Fisher after four-plus seasons with the team. After Sunday’s embarrassing 42-14 loss to the Falcons, the Rams had little choice but to sever ties with Fisher. The decision came just months after he and the Rams agreed to a contract extension, which only proves there was a sense of urgency and a significant lack of patience from owner Stan Kroenke.

With Fisher out, the Rams now have to begin their extensive search for a new head coach. A handful of big-name candidates will certainly be atop the list, but there are also a few lesser-known offensive minds that should be serious contenders to try to make the most out of No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff.

Here are the top seven names the Rams should look out to fill the void left by Fisher.

Kyle Shanahan, Falcons offensive coordinator

One of the biggest issues during Fisher’s tenure with the Rams was his inability to lead an offense and develop quarterbacks. He’s a good defensive mind, but Fisher repeatedly struggled on the other side of the ball. As a result, the Rams need an offensive-centric coach to take over. Shanahan currently runs the league's best offense in Atlanta. His relationship and chemistry with quarterback Matt Ryan has improved as time has gone on, and there’s no reason to believe he couldn’t elevate the Rams with Goff, Todd Gurley and Tavon Austin in place.

Josh McDaniels, Patriots offensive coordinator


Like Shanahan, McDaniels is a young, quarterback-savvy coach. He struggled in his first head coaching gig with the Broncos, but since his return to the Patriots, McDaniels has thrived. Though Tom Brady is the main cog in New England’s offense, the guy behind the play calling is McDaniels. He did a brilliant job calling plays during the Patriots’ Super Bowl run in 2014 and has continued to do so this season, particularly when Brady was suspended. He put Jimmy Garoppolo in situations to have success, and the same goes for Jacoby Brissett, whose skill set isn’t exactly NFL-ready. Yet the Patriots still went 3-1 in those four games.

Norv Turner

If the Rams want to go with someone who has a bit more experience than the younger McDaniels and Kyle Shanahan, Turner should certainly warrant a look. He surprisingly stepped down from his gig as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator earlier this season, which was essentially a falling-out between he and coach Mike Zimmer. Turner’s scheme is a bit outdated and requires the proper pieces – power running game, big No. 1 target, athletic tight end, great offensive line – but the Rams could potentially add a couple of those assets in the coming years. That’s not to say Turner can’t have success without those types of players, but it’s a staple of his game plan. He is considered to be one of the best offensive minds the league has seen, and his prowess would benefit Goff.

Jim Harbaugh, Michigan head coach

Jim Harbaugh is a long shot to leave Michigan -- where he’s completely turned around the program and is considered a savior – but Kroenke has deep pockets and shouldn’t be afraid of throwing around a bit of money. It would take a substantial pay day to pry Harbaugh out of Ann Arbor. He has had success everywhere he’s gone, from Stanford to the 49ers to Michigan, and a return to California would likely yield more of the same. He’d bring a good balance of offensive and defensive-centric philosophies, led by his work with quarterbacks. Harbaugh did have success with guys like Andrew Luck, Alex Smith and Colin Kaepernick, so the ability to develop quarterbacks is there.

David Shaw, Stanford head coach

Shaw has made it clear he doesn’t want to leave Stanford, but the allure of being an NFL head coach can do some funny things to people. Everyone from Nick Saban to Lane Kiffin to Harbaugh has made the jump to the NFL, and although success is hard to come by there’s nothing like being a head coach in the pros. Shaw hasn’t missed a beat since Harbaugh left Stanford, finishing well above .500 in each of his six years while finishing in the AP top 15 four times. Shaw will undoubtedly be a hot commodity in the upcoming offseason despite his refusal to make the jump, and a team like the Rams could pay him a hefty amount to leave the Cardinal. Not to mention, he’d be able to stay on the West Coast and land in a shiny new stadium just a few years down the line.

Jim Bob Cooter, Lions offensive coordinator

Cooter was a relative unknown before he was promoted to offensive coordinator for the Lions last season. In just a year in that post, he’s proved to be an offensive guru capable of working with quarterbacks and elevating their play. Peyton Manning raved about the work Cooter did while in Indianapolis and Denver as an offensive assistant, which only bolster’s his case as an offensive mind.

“He’s been on a fast climb,” Manning said in February. “He’s earned it. He’s a hard-working guy, he’s very smart, and he just sees football and knows football. I enjoyed the couple years we had together in Indy. He was really helpful to me in Denver in 2013.”

Cooter doesn’t have nearly the amount of experience some teams look for in a head coach, but he could be a huge factor in Goff’s development.

Tom Coughlin, former Giants and Jaguars head coach

There’s a place in the NFL for Tom Coughlin, and it just might be in L.A. Coughlin has expressed that he’s interested in getting back into coaching, saying his “Doppler is back up” as recently as last month. His separation from the Giants was messy, but it wasn’t the result of his sudden inability to coach. He can still motivate players, devise intelligent game plans and lead a team to perennial success. His tenure in New York was just past its prime. Coughlin wouldn’t be a flashy signing by the Rams, but it would be a smart one. He would bring experience and leadership and command respect from both veterans and rookies. After seeing the way players were uninspired under Fisher, finding a head coach who guys want to play for is key.

Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports Andrew Weber

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Okay, I originally was only going to do a completely unrealistic mock. However, I will do both a realistic and unrealistic mock at the request of @UKram

The unrealistic mock is more for fun and entertainment than anything. It's not even plausible.
Realistic Mock
Hire
HC Kyle Shanahan
OC Anthony Lynn
DC Raheem Morris
STC John Fassel

I think we all saw what Shanahan did against us without Julio Jones. Brilliant play-caller and Xs and Os coach. He's done a great job with his QBs as well. We need to give Goff an offensive-minded coach who can develop him and implement a system with a real identity. The one big question I have about Kyle is his personality. I've heard rumors he can rub players the wrong way. That's why I chose the OC and DC I did.

