Kiper Has Three Round Blueprint For LA Rams In 2017 NFL Draft

ESPN’s lead NFL draft analyst has his “Grade A” mock for every team through three rounds. What does he think makes the most sense for the Rams?

by Joe McAtee

http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2017/4/19/15355400/2017-nfl-draft-la-rams-espns-kiper-mock-draft-grade-a

Grading NFL draft classes is an exercise in near-impossibility.

You’re projecting scheme fit, chemistry, health, development, level of difficulty and the unknown swells of the personnel tides often within days of the draft. But people click on it, so the world turns.

Here’s ESPN’s Mel Kiper (insider sub required), the undeniable king of the draft grade, 11 months ago as the Los Angeles Rams wrapped up their headlining 2016 NFL Draft class:

They traded a mint to move into place to get Jared Goff, and then they did a pretty good job of getting weapons in the passing game despite the fact that they didn’t have any picks in Rounds 2 or 3. I’m a fan of Goff — he is my No. 1 quarterback in this draft — but this is not a slam-dunk future franchise quarterback. They’ll need to be extremely patient and find ways to protect him. What they did do is hand him a couple of useful weapons in the passing game, a little reminiscent of how the Jags tried to add pass-catchers when they drafted Blake Bortles. Tyler Higbee is a second-round talent who got into trouble off the field and landed in the fourth. If you get the talent and not the drama, that’s a steal. Pharoh Cooper could be a stud in the slot. He is sudden in his movements, competitive after the catch and should have been drafted earlier. Ultimately, this draft is all about Goff. They gave up SO much for him, it has to work.

Nothing wrong with the assessment, but you can see the fallacy pretty easily. A year removed and we’re nowhere closer to having any of the answers to the questions raised.

So with a week and some hours ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft beginning, Kiper has his “Grade A” mock up (insider sub required) with the best course of action for each of the NFL’s 32 teams. Here’s what he charts for the Rams:

Round 2 (37): Antonio Garcia, OT, Troy
Round 3 (69): ArDarius Stewart, WR, Alabama

With no first-round pick (traded to the Titans in last year’s Jared Goff deal), a new coach and several holes on their roster, the Rams must hit on their first pick. Adding to the offensive line could be the safest bet here. Los Angeles brought in Andrew Whitworth and John Sullivan as short-term solutions at left tackle and center, respectively, after giving up the second-most sacks in the league (49) last season, but this is still a need. Garcia started 42 games on the left side in college, and I think he could start at tackle immediately in the NFL. Stewart, my eighth-ranked receiver, is undersized (5-foot-11, 204 pounds), but he’s an all-around player and willing blocker.

It’s certainly comfortable to add a pair of offensive prospects coming out of a season in which you put up the NFL’s worst offense. Even with the signings of Whitworth and Robert Woods, the tackle and wide receiver positions for the Rams offer little long-term comfort. I don’t think there’s anything strange, then, with the Garcia pick. I’ve got a similar lack of criticism of the Stewart pick. Without a great build, he’s an impressive athlete who has some versatility across the field and on the boundaries.

What’s perhaps uncomfortable is the totality of Kiper’s mock when you look at it in order and not team-by-team.

Kiper has Clemson QB Deshaun Watson going 39th overall. I’m not saying it won’t happen, but that seems like the kind of slide that is going to make a lot of teams look very bad, the kind that happens every year. Miami TE David Njoku is someone we’ve consistently seen out of reach for the Rams with the 37th overall pick. Kiper mocks him at #44.

Into the third round past the Rams taking Stewart with the 69th overall pick, there’s just a ton of names we’ve seen go much, much, much higher quite frequently. At #70, Kiper sends Indiana G Dan Feeney to the New York Jets. Could the Rams pass on him twice? USC WR JuJu Smith-Schuster comes off three picks later. Ohio St. ILB Raekwon McMillan heads to the Arizona Cardinals at #77, a pick that would gut me. And Alabama OLB Tim Williams at #102 to the Seattle Seahawks?!

The draft never shakes out in line with projections. The opportunity costs for the Rams who hold just two picks in the first 111 selections of the draft feel overwhelming.

As Kiper’s mock shows, there are easy fits all over the place. Charting a course to turn around a franchise that hasn’t had a winning campaign in their last 13 seasons is going to take more than a pair of draft picks. But it’s going to be a hell of a starting point.

Syria chemical attack: Sarin gas likely weapon used in Idlib as experts say Russian claims ‘don’t add up’
Analysts say rebels lack money or expertise to stock deadly nerve agent

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/syria-chemical-attack-idlib-sarin-gas-toxic-khan-sheikhoun-russia-assad-claims-experts-evidence-a7668996.html

Experts have dismissed Russia’s claim that a rebel chemical weapons facility caused the death of more than 70 people in Syria as evidence indicating the government’s use of a banned nerve agent mounts.

Britain, the US and France are among the nations accusing Bashar al-Assad’s regime of gassing civilians in the opposition-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, but Damascus claims it destroyed its toxic stockpiles following an international agreement struck in 2013.

The Russian defence ministry put out a competing version of events claiming that legitimate Syrian air strikes against “terrorists” had struck a warehouse used to produce and store shells containing toxic gas, which were allegedly being sent to Iraq.

“From 11.30am to 12.30pm local time, [9.30am to 10.30am BST] Syrian aircraft conducted an air strike in the eastern outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun on a large warehouse of ammunition of terrorists and the mass of military equipment,” said Major General Igor Konashenkov, according to a translation by Russian state media.

But witnesses and survivors said the bombs struck hours earlier, with images showing at least one hit a road rather than a building.

Hasan Haj Ali, commander of the Free Idlib Army rebel group, called the Russian statement blaming the rebels a “lie” and said rebels did not have the capability to produce nerve gas.

“Everyone saw the plane while it was bombing with gas,” he said.

“Likewise, all the civilians in the area know that there are no military positions there, or places for the manufacture of weapons.”

While Isis is known to have used mustard gas, the area around Khan Sheikhoun is controlled by a range of opposition factions including Islamists and groups linked to al-Qaeda.

Russia accused fighters of deploying chlorine gas in Aleppo but no evidence to support the allegations has been put forward by international agencies, who believe that sarin was deployed in Tuesday’s attack.

Beyza Unal, a research fellow with the International Security Department at Chatham House, said the banned nerve agent is expensive and difficult to purify and store.

“Something that needs a certain level of expertise and also money,” she told The Independent, saying any facility would need the ability to take oxygen out of the area where sarin is stored.

“I don’t think rebel groups would have the ability governments would have to purify nerve agents to a level that would make them stable,” Dr Unal added.

“I don’t buy the Russian claims…the story doesn’t add up.”

She added that images of bomb craters in Khan Sheikhoun indicated small payloads, rather than explosives of the type typically used to destroy an entire building.

Sarin can be fatal when either inhaled or absorbed through the skin, contaminating water and clothing to affect anyone coming into contact with symptoms including blurred vision, choking, nausea, weakness, convulsions, paralysis and respiratory failure.

Several volunteers who rushed to help victims of the initial bombing have themselves been taken ill, including Syrian Civil Defence members.

Hamid Kutini, a volunteer with the White Helmets, told The Independent he and several of his friends are unwell.

“I reached the area early after the attack and am still suffering now with weakness in my vision, a continuous headache, and I am not seeing colours well,” he said.

Mr Kutini said families were asleep when the bombs struck at around 6.30am local time (4.30am BST), with people calling the White Helmets reporting “strange symptoms” including drowsiness.

“We knew that some kind of poison gas was used,” he recalled. “The team found people fainting, and people with froth coming from the mouth, and shivers in their bodies…many died while they were asleep.”

Graphic footage showed rescuers dragging bodies and survivors out of buildings, removing their clothes and hosing them down with water in attempts to remove the toxin.

Doctors said victims started to choke, vomit and convulse with foam coming out of their mouths and pin-point pupils, showing symptoms of possible sarin gas exposure.

Amnesty International said many of at least 20 children killed appeared to have died in their beds, with the lack of visible wounds on their corpses pointing to a chemical attack.

A nurse working at the al-Rahma hospital, which was later bombed, told the charity he heard the bombs strike but with a dull “thump” that was unlike a normal “explosion sound”. Minutes later, the casualties started pouring in.

The youngest victims were the first to succumb to respiratory failure and paralysis, a doctor said, adding: “Children are the first ones to die, they cannot fight this. We only had one child who, thank God, survived.”

The World Health Organisation (WHO) said the symptoms were consistent with “exposure to organophosphorus chemicals, a category of chemicals that includes nerve agents” that are banned as weapons of mass destruction.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) seconded the analysis, saying medical teams that treated affected patients in Bab al-Hawa found symptoms “consistent with exposure to a neurotoxic agent such as sarin gas”.

Doctors also detected the smell of bleach on some victims, “suggesting they had been exposed to chlorine” as one of at least two different chemical agents.

Hassan Elbahtimy, from the Centre for Science and Security Studies at King’s College London, said all evidence available so far pointed to the use of sarin in Khan Shaikhoun.

“In this conflict, it is the regime that ultimately is more capable to mount chemical attacks,” he told The Independent, pointing to the previous sarin attack on Ghouta in 2013.

“They were supposed to have declared all their chemical weapons, including sarin stocks, which got destroyed under international supervision.

“If this turns out to be sarin and the regime is responsible, it means either they did not get rid of all their stocks or managed to reconstitute some of their production and handling capabilities.”

Dr Elbahtimy said Khan Sheikhoun was a “significant” target for Assad’s forces as it borders a motorway connecting government-held cities with rebel strongholds in the north.

The area saw intense fighting in 2016, with previous allegations of chlorine attacks levelled at the government.

Ammar Abdullah, a citizen journalist, told The Independent he had seen chlorine gas before but it was “nothing like this”, adding that friends from Damascus compared the symptoms to those seen in the Ghouta attack.

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ADDED BY EDIT APRIL 17: JUST ANOTHER ARTICLE ON THIS I HAD.

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Syria chemical weapons attack toll rises to 70 as Russian narrative is dismissed
Weapons expert says Russian claim that airstrike hit ‘terrorist warehouse’ in Idlib province is fanciful

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/04/syria-chemical-attack-idlib-province

At least 70 people have been killed in northern Syria after being exposed to a toxic gas that survivors said was dropped from warplanes, an attack that sparked comparisons to the most infamous act of the country’s six-year war.

At least another 100 people were being treated in hospitals in Idlib province where the strike took place at dawn on Tuesday. Several dozen others were transferred to Turkey, some in critical condition.

Condemnation mounted throughout Tuesday as the US, Britain and EU blamed the Syrian government for the carnage, hours before the start of a donor conference on Syria in Brussels.

Donald Trump denounced the carnage as a “heinous” act that “cannot be ignored by the civilised world”. But he also laid some of the responsibility on Barack Obama, saying in a statement that the attack was “a consequence of the past administration’s weakness and irresolution”.

Theresa May said she was appalled by reports of the attack and called for an investigation by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. “I’m very clear that there can be no future for Assad in a stable Syria which is representative of all the Syrian people and I call on all the third parties involved to ensure that we have a transition away from Assad. We cannot allow this suffering to continue,” she said.

UK-based monitoring group the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the latest death toll in Khan Sheikhoun at 72 by Wednesday morning, including 20 children.

The Syrian military said it “categorically denied” responsibility. Russia, which has heavily backed the Syrian regime, said its planes were not operating near Idlib. Early on Wednesday, the Russian defence ministry claimed a Syrian airstrike had hit a “terrorist warehouse” containing an arsenal of “toxic substances” destined for fighters in Iraq. The ministry did not state if the attack was deliberate.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Hamish de Bretton Gordon, director of Doctors Under Fire and former commanding officer of the UK Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Regiment, said this claim was “completely untrue”.

“No I think this [claim] is pretty fanciful, no doubt the Russians trying to protect their allies,” he said. “Axiomatically, if you blow up sarin, you destroy it.”

“It’s very clear it’s a sarin attack,” he added. “The view that it’s an al-Qaida or rebel stockpile of sarin that’s been blown up in an explosion, I think is completely unsustainable and completely untrue.”

Hours after the attack, a hospital treating the injured was also hit. Images taken inside the clinic appeared to depict the blast as it happened. Photographs and videos taken at the scene and in evacuation areas nearby showed rows of small, lifeless children, some with foam visible near their mouths.

Save the Children said at least 11 children were among the casualties.

Jerry Smith, the operations chief of the UN-led team that supervised the removal of Syria’s sarin stockpiles following the gas attack on the rebel-held Ghouta area of Damascus four years ago, said: “This absolutely reeks of 2013 all over again.” In that attack, more than 1,300 people were killed. The UN said the perpetrators probably had access to the stockpile of sarin held by the Syrian military at the time, as well as the expertise to use it.

