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December 20, 2024 at 9:25 pm #154061

In reply to: Rams tweet etc. … 12/19 – 12/21

InvaderRam
Moderator

Zooey wrote:

Yeah, I think we are in the Golden Age of Rams football.

Got no idea what happens Post-Stafford, but for now, this is as good of an organization as any fan can hope for.

i agree, but the ultimate test for this organization is the ability to draft and develop a qb. they were close with goff, and if they were a little more patient, i think they could’ve pulled it off not necessarily blaming them. mcvay was not experienced enough to handle the situation.

but this is the last thing. and maybe another superbowl to really cement the mcvay snead era.

December 9, 2024 at 9:10 am #153762

In reply to: the “healthcare” industry (thread includes entire film “Sicko” for free)

zn
Moderator

from quora: Susanna Viljanen
·

Why aren’t more people showing empathy towards the UnitedHealth CEO who is as murdered? Why are people defending the suspect?

Because people in the US are sick and tired of the American profit-oriented health care and paying through the nose – and even more so with the insurance industry, which they see as a legalized racket.

What we know is that:

The murder is pre-meditated and definitely targeted. The murderer arrived with a bus which had left at Atlanta, GA, using a fake identity, and stayed in a hostel in NY, using another fake identity
He prowled the victim for ten minutes before shooting.

He used an unconventional weapon.
The casings found at the site were signed “deny”, “defend” and “depose”, referring to a book about abuses of the insurance industry
The murderer escaped just in a way we were taught in the military: leaving fake tracks, using multiple vehicles, using diverted routes. His tracks go cold in the Central Park.
His backpack has been found – full of Monopoly money

It’s been over three days now. It is likely his identity will never be resolved as the tracks have gone cold. He is most likely away from the NYC already – perhaps escaped abroad.
What we know also is that United HealthCare (UHC) has been the most ardent insurance company to reject insurance claims, and Brian Thompson has been suspected on fraud and insider trading. He has also implemented a deeply flawed AI to handle the insurance claims.

It is personal. My estimation is someone whose insurance claims have been rejected by UHC and who has a fatal disease – or a loved one of someone whose insurance claims have been rejected. He is not a professional, but likely to have previous gun handling experience and at least rudimentary experience on guerrilla warfare tactics. He has a sick sense of humour (the signed cartridges, the backpack full of Monopoly money) and he wanted to mock and harass both the medical insurance industry and NYPD. It is likely we will see similar antics in the next days.

I do not think the case is about a triangle drama – or a competiting insurance company. It may also be the murderer is a disgruntled employee of the UHC – someone thoroughly morally disgusted on being a part of what they see as a legalized racket. Who might want Thompson dead?

Anyone, who or whose loved one has died, become moribund, or left permanently crippled, or gone bankrupt due to rejected insurance claims. Any corporate employee, who is disgusted on working in a racket not unlike Mafia. Anyone, who is sick and tired by being screwed by the profit-oriented medical care and the legalized fraud of the insurance industry. Anyone, who has medical debt. Anyone forced to pay 10 to 100 times more of medicines than EU citizens – and does not have an access to Mexico or Canada for medicines. Anyone with a pre-existing condition. If we narrow down only to those whose claims have been turned down by UHC, we can narrow the pool of suspects down to 8.1 million people.

NYPD initially offered a 10,000 USD reward for any clues leading to apprehension. Now the reward has been raised to 50,000 USD – but the posters have been defaced and torn off. Seemingly the New Yorkers do not want the murderer to get caught.

Brian Thompson is seen as the bad guy. He implemented a deeply flawed AI to handle the insurance claims, rejecting one third of the claims, and it was found the AI got wrong in 90% of the cases.

But even worse and more unethical was found. The AI was found to be optimized to find cases where the company would gain the biggest profits by denying the claims and where the patient would be too weak to protest and raise a lawsuit against the company, and where actual immoral practices would produce an arbitrage. AI actually kills people. Brian Thompson has been seen as the guy who presses that black button which kills someone – and brings him million dollars.

Physical violence is the last resort of the poor and the downtrodden, and in a country so immersed in firearms, something like this was bound to happen sooner or later. It happened sooner. I sincerely hope we will learn something from this.

The murderer is now fifth day on the loose. Each day means diminishing chances of him ever getting caught. It is likely he has already escaped the country and is out of the reach of justice – many countries refuse to cede wanted criminals in countries which have death penalty. Some 50% of all murders in the US go unsolved anyway.

November 21, 2024 at 4:44 pm #153443

In reply to: setting up the Philly game

zn
Moderator

‪Blaine Grisak‬ ‪@bgrisaktst.bsky.social‬
Sean McVay finally got over the Brian Flores hump with a win over the Vikings earlier this year.

McVay and the Rams will have another big test on Sunday against Vic Fangio.

Big question is whether or not Rams offense can be patient and win with a ‘death by 1000 cuts’ approach.

‪SeattleRams‬ ‪@seattlerams.bsky.social‬
The Eagles play a TON of light boxes, and are still a top-7 rush defense. That helps push that pass d to number 2 overall. That man can flat our coach defense.

Feel like this is a BIG Kyren/OL game. If they can do what they did in Baltimore last year, that’ll force a Fangio adjustment.

November 2, 2024 at 5:16 pm #152882

In reply to: the election
joemad
Participant
Zooey, are you voting for Steve Garvey?

What’s your recommendations on the following?
- Proposition 2, a bond measure placed on the ballot by the state legislature that would issue $10 billion in bonds to fund construction and upgrades to public schools and colleges.[19][20]
- Proposition 3, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the state legislature that would repeal Proposition 8 and declare in the state constitution that that the “right to marry is a fundamental right”, effectively allowing same-sex couples to once again marry.[19][21]
- Proposition 4, a bond measure placed on the ballot by the state legislature that would issue $10 billion in bonds to fund various water infrastructure, energy, and environmental protection projects.[19][22]
- Proposition 5, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the state legislature that would lower the supermajority vote requirement from 66.67% to 55% for any county or local bond measure that would fund affordable housing projects and public infrastructure.[19][23]
- Proposition 6, a constitutional amendment placed on the ballot by the state legislature that would repeal the line saying, “Involuntary servitude is prohibited except to punish crime”, replacing it with language saying that involuntary servitude is prohibited absolutely.[19][24]
- Proposition 32, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition that would raise the state minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026, then annually adjust it for inflation.[19][25]
- Proposition 33, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition that would repeal the Costa–Hawkins Rental Housing Act of 1995, allowing cities to once again establish their own rent controls on single-family dwellings, condominiums, and residential properties completed after February 1, 1995.[19][26]
- Proposition 34, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition that would require health care providers that have spent over $100 million in any 10-year period on anything other than direct patient care, and operated multifamily housing with over 500 high-severity health and safety violations, to spend 98% of the revenues from federal discount prescription drug program on direct patient care.[19][27]
- Proposition 35, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition that would make permanent the existing tax on managed health care insurance plans, currently set to expire in 2026. It would also require the revenues generated by the tax to only be used for specified Medi-Cal services, and prohibit the revenue from being used to replace other existing Medi-Cal funding.[19][28]
- Proposition 36, a state statute initiative placed on the ballot via petition that would increase the penalties and sentences for certain drug and theft crimes, which currently are only chargeable as misdemeanors. It would allow, among others, felony charges for possessing fentanyl and other certain drugs, and for thefts under $950, with two prior drug or theft convictions, respectively
October 3, 2024 at 1:18 pm #152513

In reply to: Rams tweets etc. … 10/2 – 10/7

zn
Moderator

Blaine Grisak@bgrisakTST
Rams rookie Jared Verse has been named defensive rookie of the month. Verse led all rookies with 5 TFLs and was the only rookie to record 4-or-more tackles in each game this month.

Rams iOL Logan Bruss is a prime example of why it’s important to be patient in player development. Not sure his comeback this season has been talked about enough. Bruss currently ranks fourth via ESPN’s run-block win rate. He is PFF’s top-rated guard on gap-scheme runs. This isn’t to say that Bruss has been perfect. Still has some rough moments in pass protection.

September 27, 2024 at 2:40 am #152421

Topic: Rams defense learning under fire

in forum The Rams Huddle

zn
Moderator

Jared Verse and Braden Fiske applying lessons learned when it comes to speed of the game and finishing plays

Stu Jackson

https://www.therams.com/news/rams-jared-verse-braden-fiske-applying-lessons-learned-when-it-comes-to-speed-of-the-game-nfl-and-finishing-plays

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – Like other rookie defensive players in the NFL, Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse and defensive end Braden Fiske are adjusting to the difference in the speed of game between the college and pro levels.

They are consistently generating pressure – better than any other rookies through the first three weeks of the season, if you go by Next Gen Stats’ evaluation – but they’re also learning how difficult it can sometimes be to finish those with a tackle for loss or a sack. Especially against more mobile quarterbacks like the 49ers’ Brock Purdy and the Cardinals’ Kyler Murray in recent weeks.

“They have been disruptive and causing havoc and that’s always a good thing in the backfield, and now we just need to stress finishing plays and putting yourself in those positions in practice,” defensive coordinator Chris Shula said. “And that’s the hardest thing is that in practice you get in some of those positions and you assume that they make the play and that’s a thing we’re learning as coaches and as players is you need to keep stressing the finishing aspect of it every single play.”