Anthony Lynn is currently Buffalo's OC. There are rumors Rex will be fired. We'll see. If he is, this makes a lot of sense. Lynn played for Kyle's dad (Mike) and worked under Mike. Lynn is a former player who players love to play for. That's key to have with a guy like Shanahan who might not be great at connecting with players.

Raheem Morris is another guy that players love to play for. From what I've been told, he's the guy who works as a liasion of sorts between Shanahan and the players in Atlanta. Morris coached under Mike in Washington. He also has experience as a DC from his time in Tampa. He's a very good coach and an intelligent defensive mind.

We already know about Fassel.

Cut
HB Tre Mason
OG Rodger Saffold
C Tim Barnes
DE Eugene Sims

Re-sign
CB Trumaine Johnson - 5 years $60 million
K Greg Zuerlein - 3 years $6 million
HB Benny Cunningham - 3 years $6 million
WR Brian Quick - 1 year $2 million
DT Dominique Easley - RFA Tender
DE Ethan Westbrooks - RFA Tender
DE Matt Longacre - ERFA Tender

Let Walk
S T.J. McDonald (I like T.J., but Mo is a more natural fit at SS. Let's use the money we have elsewhere.)
WR Kenny Britt (I am worried about him working with a new HC. He doesn't have a strong track record of working with coaches who aren't Fisher.)
QB Case Keenum (Mannion is the backup of the future.)

Position Changes
LaMarcus Joyner - CB -> FS

With Alexander moving to SS, Joyner moves to FS. I think it's his natural position. Joyner doesn't play well with his back to the ball. He's at his best attacking downhill. He has surprising strength for a guy his size. In college, he showed good range and no fear at FS. He will deliver knockout shots. Offers the same type of skill-set that McLeod did.

Free Agency

WR Alshon Jeffery - 5 years $60 million

True #1 WRs in their prime don't often hit FA. Jeffery is the type of player we've pined for for years. I'm willing to accept the risks. WRs of his caliber don't often hit FA in the middle of their prime.


LG Ronald Leary - 5 years $35 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 an above average but not elite pass protector. Either ways, he's a huge upgrade on what we have.


CB/S Micah Hyde - 3 years $9 million

Hyde is signed to improve our DB depth. He's a versatile player who can play anywhere in the defensive back-field.


S Matt Elam - 1 year $2 million

Elam provides depth at SS and gets a "prove it" deal. There's a strong argument that the Ravens used him in the wrong way. They tried to use him as a FS. Elam has always been more of a box safety.

NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #7 - Ethan Pocic C/OG/OT LSU
Round 3 Pick #6 - Ahkello Witherspoon CB Colorado
Round 4 Pick #7 - Ryan Glasgow DT Michigan
Round 4 Comp Pick - J.J. Dielman OT/OG/C Utah
Round 5 Pick #6 - Taywan Taylor WR Western Kentucky
Round 6 Pick #7 - Nick DeLuca LB North Dakota State
Round 6 Comp Pick - Deatrich Wise Jr. DE Arkansas
Round 7 Pick #6 - T.J. Logan HB North Carolina

Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Alshon Jeffery
ZWR: Tavon Austin vs. Brian Quick vs. Mike Thomas vs. Taywan Taylor
SLWR: Pharoh Cooper
TE: Tyler Higbee vs. Lance Kendricks
LT: Greg Robinson
LG: Ronald Leary
C: Ethan Pocic
RG: Jamon Brown vs. Cody Wichmann vs. J.J. Dielman
RT: Rob Havenstein

LDE: William Hayes
NT: Michael Brockers
UT: Aaron Donald
RDE: Robert Quinn
WLB: Mark Barron
MLB: Alec Ogletree
LCB: Trumaine Johnson
RCB: Ahkello Witherspoon
SLCB: E.J. Gaines
FS: LaMarcus Joyner
SS: Maurice Alexander

K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
KR: Benny Cunningham vs. T.J. Logan
PR: Tavon Austin

Unrealistic Mock
Hire
HC Jim Harbaugh
OC Greg Roman
DC Vic Fangio
STC John Fassel

Cut
HB Tre Mason
OG Rodger Saffold
C Tim Barnes
DE Eugene Sims

Trade
Rams trade DE Robert Quinn
Buccaneers trade Round 1 Pick #22

Rams trade DE William Hayes
Giants trade Round 6 Pick #23

Not realistic at all. We trade Quinn and Hayes because we decide to move to a 3-4, and Quinn has struggled to stay healthy of late.

Re-sign
CB Trumaine Johnson - 5 years $60 million
K Greg Zuerlein - 3 years $6 million
HB Benny Cunningham - 3 years $6 million
WR Brian Quick - 1 year $2 million
DT Dominique Easley - RFA Tender
DE Ethan Westbrooks - RFA Tender
DE Matt Longacre - ERFA Tender

Let Walk
S T.J. McDonald (I like T.J., but Mo is a more natural fit at SS. Let's use the money we have elsewhere.)
WR Kenny Britt (I am worried about him working with a new HC. He doesn't have a strong track record of working with coaches who aren't Fisher.)
QB Case Keenum (Mannion is the backup of the future.)

Position Changes
LaMarcus Joyner - CB -> FS

With Alexander moving to SS, Joyner moves to FS. I think it's his natural position. Joyner doesn't play well with his back to the ball. He's at his best attacking downhill. He has surprising strength for a guy his size. In college, he showed good range and no fear at FS. He will deliver knockout shots. Offers the same type of skill-set that McLeod did.

Free Agency

WR Alshon Jeffery - 5 years $60 million

True #1 WRs in their prime don't often hit FA. Jeffery is the type of player we've pined for for years. I'm willing to accept the risks. WRs of his caliber don't often hit FA in the middle of their prime.


