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Hammond: Kroenke deflects question on future of Coach Jeff Fisher, GM Les Snead

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Rams owner Stan Kroenke speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rams' new stadium in Inglewood on Thursday. (Photo by Scott Varley, Daily Breeze/SCNG)


Kroenke deflects question on future of Coach Jeff Fisher, GM Les Snead


By RICH HAMMOND / STAFF WRITER

INGLEWOOD – On a day when Rams owner Stan Kroenke beamed with pride, and even appeared to get emotional at one point as he discussed his new stadium, only one question made Kroenke chuckle.

Any update on the possible contract extension for Coach Jeff Fisher and General Manager Les Snead?

“I think Kevin (Demoff) is up to speed on that,” Kroenke said of the Rams’ chief operating officer. “I’m sure you could talk to him about that.”

In a rare occasion, Kroenke briefly answered media questions Thursday at the end of a groundbreaking ceremony for the new stadium, on the former site of the Hollywood Park racetrack.

Kroenke seemed amused by the contract question, and punted it to Demoff, his top deputy, who previously has declined to comment. Fisher and Snead, both hired in 2012, are in the final year of their respective contracts and the Rams, at 4-5 this season, have yet make the playoffs during their tenure.

Kroenke, who has attended home and road games this season, was asked to assess the team.

“Well, obviously all of this has been said,” Kroenke said, “but the defense has been playing very well and on offense we haven’t been producing the way we’d like to. So there’s a big opportunity there. If you get the offense going, the argument would be that we could be pretty darn good.”

Shortly after he put in a shovel in a pile of dirt, to symbolically start the construction of a stadium expected to open in 2019, Kroenke discussed Jared Goff, the quarterback he hopes will thrive there.

With Kroenke’s blessing, the Rams made a blockbuster trade in April to acquire the NFL draft’s top pick and select Goff. This week, Fisher chose to promote Goff into the starting spot, and Goff will make his debut against Miami on Sunday at the Coliseum.

“I think Jared is a very talented young man,” Kroenke said. “That’s why we drafted him first in the draft.”

A few minutes earlier, in an interview with NFL Network, Kroenke spoke at more length about Goff and compared him to Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, one of the league’s top players.

“Aaron is special and everybody recognizes it,” Kroenke said. “Aaron does things that you can’t coach. Jared has that same ability. You see him do things in practice that you can’t coach. He makes those throws. That’s why you pick him first in the draft, because you think he’s special.

“We have high hopes for Jared. The coaches say he has progressed and he’s ready. It’s complex in the NFL. It’s not like playing in college. It’s a different level. When you move to a different level, things speed up. Some of that is just becoming used to it, and I think the practice, throughout the fall at that level, has helped Jared.”

[www.ocregister.com]


Seen a Goff jersey today

I was walking around a new upscale development in King of Prussia Pennsylvania today and saw a young couple across the street with the girlfriend wearing a Goff jersey on and said to my wife " look , shes wearing a Goff jersey ! " my wife said who ? I said Goff ! the qb for the Rams that's getting his first start Sunday ! she said , what are you going to do, yell across the street , I said yea , I m wearing my Rams tee shirt. She said, she will think you are a stalker, I said your kidding, right, were are Rams fans !
Long story short, I didn't want to embarrass my wife, but was very surprised to she that in the Philly burbs.
Go Rams
Good luck this Sunday to Goff and our Rams.

Moraitis: Dickerson destroys Chris Weinke...

Eric Dickerson is at it again and this time his victim is Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach, Chris Weinke.
Eric Dickerson appeared on SiriusXM Radio and absolutely destroyed Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach, Chris Weinke.

Let’s put it this way: Weinke won’t be inviting him over for Thanksgiving dinner this year.

Dickerson once again shared his brutally honest take on things and stated that he doesn’t believe Weinke can develop Jared Goff into a great quarterback, per Alden Gonzalez of ESPN:

“Show me the proof. Show me your history. What history do you have working with quarterbacks, developing quarterbacks? Then I can believe. And I just believe that they don’t have the right coaches in place for him, and that’s what it comes down to.”

Dickerson went on to call the offense “boring as hell,” which is something he said earlier in the week on his own radio show. He also gave Jared Goff’s preseason showing a “D” grade.

The Rams legend had a slightly different tone on his show. Yes, he did call the Rams boring then, but he actually defended Jeff Fisher. Dickerson claimed the decision to draft Goff actually came from upper management and called it a “suits decision.”

Sure, Dickerson’s opinions are harsh and sometimes over-the-top, but he really taps into the feelings of most Rams fans out there. He has become the spokesperson for those who spend Sundays screaming at their television – and have been doing so regularly for more than a decade now.

Fans can only hope Goff is the answer, otherwise it’ll be even longer before this franchise actually produces a record above .500, which hasn’t happened since the 2003 season.

[ramblinfan.com]

PFW matchup breakdown: Dolphins at Rams

http://www.profootballweekly.com/nfl/schedule/2016/week11/dolphins-rams/index.xml

The Miami Dolphins are as hot as any club in the NFL right now, having won their last four after a 1-4 start and averaging 29 points a game during the win streak. Ryan Tannehill seems to be blossoming now in rookie head coach Adam Gase’s system and Jay Ajayi has emerged as a legitimate number one running back.

The Dolphins have been in California all week after knocking off the Chargers in San Diego last Sunday and preparing to go an hour-and-a-half north now to take on the L.A. Rams.

The story for the Rams is this will be the first start for number one overall draft choice Jared Goff who’ll be asked to pump some life into one of the NFL’s worst offenses, which has not only struggled under Case Keenum but has also been unable to unleash Todd Gurley who many expected to be the NFL’s number one running back coming into the season.

MIA 22ND OFF; LA 7TH DEF

MIA 6TH RUN; LA 17TH vs. RUN

MIA 28TH PASS; LA 8TH vs. PASS

MIA 19TH PTS; LA 10TH PTS ALLOWED

LA 31ST OFF; MIA 19TH DEF

LA 29TH RUN; MIA 30TH vs. RUN

LA 25TH PASS; MIA 9TH vs. PASS

LA 32ND PTS; MIA T14TH PTS ALLOWED

MIA T15TH TO/TA; LA T21ST TO-TA

DOLPHINS moved over .500 with dramatic 31-24 road win over Chargers on LB Kiko Alonso’s 60-yard pick-6 with 1:01 remaining.