In the aftermath of the Ghouta massacre, a UN team supervised the surrender of Syria’s sarin supplies, the removal of which was supposed to have been completed early in 2014. However, suspicions have remained that a portion of the stockpile was not declared to inspectors.

Tuesday’s attack struck Khan Sheikhun, where there are thousands of refugees from the nearby province of Hama who have fled recent fighting. The town is also on a crossroads between Hama and Idlib and is considered vital to any regime offensive towards the northern city of Idlib.

“In this most recent attack, dozens of children suffocated to death while they slept,” said Ahmad Tarakji, the head of the Syrian American Medical Society (Sams), which supports hospitals in opposition-controlled areas in Syria. “This should strike at the very core of our humanity. How much longer will the world fail to respond to these heinous crimes?”

Sams said its doctors had determined that the symptoms of the patients were consistent with exposure to organic phosphorus compounds such as the nerve agent sarin, which is banned by the chemical weapons convention.

Smith said: “If you look at the footage itself, the victims don’t have any physical trauma injuries. There is foaming and pinpointed pupils, in particular. This appears to be some kind of organo-phosphate poison. In theory, a nerve agent. What is striking is that it would appear to be more than chlorine. The toxicity of chlorine does not lend itself to the sort of injuries and numbers that we have seen.”

Tuesday’s strike came days after the US secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, said the Trump administration was no longer prioritising the removal of Assad, and that the Syrian people would ultimately decide his fate.

The US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, made similar comments on Monday, affirming a shift in US policy that began under the Obama administration.

Critics of the stance have said that the absence of a credible threat has given the regime licence to commit war crimes with impunity as its backers, Iran and Russia, steadily claw back years of battlefield losses.

The UN security council said it would hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss the attack, after a request from Britain and France.

“Everyone is horrified and the children are in total shock,” said Mohammad Hassoun, a spokesman for civil defence rescue workers in the nearby town of Sarmin, which received 14 of the wounded from Tuesday’s attack. Hassoun said the victims were bleeding from the nose and mouth, had constricted irises and suffered from convulsions.

“The total number of wounded is incredible. So far it’s over 200,” said Mohammad, a doctor at another hospital in Idlib. “We received over 20 victims and most of them are children, and two of them in the ICU are extremely critical. There are a lot of injured.” Mohammad said the victims he had seen were drifting in and out of consciousness. Many were on respirators.

Few hospitals in Idlib have the capacity to deal with the symptoms of chemical attacks due to the repeated bombing of medical facilities by forces loyal to the government and lack sufficient oxygen tanks to treat victims.

Idlib is one of the last bastions of rebel control in Syria, and has been subjected to a relentless campaign of aerial bombardment despite a supposed ceasefire brokered this year by Russia and Turkey that was aimed at paving the way for political negotiations.

The raid in Khan Sheikhun indicates Assad’s growing confidence. He has wrested control of territory from the rebels, including the entire city of Aleppo, in recent months. His regime has benefited from the unflinching support of Moscow and Shia militias backed by Iran, as well as waning support for the opposition by its allies in the region and the new US administration.

The attack will refocus attention on the failure of the international community to prevent the worst abuses in Syria’s war, and casts doubt on a signature achievement of Obama’s government, which negotiated the presumed destruction of Assad’s chemical arsenal in 2013.

That deal followed the sarin gas attack on Ghouta, which nearly prompted a US intervention in the conflict. Since then, chemical attacks have continued on a smaller scale, mostly deploying chlorine gas, which was not covered by the deal because it has industrial uses.

However, a similar devastating attack to the Idlib strike took place in east Hama last December, with at least 93 people dying and several hundred more being wounded after exposure to what local authorities described as a nerve agent. Western intelligence agencies believe sarin was used in that attack, but were unable to retrieve biological samples that could prove their fears.

Smith said the recovery of samples would be pivotal to the investigation of the Idlib strike. “It is one of the most important things now to get biological samples, interviews and environmental samples, ideally from witnesses who can also give statements,” he said.

• This reply was modified 8 years, 10 months ago by zn.

Deadpool wrote:

Deadpool’s 2017 Bigboard

Some notes:

I expanded from 100 to 125 this year due to the Rams not having a 1st rounder. Don’t get used to it, because in my opinion, they all get jumbled after around 75.

The QBs are ranked combinationally (is that a word? ) by where they should be ranked against everyone else and where they will probably get drafted due to the importance of the position.

I do take character issues into account, but I don’t know everything so I am sure I have missed a ton.

Same goes for injuries. Without inside knowledge, we have no idea how serious these injuries are.

Lastly, I have seen everyone of these guys play actual football from games I recorded, to youtube to draft breakdown.

Deadpool’s 2017 Big Board

1. Myles Garrett – DE – Texas A&M – Top edge rusher in the draft. No real holes in his game. Just an explosive, smooth athlete.

2. Jonathan Allen- DL – Alabama – Could play a 4-3 end in base set, move inside on passing downs or could be a 3-4 end. Serious pass rush from the inside.

3. Leonard Fournette – RB – LSU – A hammer between the tackles and enough speed to take it to the house. Rare athleticism for his size at the position. Just a punisher. Going to have to watch his weight.

4. Malik Hooker – S – Ohio State – A ballhawk with a ton of range and instincts. One of my altime safety favorites since I started doing this.

5. Jamal Adams – S – LSU – a rare heat seeking missle SS that has very good coverage skills. Great instincts and an absolute hammer. Not your typical in the box safety.

6. Marshaun Lattimore – CB – Ohio State – Very fluid cover corner with great feet. Is active in run support and is more then willing to stick his nose in the middle of things.

7. Christian McCaffery – RB – Stanford – Multiple position threat. Slot, RB, PR, KR you name it. Best pass catching RB in draft. 4.48 speed with incredible feet, is patient with burst. Just lacks some bulk.

8. Derek Barnett – Edge – Tennessee – A terror off the edge that was a sack machine. Not a liability against the run. More athletic then given credit for and plays with an edge.

9. Soloman Thomas – Edge – Stanford – Quick first step, strong and more of an athlete then we are used to seeing from Stanford lineman. A tad raw and size wise a tweener but his skill set is just too much to ignore.

10. O.J. Howard – TE – Alabama – A gifted pass catcher with the ability to block. A true size/ speed TE.

11. Haasan Reddick -OLB – Temple – I like him more then most. But he is your new age 4-3 OLB. Smooth sideline to sideline with the speed to match up with these weapon TEs.

12. Mike Williams – WR – Clemson – Not a homerun hitter, but has great size and is a master at going up and getting the ball. Not a plodder though.

13. Reuben Foster – ILB – Alabama – A thumper that has learned to stop leading with his head. Instinctive, agile, sideline to sideline and nasty. Can cover. Questionable character IMO.

14. Corey Davis – WR – Western Michigan – A favorite of mine for a few years now. He’s a size/speed/weight WR that has great hands and super college production. Level of Competition doesn’t botehr me.

15. Ryan Ramczyk – OT – Wisconsin – (pronounced Ram check) Top LT in a weak OT class. Great build for the position. Good bend and a decent hand punch. Tad raw and prolly starts on the right side.

16. Jabrill Peppers – SS – Michigan – Was fun to watch play all over at Michigan, but in reality, he is a SS only and a to return guy with freakish athletic ability. Smooth and fast, but lacks the weight to be a OLB in the pros.

17. Mitch Trubisky – QB – North Carolina – 1 spot lower then I had Goff last year. Has all the tools, a tad short at 6-2″ but that isn’t a big deal to me. 13 college starts tells me he needs time to develop. Good mobility, good arm, few interceptions with a 68% completion %.

18. John Ross – WR – Washington – An obvious speed freak (4.22) but undersized at 5-8 and 188. Vertical threat, can take the top off a defense, whatever term you like. A Desean Jackson type WR.

19. Dalvin Cook – RB – Florida State – Here’s your homerun threat. Incredible balance and feet. Just an amazingly athletic RB that has pass catching skills. Off the field red flags.

20. David Njoku – TE – Miami – Athletic freak with great size for the position but only 13 starts. A serious mismatch TE.

21. Cam Robinson – OT – Alabama – A natural RT where speed won’t affect him as much. Could be an OG. A mauling run blocker that has had issues against athletic, quick rushers in the passing game.

22. Takkarist McKinley – OLB – UCLA – IMO a 3-4 OLB that is at his best going forward. Explosive, quick and pretty smooth. A natural edge rusher.

23. Zach Cunningham – ILB – Vanderbilt – A 3 down ILB. Love his insticts, ability to cover (watch the Engram Ole Miss game) and ability to shed. A tad narrow framed and never had a int. in

24. Charles Harris – Edge – Missouri – An athletic, speed rusher. More of a 3-4 OLB then a 4-3 end. Played with and without his hand in the dirt.

25. Marlon Humphrey – CB – Alabama – Here’s where it gets fun as far as CB rankings. I like his size/ speed combo along with his agressiveness in run support. He had a few hiccups in pass coverage this year, but nothing alarming IMO.

26. Caleb Brantley – DT – Florida – A 3 tech in a 4-3 defense. A very disruptive interior lineman. Excellent quickness off the snap. Interviewed poorly at the combine.

27. Deshaun Watson – QB – Clemson – Althetic QB that thrives in high pressure situations and seems like a natural leader. I question his accuracy and decision making with the football. The system he comes from will make for an adjustment period.

28. Taco Charlton – DE – Michigan – A riser on my personal board all year. A classic, long 4-3 end that can get after the QB.

29. Quincy Wilson – CB – Florida – Another bigger (6′-1″ 210 lb) CB that is physical. Faster than quick. Needs to stay focused.

30. Tre’Davious White – CB – LSU – 5′-11″ so average size, a 4 year starter that got better every year, including his level of aggresiveness. Smooth CB trending upward IMO.

31. Forrest Lamp – OG – Western Kentucky – could also be a OC. Prolly goes much higher then I have him but too much depth at CB and edge rushers puch him down. A OT with average arm length moving him inside. Uses his hands well and is aggresive in run blocking. Kinda narrow lower half.

32 . Gareon Conley – CB – Ohio State – 6′-0″ 195 CB that has good length to play against bigger WRs and enough speed to match up with quicker WRs.

33. Malik McDowell – DT – Michigan State – 6′-6″, 295 lbs. – played inside and out. Great length and hand use. Can play with a high motor (can also disappear)

34. Kevin King – CB – Washington – 6′-3″, 200 lbs. A lanky CB. Hass played slot and outside as well as starting his career as a FS. Smooth with nice speed and a willing tackler. A tad raw from moving around the defense so much.

35. Evan Engram – TE – Ole Miss – At 6′-3″ 235 lbs. with a 4.4 40 time is he a WR a slot WR or a TE? At TE he has elite speed that could create matchup issues. At WR not so much. Have heard his work ethic is second to none.

36. Garett Bolles – OT – Utah – Good feet with a nice punch that allows him to mirror opponents. A tad older then other prospects at 24, was out of football for 2 years.

37. Obi Melifonwu – S – UConn – 6′-4″ 225 lb. rangy safety that is ultra athletic and can work in the box or play man. In any normal year, would be the top S off the board.

38. Budda Baker – FS – Washington – plays bigger then his 5′-10″ 195 lb frame. Plays fast, plays sideline to sideline and is a willing tackler. Poor hands…

39. TJ Watt – OLB – Wisconsin – either a 4-3 SSLB or more likely a 3-4 OLB. Excellent edge rusher who also does well setting the edge. (get ready for a run on OLB )

40. Jordan Willis – OLB – Kansas State – 3-4 OLB. Another good pass rusher that can set the edge and is more athletic then he gets credit for.

41. Tyus Bowser – OLB – Houston – 3rd 3-4 OLB. Exposive first step and good bend get him to the QB. Missed a month of his senior year after breaking an orbital bone fighting a teammate…

42. Pat Mahomes II – QB – Texas Tech – The gunslinger in this class that has tons of ability and like every other QB, needs time. Confident, mobile and a huge arm. Decision making can be iffy.

43. Jarrad Davis – ILB – Florida – Sideline to sideline finisher. Athletic and decent in coverage. Only hole is he can be over aggresive and get washed out.

44. Curtis Samuel – WR – Ohio State – A combo WR/RB in college. Will be a WR in the pros. Good hands, good route runner and as dangerous as anyone in the draft in the open field.

45. Adoree Jackson – CB – USC – undersized at 5-10″ 186 lbs. More athlete then football player at this point. Going to start in the slot and will need technique work, but has ball skills.

46. Dan Feeney – OG – Indiana – I like him as a RG. Plays with a nasty streak.+ pass protecter that came from a zone scheme. Can pull. Plays with patience, ie, doesn’t lunge.

47. Tim Williams – OLB – Alabama – Gets after the QB as an OLB. Explosive with bend that makes him an excellent pass rusher. Needs work setting edge in run game.

48. Sidney Jones – CB – Washington – A smooth corner with tremendous ball skills and is decent in run support and can blitz. Narrow frame may be a concern, but IMO he plays bigger then he is. NOTE: injury at proday keeps him from playing his season.

