One of guys that I really miss is COACH. I believe others would like to know where he is also. Can anyone tell us where he is or how he is. I know he left the nasty forum & came here but haven't heard from him in a long time. It would be nice if someone knew.

http://www.nj.com/eagles/index.ssf/2016/11/brian_westbrook_has_strong_criticism_of_eagles_qb.html




Former Eagles running back Brian Westbrook pulled no punches when it comes to rookie quarterback Carson Wentz's mediocrity over the past seven games.

"There were some throws late in the [Seattle] game, five or seven-yard throws and he's sailing the ball over their head," Westbrook said recently on 975. The Fanatic. "He's throwing the ball at receiver's feet. He has to play better if this team is to have a chance."

Since starting the season 3-0, the Eagles are just 2-5 over the past seven weeks and Wentz has thrown six touchdowns and seven interceptions over that span after not throwing an interception in the month of September.


"It starts at the top and works its way down to our 'Golden Child' quarterback Carson Wentz," Westbrook said. "Let's call a spade a spade. Against that defense, if you stare down receivers, there are going to be interceptions. Wentz has to play better.


"I know he is dealing with the receivers, he's a rookie but he was also a rookie the first three games of the season," Westbrook said. "He wasn't forcing the ball to Bryce Treggs being double covered. If you want to throw that ball, you have to get that ball up early.

"You can't wait to throw it and then underthrow the kid. He's a fast kid. Get the ball up early. Carson Wentz panicked. He throws basically a Hail Marry on second down into double coverage with Earl Thomas and Richard Sherman."

Wentz threw two interceptions Sunday against the Seahawks, including a late-second quarter pass that was picked off by safety Kam Chancellor after telegraphing his throw over the middle of the field.

In fairness to Wentz, he is still a rookie and the Eagles wide receivers caught only two passes in the first three quarters against one of the NFL's elite defenses in a very difficult environment for visiting teams. However, if the Eagles are going to be a legitimate playoff threat over the final six games of the season, Wentz is going to need to play significantly better than he has over the past seven weeks.

Practice Report 11/25: Goff Finishes Strong Week of Practice


Myles Simmons

After Wednesday’s practice, Rams head coach Jeff Fisher spent a little time extolling quarterback Jared Goff for his performance in the session. The rookie himself described the day’s practice as crisp, and one of the best the team had gone through in some time.
And based on Fisher’s comments, Friday’s practice was more of the same.

“Jared had a really good day — as a matter of fact, had a really good week,” Fisher said. “It’s just that sign of being more and more comfortable in the offense.”

Part of that comfort comes from playing experience. There’s clearly no substitute for in-game snaps, which can lead to increased confidence and decisiveness. But it’s also a matter of Goff having starters reps in practice, so there are elements that carry over from one week to the next.

“There’s a big difference in the last two weeks,” Fisher said. “He knows what to expect now.”

Goff also likely has a better feel for what he is and is not comfortable with in a given gameplan. As the starting quarterback, that allows him to have at least a bit of say in how things develop throughout the week.

“He’s honest about things,” Fisher said. “He’s going to go up and just say, ‘I don’t like this concept. I don’t feel comfortable with it.’ So you take it out of the gameplan. That’s just common sense.”

Still, with the way practice has gone this week — combined with the no-weather elements of a dome setting — Fisher said the Rams may have a chance to open the offense up a bit more with Goff’s considerable arm talent on Sunday.

“We’ve had a good week of practice and we’ve pushed it down the field in practice this week,” Fisher said. “So if we can carry things over from practice into the game, then we should push it down the field.”

WILLIAMS’ RETURN TO NEW ORLEANS

As is well known, Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams held the same position with the Saints when they won the Super Bowl in 2009. He was with the team for two more seasons, making a number of more memories in the process. Sunday will represent the first time he’ll be back coaching in New Orleans since departing the franchise.

“I’ve not coached in a game down there, but I’ve been back there several times,” Williams said. “Really looking forward to it. Got a lot of great memories — a lot of good feelings, a lot of good people there that I still stay in contact with.”

While all that experience with quarterback Drew Brees may seem to some as an advantage for Brees, Williams said that can work both ways.

“I know things about him, he knows things about me, too, in a practice situation,” Williams said. “There’s nobody I’ve been around who’s more precise in what they do, go about the profession the way he goes about it.”

Earlier in the week, Saints head coach Asshole Face praised Williams for the way he’s been able to consistently improve units throughout his time in the NFL.

“I think he’s doing a great job,” Payton said. “Really, when you follow his career as a defensive coordinator, he’s always had good defenses — you watch what they’re doing [and] in a short period of time, he’s been able to turn around a number of teams’ defenses. We’ve been grinding here, we’ve had a little bit of additional time, playing on a Thursday night, watching these guys. I think there are a number of things that concern you.

“Look, having had a chance to win a Super Bowl,” Payton added, “that’s something that you’ll always remember.”

Regardless, neither Williams nor Fisher are expecting much in terms of an emotional impact on the game.

“It’s not about that — it’s about these guys playing. So, it’s not about me,” Williams said.

“He won a Super Bowl down there, and I’m sure he’s got a lot of friends, but, no, he’s focused on what we’re doing,” Fisher said.

INJURY REPORT

Los Angeles has two players with an injury status for Sunday’s game. Center Tim Barnes (foot) has been listed as questionable, though Fisher said Friday he expects Barnes to play. Though Barnes did not practice last week, he started and played every offensive snap for the Rams against Miami. The situation should be much the same at New Orleans.

“He’s smart enough and has enough snaps under his belt where you can trust him to go out and play,” Fisher said of Barnes.

One clear challenge of Barnes not practicing is that there is a new quarterback behind him in Goff. But there were no clear center-quarterback-exchange issues during Sunday’s contest against Miami, in part because the two are spending plenty of time together off the field. While Barnes has been at every practice and watched every snap, the center has also been watching a lot of film with Goff, according to Fisher.

“They get the mental reps even though Timmy isn’t getting any [physical reps],” Fisher said.

Running back Todd Gurley did not participate in Friday’s session due to an illness, but should play on Sunday.

“Todd stayed inside — we asked him to stay inside today with an illness. It’s just one of those things that’s kind of going through the team, and it’s taking its turn and he was a recipient last night, this morning,” Fisher said. “But he’ll be fine. We expect him to be fine.”

Also on the injury report, defensive end Ethan Westbrooks (thigh) participated in full on Friday and is listed as questionable.

Defensive end William Hayes was excused from practice on Wednesday to attend to a family matter. He returned on Friday, practicing in full and is expected to play.