DOLPHINS i ntercepted Chargers QB Philip Rivers 4 times in a 13-minute span in the fourth quarter in Week 10 win over Chargers.

DOLPHINS CB Tony Lippett had 2 INTs and team-leading 7 tackles (1 TFL) in Week 10 win over Chargers.

DOLPHINS DE Cameron Wake had 2 of team’s 3 sacks (team-leading 7 total) in Week 10 win over Chargers.

DOLPHINS QB Ryan Tannehill had 17-24-240-2 TDs-0 INTs (130.6 QB rating) and was sacked only once in Week 10 win.

DOLPHINS RB Jay Ajayi ran for 79 yards in Week 10, ending his streak of three straight 100-yard games, but he had big runs to set up two TDs by fellow RB Damien Williams.

DOLPHINS WR Davante Parker had 5-103 receiving on 8 targets in Week 10, while WR Kenny Stills (2-47) had 39-yard TD catch.

DOLPHINS WR Jarvis Landry (only 18 catches in previous 4 games) had team-leading 6 catches for 53 yards receiving in Week 10 win.

RAMS defense keeps moving up the charts, spearheading 9-6 road victory over Jets in Week 10, allowing Jets only 296 yards.

RAMS MLB Alec Ogletree’s INT with just 2 minutes left clinched Rams 9-6 win over Jets, and he also had team-leading 10 tackles.

While RAMS defense is playing quite well, Ogletree’s INT was team’s only 2 ndtakeaway in last 5 games.

While RAMS fans have been clamoring for No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff to play, QB Case Keenum had a ho-hum 17-30-165 passing, but zero turnovers in Week 10 win after throwing 8 INTS in previous four games.

RAMS RB Todd Gurley has yet to run for 100 yards in a game this season after rushing for 125 or more 5 times last season. He finished with 64 yards on 21 carries in Week 10.

RAMS Gurley's longest run of the season, 21 yards in the fourth quarter, was wiped out by OT Greg Robinson’s holding penalty.

RAMS WR Kenny Britt continued to do well with 7-109 receiving on 10 targets in Week 10 win.

Kicking was influential in RAMS Week 10 win, with PK Greg Zuerlein offering 3 FGs, including go-ahead 34-yarder with 6:52 left, and P Johnny Hekker connecting on a 78-yard punt one week after blasting a 75-yarder.

Check status on RAMS DE Robert Quinn, who began week suffering from non-football illness.

Ray Lewis: Flacco lacks passion

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/b...s-whack-for-saying-joe-flacco-has-no-passion/

Ray Lewis is a first-ballot Hall of Famer, primarily because he was the NFL's best middle linebacker for most of his 17 seasons, but also because he won two Super Bowls, the last coming in 2012. He retired in early 2013, and has spent recent years as an NFL talking head for ESPN and now Fox Sports 1.

And because talking heads are, you know, required to talk -- even when there isn't much to talk about -- you sometimes hear them say things that don't make much sense. Which brings us back to Lewis, who was asked about former teammate and current Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

"Gifted? Absolutely. Passionate about what he do? I've never seen that," Lewis told Fox Sports 1 on Thursday. "I don't know what that looks like."

This is the same Joe Flacco who carried an old and broken-down Ray Lewis to that final Super Bowl victory. That's not hyperbole; according to Pro Football Focus' metrics, Lewis ranked 35th among inside linebackers in 2012, and was one of the Ravens' worst defenders that season.

Undeterred, Lewis continued.

"I don't know how many times you'll hear somebody just really go out on a limb to defend he's the greatest teammate I've ever had," Lewis said. "I don't know how many times you'll hear that. Maybe it's because his personality just isn't that personality. He's not a rah-rah guy. He won't say much. But, in the game of football, there has to be some burning fire behind you."

Here's where we point out that Flacco, who completed 22 of 33 passes for 287 yards and three touchdowns, was the MVP of Super Bowl XLVII. Lewis' contribution in the Ravens' biggest game of the season: four tackles.

Meanwhile, another retired Ravens linebacker has a different take on both Lewis and Flacco.

"How many times are they going to keep letting Ray Lewis off the hook?" CBS Sports NFL analyst Bart Scott said during an appearance with CBS Sports Radio's Gio and Jones. "He already dissed Ray Rice when Ray Rice went through his situation. Now he's dissing Flacco? Come on, man. You got that ring on your finger because of Flacco.

"See, that's what I don't like. You're either with me or you're not. If you're a teammate, you've never heard me say nothing bad about Ray Rice, nothing bad of Flacco. Come on, man. That's brother-on-brother crime right there. He's supposed to be better than that. He's supposed to be from the old school. You never come out publicly against one of your boys. Come on, man. You're killing me."

Scott was just getting warmed up.

"Joe Flacco was a great teammate," he continued. "He was a great rookie. Come on, Ray. You're supposed to be better than that. ... You're supposed to be the people that set the rules about how to be a great teammate. This is what happens: You get on the other side, and you got to say something, right? ... People put pressure on you to make a splash. When the Ray Rice situation came out, (media) tried to get me to go against my brother -- and I wouldn't, and it shocked them. ... You got an issue with his leadership skills and all that stuff, you go talk to him. That's what real men do. You don't do that. That's whack right there, Ray."

Whack, indeed.

Lewis is right about one thing: Flacco isn't a rah-rah guy, though he conflates that with being a competitor. But fire-and-brimstone speeches don't automatically qualify you as fiery, or even a motivational speaker. In August 2013, months after Lewis had retired, Flacco recounted the time then-offensive coordinator Cam Cameron asked him to give one of those aforementioned rah-rah talks to his teammates.

"That's not me," Flacco said at the time. "I love Ray, and I love how he always spoke from the heart, but if you listened to those speeches, a lot of them didn't even make sense. He meant everything he was saying, but I didn't know what he was talking about 90 percent of the time."

Practice Report 11/18: Can Goff Starting Affect Gurley?