49. DeShone Kizer – QB – Notre Dame – Built well for a QB, athletic, a good arm to make all the throws. Shows some touch at times. I wish I liked him more, but he teases you one game with his talent and then it disappears. Needs some time (like every other QB this year) to develop.

50. Dion Dawkins – OG/OT – Temple – Excellent balance to go along with good technique. I like him inside as a guard where he can use his power.

51. Derek Rivers – OLB/DE – Youngstown State – I really like this FCS kid as a 3-4 OLB. He is what I like to call a speed to power converter. Can set an edge. Should be a better pro then college player. Needs to develop some pass rush moves.

52. Chidobe Awuzie – CB – Colorado – 6′, 200 lb corner that is smooth with loose hips and plays inside and out. Can get a tad handsy at times.

53. Alvin Kamara – RB – Tennessee – Explosive with some wiggle and good balance. Not as instinctive as the first 3 RBs on my list.

54. Fabian Moreau – CB – UCLA – Another smooth athlete with elite top end speed. Good size for the position. Inexperienced due to position change and it shows at times. Torn pectoral at Pro Day.

55. Carl Lawson – DE/OLB – Auburn – Explosive off the edge, also good at setting the edge. Injury history and needs to develop more pass rush moves.

56. Teez Tabor – CB – Florida – Prototypical size for position, athletic and mirrors well and has recovery speed. Had some lapses in coverage this season and a miserable 40 time is concerning.

57. Adam Shaheen – TE – Ashland – Rare size, speed, athleticism for the position. 6′-6″ 278 lbs and ran a 4.78. Can block but needs work. Major step up in competition.

58. Raekwon McMillan – ILB/OLB – Ohio State – Downhill with instincts. Plenty of speed and shows some pass coverage ability. Struggles taking on blocks.

59. JuJu Smith-Schuster – WR – USC – Strong, physical WR. Hands catcher and wins contested balls. Good route runner. Troubles with seperation.

60. Chris Wormley – DT – Michigan – Played inside and out. good bullrush. Quick but not explosive. Athletic for his size. Lacks what I would call a suddenness to his game.

61. Desmond King – S- Iowa – Played corner for the Hawkeyes but lack of speed will move him to safety. Instictive with ball skills. Physically limited.

62. Josh Jones – S – NCST – Size/speed combo with ball skills that can be over aggressive at times.

63. Gerald Everett – TE – South Alabama – Another WR in a TE body that plays fast and eats up turf. Willing blocker. Needs route running work.

64. Chris Godwin – WR – Penn St. – Excellent route runner with good hands. Plays slower then his timed speed.

65. Cooper Kupp – WR – Eastern Washington – Route technichian with excellent hands playing in the slot. Can he play outside?

66. Tarell Basham – DE – Ohio – Another speed to power athlete. High motor and can set an edge. Needs pass rush moves.

67. Cordrea Tankersly – CB – Clemson – Nice length for the position. Does well to mirror WRs and good production. Concerned about instincts / too handsy for my liking.

68. Marcus Maye – S – Florida – Prototypical size for position. Makes plays on the ball and plays sideline to sideline. Can get lost in coverage at times.

69. Marcus Williams – S – Utah – Another prototype sized S that has instincts and plays sideline to sideline. needs to get stronger.

70. ArDarius Stewart – WR – Alabama – WR that gets it done. Nothing flashy, plays tough, wins contested balls and tough to tackle.

71. Ahkello Witherspoon – CB – Colorado – 6′-3″ 200 lb. size/speed combo with loose hips but needs to add weight.

72. Taylor Moton – OT/OG – WEstern Michigan – Big and strong and needs to be a guard. has played OG and OT. Footwork and balance issues force him inside.

73. Dorian Johnson – OG – Pitt – Big, strong with an excellent lower body for a OG. Needs to stay engaged in blocks longer at times.

74. Zay Jones – WR – East Carolina – High production with good hands. Has played inside and out. Competes. Average play speed IMO. Lots of production came after team was desperately behind.

75. Montravius Adams – DT – Auburn – Disruptive, plays low and explosive. Lets blockers get into his body too often.

76. Pat Elfein – OC/OG – Ohio State – Strong lower body, plays with patience. Good hands. A little stiff .

77. Ryan Anderson -OLB – ALabama – Excellent hand work and sets a mean edge. More of an effort pass rusher. Not explosive, not real rangy.

78. Larry Ogunjobi – DT – Charlotte – 6′-3″ and plays low with decent explosiveness off the snap. Short arms and could use more size in his game.

79. Antonio Garcia – OT – Troy – very athletic with +feet. Needs to add some weight, short arms not ideal.

80. Chad Hansen – WR – Cal – good size @ 6′-2″ and deceptive speed. Plays smooth and physical. Good hands. needs to create more seperation.

81. Cameron Sutton – CB – Tennessee – Instinctual CB with good hands and smooth feet that needs to add some size.

82. Isaac Asiata – OG – Utah – has played OG/OC – A flat out non-stop mauler thjat can be over aggressive at times.

83. Davis Webb – QB – Cal – Big arm, big body. Comes from a air raid offense so needs to sit and learn…

84. Ethan Pocic – OC – LSU – Tall and athletic for a center. Good hand usage. Not strong and can get leveraged.

85. Justin Evans – S – Texas A&M – Some of the best ball skills in the draft and is always around the ball. Likes to hit, but doesn’t tackle. Needs more size.

86. DeMarcus Walker – DE – Florida – Has excellent hand work, nice array of pass rusah moves and finds ways to get to the QB. Very inconsistant when you watch him from game to game.

87. Joe Mixon – RB – Oklahoma – does it all. Excellent burst, can thump between the tackles, excellent pass catcher and has excellent feet. As a human being, the guy is a repeat offender dirtbag I wouldn’t touch.

88. Dalvin Tomlinson – DT – Alabama – Big, thick space eater in the middle. Not very athletic, but does the dirty work.

89. Jordan Leggett – TE – Clemson – Good length for the position at 6′-5″. Hands catcher that really puts pressure on the seam. Can block. Stiff and needs to put in consistant effort.

90. Amara Darboh – WR – Michigan – Excellent size and ran a 4.45 but doesn’t play to that speed. Physical, heady player.

91. Eddie Jackson – S – Alabama – Rangy S that has played CB. Has good ball skills and is a +punt returner. Average athlete.

92. D’Onta Foreman – RB – Texas – excellent feet and athleticism for a big back. Needs to work on ball security.

93. Taywan Taylor – WR – West. Kentucky – Slot WR that gets seperatuion with his athleticism and speed. Does let the ball get into his body.

94. Jourdan Lewis – CB – Michigan – undersized nickel CB that plays much bigger then he is. Great feet. Good speed and athletic. Just lacks size.

95. Carlos Henderson – WR – Louisiana Tech – Under-rated WR that has top end speed, ok runner, good hands and has returner experience. Is he a slot guy in the NFL? Step up in competition.

96. Charles Walker – DT – Oklahoma – Strength and quickness is very good. Consistancy is not. When is is is right, he is tough to stop. Concussions could be an issue.

97. Nathan Peterman – QB – Pitt – Average physically, inc. his arm. Came from a pro style offense so can drop back. mechanics need work, but he is accurate.

98. Dede Westbrook – WR – Oklahoma – Smooth route runner that is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Extremely light in the weight deptartment.

99. Kendall Beckwith – ILB – LSU – Physical, old school MLBer that is willing to take on blockers. Average athletically. torn ACL may have him drop.

100. George Kittle – TE – Iowa – Good blocker, +hands that can press the seams and is more of a reciever then your typical Iowa TE. needs route work.

101. Rasul Douglas – CB – West Virginia – Big, physical CB at 6′-2″. Excellent awareness with OK speed. Burner WRs will give him trouble. Serious concerns about his smarts.

102. Alex Anzalone – OLB – Florida – Can play inside and out, 3-4 or 4-3. Good moving forward or backward. Injury history concerns.

103. Tanoh Kpassagnon – DE – Villanova – A tall, long 3-4 DE that uses his athelicism and long arms to get to the QB. Good at setting the edge and holding his ground. Not explosive.

104. Eddie Vanderdoes – DT – UCLA – Athletic and powerful. Looked better pre-ACL tear. Played all last year and seemed off. Knee is an issue.

105. Anthony Walker Jr. – ILB – Northwestern – instinctive middle LBer works best going downhill. A little limited athletically.

106. Jake Butt – TE – Michigan – A tough in-line chain moving TE with strong hands. OK as a blocker. Tore his ACL in bowl game.

107. Trey Hendrickson – DE – Florida Atlantic – Good burst with good arm use. Uses a couple of rush moves. Force fumble machine. A little small and can have issues setting the edge.

108. Roderick Johnson – OT – Florida State – Tall OT with long arms and uses them well with a solid punch. Strong. Balance and movement issues make him a RT.

109. Malachi Dupree – WR – LSU – good size at 6′-2″ 200 lbs, solid hands with excellent body control. QB play makes him a hard eval. Doesn’t play to his 4.5 speed.

110. Jaleel Johnson – DT – Iowa – Athletic with a revved up motor for a big kid. Excellent hand use. Gets upright at times and issues once a blocker gets into his body.

111. Bucky Hodges – TE – Virginia Tech – Tall, smooth TE with 4.57 speed. Will work the seam and the redzone. Needs route work. Hands can be iffy at times.

112. Duke Riley – OLB – LSU – Downhill read and react LBer. Average athlete.

113. Blair Brown – OLB – Ohio – Instictive, downhill LBer that finishes. A tad undersized.

114. Josh Reynolds – WR – Texas A&M – Long WR with 4.5 speed that wins jump balls. Wins contested balls and is a vertical threat. Thin framed that has problems with the jam.

115. Carlos Watkins – DT – Clemson – Big and athletic. Good hand use. Can get leveraged by OGs, needs to play lower.

116. Samaje Perine – RB – Oklahoma – A bruiser back with yards after contact power. Not much wiggle.

117. Nico Siragusa – OG – San Deigo State – A muscular fire hydrant. Excellent run blocker. Needs work on pass pro.

118. Elijah Qualls – DT – Washington – A 6′-1″ space eating fire hydrant. Short arms and legs make it difficult for him to make plays.

119. Daeshon Hall – DE – Texas A& M – High motor guy that has played as a LB and DE. IMO a 4-3 DE. Can set the edge against the run and has shown he is athletic enough to rush the passer. 1 yr as a DE makes him raw.

120. Jonnu Smith – TE – Florida International – Another seam pressing TE with 4.6 speed. Decent blocker. Doesn’t have natural hands.

121. – Vince Biegel – OLB – Wisconsin – 3-4 OLB with a high motor. Plays the run well. At his best playing downhill. Needs to get stronger (once he gets engaged, tough to disengage)

122. Eric Magnuson – OL – Michigan – Gets the OL designation because I feel he could play multiple positions. Experience at OG and OT. I think he ends up inside. Needs to get stronger.

123. -Dawuane Smoot – DE – Illinois – 6′-3″ 265 lb DE/OLB tweener with 4.77 speed. High motor, good athlete with some speed to power that I like. Can have issues against the run.

124. Noah Brown – WR – Ohio State – A big, physical WR that wins contested catches and moves the sticks. Really raw and young.

125. John Johnson – S – Boston College – Has played CB and S. Smooth with +footwork. Excellent ball skills and gets sideline to sideline. Needs to play more physically as a S.

Zooey wrote:

That is the favorite play in the greedy bastard corporatist playbook: make a public program so unwieldy, ineffective, and expensive that the public will be glad it’s replaced with something else. That’s how they killed public transportation in this country. That’s the plan for public education.

They impatiently tried to kill the beast in one swoop, and found they couldn’t, so they will take the time-worn, long term strategy.

Yeah, that’s the SOP for situations like this.

According to the article, 2 out of 3 people surveyed in a Kaiser Foundation poll said they’d hold Trump and the Republicans responsible if the ACA went tits up.

I hope that’s true.

top 50 prospects for 2017 NFL Draft 4.0

Daniel Jeremiah

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000797858/article/daniel-jeremiahs-top-50-prospects-for-2017-nfl-draft-40

It’s three weeks from the start of the 2017 NFL Draft (April 27-29 in Philadelphia), and like with NFL teams, my board is starting to settle in. Pro days are winding down, which means most of the information has been gathered on the top prospects in the draft. I’ll tweak this top 50 board one more time before the draft, but I don’t suspect there will be a ton of movement.