[www.therams.com]

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http://www.espn.com/blog/new-orlean...imate-model-for-saints-rookie-sheldon-rankins

METAIRIE, La. – Sheldon Rankins laughed off the question, of course, when asked somewhat tongue-in-cheek if he is the “next Aaron Donald.”

“I would never dub myself that title,” the New Orleans Saints rookie defensive tackle said.

But, yes, of course, Donald is exactly the type of player that Rankins strives to become.

Los Angeles Rams with the 13th overall pick in 2014 – and has since become one of the NFL's elite defensive players.

In fact, Donald might be battling Saints quarterback Drew Brees for the unofficial title of best player on the field when the teams meet up Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

“I think he’s a hell of a player. I watch him every chance I get,” Rankins said. “Not only because of the obvious height and quickness and things like that, but he’s just a hell of a player. So if someone else wants to dub me that, then thank you. But I won’t.

“I think I try to impact the game in a lot of ways. When you turn on the tape of him, it’s not always tackles for loss and sacks. He may get into the backfield and knock off pullers, get into the backfield and throw a running back into a quarterback, make the quarterback move his feet and somebody else gets a sack. So just being a disruptive player, I think I’ve prided myself on that my entire career and look forward to trying to carry that to this NFL level.”

Donald has five sacks this year and 25 in 42 career games. He leads the NFL with 13 tackles for loss and 22 quarterback hits. He has 53 and 72 of those, respectively, in his career. He also ranks among the NFL leaders in QB pressures, and the scouting service Pro Football Focus touted him as the NFL’s No. 1-rated player last year – an honor he is contending for again this year.

Donald was the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014, a first-team All-Pro in 2015 and a Pro Bowler each year.

“He is outstanding. Just pick a game, put it on,” Saints coach Asshole Face said. “Different than television copies, just pick a coaches’ tape copy and put it on and you watch him. You combine all of these things -- you combine extremely athletic and then you combine smart and then you would say his effort and energy ...

“When you get that combination of all those critical factors, you end up with an elite player.”

Payton said it’s harder to game-plan around an interior disruptor like Donald than it is an edge rusher, because it’s not as easy to move the direction of the play away from him or add running backs and tight ends as extra blockers.

Fortunately for the Saints, center Max Unger has arguably been playing at a Pro Bowl level himself this year. But he'll need help.

“He might be one of the most talented interior guys there is,” Brees said. “Just his energy, his motor and then his ability -- both in the run game and the pass game -- to be extremely disruptive. He’s a guy that you have to have a plan for in both phases. You know that he’s going to make some plays. You just hope to contain him as much as you can.”

Rankins has played only three games so far, since he spent the first half of the season on injured reserve with a broken fibula suffered in training camp. He has one sack and eight tackles while rotating with veteran Nick Fairley and fellow rookie David Onyemata.

But he has flashed that disruptive ability that led him to 14 sacks and 26.5 tackles for loss over his final two years at Louisville.

“Absolutely. Absolutely. Absolutely,” Payton said. “This past week in Carolina, he had some outstanding rush snaps. So we’re encouraged, and I think it’s helping our pass rush in general.”

Rankins said he feels like he is playing well and thing are starting to slow down for him. He said he was “shaking off the rust” for a couple weeks but was especially encouraged by the way he responded to playing two games in five days last week.

“I think the quick turnaround and being able to go out there and be productive was good for me as far as building confidence in my leg and my conditioning and things like that,” Rankins said. “I look forward to keep chipping away at the rock.”

With 10 games down... a lot can change... but it really looks like a Dallas / New England SuperBowl based on the performances so far.

I'd put Oakland and Seattle firmly in a 2nd tier... but after that? We've got a LOT of flawed teams.

I know the NFL is configured to level the competitive balance, but can anyone point to a recent season where there is such a small handful of "good teams"?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/11/25/week-12-injury-report-roundup-5/

Rams at Saints

The Rams head to New Orleans with C Tim Barnes (foot) and DT Ethan Westbrooks (thigh) questionable to play. Their injury report is otherwise clear.

The Saints aren’t in quite as good shape. LT Terron Armstead(knee, quadricep), RB Travaris Cadet (toe), T Tony Hills(abdomen), RB Mark Ingram (concussion), C Senio Kelemete(triceps), S Shiloh Keo (neck), G Tim Lelito (calf) and DE David Onyemata (knee) are all listed as questionable while RB Daniel Lasco (hamstring) has been ruled out.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18132728/minnesota-trade-sam-bradford-does-not-look-good

Just when we think we have a handle on what's going to happen with Minnesota Vikings, they prove us wrong. They were going to be a Super Bowl contender this year, but then they lost Teddy Bridgewater, so they traded for Sam Bradford. Then they were going to struggle without Adrian Peterson, but they kept winning and started the season 5-0. Once it was abundantly clear this team could overcome any obstacles placed in its way, the Vikings promptly collapsed -- they've lost five of their six games since the bye, and after losing in heartbreaking fashion to the Lions on Thursday, they now have a 56.6 percent chance of making the postseason. A 5-0 lock has turned into a 6-5 coin flip.

The Vikings' loss Thursday came after a backbreaking interception from Bradford, who has mostly avoided picks this season. It was only his third interception of the year, but it came in a game where his defense had held the Lions to 13 points with Bradford doing little to hold the lead or add to the offensive ledger. He finished the game 31-for-37, but those throws generated just 224 yards, with 119 of those yards -- more than 50 percent -- coming after the catch.

His average pass traveled just 3.4 yards in the air on Thursday, which is the second-lowest average distance for a starting quarterback in a single game all season. Coincidentally, the guy in first was Bradford's opposite number on Thanksgiving, Matthew Stafford, who averaged a scarcely believable 2.8 air yards per pass in Week 5 against the Eagles. There's a difference between the two: Stafford was being pressured on nearly 40 percent of his dropbacks in that game and posted a 65.7 QBR. Bradford was pressured on only 5.4 percent of his dropbacks Thursday, the second-lowest pressure rate for any passer in a single game all season. He managed only a 30.7 QBR.

But it's more complicated than that.

Bradford gets a ton of help from his defense and precious little assistance from certain parts of his offense. He was missing Stefon Diggs, and the Vikings just changed offensive coordinators a few weeks ago, but that also was in part because Bradford had more of a rapport with his former Eagles offensive coordinator, Pat Shurmur, than departed OC Norv Turner. There is, well, there's a lot to unpack.