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It’s no secret that opposing teams have been making it particularly difficult on the Rams to get anything going in their run game. Week after week, it seems like running back Todd Gurley faces defensive fronts with eight or nine players in the box.

So with quarterback Jared Goff starting on Sunday, could things loosen up a bit for the 2015 Offensive Rookie of the Year?

“That depends on our ability to put the ball down the field — if we’re having success,” head coach Jeff Fisher said. “That’s the big deal, offensively, is to put it down the field so we can have balance.”




Gurley said he can remember how he felt prior to his first start last year against Arizona. The running back, of course, had a massive second half en route to a Rams victory.

“It was cool, just being able to play, to live out your dream,” Gurley said. “It’s definitely an exciting moment to just come in and be able to start.”

But regardless of who is behind center, Gurley and Los Angeles’ offense will have a challenge on Sunday, as Miami has been strong against the run — particularly as of late. Last week, they allowed 70 yards on 24 carries to San Diego’s Melvin Gordon. But 37 of those yards — 53 percent — came on two runs where Gordon shook loose. Add in another 13-yard run, and it means the Dolphins held the Chargers to under a yard per carry on 21 attempts. Miami’s defense racked up eight tackles for loss in the 31-24 victory.

“Great front seven — physical front,” Gurley said of Miami’s defense. “Obviously, the D-line is tremendous. Kiko [Alonso] at linebacker, he just makes plays. And their DBs, they can tackle pretty well.”

Nevertheless, the Rams got their own run game going a bit last week against the Jets. While Gurley had only 10 yards on 10 carries in the first half, things started clicking in the second, as he racked up 54 yards on 11 attempts.

“I believe he had 21 carries and the first half wasn’t pretty,” offensive coordinator Rob Boras said this week. “I don’t know what his yards per carry was in the first half, but our defense again is playing lights out and it allowed us to hand the ball off in the second half.

“His yards per carry went up, we saw some 8, 9, 10, 12-yard gains there and that’s what we expect in the run game,” Boras continued. “It took us a half to get there, we’re hoping to build off that momentum and carry it over to the first half this week against a really good defense with Miami.”

If the Rams are able to do so on Sunday, it will be in large part because of the players up front. Boras said the offensive line played well in the second half, opening up some running lanes for both Gurley and Benny Cunningham.

“There were some really good examples in the run game with our double teams and our fits and getting to the second level, it was really well done,” Boras said. “It was well-blocked and Todd and Benny took advantage of it.”

QUINN FULLY PARTICIPATES IN FRIDAY’S PRACTICE

Defensive end Robert Quinn participated in his first practice of the week on Friday, after a non-football illness left him hospitalized on Monday. Quinn said after the session the illness was brought on by dehydration.




“Drink more water — simple as that,” Quinn said of what the doctors told him.

While Quinn maybe would have liked to get back to practicing sooner, he gave credit to those who are making sure he’s 100 percent before getting back on the field.

“The trainers here and doctors here, they take extra precaution to make sure the players health and safety is … as best as it can,” Quinn said. “But we just took it one day at a time. Luckily, I was able to go out there today, run around a little bit, get moving around. Feeling better, just taking it one day at a time, and hopefully just feel like my old self.”

It’s still unclear whether or not Quinn will play on Sunday. He’s listed as questionable after a full session on Friday.

“We’re talking about it. I don’t know exactly how it’s going to play out. I was able to get out there today. I think it’s going to come down to the doctors and, of course, Fisher, and then ultimately how I feel. And hopefully I can get out there on Sunday and be somewhat productive. But if not, well, the guys have to rally up and keep it going.”

INJURY REPORT

The Rams have six players listed on this week’s injury report, none of whom have been ruled out for Sunday.

Center Tim Barnes (foot) did not participate in Friday’s session, but he’s listed as questionable. Barnes did not practice Wednesday and would not have practiced on Thursday, according to the estimate.

Defensive back Lamarcus Joyner (ankle), defensive end Robert Quinn (illness), defensive end Eugene Sims (concussion) all were full participants in Friday’s practice and are listed as questionable.

Gurley (thigh) was limited in Friday’s practice and is questionable. Cornerback Trumaine Johnson (illness) did not participate in Friday’s session, but is expected to play on Sunday.

“Trumaine was ill today, but he’ll be fine,” Fisher said.

ROSTER MOVES

The Rams made a few roster moves on Friday, bolstering depth.

Wide receiver Nelson Spruce, who has been sidelined by a calf injury, was placed on injured reserve. Defensive back Blake Countess has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster and defensive end Lenny Jones was signed to the practice squad.

Be thankful of Snisher

With thanksgiving coming up and the Goff Era starting Sunday I think we all should be great full for what Snead and Fisher have done with this team. Yes they make a lot of mistakes and fisher is too stubborn to change his old school ways but I can say I am happy with the team they havr drafted and developed. We have 1 of the most talented defenses in the nfl and a young offense with a lot of playmakers. If fisher stays or goes this team will always be something he built from the ground up .

Why the Rams will win

Brandon Albert is out for the next three weeks.

When he was out earlier this year, the Dolphin offense struggled mightily. Tunsil is good as a guard but he is no tackle. Mark my words, they will have no running game and when the Rams get a lead, watch out.

Unless Goff becomes a turnover machine, look for our first shutout of the year. I haven't made any predictions since the Cards game because everything hinged on the bounce of the ball with evenly matched teams. Not so here.

Many will focus on Goff after the game. But I am going on record that Brandon Albert was the one player Miami couldn't afford to lose against our defensive front

What To Expect From Goff?

Now that Goff is going to start, what can we expect from his performance? Prescott and Wentz shined, but that's not usually the case with rookie QB's.

Here's an example:

This QB had a 47.5% completion rate, 7TD's, and 14 int's, got picked for 3 pick 6's, 4 fumbles and lined up under guard to take snaps several times in his rookie season. Fans called him a bust, called for the coaches to be fired.

Who is he?

