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It's that time again. . .Players are about to be released from their teams and join new teams which could help out. Sometimes a change of scenery is all it takes for a player to reach their potential. Here are 12 players that I believe could be handed their walking papers. If this is the case the Rams would need to take a look.
JaCorey Shepherd, Cornerback, Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles were about to name their late round rookie JaCorey Shepherd the nickel corner. Well unfortunately the former Kansas star ended up colliding into teammate Darren Sproles in camp and he tore his ACL which would end his rookie season before it started. Now he is trying to come back and still hasn't been able to suit up in preseason so with a different coaching staff and not the one that originally drafted him. This could be the end of Shepherd in an eagles uniform.
The Rams are in dire need of finding talent at the CB position whether they want to admit it or not. The 23-year-old corner has the talent to be in the nickel spot which the Rams could look to bolster if Joyner and company continues to struggle.
Dee Milliner, Cornerback, New York Jets
The former first-round pick is treading in deep water and it's only a matter until he drowns. Milliner self proclaimed himself the best corner in the league and he has yet to show that he is a solid corner in the league yet. I think the Jets could end up cutting him. While you hear all the positive stuff in the world about Milliner in camp, you just don't see it on the field and thats a problem.
Again, the Rams are in need of talent at the CB position. While Milliner has struggled again a change of scenery could help him and especially playing more zone which is what Gregg Williams' defense does.
Marquess Wilson, Wide receiver, Chicago Bears
Interesting name here and I don't expect many to recognize it. Marquess Wilson is a 6-foot-4 206 pound wide receiver. He has been trying to come back from a fractured foot injury but the problem is guys are impressing during his time on the shelf. So Wilson figures to be cut.
Mike Groh is used to coaching this guy, Wilson is only 23 years old and with the size he has and being familiar with Groh. Wilson could pay off in a big way. This move would really signal the end of Brian Quick if it came after the final roster was decided.
Pierre Garcon, Wide receiver, Washington Redskins
A veteran possession receiver who is going downhill and being less a part of the offense in Washington.
Garcon could come in and be the no. 2 wide receiver alongside Kenny Britt. I don't think he's a guaranteed cut nor do I think Garcon would be a game changer but at this point he would be useful for a Rams team that are lacking big play wide receivers who can actually be a weapon instead of a liability with unreliable hands.
Brandon Coleman, Wide receiver, New Orleans Saints
Perhaps one of my favorite WRs just based off his size. I watched him at Rutgers he's 6-foot-6 220 pounds. He was a projected third-round pick by Mel Kiper on draft night back in the 2014 NFL draft. He is only 24-years-old and with his size and the way he flashed potential last season he could be a red-zone specialist if need be.
The Rams might be better off with trying Coleman out since none of the WRs vying for a spot have really done anything to stand out in game besides Nelson Spruce.
The L.A. Rams open up the regular season September 12th, and if you play fantasy football here is a look at the Rams from a fantasy football perspective.
Must-have Rams
Todd Gurley, RB - Well there is not much to say that has already said about the former Georgia product. The only debate fantasy wise is this, "Should you draft Todd Gurley number one overall?". I have the answer for you and the answer is yes and here's why:
He's the number one back on the team by a country mile
He is going into the 2016 season fully healthy unlike last year
Gurley is the obvious focal point of the Ram offense
He is only going to improve with better QB play and that play can only go up from here
The Rams will use Gurley in the passing game much more often
If you are tied between Gurley and Peterson then your tie-breaker should be who you would rather root for. Well if you are a Rams fan then that is a no-brainer
Average draft position: 1st overall-5th overall
Rams D/ST - Every year the Rams have a formidable defense and especially fantasy. The Rams have the best defensive line in all of football that should get you sack after sack. Hard-hitting players such as linebacker/safety Mark Barron, new starting safety Maurice Alexander and safety T.J. McDonald should force some fumbles during this season. Ball hawk shutdown corner Trumaine Johnson is coming off a breakout season in which he had seven interceptions. All in all this unit should net you a top five fantasy defense if they perform to their fullest.
Average draft position: 2nd-to-last round
Tavon Austin, WR - Austin has not been the most reliable fantasy option but he did enjoy a season in which he had ten total touchdowns. He also is looking at the same offensive coordinator Rob Boras calling the shots as well as respected new-comer former Bears WR coach now turned rams passing game coordinator and WR coach -- Mike Groh. Austin should end up having the rookie no. 1 overall pick throwing to him too so this could be the season Austin finally catches 100+ balls and flirts with 800-1,000 yards. If he does that he could be a highly coveted fantasy player.
Average draft position: 9th round
Tyler Higbee, TE - Make this pick towards the end of the draft and no one will know what you just did. Tyler Higbee might already be the best receiving option on the Rams. With a rookie quarterback in Jared Goff and an offense with heavy emphasis on tight ends Higbee could shine early on. He already has looked good in camp don't miss out on him when he becomes a waiver-wire steal halfway through the year. You are the only one who will think of drafting him so pull the trigger.
Average draft position: Undrafted
Rams to monitor
Jared Goff, QB - I personally would avoid him at all costs but maybe that's because I am superstitious and don't like having Rams QB's. Anyway Goff is a guy to monitor he most likely won't have a ROY season. However if he does explode be ready to scoop him up in free agency. I could see any scenario with Goff the issue is that rookie quarterbacks are often times hit-or-miss.
The Rams made it through week one of the preseason and now they will play their last game in L.A. until week two of the regular season against the Seattle Seahawks. After this game it will be time to cut the roster down to 75. Here is the updated regular season week one roster prediction as of preseason week two.