Here are my top 50 prospects in the 2017 draft, version 4.0:

1
Myles Garrett – DE, Texas A&M
Garrett has ideal size, length, and athleticism. In the passing game, he explodes out of his stance and can win with speed, power or hand moves. He can bend/wrap around the edge and he will also employ a nifty inside spin move. Against the run, he can stack and hold the point of attack but he’s at his best slanting and penetrating. His production dipped this season because of an injury and constant double and triple teams. His motor can run a little hot and cold but he’s forced to play a lot of snaps in the SEC. Overall, this is an elite talent with all-pro potential.
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2
Jamal Adams – S, LSU
Adams has ideal size, versatility, and explosiveness for the position. He lines up as both the high safety and in the box. Against the pass, he is at his best roaming underneath or matching up in the slot. He can range and make plays from the deep middle, but he’s more valuable closer to the line of scrimmage. He doesn’t have a lot of ball production but he provides a physical presence and delivers huge hits on opposing pass-catchers. He is at his best in run support. He is quick to key and explode to the alley. With outstanding range against the run, he makes a lot of plays from the opposite hash. He is a dynamic athlete, and I’ve been told his intangibles are off the charts. He will be a tone-setter for an NFL defense, and he’s ready to play right away.
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3
Malik Hooker – S, Ohio State
Hooker is a tall, rangy safety prospect with incredible instincts. He usually lines up as the high safety and he has an uncanny ability to anticipate throws, drive on the ball, and finish. He is ultra-fluid in his change of direction and has the ability to match up with tight ends in man coverage. He has the best ball skills of any safety I’ve ever evaluated in college. He is also a threat to score every time he touches the ball. Against the run, he is quick to key, read and fill the alley. He does have some fly-by missed tackles, but overall he’s reliable in this area. Hooker has the potential to be one of the league’s best safeties very early in his NFL career.
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4
Leonard Fournette – RB, LSU 1
Fournette has an ideal combination of speed and power. As a runner, he is very aggressive to press the line of scrimmage and is always thirsty for contact. With some runway, he is a load for any single tackler to get on the ground. He does need to improve his patience and he will miss some backside opportunities on occasion. He is very effective in the open field because of his ability to lower himself and run over defenders or destroy them with a violent stiff arm. He rarely attempts to make anyone miss, preferring to punish instead. In the passing game, he isn’t a polished route runner but he catches the ball easy and he’s really improved in pass protection. He can locate blitzers, and is an effective shoulder thrower. Overall, evaluators will nitpick Fournette but he has a better overall skill set than Jamal Lewis did when he entered the NFL, and he can be a workhorse back immediately.
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5
Solomon Thomas – DE, Stanford 1
Thomas has a very lean, muscular frame with the potential to add another 10-15 pounds. This is a fun player to study. He lines up inside and outside and he’s extremely explosive. As a run defender, he can easily stack and hold the point of attack vs. single blocks but he will get washed down the line of scrimmage when double teamed. He is much better on the edge on run downs than he is playing inside. His lateral range is outstanding and his effort is tremendous. As a pass rusher, he has an explosive first step, strong hands and the ability to bend/wrap around the edge. He generates a lot of pressure but he does need to improve his ability to finish. He leaves some sacks on the field in almost every game viewed. Overall, Thomas could excel as a base end on run downs with the ability to kick inside and terrorize guards on passing downs.
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6
Jonathan Allen – DE, Alabama
Allen has a thick, sturdy frame and the flexibility to play multiple positions along the defense front. He is a dominant run defender. He is quick to stack blockers before torqueing and tossing them to the ground. He finds the ball quickly and is an excellent tackler. He doesn’t have elite lateral range but he makes a ton of plays inside the tackle box, and his effort is solid. As a pass rusher, he has very strong, violent hands and he generates a lot of push with his bull rush. I don’t think he will be a dominant pass rusher at the next level but he can be disruptive and play on all three downs. Overall, this is a dominating run defender with the versatility to play inside and outside.
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7
Marshon Lattimore – CB, Ohio State 2
Lattimore has average size but possesses elite foot quickness, agility, and awareness. In press coverage, he is very patient and fluid to open up and mirror underneath. He can play a variety of techniques successfully. In off coverage, he is very aware and explosive to drive on balls in front of him. He does an excellent job of locating and playing the ball down the field. He is outstanding in run support. He fights through blocks and attacks the line of scrimmage. He is a very sure tackler in space. I love the way he competes. He has all of the tools to develop into a No. 1 cornerback at the next level.
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8
O.J. Howard – TE, Alabama 1
Howard has ideal size, speed and toughness for the position. As a route runner, he is at his best on run-away routes. He uses his speed to create separation on seam routes, deep crossers and flat routes. He isn’t used much on option routes and he will need to develop a feel for working in zones and adjusting his route on the move. He has strong hands and a big catch radius. He uses his speed to run away from defenders after the catch and he’s capable of taking underneath throws and turning them into big gains. I love the way he competes in the run game. He can set the edge on the front side and consistently reach and seal on the backside of the play. Overall, Howard is a complete player and he should be an integral part of an NFL offense very early in his career.
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9
Reuben Foster – LB, Alabama 1
Foster has slimmed down in the last year but still has ideal height and bulk for the position. This is one of the most explosive inside linebackers I’ve evaluated in the last five years. Against the run, he attacks the line of scrimmage. He uses his quickness and hands to avoid traffic and get to the ball carrier. His lateral range is off the charts and he arrives with bad intentions. He can uncoil his hips on contact, and he delivered splatter-shot tackles in every game I viewed. In pass coverage, he has the speed and agility to line up and mirror tight ends and running backs. He has average instincts in zone coverage. Overall, this is a difference-making linebacker capable of earning Pro Bowl recognition very early in his career.
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10
Corey Davis – WR, Western Michigan
Davis has ideal height-weight-play speed for the position. He lines up inside and outside, and he’s a very polished and precise route runner. He powers through press coverage and does a nice job of changing speeds and creating separation down the field. He attacks the football in the air with very strong hands and he’s nifty after the catch. He doesn’t have elite speed but he’s plenty fast. Overall, Davis is an excellent player with both a high floor and a high ceiling.
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11
Mike Williams – WR, Clemson
With power-forward size and strength, Williams dominated on every tape I studied. He uses his upper-body strength to power through press coverage, and he effectively shields off opponents on slant and vertical routes. He isn’t a refined route runner but he doesn’t need to create much separation to make plays. He simply overpowers defensive backs when the ball is in the air. He does have some concentration drops but those are offset by incredible diving catches and acrobatic adjustments down the field. He is a load to bring down after the catch and he’s shown the ability to drag defenders into the end zone (see South Carolina game). Overall, his combination of size, physicality, and nasty temperament is unique. He should be a true No. 1 receiver very early in his NFL career.
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12
David Njoku – TE, Miami
Njoku has a long, muscular frame and outstanding athleticism for the position. He primarily lines up flexed in the slot or split out wide. He has outstanding speed to get down the seam and he does a lot of damage on quick-hit and tunnel screens. He’s not a refined route runner, but instead gets by with pure agility and speed. He has strong hands to reach and pluck the ball away from his frame but he does allow some balls to get into his body and ricochet off him. After the catch, he has an explosive burst and he breaks a lot of tackles. In the run game, he’s a work in progress. He gets in the way to shield and wall off, but he needs to get stronger and more physical at the point of attack. Overall, Njoku is very raw but he has an extremely high upside.
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13
Derek Barnett – DE, Tennessee
Barnett has a square, sturdy frame for the position and he’s been extremely productive throughout his career. As a pass rusher, he primarily wins with power or snap anticipation. He doesn’t have elite speed or agility, but he’s very powerful and he knows how to set up offensive tackles. He has a variety of hand moves and his motor never stops. He knows how to flatten to the quarterback at the very top of his pass rush and he’s an excellent finisher. Against the run, he is inconsistent at the point of attack. He gets washed down the line on occasion but will also destroy tight ends and set the edge. Overall, I love Barnett’s production and motor but there are some concerns with his athleticism.
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14
Christian McCaffrey – RB, Stanford 1
McCaffrey has also been a very productive punt and kickoff returner during his career. As a runner, he is very patient to let his blocks develop. His style is very similar to Le’Veon Bell’s. Once he chooses his running path, he has a burst through the hole and has the lower strength to run through arm tackles. He isn’t really a drop-the-shoulder power runner but he steps through a lot of tackles and he’s very elusive at the second and third levels. He is outstanding as a receiver. He can line up in the slot and run crisp routes, generating separation and naturally catching the ball. He has improved in pass protection but that is still a work in progress. In the return game, he is fearless and his combination of vision, burst and toughness has produced several big plays during his career. Overall, I don’t envision McCaffrey as solely a running back. He can do his damage with 20 touches a game, but they need to come in a variety of ways. His versatility is what makes him special.
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15
Dalvin Cook – RB, Florida State 1
Cook has average size and bulk for the position but he is dripping with instincts, explosiveness, and versatility. As a runner, he’s patient, letting his blocking develop before exploding through the line of scrimmage. His feet are always active and he can avoid defenders in tight quarters because of his quickness. He doesn’t have push-the-pile power at the line of scrimmage but once he builds up speed, he can run through tackles at the second and third levels of the defense. He is outstanding in the passing game, running clean routes and plucking the ball naturally. He will excel in the screen game at the next level. In pass protection, he is an effective cut blocker. Overall, Cook is perfect for the way the NFL game is played today. He is an explosive play waiting to happen.
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16
Forrest Lamp – G, Western Kentucky 2
Lamp carries weight well on his 6-foot-4 frame. He excelled at offensive tackle in college, but I believe it would be in his best interest to move inside to guard at the next level. This is one of the more technically sound linemen you’ll see at the college level. He is quick out of his stance and he bends really well. He keeps his hands in tight and consistently stays on balance. He is always very patient and doesn’t overextend. In the run game, he runs his feet on contact and generates movement at the point of attack. He was lights-out against Alabama. His lack of ideal height and length could be an issue in the NFL but that would be alleviated with a move to guard. Overall, Lamp is very strong, consistent and reliable, which should allow him to get on the field right away.
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17
Gareon Conley – CB, Ohio State 1
Conley has a nice blend of size, speed and instincts. In press coverage, he sits and grabs before releasing and mirroring. He is very fluid when he opens up from press and when he transitions from off coverage. He is very aware in zone coverage and shows an explosive burst to drive on the ball. He showed off his ball skills against Wisconsin in 2016 with two excellent interceptions. He can locate and high point the ball with ease. Against the run, he needs to do a better job of wrapping up and getting runners on the ground. The effort is there but the execution can improve. Overall, Conley is a polished player, ready to contribute right away.
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18
Tre’Davious White – CB, LSU 1
White started all four years at cornerback for the Tigers. He has average size and bulk for the position. In my opinion, he is one of the most improved players in this draft class. He made big strides from 2015 to 2016. He is very physical in press coverage and he’s shown the ability to match up with tight ends when necessary. He is a fluid athlete, but there are some concerns with his deep speed. In zone coverage, he is outstanding. He has a quick pedal with outstanding route recognition and anticipation. He arrives in time to make plays on the ball or deliver big hits. I love his aggressiveness. He does have a bad habit of getting a little handsy when the ball is in the air; that can be fixed. He is very aggressive and reliable in run support. Overall, White is trending in the right direction and his best football is ahead of him.
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19
Takkarist McKinley – DE, UCLA 1
McKinley is an undersized player that projects to outside linebacker at the next level. He split time standing up and putting his hand in the ground in UCLA’s scheme. He is a dynamic edge rusher because of his elite get-off and burst. He wins early with speed and he has an explosive inside counter move as well. He is very smooth changing directions and can bend and wrap around the edge. Against the run, he flashes some stack-and-shed ability but he will also get pushed around at times. He is at his best when he’s shooting gaps and relying on his quickness. Overall, McKinley could struggle on run downs but he’s a major force on passing downs. He has double-digit sack potential.
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20
Haason Reddick – LB, Temple 6
Reddick primarily lined up at outside linebacker at Temple but projects as an inside linebacker in the NFL. He has ideal size, instincts, versatility, and explosiveness. Against the run, he is quick to shoot his hands, hold the point of attack, and locate the football. He does hang on blocks too long at times. He will benefit from playing off the line of scrimmage, allowing him to use the extra runway to thud off blockers and quickly free himself to make tackles. He shows tremendous burst, effort, and range from the backside. He is a very skilled blitzer. He has a nifty dip-rip move and excels at avoiding running backs on the way to the passer. He has the speed and agility to match up with backs and tight ends in man coverage. Overall, Reddick is a three-down linebacker with the versatility to play inside or outside depending on the scheme or game plan.
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21
Charles Harris – DE, Missouri 2
Harris has average bulk and length for the position. He lined up in both a two- and three-point stance at Missouri. As a pass rusher, he has a quick first step and a variety of ways to generate pressure. He incorporates a rip move, tight inside spin move, and a slap-swim move. He is sudden at the top of his rush and he’s an excellent finisher. I’d like to see a little more push on his bull rush but he gets by without it. As a run defender, he is better on the backside than the frontside. He plays too high at times and gets uprooted. Overall, Harris is a very polished pass rusher who should be able to harass quarterbacks as soon as he hits an NFL field.
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22
John Ross – WR, Washington
Ross is slightly undersized but has a muscular frame. He lined up inside and outside in Washington’s offense, and also served as the Huskies’ primary kickoff returner. He defeats press coverage with his quickness and can get up to top speed immediately. He runs a lot of speed outs, over vertical routes. When he does have to break down and work back to the quarterback, he’s very efficient and explosive at the top of his route. He tracks the ball naturally and has strong hands. He is an electric kickoff returner with touchdown production. Overall, Ross lacks ideal size and has some durability concerns but is extremely talented and should contribute right away at the next level.
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23
Taco Charlton – DE, Michigan
Charlton has a tall, athletic build with excellent length. As a pass rusher, he can win with quickness or power. He can dip and rip or employ a pure bull rush. He doesn’t have an elite get-off but he has a great feel for how he’s being blocked, effectively countering to get to the passer. Against the run, he’s inconsistent. He flashes the ability to shoot his hands and keep defenders off his chest but he also gets cut a bunch. That’s correctable. Overall, Charlton has the size, athletic ability and savvy to be a solid three-down defender very early in his NFL career.
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24
Jarrad Davis – LB, Florida 5
Davis has ideal size, toughness and range. Against the run, he is very instinctive and he attacks lead blockers. He consistently thuds off blockers, separates and locates the ball. He has outstanding stopping power as a tackler. He has very good lateral range. He gets lost at times in pass coverage, and needs to become more aware as a zone-dropper. He does have the speed and agility to match up with backs and tight ends. Overall, Davis is already a dominant run defender and should improve in the passing game as he continues to develop.
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25
Garett Bolles – OT, Utah 4
Bolles started for only one year at offensive tackle for the Utes. He has good size and length for the position. In pass protection, he is quick out of his stance and bends naturally. He has a sharp, tight punch and a firm anchor. He does get caught oversetting at times, which produces some inside pressure on the quarterback. He has good football awareness considering his limited experience. In the run game, he has knock-off power and shows some nastiness to finish to and through the whistle. He does get overextended at times, but I love his tenacity. Overall, Bolles has some things to clean up but he has starting left tackle ability.
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26
Alvin Kamara – RB, Tennessee 2