OLB Melvin Ingram - 5 years $55 million

Ingram is a very good all-around 3-4 OLB. He posted 10.5 sacks last year and currently has 6 sacks this year. Ingram combines good pass rushing ability with quality run stopping and coverage ability. He has a nonstop motor and is a very smart player. While his sack numbers aren't elite, he pressures the QB often.


LG Ronald Leary - 5 years $35 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 an above average but not elite pass protector. Either ways, he's a huge upgrade on what we have.


CB/S Micah Hyde - 3 years $9 million

Hyde is signed to improve our DB depth. He's a versatile player who can play anywhere in the defensive back-field.


NT Glenn Dorsey - 2 years $4 million

He played NT for Fangio and the 49ers during the Harbaugh days. He's brought on to play NT for the Rams.


S Matt Elam - 1 year $2 million

Elam provides depth at SS and gets a "prove it" deal. There's a strong argument that the Ravens used him in the wrong way. They tried to use him as a FS. Elam has always been more of a box safety.

NFL Draft
Round 1 Pick #22 - Ethan Pocic C/OG/OT LSU
Round 2 Pick #7 - T.J. Watt OLB Wisconsin
Round 3 Pick #6 - Ahkello Witherspoon CB Colorado
Round 4 Pick #7 - Ryan Glasgow NT Michigan
Round 4 Comp Pick - J.J. Dielman OT/OG/C Utah
Round 5 Pick #6 - Taywan Taylor WR Western Kentucky
Round 6 Pick #7 - Nick DeLuca LB North Dakota State
Round 6 Pick #23 - Jake Repogle DE Purdue
Round 6 Comp Pick - Jimmie Gilbert OLB Colorado
Round 7 Pick #6 - T.J. Logan HB North Carolina

Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Alshon Jeffery
ZWR: Tavon Austin vs. Brian Quick vs. Mike Thomas vs. Taywan Taylor
SLWR: Pharoh Cooper
TE: Tyler Higbee vs. Lance Kendricks
LT: Greg Robinson
LG: Ronald Leary
C: Ethan Pocic
RG: Jamon Brown vs. Cody Wichmann vs. J.J. Dielman
RT: Rob Havenstein

LDE: Michael Brockers
NT: Glenn Dorsey
RDE: Aaron Donald
LOLB: T.J. Watt
LILB: Mark Barron
RILB: Alec Ogletree
ROLB: Melvin Ingram
LCB: Trumaine Johnson
RCB: Ahkello Witherspoon
SLCB: E.J. Gaines
FS: LaMarcus Joyner
SS: Maurice Alexander

K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
KR: Benny Cunningham vs. T.J. Logan
PR: Tavon Austin

http://www.seahawks.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=133251

I'm sure our O will bounce back against the Rams

Wait. Nevermind
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those awesome looking putrid green jerseys will will the seahawks to victory...I'm not worried...
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They will beat the Rams by 45 points and everyone will decide they've "turned the corner."

This team is all over the place this year. That's about all I can say about them.
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At least we have a long time to recover... oh...
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This actually might be a good thing. They won't have time to dwell on a bad loss, they have to move on to the Rams quickly.

I just hope they keep being pissed off.
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Rams blown out today. If we can't beat them convincingly, division rival or not , then We are not good. Coffee lock like a deer in the headlights. If he goes off on our D then there is no excuse to cover their asses.
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We now have two teams looking to correct embarrassing performances, division game, this won't be a cake walk.
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40+ just to shut this place up.
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http://www.seahawks.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=133257

This Week's Enemy Fan Forums: The Los Angeles Rams

LA Rams Fans

http://laramsfans.com/

Real Rams Fans

http://www.realramsfans.com/index.php

Rams Fans United

http://www.ramsfansunited.com/index.php

Rams on Demand

http://www.ramsondemand.com/

Clan Ram

https://www.clanram.com

The Original Herd

http://ramsrule.com/
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wow not really much shit talking we could do against each other this week...
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Maybe we could start a topic......Who's game Sunday was worse.
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Which team will suck less Thursday
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Yesterday's games were trap games in prep for this Thursday night.
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Time to end this stupid losing streak against the Rams and gonna put this donkey Packers game behind us by locking up the NFC West thursday night.
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One gets the feeling that the Rams may be in for a thrashing.
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Gee Scott is saying Jeff Fisher just got fired???
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Oh the timing of it all.
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Rams could be highly motivated to kick some ass after coach just got shitcanned
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I doubt those players on the Rams will have any motivation at this point. I bet those guys are already making plans for their offseason. Its rarely ever a good thing when a team loses its coach midseason and has to prepare on a short week.
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Well there is less preparation needed for divisional games especially since they already know HOW to beat us. I have a feeling this game could get nasty. More so then they usually do. One team pissed after a terrible showing when they know they are better than they showed and another team pissed because they just plain suck but have the ability to beat us anyways.
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Get reel, after losing this fisher they will never get their bass in gear!
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Or they can be scared shitless into losing their own jobs that they actually come out to play.... #highlymotivated
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Don't get me wrong. I still think we will win. I just think it could get very physical and nasty. Makes for an interesting game.
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Your uni colors just suck.
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http://www.seahawks.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=133285

Will everything be OK Friday

We are all butt hurt and frustrated with this team. With this blowout loss and the Rams getting smoked and all the JF controversy in LA, I can see the Seahawks coming out on Thursday night and putting a beat down on the Rams. I know our history with them and they pretty much own us in the last few years but I think this week will be much like the Panthers week.

Russ will turn it around and we will play great at home. I think Thursday will be a great Band-Aid for this week. But it will just be that, a Band-Aid and not a cure for our bigger problems.
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Hopefully so.