1.QB1: Jared Goff
2.QB2: Case Keenum
3.QB3: Sean Mannion
4.RB1: Todd Gurley
5.RB2: Benny Cunningham
6.RB3: Malcolm Brown
7.RB4: Chase Reynolds
8.WR1: Kenny Britt
9.WR2: Tavon Austin
10.WR3: Pharoh Cooper
11.WR4: Bradley Marquez
12.WR5: Nelson Spruce
13.WR6: Duke Williams
14.TE1: Lance Kendricks
15.TE2: Tyler Higbee
16.TE3: Cory Harkey
17.TE4: Temarrick Hemingway
18.LT1: Greg Robinson
19.LT2: Darrell Williams
20.LG1: Rodger Saffold
21.LG2: Garrett Reynolds
22.C1: Tim Barnes
23.C2: Eric Kush
24.RG1: Jamon Brown
25.RG2: Cody Wichmann
26.RT: Rob Havenstein
27.DE1: Robert Quinn
28.DE2: William Hayes
29.DE3: Eugene Sims
30.DE4: Quinton Coples
31.DE5: Ethan Westbrooks
32.DE6: Matt Longacre
33.DT1: Aaron Donald
34.DT2: Michael Brockers
35.DT3: Dominique Easley
36.MLB: Alec Ogletree
37.OLB1: Mark Barron
38.OLB2: Akeem Ayers
39.OLB3: Cameron Lynch
40.OLB4: Bryce Hager
41.CB1: Trumaine Johnson
42.CB2: LaMarcus Joyner
43.CB3: E.J. Gaines
44.CB4: Coty Sensabaugh
45.CB5: Marcus Roberson
46.CB6: Mike Jordan
47.FS1: Mo Alexander
48.FS2: Cody Davis
49.FS3: Christian Bryant
50.SS1: T.J. McDonald
51.K: Greg Zuerlein
52.P: Johnny Hekker
53.LS: Jake McQuaide
Notable roster cuts:
Aaron Green, Running back - This is only going to get tougher as the preseason moves along. Green has already looked like a back worth keeping.
Brian Quick, Wide receiver - Still don't see him making the roster. The emergence of guys like Nelson Spruce and hopefully Duke Williams will be too much for Quick to overcome.
Mike Thomas, Wide receiver - Thomas had a couple of drops week one or the preseason and as of right now Nelson Spruce poured on some pressure for the 6th round pick out of Southern Miss. We will see if Thomas can bounce back, if not he could be looking at practice squad stint at best.
IRVINE, Calif. -- Los Angeles Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein spent the entire offseason poring through video, trying to figure out how to improve on a season in which he missed a third of his field-goal attempts. Several of those misses sailed wide right, and Zuerlein noticed that sometimes he was opening his foot up just a tad. So he worked on it. He also only made a third of his attempts from 50-plus yards away, so he has made sure to take additional reps from a great distance.
Now he just needs to implement it all in a game.
The Rams' preseason schedule is halfway done, and Zuerlein, in desperate need of a bounce-back season, has yet to attempt a field goal. He's kicked three extra points and nothing else, with backup kicker Taylor Bertolet taking the other four. So Zuerlein is hoping for some work on Saturday, Week 3 of the preseason schedule, when the Rams play the defending-champion Broncos in Denver at 6 p.m. PT.
"I’ll never be mad scoring touchdowns," Zuerlein said. "But ideally you get some kicks in the game, because you can’t mimic those in practice. You can get close, but to feel the rush, and just the atmosphere, everything -- the actual goal post, instead of what we have here. It’s important to get that. I’m confident we will get some."
Zuerlein, 28, made only 20 of his 30 field-goal attempts last season, a rate of 66.7 percent. It was by far the worst percentage in the NFL among kickers who attempted at least 20 field goals. The man directly above Zuerlein, Sebastian Janikowski of the Oakland Raiders, converted 80.8 percent of his field goals. And among those with at least 30 attempts since 2006, Zuerlein's mark was the third-worst.
"It was not a good year, just simply put," said Zuerlein, who made 82 percent of his attempts during his previous three seasons. "I’m a lot better than what I showed. Really, I just have to do better."
It isn't far-fetched to say that a better Zuerlein might have made the Rams a playoff team last year.
Consider: They lost nine games, and three of those losses were decided by three points. And in each of those, Zuerlein missed a field goal wide right. There was the Nov. 8 game in Minnesota, down 18-15 with less than two minutes left, when Zuerlein missed a 48-yard attempt (though he later made the 53-yard field goal that sent the game to overtime). There was the Nov. 22 game in Baltimore, when Zuerlein missed a 52-yard field goal with the score knotted at 13 and less than two minutes left. And there was the Jan. 3 finale from San Francisco, when he missed another 52-yarder with the Rams up by three late in the third quarter.
None of those were easy, of course.
Zurelein's nine attempts from 50 or more yards out were tied for the second-most in the league last year. But his conversion rate from that distance (33 percent) was well below the NFL average (65 percent).
"The way I see it is the opportunities are there for me to be great," Zuerlein said of how he evaluates his success rate from so far away. "Getting that many opportunities to kick from deep is awesome. Teams don’t even try them. And so I look at it from the standpoint of I’m given the opportunity to do really big things, and unfortunately I haven’t converted on them. And that’s what I’ve been working on in the offseason, trying to make as many of those long kicks as possible so I can convert on those for the team in the future."
Might be cleaner for the board if we have one thread where we can discuss players cut by other teams we could contemplate signing. We all know there will be the first level of cut downs on Tuesday 15 people a team there's 480 potential future former Rams we could contemplate signing. I can update the title with notable cuts I think?
Tomorrow's practice @ Cal St. Irvine is open to the public for the last time before they move up north to Lutheran Univ. Campus to continue TC. Will any of the practices be open to the public up there?