Who Has the Best Receiving Corps in the NFL? Rams #25

https://theringer.com/who-has-the-best-receiving-corps-in-the-nfl-f314d567e674#.qdi7ln7ea

Who Has the Best Receiving Corps in the NFL?
All 32 groups of wideouts, ranked from first to worst
Danny Kelly
Staff Writer, The Ringer

1*zYlygcVu7njBTzDJ3UG4bg.jpeg

Getty Images/Casey Moore

I know this seems preposterous, but sometimes preseason predictions can turn out wrong.

Take the Cardinals: Heading into the season, Arizona looked to have what many considered the best receiving corps in the league. With the ageless Larry Fitzgerald, a big-time outside threat in Michael Floyd, and a pair of speed-merchants in John Brown and J.J. Nelson, matching up with the aggressive Arizona offense was going to be a nightmare — or so we thought.

It hasn’t played out like that. The Cardinals’ passing game has struggled, and while Fitzgerald hasn’t skipped a beat, the rest of their squad of pass catchers hasn’t lived up to its billing.

So, ignoring preseason hype and throwing out the players either on the injured reserve or suspended list, let’s take a look at the league’s best and worst receiving corps, ranked from top to bottom.

1. Oakland Raiders: Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Seth Roberts, Andre Holmes, Johnny Holton
The Raiders are probably the only team in the NFL with two true no. 1 receivers in the passing game. Cooper (58 catches for 843 yards and two touchdowns) is already one of the best route runners in the NFL in just his second season.

And during Crabtree’s career renaissance in Oakland this season (49 catches, 596 yards, six touchdowns), he’s made so many ridiculous, high-degree-of-difficulty grabs that Jim Harbaugh calling him “the best catcher ever” doesn’t seem so absurd anymore. It doesn’t really matter who else there is, but Roberts (25 catches, 277 yards, four touchdowns) and Holmes (10 catches, 70 yards, two touchdowns) round out the group nicely.

2. New Orleans Saints: Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead IV, Michael Thomas, Brandon Coleman, Jake Lampman, Tommylee Lewis
The Saints don’t have one true go-to guy, but with the combination of Cooks, Snead, and Thomas, they don’t need one. Cooks (51 receptions, 736 yards, six touchdowns) has developed into a complete, versatile weapon after starting his career as more of a one-trick-pony speed threat on the outside.

Snead (46 catches, 555 yards, four touchdowns) is a great route runner with excellent hands, and the rookie Thomas (56 catches, 681 yards, five touchdowns) has broken out as the team’s premier red zone threat. Throw in Coleman (19 catches for 223 yards two touchdowns), another big body that Brees can target up the seam, and this is a complete group.

3. Denver Broncos: Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Cody Latimer, Bennie Fowler III, Jordan Taylor, Jordan Norwood
Trevor Siemian hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire this season, but it’s not for lack of pass-catching talent. The 6-foot-3, 229-pound Thomas (55 catches, 678 yards, five touchdowns) is a big, physical jump ball and red zone specialist, while the 5-foot-11, 180-pound Sanders (54 catches, 668 yards, three touchdowns) offers speed and versatility all over the field. Norwood (19 catches, 203 yards, and a touchdown) is a solid no. 3 option.

4. Washington Redskins: DeSean Jackson, Pierre Garçon, Jamison Crowder, Ryan Grant, Rashad Ross, Maurice Harris
Washington has a nice mix of skill sets. There’s the tough, physical possession-type in Garçon (42 catches, 442 yards, and a touchdown), the field-stretching deep threat in Jackson (30 catches, 416 yards, one touchdown), and the do-it-all slot weapon in Crowder (44 catches, 535 yards, five touchdowns). Scot McCloughan has done a good job of putting weapons around quarterback Kirk Cousins, and if 2016 first-round pick Josh Doctson (Achilles tendinitis) can return at some point in the next few weeks, that’s just a bonus.

5. Dallas Cowboys: Dez Bryant, Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams, Brice Butler, Vince Mayle, Lucky Whitehead
When you talk about the Cowboys’ offense, the subject is almost invariably Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott, and the elite offensive line, but the Dallas receiving corps has some talent too. Bryant (22 catches, 398 yards, and three touchdowns in six games) remains one of the game’s elite downfield and end zone weapons, and Beasley (48 receptions, 532 yards, four touchdowns) has emerged as one of the shiftiest and most dependable slot receivers in the league with his 83 percent catch rate (fifth in the NFL per Pro Football Focus).

Terrance Williams (25 receptions at 14.4 yards per catch) remains a deep threat, and Butler (11 catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns) did a fine job filling in for Bryant when he was out with a knee injury earlier this year.

6. Indianapolis Colts: T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, Phillip Dorsett, Chester Rogers, Devin Street
Hilton (52 catches, 791 yards, four touchdowns) is no longer a one-dimensional deep threat; he’s developed into one of the most complete pass catchers in the NFL. Moncrief (14 receptions, 169 yards, three touchdowns) is back after a five-week absence due to a shoulder injury to resume his role as the explosive no. 2 option. And Dorsett (20 catches, 314 yards, one touchdown) continues to develop as a threat down the field and from the slot.

7. Green Bay Packers: Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams, Ty Montgomery, Jeff Janis, Trevor Davis, Geronimo Allison
Aaron Rodgers and the Packers passing game continue to struggle to regain their trademark efficiency, but a receiver group that looked to be one of the main problems early in the year has emerged as a strong suit midway through the season. Nelson (50 catches, 635 yards, a tied-for-league-high eight touchdowns) is still the go-to guy on the outside and Cobb (45 catches, 433 yards, three touchdowns) remains the shifty, versatile weapon on the inside.

But the breakout performances by Adams and Montgomery over the last four games have given the team two more playmakers. Adams has 35 catches for 403 yards and three touchdowns over that span, and Montgomery has morphed into a part-time receiver, part-time running back in the last four games, catching 25 passes for 213 yards while rushing 22 times for 128 yards.

8. New York Giants: Odell Beckham Jr., Victor Cruz, Sterling Shepard, Roger Lewis, Dwayne Harris, Tavarres King
Beckham (54 catches, 773 yards, six touchdowns) is clearly the focal point for the New York pass offense, but when he’s getting double- or triple-teamed, Eli Manning has a few other capable options, a luxury he was missing last season. Shepard (39 catches, 426 yards, four touchdowns) can do damage from all over the field, and Cruz (25 catches, 377 yards, one touchdown) has returned from a near-two-year injury absence to give the Giants yet another dangerous and shifty receiving weapon.