Entering Week 4, Fiske (12) and Verse (11) ranked first and second respectively among all rookies in pressures, according to Next Gen Stats.

Verse notched his first career sack with his takedown of Lions quarterback Jared Goff in Week 1. Earlier in the first half of that game, the pressure brought up him and a blitzing Cobie Durant forced Goff to throw an incompletion. Fiske last week rushed 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, then spun in reverse off his block to bring down Purdy for a critical third-down stop in the win.

The opportunities missed have seemingly garnered more attention than the plays made, which is to say the latter shouldn’t be ignored. The duo are also working on fixing the former, too.

It helps that Verse and Fiske rush with – and in general, working alongside of – a pair of teammates who authored two of the most productive rookie seasons in franchise history last year in nose tackle Kobie Turner and outside linebacker Byron Young.

For Young, what was critical to his development was being a little more patient before making the play. Preparation goes a long way too, of course, along with the natural progression from gained experience.

“I’ve been a rookie once, you know, and you get more anxious when you get in that position,” Young told theRams.com. “You get in that position, you got to make the play, you get really anxious and sometimes you lose the guy. That happens. I’d say repetition for me, that’s how I got better.”

This lined up with how Verse evaluated his own performance and approach so far.

“Especially when I was going up against Kyler, or even Brock Purdy, some of the other plays I missed while I was in the backfield (and almost) had a quick TFL (tackle for loss), and it’s because I’m going so fast, I’m thinking, ‘I have to make this play. Have to make this now,'” Verse told theRams.com. “But these are some of the best athletes in the world. They’re not gonna just go down with a quick hit. They’re so quick, they’re so fast, I have to slow it down. It’s just taking that one second beforehand, chop my feet, slow it down, then wrap them up. Like, not everything has to be like that.

“Even against Kyler, I took a couple of dives at his feet, where if I just kept running after him, he would’ve had to stopped to slow the throw ball, or even like a split to slow himself down, I would be able to make a play then, instead of diving at his feet. Or Brock, a couple of times I couldn’t wrap him up because I was going too fast. So it’s just slowing it down, letting everything come to me.”

Fiske explained it similarly. He recognizes that while pressures are great, they aren’t as impactful when they don’t translate tackles for loss or sacks.

“The game moves fast, and we’re trying to move faster, when I think at times we need to slow it down,” Fiske told theRams.com. “I think we need to see what we’re going up against, and I think at times that we win, we can win quick, but it’s about breaking down, really seeing the man instead of just, you get back there quick, your eyes get big, you’re ready to make a play and they play kind of leaves you. So I think as time goes on, we’re getting more and more comfortable out there, and we’re seeing things. I think the more reps we get, the slower the game will go, the pace is set in better. I’m already more confident going into Week 4, and I think so is he.”

Turner said it’s “really tough” when facing quarterbacks that are mobile and elusive. Pointing to his sack against Murray in Week 2 this season, he mentioned how it was as if Los Angeles was rushing “five as one,” and “then all it takes is one person winning.” On that play, Turner and Fiske ran a stunt, and Turner finished the play with that sack.

Some of the missed opportunities can be avoided by Rams defensive linemen and edge rushers simply staying on their feet. With 9:08 left in the second quarter of last Sunday’s game against the 49ers, Fiske and Turner ran a stunt, and Turner appeared to accidentally trip outside linebacker Michael Hoecht as Hoecht was rushing the passer. Purdy quickly scrambled right as the pocket collapsed and interior muddied, but Los Angeles avoided any damage from it with Purdy throwing an incomplete pass intended for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk.

Other times, the quarterback has gotten the ball out quickly. In the case of Purdy and Murray especially, both ranked in the top 20 in passing grade with 2.5 seconds or less to throw – Purdy’s 80.9 is sixth-highest in that category, according to Pro Football Focus, while Murray’s 71.2 ranks 18th among 45 quarterbacks.

To that end, Turner said one of the things Los Angeles’ defensive front has really worked on this week is staying on their feet.

And while a lot of attention is on Verse and Fiske because they’re the Rams’ two highest draft picks this year, Turner also made a point to call out that he and other players have failed to finish tackles for loss/sacks too, not just the rookies.

In other words, the group as a whole can do better – not just the highly drafted rookies who are three games into their NFL careers. It’s a challenge they will meet again with this Sunday’s game against the Bears in Chicago, given Bears quarterback Caleb Williams’ similar escapability and out-of-structure playmaking.

“That is something they’ve been struggling with, but that’s also something I’ve been struggling with,” Turner said. “I’ve missed a bunch of tackles as well, and I have a lot of, whether it be tackles, whether it be sack opportunities – I had one on Kyler that I should have came up with. So that’s something that we’re all working through and all learning.”

The aggressiveness Verse and Fiske play with, especially on stunts, is a calling card of the styles of play and won’t be going away anytime soon. But they also recognize the value of taking even just that split second to slow down and ensure they’re using proper technique in order to convert those pressures into negative plays for opposing offenses.

“It’s play fast, react fast,” Verse said. “So I’m gonna go as hard as I can, go after it as fast as I can, I’m not gonna slow down, but that split second before I make contact with the person, I have to slow down, I have to level my feet out, get my two feet in the ground, slow myself down a little bit and be like, ‘Okay, what levels do I have on him? Do I have his back hip? Let me aim for his back hip.’ Like, what do I have?

“I think part of it is, it’s cool to be chaotic out there, but you’ve also got to have some controlled chaos,” Fiske said. “Like, you can go out there and you can move dudes around, but if you’re still moving with them after you move them around, you kind of take yourself out of the play. That’s kind of what we’ve done a few times, we’ve shifted the offensive line but we’ve also taken ourselves out of the play with that. At times, it’s hurt this defense. We’ve got to be better. I think we both know that, and it’s something we’ve been working on in practice, we emphasize in practice, so I expect a change out there. I expect it from myself, I expect it from him, so we just got to hold ourselves to that.”

September 23, 2024 at 7:07 pm #152350

In reply to: Rams tweets etc. … 9/23 – 9/25

zn
Moderator

roberto clemente@rclemente2121
tutu drops perfect ball, stafford goes right back to him on the very next play for a big gainer and confidence builder.

oline folds causing sack/punt, stafford encourages the unit.

johnson not on same page causing 3/out, stafford patiently tutors him.

leader.
dog.
elite

Brian Baldinger@BaldyNFL
@RamsNFL @JaredVerse1 consistently collapsed the pocket and affected the QB throughout. What a group of active talented DL they have drafted the last 2 years. In Les Snead they trust

What a great coaching job the Rams are doing getting these youngins ready to play. Hats off to Ryan Wendell. The best part is it doesnt look like anyone is missing assignments.
#BaldysBreakdowns

J.B. Long@JB_Long
PFF credited the @RamsNFL with 27 pressures yesterday, with first & second year pass rushers accounting for 22 (!) of those. I’ll save you the trouble: Of course, missed tackles… converting those is an issue. But long lens, this is EXTREMELY encouraging.

Blaine Grisak@bgrisakTST
The Rams got big games from Kobie Turner and Braden Fiske when they needed it.

Turner and Fiske each had seven pressures which was tied for the most for the week in the NFL. That duo has serious upside.

edge rusher Byron Young had the third-highest pass-rush grade via PFF. Had four pressures which was a season-high.

Jared Verse added four pressures as well with a win percentage of 20%.

RAMS ON FILM@RamsOnFilm
Byron Young was the highest rated Rams defender vs the 49ers. I feel Young has added a few pass rush moves to his repertoire in year 2. He had 2 tackles for loss in the game this past Sunday, a few good pressures against Trent Williams & a crucial strip sack!

JAKE ELLENBOGEN@JKBOGEN
#Rams had 6 defensive players yesterday in the double digits for win rate %

Michael Hoecht 23.1%
Jared Verse 20%
Byron Young 18.2%
Kobie Turner 15.6%
Braden Fiske 12%
Bobby Brown III 10%

Absolute dogs up front

Blaine Grisak@bgrisakTST
Rams wide receivers are just built different in the run game!

Rookie WR Jordan Whittington was the highest-graded run-blocking WR via PFF with a run-blocking grade of 88.6.

September 5, 2024 at 2:22 pm #152077

In reply to: setting up Rams at Lions, 9/8 at 8:20 et 5:20 pt

Zooey
Moderator

zn wrote:

Zooey wrote:

Uh…okay. McVay was a big part of the problem there. But McVay isn’t a “domineering head coach” who put “training wheels” on Stafford, so maybe Goff’s problem in LA was not just that his coach didn’t trust him. There were reasons the coach didn’t trust him.