The Rams are going into Year Five of the Quick Project and the receiver has yet to catch 1,000 yards for his career. Photo Credit: USA Today - Sports
Fisher could finally pull the plug on the Brian Quick Project after 5 years
The Los Angeles Rams brought back Brian Quick on a one-year/$1.5 million contract. But he might not even make it to the end of training camp, let alone the end of the year.
Quick needed solid performances during his preseason appearances against the Dallas Cowboys and the Kansas City Chiefs. He failed to accomplish to do to just that in either game. Against the Chiefs, Quick recorded two catches. The week prior, he only caught one.
Now, he could be dropped himself.
Quick’s lack of catches falls more on himself than it does on the quarterback. During the Chiefs game, Quick dropped a couple of passes. One pass was directly into his chest with the nearest defender being a few yards from him. Quick dropped it.
“I have confidence in my hands,” Quick said to ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez. “Most of those things are just timing anyway, with the quarterback and me.”
Regardless of what it falls on, head coach Jeff Fisher said it plain and simple: “Your receivers have to catch (the ball).”
“(Quick)’s had too many drops, so he’s going to have to focus on that,” Fisher said.
Quick was a second-round draft pick that many expected to be a project. Fisher and general manager Les Snead felt confident in his ability, however, and felt they needed to take him high before anyone else did.
Now, the project looks to have run it’s course. The Rams are going into Year Five of the Quick Project and the receiver has yet to catch 1,000 yards for his career.
From 2012 to 2015, Quick’s catching percentage has been well below average; catching 47 percent of the 135 targets over five years.
A more disappointing look at the number finds that despite playing in 51 games, Quick was targeted less than twice-a-game (1.7).
The team will certainly have Tavon Austin, Kenny Britt, and rookie Pharoh Cooper be a big part of their passing game. After that, Fisher said the competition to make the final 53 is wide-open.
The Rams wide receiver competition is proving to be a lot more competitive than in recent years. Outside the previous three, guys like Nelson Spruce and Paul McRoberts have made names for themselves in the last few weeks.
Spruce had a great game against Dallas, but fell to a sprained knee. When healthy, Spruce is a great option in the passing game.
Bradley Marquez has proven himself to be a great special teams player.
Quick could find himself the odd-man-out. He can’t contribute on special teams and he has proven to be a less than reliable receiver on offense.
Quick has shown he can be a good receiver. In 2014, Quick appeared to be turning in a career season. He played seven games before he was knocked out for the season with a shoulder injury, as luck would have it.
But during those seven games, his catching percentage increased, he turned in the highest amount of receiving yards (375) and caught a career-high three touchdowns.
Those numbers seem rather meager, but for Quick, this was improvement. He was proving his worth.
But the following year, he regressed dramatically, only catching 10 passes in 13 games.
This weekend’s game against the Denver Broncos is do-or-die for Quick. Roster cuts are due by the end of the month and his name is not off the chopping block.
This weekend could be the last time we see Quick in a Los Angeles Rams jersey. Should he play well and catch more than two passes, he could stave off the roster cuts another week.
But time is running out.
B.Quick is in the fight of his life... I give him an 80% chance to make the final 53 if he catches every ball that touches his hands at Denver and Minnesota. If he has drops at Denver he's likely cut on 08/30/2016.
Now this is important to understand. I have followed this team through the highs and the lows. The move from LA (Anaheim) to St. Louis didn’t deter me. I have watched this team every year and hoping that this is the year. 1999 was magical, we all know that. I can’t put my finger on it but this team is different. They are going places. Whether it is the play calling of Boras, the route running of the receivers, the line blocking of the offense. Something is different and in a good way. To add to this, the intensity level was cranked way up. The players were showing what they could bring to the table. It made for an enjoyable practice.
On to the camp report. The usual warm ups took place. Special teams kick off and returns. Defense was on the far field so I didn’t see much of what was going on over there.
Battle and Havenstein were dressed but did individual drills on the sidelines. Kenny Britt didn’t participate in the practice but was on the field helping out. Never saw #3 WR North. Quinn was dressed but didn’t participate in any contact drills.
During 7 on 7, Goff went through his progressions but in four passes, he went to Higbee three times and Quick once. Quick dropped a sure catch, hit him in the hands and it would have been a TD. Higbee caught one about 3 yards’ shy of the end zone along the sideline, made a spin move and fought his way in for the TD. Nice move. Two takeaways from the 7 on 7. Goff went through his progressions and chose the safe outlet, Higbee. Modest gains in yards but they add up. The corners were covering well. That would be Tru J. and EJ. It wasn’t no picnic for the WR.
Keenum looked good during 7 on 7 as did Mannion although Mannion was not as crisp. Did well but didn’t make you go WOW. Hemmingway caught a TD from Keenum that looked real good. Good route, good patience from Case to wait for the open man. If I remember correctly, Hemminway was lined up in the slot on that play.
The real fun started when Goff started the 11 on 11 session with the 1st string. He was a different QB from what we have seen so far. He got the play call through the headset in the huddle, called the play, every skill position player lined up correctly (no last second changes from Goff) and executed the count. My point is he showed a command of the huddle, an understanding of the play called and his teammates responded like pro-football players should. The O line provided good protection and I didn’t see anyone getting close to the QB for a sack.
There were the obligatory hand offs to Gurley that went smooth as silk. Goff was showing a good fake after the hand-off too. The D line and linebackers did their part too. Run players were pretty much a stalemate. Then the passes started.
We all know Goff has a quick release. He demonstrated that a plenty Tuesday. One of his most impressive throws was a streaking Lance Kendricks going up the left sideline, made some sort of move to create separation from an unknown defender, had a two-step cushion and Goff throws a pass like he did to Cooper in the Dallas game. A frozen rope, a line drive. Hit Kendricks in stride, right in the hands and Lance trots in for the TD. This was a 30-40yard throw in the air. Most QB’s tend to arc the ball up high and let it fall into the receivers’ hands. Not Goff. His type of throw does not allow a safety to react and have a chance for a pass breakup. It was beautiful and the crowd responded with claps and cheers.