9. Detroit Lions: Golden Tate, Marvin Jones Jr., Anquan Boldin, Andre Roberts, Corey Fuller
No one has, and no one ever will replace Calvin Johnson in the Detroit passing game, but the Lions have carried on just fine without Megatron thanks to this talented group. Tate (49 catches, 513 yards, two touchdowns) is the elusive, tackle-breaking gyroscope with explosive run-after-the-catch ability, Jones (37 receptions at 17.9 yards per catch, four touchdowns) has been the dangerous deep threat, and Boldin (35 receptions, 8.2 yards per catch, five touchdowns) has materialized as one of the most underrated free-agent signings of the offseason, providing Matthew Stafford with a trusty underneath threat on third downs and in the red zone.

10. Atlanta Falcons: Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Justin Hardy, Aldrick Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Eric Weems
Jones is a generational talent. He has caught five touchdown passes, is averaging a ridiculous 18.1 yards per catch, has a league-high 21 catches of 20-plus yards, and also leads the league in receiving yards (1,105). But it’s not a one-man show in Atlanta: Sanu (39 catches, 430 yards, three touchdowns) is a proven no. 2, and Gabriel has developed as an effective deep threat (17.8 yards per reception on 17 catches).

11. Arizona Cardinals: Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, John Brown, J.J. Nelson, Brittan Golden, Chris Hubert
Fitzgerald (68 catches, 686 yards, five touchdowns) seems to get better with every passing year. But the depth in the Arizona receiving corps hasn’t been as impressive as we expected. Floyd (24 catches, 358 yards, three touchdowns) struggled with drops and lost his job as the Cardinals no. 2 going into Week 10, and his replacement, Nelson (17 catches, 243 yards, two touchdowns), squandered that opportunity by dropping a pass (that was intercepted) and fumbling away another catch against the 49ers.

Brown, who caught seven touchdowns and went over 1,000 yards receiving last year, has seen his role diminish (30 catches for 380 yards and a touchdown) due to a hamstring injury and the side effects from carrying the sickle cell trait.

12. Jacksonville Jaguars: Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns, Marqise Lee, Rashad Greene Sr., Arrelious Benn, Bryan Walters
Blake Bortles has struggled with accuracy and mechanics this season, and he can’t blame his troubles on his wide receivers. Robinson (48 catches, 549 yards, five touchdowns) is explosive on the outside, as is Hurns (33 catches, 456 yards, two touchdowns) across from him, and Lee, a former second-round pick, has developed into a reliable, productive player (38 catches, 492 yards) this season.

13. Baltimore Ravens: Steve Smith Sr., Mike Wallace, Kamar Aiken, Breshad Perriman, Chris Moore, Darren Waller
Smith (36 catches, 417 yards, two touchdowns) is still a fiery playmaker in his 16th season, and Wallace (43 catches, 673 yards, four touchdowns) has proved to be as good of a fit for Baltimore’s deep-shot offense as he looked on paper. Perriman (20 catches, 280 yards, one touchdown) is still a work in progress in his first real season in the league, but has a penchant for huge plays, and Aiken (16 catches, 171 yards) is about as consistent of a third- or fourth-option as there is in the NFL. (Remember: He caught 75 passes for 944 yards and five touchdowns last year, production that mostly came after Smith went out with a torn Achilles.)

14. Pittsburgh Steelers: Antonio Brown, Sammie Coates, Eli Rogers, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Cobi Hamilton, Markus Wheaton
Brown is the superstar here, and the quick-twitch game-changer has a league-high 69 catches for 831 yards (fourth) and seven touchdowns (third). But with Martavis Bryant serving a season-long suspension and Markus Wheaton on the sideline with a shoulder injury, we just never know, week to week, who Ben Roethlisberger might look to. Coates (20 catches, 425 yards, two touchdowns) and Heyward-Bey (five catches, 68 yards, two touchdowns) are both ultrafast deep threats; Rogers (23 receptions, 280 yards, two touchdowns) is a shifty slot receiver, and Hamilton (six catches, 111 yards, one touchdown) has made a few plays in limited snaps.

15. Seattle Seahawks: Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett, Jermaine Kearse, Paul Richardson, Tanner McEvoy
Seattle’s passing game got off to a really slow start while Russell Wilson battled ankle, knee, and pectoral injuries, but now that he’s healthy, the talent here should become more apparent. Baldwin (50 catches, 629 yards, five touchdowns) might be the NFL’s most technically proficient route runner and remains Wilson’s favorite target. Kearse (26 receptions, 307 yards) always seems to be good for one big play every week, and Lockett (21 catches, 286 yards) is finally getting healthy after battling a knee sprain earlier in the year.

16. New York Jets: Brandon Marshall, Quincy Enunwa, Jalin Marshall, Charone Peake, Robby Anderson, Devin Smith
The Jets’ 31st-ranked passing attack by DVOA has been a total mess, as New York has gone from Ryan Fitzpatrick to Geno Smith to Fitzpatrick to Bryce Petty to — who knows, maybe you’ll be the next Jets quarterback! Still, that doesn’t take away from the fact that, even after losing Eric Decker, they’ve still got a skilled group of receivers. Marshall (43 catches, 601 yards, two touchdowns) remains one of the best pass catchers in the game, Enunwa (38 catches, 534, three touchdowns) has developed into a physical target in the slot, and there’s talent in their rookie class with Peake (13 catches, 109 yards) and Anderson (22 catches, 270 yards).

17. Miami Dolphins: Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills, DeVante Parker, Leonte Carroo
Landry (55 catches, 658 yards, one touchdown) is still one of the most prolific slot receivers in the NFL, and Stills’s 19.7 yards per catch and team-leading four touchdowns illustrate what kind of deep threat he is. In his second year, Parker is coming on as well — he had five catches for 103 yards last week — and with Miami heating up (they have won four in a row), don’t be surprised if this group puts up some big numbers over the final few weeks.