Let's try to get to the bottom of one fundamental question, though: Should the Vikings look back and regret their move to trade first- and fourth-round picks to the Eagles for Bradford just before the season? The best way to answer that question is to break it down into a few smaller questions, starting with the most obvious one:

Alex Smith as the most obvious example, but the margin for error is extremely thin. Smith made one bad read and threw an interception in the end zone last week and it cost the Chiefs the game; Thursday, Bradford made his own mistake on third down in the final minute and it handed Detroit a come-from-behind victory.

The former first overall pick also deserves credit for adjusting to his new environs so quickly. Bradford was acquired just days before the season and stepped into the lineup for a critical NFC North matchup against the Packers in Week 2 to deliver what might have been his best game of the season. I know I certainly expected Bradford to struggle at first, given the complexity of NFL playbooks and the time it takes to develop a level of chemistry and familiarity with a new offense. It would have been fair to argue against the Bradford trade under the logic that it would take him a few weeks to settle in, which would have crushed the value of the trade as a way of keeping Minnesota's playoff hopes alive for 2016. Bradford proved that argument wrong.

Are the Vikings better with Bradford than we could have expected?

They are about where we could have expected they would have ended up after 11 games, but the shape of that performance is wildly different from what we might have believed. The defense, which was good last year, has taken an enormous leap forward. The Vikings were fifth in points allowed last season but just 14th in defensive DVOA, owing to the way their offense ground out games and extended drives. Minnesota faced the fourth-fewest drives and defended the fifth-longest average fields in the league.

This year, the Vikings' defense has improved dramatically. The Vikings were sixth in DVOA heading into the Lions game, which is still below their second-place rank in points allowed per game, but the gap is much smaller. They've chipped in with three defensive touchdowns, while their return units have added three scores on punt and kick returns. Minnesota's returners have been worth 17.1 points of field position this year through Week 11, second in the league behind the efforts of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Of course, their special teams haven't been perfect, mostly owing to a bad start for Blair Walsh, and while their running game was effective last season with Peterson, the performance with Peterson injured and an offensive line riddled with injuries has been historically awful.

How bad? They narrowly avoid being called the worst rushing attack through 11 games since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. The Vikings have run the ball 275 times for 782 yards this season, an average of 2.84 yards per carry. The worst post-merger rushing attack through 11 games, that of the 1971 Houston Oilers, averaged 2.82 yards per rush.

Cordarrelle Patterson, there's no way the offensive line would be able to hold up long enough to give Bradford the time to make those throws.

Minnesota had what appeared to be a deep offensive line heading into the season, but that depth quickly disappeared. Former starters John Sullivan and Phil Loadholt failed to recover from injuries which cost them their 2015 seasons, and neither made it to the active roster. Starting tackles Matt Kalil and Andre Smith were both done for the season with their own injuries by Week 4. On Thursday, the Vikings lost two more linemen during the game, as center Joe Berger suffered a concussion before right tackle Jeremiah Sirles went down with a hip injury. Berger was the only lineman on the team to play even 90 percent of the offensive snaps before Thursday.

You can't blame the Vikings for having Bradford throw ridiculously short passes with that sort of line trouble, but other quarterbacks have made it through similarly horrific offensive line problems and managed to maintain something resembling a useful level of downfield production. (Philip Rivers comes to mind.)

Do the injuries invalidate criticism of the Bradford trade?

Yes and no.

The original argument back when the Vikings traded two draft picks for Bradford was they had a Super Bowl-caliber team built around a 31-year-old running back. Trading for Bradford kept their window open; failing to acquire him would have shut the door on any championship aspirations the Vikings had for 2016. The hole in that argument is what we've seen happen this season. It assumes that everything else for the Vikings is going to go right; namely, that the team would avoid the sort of injuries that could sink even the sturdiest NFL battleship.

That belief was likely misguided. Nobody could have predicted Peterson would miss almost the entire season, but he was a 31-year-old back with nearly 2,400 carries on his tires with a history of injury issues. Even ignoring the child abuse case that cost him his 2014 season, Peterson has made it through only two 16-game seasons in the past five years. He was always likely to miss a few games, which erodes the logic of the trade a bit. The offensive line rotation included five veterans who have required a trip to injured reserve over the past two seasons, and that doesn't include Kalil (whose play has deteriorated while limping through injuries) and fill-in Jake Long (whose career was decimated by injuries and who suffered an Achilles injury after four games).

Research I've done suggests that injuries are mostly random, especially for younger players. Health one year shouldn't make us just assume health the next. But based on this, if anything, it's a surprise the Vikings haven't been hit by an injury to Bradford himself. Despite the offensive line woes, their quarterback is on pace for his first injury-free season since his 2012 campaign with the Rams, having missed 27 of the next 48 games in the three ensuing years. The possibility of a Bradford injury was another one of the arguments against the deal that is somewhat forgotten now. He has managed to stay healthy, but the injury chaos surrounding Bradford is a reminder of how we can't assume everything will go right in justifying win-now deals.

Drew Brees, but you don't give up a first-round pick unless you think you have a guy who can squeeze out a late score to win a game. Where has he made the difference so far this season?

You can make a case for Week 2, Bradford's debut, when he threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Diggs to put the Vikings up 17-7 on the Packers with 2:11 left in the third quarter. The Packers scored a touchdown in the fourth to get within three, but never got much closer. Bradford didn't do much to close it out in the fourth: He completed a 15-yard pass on third-and-27, had a pass batted away, took a sack, and was part of a 12-yard pass interference call. He otherwise kneeled, handed off, and threw a pass with three seconds left to burn the remainder of the clock.

The three other games in Minnesota's winning streak were all by double digits; Bradford played well, but his defense allowed an average of 11 points in those games. Minnesota's only other victory came against the Cardinals in Week 11, 30-24, in a game where the Vikes scored 14 points on returns and Bradford's only second-half scoring drive produced a field goal. In the fourth quarter, Bradford's offense produced one first down, while he took a strip sack that gave the Cardinals a short field and set them up for a touchdown.

Bradford's most impactful fourth quarter came against the Lions in their first encounter, when he drove a trailing Vikings team into the red zone twice and had them positioned to win. Matthew Stafford and the Miracles had another tune in mind.

It's possible that Shaun Hill might have thrown a game away with some sort of awful three-interception performance, but given how little the Vikings are asking Bradford to do, it's also difficult to imagine Hill would been in a position to make those sorts of mistakes. Bradford has played well in games where the Vikings were blowing out the competition, which isn't a knock on him as a player. It's not Bradford's fault his defense blew that lead the first time around against Detroit. Given the outcomes of this specific season, though, you have to really squint to make a case for Bradford pulling out any games the Vikings wouldn't have otherwise won with their defense.