Other throws were right on the money. Higbee caught a pass at the right sideline then spun towards the inside of the field freeing himself from a sure tackle or knocked out of bounds then fought his way into the end zone.
T. Magee took a screen pass out of the backfield and gained some good yards. Can’t wait to see Gurley do that. By the way, Gurley was used sparingly.
Case Keenum came in with the second team for his turn during the 11 on 11. It was not all that good for him. First he did a simple handoff to the running back Brown but either Brown didn’t take the right angle or Case stepped too far out and they had a mild collision. No fumble but Brown was stopped at the line. Is this a case of a new QB playing for the first time with this unit? Maybe. But Case had difficulties connecting with his receivers. On a deep post route to the end zone, a fast moving David Richards #12 was open but the ball was horribly overthrown.
Hemmingway looks like a keeper. Could be used in a WR role and not so much shoe horned in at TE. Higbee is riped and has great hands. Didn’t see if he had blocking assignments but he sure knows how to get open and catches the ball. Missed seeing Spruce, still in a knee brace. Cory Harkey is very good at blocking and can catch although he was only targeted I think once during 7 on 7 and once more on 11 on 11. The other receivers did well with the exception of Quick.
Quick dropped a sure TD that square in his hands in the end zone. He was covered tightly but the ball was perfect. Goff threw it. On another play I think it was Mannion throwing, Quick catches one going up the seam and scores a TD. Now this was with the second team defense and offense. If you read my posts from camp on August 23 you’ll recall a moment when there was a break in the action and Quick was on the near sideline talking with Britt and one of the coaches I couldn’t recognized. He was visibly upset with something. I walked down to the fence to try and hear what was being said but I couldn’t make it out. Quick was on one knee at times then would get up and pace around Britt and the coach then back to the knee. It appeared that Britt and coach were trying to lighten things up with smiles, jokes of sorts and such. Quick never smiled. He knows the pressure is on.
In summary, Goff looked totally different than in the past. Keenum struggled at times as did Mannion. It was Goff’s team that day and he made the best of it. If you saw Coach Fishers presser after that practice you could tell he was very pleased with Goff. As you can tell, I’m all about the offense in this report. I felt we know what we have in our DB’s now that Gains is back. We know our front four are set, OH! By the way, Easley is a great addition to the D line. Expect great things from him. He is very quick off the ball. Linebackers will take some work, learning to play with each other but I’m not worried.
I cannot wait for Saturday against Denver and I want to see Goff start the game. I think you all will be pleasantly surprised with his improvement.
Watching Hard Knocks last night I figured out why the gold horns look lighter. There is no glitter/sparkle in the horns, it's a completely solid color, think of it as Grey Poupon!
Wondering if you wanted to respond to ED tossing you under the bus in the Hard Knocks episode 3 exchange with Mike Singletary? It was just a quick comment, but seeing as you are here....what say you? :boxing:opcorn:
• FANS WHO MIGHT SURPRISE THE LEAGUE: Rams fans. As one Los Angeles vet told me after last Saturday’s win over the Chiefs, “We might have the kind of home field advantage the Seahawks have.” Too early to tell if the honeymoon will last, but a crowd helps a team’s defense the most, because the opposing offense has to struggle to hear itself over the din of the crowd. And Seattle will be in L.A. first, in Week 2, so we’ll see if preseason madness will carry over. But those were some crazy fans I saw Saturday night at the Coliseum.
IRVINE, Calif. -- Nearly four weeks into training camp, the Los Angeles Rams' most impressive department is their backfield. Perhaps that was predictable, given the presence of star running back Todd Gurley. But it's the personnel beyond Gurley that makes the collective group so formidable, which is surprising when you consider the absentee.
In the wake of Tre Mason's bizarre disappearance, Benny Cunningham and Malcolm Brown have stepped up. The two have combined to rush for 195 yards on 28 carries through the first two preseason games, comeback victories against the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. That's nearly 7 yards per carry. The NFL leader in that department last year, Thomas Rawls of the Seattle Seahawks, averaged 5.6.
"It’s a good feeling to see the work everybody’s put in kind of pay off," Cunningham said. "We want to just continue to compete and try to contribute to the offense."
Aaron Green, all of whom joined the Rams as undrafted free agents, are the ones taking advantage.
Green amassed 64 yards and caught the winning touchdown in Week 1. He sat out Week 2, but has since returned to practice and will probably play in Week 3. Cunningham rushed four times for 38 yards in Week 1 and four times for 23 yards in Week 2. And Brown has led the Rams in rushing each of the first two games, going 66 yards on eight carries in Week 1 and 68 yards on 12 carries in Week 2.
Brown also caught the winning touchdown on Saturday, reaching across his body to haul in a 10-yard pass from rookie quarterback Jared Goff.
"From last year to this year is a complete difference in my head," said Brown, who played in only one game as a rookie in 2015. "Confidence was really my biggest thing. I had to trust in myself, I had to trust in the offensive line, I had to trust in what the coaches were telling me. Confidence can go a long way.”
Gregg Williams is heading into his third season as the Rams’ defensive coordinator. Known as a coach who can adapt his scheme to get the most out of his players, Williams has a kind of advantage going into Year 3 with the club.
“There’s not a lot of new stuff. They’re used to me, I’m used to them,” Williams said. “It’s been a real productive spring, and I do like how they’ve come back from the spring OTAs, and coming back in condition here for these training camp practices. It’s been a real positive format, so far.”
The familiarity Williams has with Los Angeles’ veterans means more time can be devoted in preseason games to players he may not know as much about. For instance, Williams said he wasn’t concerned about defensive end Robert Quinn not playing much in the preseason because he knows what the lineman can do.