If they play the same way at home like they did yesterday, they'll get booed off the field. They know better than to play that bad at home
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Based on how we played yesterday, I don't feel great. I mean the Rams have beat us 3 straight.
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We've lost two of our last three to mediocre teams, and we're playing a team that has beaten us three times in a row.

I wish I shared your optimism, but the evidence just won't allow it.
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No, we are not ALL butthurt. It's one game, Rodgers hasn't lost a home game in December since 2008. Hawks played like crap, still has nothing to do with the butt kicking that they are gonna' put on the Rams Thursday.
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It should be a win given our Hawks habit of "bounce back" games, but it won't likely be the easy win some in here are so quick to predict.

And if we lose, OUCH. Might just cripple the team permanently for this season.
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http://www.seahawkblue.com/showthread.php?45441-Jeff-Fisher-fired

Jeff Fisher fired
3 days should be plenty for a new coach to completely implement his system.
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And there is a rumor, which I don't believe one bit, that Harbaugh could be the replacement.
I can't imagine Harbaugh leaving Michigan.

Rams have played us well the last couple years, but people seem to forget the 10 in a row the Hawks put on em.

Fisher imo is one of the most overrated coaches in NFL History.
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I buy it. We'll be facing Hairball twice a year again starting next year.
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I'm glad they kept him on long enough to secure his spot in the NFL record book, even with Dan Reeves as the coach with the most losses...

And Rams fans everywhere slow-clap Fisher out.
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I have a 30 year old bottle of wine I've been saving for a special occasion, tonight might be the night. JK.

In other NFCW news, ARI WR Michael Floyd was arrested on DUI charges. Between that, Fisher's firing, SackorPick's protests, and Seattle's offensive duds, this division is a hot mess right now.
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Seahawks have struggled when facing new Qbs in the past; will it be the same with a brand new coach???
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Pretty interesting, sign him to a 2 year extension and show him the door the next day.
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They signed him to the extension in the offseason. They just (for reasons known only to them) didn't tell anyone till they got tired of Eric Dickerson's constant "Fisher has to go" campaign on local radio.

Thing is now they look stupider than ever. Total fustercluck.
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I wanted to hang "The Biggest Loser" monniker on him Thursday night. Damn.
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Perhaps they feel they dont even need a coach to whup us again...

Keep him?

Lose him?

Me thinks, he leaves voluntarily to "greener" pastures

Actually it was 61 years ago yesterday. Oops.

Rams knock off Green Bay 31-17 to head to their fourth NFL title game in seven years. My Packer fan sister, born of the Rodgers era, has been razzing me pretty good lately. I stumbled upon this video in an effort to show her how things once were....and will be again.

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XUpITrvzAs


Just a fun little video with some old time football.

http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/12/12/nfl-week-14-picks-predictions-patriots-ravens-monday-night-football

Ravens, Patriots chasing signature victory on Monday night
CHRIS BURKE

The Ravens’ defense is as good as advertised, but that doesn’t mean Tom Brady is destined for a miserable Monday night, or even that Baltimore ultimately will make the playoffs. However, a team doesn’t make it to Dec. 12 with the league’s top-ranked defense by accident.

“Tough to run against, very good on third-down, don’t give up a lot of points, turn the ball over,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said, per the Ravens’ website. “You just can’t be sloppy around this defense. You have to take good care of the football and you’ve got to be physical with them. They’ve got some big, strong guys up front.”

Those “guys up front” paved the way to a dominating 38–6 Baltimore win over Miami last week. Anchored along the line by potential Pro Bowler Brandon Williams and surprising rookie Michael Pierce, the Ravens held Miami to 62 yards rushing—two fewer than Cincinnati mustered against that front in Week 12.

The Patriots can counter with RB LeGarrette Blount, who sits just 43 yards from 1,000 on the season. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that Belichick is more than willing to bail on his run game almost entirely in a matchup like this.

When Tom Brady last faced the Ravens, in the 2014 season’s playoffs, he threw the ball 50 times; the Patriots’ backs, including Blount, carried seven times for 14 yards that day.

A similar game plan could be in play Monday, which would mean an even heavier dose than usual of quick passes to Julian Edelman, Martellus Bennett and the Dion Lewis/James White combo out of the backfield. The pressure then would shift off the matchup in the trenches to how the Ravens’ linebackers and safeties respond.

There, Baltimore is led by veteran free-agent signing Eric Weddle, who could be en route to chalking up his fourth Pro Bowl nod. LBs Zach Orr and C.J. Mosley also have played well this season, cleaning up plays behind the Ravens’ stout line.

Of course, Brady getting the ball in and out of his hands is nothing new, and it would help neutralize pass rusher Terrell Suggs. The 34-year-old Suggs is a Comeback Player of the Year candidate, with 8.0 sacks this season after a torn Achilles tendon cut his 2015 short.

“He’s been a great player for as long as he’s been in the league,” Brady said. “He just does a lot of things really well. He’s got all the rush moves, he drops into coverage, he bats down balls, he [crushes] the tight ends coming off the line of scrimmage. It’s not just sacking the quarterback like most defensive ends. He makes plays in a lot of ways.”

Baltimore’s defense has had its roughest days this year against versatile and varied offenses: Oakland, Washington, Dallas. The Patriots have the potential to join that list, especially if they can slip Chris Hogan or Malcolm Mitchell deep a couple of times.

Oh, and New England’s defense has been quite good, too. It has allowed just 207 points this season, tied with Baltimore for fewest in the league. (The Ravens’ defense has surrendered nearly 500 fewer yards.)

New England is a bend-don’t-break type of unit, so much of the outcome Monday could depend on which version of Joe Flacco shows up. Flacco torched Miami for 381 yards and three touchdowns last week, but he also has 11 interceptions on the year. His INT rate of 2.2% ranks near the middle of the pack, right between Andrew Luck (2.2) and Cam Newton (2.3).