18. Houston Texans: DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller, Jaelen Strong, Braxton Miller, Keith Mumphery
Houston’s passing game remains one of the worst in the NFL, but it’s unfair to discount the ability of its two best pass catchers simply because Brock Osweiler refuses to throw it to them. Hopkins (45 catches, 482 yards, three touchdowns) is one of the game’s elite receivers, possessing great size, speed, route-running ability, and hands. Meanwhile, in his first season, Fuller (25 catches, 372 yards, two touchdowns) quickly proved that he’s a legit field-stretching speed threat, albeit one prone to drops.

After those two, though, the depth gets thin. Strong is out for a few more weeks with a badly sprained ankle, which leaves just Miller (nine catches for 62 yards) and Mumphery (zero catches) to fill the void.

19. Cincinnati Bengals: A.J. Green, Brandon LaFell, James Wright, Tyler Boyd, Cody Core, Alex Erickson
Last year at this time, Cincinnati might’ve been in the top three on this list with Green, Marvin Jones, and Mohamed Sanu catching passes from Andy Dalton. But after losing both Jones and Sanu in free agency, Cincy has struggled to replace them. Green remains one of the best receivers in the NFL; he’s third in receptions (66), second in yards (964), and presumably first in awesome, nearly impossible one-handed grabs (I don’t know if anyone that keeps this stat but that’s just how it feels). But past Green, LaFell (29 catches, 387 yards, four touchdowns) and Boyd (27 catches for 295 yards) haven’t been the big-time playmakers the Bengals need, and the offense has suffered.

20. Minnesota Vikings: Stefon Diggs, Charles Johnson, Adam Thielen, Cordarrelle Patterson Laquon Treadwell
Diggs is an underrated star, and the former Maryland receiver caught 13 passes for 164 yards last week in Washington. He’s up to 61 passes for 710 yards with two touchdowns on the season, but the other options aren’t too impressive, even with the improvement shown by Patterson this season. Thielen (32 receptions, 453 yards) has been effective, but for now, Johnson and Treadwell remain high-upside guys with more potential than actual production.

21. Carolina Panthers: Kelvin Benjamin, Ted Ginn Jr., Devin Funchess, Corey Brown, Brenton Bersin
Benjamin (46 catches, 683 yards, four touchdowns) has been a big, dependable target for Cam Newton, but Carolina’s passing game has struggled to match the explosiveness it showed last season. Ginn (32 catches, 374 yards) has scored only one touchdown after finding pay dirt 10 times last year, and Funchess (16 catches, 266 yards, three touchdowns), while dangerous in the red zone, is still developing as a route runner.

22. Cleveland Browns: Terrelle Pryor, Corey Coleman, Andrew Hawkins, Ricardo Louis, Rashard Higgins, Jordan Payton
Pryor (51 catches, 627 yards, four touchdowns) has been a revelation for the Browns this year, and has finally found a way to put his elite size and athleticism to good use. After making the switch from quarterback to pass catcher, he’s blossomed into a true no. 1 receiver, and also adds value in his ability to play quarterback in a pinch, as he did in Weeks 3, 5, and 6. Getting Coleman (13 catches, 231 yards, two touchdowns in four games) back for the stretch run of the season should give the Cleveland offense some help down the stretch.

23. Kansas City Chiefs: Jeremy Maclin, Chris Conley, Tyreek Hill, Albert Wilson, De’Anthony Thomas, Demarcus Robinson
Maclin (30 catches, 376 yards, two touchdowns) is an excellent route runner and one of the most savvy receivers in the NFL, and Hill (32 catches for 323 yards and four touchdowns) looks like a potential future breakout star, but past that, no one in the Chiefs receiving corps really scares you.

24. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Evans, Adam Humphries, Cecil Shorts, Russell Shepard, Freddie Martino
It’s basically a one-man show in Tampa Bay, with the 6-foot-5 Evans eating up 31 percent of the team’s total target share. (That’s more than Antonio Brown in Pittsburgh or Julio Jones in Atlanta). He’s caught 59 passes for 811 yards and eight touchdowns on the year, and with Vincent Jackson on the shelf, the rest of the cupboard is bare.

25. Los Angeles Rams: Kenny Britt, Tavon Austin, Brian Quick, Bradley Marquez, Pharoh Cooper, Mike Thomas, Nelson Spruce
Britt (44 catches, 693 yards, three touchdowns) finally looks like the big-time outside threat that he was supposed to be when the Titans took him in the first round back in 2009, but he’s been the only bright spot in the Rams’ passing attack. Austin (39 catches at just 8.6 yards per catch) still need his touches manufactured, and Quick (26 catches, 421 yards, three touchdowns) isn’t blowing anybody’s minds.

26. Tennessee Titans: Rishard Matthews, Kendall Wright, Tajae Sharpe, Harry Douglas, Tre McBride
What Marcus Mariota has done this season without any one true standout at receiver is pretty remarkable. The Titans are competent across the board with Matthews (36 catches, 483 yards, six touchdowns), Wright (21 catches, 324 yards, three touchdowns), and Sharpe (30 catches, 385 yards, one touchdown), but there’s no true go-to guy — unless you count tight end Delanie Walker, who’s great but shouldn’t be anyone’s no. 1 option.

27. San Diego Chargers: Travis Benjamin, Tyrell Williams, Dontrelle Inman, Griff Whalen, Jeremy Butler, Isaiah Burse
Philip Rivers has managed to MacGuyver an explosive and effective passing game with the equivalent of bubble gum and paperclips at receiver. After losing Keenan Allen to a torn ACL in Week 1, he’s relied on Benjamin (39 catches, 514 yards, three touchdowns) and Williams (43 catches, 720 yards, four touchdowns) and has hardly skipped a beat.

28. New England Patriots: Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan, Danny Amendola, Malcolm Mitchell
The Patriots passing game runs primarily through its tight ends and running backs, and the weapons at receiver almost feel like afterthoughts at this point. Edelman (48 catches, 457 yards, one touchdown) remains dangerous, but Hogan, Amendola, and Mitchell aren’t keeping defensive coordinators up at night.

29. Buffalo Bills: Marquise Goodwin, Robert Woods, Percy Harvin, Justin Hunter, Walter Powell, Brandon Tate
The Bills are one of the league’s best running teams (only the Cowboys have run for more yards per game) and the focus on the passing attack has disappeared after Sammy Watkins suffered a foot injury in late September. Goodwin (16 catches, 301 yards, three touchdowns) and Woods (39 catches, 452 yards, one touchdown) are the most targeted options, but we’ll soon find out if Harvin can be a bigger factor after coming out of retirement before Week 9.

30. Chicago Bears: Cameron Meredith, Deonte Thompson, Eddie Royal, Joshua Bellamy, Marquess Wilson
Alshon Jeffery is suspended. Kevin White is on the injured reserve. Meredith has been a fun player to watch emerge this year, but when he’s your no. 1 threat at receiver, you’ve got problems.

31. Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Matthews, Nelson Agholor, Dorial Green-Beckham, Bryce Treggs
Matthews is the Eagles best receiver, and he’s most well-known for dropping way too many passes (six this season). Then there’s Agholor, who was a first-round pick in 2015 …

32. San Francisco 49ers: Torrey Smith, Quinton Patton, Jeremy Kerley, Rod Streater, Chris Harper, Aaron Burbridge
Smith is a speedy, field-stretching deep threat — and OK. There’s no point in trying to make this sound OK. The 49ers need some receiver talent in a bad, bad way.

This does seem like a really good time to start Goff

I don't have any real hope left, btw, that this team is going to make any kind of run needed to get into the playoffs. But looking at this team objectively this does seem like a good time for Goff to get in there at QB...

First reason for this is the defense, which seems to have settled in since Tru got healthy. I am concerned about Joyner, but overall the unit might be at that point where they can continue to limit points against which is most important.

Second is the rushing game. The OL showed some good execution through the second half of last week's game, and Gurley's breakout game looks to be on the near horizon. Cunningham has settled in as a really nice #2 as well.

Special teams are money once again. With that and defense, plus a run game, the offense should be in position to not have to press too much in most of these remaining matchups.

Lastly there are some pieces for Goff to work with in the passing game. Only one who has been consistent is Britt, but then again if the kid is going to be a special QB in this league he's gonna find a way to get the most from these guys.

Ground breaking Stadium

I was there today, it was crazy, never seen that many news crews. I'll try to post some pics. Sorry guys, been busy, crazy family shit, been trying to help a lifelong buddy to acquire his life long dream of building, and opening his own restaurant. I was lucky to be there today. An associate in construction has an office directly across the street.

Miss you guys. Anyone else there today?

What if Goff looks terrible, for the rest of the season...

Who are all you Goffaholics and Fisher haters going to blame it on? Fisher for not playing him earlier? The OL for not transforming into a legit force to be reckon with? Boras, a OC that may not make it past one full season at the position?

Most of you 'Goff should have been playing since week 1' guys really rub me the wrong way.To me there were obvious reasons Goff wasn't given the ball. Reasons that us fans are rightfully in the dark over and are in no position to criticize. None of us watch practice every day....'but the media said he was ready...get real...'

Doesn't it occur to any of you that maybe Fisher isn't the only coach who would have chosen to not play Goff? Can we acknowledge that maybe Snead screwed this one up or that like in Tennessee with Bud Adams Fisher was forced into taking a player he didn't believe was the answer for long term success in the league? Does it occur to anyone that Boras hasn't exactly proven himself as a respectable OC. Do we really want a rookie plugged into a system run by this guy, putting the kid into a position to fail, creating irreversible damage to the psyche affecting the long run of young JG's career? Rookies are fragile. Confidence is so importiant in this league.

I just think it's hacky to bitch and moan over the HC of your favorite team and not hold any of the talent accountable for their poor performance.

If you hate Fisher so bad, just stop being a fan of the team. He's our coach. We should be rooting for the man and supporting all the difficult decisions he's had to make.

With all of my heart I can honesty pound my chest and scream Let's go Gof! I'm rooting for the kid so much

I hope he shocks the world and carries this team to the dreaded 7 seed. Of course we would have been 12-4 if Goff started since day one. We obviously would have beaten DET(a game were Case undeniably played lights out), Buffalo, NYG, Carolina and SF.

Personally i'm looking forward to watching KB18 finish to year with 1200 yards and 8 tds. Watching Cooper become a major player. Seeing Tavon get balls fired at his chest 2 yards off the line of scrimmage allowing him to get into open space and burning his shoes off. Seeing Brian Quick put up a 200 yard game at Seattle leading the team to Victory. Witnessing Lance Kendricks transfrom into a top 5 pass catching TE. And finally reading about the FA WRs added to the lineup because that want to play playoff caliber football with the phenom Goff in beautiful LA.

More changes I would make

After analyzing this matchup and the performances of the players throughout the year, besides starting Goff, here are a few more things I would consider.

Robinson continues to mirror Jason Smith and is by FAR the weakest link of all starters on this team. Saffold needs to hold down LT and put both Wichmann and Brown at guards. The truly disappointing thing about Robinson is that his run blocking has been even worse than his pass blocking. For all the hand-wringing over keeping Keenum in place for too long...Robinson has proven over too long that he just doesn't have what it takes.

Austin is fine in the gadget role, but Cooper, IMO, is a better receiver in the slot. For that matter, so is Marquez. Kendricks has been surprisingly ineffective as a run blocker and should be utilized almost exclusively as a pass catcher. Higbee has graded better as a run blocker than Kendricks but that role should truly go to Harkey. Speaking of Harkey, he has quietly become one of the NFL's most effective fullbacks. We should run more plays with him in that position.

My most controversial change would be expanding Benny Cunningham's role as a runner and reducing Gurley's snaps. Benny has simply outperformed Gurley and though it's not all Todd's fault, defenses simply play differently when Cunningham lines up. I am NOT suggesting Benny supplant Todd as the starter as that would have several negative consequences. But for THIS game, I want the ball more in Benny's hands.