“I need to see him play on gameday in [the] regular season,” Williams said. “I’ve been through a lot of games with him, I see him in practice every day. He’ll got some limited reps, but not looking to get a lot of banging around because I want to see him banging around come Monday Night Football against San Francisco.”
When a player has recorded 50 sacks in only 71 games over five seasons, it’s a clear indication of elite-level talent. It’s another reason why Williams doesn’t feel a need to see Quinn do much in games that don’t count, especially given that Quinn is returning from back surgery.
“He does things that you can’t coach, he has some of the fastest-twitch pass-rushing I’ve ever seen,” Williams said.
One of the ways that comes through on the field is how quickly Quinn can turn the corner on an offensive tackle.
“When you watch a pass rusher turn the corner, everybody in the National Football League has to turn the corner at nine yards. The good ones start turning the corner at eight yards, the Pro Bowlers will start turning the corners at seven yards,” Williams said. “You’ll see Robert turn [the corner on an offensive tackle] it at a four, five and six [yards – not very many people can do that, only the elite of the elite.
“I can’t coach that,” Williams continued. “I’m a better coach when he plays and does that — I’m telling you that.”
Williams likes to let players use their natural instincts. He’s talked about it with defensive tackle Aaron Donald, and mentioned a same sort of principle when discussing Mark Barron’s transition from safety to weakside linebacker.
“Last year, the biggest thing we wanted to do as a staff is not overload him, not slow him down,” Williams said. “I told the staff ‘don’t coach him. Unless he asks a question, let him alone – and then when he asks a question, that’s what he needs to know to figure it out.’
“Now, this year, we’ve started from day one, scratch one, building him back up through there and the light has really clicked on for him,” Williams added. “He’ll be even better this year.”
Plus, between Barron and middle linebacker Alec Ogletree, Williams thinks the Rams can be one of the fastest teams on defense in the league.
“I really can’t wait to see he and Ogletree play together,” Williams said. “You guys are going to see a pretty good, fast pair of backers doing things.”
But those are players Williams knows well. For the ones he doesn’t, he relies on preseason playing time to see who can realistically contribute to the defense.
“Practices are so much different now in the NFL and training camp, with the non-contact that you have — the ways with not very many padded practices,” Williams said. “So now you get a chance to get them into a game, especially some of these young college guys coming in as rookies. And even some of the veteran guys that we sign free agents that came from other teams.”
The next chance to evaluate will come on Saturday in Denver — a team that will certainly present challenges in all three phases as the reigning Super Bowl Champions.
“The things that have happened in the first half in a couple of these games have been very good correctable things that these guys have grown from,” Williams said. “So far, so good. Now when they take the next step this week, It’ll be interesting to see these guys play.”
According to this talking head. I tend to agree. If Goff ain't ready, he ain't ready. Mannion has a better understanding and reading the field better than Goff, CURRENTLY. That could change.
Worried about Battle. Heis with Saffold, Brown and other olinemen but is off by himself. Not conversing or stretching or working on technique with the others. Is he being held out? More to follow
After going back and checking the amount of views this thread normally gets, we'll keep this thing going for at least one more week because it seems there are many members who still enjoy it.
Still, this chat has become mostly Rams bashing, so it's understandable if some don't like it and think it's dumb. In that case, don't click on the thread. If the views drop off drastically, then we'll put this thread out of its misery.
Not all questions and answers are included here. To read the whole chat, click the link below.
LA preseason TV ratings already lower than they ever were in STL. Bloom off the rose?
As to the preseason ratings, it was interesting that they would drop that much in one week. But I still think there will be a lot of interest in the team in LA this year. The real question is how will the team do in the market over the long haul, especially if the on-field product doesn't improve.
-------------- Do you think that Stan will get a big lump of coal in his stocking this year?
Possible. Very possible.
------------ OK I get it now. Kroenke has to give Fisher a three year extension so that he can continue to develop Goff. Dude has to be ready to start when the Rams get to their new stadium.
Predraft talk was that Goff had an excellent long pass - exactly how does that fit into Fisherball?
Still seems like a lot of draft picks to spend on a development project.......
I don't recall reading or hearing much about Goff's arm strength. I think it's average at best. It was his quick release, his accuracy, his intelligence, and his toughness that made him desirable. But I will agree with you on this; Goff looks a little overwhelmed at this point.
------------ I have the #3 pick in my fantasy football draft tonight. Who are some players you would take?
I'm far from the fantasy expert, but you're usually talking quarterbacks that high in the draft, aren't you? So you're in Roethlisberger, Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers range. Do you take Brady, knowing he'll be on the shelf for four games? I think I'd take Roethlisberger if he were there at No. 3.
----------- How do ticket prices in LA this year compare to last year in St. Louis?
I think the prices are pretty similar. I don't think the real bump in prices comes until the Inglewood stadium opens.
----------- Well, a-beat the drum and hold the phone
The sun came out today
We're born again, there's new grass on the field
throwing three TD's, all at home
I'm a blue-eyed handsome man
Anyone can understand the way I feel
Oh, put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Put me in coach, I'm ready to play today
Look at me, I can be an NFL QB!
In my wildest dreams I never thought that throwing 3 TD's would get me benched for a game. by Sean M
That was a little odd, not to see Mannion in at all against Kansas City. But keep in mind, he played more than was planned against Dallas because of Goff's shoulder issue. Based on that Dallas game, Mannion looks much improved over his rookie season.
---------- A small sample size but it seems that Nick Foles has regained his confidence on the field. Could it be that he lost faith in the Rams' coaching staff and offensive schemes?
Your thoughts........
Lots of check-downs, but Foles did look pretty solid for KC on Saturday. Maybe it's the old change-of-scenery thing. I'm sure there's a comfort factor as well being back with Andy Reid, the head coach who brought Foles into the league in Philly.