It is a Baltimore passing attack that has taken off in recent weeks, though. Mike Wallace, Steve Smith and Dennis Pitta all have topped 50 catches on the year, while Breshad Perriman has scored each of the past two weeks.

Both teams would love to have this one as a potential statement win—Baltimore to show any remaining doubters that it can contend for the AFC title, New England to erase recent efforts against the likes of the Jets and 49ers—so expect it to be a battle.

The line has come down two points from where it started, and it could keep tumbling right up until kickoff. The Ravens’ defense is potent enough to keep its team in it even if Flacco cannot replicate his Week 13 performance.

In the end, though, Brady is one of the few quarterbacks in the league who requires absolutely nothing from his run game to find success. He can do it again Monday.

Key player: Kyle Van Noy, LB, Patriots. After playing his way out of the Lions’ plans, Van Noy has found his footing in New England. He was on the field for upwards of 75% of his new defense’s snaps last week and now appears to be just Belichick’s latest revitalization success.

Remarkably, he’s gone a long way in erasing the hole left when New England traded away Jamie Collins.

Van Noy figures to see the majority of his snaps in passing situations moving forward, which means that Monday he could be unleashed as a rusher against Flacco or to help in coverage against Baltimore’s backs and tight ends. Either way, another solid game from him would push the Patriots closer to a critical victory.

Bold prediction: Brady throws a pick. Might not seem like stepping out on too much of a limb here, but Brady has thrown just one interception so far this season. Even for him, that might be an impossible pace to maintain—he led the NFL last year with a 1.1% INT rate; he’s at 0.3% through eight games.

The Ravens’ defense has 14 interceptions this year (second-most in the league) and has forced 22 turnovers in total.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...-failure-taught-pats-oc-how-to-pick-his-spots

The Redemption of Josh McDaniels: Failure Taught Pats OC How to Pick His Spots
By Dan Pompei, NFL Columnist Sep 29, 2016



Charles Krupa/Associated Press

On the morning of Dec. 6, 2010, a plane touched down at Akron-Canton Airport. Thom McDaniels turned on his phone as the plane slowed, and it rang immediately. It was his son Josh. The day before, Thom had watched Josh's Broncos lose to the Chiefs in Kansas City. Now, Josh had some news.

"Dad, the Broncos let me go this morning," Josh said. "I want you to know I'm fine. Laura is fine. Tell Mom for me, would you?"

Not long after, Thom called his son back. Like most good dads, Thom doesn't hold back when he thinks his son needed to be told something. And when Thom has something to say about coaching, his words are well received by his son.

These days, Thom mows greens on a golf course. But for 38 years, he carved a legend in northeast Ohio as a high school football coach. Josh started tagging along to his practices when he was five years old.

"You need to write down everything you would do differently if you ever get a chance to be a head coach again," Thom told him. "Do it while everything is fresh in your mind. Over time, add to it."

Josh created an Excel document on his laptop. He named it "lessonslearned.xls."

For a long time, McDaniels had been living on fast forward. After playing a role in three Patriots Super Bowl championships, he was hired as head coach of the Broncos at the don't-know-what-you-don't-know age of 33. The Broncos gave him almost as much power as his former boss Bill Belichick had in New England.

McDaniels quickly traded quarterback Jay Cutler and reshaped the organization to what some called "New England West." He won his first six games as a head coach but then lost 17 of his next 22.

He lost his team and lost himself in the process.



Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

That winter and into the spring of 2011, McDaniels had plenty of time to ponder it all. He took a job in St. Louis as the offensive coordinator. His wife Laura and their children stayed in Colorado to finish out the school year. That was the offseason of the NFL lockout, so there were no players to coach.

The other Rams coaches would clear out of the facility early and head home for dinner with their families. McDaniels would order from a local restaurant that delivered. If not, he would save some leftovers from lunch or microwave a couple of instant oatmeal packets he had picked up from the breakfast buffet at his hotel and stashed.

He was alone in his office for five or six hours every night until 10:30 or 11. The room was barren—no photos, mementos or decorations. The shelves were empty. A couple of boxes with his belongings sat in a corner. The view out his window for too long was a gray sky and a snow-covered practice field.

In the silence, McDaniels found himself. And he began to imagine a new coach.

"I was by myself—just me and my thoughts," McDaniels says. "I had very little interaction with other people. I had time to go back over everything we did in Denver, the decisions we made, step by step. I could slow it down."

There were many lessons to be considered, about big things and small: the length of meetings, player discipline, to call plays or not call plays, developing assistant coaches, time management, how to build the roster, handling the media, scheduling, how hard to work players...on and on.

Much of what he thought about had to do with relationships. He continued the dialogue with his father and reached out to others he trusted, including Ted Crews, who was in charge of Rams public relations at the time, and Bill O'Brien, who had succeeded him as offensive coordinator in New England.

"He was more willing to take advice," Thom McDaniels says.

He had some long talks with Tony Dungy, his one-time rival with the Colts. Dungy told him he needed to self-reflect every year, whether he was fired or won the Super Bowl. They talked about the importance of being yourself and trusting instincts. Having fun is not a bad thing. Dungy stressed that a head coach's consistency with a team really mattered. They talked about the formula that makes a good coaching staff. Dungy gave him some ideas about keeping his faith at the center of his life as his coaching world turned.

"I could relate to where he was at the time, having been fired myself," Dungy says. "He's a very smart guy, and we just talked about finding the next spot—the one that would be best for him."

At the time, the right next spot was a step back—back to New England as an offensive assistant. Five years later, he's offensive coordinator and could be close to finding another next spot.

"I would look at his years in Denver as a positive, not a negative," one NFC general manager says. "It made him realize he needs to rely on his strengths. He now realizes that Belichick is a rarity, and no one can run the show like him. [But] like Bill, Josh can adapt to any circumstance, and he can do this with limited prep time. ...