Kamara has ideal size, speed and instincts for the position. On inside runs, he has a slashing running style and the ability to get skinny through the hole. His lateral quickness is off the charts and he gets up to top speed in a hurry. He has surprising power at all three levels. Against Vanderbilt, he broke six tackles on the same play. He has the speed to get the edge on outside runs and he’s very elusive in space. He is dangerous in the passing game. He has natural hands and has shown the ability to make special catches (see one-handed grab vs. Texas A&M). The major knock on Kamara is the lack of carries he had during his college career; he’s never carried the ball more than 18 times. However, he has an elite skill set and could end up being the best running back in the entire draft class.
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27
Ryan Ramczyk – OT, Wisconsin 2
Ramczyk started in his only season at Wisconsin after transferring from Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He has ideal size and bulk for the position. In pass protection, he bends easy and has a sharp, quick punch. He can slide and mirror athletic rushers. He does a nice job of reworking his hands and settling down late vs. power rushers. He is very aware vs. twists and stunts. In the run game, he has some initial knock-off power but he needs to become a better finisher. Overall, he doesn’t have a lot of experience but the tools are there for him to be a solid starting left tackle very early in his career.
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28
Deshaun Watson – QB, Clemson 1
Watson has average height and a lean, muscular build for the position. He operates in the shotgun. I love his poise, playmaking ability and intangibles. He holds the ball by his ear and has a smooth, quick delivery. He has enough arm strength to make all of the throws. His accuracy has been very inconsistent, especially on the deep ball. He has some bad misses on tape. He does show the ability to quickly work through progressions and stay poised in the pocket. His decision-making has been another area that needs improvement. He really struggled with red-zone interceptions in his final season. He is a very effective runner. He is slithery to avoid tacklers and has shown outstanding toughness both as a runner and in the pocket. Overall, I think Watson has a lot of upside at the position but his accuracy issues and decision-making are concerns.
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29
Quincy Wilson – CB, Florida 2
Wilson has outstanding height and bulk for the position. He’s built like a safety. In press coverage, he is very inconsistent with his hands and he allows free inside access on occasion. When he does get his hands on opponents, they have a tough time getting away from him. He has some hip tightness in his turn, but he does flash the ability to catch up. He is at his best in zone coverage, where he can see things develop and attack the ball. He has outstanding ball skills (see one-handed INT vs. Kentucky). He is aggressive in run support and an explosive blitzer. Overall, I wish Wilson was more fluid, but he has ideal size, toughness and ball skills. He should be a solid No. 2 cornerback early in his career.
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30
Budda Baker – S, Washington 2
Baker is an undersized player with outstanding speed and instincts. Usually lining up over the slot, he is an excellent underneath defender. He has the speed and agility to cover man to man, and his instincts put him in positon to make a lot of plays on the ball in zone coverage. He is always around the ball but he doesn’t have reliable hands. He is a missile against the run, quickly reading and attacking the line of scrimmage. He is an outstanding blitzer. He doesn’t play to his size. He’s very physical and a dependable tackler in space. He is outstanding covering kicks on special teams. Overall, Baker is very similar to Tyrann Mathieu but he doesn’t possess the same elite ball skills.
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31
Jabrill Peppers – S, Michigan 1
Peppers has played cornerback, safety, linebacker, running back and quarterback during his time in Ann Arbor, and is an incredibly tough evaluation. He has outstanding athleticism, but didn’t look comfortable playing linebacker in 2016, lacking the size to hold up at that spot in the NFL. I think he’s best suited to play strong safety. As a run defender, he relies on his quickness to burst through gaps and find the ball carrier. Once engaged by blockers, he really struggled. He needs to be clean to be effective. In pass coverage, he has plenty of speed and agility to mirror tight ends, and he is a dynamic blitzer. His instincts and ball production are both average. He is a very explosive punt returner, and is both elusive and instinctive as a runner on offense. Overall, Peppers is a better athlete than football player right now, but he has tremendous upside as a strong safety.
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Mitchell Trubisky – QB, North Carolina
Trubisky, a junior, was only a one-year starter for the Tar Heels. He has average height and a thick, square build for the position. He operates in the shotgun and has quick feet in his setup. He has excellent pocket feel and awareness. He has a dip-whip delivery and he generates enough velocity to make all of the necessary throws. He is an anticipation thrower who shows the ability to read the entire field. His accuracy is good, but not great. He has some easy misses on simple underneath throws. He is a very good athlete and throws well on the move to both sides. He is effective on designed QB runs. Overall, Trubisky doesn’t have a lot of experience but he has NFL starting ability.
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DeShone Kizer – QB, Notre Dame
Kizer has a big, sturdy frame for the position and above-average athleticism. He operates from the shotgun and is very comfortable playing inside the pocket. He holds the ball shoulder high and has a nice, smooth throwing motion. He can make every throw with minimum strain. He can drive the ball into tight windows and he flashes the touch to make intermediate throws over linebackers and under safeties. He does have some mechanical issues at times, falling off throws, which can affect his ball placement. I love his poise in the pocket but he needs to speed up his clock at times. He takes some unnecessary sacks. When he does decide to run, he has sneaky quickness and can power through tacklers to pick up extra yardage. He racked up 18 rushing touchdowns over his two seasons as a starter. Overall, Kizer isn’t a finished product but he has all of the desired tools to eventually develop into a solid starting NFL quarterback.
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Cam Robinson – OT, Alabama
Robinson has ideal height, bulk and length for the position. In pass protection, he is effective when he’s patient in his set and stays square. However, there are too many instances where he lunges, loses his balance and gets beat. He has the power base to anchor vs. bull rushers and he flashes an outstanding punch. In the run game, he can generate a lot of movement at the point of attack, but he gets away with a lot of holding in the tapes I studied. Overall, Robinson could be a dominating run blocker early in his career but he needs to clean up some technique in the passing game.
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T.J. Watt – LB, Wisconsin 1
The brother of J.J. and Derek Watt started just one year at linebacker for the Badgers. He is a stand-up edge defender but he’s also used as a walk-around blitzer at times. He has a tall, athletic frame for the position and is a really fun study on tape. As a pass rusher, he has a very quick first step and his hands are outstanding. He doesn’t generate much power with his bull rush but he’s very adept at swiping away opposing hands and closing quickly to the quarterback. He plays every snap at maximum speed and effort. Against the run, he uses his length to stack and shed tight ends routinely and his speed-effort combination is very effective on the backside. Overall, Watt doesn’t have a lot of starting experience, but he could develop into an outstanding 3-4 outside linebacker at the next level.
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Tyus Bowser – LB, Houston NR
Bowser has the skill set to excel on the line of scrimmage or off the ball. Against the run, he uses his quickness to wrap around blockers and make plays. He beats up on tight ends, but offensive tackles can control him when they get their hands on him. He has excellent lateral range and he plays with good effort. He excels against the pass. His combination of quickness and hand moves serves him well as a pass rusher, and he has outstanding cover skills. He lines up over the slot at times and shows the agility to mirror easily. He has tremendous play speed (he covered Dalvin Cook 40 yards down the field) and instincts in coverage. Overall, Bowser is a versatile defender capable of producing double-digit sack seasons as well as matching up with premier tight ends in coverage.
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Adoree’ Jackson – CB, USC
In addition to being USC’s top corner and primary punt and kickoff returner, Jackson saw plenty of time on offense as a receiver and running back. He lacks ideal height and bulk, but he’s a dynamic athlete with tremendous production in all three phases. As a cornerback, he needs to improve his technique and eye discipline, but he has extremely quick feet, elite catch-up speed and outstanding ball skills. He is at his best in off coverage where he can explode out of his pedal and make plays on the ball. On offense, he can take a quick underneath throw and score from anywhere on the field. He is one of the best returners I’ve ever evaluated. Overall, Jackson will need some time to develop as a cornerback, but he has all of the tools to eventually succeed outside or inside in the slot. He should be a Pro Bowl returner early in his career.
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Evan Engram – TE, Ole Miss
Engram is a tight end prospect who lined up flexed in the slot or as a wing at Ole Miss. He is ultra-quick and explosive in the passing game. He is a fluid route runner and shows the ability to accelerate both in and out of the break point at the top of his routes. He excels on seam routes and pivot routes where his combination of speed and quickness is on display. He catches the ball away from his body and flashes the ability to make special one-handed grabs. He has a long way to go as a blocker. He is weak at the point of attack and consistently falls off defenders after initial contact. Overall, Engram is a matchup nightmare in the passing game and a liability in the run game.
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Chidobe Awuzie – CB, Colorado
Awuzie was a four-year starter for Colorado, where he played all four positions in the secondary and also saw some action at outside linebacker during his career. I believe cornerback is his best pro position but his versatility is a tremendous asset. He is ultra-instinctive, productive, and tough. In press coverage, he is patient and avoids lunging or getting beat over the top. He flashes a physical two-hand jam, but there are other times where he fails to shoot and allows a clean inside release. In off coverage, he has a fluid pedal and shows a burst to drive on balls in front. He is fluid to open up and mirror. He has excellent ball awareness down the field. My only concern was a lack of top-tier deep speed but he showed he was plenty fast enough at the combine. Overall, Awuzie is polished and ready to start Day 1 in the NFL.
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Curtis Samuel – RB, Ohio State
Samuel splits his time pretty equally between lining up at running back and in the slot. As a runner, he excels on outside runs where he can incorporate his speed and burst to turn the corner and run away from defenders or make them miss. He doesn’t have much power as an inside runner but he can get skinny and burst through the hole. He lacks the size and strength to carry a heavy load at the next level. He is special as a slot receiver. He is sudden, efficient and instinctive. He can explode by defenders on vertical routes and he’s dynamic after the catch. Overall, I think Samuel could emerge as an elite playmaker at the next level. He should primarily play in the slot but he’s capable of handling 8-10 carries per game as well.
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Josh Jones – S, N.C. State 7
Jones moved all around in the Wolfpack defense. In each game I watched him play in, he aligned as the high safety, in the box, or over the slot. He is extremely fluid and athletic. He has outstanding range from the deep middle and he shows a burst to fill the alley in run support. In the slot, he has the size to match up with tight ends and enough agility to redirect against smaller receivers. He is instinctive and displays excellent ball awareness. He doesn’t always bring his feet on contact but when he does, he demonstrates stopping power. Overall, Jones is a very gifted athlete with a high upside as a free safety.
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Tim Williams – LB, Alabama 1
Williams has been a major contributor at linebacker for the past two seasons at Alabama. He has ideal length, twitch, and power as an edge rusher. He can win with speed on the outside or with a devastating inside counter move. He loves to slap and rip through offensive tackles. His spin move against Michigan State in the 2015 College Football Playoff semifinals was one of the best I’ve ever seen. He does need to do a better job of flattening to the quarterback when he’s running the outside loop. He also has some work to do as a run defender. He flashes the ability to stack and hold the point of attack, but he’ll also get caught upfield and struggle to find the ball at times. Overall, Williams has double-digit sack potential, but there are some concerns off the field and his run defense needs to improve.
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Kevin King – CB, Washington 1
King started games at safety earlier in his career before settling in at cornerback. He has outstanding height and a rail-thin frame for the position. He is an excellent press corner because of his length, physicality and toughness. He has some rigidness when he opens his hips, but he doesn’t give up much separation. I do have some concerns with his recovery speed, but he doesn’t need it very often. From off coverage, he is instinctive and avoids taking the cheese on double moves. His ball skills are outstanding, and he is reliable in run support. Overall, King will be very attractive to teams that live in press coverage and covet size.
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Marlon Humphrey – CB, Alabama 1
Humphrey has an outstanding combination of size, speed and toughness. At his best in press coverage, he is patient and flashes a quick two-hand jam. He has the speed to turn and mirror vertical routes, and he’s fluid to open up underneath. In off coverage, he isn’t as consistent. He plays out of a side turn and has struggled vs. double moves. His biggest issue is playing the ball down the field. He’s normally in position, but he loses too many 50-50 balls to wide receivers. He is an aggressive run defender who has an edge to him after the play is over. Overall, Humphrey has starting ability, but his ball awareness down the field is a major concern.
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Obi Melifonwu – S, Connecticut 1
Melifonwu is a four-year starter at safety for the Huskies. He has a rare blend of size and speed for the position. He primarily aligns as the high safety, although he will occasionally drop down and play the robber role and even see some reps outside at cornerback. He plays very deep (20-plus yards) and he uses his long stride to close distance in a hurry. Against the run, he takes good angles and comes to balance before wrapping and dragging the opponent to the ground. He isn’t an explosive striker but he has a high batting average. Against the pass, he has average instincts but he has the speed to make up for it. He takes proper angles and doesn’t allow the ball to sail over his head. He was very impressive playing cornerback during one-on-one drills at the Senior Bowl; I wouldn’t hesitate to give him a shot at the position. Overall, Melifonwu has all of the tools to develop into a top-tier free safety in the NFL, with the flexibility to match up with bigger wideouts and tight ends when needed.
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Zay Jones – WR, East Carolina NR
Jones was a four-year starter for the Pirates. He has ideal size for the position and rare production at the collegiate level. He lines up both in the slot and outside. He beats press coverage with his quickness and he understands how to use his body to shield off defenders. He is a clean, efficient route runner, but he wasn’t asked to run a wide variety of routes at East Carolina. He doesn’t have elite speed but he consistently ran away from coverage during the Senior Bowl practices. He has very strong hands and excels at attacking the football at the highest point. He needs to improve after the catch. He isn’t very elusive or powerful with the ball in his hands. Overall, Jones is a high-volume pass-catcher who should be productive in the red zone because of his combination of size and ball skills.
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Marcus Williams – S, Utah
Williams has a tall, lean build for the position. This is a true centerfield safety. He has excellent instincts, range and ball skills. He has a quick, fluid pedal, and he’s very adept at reading the quarterback and ranging toward the football. He has very good ball skills. He isn’t as effective in the run game, with inconsistent angles of pursuit, and he’s not a great tackler in space. Overall, Williams is a ball-hawking safety who will make plays in the passing game, but he needs to improve in run support.
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Teez Tabor – CB, Florida 13
Tabor has good height and a lean, athletic build for the position. He is at his best in off coverage or zone coverage. He utilizes a quarter turn (butt to the sideline) and uses his instincts/anticipation to drive on the ball and make big plays. He has an excellent short-area burst, and his ball skills are elite. In press coverage, he’s not quite as effective. He’s not very physical and he will occasionally get turned around. He isn’t ultra-aggressive in run support and he does miss some tackles. Overall, Tabor has some flaws, but he gets his hands on a lot of footballs and I think that trend will continue at the next level.
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Jordan Willis – DE, Kansas State 4
Willis has a thick, square build for a defensive end. Against the pass, he relies on a quick first step, length, and effort to generate pressure. He needs to improve his pad level and often exposes his chest to blockers. He can generate some push-back when he gets his hands inside, and he has a nifty push-pull-arm-over move. Against the run, he does a nice job of reworking his hands and setting the edge, and he has enough speed to close the back door and make plays from behind. He does have some stiffness when asked to change direction. Overall, Willis has a similar body type and skill set to the Patriots’ Trey Flowers. I can envision him having similar success at the next level.
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Adam Shaheen – TE, Ashland NR
Shaheen was a two-year starter at tiny Ashland College. He has rare size for the position and excellent agility/quickness. He aligns both as an in-line receiver and flexed out in the slot. In the passing game, he is quick off the line and he builds speed down the field. He understands how to stem up defenders and explode out of the break point. He does a lot of damage on seam and underneath crossing routes. He has an enormous catch radius. The former basketball player can play way “above the rim,” and also has the athleticism to fully extend and make special diving catches. After the catch, he shows burst, power, and elusiveness. As a blocker, he flashes the ability to latch and move at the point of attack, but he needs to become more consistent. Overall, Shaheen has a unique skill set for a man his size. It’s tough to find tight ends with his combination of physical traits and instincts. His upside is remarkable

Rams Head Coach Sean McVay – League Meeting Media Availability – Wednesday, March 29, 2017

(On spending time with some of the veteran head coaches)

“It was pretty cool yesterday. You’re sitting at the pool after we finished up the meetings. You’re sitting there with (Steelers Head Coach) Mike Tomlin and (Saints Head Coach) Sean Peyton and how willing those guys are to share. This is probably the first time that it’s starting to kind of set in, what a unique experience it is. You actually slow down a little bit when you come to these, as opposed to how fast things are going back in L.A. and trying to get everything settled and situated. What a unique thing and what a refreshing experience it has been with how willing everyone has been to share.”

(On what it is like for him to experience a league meeting, when a decade ago he was finishing up college at Miami University (Ohio))

“It’s surreal. It’s very humbling. You reflect back on how appreciative you are to a lot of people that were willing to invest in me. You’re also aware that you’ve been very fortunate with timing. Walking over with (Buccaneers Head Coach) Dirk Koetter this morning, and even thinking back to when I finished playing at Miami (University, Ohio), to have the opportunity to get right in to coaching at the NFL level when (former Buccaneers Head Coach) Coach (Jon) Gruden hires me on at Tampa. I was fortunate where you don’t have to go some of those routes where you’re a GA in college, so that’s where you’re just very appreciative. Being around good people is a huge reason of why I’m fortunate enough to be in this role right now.”

(On if during his time as an assistant coach, he ever wondered what happened at league meetings)

“Well, I think with the coverage that this gets, people always joke, ‘Do you watch anything other than ESPN and NFL Network?’ But, because of the coverage you kind of have an awareness and an understanding. And (Redskins Head Coach) Jay (Gruden) was always so willing to share, especially when you get to where you’re off because of the league meetings because the general manager and the Head Coach and owners are going to this. I think it’s a unique experience. Didn’t know what to expect. When you’re sitting in those meetings yesterday with the owners, GMs are voting on a couple of those different things. (Falcons President and CEO) Rich McKay is up there explaining and articulating why some of these propositions are being made or some of the other teams that might have proposed a change is pretty cool. It kind of gives you a better understanding of what we’re trying to get done for this game.”

(On if he has noticed a change from being in a position to make suggestions to making decisions)

“I think the first time, really a couple years ago when you go back, when Jay gives you the opportunity to call plays in Washington is the first time where you’ve got the accountability to make those decisions, they’re highly scrutinized or you’re fortunate enough, if things work out, where you feel good about it. But, being in a role where you’re involved in some of the personnel where you’re having discussions with (General Manager) Les (Snead) on a daily basis about what type of players are we trying to acquire. Then, based on what we did in free agency how that’s going affect the way that we approach the draft. It’s really unique. But, I think it goes back to that communication – we always talk about it, it’s a trademark of any quality organization – and that’s what we’re going to strive to do. It’s about us all collaborating and figuring out a way to do it. The other thing that I would say is what’s been so refreshing is getting a chance to come in to this opportunity, some of the other leaders that were already in place – are really strong. And that enables you to keep the main thing, the main thing. You can keep it about coaching – that’s why you can’t wait for the players to get involved. You can really lean on Les and (Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer) Kevin Demoff with their leadership – that’s why you’re excited. You’re sitting there at dinner last night with a lot of these people and that’s why you say, ‘Let’s get this right,’ because these are a bunch of good people and I want to be able to do this with them for a really long time.”

(On his use of technology in assessing players and if that’s part of his generation)

“I think what’s unique about that is as you look at all of the different things that are at our disposal to be able to more efficient with how you work. I wouldn’t say that I’m quite there yet. But, being able to understand how you can make a cut-up quickly. How you can utilize and access information about a certain player, different things like that – they’ve already done a good job. Les has incorporated kind of a specific area in the building where you have three really smart people that have a bunch of different analytical data that they can pull anything up based on what we’re looking for. I do think it’s a benefit. Really, that’s our entire staff. We have a bunch of experienced people but they’re all still youthful where they’re up-to-date. I think that can enable you to be more efficient, especially when you go throughout the process of acquiring players – gathering that information and then when you’re trying to put together a game plan on a weekly basis and compiling that data that is going to dictate and determine a lot of those decisions that are made on gameday.”

(On Demoff saying that the roster is starting to take on McVay’s image)

“That’s nice of Kevin. I think they are taking on our image, kind of what we’ve all agreed that we’re looking for. When you really look at some of the players that we’ve acquired; when you look at an (T) Andrew Whitworth, you look at a (RB) Lance Dunbar, (WR) Robert Woods – especially just on offense – get (CB) Kayvon Webster and (OLB) Connor Barwin – these are good people that kind of represent what we want to be in terms of that football character: accountability, coach-ability, you can depend on these guys. Then, they also have a certain way about themselves when you talk about them. Kayvon’s kind of the guy that doesn’t have as much experience. Lance is a guy that when he got his opportunities in Dallas, I thought he showed really well. But, you look at Connor Barwin, you look at Andrew Whitworth – these are guys that have been Pro Bowl caliber players. I worked very closely with Jay (Gruden) – couldn’t say enough things about Andrew Whitworth. Then you get around him and you see this guy is different. He’s played at an extremely productive level and he’s a grown man. I think for our offense, especially with how many young players that we have when you look at (WR) Tavon (Austin), (RB) Todd (Gurley) and (QB) Jared (Goff) – a lot of those skill guys. I think being able to have a player of his magnitude, but also just the way that he handles himself is going to be extremely beneficial. He’s going to be someone that I’m going to lean on. He’s the only guy on the team that’s older than me, but he’s great. Then, Robert Woods is a guy that I’ve been really impressed with him just going back and watching him play at USC. He does all of the little things the right way. He’s competing in the run game. He can play inside, outside. Aaron Kromer, our offensive line coach, was with him last year. Then (Redskins Wide Receivers Coach) Ike Hilliard who I was with in Washington the last handful of years had him in Buffalo. Everybody that you talk to can’t say enough nice things and good thing about him. (Defensive Coordinator) Wade (Phillips) was with both Connor and Kayvon and having his opinion on those guys and that intricate, inside knowledge, especially with Kayvon when he didn’t have a lot of snaps is really helpful and it’s why you’re glad to have a guy like Wade Phillips that we can all lean on. I think his resume speaks for itself.”

(On his first meeting with Whitworth)

“The first meeting was – the way things are set-up – really, the first time that you’re meeting him in person was when he came in to sign his contract. Just how impressive he is when you talk football, you feel like you’re talking to a coach. Talking to those other coaches that have been with him: Jay (Gruden), (Bengals Defensive Coordinator) Paul Guenther, (Bengals Offensive Coordinator) Ken Zampese, even (Bengals Head Coach) Marvin (Lewis) – talking about the leader that he is. Whether it was offensive or defensive players, he had a way of bringing people together. You get around him and he’s got a presence and a way about himself that’s very impressive. He’s a guy that we feel very fortunate to have. He brings his family in and you can see he’s all about the right stuff. That’s why, I think, he’ll be great for us.”

(On the best thing that Wade Phillips has given him so far)

“What he did was, when you’re looking at setting up for phase one, especially kind of getting to know the team, how we’re going to meet as a team, establish our identity, both what we’re looking for in Rams and that kind of culture we’re trying to create. Initially, we had things set-up where we were going to meet 30 minutes at the beginning of the week to kind of set the tone, and Wade comes up – and he’s been great about picking and choosing his spots – and he says, ‘I think it’s really important for you to meet with the team every day, so they can get a feel and especially establish that rapport with the defensive players.” To have somebody like that, that’s been in this role but from a defensive perspective and how he connected with the offensive players – I think that’s great. You sit in some of their defensive staff meetings. He’s got a subtle way about just what he picks up on and what he notices, just those fundamental things – you quickly realize why he’s such a good coach. I know I’m going to learn a lot from him. That first meeting when he was meeting with the defensive staff, I loved what he said. I’ve said this to a couple of you guys before. He says, ‘You’re not working for me, you’re working with me.’ I love that. I thought that was something that we want to embody as an organization, especially with our whole coaching staff. It’s kind of something every day, but that was one thing recently that stood out. We’re going to meet every day. It won’t be too long, but it will be a chance to allow the team to get to know us and get to know me as a coach.”