------------ what happens 4-5 years down the road when the rams go 6-10 every year and fan interest dwindles to the point where they can't even sell out before the super stadium is built?
The new stadium will be built in three years, 2019. It's not going to take 4-5 years. So I think even if the Rams struggle these next three years, fans will flock to the next stadium _ at least at first.
----------- Do you think the Rams were one of the teams interested in trading for Josh Gordon?
Sorry, no idea.
---------- I know that you have a lot of insight into the Rams move that you have not been able to share because it was told to you on confidence. I hope that you will go back to those sources over time to ask if they will release you to write the story without identifying them. It would make a fascinating book, and I would be in line at your first book signing.
I have some insight that I haven't been able to share, but probably not as much as you think.
------------ Hi Jim, judging by what I have seen with all the (LA) local news reports and from Hard Knocks, seems like the players are adjusting well to the LA Lifestyle. Did you get that impression when you were out here?
I guess. Didn't really talk to the players about that when I was there.
---------- as a 22 year old, the Rams are all I've ever known. Its been 8 plus months since the rams were moved. Tell me, did time make it easier when the Cardinals left in the 80's? watching sportscenter stings whenever they bring up the rams.
Sports media was so much different when the Cardinals left in 1988. No Twitter, no Internet, ESPN was still fairly new. I was covering the University of Missouri at the time, and immersed in that, so I don't have a true sense of what the feeling was like at the time. But I know Bidwill was detested and the Cardinals were missed. The ratings in St. Louis were good after they left, so much so that their games were shown on local TV for the next 2 1/2 years.
------------ I've heard it's best to take an RB or WR in the first round. I have been told take Gurley. But I don't know if he will have a great year this season. The Rams OL sucks, but then again he killed it last year. Can Gurley have another solid year with the OL he has? Sorry I know this is a loaded question.
Yes, Gurley could be even better this year because he's fully healthy. Over the long haul, I'd be a little concerned about his durability based on what I've seen. But other than Adrian Peterson, who else would you take among NFL running backs? Don't know if you risk taking rookies Ezekiel Elliott or Derrick Henry that high. Both could be beasts, however. And if you draft Le'Veon Bell, he's going to be shelved for 3 weeks due to the suspension.
-------------- Jim, any update on the injury status of Jeff Wilkins from the Legends of the Dome game?
I texted Jeff back and forth during the Hall of Fame weekend in Canton. Don't know if you remember, but I was staying up near Youngstown, where Wilkins lives, went into an AT&T store to get a new phone cover, a worker at the store saw that I as from St. Louis and said Wilkins comes into the store all the time, that he lives just a few minutes away.
Anyway, Wilkins was still hobbling around on crutches that weekend, so he didn't attend the Pace induction. He had torn ligaments in the ankle, but no surgery was needed. There was some initial concern about tendon damage, but that proved not to be the case. If he's not already, I'm sure Wilkins will be back on the golf course in the near future.
------------ So in a convoluted way, should we be rooting for the Jags to have a few more bad seasons in order to drive down their attendance, ratings, and franchise value? That way, it incentivizes Kahn to look to move the team, hopefully to STL?
There are at least a couple of owners, I've been told, who just don't think Jacksonville works as an NFL market. So once London goes off the table as an option for Jacksonville, there are some who think Khan could start looking St. Louis' way. But that could be five, 10 or more years down the road, so I wouldn't hold your breath.
---------- I see that the Rams have the ability to open up more seats at the Coliseum but won't do it for every game. Why wouldn't that additional seating be available for all of the games if the alleged demand for football was so high?
I think if the demand were there, they'd open up those seats.
----------- With regards to nfl franchises moving cities is there any official rule on why some teams keep the same nickname (Rams, Cardinals, Colts) but others change (Oilers to Titans, original Browns to Ravens)?
No official rules. The application of nicknames has been very haphazard.
---------- after Fisher gets fired
I don't know. Jeff said on the opening weekend of camp, when I was in Irvine, that he plans on coaching the Rams for a long time.
-------------- Why do you and other STL media bash the Rams? Can't you just grow up and move on. Just wondering out in LA.
A little sensitive, are we?
------------ Goff's intelligence??? He don't know east from west. WTF????
Apparently, he scored pretty high on the Wonderlic test.
------------ I'm assuming where the sun rises and sets wasn't on the Wonderlic test. Is that a red flag to you? I mean Terry Bradshaw wasn't the brightest bulb in the bunch, but running an offense and reading defenses is much more difficult than it used to be, not to mention the mental fortitude that will be required of Goff to be the face of the franchise in la.
It's not really a red flag to me. I wonder how much of that was in jest.
----------- Do you know if the Rams are planning a big celebration for when Fisher breaks the record for most career losses by an NFL coach?
I kind of doubt it.
------------ And I would encourage anyone looking for a team to support to choose the Jacksonville Jaguars. 1) Shad Khan was incredulously blocked from becoming a Rams owner who would have kept the team in St. Louis and supported the community (Just look at what he is doing in Jacksonville with stadium renovations and a new covered practice facility/amphitheater project. 2) The Jags are on the verge of becoming competitive again and now is the best time to hop on that bandwagon.
A vote for Jacksonville. I do agree that the Jaguars could be much improved this year.
------------ Bring Back The NFL To St Louis on facebook posted five or six videos of fights at two preseason games so far. Was the Dome ever that violent?
I guess when you offer $100 season ticket deposits; you can't be too surprised that you're susceptible to drunken fights in the stands. And the Raiders fans had the bad reputation in la?
I can only remember a fight or two in the stands in the 20-plus seasons of the Rams in the dome. Now I may have missed a few over the years.
I've seen a few of the fights on Twitter, etc. Pretty brutal.