Does Bradford make the Vikings better in 2017?

He might, either as a quarterback or as a trade asset, although the latter seems murkier as an argument. Bradford is signed to a one-year, $17-million deal for next season, which serves as both a friendlier franchise tag (just $4 million of his deal is guaranteed) and leverage to negotiate a long-term contract. Bradford infamously is rumored to have turned down an extension from the Eagles before the 2015 season in light of his fantastic preseason and what it portended for the future; he may be more amenable to a long-term deal this time around.

The trade market is beginning to look a little cloudy. Bradford is not playing as well as he was after five games, and that shiny 5-0 cachet has faded. It's also beginning to look like a buyer's market for quarterbacks, with all kinds of makes and models available. Tony Romo is going to be traded or cut. Jimmy Garoppolo probably will be dealt. Jay Cutler is going to be released. Colin Kaepernick, showing signs of life in San Francisco, will likely hit the market.

Dak Prescott's emergence in Dallas making Romo available, but the unique attrition rate and rapid player value fluctuation in the NFL has to be accounted for when you make win-now, pay-later trades. The landscape can change dramatically in a year.

So ... was it a regrettable trade?

Contrast the situation in Minnesota with Denver. We could have made the same arguments for the Broncos, who were built around a dominant defense with players such as Von Miller and Aqib Talib in the prime of their careers. It's true they just won a Super Bowl, but that fact shouldn't influence their future decision-making; just as the Vikings would have been wasting a year of Peterson's prime, the Broncos didn't pay a premium for somebody like Bradford and chose to risk wasting a year of their defense's prime.

Things haven't gone poorly. In a tougher division, the Broncos are 7-3. Their running game has been disappointing (albeit not historically bad like Minnesota's), and the play they've gotten out of Trevor Siemian and Paxton Lynch hasn't been remarkable, but their defense has played at a high enough level to push them toward a likely playoff berth. Now, having sacrificed only a third-round pick to move up for Lynch, they have both the cap flexibility to absorb a contract like Romo's and the draft picks to help build a better team around Lynch if they choose to go with him. At least if they want to.

The Vikings normally think like the Broncos. They retain flexibility, build through their draft picks, and think about the long-term picture more than most other teams. They made what even they would characterize as a desperate move to salvage their season after the heartbreaking injury suffered by Bridgewater. Their decision has always been defensible.

When they made the trade, though, it was not to acquire an average-to-below-average starting quarterback. Bradford, even in this best of seasons, is 24th in QBR and 16th in adjusted net yards per attempt, which incorporates sacks and weighs interceptions better than passer rating. It was designed to acquire a quarterback who would be good enough for the Vikings to stay on their Super Bowl track. Bradford hasn't been the central problem, but after their loss Thursday, FPI suggests the Vikings have a 5.3 percent chance of making the Super Bowl.

The Vikings got the quarterback they were hoping for and he hasn't really made a difference anyway. That alone is probably a sign that their logic in making the initial trade doesn't really stand up to scrutiny.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/britt-736526-rams-time.html


THOUSAND OAKS – For the 10th time in his eight-year career, Kenny Britt is playing with a new starting quarterback.

This past Sunday, the Rams finally started No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, giving fans reason to keep watching what has become an increasingly frustrating season. In a rainy debut at the Coliseum, he completed 17 of 31 passes for 134 yards — a performance that neither lifted nor doomed his team in a 14-10 loss to the Dolphins.

“He did OK,” Britt said. “He handled himself well for his first NFL game. He hasn’t been on the field for a couple of months now.”

It’s difficult to accurately assess Goff based on one game. In an offense that looked as constrained as ever last weekend, the former Cal star threw just five passes that traveled more than 10 yards through the air. Moving forward, the Rams’ hopes for an unlikely playoff push will depend largely on Goff’s ability to stretch the field more than Case Keenum, who threw nine touchdowns against 11 interceptions and was clearly miscast as a full-time starter.

But as flawed as he was, Keenum did have a connection with the Rams’ leading receiver. Dating back to last season, Britt had played 14 games with Keenum under center, more than anyone else in his career except former Titans quarterback Jake Locker. He remains on pace to become the Rams’ first 1,000-yard receiver since Terry Holt in 2007.

“Physically, he’s feeling better than he’s ever felt,” said Rams coach Jeff Fisher, who coached the Titans when they drafted Britt 30th overall in 2009.

Last month, Britt said that he and Keenum had gotten so comfortable with each other that they could communicate with a single look. Getting that familiar with Goff, who did not get a full offseason’s worth of first-team reps, won’t be accomplished overnight.

“It’s going to take that extra time in the classroom, that extra time on the field,” Britt said this week. “To tell you the truth, in camp, he was putting in the work, the extra time on our routes. He tries to get in after practice. That’s something you don’t see a lot of rooks do.”

Britt’s seven targets against Miami still tied for the team lead, though his 43 yards resulted in a season-low 8.6 yards per reception. Given time and reps, he still figures to be Goff’s most dependable weapon.

More concerning is the continued disappearance of Tavon Austin, whom the Rams just inked to a four-year, $42 million extension. The breakout that Fisher kept insisting was coming has yet to materialize: the former first-round pick is averaging just 43.7 scrimmage yards per game, down almost 13 yards from last season; his catch rate of 53.3 percent is a career low; he has only scored twice.

After a three-game stretch that saw him receive 29 targets, Austin has only seen 11 passes come his way this month. He has pulled in only one pass from Goff, gaining most of the 21 yards after the catch.

“He’s got to create separation,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said. “We’ve got to find a way to get it to him in space and let him use his ability for it – and at the same time not get it to him when everybody is expecting us to get it to him.”

“The way they’re playing me on defense, they’re taking me away,” Austin added. “It doesn’t really bother me. I can do other stuff on the field to try to get us to win.

“Just try to stay patient. Don’t get too mad about it.”

I've held off this year until I felt we were out of the race. It feels like we are. That's partly because I haven't had much time to look into the draft this year.
Fire
HC Jeff Fisher
OC Rob Boras

Hire
HC Jon Gruden
OC Bill Callahan

Will Gruden leave the booth? I don't know. What I do know is that he expressed an interest in returning to coaching within the last year but seems to be waiting for the right job. I think the Rams present that opportunity. He gets to keep the defensive staff mainly in place as well as one of the best special teams coaches in the game. We have a top 10 defense and a great DC. Offensively, we need work.