I don’t agree actually. McVay was openly and derisively impatient with Goff once he became the de facto qb coach starting in 2019. He was pushing Goff into doing certain things that he, McVay, wanted to do, and Goff wasn’t really ready for or especially adept at doing. It was a confidence issue, which led a former Rams coach, who I am pretty sure was Zak Taylor, to say that McV knew how to tear Goff down but not how to build him back up. And McV did put training wheels on him–that was the whole talking into the helmet thing, that New England took advantage of in that super bowl, where Goff just didn’t know how to respond to the new and unexpected things the defense was showing him. The difference in Detroit was that Goff and Johnson built the passing game together around Goff’s strengths and the things Goff liked to do, so that was a case study in confidence building. The difference in LA was that McV was always going to respect the long time veteran Stafford, so they have both described their relationship as collaborative. Another coach, in 2019, would have built around the qb’s strengths. McV instead was basically saying “keep up! why can’t you keep up?” I mean, you know, we’ll see about Bennett, but so far in his career McV has never developed a young qb. In 2017 and 2018, both years, he had accomplished and very involved qb coaches who could mediate between the qb and McVay. One of those was Zak Taylor, the coach I mentioned as saying McV worked against Goff’s confidence. After 2019 McV became the de facto qb coach though, and I think it made a difference. After 2022 McV talked about how he fell into bad habits that season and he had to rethink how he did things, and I think the signs are that losing the way they did that year brought out his worst kinds of impatience and his habit of riding people. I think he was doing that with Goff in 2019 and 2020, and then crashed into that tendency of his in 2022 and had to reinvent how he approached coaching. Which he obviously did, and that’s part of what makes him great. It took a bad year for that to happen, but still, some guys actually don’t learn from bad years, so that’s to McV’s credit. In terms of qb comparisons, Goff is a very good qb and Stafford is a HOF level qb. And I defended the trade the minute it happened. My take was that Goff at that stage of his development was not in a good “marriage” with McV at that stage in his development. With a bad marriage, you move on, and I thought that Stafford would work better with McV. McV didn’t have to develop Stafford, if anything he would benefit from listening to him. Which I think is what happened and I think this is an especially good HC/qb marriage.

I think I can agree with all of that, and still think that Goff made a bunch of bad decisions and terrible throws.

McVay made things worse. Far worse. I think everybody agrees with that, even McVay.

September 5, 2024 at 1:02 pm #152076

In reply to: setting up Rams at Lions, 9/8 at 8:20 et 5:20 pt

zn
Moderator

Zooey wrote:

Uh…okay. McVay was a big part of the problem there. But McVay isn’t a “domineering head coach” who put “training wheels” on Stafford, so maybe Goff’s problem in LA was not just that his coach didn’t trust him. There were reasons the coach didn’t trust him.

I don’t agree actually. McVay was openly and derisively impatient with Goff once he became the de facto qb coach starting in 2019. He was pushing Goff into doing certain things that he, McVay, wanted to do, and Goff wasn’t really ready for or especially adept at doing. It was a confidence issue, which led a former Rams coach, who I am pretty sure was Zak Taylor, to say that McV knew how to tear Goff down but not how to build him back up. And McV did put training wheels on him–that was the whole talking into the helmet thing, that New England took advantage of in that super bowl, where Goff just didn’t know how to respond to the new and unexpected things the defense was showing him.

The difference in Detroit was that Goff and Johnson built the passing game together around Goff’s strengths and the things Goff liked to do, so that was a case study in confidence building.

The difference in LA was that McV was always going to respect the long time veteran Stafford, so they have both described their relationship as collaborative.

Another coach, in 2019, would have built around the qb’s strengths. McV instead was basically saying “keep up! why can’t you keep up?” I mean, you know, we’ll see about Bennett, but so far in his career McV has never developed a young qb. In 2017 and 2018, both years, he had accomplished and very involved qb coaches who could mediate between the qb and McVay. One of those was Zak Taylor, the coach I mentioned as saying McV worked against Goff’s confidence. After 2019 McV became the de facto qb coach though, and I think it made a difference.

After 2022 McV talked about how he fell into bad habits that season and he had to rethink how he did things, and I think the signs are that losing the way they did that year brought out his worst kinds of impatience and his habit of riding people. I think he was doing that with Goff in 2019 and 2020, and then crashed into that tendency of his in 2022 and had to reinvent how he approached coaching. Which he obviously did, and that’s part of what makes him great. It took a bad year for that to happen, but still, some guys actually don’t learn from bad years, so that’s to McV’s credit.

In terms of qb comparisons, Goff is a very good qb and Stafford is a HOF level qb. And I defended the trade the minute it happened. My take was that Goff at that stage of his development was not in a good “marriage” with McV at that stage in his development. With a bad marriage, you move on, and I thought that Stafford would work better with McV. McV didn’t have to develop Stafford, if anything he would benefit from listening to him. Which I think is what happened and I think this is an especially good HC/qb marriage.

September 4, 2024 at 8:34 pm #152058

In reply to: tweets…around the league (starting 8/6)

zn
Moderator

Zooey wrote:

Ricky Pearsall was released from the hospital yesterday, and didn’t need surgery for his injury. I don’t know how long it takes to recover from a bullet wound, but I guess it didn’t hit any organs, so no lasting damage

Zooey wrote:

Or a bone? A rib, a scapula? How the hell is it possible not to hit either an organ or a bone? Nobody comes back from a rib injury in 4 weeks. I assume if a bullet hit a rib…you know. Of course, the fact he’s on the list for 4 weeks doesn’t mean he will be back in 4 weeks, but the guy was in the hospital just over night. Wow.

From https://abc7news.com/post/ricky-pearsall-injury-stanford-ucsf-doctors-give-context-49ers-wide-receiver-shooting-recovery/15257841/

“If the bullet actually transects the chest, goes from the front to the back you know the chance of having a very serious injury is very high, and so frankly this football player was very lucky if indeed he was able to be discharged from the hospital you know within 24 hours,” Stanford Professor of Medicine Dr. Dean Winslow said.

He is not one of Pearsall’s doctors and has only seen the images ABC7 has seen, but Winslow is very familiar with bullet wounds to the chest.

“And certainly this is the kind of injury that sadly we would see commonly in soldiers, airmen, marines wounded in combat in Afghanistan during my time when I served there,” Dr. Winslow said.

UCSF’s Dr. Jahan Fahimi is the Medical Director of the Emergency Department, and also not one of Pearsall’s doctors but is well-versed in injuries caused by guns.

“In general being shot somewhere in the torso and chest area is a very high-risk injury,” Dr. Fahimi said. “The biggest thing you worry about is an injury to the heart or one of the arteries that comes off of the heart, usually those are instantly fatal or very life-threatening.”

The two doctors add that injuries to the lungs and spine can also be a huge danger with a chest-related shooting. Pearsall’s release though leads both to believe that his injuries are likely not as severe, which could possibly mean a recovery lasting weeks versus many months. Dr. Fahimi even said that a release from the hospital this quickly is rare.

“It’s the minority of patients who can say that they have had that experience, who have been shot in the chest, and say they’ve been able to walk out a day later. I think that’s extremely fortunate,” he said.

July 7, 2024 at 11:25 am #151352

In reply to: developments on defense?

zn
Moderator

Some stuff on the Fangio defense that Shula got from Morris/Staley

from https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/lists/philadelphia-eagles-vic-fangio-scheme-structure-culture-linebackers/

Cornerback Chris Harris, Jr, who played for Fangio in Denver in 2019, said this about his defensive philosophy: “It’s versatile. He has a wide variety of defenses. … You have to be smart to know how to play your spot, your zone, and your position. I think that’s why I’ve always liked it. It has so much. He has a lot of different looks he can bring.”

…

Fangio employs two high structures, a base 3-4 defensive front, light boxes, and modern defense….The “Fangio Defense” will always employ a two-high shells look before the snap. The two-high structure allows for flexibility in the secondary. The Fangio Defense uses the appearance of simplicity while encompassing a plethora of coverages, pressures, and assignments.

…

The safeties are the most critical piece on Vic Fangio’s chessboard…. defensive backs are asked to fill running lanes from a position of depth while being athletic enough to eliminate crossing routes.

from https://www.phillyvoice.com/eagles-news-vic-fangio-defensive-scheme-front-defensive-coordinator-stats-dolphins-broncos-bears/

his teams are known to be light on blitzing and with a structure based around two high safeties. These looks are predicated on stopping deep, explosive gains and living with shorter, underneath completions.

from https://www.readoptional.com/p/the-book-of-fangio

Though the Fangio Defense uses different matching rules and variations within coverage that combine man and zone coverages, a basic understanding of field zones is important as we start to dig into pass coverage. The general zone assignment can turn into a man assignment based on the formation or if certain players cross certain zones. Further, certain offensive looks can give a defender freedom to support another player’s responsibility.

from https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3311028/2022/05/24/vic-fangio-defense-analysis/

What makes Fangio’s defense the best response to modern offenses? Its two-high (two deep safeties) structure limits explosive plays and forces offenses to stay patient and throw short. The front mechanics allow the defense to slow down the run with light boxes and commit more resources to coverage. Pre-snap, the defense is committed to showing the same Cover 4 shell for as long as possible so quarterbacks have to make reads after the snap. Even after the snap, it’s hard to draw a bead on what the coverage is because of how the defensive backs disperse from the top down. … From its two-high alignment, the defense can rotate into a variety of zone and man coverages.

One of the key features of Fangio’s defense is how everything looks similar before the snap. Both safeties align deep, and usually one or both corners play off the line of scrimmage, so it looks like Cover 4 across the board or Cover 6, making it difficult for quarterbacks to identify the coverage. Figuring out the coverage before the snap informs quarterbacks where they should look first and how to progress from read to read. Making the coverage look the same puts more pressure on quarterbacks to compute more information after the snap.

July 3, 2024 at 12:03 pm #151319

In reply to: the new political tweets thread (4/4 2022)

zn
Moderator

Zooey wrote:

Well, alright. I see that, and I agree with it. She is not an academic voice. It’s armchair op-ed kind of stuff, and a careful, responsible voice wouldn’t use the term “dementia” without meaning dementia. You know, I think that if I was reading that with my teacher hat on, I would stop a student in their tracks right there, too.

Well that’s a good reply. And I think implicitly you’re suggesting you like that genre of political writing more than I do. Which is fair. I think in this discussion I got set off. Thinking about it, I sort of realized I got set off because of the stories from my wife’s work. Mixed in with all the normal “X patient did this or that” stories are the stories of uncomprehending kids of elderly patients who are awful to parents with dementia. They do awful things either because they are inconvenienced by it, or insist the parent has it when they don’t, or deny they have it when they do (there are also many stories that contain those 3 listed elements that are also not horrible at all).

And speaking of genres I don’t respond to that well, to be honest, when I read my own “got set off” writing, I kind of cringe a bit. It’s not that I need to be rational all the time…it’s that my more irrational moments, aren’t good ones in my own eyes. I read people all the time who are really good when they’re set off. My being set-off makes me think I crossed lines I actually respect.

June 30, 2024 at 8:41 pm #151293

In reply to: the new political tweets thread (4/4 2022)

Zooey
Moderator

zn wrote:

He couldn’t perform as well as he did with actual dementia…and I am not saying he performed well. Medically that’s not dementia and hard-core online politicos saying it is are just not familiar with actual medical understanding of dementia. My wife is an RN who works with actual dementia patients and so over the years I’ve learned some things about this. Your poster did not hit the nail on the head…your poster just beat a certain political drum. And everything I say here is regardless whether or not you support or will vote for Biden.

I remember you saying this before, and I have no reason to disbelieve your wife in terms of “actual dementia.” He is in cognitive decline, whatever that means. He isn’t as sharp as he used to be, and it is an issue. I don’t think it’s much of an issue, however.

I posted that because I was more interested in her diagnosis of the “presidency as an office in the empire” and in her assertion that the “imperial murder machine” will continue without skipping a beat regardless of the president than I was in her diagnosis of Biden’s condition. I was also interested in her point that liberals are straddling contradictory concepts.

This is what I would have used as a pull quote:

What this suggests is that people already kind of know on some level that the president of the United States doesn’t really run the United States, but are still mentally compartmentalized away from this reality enough to care who wins the presidential election.

June 30, 2024 at 2:25 pm #151290

In reply to: the new political tweets thread (4/4 2022)

zn
Moderator

He couldn’t perform as well as he did with actual dementia…and I am not saying he performed well. Medically that’s not dementia and hard-core online politicos saying it is are just not familiar with actual medical understanding of dementia. My wife is an RN who works with actual dementia patients and so over the years I’ve learned some things about this. Your poster did not hit the nail on the head…your poster just beat a certain political drum. And everything I say here is regardless whether or not you support or will vote for Biden.

June 11, 2024 at 9:27 pm #151174

In reply to: race

zn
Moderator

Four Tops singer’s lawsuit says he visited ER for chest pain, ended up in straitjacket

, https://www.statnews.com/2024/06/11/alexander-morris-four-tops-lawsuit-er-hospital-racism-straightjacket/

When Alexander Morris, a member of the Motown group The Four Tops, visited a Detroit-area Ascension hospital with chest pain and trouble breathing, he said the staff assumed he was mentally ill after he told them he was a famous singer. Instead of treating Morris, a white security guard told him to “sit his Black ass down” and he was placed in a straitjacket, Morris claims in a new lawsuit.

Morris is suing Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital in Warren, Michigan over his April 2023 treatment, alleging racial discrimination and false imprisonment, among other counts. The federal lawsuit, filed on Monday in the Eastern District of Michigan, names as defendants the hospital, a nurse, and a security guard who were involved in the incident.

In a statement, Ascension said it would not comment on pending litigation. “We remain committed to honoring human dignity and acting with integrity and compassion for all persons and the community,” the system said. “We do not condone racial discrimination of any kind.”

Morris described the experience as “terrifying” in a statement shared by his attorneys.

“I see all of these posts on social media like ‘driving while black,’ ‘walking while black,’ but I never imagined I would become a victim of ‘being sick while Black,’” Morris said. “The hospital never fired the security guard that told me to sit my Black ass down. Clearly they condone racism. I filed the lawsuit to hold the hospital accountable for the way I was treated and to protect the younger generations from racism in healthcare.”

The staff members named as defendants are security guard Greg Ciesielski and nurse Holly Jackson. The lawsuit does not mention that Ciesielski, the guard who allegedly made the racial slur, died in September 2023. A GoFundMe page for his family says Ciesielski suffered a ruptured aorta, leaving behind a wife and two adult children. Messages to his wife were not returned. Jackson could not be reached for comment. The ER physician who treated Morris isn’t named as a defendant.

Neither of Morris’ attorneys, Maurice Davis in Southfield, Michigan, or Jasmine Rand of Miami, Florida, responded to questions about the fact that one of the defendants was deceased.

The Four Tops is a Grammy Award-nominated vocal group from Detroit that was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990. It’s known for hits like “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)” and “Reach Out I’ll Be There.” At the time of the incident, The Four Tops was on a national tour with The Temptations and had recently performed at the Grammy Awards.

Morris has a significant history of heart problems, including the placement of stents and a defibrillator. He was transported to the emergency room on April 7, 2023, by ambulance and was already receiving oxygen. By the end of his hospitalization, he would be diagnosed with a heart attack that may require a heart transplant and pneumonia. He also suffered three seizures during his hospital stay, per the lawsuit.

When he got to the ER, Morris told a nurse and a security guard that he was a member of The Four Tops and that he had security concerns due to stalkers and fans. Morris’ complaint says shortly after check-in, he explained his medical history to an emergency room doctor and told him about his current symptoms.

When he shared his celebrity status, Morris claims that the ER doctor assumed he was mentally ill. He removed Morris’ oxygen and ordered a psychological evaluation “despite his clear symptoms of cardiac distress and significant medical history,” the complaint said.

As this was happening, Morris explained to the staff around him, including the nurse and security guard, that he had identification and could show them who he was. Instead, the security guard told him to “sit his Black ass down.” Morris’ lawsuit said the comment was made in front of at least four staff members, but none of them intervened to stop the mistreatment. To his knowledge, none of them reported the use of a racial slur to a supervisor.

“Moreover, none of the nursing staff thought to simply ask for Plaintiff’s identification,” the complaint says.

Related: How doctors are pressuring sickle cell patients into unwanted sterilizations
In the restraint jacket, Morris allegedly told staff he was having trouble breathing, and asked for the oxygen back. He said he was ignored. Morris then asked to have the jacket removed and for his belongings to be returned so he could leave and go to another hospital. His lawsuit says he was told he couldn’t leave. His medical condition declined. Several security guards were allegedly called to ensure he couldn’t leave.

Eventually, Morris’ wife showed up and saw what was happening. She told a security guard that he was actually a member of The Four Tops, but the guard allegedly left the restraints on and continued to deny Morris medical treatment. Finally, a nurse came to Morris’ side, and Morris asked if he could show her a video of him performing at the Grammy Awards. Realizing he was actually a member of the group, she told the doctor, who said he was canceling the psychological evaluation. Staff removed the straitjacket and placed Morris back on oxygen.

Morris’ lawsuit says he was restrained for about 90 minutes. He was offered a $25 Meijer gift card as an apology, which he declined.

In addition to racial discrimination and false imprisonment, Morris’ lawsuit alleges gross negligence, negligence, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

June 10, 2024 at 1:03 am #151152

In reply to: Just a thread for different kindsa interesting things

Zooey
Moderator

Thread of photographers who patiently waited to capture the shot of a lifetime

https://x.com/JamesLucasIT/status/1799856071609049548

April 28, 2024 at 12:32 am #150573

In reply to: draft assessments, grades, and analysis

zn
Moderator

Rams 2024 NFL Draft takeaways: Patience pays off with meat-and-potatoes additions

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/5452706/2024/04/27/los-angeles-rams-2024-draft-picks-takeaways/

HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. — The best way to describe the 2024 Los Angeles Rams draft: meat-and-potatoes picks. While the Rams explored opportunities to make a splash into the top 10 the morning of the first round, they decided to stay put as the draft began and let the board fall. In doing so, their course seemed set: They selected an immediate impact player at edge/outside linebacker in Jared Verse, then his partner in college in Braden Fiske via a trade up (the cost of which raised a few eyebrows).

From there, the Rams filled what they believed were needs, with players they liked. Coach Sean McVay wanted to find a second running back, and he and position coach Ron Gould hoped to bring in a player similar to lead rusher Kyren Williams so that nothing schematic would need changing if Williams (who has dealt with injuries the last two seasons) were to miss any time or has to keep fresher legs through a long season.

With later picks, the Rams added depth at safety, along the defensive and offensive line and — joy of joys for the fan base — a kicker.

Best value pick

Verse will be expected to start right away, and in seeing him in person at the Rams’ draft house in Hermosa Beach on Friday, it’s clear why he will fit in on an NFL practice field. He has a huge frame — he is built more like a pure defensive end than an outside linebacker, although the Rams will start him out as a true edge — and a larger-than-life personality with energy to match.

The Rams’ biggest need in the previous two offseasons (until Verse’s arrival) was a second outside pass rusher. They found a full-time starter in 2023 in Byron Young, who will now enter his second NFL season. Verse is a great power/versatility complement to Young’s speed, but the coaches think each having a partner on the opposite end could unlock more opportunities for both players to develop other elements to their rush, not just their trademark tools.

Most surprising pick

Actually, the biggest surprise here is that the Rams went with a patient draft strategy for a second consecutive year, matching clear needs with some of their favorite players in the class. Before 2023, it was not unusual to see their early picks gravitate toward offensive-skill players. Two years in a row, the asking prices for potential trades up in or into the first round were steep enough — and evaluations of non-skill players were high enough — to keep them on what I earlier referred to as the meat-and-potatoes track.

In terms of specific players, Jordan Whittington ultimately could prove to be a surprise. He is a strong yards-after-catch player who might find an immediate role on special teams. Generally, when the Rams use a pick on a skill player late in the sixth or the seventh rounds, it’s because they believed he would be a high-interest undrafted free agent they might not be able to sign, or another team could draft them to poach them.

Biggest question mark

Questions remain about the cornerbacks, despite several veteran signings, because Tre’Davious White is still recovering from an Achilles repair surgery. In the future, the Rams will need to look higher in the draft at tackle (Rob Havenstein is a veteran, and Alaric Jackson is essentially playing on a one-year deal) and at receiver.

Remaining needs

The Rams could still use depth at inside linebacker, and I would expect their undrafted free-agent class to include a few players at that position.

While the Rams have a full room at receiver this season (including a healthy Cooper Kupp), it would not have been surprising to see them select players at the position with higher draft picks.

Post-draft outlook

The Rams discussed the price to trade into the top 10 at the start of the draft and looked into trading back from No. 19, but they quickly decided to stay patient as the board fell with a unique opening run on offensive players.

In doing so, they spent picks on specific priorities, continued to build their identity along the defensive line, identified a true complement to lead running back Williams in Blake Corum and shored up depth in other areas with later picks.

April 27, 2024 at 12:22 am #150460

In reply to: round 3, pick 83, Rams take RB Blake Corum
zn
Moderator
HEIGHT

5’ 8’’

WEIGHT

205 lbs
ARM

28 7/8’’

HAND

9’’

.
By Lance Zierlein

Overview

Compact runner with average size, outstanding contact balance and a rare talent for finding and fitting into small crevices for short-yardage conversions and touchdowns. Corum is a bit of a one-speed runner lacking sizzle and wiggle but gets it downhill with timing and finishes runs with good forward lean. He has the hard-hat mentality to handle heavy workloads and can exploit defenses that fatigue or miss their run fits. The talent doesn’t stand out on its own, but he’s strong, competitive and team-oriented with exceptional football character. He can catch it when needed and is above average in picking up the blitz, which could earn him status as a three-down backup with a chance to find early carries as an RB2/3.

Strengths

Exceptional production over the last two years.

Feels lane development and works toward the opening.

Hits the run north-south when it’s time to go.

Absorbs second-level contact with impressive balance

Quick to process and sidestep early penetration.

Able to add yards after catch out of the backfield.

Steps up and challenges linebackers in blitz pickup.

Weaknesses

Just 12 of his last 45 rush touchdowns went for more than 5 yards.

Creativity on the second level is just average.

Slow to reignite acceleration when gathering and slowing feet.

Gets impatient and will rush block development.

Wears down defenses with volume rather than power.
April 26, 2024 at 9:02 am #150351

In reply to: Rams 1st pick (19) is Jared Verse
zn
Moderator
from https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/nfl-draft-grades-2024-live-picks-results/eec4465a486ca0e01ed4c82b

19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
- Grade: A
The Rams needed to find a way to upgrade their pass rush in the wake of Aaron Donald’s retirement and with Murphy off the board, they had to go outside linebacker for Chris Shula’s defense, getting a nice complement to their second-year rising star, Byron Young. Verse should remain productive right away in their scheme.

…

from https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/nfl-draft-picks-grades-and-analysis

.

19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
Rang: While Aaron Donald’s retirement certainly created a massive hole in the middle of the Rams’ defense, there isn’t a player in this draft (or many others) as gifted as the future Hall of Famer. Adding juice to the Rams’ pass rush on the outside makes perfect sense, especially when they play the run as passionately and effectively as Verse. Powerful and intense, Verse brings talent and leadership to a defense looking for some stars to step up.

…

from https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/draft/2024/04/25/nfl-draft-grades-first-round-picks-2024/73459949007/

19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, DE, Florida State – Grade: B+

Things sure fell into place nicely for Los Angeles as it looks to reconfigure its pass rush after Aaron Donald’s retirement. Verse isn’t the most pliable threat off the edge, but he ticks almost every other box for a player who will create consistent havoc for opposing quarterbacks. With Verse, Kobie Turner and Byron Young, the Rams have several long-term building blocks one year after it looked like the defense was devoid of any outside of Donald.
…

from https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-grades-all-32-first-round-picks

R1 (19) LOS ANGELES RAMS: ED JARED VERSE, FLORIDA STATE

Pick Grade: Very Good

The Rams desperately needed edge help, and they select arguably the best power rusher in the class. Verse burst onto the scene over the past two years at Florida State, ranking second among Power Five edge rushers in pass-rush win rate. The Rams use their highest selection since 2016 to reset their pass rush after Aaron Donald‘s retirement.

…

from https://walterfootball.com/nfldraftgrades_1.php
1. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, DE, Florida State – B- Grade
 It has to be disappointing for the Rams that they couldn’t get Byron Murphy. It makes sense though that they would target a front-seven player because their offense is so explosive. I’m not crazy about this pick because Jared Verse isn’t close to the other two edge rushers who were chosen earlier, yet he’s being taken so close to them. I don’t hate this pick – Verse likely belonged in the 20s – but it’s a bit underwhelming for a team that hadn’t drafted in the first round since 2016.
…

from https://theathletic.com/5436808/2024/04/25/nfl-draft-grades-2024-round-1/

19. Los Angeles Rams: Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State

The Rams lost Aaron Donald, one of the greatest defensive linemen in NFL history, and needed to find some way to replace him. Verse likely won’t equal what Donald brought (nor would anyone else), but he was a nice choice for a team that hadn’t made a first-round pick since 2016. Chop Robinson might be more explosive with a higher upside, but Verse was more productive in college.

A workmanlike technician with a motor, Verse (6-4, 254) became an All-American after beginning his career at Albany as a no-star recruit. He played three seasons in the FCS (including one as a redshirt), then transferred to Florida State and posted back-to-back nine-sack seasons. Although he may not wow observers physically, Verse boasts one of this class’ top work ethics, which will serve him well in the NFL.

Grade: B

…

from https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/2024-nfl-draft-grades-first-round-giants-earn-a-for-malik-nabers-vikings-get-c-for-j-j-mccarthy-pick/

19. Rams: Jared Verse, EDGE, Florida State
Grade: B+

The Rams patiently wait and end up with one of the best pass rushers in this draft. This fills a major need and will help compensate for the loss of Aaron Donald on the inside.

…

from https://www.si.com/nfl/2024/04/25/2024-nfl-draft-first-round-pick-grades

19. Los Angeles Rams | Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
Rookie contract: Four years, $14.9 million

After three years with the Albany Great Danes, Verse transferred to the Seminoles and was excellent in Tallahassee. Over two seasons with Florida State, he posted nine sacks in each campaign while totaling 29.5 tackles for loss.

At 6’4″ and 254 pounds, Verse has ideal size for an edge rusher. Look for his athleticism to be a huge part of his game early before adding moves to his pass-rushing arsenal.

Grade: A-

…
March 29, 2024 at 7:34 pm #150144

In reply to: new thread: Rams draft after AD retired

zn
Moderator

Blaine Grisak @bgrisakTST

Haason Reddick to the Jets for a conditional 2026 3rd round pick. Really wanted him to go the Rams. Seems clear that they’re going to be patient and see how their pieces shake out. With Reddick no longer available, feels like it’s definite EDGE at 19 for the Rams.

February 28, 2024 at 10:55 pm #149592

In reply to: Rams 2024 Free Agency and Draft

zn
Moderator

Top Takeaways from GM Les Snead’s NFL Combine Week press conference: Latest on Coleman Shelton and Kevin Dotson, backup QB spot and more

Stu Jackson

https://www.therams.com/news/top-takeaways-gm-les-snead-nfl-combine-week-press-conference-kevin-dotson-coleman-shelton-backup-quarterback

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Rams general manager Les Snead held a video conference with reporters Wednesday afternoon to provide an update on the team’s plans for free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft.

Here are some of the key takeaways from that conversation:

Les Snead talks latest on Kevin Dotson and Coleman Shelton, team’s plans for 2024 free agency and NFL Draft

The Rams have been in “constant communication” with offensive lineman Kevin Dotson and Coleman Shelton’s respective camps, but both are expected to hit the free market.

That’s not necessarily a bad thing – Snead mentioned doing so would help both sides find a number that makes sense.

Snead said that Shelton decided to void his last year, which means he’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent.

“I would say most players get to this point where, ‘Okay, the season’s over,’ they’re in the last year of their contract, there is a side of the process where, to help figure it out the market, is somewhat go to the marketplace,” Snead said. “And sometimes you gotta be patient in this process, which I do think is very healthy and productive for both sides. Because if you try to do something beforehand, it’s really just probably the Rams side. But when you go to the market, then it’s 31 other teams involved, and then you can use it to come up with a win-win.”

With Dotson, Snead said it’s “probably going to go into the window, at a minimum” – referring to the period of March 11 at 9 a.m. pacific time to March 13 at 12:59:59 p.m. pacific time, when teams are allowed to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents at the start of the new league year (1 p.m. PT on March 13).

Rams have had discussions with Noteboom and his reps about “win-win” financial situation to return

Snead said the Rams have had discussions with offensive lineman Joe Noteboom and his reps to “try to figure out a win-win” financial situation to come back.

“Just because he’s been a valuable piece for us in terms of whether he’s been a starter, but let’s call it a really good sixth man,” Snead said, pointing out that Noteboom played both tackle spots and guard at different times last season.

Viable backup quarterback remains a need

After head coach Sean McVay last week said the team doesn’t have a backup quarterback on the roster, Snead on Wednesday said they want to make sure they have a quarterback who can win them a game if they ever have to play one without starter Matthew Stafford.

Snead indicated the flexibility provided by the Rams’ cap space this year will give them the opportunity to sign one, unlike last year. He said not having one “did come back to hurt us definitely one game last year,” alluding to their game against the Packers before the bye week.

“I think this year, different than last year based on salary cap, could allow us to maybe do a veteran QB,” Snead said. “Doesn’t mean you don’t go with a younger QB as a third, or does he earn the (number) two (spot), but that flexibility with the cap does allow us to do that.”

Higbee had knee surgery

Snead confirmed Higbee has had surgery to repair the knee injury he sustained in the Rams’ wild-card playoff game against the Lions, but said the timeline for his return is still undetermined.

January 27, 2024 at 6:02 pm #149076

In reply to: replacing Morris

Zooey
Moderator

https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2024/1/25/24051313/rams-raheem-morris-aaron-donald-instagram-wants-eric-henderson-defensive-coordinator

☰
Aaron Donald has his ‘fingers crossed’ this coach gets the defensive coordinator job
It looks as though the Rams veteran defensive tackle wants a familiar face to replace Raheem Morris as DC

By JasonDalessandro on January 25, 2024 11:42 pm

Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images
The Los Angeles Rams will need to find a new defensive coordinator after Raheem Morris was hired as the new head coach for the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday. While there are plenty of options, whether in-house or on the open market, one of the Rams most important players has seemed to make it clear who he hopes gets the position.

LA’s veteran superstar Aaron Donald posted to his instagram stories – first with a picture of Morris and champagne glasses cheering – followed by a picture of his previous defensive line coach Eric Henderson with “fingers crossed” emoji, implying that he would like to see his former position coach back as Morris’ successor.

Henderson left the Rams coaching staff a little over a week ago when he was promoted to USC co-defensive coordinator, however that was before the Rams defensive coordinator job became available. The former Rams coach joined Sean McVay’s staff in 2019, and in addition to shaping the defensive line, he also took over as the run game coordinator in 2021.

It remains to be seen if Henderson would have even been considered for the position if he hadn’t left, or for that matter, if he would now even consider coming back so soon after committing to USC.

From the Rams perspective though, when the best player on the team has an endorsement for someone, it may be beneficial to listen up. This could be even more important when taking into account that Donald is heading into a contract year, and may be looking for a reason to sign another extension with Los Angeles over retirement. While Super Bowl trophies are always the main goal, making Donald happy with the new defensive coordinator choice could go a long way in contract negotiations as well.

To Henderson’s credit, he is still a relatively young coach at only 41, and was a very successful coach in his time with LA. If he were to be considered for the position of DC, it would be completely warranted, even without Donald pushing for it.

Henderson leaving for USC felt like a big loss on the coaching staff, and Morris will most-likely be take a few more coaches with him to Atlanta too, so bringing Henderson back as the defensive coordinator could be just the right move to help keep some resemblance of continuity for the Rams staff, while still ushering in a new era.

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January 23, 2024 at 11:41 pm #148991

In reply to: Rams off-season assessments & rankings & early previews

Zooey
Moderator

I don’t know if this belongs here, either. Is this devoted to news, or is analysis welcome? If this belongs in a different thread, then by all means, move it.

The marvelous Jourdan Rodrigue on off-season priorities.

Five Rams’ offseason priorities — OL investment, tough conversations — and one big question

By Jourdan Rodrigue
Jan 23, 2024

The Rams are currently in the after-action review of a 2023 season during which they overachieved relative to the experience level of their roster, and outside expectations.

Ten wins, a narrow wild-card loss, an offense that got back into the top 10 in the NFL and the emergence of a strong rookie class — not bad, right?

They did it by going back to some of their fundamentals as coaches and executives. General manager Les Snead preached discipline from last offseason into the trade deadline, where the Rams had previously spent big capital (money and draft picks), and his scouting and personnel departments were patient and intentional about the players they selected in the draft and veteran free agency.

The 2024 season, it seems, is set up to reward them for that discipline. They will have around $40 million in workable cap space (estimations vary up until the new league year) and will wipe most of their dead money off the books. They’ll have their first-round pick and a full slate underneath it. Some of their top players are heading into only the second or third years on their initial contracts. But success is not a given. How can the Rams avoid regression in 2024?

“From this point forward, a lot of messaging will be, ‘OK, you got to this point and you’ll just move forward next year,’” Snead said. “What we do know is, we can reason that next year is gonna be different. We’ll be a different team. We’re not gonna be able to just show up and hop back on the train and be in rhythm. That took a lot of work. And I think the thing that we can do — what you can apply from this year — is, last year we really said ‘let’s come in every day and try to do something every day so that the collective can play quality football.’ We never talked about having more points than the other team, just quality football.

“The lesson would be not to come in and think, ‘OK, now this is what we do, and now we’ll have 11 wins over 10 (wins).’”

Setting the table in the offseason is all-important. Here are five priorities:

1. Continued investment in the offensive line

The moves the Rams made along their offensive line in the draft and via trade — plus a scheme change in their run game — paid dividends. Rookie Steve Avila will start for them at left guard for a long time. Left tackle Alaric Jackson, an undrafted free agent, got better as the season progressed. Coleman Shelton was consistently solid at center. Right guard Kevin Dotson, whom the Rams traded for in August, was one of the top guards in the NFL in 2023 and paired very well with Avila. Right tackle Rob Havenstein is still the veteran and captain of the group. They also invested in a four-person coaching staff, from position coach Ryan Wendell to assistants Zak Kromer and Nick Jones, and consultant Mike Munchak.

Jackson is a restricted free agent, so subject to a tender. Shelton is an unrestricted free agent, as is Dotson. Snead indicated that at least trying to re-sign Dotson is a goal of the Rams this spring, but he will have a competitive market.

“I would bet that he’ll definitely have a marketplace, for sure, people are gonna want him to come play football for them — we’re one of those teams,” said Snead, adding that the process could take some time. “… But I can say, too, agents will call (and) we’ll start engineering and designing kind of a blueprint, more of a timeline of communication so that each step of the way they know where we stand.”

The Rams may need a right guard, or a center, or both. Even if they are able to keep Dotson, continuing to add for the future along the offensive line is important and should be a priority for a team that learned the hard way in 2022 what could happen if multiple linemen got hurt at once.

It’s important to remember that just because the Rams have resources again, it doesn’t mean they will burn through them all or over-extend their long-term financial plans in the case of a competitive contract discussion. Both Snead and coach Sean McVay have reiterated this point through the start of the offseason. Don’t be surprised if the Rams aren’t splashy in the early days and weeks of free agency.

2. Re-invest resources into 2 premier positions and 1 ‘abnormal’ position

The Rams historically have viewed a couple of positions as “premier,” meaning they are comfortable putting a lot of financial resources and/or draft capital there whether the player was developed in-house or acquired in a trade: outside linebacker/pass rush, quarterback, cornerback and, in very rare cases, receiver (Cooper Kupp, who was also a homegrown player).

In 2023, they stayed young and/or financially disciplined at those spots, particularly pass rusher and cornerback. Rookie Byron Young emerged as a starting outside linebacker with a bright future. Elsewhere, there are clear holes to fill. The Rams badly need another pass rusher on the outside and this year could afford to go the “veteran at the end of first contract/free agent” route for the right player. It could be argued that they need two cornerbacks, too. They have had success with a “pay one, draft and develop the other” strategy with their outside corners.

One position outside their typical team-building model that could merit a rare contract extension is inside linebacker. Ernest Jones has emerged as a team captain and core leader of the defense. Jones is entering the final year of his contract.

“Obviously he’s someone who is a very important part of that defense for many reasons, definitely the leader of the defense,” Snead said of the 2021 third-round draft pick. “In the past, obviously we’ve been invested in some other positions. But I think as we evolve, and as teams evolve, there are times where you may be less invested at a certain position than you were in the past and one of your better players is an inside linebacker. So, he’s definitely someone we’ll discuss and definitely someone we’d like to have around.”

3. Have the hard conversation about future at offensive skill positions

The Rams got great production from their three offensive skill spots in 2023 from a combination of veterans and young players (even if one, tight end, was more blocking-centric in a re-invented run scheme). Still, significant injuries at running back, receiver and tight end should give reason to deeply evaluate all of those positions, and continue to invest in them.

At running back, second-team All Pro Kyren Williams missed four games to an ankle injury. Williams was a legitimate star for the Rams in 2023, should be again in 2024 and his presence on the field made a huge difference in their overall production:

Rams offense: With and without Kyren Williams

ACTIVE OFF THE FIELD/REST

EPA/Play

+0.159

-0.153

Success Rate

47.8%

38.4%

Ronnie Rivers and Royce Freeman were capable backups to Williams but Rivers also missed time with an injury. The Rams have continuously supplemented this position via the middle to later rounds of the draft. Williams is deservedly their lead rusher, but because the position is not one they have financially invested in since 2018, continuing to draft and develop a year or two in advance may be important. This might mean picking up a young running back every offseason — that has certainly been their pattern over the last few years.

Meanwhile, tight end is a question after veteran Tyler Higbee tore his ACL and MCL from a low hit by Detroit safety Kerby Joseph in the wild-card loss. Higbee will miss spring workouts and could potentially even miss a chunk of training camp. The only other healthy tight end with any game experience — who is not a free agent in 2024 — is Davis Allen, a rookie in 2023 who showed a lot of promise.

Finally, after his Triple Crown season in 2021, Kupp has battled multi-week injuries in 2022 (ankle) and 2023 (hamstring, ankle). Rookie Puka Nacua emerged as the No. 1 receiver even when Kupp returned to the field after missing the first four games. Kupp and the Rams need a healthy 2024, and he still holds a crucial role for the offense on and off the field — but the Rams also have to keep filling out this room in light of his injury issues, Nacua’s physical style of play and No. 4 receiver Tutu Atwell entering a contract year.

4. Continue draft momentum

This is obvious, sure — but if the Rams can bring in a second consecutive solid draft class in 2024, they’ll have even more financial flexibility over the next three to five years. A cheap, talented roster core compiled from strong drafts in succession means the freedom to take big swings at high-value positions, and even the potential to extend homegrown talent when the time comes. It also means critical depth even if the roster eventually gets top-heavy again!

5. Patience in filling potential staff openings

Defensive coordinator Raheem Morris reportedly has second interviews this week with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Washington Commanders and Seattle Seahawks for their head coaching positions. The Rams’ executives, many current and former players, McVay and even opposing coaches such as Kyle Shanahan have all made strong and public endorsements over the last several weeks for Morris to get one of those positions. McVay has noted that he would “hate” to lose Morris, one of his best friends as well as a colleague who often takes on a “co-head coach” role.

Defensive line coach Eric Henderson accepted a position as the defensive line coach/co-defensive coordinator at USC shortly after the Rams’ season ended.

Meanwhile, pass game coordinator/quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson will reportedly interview with the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Las Vegas Raiders for their open offensive coordinator jobs, while tight ends coach Nick Caley will also interview with the Patriots for the OC job.

McVay took his time when filling his coaching staff last offseason, and said last week he hoped for continuity (though recognized some would have opportunities for advancement elsewhere). He’ll wait until he knows whether Morris is getting a head coaching job before filling the defensive line coach opening, though mentioned young assistant A.C. Carter as an in-house possibility. If Robinson gets a job, in-house candidates to replace him could include K.J. Black and/or Jake Peetz.

The Rams’ staff played a crucial role in the sound development of their rookie class and even many of their second-year players. McVay remaining patient and casting a wide net if he has to replace anybody is important.

One big question

Do the Rams draft a quarterback this year?

CALM DOWN, people. This is not a suggestion to replace Matthew Stafford in 2024, after a remarkable 2023 season and the expectation he’ll again have a clean bill of health heading into the offseason. The Rams seemed to study a successful blueprint — Seattle’s 2021 offseason — when embarking on their sprint-rebuild of 2023. It’s fair to wonder if they’ll study another (and very familiar) one in the Green Bay Packers, who identified quarterback Jordan Love as a late first-round pick in 2020, and sat him for a couple years behind a veteran star. Coaching, patience and quarterback skill level have all married together and Love is now the future at the position in Green Bay, and growing alongside a young team that won’t incur large cap space in the next couple of years.

The Rams don’t have a clear backup quarterback, with Carson Wentz scheduled to be a free agent and uncertainty over whether Stetson Bennett will return from the non-football/illness list. Bennett was drafted in the fourth round last spring with solidifying the long-term backup spot in mind.

The Rams are committed to Stafford in 2024, and he to them. As long as he’s feeling good, their offense is in great shape. If he’s this healthy for a consecutive season, it would even be logical to have the conversation about him playing into his very late 30s. But is this the year they start thinking about what happens after that?

January 20, 2024 at 2:53 pm #148902

In reply to: setting up the Division Playoff games

zn
Moderator

NFL playoff predictions: 9 coaches, executives predict divisional-round winners

Jeff Howe

https://theathletic.com/5211688/2024/01/19/nfl-playoff-predictions-divisional-round-chiefs-bills-49ers/?source=weeklyemail&campaign=602288

Anyone hoping the wild-card weekend might offer more than a single competitive game throughout the three-day slate was disappointed. Not only had five of the six games been decided by multiple possessions, but all the blowouts were also practically decided at some point in the third quarter.
Here’s hoping for a little more drama in the divisional round.

For the second week in a row, we’ve assembled a crew of nine team executives and coaches from around the NFL to weigh in on the playoff games. Last week, they combined to correctly call four of the six outcomes, missing the Green Bay Packers’ upset of the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans’ latest impressive performance against the Cleveland Browns.

Some fascinating storylines are taking shape this week. At quarterback, Lamar Jackson, C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love are trying to win their second career playoff games, and No. 1 picks Jared Goff and Baker Mayfield are continuing to try to fortify their standing with their new-ish teams. Then, in the weekend finale, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen are gearing up for their third playoff installment, with Allen trying to get the Buffalo Bills on the board in the budding rivalry.

There’s a contrast in settings, too. The Saturday slate features a couple of home atmospheres, Baltimore and San Francisco, that are a bit more accustomed to postseason success, whereas the energy Sunday in Detroit and Buffalo will continue to play a prominent role in the weekend’s theatrics.

No. 1 Baltimore Ravens (13-4) vs. No. 4 Houston Texans (10-7, 1-0)
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m. ET, Saturday

Expert picks: Ravens 9, Texans 0

Fear not, Texans fans. No one from the panel picked them to beat the Browns, either.

Of course, the Ravens are a more daunting opponent. The AFC’s top seed has won six consecutive games started by Jackson, the favorite to win the MVP Award next month. But for Jackson to improve upon his 1-3 playoff record, he will likely have to be more efficient as a passer. Jackson has completed less than 60 percent of his passes in all three postseason defeats, and the Ravens have averaged 10.7 points in those outings.
And though the Ravens allowed the fewest points in the league this season, they also had top-three defenses during the three prior seasons when they reached the playoffs with Jackson.

It’s simply a matter of translating that success to the playoffs, where the Ravens have one win in nine years.

“They can dominate all three phases and proved it throughout the regular season with a tough schedule,” an executive said.

The Ravens went 6-3 this season against teams that made the playoffs (two losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers), including a 3-0 mark against teams still standing. They beat the Texans 25-9 in Week 1.

“That’s who I see winning the AFC,” the executive added on the Ravens.

The Stroud effect is real, though. The NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite has been outstanding in back-to-back win-or-go-home games, completing 36 of 47 passes for 538 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

Plus, edge rushers Jonathan Greenard (12 1/2 sacks) and Will Anderson (eight sacks, including one in the playoffs) have been a formidable duo. It’s a different challenge containing Jackson, but defensive-minded head coach DeMeco Ryans will surely have something creative up his sleeve for the veteran QB.

It just might not be enough.

“The Ravens are the overall better team,” a coach said. “But I think it will be a good game.”

The outcome might be determined by the best player on the field.

“Lamar is playing too well, and the defense will get to the rookie QB,” an executive said.

No. 1 San Francisco 49ers (12-5) vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers (10-8, 1-0)
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m. ET, Saturday

Expert picks: 49ers 9, Packers 0

Sticking with the Saturday theme, can a first-year starting QB keep up the magic against a No. 1 seed? And just like last week, the Packers didn’t get a single panelist to pick them to win.
That’ll be the test for Love, but his best friend of late has been running back Aaron Jones, who has 476 rushing yards during the team’s four-game winning streak. The Packers’ disciplined, run-heavy game plan exposed the Cowboys, and head coach Matt LaFleur was patient enough to stick with it. Love consistently operated on schedule and made several elite throws to keep the Cowboys off-balance.

They’ll need a similar approach against the 49ers, who have allowed 4.1 yards per carry, just a tick better than the Cowboys.

“No QB should be as confident as Jordan Love is going into the weekend,” an executive said. “He’s playing lights out right now, and that offense is rolling. Green Bay should be excited about the future with how much young talent is on that roster. I expect a good battle this weekend but ultimately see the Niners’ run game and front seven taking over to win. Green Bay is still suspect on defense, and I have my doubts they will be able to control the game at any point.”‘

The 49ers figure to be a more challenging test than the Cowboys for two reasons. They’re far more dedicated to their running game with Christian McCaffrey, and the 49ers are viewed as a more disciplined team. They might not be as likely to succumb to the mistakes the Cowboys made to cater to the upset.

“(The game) will be closer than people think,” an executive said. “The 49ers’ run game and playmakers will be the difference.”

Added another coach: “The (Niners) defense will eliminate big plays and make (the Packers) drive on them.”

The 49ers have won two games in each of the last two postseasons, so they’re experienced. They were also potentially a Brock Purdy injury away from a Super Bowl rematch with the Kansas City Chiefs a year ago.

Though the Packers’ youth is impressive, that’s come out of necessity. They had $67 million in dead cap space this season, the fourth most in the league, so they needed big production out of players on rookie contracts.

That might just be too much to ask against a potential juggernaut in San Francisco.

No. 3 Detroit Lions (12-5, 1-0) vs. No. 4 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8, 1-0)
Kickoff: 3 p.m. ET, Sunday

Expert picks: Lions 8, Buccaneers 1

If you’re of a certain age and watched a lot of football before the turn of the century, the idea of a Lions-Bucs game to determine an NFC Championship Game participant might have rattled your week.

But here we are.

“I went back and forth (with my pick),” an executive said. “I ultimately picked Detroit because they’re the more complete team and have home-field advantage. I am curious to see how Goff plays this weekend because I do think Tampa can get pressure on him. And historically, when you can get hits on Goff, you can get him out of rhythm.”

The Lions have been preparing for this stage all season, and the Bucs have exceeded expectations. The visitors have won six of seven, and they’ve been victorious in their past three road games.

“The Bucs are hot, but the Lions have a good, balanced offense that should help keep Tampa’s defense honest.”

The Lions have gone 7-2 at Ford Field this season, including the playoff opener against the Los Angeles Rams last weekend.

“Home field will matter,” an executive said. “And Goff will outperform Baker.”

No. 2 Buffalo Bills (11-6, 1-0) vs. No. 3 Kansas City Chiefs (11-6, 1-0)
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. ET, Sunday

Expert picks: Bills 8, Chiefs 1

Allen has been viewed as one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks for the past four years, but he needs to get over the Mahomes hump in the playoffs. The Chiefs beat the Bills in the 2020 and 2021 postseasons, but the Bills are finally getting a crack at them in Buffalo.
What’s more, the Bills are the league’s hottest team with six consecutive victories. This is a far cry from a year ago when they were heading in the wrong direction as the playoffs started.

“(The Bills) are a little beat up from the Pittsburgh game, but I think Allen seals the deal this weekend,” an executive said. “He’s balling right now.”

Based on recent performance, it’s hard to argue against the Bills’ chances, but their injuries across the board are a concern. So, too, is Mahomes in the playoffs, and he might be increasingly motivated after the Chiefs have been written off more than usual due to the rash of mistakes from the skill players.

“(The Bills are) rolling at the right time, playing better football than Kansas City down the stretch, (and that) will continue,” a coach said.

The lone voter who took the Chiefs essentially called it a coin toss. Both teams have high ceilings, but it’s been tough to predict how they’ll perform any given week. The lopsided nature of the picks is surely indicative of the Chiefs’ struggles this season.

The Chiefs defense might not be getting enough attention in the clash between two high-profile quarterbacks. Kansas City has allowed 20 or fewer points in six consecutive games, and it has surrendered more than 21 points just twice all season.

The Bills beat the Chiefs 20-17 in Week 14 at Arrowhead.

“The Bills finally get it done (in the playoffs) versus Kansas City,” an executive said.

December 12, 2023 at 11:41 am #147472

Topic: Question for zn/zooey

in forum The Public House

nittany ram
Moderator

When you give your students writing assignments, how do you know they are not using AI to do the work?

My wife is a physician. She was playing around with an AI app and asked it to write a hand-out on a specific medical issue geared towards Spanish-speaking patients. She said what the app produced was perfect. She would write emails to colleagues and before sending them she would ask the app to ‘fix’ them (ie. fix grammatical errors, make the tone less or more formal, etc) and in moments it was done. She eventually stopped using the app because she said the wording didn’t really sound like her after modification, but if you weren’t familiar with her style you’d never know it was written by AI.

I suppose if you were familiar with a student’s writing, you could tell if they started using AI, but what if you weren’t? How would you ever know? I know there are computer programs that detect plagiarism, but I don’t know how you would detect this, especially if the student is savvy enough to go through what the AI produced and fix anything that seemed ‘off’.

December 4, 2023 at 8:10 pm #147264

Topic: around the league going into week 14

in forum The Rams Huddle

zn
Moderator

Bruce Irons@BruceIronsNFL

The #Packers “got lucky” that Brett Favre “ended up good.”

Then they “got lucky” that Aaron Rodgers “fell in their laps.”

Now they’re “lucky” that Jordan Love is playing good.

Wrong.

This is a franchise that has prioritized QB appropriately.

Ever since they brought in a traditional GM leadership model in 1991, they made an intentional decision to think long-term at the most important position in the game.

They are patient with their players. They let coaching systems mature. They take the necessary time and resources to ensure stability for long-term competitiveness.

That’s not luck.

November 17, 2023 at 9:46 am #146814

In reply to: Rams sign Wentz

Billy_T
Participant

wv wrote:

Wentz: “…”And so I just didn’t feel like God had closed that door, so I’ve been kind of just patiently waiting and staying ready…” I was always told, when God closes one door….you should listen to your handlers, and market yourself as a new-improved, team-player. w v

Good one, WV.

I think sometimes it’s legit, though. Of course, we’re on the outside looking in, so we don’t really know.

Ramsey, for instance, was considered a bit of a coach-killer and poor locker-room guy before the Rams traded for him. From publicly available reports, he became a great locker-room presence, a real team-leader, and as important off the field as on it.

OBJ was kinda in that range too.

November 16, 2023 at 12:29 pm #146791

In reply to: Rams sign Wentz

wv
Participant

Wentz: “…”And so I just didn’t feel like God had closed that door, so I’ve been kind of just patiently waiting and staying ready…”

I was always told, when God closes one door….you should listen to your handlers, and market yourself as a new-improved, team-player.

w

v

October 19, 2023 at 1:51 am #146285

In reply to: Rams on the radar this year who weren’t before the season

zn
Moderator

Billy_T wrote:

Speaking of that, what are your thoughts on the defensive backs? I was worried going into the season, but it appears they’re playing pretty well, all things considered.

Zooey wrote:

They are ahead of schedule, and this makes this season far more interesting and entertaining than any of the usual rebuilding years we’ve suffered. I don’t recall a recent season without realistic hope of a SB appearance that had more appeal than this season does. Gotta go back to 99

BT, I see your blocked post, but it looks like you pretty much covered it in your last post about Hoecht. Which I agree w/ btw, I don’t see him as lasting at LB.

In terms of the secondary, the Rams have done so well picking safeties low in the draft that it’s no surprise there (meaning just safety). Think about it–they’ve scored on Scott, Fuller, and now Yeast and Lake. That’s basically 4 in a row. What surprised me was corner. That’s mostly because of Witherspoon and now maybe Shelley too (Durant has been up and down). I keep not know what to think of Kendrick. Either way, the safeties plus at least Witherspoon seem to actually be the real deal. Right now after 6 games and having played both the Eagles and 9ers, Rams rank 7th in the league at “NFL Team Opponent Average Team Passer Rating.” You can’t do that unless your secondary is good. In fact they’re doing that while being 29th in “Sack Percentage.”

With the secondary, it’s coaching and drafting and the players and everything. They’re just playing well overall (though we’ve seen the bloopers too). Not “stars of the league” well, just pretty darn well, which is very satisfying.

Zooey, I think you hit the nail on the head about this season and put it really well. Best season I can remember where you went in not expecting them to be in a superbowl hunt. The only game I really would complain about is the Bengals game. This year, we were set up to be patient with anything good that showed up being gravy, and it turns out they dumped us in an olympic pool full of gravy.

October 11, 2023 at 2:46 pm #146074

In reply to: Jefferson traded

Billy_T
Participant

zn wrote:

Billy_T wrote:

. Two Seconds and two Thirds. Gone. It’s really difficult to team-build when that keeps happening.

Interestingly, the only player still on the Eagles roster from their 2020 draft is Hurts.

ZN, I responded to this earlier, but it was lost in the filter. Probably due to a link.

Will see if this gets through without it.

I don’t follow the Iggles, but when I checked, it looked like three players from the 2020 draft are on the active roster, and one is on injured reserve. So four made it through, total.

To me, though, the point is that the Rams, at least recently, seem to give up on their draft picks early on, even before their first contract expires. And, typically, they either cut them outright or get very little in trade.

In short, I think they need to do a bit better on team-building, drafting, maximizing trade value, etc. I like their coaching, and think it’s an area of strength overall. But I also think McVay can get impatient, and make impetuous decisions about this or that player. Jourdan has mentioned that they reflect at times on this and admit some errors . . . which is a good sign.

Hoping for the best, as always.
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