----------- Why do you think Mike Martz was never given another coaching opportunity after his time with the Rams?
It took a strong personality to deal with Mike. For all his brilliance, he could be hard to work with. When it didn't work in Chicago with Lovie Smith _ remember it was Mike who gave Lovie his first big break in hiring him as defensive coordinator in 2001 _ you kind of figured it might be hard for Mike to get another job in the league. But when you look at all the other coaches who keep getting recycled in the league, it does make you wonder.
The divorce was so messy with Martz and John Shaw and Jay Zygmunt, that I wouldn't think Shaw would be offering any sterling recommendations if contacted by another team about Martz. It was interesting that just minutes before the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies this year in Canton that Martz and Zygmunt did exchange greetings and shake hands.
----------- Will it matter in the years to come whether fans attend the game when you consider how much TV money drives decisions. In St. Louis the problem was, and is, we can't offer the TV platform LA can.
I don't know, empty stadiums aren't a good look.
------------ Did we ever get closure from the Reggie Bush lawsuit against the CVC?
I've heard nothing new.
---------- i went to the big red games. It didn't take very long to get over them. Once the STL players left, like Lomax, etc.. you tend lose all ties with the team. Doesn't take long for a team to turn over their roster.
And to a degree, that may be the case with the Rams once all the "St. Louis" Rams are gone.
------------- Jim, I'd like go back to one of your answers in last weeks chat if I may:
You said that you suspected the NFL were pretending like St. Louis never happened and made no reference to the Greatest Show era in a Rams historical montage shown in the build-up to Cowboys preseason game.
My question is how much is the Greatest Show on Turf imprinted into the minds of football fans outside of St.Louis? Do they get the same reverence as the '85 Bears team for example? Are they considered an all-time great NFL team or just another franchise that peaked breifly, shone brightly, then faded back into obscurity?
No, they certainly don't seem to be held in as high regard as say the '85 Bears. But the respect is there, and that respect is shown every time a Rams player from that team gets elected to the Hall of Fame. First Faulk, now Pace, and I think Warner has a very good chance this year. Faulk and Warner still have high profiles on the NFL Network. But it's strange, for example, why there hasn't been a 30-for-30 type documentary on the Greatest Show. The group certainly had plenty of charisma, and its share of characters.
----------- Could Tom Brady's suspension be a blessing in disguise for the Patriots? At 39 years old, only playing 12 games before the playoffs start would seem a good way to keep him fresher for the important games.
That's one way of looking at it. And at Brady's age there could be some truth to that.
---------- Who will be the last Ram left who actually played in St. Louis?
I'm gonna say Aaron Donald. He will be the Isaac Bruce of LA. (Bruce was the last LA Ram in St. Louis.)
---------- Does Chase Reynolds make it as the 4th RB?
Fourth or fifth.
--------- Jim, unless the Rams are super good by the time they have their new building, I'm wondering if you agree with me that Stan will have accomplished what Jerry has already done--make a lot of money but not have such a great home field advantage. And wouldn't that be ironic that the Rams, after all that, end up with a home stadium where there's always a lot of visiting fans? On the other hand, Stan will just be counting his money anyway, I guess.
You may have a point there. LA is a transient place. There were lots of Cowboys fans in the stands the first preseason game, and more Chiefs fans than I expected there last week. And I think if you asked Malibu Stan if he'd rather have a Lombardi Trophy or another billion dollars, we know what the answer would be.
----------- You're a little immature aren't you.
Actually, compared to most of my media brethren here in St. Louis, I think I'm the voice of reason.
(The sad part is that Jim Thomas is most likely right on the money with that statement).
------------ You know, if I was watching a discussion board on the LA Times' website, I wouldn't wonder why everyone was so enthusiastic about the Rams and spreading love about Stan Kroenke. Just sayin'... That said, I enjoy hearing what some of the LA-based fans on this chat have to say. I have a feeling in a few years, we St. Louis fans will have a lot in common with our LA brethren.
And there's this:
---------- I think some in LA misunderstand STL's anger over the re-location. I don't think most people in the 314/636 are angry with the LA fans or players. Our ire is aimed at the people that we feel lied to us. Mainly, the league itself (Goodell, Grubman) and the FO of the Rams (StanK and his minion).
Surely, any rational person can understand our anger and that we are not likely "to get over it" any time soon.
While I don't really wish the team any ill will, I probably will get some small sense of satisfaction every time the Rams lose, just because we don't want the weasels (Goodell and StanK) to win.
Some perspective here. . . .
---------- I wish that the Rams go 0-16 this year.
I'm sure you're not the Lone Ranger here. Thanks for playing. . . .
----------- Jim, do you plan on continuing this chats during the season because they have become pretty depressing. Sounds like a 4:00 am Bar conversation. You may have to take up Psychiatry to continue these.
Yes. Hopefully, once the regular season starts we can talk more about what's happening on the field. In the meantime, consider it group therapy.
----------- It looks like Keenum has won the game 1 starting job. What did he have to do to keep it? Just Ws, Ws and high QB rating or just high QB rating?
Yeah, it certainly looks that way. And a good showing this week in Denver should seal it. I think it will take Ws to keep the job, regardless of passer rating.
---------- Ever since Fisher arrived, I have gone into every draft thinking the Rams had 3-5 holes to fill. After the draft I thought they had some players who might fill those holes, knowing that all wouldn't pan out so there might be a hole or two left to fill next year.
Now, I see the 3-5 holes that I am accustomed to seeing before the draft with no first or third next year - they seem further away than ever if Goff doesn't turn out to be a super-elite QB, and even if he does it looks to me like a long project. Am I off base here?
And thus the issue with Fisher and by extension the front office. Since those initial impressive strides back to respectability in 2012 and '13, they have been merely treading water. They always seem to have the youngest team in the league, building for the future, but yet the future never comes.