However, we have a #1 overall pick, the 2015 OROY at HB, and a lot of young OLs. Gruden brings one of the best OL Coaches in the game with him in Bill Callahan as OC. He recognizes this as an opportunity like Tampa Bay. A team with a strong defense left over from a defensive-minded HC who couldn't get the offense over the hump. Except in this case, Gruden would have a young franchise QB to work with.

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

Re-sign
CB Trumaine Johnson - 5 years $60 million
SS T.J. McDonald - 5 years $40 million
K Greg Zuerlein - 3 years $6 million
HB Benny Cunningham - 3 years $6 million
DT Dominique Easley - RFA Tender
DE Ethan Westbrooks - RFA Tender
DE Matt Longacre - ERFA Tender

Let Walk
WR Kenny Britt (I am worried about him working with a new HC. He doesn't have a strong track record working with coaches who aren't Fisher.)
WR Brian Quick (Going to get fresh blood in FA.)
QB Case Keenum (Mannion is the backup of the future.)

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. Some will doubt this signing because they feel Jeffery struggles to say on the field. However, Jeffery played in all 9 games this year prior to being suspended. And played in all 16 games in 2 of the previous 3 years. That means he's started every game he wasn't suspended for in 3 of the past 4 years. He did have injury issues in 2015, but that's football. I'll take the risk.)
WR Pierre Garcon - 3 years $15 million (Gruden has a long track record of signing veteran WRs in FA to play in his system. Garcon played for his brother Jay in Washington. He makes a lot of sense because of his knowledge of the scheme, veteran status, and relative affordability due to his age.)
C/OG J.C. Tretter - 4 years $24 million (Tretter played extremely well this year for the Packers before getting hurt. He can play four out of the five spots on the OL. He offers us a quality starting Center. He's also only 25 years old.)

NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #__ - Jourdan Lewis CB Michigan
Round 2 Pick #__ - Forrest Lamp OT/OG Western Kentucky (Trade: 3rd, 4th, and 4th (Comp))
Round 5 Pick #__ - DeMarcus Walker DE Florida State
Round 6 Pick #__ - Josh Augusta NT Missouri
Round 6 Comp Pick - Dan Skipper OT/OG Arkansas
Round 7 Pick #__ - Nick DeLuca LB North Dakota State

Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Alshon Jeffery
ZWR: Pierre Garcon
SLWR: Tavon Austin
TE: Tyler Higbee
LT: Greg Robinson vs. Forrest Lamp
LG: Greg Robinson vs. Forrest Lamp
C: J.C. Tretter
RG: Jamon Brown
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: Jourdan Lewis
SLCB: E.J. Gaines
FS: Maurice Alexander
SS: T.J. McDonald

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

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/john-madden-rips-thursday-night-nfl-games-it-just-doesnt-work/

Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden has spent more than half of his life watching NFL football, and for the most part, he seems to enjoy all of it, except for one thing: Thursday night games.

During a podcast with the Bay Area News Group this week, the 80-year-old former coach and broadcaster said that the NFL needs to dump Thursday games, or at least change the strategy around them by giving both teams a bye before they play in the game.

"Something has to be done about "Thursday Night Football." It just doesn't work." Madden said. "It's not only a fan thing, it's a team thing. It's a safety thing. It's a competitive thing. It doesn't work. I know about money, and I know about business. Maybe you have to tweak stuff a little more. To help teams, maybe you get a bye the week before."

THE STEELERS HAVE TO PLAY A ROAD GAME ON THANKSGIVING, JUST FOUR DAYS AFTER PLAYING A ROAD GAME. SINCE 2007, THE STEELERS ARE THE ONLY NFL TEAM THAT HAS HAD TO PLAY TWO ROAD GAMES IN FOUR DAYS.

Madden also said that Thursday night games could be one of the reasons that ratings have fallen this season.

"What's happens is there are not a lot of good teams, and they have too many windows to put these games in," the Super Bowl winning coach said. "When you think of an early Sunday window, a late Sunday window, a Sunday night window, a Monday night window, a Thursday night window. They all want good games, and there's not enough good teams."

The downside of Thursday games is that a team can get the short end of the stick when it comes to scheduling, and that's exactly what is happening to the Redskins for their Thanksgiving game against Dallas, according to Madden.

"On Thanksgiving, Washington has to travel to Dallas to play in Dallas, and they played Sunday night. That's wrong. That's an oops," Madden said. "You play a team on Sunday night and make them travel and play on Thursday. I remember in my coaching days, as players get older, it takes them longer to heal up from a Sunday game, and guys weren't ready to play until Thursday or Friday."

Madden didn't mention the Steelers, but they also got a wrench thrown at them by the people who make the NFL schedule. The Steelers have to play a road game on Thanksgiving, just four days after playing a road game. Since 2007, the Steelers are the only NFL team that has had to play two road games in four days.

Although Madden complained about Thursday night, football, he'll definitely be watching on Thanksgiving, a football holiday tradition that he has no problem with.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm goofy. I watch them all," Madden said of Thanksgiving games. "It's not, 'Boy, that Madden, he just loves football and he can't live without it.' I'm always afraid I'm going to miss something. 'Oh shoot, I didn't see that!' So I want to watch it."

The 80-year-old, who coached the Raiders from 1969 to 1978, also said the he's in good health, despite undergoing surgery on several body parts this year, including his heart, hip, knee and esophagus.

1st and goal from the 1

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I like that opponents blogs take the time to review our #1 pick. Do you agree or disagree with his analysis?

http://www.fieldgulls.com/2016/11/2...breakdown-highlights-rams-dolphins-inaccuracy
Sam’s Film Room: Jared Goff’s debut for Rams highlights problems in his game and offense as a whole
by SamuelRGold

LA Rams quarterback Jared Goff, the number one overall pick in April over Carson Wentz and many others, made his first official start on a rainy Sunday versus the Miami Dolphins. The highly-anticipated debut was already on shaky ground as many questioned how a player taken that high couldn’t sniff the field for 10 weeks as his team fell below .500 largely due to inefficient play at quarterback. By the time the game was over, the shaking only got worse rather than being subsided.

This was an ugly game for both sides offensively, but the Rams drives stalled due to overly conservative play calling and a lack of a downfield attack. LA converted just two of their 13 third down attempts while only gaining 12 total first downs. The Dolphins, on the other hand, didn't score until the fourth quarter, managing two late touchdowns to win the game with under a minute left.

For his part, Goff completed 17-of-31 passes for only 134 yards. Often as former starter Case Keenum would do, Goff didn't manage a score but unlike Keenum didn’t turn the ball over and was sacked just once.
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In order to handle the wet conditions and Miami’s superior defensive line, the Rams turned to a quick passing game where all but four of Goff's passes went for under 20 yards. By my tracking, 19 of Goff's other 27 passes traveled less than six yards beyond the line of scrimmage, with the right side being Goff's preferred throwing direction.
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In general, Goff made the correct reads, but it was his accuracy that held LA back as he kept missing his receivers. (For once, maybe it wasn’t Tavon Austin’s fault.)

With 9:44 remaining in the third, Goff is in shotgun on 2nd and 10. Goff recognizes that his running back (30) Todd Gurley has a one-on-one match-up with a linebacker. Since Gurley is running an angle route versus (42) Spencer Paysinger's outside leverage, Goff makes the correct decision to target him.

Goff holds onto the ball way too long throwing with zero anticipation. This allows (97) Jordan Phillips time to penetrate between the left guard and the center forcing Goff to backfoot the pass inaccurately at his target. This causes the ball to sail behind him.


All of this could have been avoided if Goff just threw the pass a second earlier right as Gurley was about to break across the middle of the field..

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On the next play, Goff does an excellent job avoiding the pressure from the left edge scrambling back to his right. While on the run, he finds his tight end (88) Lance Kendricks in the flat. Unfortunately, he throws the pass inaccurately: behind and too low for Kendricks to bring it in.

These were two back-to-back negative plays by Goff that forced the Rams to punt in good field position.

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While his accuracy was spotty, Goff did a great job avoiding pressure and escaping the pocket. With 2:30 left in the third quarter, Goff recognizes quickly that his offensive line didn’t pick up the interior stunt by (50) Andre Branch, so he scrambles through the offensive line for a short pickup.

Although this scramble didn’t pick up the first down, it kept LA within field goal range, allowing Greg Zuerlein to make a 46-yard kick for the 10-0 lead.

If there wasn't immediate pressure, there is a very good chance Goff would have seen the defensive back opposite of (18) Kenny Britt at the bottom of the screen slip in coverage. This would have been a walk-in touchdown for Britt, but the pressure forces Goff to react.

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Even when Goff made a good play, like on this excellent 10-yard scramble below, it was called back for an idiotic penalty by left tackle (73) Greg Robinson. Watch closely as he performs an illegal block in the back on (47) Kiko Alonso. If I were Goff, I would have been furious since Alonso was not even in range to make a play anyways.

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While the pressure and the playcalling were definitely a large reason why the offense struggled, Goff did not take advantage of opportunities when he had a chance.

For instance, the Dolphins sent a three-man rush while dropping eight in coverage on this play. Goff has plenty of time in the pocket to go through his reads, scan the field, and extend the play, but he panics dumping the ball to his checkdown in the flat for a three-yard loss.
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Looking at the general themes of the game, Los Angeles desperately needs better wide receivers. (Dang it, Tavon Austin!) They struggled to gain separation against the Miami’s defensive backs. In this play, not a single one of the receivers get off the line cleanly. Goff trusted that (83) Brian Quick would beat his defender inside, but his release off the line of scrimmage is awful, while Goff’s pass was off-target as well.
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With over $42 million in cap space in 2017, a player like Chicago Bears wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey would be very beneficial to the team and could give Goff a legitimate receiver. Austin is great for gadget plays and as a slot receiver, but four years in the NFL he hasn't broken 500 yards receiving in any season after being drafted eighth overall in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Due to the Rams' trade with the Tennessee Titans to land Goff, they won't pick until the second round in the draft. It's possible that Clemson wide receiver Mike Williams or Courtland Sutton from Southern Methodist University could last until then. Either of them could give LA a legitimate threat on the outside for Goff to develop with.

After losing to the Rams in Week 2, the Seattle Seahawks won't face them again until Week 15. That battle was a purely defensive one but things could be very different in the rematch; With Seattle's revived offense, the Seahawks have a much better chance the second time around for the victory even though LA has won four of the last five meetings in the series.

Will this next one feature Russell Wilson vs Goff, and will he be able to improve his accuracy and allow Jeff Fisher to open the playbook for him? We’ll soon find out.

Potentially good games today.

* fingers crossed *

http://www.neworleanssaints.com/new...nference/f6c211a8-108a-4757-8894-2827a989eaa2

New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees
Press Conference with Local Media
Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Do you agree with Kenny Vaccaro saying you have to play like a desperate team?

“Yeah, I mean typically we say the most desperate team wins. Because there is a great sense of urgency that comes along with that. I mean here is the thing, my preparation won’t change this week, compared to any other week. Do I begin to do a bunch of different things? No, I don’t. I do the same thing because I feel like my thought process is one that I have honed in on for a long time and it works.

I know it works and I think there is just little things about how we have lost these last two games that are important to recognize and important to fix. Which throughout the course of the week, in regards to our practice habits and just some of the things we’re doing. I think some of those things can be emphasized, but as far as the way I am preparing for this game, it is the exact same, but I also know how important it is.”

Do you have a sense of what you will see out of a Gregg Williams defense?

“Yes, I mean I know what I see on film. I know obviously the things he’s done in the past as far as his scheme. I mean listen I know that he’s a very good defensive coach and I know he’s going to have some things for us I’m sure that we haven’t seen or that are new. My philosophy going into every game is always to expect the unexpected and to trust our rules, to trust in our plan and then just to go out and execute it.”

Do you think people carry Gregg’s (Williams) departure over or does time heal all?

“I just know this – I choose to focus on the positives and not the negatives. Obviously, that was a tough situation, the positive is Gregg Williams was our defensive coordinator from 2009,10 and 11. We won a lot of football games together and he did a great job here with our defense and we share a super bowl together from that 2009 season.

I choose to look at that and I appreciate that and as far as what’s happened since then, coaches go to different places. I think he is a very talented defensive football coach and I know his defense has played extremely well this season, especially the last four weeks. I know that we will need our best to beat them.”

You know he wants to beat you though?

“Yes, I am sure he does. I know his attitude, I know his demeanor and his approach. He is going to have those guys ready to play and we’ll be ready to play too.”

With Aaron Donald, what are the challenges when you have that pressure coming from the defensive tackle position?

“He might be one of the most talented interior guys there is. Just his energy, his motor and then his ability, both in the run game and the pass game, to just be extremely disruptive. He is a guy that you have to have a plan for in both phases. You know that he is going to make some plays. You just hope to contain him as much as you can.”

Is there something that makes it more difficult when the pressure is coming from the middle, as opposed to the edge?