(On if he expects T Andrew Whitworth to be a sounding board for QB Jared Goff)

“Absolutely. I think, especially when you look at that left tackle position, what he’ll be able to do for Jared and that mentorship – and he’s seen what it looks like. You’re talking about (former Bengals QB) Carson (Palmer) and (Bengals QB) Andy (Dalton), those are guys that have played an extremely high level. You look at the success they’ve had in Cincinnati when he’s been there. I think there’s a lot of value in guys that know what it looks like when it’s right. There’s a certain way that players who are those leaders, where it’s genuine and authentic, their message is going to resonate even different than a coach, just based on the way things are structurally set up. You can say something, but when Andrew Whitworth is talking to Jared, or even a (RB) Todd (Gurley), just offering his bit of advice, I think it’s received in a different way, because they’re actually the ones that are going to battle in and out of the huddle with him. I think that’s what his contribution will be and I definitely expect him to do the same.”

(On how he monitors Jared Goff when coaches cannot have contact with the players)

“That’s what’s so frustrating. Because you want to be able to be around these guys – he wants to be in the building, you want to start teaching him our system and see how he’s able to articulate our verbiage, yell it in the huddle and then be able to translate it to the grass. I think what’s ended up happening right now is he’s done a good job, he’s gone out of his way to seek out (baseball pitching coach and quarterback coach) Tom House, working on throwing the football and things like that. I think he’s got a little bit of an idea of what we’re going to try to do, so when he’s throwing with some of our receivers, you’re at least getting work in where it’s going to translate to what we’re going to be doing here in a couple weeks. But it’s really frustrating and that’s why that April 10th date can’t come around fast enough. And it’s why, when you’ve got nine weeks – and really we’ve got 10 with the addition of that voluntary minicamp, being (our first as a staff) – you can’t waste a single day. Every minute is so precious and none more important than at that quarterback position, because of the amount of information that he’s going to have to absorb and be able to retain.”

(On what would happen if Tom House teaches Jared Goff different mechanical things than what McVay would teach)

“That’s why I thought it was really important where we’re in alignment. We’ve talked Tom, Tom and Adam (Dedeaux), they’ve been great. And, actually, (offensive coordinator) Matt LaFleur was kind of the one that put it in motion because he and (Falcons QB) Matt Ryan, they did that last year and had a bunch of success. And I know it really helped Matt (Ryan) and Matt (LaFleur) felt really good about it. We are in alignment with a lot of the fundamentals and a lot of the mechanics in terms of how we want to throw the football in an efficient manner. That’s what’s nice about it, before he even goes and works with those guys, you know that your core beliefs are in alignment with some of the things they’ve been working on.”

(On if he would be in favor of allowing coaches to have more contact with quarterbacks in the offseason)

“Absolutely. I think, as a coach – if you ask any of these guys, I think they’re all going to say, ‘Of course, we want our players around more, we want to be able to have more access to them and them to us.’ I think it serves a couple of different roles. For one, it gives you a chance to develop a relationship, more of a rapport with them from just a foundational level, but then also being able to teach them football – I don’t think that can be underappreciated. Anytime, as a coach, you’re going to ask if I want the players around more, the answer is always going to be yes. And I would be willing to bet that the other 31 guys would say the same thing.”

(On if it is different at the quarterback position in particular)

“Yeah, I think it’s so important. That’s why you see some teams bring in those quarterbacks early in training camp. It’s why you appreciate – being in Washington with a couple guys that truly were extensions of our coaching staff – that’s what you hope to quickly do with Jared and (QB) Sean Mannion and we just added (QB) Aaron Murray, as well. The amount of information, you always talk about it all the time, just from an offensive philosophy and I learned that this goes back to my grandfather’s influence on me and what he said (former 49ers Head Coach) Bill Walsh would always talk about is it’s the most difficult position in all of sports, it’s the most important one for the football team, so everything that we do starts with the quarterback in mind. And our job is to make the most difficult position as easy as we can – obviously you can’t do that, but being able to have them have an understanding and kind of know from our perspective what we’re thinking and why we’re running certain plays in different situations is going to be the important thing and that’s why you need more time with these guys.”

(On if he is going nuts not being able to talk to the players)

“Absolutely. You’re going nuts because, again, going back to that April 10th date, they’re around – that’s the nice thing about the L.A. area, that the players stay around. There are certain places where they get out of town and live in other places in the offseason. So, if you had the ability to be able to spend more time with them, especially because they’re around, even if it was something where, if they wanted to come in, you could do it. You can’t even do that. And that’s why, what you’re doing right now, you’re so busy, there are so many different things – with free agency, implementing our schemes where the coaches are getting on the same page so when April 10th does come, we’re all speaking the same language, especially that quarterback position, where Matt LaFleur, (quarterbacks coach) Greg Olson, myself, we’re going to have a lot of interaction with Jared and Sean and that quarterback room as a whole. Making sure that all three of us coming from different places, are speaking that same language and not sending mixed messages is going to be important. And that’s kind of how you’re passing time right now.”

(On how much he will coach the quarterbacks and if he will be in the quarterback room every day)

“What we’ll do is, a lot of the ways we’ll implement our offense will be skill-driven. Most of the time, unless it’s a unit meeting where you’re addressing the entire offense and you’re talking about something that applies to everybody, we’ll start out with the quarterbacks, receivers, tight ends and running backs are all together. I’ll be involved in all those meetings where you’re installing the offense, you’re talking about some of the core things, showing some of the tape. And then I think it is important, when you break up individually, to let the coaches coach. That’s something that I really took from (Washington Head Coach) Jay (Gruden), is his ability to empower his assistants, trust them to do their job and that’s what you want to be able to do. I’ll try to be in there, but I also think it’s important for me to be visual and visible to the entire team. I look at it as my contribution to the offense will be to install with those skill players and then when you break up individually, letting those coaches coach, find a way to bounce around where you’re able to be visible. That’s kind of how that will be. And then, on the field, if we ever have an unscripted period, or during certain things like that, I’ll call the plays. But individual drills, I want to allow those coaches to coach their players and develop that rapport with them as well.”

(On how much it sped up his process that Jay Gruden let him coach)

“I think it’s a huge reason why I’m fortunate enough to be in this role. Because, until you do that, as a coach you always like to think you’re preparing yourself – and then until you do it, you realize what a difficult task it is. I’ve heard (Steelers Head Coach) Mike Tomlin say this, ‘Everybody has the answers, but no accountability.’ When you start calling plays, you’re accountable for those decisions and different things that are made. I thought it was great just to be able to do that. You look at, from year one to year two, how much you learned and you realize you’re a much better play-caller when you have good players like we had in Washington, too. It was great, I think it’s a huge reason why I’m sitting here. I can’t tell you how much I learned from that.”

(On QB Kirk Cousins’ value to Washington and to its offense)

“It’s funny, because you know what a big fan of his that I am. The first week that I got the job, they asked me about this and you go on and on about Kirk – I get a call from Rams (Executive Vice President of Football Operations/C.O.O.) Kevin Demoff saying, ‘Hey, when you talk about other players now, that’s tampering, you can’t do that.’ I would love to be able to go on, but I can’t talk about Kirk right now.”

(On how he eases the transition to the NFL for young quarterbacks who haven’t called plays in a huddle before)

“That’s it right there. Because a lot of the things that you’re trying to evaluate, especially in the college game, playing underneath the center and running a play-action game, just doing some different things, it’s totally different. It’s why you have to do a good job projecting and being able to see what are those three or four things that you really value from an intangible standpoint and then from a physical-trait standpoint that you can’t evaluate when you might not be able to see a guy work through pure progression or different things like that. I think those guys that are doing that, those teams that you see operate underneath a center in a conventional pro-style, if you will, they’re a little bit easier to evaluate. But I think there’s examples of guys around the league having success. And I think good coaches do a nice job of adjusting and adapting to whatever your players do best. We were just talking about it earlier, the thing that’s frustrating, especially with the quarterback spot is how little time you get with them. So then you end up projecting, you say, ‘Okay, we’re going to take a Jared Goff.’ And he’s almost exclusively operating out of the shotgun at Cal, he plays for three years and now he comes in as a rookie, he has seven games of experience where he showed some signs, showed some of those things. That’s why, when you get into this role, you want to be able to get with him right away because there’s so many different things you want to see and evaluate. But it does much, much more difficult. That’s why you have to do a good job evaluating, projecting and figuring out what you’re looking for that you value and then see if it translates.”

(On how much QB Jared Goff has been in the film room this offseason)

“He’s around, he’s hungry for information. There’s even still some restrictions. Even if he wants to be there, you can’t do anything that’s football related. He’s around though, and you can tell he’s dying to get going. It’s the same thing with (Rams QB) Sean Mannion, and a lot of those players. They’re all around and they’re present. Most of the guys have been in the building where you get a chance to meet them face-to-face. He’s around and you want to be able to spend a lot more time with him.”

(On the transition from adapting to the West Coast from the East Coast)

“I’ve had people joke with me. They say, ‘You seem like an L.A. guy already.’ But, it’s been good. Anytime that you get a chance to go from Washington (D.C.) to L.A., I think it’s really just getting used to the three hour time difference. That’s the one biggest change. I love being in a city with great weather. I like to be be outdoors as much as possible. It’s like teasing me though, when you see how nice it is and you’re inside doing some different stuff. But, I’ve loved every second of it. Where our facilities are, it’s in a great place in Thousand Oaks. The biggest thing is getting used to communicating with people back East on the three hour time difference. Fortunately, I’m an early guy, so it kind of times up. But at the end of the night, if you want to call somebody at 8:00 (p.m.) when you’re on your way home, and it’s 11:00 (p.m.) back there, usually most people are sleep by then. That’s been the biggest transition.”

(On if he’s going to continue to call plays, and if so, how he will balance it)

“That’s really important, and I am going to call the plays. When you really look at it, I think it’ll be a collaborative effort. That was something where when we put together a game plan, it’s going to involve all of our offensive assistants. In essence, we’re just setting the table. And there’s a bunch of conversation and dialogue that goes on throughout the course of the game where you heavily rely on your assistants. And then, you’re the one that kind of sends it in and communicates with the quarterback. Talking about it earlier, I think that’s why you feel so good about the other leadership positions, where you can delegate and trust that they’re going to do their deal. And that’s why you feel so good about having a (Defensive Coordinator) Wade Philips and a (Special Teams Coordinator) John Fassel running the special teams and the defense where you want to be visible. You want to make sure that you’re a Head Coach that is an offensive coach. Not just an offensive coach that is actually the head coach as well. I think it’s going to be an ongoing balance. I talked to (Dolphins Head Coach) Adam Gase about that, because that was one of the things that he’s been able to give me some great advice. Sitting there yesterday with (Saints Head Coach) Sean Payton kind of in a similar role. Having those guys so willing to share and kind of be able to articulate and explain some of the challenges that they went through, has been really helpful. And seeing it first-hand with (Redskins Head Coach) Jay (Gruden) and working for Coach (Jon) Gruden. So, I’ve kind of been around guys that have done it. I think it’s really helpful to be able to see it first-hand, and then have these guys who are so willing to share throughout the course of that.”

(On information that other coaches have shared with him that has helped his transition)

“I think trust your assistants. Then, make sure that, especially if you are going to call out how important it is to be involved in those meetings, so that the message that the players are getting is consistent. Because especially with some of these guys you haven’t worked with, you got to make sure that what you’re saying is received by the players. They’re all hearing that same message so that they know exactly what the roles and responsibilities are within the framework of a concept or a certain play. That communication is extremely important. Then, being able to trust those other guys that when you’re not able to be there, knowing that that message is going to be consistent, and it all goes back to communication.”

(On if he’s ever talked to his grandfather about his time with the New York Giants)

“Absolutely. It’s funny, if you’ve ever met my grandfather, he’s probably one of the most even-keeled people that you’ve ever met. At the time when that occurred, my dad was playing at Indiana University. He’s getting pounded in the New York media about that situation. He calls my grandpa, and he says, ‘Hey Dad, don’t worry. One day, we’ll all look back on this and laugh.’ And my grandfather said, ‘Tim, there is no chance we’ll ever go back to that situation (laughter).’ He said, ‘Ain’t no chance.’ He used some other verbiage in-between that (laughter). But, it ended up kind of being a blessing in disguise where he goes to San Francisco, and gets a chance to be a part of five world championships, and it’s a pretty unique deal. He kept his first and fifth rings. He’s got three sons. He gave his other three rings to his kids. So, when my Dad wears a Super Bowl ring, I go, ‘You can’t wear that man. You didn’t have anything to do with that.’ But, it’s pretty unique, and he has talked to me about that.”