And I don't think you can blame it all on Bradford's injuries because they've had plenty of time to address that position. They still have issues at wide receiver. And while some holes have been filled, others have been created through free agency losses, etc. So no, I don't think you're off-base at all.
---------- When I look at Keenum on paper--short stature from college spread offense--he looks like Drew Brees. Obviously, he hasn't performed like Brees. Do you have any idea what's holding him back?
I don't think Keenum is as accurate as Brees. And although Brees doesn't have a cannon, Keenum might not have as much arm strength as Brees.
---------- This is a fantasy football question. Who will make more tackles this year: Ogletree because he's the new MLB or Barron because this defense really showcases the WLB?
Gonna say Ogletree.
---------- So when do you think that Jared will start a game this year?
I'll say Week 5.
---------- How do you see attendance looking after the Rams start 3-5 or something like that?
I still think attendance will be pretty good this first year. The real key will be 2017, after say _ I don't know _ a 7-9 finish in 2016. The newness of having the Rams back is gone, but the new stadium is still two years away.
------------ Why did the Rams only send one low-level PR guy as team representative to Orlando Pace's HOF induction ceremonies? Seems like such a class-less move, but, I guess, par for the course.
I felt very bad for Orlando Pace on this. If Kroenke and Demoff didn't want to attend, why not call John Shaw and/or Bob Wallace _ both former high-ranking executives from Pace's time with the team _ and ask them to attend.
----------- This will sound like I'm being a smart-alek, but I don't mean to be ... how did demoff get his job?
I've heard some rumors. That's all I'm willing to say at this point.
---------- What ever happened to the FAA problem with the stadium being on the flight path to LAX and interfering with the radar? Did StanK just bribe his way out of that problem too?
Haven't heard anyting new on that.
----------- It's going to be an interesting year for a lot of us. We've had our hometown team for years to live and die with and now being free-agents of sorts, we get to look at the game from a league-wide perspective. I'm looking forward to see if my interest in the game falls off now that the "ownership" I've had of my team has been taken away from me. I guess some would say I'm not a die-hard fan, but I'm not a die-hard fan of my ex-wife either.
Yes, it will be interesting to see how this all shakes out.
---------- Safe to say WR is set with Britt, Austin, Cooper, Quick, Marquez, Spruce with a chance of Duke Williams on the PS?
That's as good a guess as any at this point from what I've seen.
---------- At this point is Marcus Roberson better than Coty Sensabaugh?
Haven't seen Roberson really develop that much. He's still not the most consistent tackler in my mind.
---------- Joyner needs to stay in the slot and play to his strengths blitzing and short zone and occasionally a big hit agree?
I think that's his best spot.
---------- Jim, are there any current NFL stadiums other than Oakland and San Diego that are considered worse than our dome? If there are, are any of the teams complaining? What makes our dome so horrible as an nfl venue? I'm an original season ticket holder and also attended the legends game, and I still find it comfortable with good viewing angles.
Even with recent rehab work, the stadiums in Jacksonville and New Orleans are nothing to write home about. Buffalo's stadium is just so-so. Not a big fan of Washington's either. The worst part about the dome to me is that there is little to no outside light. The footprint is small (meaning small concourses, etc.) but I always found the sightlines to be very good.
------------ What's wrong with Havenstein?
He suffered a fractured toe running springs during OTAs. The bone is in the final stages of healing.
---------- Hey Jim, seems to me like Rams have made a habit of trying to be smartest guys in the room at the draft. Whether its Brian Quick, Grob, Tavon and looking like Goff. In each case these players were seen as projects with huge upside.
Fact is though in each case there was a more legitimate option who didnt need to develop as much who we passed on. Goff might be exception but sure gave up lots to get him. Would we be worse team with Alshon Jeffries (Quick) , Deondre Hopkins (Austin), Jake Mathews (Robinson) Paxton Lynch ( Goff)
I wouldn't call it a "smartest guy" complex. I think the Rams pay too much attention to workouts and measurables over production and intangibles.
----------- Further to the perceived lack of respect for the GSOT, there may be a number of explanations for that:
- the Rams were a "dome team": they didn't play home games in the mud, the cold, the snow, etc., all of which tends to be glorified by the NFL myth makers (remember how Minnesota lost most of their cache when they moved to the Metrodome?)
- they maybe aren't perceived to have a "classic" blood-and-guts NFL coach like a Lombardi, Parcells or a Ditka (true I think in Martz's case, maybe less so in Vermeil's, but he was out of coaching for over a decade - doesn't help the myth making when you can be away that long then come back & win a Super Bowl)
- Kurt Warner wasn't a blue chip prospect: the myth makers prefer guys like Elway or P. Manning. It doesn't help to build the NFL mythology when a championship QB was stocking shelves in a grocery store a few years prior.
- Sorry to say, but I think St. Louis just wasn't seen as a classic "football town" (see Green Bay, or Baltimore or Oakland in the Colts'/Raiders' glory days), due to a combination of the NFL Cardinals leaving town ("failing" in the eyes of the NFL?) and the success over the decades of the baseball Cardinals
Well, I do know that the Rams were regarded by many as a finesse team at the time. The thought was that no one could win a Super Bowl throwing the ball that much. Well, the Rams rushed for I believe 29 yards while throwing for more than 400 in winning Super Bowl XXXIV.
And it's funny how much of a passing league the NFL has become since then. In short, Vermeil, Martz, and the Rams were ahead of their time. Belichick himself incorporated a lot of the concepts from the Mike Martz playbook.
------------ Is there a TJ McDonald suspension in our future?
Haven't been asked this one in a couple of weeks. I guess a suspension is possible. But it's not one I've been tracking.
---------- Jim do guys on practice roster train as if they are on everyday roster in terms of practice and meetings
opcorn:
