Rams tweets & things … 7/14 thru 7/20

Johnny Hekker was a clue in the WSJ crossword yesterday.

“NFL punter Johnny Hekker, for one.”

Can you guess the answer? It’s five letters. https://t.co/jqaKcd3JVZ

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) July 15, 2020

Top Pass Rushers in Madden 21

Aaron Donald – 99
JJ Watt – 98
Khalil Mack – 97
Von Miller – 97
Fletcher Cox – 96
Cameron Jordan – 96
Chandler Jones – 95
Calais Campbell – 95
Myles Garrett – 93
Chris Jones – 92

— NFL Stats (@NFL_Stats) July 15, 2020

.@AaronDonald97 is just the sixth player in @EAMaddenNFL history to earn a 9️⃣9️⃣ rating in four different years.#Madden21 pic.twitter.com/3ec6eVJVH9

— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 15, 2020

Take a look at the Top 10 @EAMaddenNFL Ratings for pass rushers 😤 #Madden21

Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/6kFKbdH65t

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) July 16, 2020

Rams Brothers@RamsBrothers
The Rams are +130 to make the playoffs, currently behind: 49ers, Saints, Cowboys, Buccaneers, Eagles, Packers, Vikings & Seahawks.

Odds/percentages will change drastically once we see them in action. We’re trying not to be fixated on either in mid-July.

from https://www.nfl.com/news/aaron-donald-jalen-ramsey-aim-to-overcome-losses-under-new-dc

In the eyes of some, Phillips’ departure was a bit surprising. Aside from the aforementioned streak of finishing outside of the top 10 of scoring defenses, the Rams were second in the league in takeaways (82) and Pro Football Focus bestowed them with the sixth overall team grade for defense last year. And, of course, that was a season removed from going to the Super Bowl.

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
Based on how McVay/Snead have talked this offseason, I think we’ll see a lot more of the running game and more 2-TE sets. Less reliance on 11 personnel. Kinda like the end of last season

Jared Goff was money last season finding his WRs in open space 🤑 https://t.co/tKyvUebJC1

— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) July 20, 2020

Rams cornerback Troy Hill welcomed a daughter in 2017 named Serenity.

It's fitting. Hill has has been on a long journey, since his childhood in Ohio, toward finding peace and confronting his own past actions | @JourdanRodrigue https://t.co/84l2WJtX6I

— The Athletic L.A. (@TheAthleticLA) July 20, 2020

==

from that:

Despite excelling on the field during the 2014 season, Hill went undrafted in 2015 and his domestic violence arrest and guilty plea were believed to be the main reason why. Hill’s NFL career began when he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals

==

Hill started to even out mentally, even as his playing time fluctuated. He was released by the Rams after his DUI charge, and then re-signed. He played just 33 percent of defensive snaps in 2017 — after he served a two-game suspension to start the season — then 42 percent in 2018 and finally, in 2019, just after signing a two-year extension, Hill began to break out.

When Jalen Ramsey joined the Rams in October 2019, it could have been a moment for Hill’s window to close. Ramsey, a former first-round pick, has elite, shutdown status. Hill had been “a good player” and not “the good player,” and so perhaps the arrival of Ramsey could have brought back certain memories for Hill, the overwhelming feeling of being overshadowed and overlooked once more. Perhaps he could have let those thoughts take over, knock him out of his rhythm.

But Hill and Ramsey hit it off. Hill told Ramsey that he felt like Ramsey would “get him paid” — a high compliment and a comment based on respect in the world of defensive backs. Hill was telling Ramsey that he knew quarterbacks wouldn’t throw his way for fear of getting picked. Hill was also telling Ramsey that he would step up to meet the challenge that undoubtedly would come from more throws coming toward his receivers — that Ramsey could trust him to pull his own weight.

Hill finished the year among the top outside cornerbacks in the league, according to various NFL data sites. Hill allowed just 20 catches on 50 targets for 263 yards in 2020. Someone scored against him only twice. He recorded two interceptions. In zone, in which the Rams played nearly 60 percent of the time, Hill allowed just seven catches in 20 targets

Adam Schefter@AdamSchefter
NFL offered the NFLPA today to play zero preseason games this summer, per source.

Judy Battista@judybattista
As an owner told me last week when I asked if they needed one game for roster evaluation and game day run through: “We can manage.”

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
This is smart, but also crushing for lesser-known guys fighting to make teams. NFL should just expand rosters

This would also be bad for the Rams in the sense that Brandon Staley will have zero games to practice calling plays, something he’s never done in the NFL

Andrew Siciliano@AndrewSiciliano
I’m going to miss the preseason.

Yes, I said it. Yes, I mean it.

I’ve had so much fun calling @RamsNFL preseason games since 2011. I was looking forward to that first one at @SoFiStadium

Geoff Schwartz@geoffschwartz
I feel awful for all late round and UDFA rookies. Almost no chance to make the team. 14 real practices and no preseason games. Teams will choose veterans over them for this season.