On defense, the Dolphin's recent success has been running the ball. However, the Dolphin O-line is no match for AD and Brockers. The Fin passing attack doesn't feature the TE and with Joyner dinged up and needing to get healthy, I'd use Forrest more in this game. Jarvis Landry as the only scary receiver on their roster and Tru needs to exclusively shadow him. Hill and Gaines may be coming on but I would make this a personal challenge to Tru and have him completely focus on that to the exclusion of run and blitz responsibilities.

As far as ST, I wouldn't change a thing. Now that's refreshing.

One last thing, I thought Groh was brought here to upgrade the passing attack. He has shown more creativity lately and with Jared making his first start, I'd like to see a focus on mid range passes on first down and screens to slow down the pass rush. While I thought we became too predictable with the jet sweep last year, I feel we haven't used it enough this year. I would also like to see Goff unhurl deep shots three times on second and short in this game.

The descent into madness of Shelley Duvall

Login to view embedded media View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EoFUTb2wNMY

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http://www.foxnews.com/entertainmen...l-unrecognizable-in-jarring-dr-phil-clip.html

Shelley Duvall unrecognizable in jarring 'Dr. Phil' clip
FoxNews.com


Shelley Duvall, best-known for her role in “The Shining,” is now unrecognizable in a clip released to promote her upcoming appearance on “Dr. Phil.”

Duvall sat down with Dr. Phil McGraw for an interview, and she revealed she has been battling serious mental illness.

The once-celebrated actress departed from the public eye in the early 2000s.

“I’m very sick. I need help,” Duvall said.

She said she believes her “Popeye” co-star Robin Williams is not dead but rather he is “shape-shifting.”

Duvall said she has seen Williams since his 2014 death.

She also claimed she was facing a threat from the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Her entire sit-down with Dr. Phil airs Friday.

Simmons: Practice Report 11/16: The Gameplan with Goff

Practice Report 11/16: The Gameplan with Goff

Myles Simmons

The announcement came down on Tuesday: Rookie quarterback Jared Goff will be the starting quarterback against the Dolphins on Sunday. According to head coach Jeff Fisher, the time is right and the No. 1 overall pick is ready.

So now that we all have heard and processed the news, how is offensive coordinator Rob Boras anticipating his unit to play with its new signal-caller?

“I think, offensively, obviously we need to rally around Jared, which I know that they will — we’re excited about it,” Boras said after Wednesday’s session. “He’s been preparing as if he’s been the starter for the first nine games. Again, we all recognize it’s different than actually playing. The volume of the plays, it’s the same amount of plays, the same package, we trust with where he is mentally —that’s what we’ve kept commenting on, how well he’s handling everything.”

There have been a few major checkpoints over the course of the season for Goff, one of which was the practice during the bye a few weeks ago. In that session, the rookie received the majority of first-team snaps, demonstrating what he’d been able to glean about the offense to that point.

“I think it was one of the turning points. Obviously any time that you get extended reps, you have a better time to evaluate,” Boras said. “We kept talking about the classroom, classroom, classroom, but now you got more reps against the first team defense. So it definitely helped us see where he was and helped part of the evaluation process.”

One of the shifts Boras will make with the new quarterback is marking down more plays with which Goff is more familiar and likes. It’s the same thing he would do with Case Keenum for the previous nine games.

“I would have a call sheet with my rankings that Case had given me as well if Jared had gone in, so no different there except I’ll have a couple call sheets marked up for Jared and one marked up for Case,” Boras said.

Because it is Goff’s first time out, no one quite knows what — if any — added dimensions the rookie can bring to the offense. Everyone has an idea based on what the quarterback did in college and the preseason, but it’s certainly different when it counts for the first time.

“We’re going to find out,” Boras said. “He’s tall — again, it’s a big-man’s game at a lot of positions. he’s tall, he can see, everything we talked about — his delivery, how quick he is, he’s decisive. We saw how tough he was at Cal. We hope he doesn’t have to be that tough and take hits, but we saw his toughness. His ability to escape and extend plays, his intelligence — we’re excited about seeing it take off on Sunday.”

KEENUM CONTINUES AS STRONG TEAMMATE

In the NFL, for every promotion, there is also a demotion. And this week, by all accounts, Keenum is handling the situation perhaps even better than might be expected.

“My heart goes out to Case,” Boras said. “Case is a teammate and a great leader and he’s going to be great in that room. That’s a compliment to him and his family with the type of person and character that he is. There is nothing odd in that classroom. He’s going to handle it great. He will help Jared every way that he can, because that’s who he is. I can’t say enough good things about Case and the person he is.”



“I can’t stress enough how awesome Case has been before this, in training camp, in OTAs, now this has happened after,” Goff said Tuesday. “On and off the field, I can’t stress enough how good of a teammate and how awesome he’s been with it.”


If you know Keenum or have ever heard much about him, this is likely no surprise as he clearly takes his role as a teammate seriously. And while he is no longer Los Angeles’ starter, Keenum is still a captain. And so even though there’s a sense of surprise, disappointment, and frustration, that doesn’t change how Keenum will go about doing his job.

“Honestly, I wasn’t happy. I want to play. That’s why I play football — is to play football. To be the quarterback, to be the guy with the ball in his hands,” Keenum said Wednesday. “So, with that being said, I trust coach Fisher. I trust the coaches and their decision. I’m a leader — I’m a captain on this team. So I’m going to do my job. And my job is whatever they tell me my job is.”

That includes being there to help Goff whenever he needs it.

“I’m going to be the same guy I always am. I’m always there for him if he asks questions in the meeting room, on the practice field, [watching] game film. So I’m going to be the same guy I always am — that’s a leader, that’s a good teammate, and being the best teammate that I can be. And that’s who I am. That’s who I’m going to be.”

INJURY REPORT

The Rams listed five players on their Wednesday injury report.

Center Tim Barnes (foot), defensive back Lamarcus Joyner (ankle), defensive end Robert Quinn (illness), defensive end Eugene Sims (concussion), and wide receiver Nelson Spruce (calf) all did not participate in Wednesday’s session.

Quinn was at practice on the sidelines once again on Wednesday, and Fisher sounded positive about his status.

“Rob was much better, yeah,” Fisher said. “He did a bunch of stuff inside. We didn’t clear him to practice, but tomorrow he’ll move around outside on the field.


[www.therams.com]

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