“He’s got inside moves and he’s got outside moves. Every play is a little bit different, in regards to how you are attacking the defense and obviously, how you are keeping him in mind.”

If they do some of the things that Carolina did last week, in terms of taking away the deep threats, have you seen a way to better attack that?

“There are going to be games when you are limited, maybe in regards to the amount that you have to push the ball down the field. That’s okay because we have made a pretty good living this year of just taking what defenses give us, being patient, moving the ball, sustaining long drives, converting third downs and then ending up with touchdowns. If that is what we have to do, then that is what we have to do.”

Do you have more confidence at this point, now that the defense is playing so well, that maybe you can take a few more chances?

“We’re going to play our game. We’re going to play aggressive, but aggressively smart. If it’s not there, there is no reason to force it. Live to play another day, so to speak, and understand the formula for winning. Taking care of the ball is a huge part of that formula.”

Do they blitz as much as they did when (Gregg Williams) was here?

“It’s different types. It comes in different forms but yes.”

So you don’t expect them to play coverage against you guys?

“It’s probably going to be a mix. It’s going to be a mix of everything, I’m sure. That’s what we have to be ready for.”

Sean (Payton) talks all of the time about not being that team; how much has that been kind of the emphasis, especially since you guys are showing your potential this season? Are you sort of tired of settling for this win-loss, win-loss cycle?

“We’re hitting on a stretch in the season where every game means so much and they’re so important. We know the formula for winning. We’ve enjoyed that at times this year, during our four-out-of-five stretch. Unfortunately, we’ve had those stretches where it’s been one play here, one play there or just some really costly mistakes where we know better.

We continue to emphasize getting rid of those mistakes. Mistakes are going to be made but understand the ones that are the ones that are going to get you beat. Avoid those and focus on all of the positive things that we can do because certainly, we’re capable of a lot.”

Is Thanksgiving at the Brees house just practice for you or do you do anything special? Do you cook?

“My wife does all of the cooking. We’re here working from early until pretty late. I get home in time for thanksgiving meal. Unfortunately, I am no help in the kitchen. Maybe tonight I’ll help clean up a little bit. Brittany (Brees) does all of the cooking.

When I get home though, it is a football game with the boys. Whatever football games are on will be on the TV and we’ll be reenacting plays from that game. We’ll be running around and trying to keep Rylen (Brees) from dumping out her milk or trashing the place. It’s all good. It’s fun.”

What do you think of the job Zach Strief has done?

“I think he has been phenomenal. I think he has done such a good job. Credit him, his confidence and just his veteran nature. He’s one of the most intelligent football players I have ever been around. When you talk to him about his technique and scheme and just how to block certain guys.

That whole line works together too but him and Jahri (Evans) being next to each other and just working together – in so many cases, yes tackles are one-on-one a lot, but there are also things happening up front where you’ve got be working with the guard next to you or the tight end next to you. He is such a smart and tough football player. I am really happy for the season that he is having because he certainly deserves it and he has worked so hard to be at this point.”

With those close losses, do you reflect on that and say we should be in a lot better spot than we are right now? Isn’t it kind of human nature to do that?

“But we’re not. There is nothing you can do about it. So much of this game is don’t do what human nature tells you to do. When you win, human nature tells you to relax. When you lose, human nature tells you to overreact. Well, we’re not going to overreact. We are still going to play confident and aggressive as ever but we also understand what it takes to win.”

What are the emotions like going on the road as a rookie quarterback and dealing with the environment like (Jared) Goff will on Sunday?

“Being a rookie in this league is an exciting time. Getting an opportunity to start and play at that level, but every game in this league is so hard-fought.”

What traits make a good fourth-quarter comeback quarterback?

“You’ve got to have a level of mental toughness, to maybe move past some things that have happened earlier in the game, in order to put yourself in a position to where you can win the game. A high level of confidence because inevitably, you’re going to have to make some tight throws.

You’re going to have to make some tight throws with guys bearing down on you. And, obviously, confidence in the guys around you to trust what’s happening because those are split-second decisions that need to be good ones.”

http://m.therams.com/news-and-event...-Session/2ec0c14c-0b0c-4b2d-84a8-38c2da16545f

Good stuff. Still disagree with the gameplan towards the end. Step on their throat. Don't put it all on the defense. And that's exactly what they did.

Hello RoD members. I just joined the BB last night.

I've been a Rams fan since I turned 8 years old. I got a cat and named him Roman because he was white and had gray horn-like markings around his ears, just like Roman Gabriel!

My favorite Ram is Jack Youngblood (hence my handle), but Marshall Faulk came awfully close to displacing him.

My favorite Ram play, was Ferragamo to Waddy against the Cowboys in the '79 playoffs on the way to their first Super Bowl. A close second was, of course, Warner to Bruce in our WINNING Super Bowl.

All things considered, it's been a crazy ride. Suffering through the years when we clearly had one of the 2 or 3 best teams in the NFL, only to get beaten by the Vikings in mud, or the Cowboys. Then learning what true suffering was while enduring year after year of horrible teams. Then riding the highs while having the most potent offense ever assembled during the GSoT. Then back to horrible.

So to me, this extended period of mediocrity (more 7-9 BS) isn't all that bad. In my twisted view of the world, we could be anywhere from 9-1 to 0-10 this season, with a break either way. So this team is built to be mediocre. How can I expect them to do any better than are?

I have my own ideas on how to improve the squad, as I'm sure you all do as well. I will share them from time to time and look forward to reading what you all think as well.

It's great to have them back in LA. Too bad I had to move to Seattle!

Best of Turkey Day wishes to my fellow Ram fans!

I'm Thankful for the Rams and a forum like ROD. Thankful for all of you unique individuals on the ROD forum that make following our team even better. Thankful for Family and all the small things in life we take for granted.


Thankful that our wait finally ended and we get to watch our Rams young franchise quarterback start in his second career game at New Orleans this Sunday.


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http://saintsreport.com/forums/f2/how-should-saints-attack-rams-361958/#.WDW1VfkrI2w

How should the Saints attack the Rams?

I'm not taking the Rams defense lightly at all...They have had our number the last few times we've played them. Plus let's not forget the fact that Gregg Williams runs their defense and he is very familiar with what the Saints want to do.

I expect some different looks to try and confuse Brees and I definitely think they'll be some pressure packages put in play to try and generate turnovers and help their offense which is exactly what the Saints must avoid in this game. I sure hope Armstead is ready because we need the offensive line to be at it's healthy best.

In a perfect world I'd say the best way to beat the Rams is to jump on them quick and put up points and therefore take the threat of Gurley out of the game. That being said I'm sure we'll see a lot of empty set Shotgun passes.

I just pray to God that they're are no fluky turnovers by Brees because that's one recipe for disaster. The other is the Saints Defense taking the Rams lightly and giving up TDs on stupid trick plays because I'll bet the farm that a few will be designed to try and trick us....BANK on it.
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Max Unger vs Aaron Donald is one of the matchups of the NFL season. Both playing at an extremely high level
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Considering how they have owned us in the last few games with them, I'm in favor of poisoned darts.

But seriously, we must find a way of keeping another rookie QB from looking like a Hall of Famer. If we just do that (and not try to kick anything ) we will win.
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2-2 in the last 4 games against the Rams. Not exactly "owning" us.
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Blitz on D and pass to setup the run. Oh, and most importantly, try and not give up any blocked kicks.
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On 4th down inside their 40, go for it (no field goals).

Go for 2 after every touchdown (no PATs).

Blowout.
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The same way we do when the Falcons start RISING UP... with a good flushing.


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Like Red Beaulieu from the University of Louisiana Cougars did when he faced Coach Klein & Bobby Boucher from the SCLSU Mud Dogs.

Just score once and keep giving the ball to the Rams offense. That offense is so bad, they'll find a way to lose the game on their own.
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GW knows how to get inside Brees' head. Beat him up physically early and often and Brees has tendencies to throw Pick 6 and fumbles

I wonder if SP has enough confidence in our defense to play a ball control, field position game and take Brees getting beat up early out of the equation.
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Seems like GW defenses have problems with TEs. Don't know about the Rams this year. Unfortunately for the Saints offense, TEs may be the best way to attack the Rams D... unfortunately.
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Armstead better be ready to go because Aaron Donald vs Lelito or Kelemente is a recipe for disaster.
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No turnovers and we win
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8 man fronts to shut down Gurley and don't turn the ball over and we should come out with a victory.
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Hoping Fairley has a big day out!


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We need lots of quick routes. Don't even worry about taking the top of the defense until at least the 3rd series (on a 1st and ten). We need to get the ball out fast to players like Thomas and Snead. None of this bubble screen to cooks just to see him get destroyed by 3 defenders crap.

After the quick strikes dial up some screens to ingram and hightower.

I don't even know if i'd attempt to get the run game going until I got on their side of the field.
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Probably this. Been doing some statistical research and the Rams defense looks like it's weakness is short passes to WR#2 (primarily) and then short passes to the other non-#1 WRs. Passes to RBs and TEs they tend to defend well. So Short passes to Snead, Thomas, and Coleman.

Also, they give up about the same yardage per game against the run, and a little more per carry as the Saints D.
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Be alert for trick plays as well. Fisher likes to pull things like onsides kicks and fake punts against his. They always catch us off guard and get a big play at some point in the last 3 games we've faced them.
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Keep the ball away from their defense, which is their main scoring threat.

No one will be surprised if the Rams make changes to their offensive line for this week's game, with left tackle Greg Robinson, right, having been called for a league-high 12 penalties this season. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson


By RICH HAMMOND / STAFF WRITER

THOUSAND OAKS – The Rams made their big move last week, when they swapped quarterbacks. After their fifth loss in six games, with their season teetering, the personnel tinkering will continue.

It seems all but certain that when the Rams play New Orleans on Sunday, it will be with something of a different look. Jared Goff will remain at quarterback, and it’s unlikely any changes will be made to a defense that has been mostly dominant this season, but a significant move on offense might be in order.

Coach Jeff Fisher hinted Monday that personnel changes could be coming, and after Tuesday’s practice, he confirmed that the Rams were experimenting with players in different spots.

“We are,” Fisher said. “We’re going to continue to do so, and it’s competitive. I’m not going to confirm or deny any lineup changes, but there’s a chance that there may be one or two.”

Major changes on defense would seem silly, as the Rams rank in the top six in the league in fewest points and yards allowed per game. The Rams, though, will have to replace reserve cornerback Troy Hill, who was waived Tuesday, three days after he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

That’s minor tinkering though, and any significant change would happen on the offensive side.

Goff isn’t going anywhere, and neither is star running back Todd Gurley. The Rams already have been trying different options at receiver and tight end, but largely have left the offensive line intact.

To date, they’ve been very patient with left tackle Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2014 draft who has struggled to meet expectations. Robinson took over as the starting left tackle five games into his rookie season and has made 38 consecutive starts, but with questionable returns.

Robinson has been called for 12 penalties this season, most in the NFL. His penalties have nullified 82 yards that the Rams’ offense would have gained, which is the league’s third-highest total.

Official NFL stats also have charged Robinson with six “stalled-drive” penalties, ones in which the team failed to score points or pick up a first down after the penalty. Only Oakland rookie offensive tackle Vadal Alexander, with seven, has recorded more stalled-drive penalties this season.

Robinson had one particularly rough moment in Sunday’s loss to Miami.

Early in the fourth quarter, with the Rams leading, 10-0, Goff converted a third-and-10 attempt when he scrambled, dove for the marker and picked up 11 yards. The sideline celebrated until they noticed a flag had been thrown on Robinson, who shoved Miami’s Kiko Alonso in the back, 5 yards behind the play.

The Rams, who would have had the ball on the Miami 45, failed to convert the ensuing third-and-16 play and punted to the Dolphins, who scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns to win the game.

Fisher singled out Robinson’s penalty, after the game, as being particularly troublesome.

“Yeah, it was not necessary,” Fisher said Tuesday. “He’s pursuing, he’s hustling down field, he saw a color and he pushed. It was unfortunate because that was a big first down for us that was called back.”

The Rams have some options, should they choose to shake up the offensive line.

Left guard Rodger Saffold started his NFL career at left tackle but primarily has been playing guard since 2013. Saffold has started all 10 games this season at left guard, but he practiced at tackle throughout training camp because of injuries to other linemen.

Jamon Brown has started one game at guard this season but then lost his job to Cody Wichmann. Brown, who broke a bone in his hand last month, was on the inactive list for the Miami game, apparently because of Fisher’s decision, but could return to the lineup if needed.

[www.ocregister.com]

http://www.footballzebras.com/2016/11/22/week-12-referee-assignments-2016/

Rams at Saints — John Hussey

Hussey's 2016 NFL officiating crew consists of umpire Tony Michalek, head linesman Wayne Mackie, line judge Ron Marinucci, field judge Jimmy Buchanan, side judge Allen Baynes, and back judge Keith Ferguson.