"If I were an owner, hiring Josh would be a no-brainer."

"Lesson Learned: Take time to digest information and make good, PATIENT decisions. Never rush into anything—all things are important. Impulsive—is a bad word—listen to everyone and make the RIGHT decision. Nothing gets fixed quickly."

Trading Cutler was not McDaniels' intention when he arrived in Denver. He had heard some things and was sniffing around. Then Cutler started to get suspicious, and the relationship started to turn.

Rather than try to salvage things, McDaniels said screw it. He traded him.



David Zalubowski/Associated Press

"I learned the hard way," he says. "We could have avoided that, no question."

As he grayed, Thom McDaniels recognized he became a more thoughtful, measured and calculating leader. He told his son he needed to do the same. And Josh acknowledges that he was too reactive and emotional during his Denver days.

"I don't know that I was as patient as I needed to be in most situations, whether it was game-planning, on the sidelines, preparation for the draft, personnel moves, whatever," he says. "There is an element of this game that tests your ability to slow down and make a good decision. I was allowing the way I felt at the moment to make the decision."

McDaniels still wants to be passionate, but he wants to channel his emotion in a productive way.

He is, for instance, trying to clean up his language.

"I don't think swearing sends a good message," he says. "When I do it, I feel bad about it. Before, I don't know that I ever even thought about it. My frustration would be apparent. Now my response to a bad practice is to try to find the positives and show them how to learn from mistakes."

This year, McDaniels could have become flustered about having quarterback Tom Brady suspended for the first four games of the season. He could have become exasperated when Brady's backup Jimmy Garoppolo sprained his shoulder. He could have fired a clipboard when third-stringer Jacoby Brissett injured his thumb.

But he just kind of rolled with it.

"It is what it is," McDaniels says with a smile and a shrug. "We'll be ready."

McDaniels is focused on living in the now—not on when Brady comes back or when the playoffs start or when he gets a chance to be a head coach again. His attention this week is on beating the Bills, whether it's with Garoppolo, Brissett or even Julian Edelman at quarterback.

Instability at QB often exposes coaches. For McDaniels, it has been a showcase. With two backups, the Patriots have scored more points than all but four teams. McDaniels has shown flexibility in game-planning and diligence about long-term development as well as short-term preparation.

Instead of coming unglued under difficult circumstances, he has embraced them.



Steven Senne/Associated Press

"I enjoy coaching all of the quarterbacks," he says. "The games are great, but my favorite thing is getting an opportunity to spend time with a position group and just teach.

"You have to navigate the different levels of learning. Jimmy is an eager learner. Jacoby is a smart guy who loves football. He wants to get better and invest himself in it."

"Lesson Learned: LISTEN better. To anyone who tells me something. There are so many people who can help us win & have wisdom I don't have. I will do my part in teaching but can never stop learning myself. Best results come from a group effort!"

As a head coach, McDaniels had to deal with many more team employees than he did and does as an offensive coordinator. But he really didn't have time for the director of accounting or community relations liaison. He was there for football, right? They could talk to his assistant.

McDaniels was guarded. He kept to himself. It seemed like the bridge between the rest of the building and McDaniels' office was raised most of the time.

If someone had an idea, McDaniels wasn't all that interested in hearing it. He'd rather do something himself and know it would be done to his standards than delegate to a subordinate. He unwittingly suppressed creativity and growth.

Now? "I've had an opportunity to truly understand the value of interpersonal relationships and the feelings people have in the building, coach to player, player to coach, person to person," he says. "I don't know that I ever considered that before."

His goal is to be a resource to those he works with, a servant leader. He wants to empower co-workers by trusting and sharing the responsibilities of guiding a team.

Not long ago, Patriots tight ends coach Brian Daboll was assigned to put together a third-down scouting report. Daboll came up with a new way of presenting it. He ran it by McDaniels first. It gave McDaniels pause. In the past, he would have told him to redo it the way that McDaniels was most comfortable. But he knew Daboll felt good about the report and had worked hard on it.

Green light given.

"As much as we are on the same staff, we don't all think the same," McDaniels says. "That's OK. Before, I might have been frustrated with that. Now I feel that's a healthy thing."

Watching and talking to Belichick during his second Patriots tenure has made this clear to him. "After being a head coach myself, I look at him in a different light when he speaks to the staff or players," McDaniels said. "I appreciate how supportive he has been of me, and I see how supportive he is to others."

When he was in Denver, McDaniels wore a hoodie with cutoff sleeves to practice at times. Was he trying to be a Belichick clone? Maybe, but he isn't now. He has great respect for the way Belichick does things, but he wants to be Josh McDaniels.




Charles Krupa/Associated Press

The respect is mutual. "I just know he has done a great job at everything I have ever asked him to do," Belichick says.

While Belichick always has considered McDaniels smart, dependable, well prepared and team-oriented, he says this: "Being with two other organizations, Denver and St. Louis, and knowing how intelligent and perceptive he is, Josh undoubtedly has gained perspectives that he wouldn't have otherwise had. I'm sure that has helped him grow professionally."

"Lesson Learned: Be considerate of assistant coaches' time, their emotions & make sure they always know how much I care. Push them, hold them accountable and love each one of them personally. We win as a team, we lose as a team and I always take responsibility for the losses. They get the credit when we win—they deserve it."

In McDaniels' second season as a head coach, the Broncos hosted the Raiders in a game that could have turned around their season. The Raiders gave them a 59-14 whipping. McDaniels gathered his assistants in the locker room and chewed them out. He assessed blame and vented.

The young McDaniels never took time to think about how people he worked with might be feeling. He either was lost in the moment or was thinking ahead about what he had to do next.

One former assistant said McDaniels' people skills were a problem.

"I was tough on assistants," McDaniels says. "I didn't do a good enough job of making them feel good, in terms of what they were doing for us. I have learned how important that is to make sure they understand how much you appreciate them. They need to be able to enjoy working with you. There is no doubt I appreciated them. I just don't know that I demonstrated that."

When he came back to New England, McDaniels noticed something: Belichick knew all of his children's names—Jack, Maddie, Livia and Neenah. He thought about that.

While leaving a recent game, McDaniels bumped into offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia and his wife Susan in the parking lot. He stopped to thank them. Scarnecchia returned to the Patriots this year after a two-year retirement.

"It's so good to have him back," he said to Susan. "I hope you are enjoying this."

Four years after McDaniels' tirade following the loss to the Raiders, his Patriots endured a similar embarrassment, this time losing 41-14 at Kansas City. Instead of railing at his offensive assistants, McDaniels apologized for not doing his job well enough. He told his staff and his players he had confidence the Patriots would bounce back from the loss.

He was right. The Patriots went on a tear and ended that season in a confetti shower, passing around a silver trophy.

"Lesson Learned: I wanted to practice until I felt we totally had it. Wrong Choice. I need to lighten the load and REALIZE the value in allowing the players to feel good about that. Players who feel you are taking care of them will give you all they have during the week and on Sunday."

There was friction and distrust between McDaniels and some of his Broncos players. In a 2013 interview with 750 The Game in Portland (via PFT), punter Mitch Berger said McDaniels wouldn't talk to him or look at him if he performed below his standards. "I never played for a guy in my life who guys wanted to play for less," he said. "He was just a guy you didn't care about."

Having a feel-good relationship with players, McDaniels thought at the time, wasn't important. Scoring touchdowns, sacking the quarterback, having more takeaways than the opponent—that's what he thought was important.

He thinks differently now. At one point, it dawned on him: His father always seemed to strike the right balance between being demanding and compassionate with this players, and he was beloved for it. Without mutual respect, he realized, it's almost impossible to achieve mutual goals.

When McDaniels returned to the Patriots in 2012 and was reunited with Brady, the coach and quarterback had to figure out how to work with one another again. Their last full season together was 2007, and each had grown since then.



Charles Krupa/Associated Press

Brady had ideas about how to do things differently. He liked the way O'Brien had handled aspects of the offense. McDaniels' playbook and his approach had evolved in five years. There was some tension between them on game-planning.

"I got used to Billy's style," Brady says. "Josh wasn't a part of the processes it took to get to where we were when he came back. You spend a few years apart, and it's not like you come back together and it's instantaneous.

"We had to work back towards communication and trusting each other and believing what the other was saying would mesh. I usually end up deferring to him, because I have a lot of trust in him."

McDaniels adds: "We had a lot of discussions. It took time. It took some giving. We learned to communicate effectively together to the point where it's not going to be all my way, it's not going to be all his way. We worked really hard on our relationship, and I think it's in as good a place now as it's ever been because we have given the other person the trust and the respect."

Brady says he talks with McDaniels more than anyone else.

"I think Gisele gets jealous of the time I spend talking to Josh," he says. "But she understands. This is something we both care deeply about."

Brady and McDaniels spend time talking about Gisele, Brady's supermodel wife, too. And Laura, and the rest of their families. Remember: McDaniels, 40, is just one year older than Brady. They experienced marriage and children on a similar timetable. The other day they had a conversation about how the book The Five Love Languages applies to relationships with their children.



Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

"He may need me more in that regard than he does for something else," McDaniels says. "Somebody else can draw up a play."

It has been rewarding for Brady to witness the maturation of McDaniels.

"I trust him, I respect him, I love him like a brother," Brady says. "He's not just my coach. He'll be a friend the rest of my life. We've been through a lot of wins, losses, tough seasons and incredible seasons. It's been a fun ride to experience with him."

"Lesson Learned: Stay fresh & healthy—don't overdo it—it will eventually burn me out! Never let that happen!!!"

By December 27, the 2009 season had become a grueling one for McDaniels. His Broncos had just lost to the Eagles, and he was miserable and frustrated. He was gripping the steering wheel until his knuckles were white, but he couldn't steer his team where he wanted it to go.

As the parking lot cleared at Mile High Stadium, McDaniels decided he should lie down in the coaches' locker room. That's where Ben McDaniels, Josh's brother and his offensive assistant on the Broncos, found him. His color was off. He was feeling light-headed and overheated, and he had a migraine. Doctors were called.

He almost was proud of his condition. He figured he was a wounded warrior of sorts. He was the work-through-anything football coach who ate poorly, didn't sleep enough, had little balance in his life and ignored symptoms of ill health.

That was then. This past offseason, he started working out a few times a week at TB12—Brady's training facility, which emphasizes high-intensity workouts. He also cut down on carbs and started eating a lot of fish and vegetables. He lost 20 pounds, and he feels better than he has in a decade.

During training camp, he and Daboll took a brisk walk almost every day through Patriot Place, the open-air shopping center adjacent to Gillette Stadium. They would spend maybe 45 minutes de-stressing, talking about families, vacations, other sports or anything that wasn't work-related.

McDaniels looks vibrant. He smiles a lot. Especially when he is around his family.

Shortly after the Patriots dismantled the Dolphins two Sundays ago, McDaniels picked up Maddie, 10, from a friend's house. On the ride home, he asked her about her gymnastics training. She asked about the game.

"Remember that nice man who gave you the book he wrote?" he said to her, referring to tight end/children's book author Martellus Bennett. "He scored a touchdown."

Once home, he wished A.J. a happy birthday and scratched behind his ears. A.J., white, brown and affectionate, is one of two Lagotto Romagnolos in the house. Bear, cocoa-colored and rambunctious, is the other. The dogs were imported from Italy.

When 12-year-old Jack walked in, football was the subject.

"How was your flag football game?" McDaniels asked. They talked about it for a bit, and then Jack wanted to know why Dad called so many runs up the middle against the Dolphins. Everyone had a chuckle.

While Laura tended to Livia, 6, and Neenah, 3, who were face painting, Josh set up the carry-out trays of chicken salad, pasta and Italian sausage.

After dinner, the McDaniels like to sit around and talk and laugh, maybe with a cooking show on TV. One of the girls doing cartwheels. Another reviewing homework. Jack playing video games on the computer.

"This line of work can swallow you up," Laura says. "But when he's with the kids, he can stop what he's doing and talk about the school dance.

"That wasn't easy for him. He's worked on it and still is working on it. I think he has changed."

Josh is doing what he needs to do in order to share himself with his family.

"I've learned if I don't take time to enjoy the things that are important to me, I'll look back 20 years from now and say, ‘What did I do this for?'" he says. "If that means leaving work early so I can see the kids and coming back earlier the next morning when they are sleeping anyway, that's what I'll do."



Charles Krupa/Associated Press

"Lesson Learned: Lean on my faith and be myself—I love this game and enjoy working hard at it to compete with the very best. Trust our process and enjoy each day—it's a blessing to work in this game—let people see how much I treasure this privilege."

By now, more than a hundred lessons learned populate McDaniels' laptop. This one may be as important as any.

Known for his hugs and for making men feel good about themselves, Jack Easterby came to the Patriots as their character coach in 2013 after serving as the team chaplain of the Chiefs.

The Southern gentleman has been praised by Brady and Patriots owner Robert Kraft, among others, for helping to reshape the Patriots' culture by encouraging service to others, humility and poise.

"He has changed a lot of lives, and I'm on that list," McDaniels says. "He's one of my best friends, and he's got me to embrace how important faith is in my life. It's changed me as a person in terms of how I interact with everyone. It's changed my outlook on everything."

McDaniels looks forward to Saturday night bible study with Easterby and the coaching staff, as well as Sunday services at Waters Church when he is not calling plays.

"From my eyes, I think he's a more balanced guy at this point," says his brother Ben, now an offensive assistant with the Bears. "His faith is of significance in his life now. That's visible to me. I've witnessed that."

The McDaniels boys—father Thom and sons Jay, Josh and Ben—sometimes exchange spiritual and inspirational texts. In May, Josh texted this to the others:

"If u want to be happy for an hour, take a nap.

…for a day, go fishing.

…for a week, take a vacation.

…for a lifetime, serve others."

Josh McDaniels is happy again. He probably will be when he finds his next spot too.

Dan Pompei covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at@danpompei.

I think we will be wearing the Blue and White helmets. They had a clip of Goff throwing at practice with this on... only newer.

Big changes coming for our rudderless Rams, so the new HC is likely to design our forward direction with his own philosophy affecting the team from top to bottom. School is out on whether more front office organizational moves are made during this shake-up. Either way we can expect some player turnover, especially with potential upcoming free agents and where contracts may be determined as too expensive based on production. It will be difficult for me to imagine a HC candidate without a strong offensive resume, one which features an ability to train up young QB's. The Rams are the youngest team in the NFL for 4 straight seasons, this leads to penalties and other mistakes in regards to creating more consistent execution, couple this with the lack of a 1'st round draft pick, expect a greater emphasis on building through free agency, at least for 2017.
My 4'th round pick Awuzie has been marching up the rankings these past few weeks, his upcoming game against OSU may or may not decide whether he remains available to us at this spot. Other than currently listed potential free agents, we don't know who other teams may release at this early date, but for the moment i've cut or released 12 of our own players, all but one of whom are on our regular 53 roster. I've signed 5 free agents with this mock and the difference would be made up from currently unknown CAP cuts from other teams, our limited draft/UDFA's, and at least one player moving up from the practice squad.
The Rams are expecting to enter the off-season with approximately $43.5 mil in available CAP space, my own CAP cuts pretty much covers most of whatever it should cost to re-sign Tru Johnson, so that figure would remain relatively static once free agency season opens ... meaning my listed free agents should easily be achievable while also paying for our limited draft class and 3'rd tier free agents to fill out the roster.

Head Coach recruiting : Norv Turner, Todd Haley, Kyle Shanahan.

Re-sign : UFA's Tru Johnson, Cunningham & Zuerlein, retain RFA's Easley, Westbrooks & ERFA's Longacre & Trinca-Pasat.

Do not re-sign : TJ McDonald, Kenny Britt, Brian Quick, Chase Reynolds, Cam Thomas, Demetrious Rhaney, Case Keenum & Pace Murphy.

CAP cut : Saffold, Barnes, Sims, Mason


2017 Free Agency :

LT - Matt Kalil (short term 'prove-it deal' coming off IR)
LG - Ron Leary
WR - Alshon Jeffery
DE - Dion Jordan (another inexpensive rotational IR bargain)
DT - Abry Jones (rotation behind Brockers)

2017 Draft :

1) N/A
2) C/OG - Ethan Pocic, LSU or Pat Elflein, Oh.St
3) OG/OT - Zach Banner, USC
4) CB - Chidobe Awuzie, Co.
5) S - Jonathan Ford, Aub.
6) WR - Travin Dural, LSU

2017 O-Line :

LT - Kalil, GRob, (Williams or Battle)
LG - Leary, Banner, Wichmann
C - Pocic, Wichmann
RG - GRob, Banner, Brown
RT - Havenstein, Donnal, GRob

jmo.

Wish Demoff is is a little more diplomatic here.

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I wish Jeff Fisher well, so what's your favorite Jeff Fisher moment in his Ram career?

For me at #1 --The Rams back to back shutouts in 2014

Rams - 52
Raiders - 0

Rams - 24
Redskins - 0

I really thought those two games were the best of Fisher ball.

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