(On if he’s watched that play before)

“Yeah. I think you see that run over, and over again. Then, it pans to my grandfather on sideline. That was a tough experience, but adversity’s inevitable in this game. I think that’s why my grandfather was able to have so much success is he didn’t blink, he kept it moving, and I think he did a nice job for himself.”

(On how difficult it is working with a guy with a one-year deal, when you don’t know where he will be down the road)

“I think when you really look at this league, it’s such a, ‘What’s important now?’ Let’s just stay in the moment and not get ahead of ourselves. You look at how many different things change year-to-year. Even to think that I got a chance to sit here right now in this role, when a year ago, you’re kind of getting ready for the draft for the Redskins. So, I think what’s important is having people that are mentally tough, are able to focus on the now, and realize what’s important, especially with how much this league changes from year-to-year. Being around mentally tough people is kind of what you want, and that’s what a lot of those players were that I was able to work with in Washington.”

(On if he ever had concerns working with quarterbacks in regards to their mental toughness)

“I think what you look at is, the quarterback position is so tolling, there’s so much pressure on it just in general by the nature of the spot. Then, whether it’s a guy getting a big contact, getting a franchise deal, that comes with expectations. I think what’s important is for those guys to remember that you’re either getting paid or you’re becoming a franchise player because you’ve played at a high level. So, don’t lose sight of what got you to this spot. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, just operate. Focus on your role, your responsibility within the framework of each play or kind of whatever we’re asking. I think when you’re around those types of guys, like I’ve been, they’re able to do that. They worry about just being the best football player that they can be, and they know that the rest will kind of take care of itself.”

(On what his thoughts were when he was sitting at the head coaches’ group picture)

“What’s going through my head is, this sun is really bright, I should’ve worn some shades. It’s unique. Just this experience, being around these guys is probably the first time it’s set in where you realize what a unique deal and what a humbling and really cool experience it is to be around these other 31 coaches. It’s definitely something that you’ll cherish. You get that picture and what a flattering and unique, cool experience it’s been.”

(On his experience this week)

“I think what you are, is you’re appreciative. You don’t want to be, kind of, a fan, but in a lot of ways, you have so much respect for this game, that I’m a fan of a lot of these coaches. You have such a huge amount of respect for the way they lead, the way they communicate, the way they call plays and handle different situations. I’m a fan of a lot of these guys. That’s why what’s been cool is sitting down with (Falcons Head Coach) Dan Quinn, like I had mentioned, talking to (Steelers Head Coach) Mike Tomlin and (Saints Head Coach) Sean Payton yesterday, reconnecting with (49ers Head Coach) Kyle (Shanahan). What a neat kind of experience it’s been to have these guys so willing to share. Talking to Dan Quinn about how did he handle his first team meetings – I’ve always respected the way that he’s led. What a mentally tough person he is. You look at the way they handled things after the Super Bowl, talk about the epitome of class. That toughness that his team embodies and kind of personified through their leader. And that’s what’s been, really, awesome about it all – you’re just continuing to learn and grow. And that’s what it’s about.”

(On CB Kayvon Webster Snapchatting former NFL QB Peyton Manning at the Rams facility)

“Yeah, Kayvon’s Snapchats, hanging out with Peyton. Just like you’re talking about with these coaches, when you get some exposure – that’s what’s been really unique about it all, is the exposure you get to different people in certain roles and responsibilities. Peyton is a guy that, obviously, his track record is so impressive with what he represents from the above-the-neck approach as a player. Getting his perspective on how he’s done things, what he thinks based on – whether you’re talking about football or his interaction with teammates – what kind of recommendations he would have for (Rams QB) Jared (Goff), in terms of developing and establishing that rapport with his guys and his receivers and tight ends and backs. Anytime that you get around somebody that’s been great and that’s a surefire first-ballot Hall of Famer, that’s a pretty good deal.”

(On what he saw last year from RB Todd Gurley)

“I think what you look back at is, the run game takes all 11 – whether it’s getting it targeted up front the right way with your linemen, having receivers that are willing to come down and block safeties when they bring an eighth guy down in the box, if you’ve got some run-pass options with the quarterback where you want to run it versus a two safety look and throw it versus single-high, I think it takes all 11. And the back has to do a great job pressing it or reading out his keys, because everybody is tied together. Those landmarks up front are tied in with where the back’s supposed to initially start his read. I think what you still see is a lot of times you have a tendency to just look at the stats instead of the actual tape. I think you still see a natural runner who’s got a great body, he has a natural feel for how to work edges on people. And I think that showed up in spurts last year. Clearly, what he did in his rookie year, I think it sets the expectations where this guy is going to be a great back year-in and year-out. And that’s what we feel, too. I think Todd’s motivated, challenged in the right way to respond and can have a bounce back year. But it’s going to take everybody and Todd is going to be a big part of it and we feel like he’s going to be a really good, consistent back that kind of, is one of the better ones in this league for a long time – that’s the goal.”

(On how he responds to people who question his experience level and young age)

“I think it’s natural. Because you are aware of how fortunate you are to be in this role in such a short amount of time, but I think it’s just about taking it one day at a time and ultimately it’s a production based business. The results will end up dictating and determining what is said about that and that’s why you feel so good about having great people around you. You have to do a great job to help our players reach their highest potential. But, I’ve been fortunate, where you’ve been around this game for such a long time and you realize that if you don’t win, things are going to be said and everybody’s got a job to do and if you do (win) than that’s the goal. Every single week we’re not going to lose sight of that, but right now what we’re focused on is establishing a rapport with our players, getting better every single day, and then ultimately trying to put ourselves in a situation to compete every single week for wins.”

(On if his experience makes him feel like an old soul)

”I’ve had people tell me that. So, I take that as a compliment. You have an appreciation for the history of leadership, especially coaches in general. I’ve always been a big fan of reading, trying to just continue to learn and acquire information. That is something that has been said, and I take it as a compliment.”

(On whether there are any books he’s had time to read recently during his recent move across the country)

“Actually – you try to read a little bit at night – a book I’m reading right now is You Win in the Locker Room First. A guy named Jon Gordon wrote it and Mike Smith (former NFL Head Coach/Buccaneers Defensive Coordinator) had a part in it as well. A lot of the core beliefs, a lot of the things in terms of implementing a culture, what you’re going to be based on – are some of those messages that we want to be able to kind of have be a foundation of what we’re trying to do in L.A. That’s actually the book that I’m reading right now.”

(On anything that he’s read that has been helpful to him in his job)

“The book that I probably pull the most from is The Score Takes Care of Itself. Bill Walsh (former 49ers Head Coach) wrote it with Steve Jameson and that was really after he had finished up and Bill was so willing to share with his process and it was kind of all encompassing. A lot of the core messages had a huge influence on me. I think when you look back at what he was able to do and accomplish, you want to try to mimic and emulate it, but you also want to make it your own. That’s one of the things that I thought was pretty cool, that’s been consistent with a lot of the coaches that I’ve kind of reached out to. You want to make sure you’re establishing that identity, but you also want to do it true to what you and your coaching staff truly believes in and be yourself. That’s probably the book that has been the most influential that you end up pulling from a lot and I go back to it a lot as well.”

(On whether the title of the book is the overall message)

“Yeah, he would say focus on all the little things with precision and detail and the score will take care of itself and that’s where you kind of hear us talk about the process – you focus on that continuous improvement, that daily improvement, that daily excellence and over time those small chunks will incrementally lead to gains and that’s kind of what Bill talked about, be more process driven than with results because inevitably and eventually that will be what ends up getting the results.”

(On coming from the Walsh background and whether he would consider himself a Walsh guy)
“Just based on my grandfather’s experience. I’ve never even met Bill, I’ve never had any interaction with Bill. But my first experience in coaching was working for Coach Gruden and he’s been around Coach Walsh and things like that, so I think it goes back to Bill Walsh. But I would say the people that have been most influential and instrumental in my development so far as a coach have been Jon (former NFL Head Coach) and Jay Gruden (Redskins Head Coach), Bruce Allen (Redskins President) in a different non-coaching role, Mike Shanahan (former NFL Head Coach), worked for Jim Haslett (former NFL Head Coach). I’ve been around a lot of great guys. All of those people are willing to invest and kind of help me grow.”

(On if he’s reached out to Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh with him also being a Miami University (Ohio) alum)

“I saw John the other day, and got a chance to connect with him and have always had a respect for him just watching him from afar. It was funny, I ran into him as I was checking into the hotel and one of the questions that they were asking about with the combine and different things like that, was if all the coaches ran a 40-yard-dash, who would win. A lot of the guys said the younger coach. But he and I played at Miami University (Ohio) and he said ‘I think I would take him. He was a probably a possession receiver at Miami University (Ohio) and I was a corner, so I’ll take him’ (laughs). He’s a great guy. I will definitely reach out to him moving forward.”

(On if he ever ran into Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger at Miami University (Ohio))

“Right when Ben ended up leaving, it coincided with the next year then I came in, so we were never there at the same time. But he came back a couple times. He was honored at some of the games, so you got a chance to meet him. What he did – especially when you watch some of the tape – they finished 10th in the country the year that I committed there, they had a 13-game winning streak, being able to put them on the map. I know they had a bunch of nationally televised games where they did a great job that year and that was big reason why you end up going there and that appeal.”

(On if he ever read up on Miami University (Ohio) coach Paul Brown)

“It’s funny that you mention that. I read about Paul Brown, just with his background with Bill. From that book that I was just talking about, he references Paul quite often and talks about how he was so influential in a lot of Bill’s core beliefs. That’s kind of the way that I’ve been exposed to Coach Brown. But what a great job he did and why he’s respected the way that he is.”

(On his first impressions when he first sat down with Jared Goff)

“The first impressions are this is a guy that is motivated to respond in year two I think he has a little bit more fire then a lot of people realize, where he kind of has that laid back Cali swag, but then when you sit down and you talk to him he’s a fiery guy and he’s serious about football – really willing to learn, really a likable guy. Easy to talk to and I’m looking forward to getting to know him better moving forward.”

(On why he thinks Jared will respond well in year two and what he sees in him)

“I think when you talk to him about the way he received last year and the fire and the passion that he talks about and why he’s challenged to respond. What I really like about him is when you talk about – it’s easy when things don’t go well, to try to deflect and put the blame elsewhere and all he did was take the accountability – here’s what I have to do a better job with moving forward, here’s some of the challenges. That’s what you like and that’s what you want from your leader.”

(On if he’s found a place to live)

“I have. This was the first exposure to L.A. – it’s all over TMZ yesterday. I closed on a place earlier this week. My girlfriend, she’s on social media, I’m not and she says, ‘You know, it’s everywhere. Where we’re living’ and all that stuff. I did. I’m going to be living in Encino, which I’m really excited about that. It’ll probably be a month until I get in it, because my mom’s an interior designer, so she’s going to do a bunch of different things and spend a bunch of my money (laughs).”

(On if he’s going to pay his mom)

“It’s funny, because she’s done the last two places that I’ve lived and she has a great feel for it. Then she gives you the bill and you say, ‘what kind of deal is this for your son?’ She says, ‘This is the (family) discount.’ I said ‘Geeze mom, you got pretty expensive.’”

(On L.A. being such a busy town)

“It’s unique. What I didn’t realize, is getting out to L.A. you realize how normal it is, especially if you go eat or have dinner in West Hollywood, everybody is somebody out there. Two of the first three weekends I’m out there are the Oscars and the Grammys. We were joking around with a girl that works in our business office, (Manager of Business and Executive Operations) Sophie (Luoto), she’s great. She’s from the L.A. area and she is kind of able to set it up and she has a feel for some of the restaurants. And I called her, I want to say it was Oscar weekend, and I said can we get into Catch L.A. with like a group of 10 and she found a way to get it done. Which is kind of a popular deal, but she told (Senior Assistant) Tony Pastoors, ‘We have to tell coach that he has to give me a little more advanced notice, when it’s Oscar and Grammy weekend. He has to get to know the social calendar a little bit better around here too.’ (laughs)”

(On when he first met Mike Tomlin and how he has helped him)

“I first met Mike a couple years ago through (current Falcons Assistant Head Coach) Raheem Morris. Raheem is a guy that I was able to establish a relationship with, I know Mike was kind of his mentor and really instrumental and influential in his career. One of the things I’ve always appreciated about Mike, just watching him from afar, is he’s got a presence and a charisma about himself where you always feel Mike Tomlin in a room. I haven’t had a chance to spend a whole lot of time one-on-one, but in the times that you have, you always walk away impressed. He seems like he never has a bad day. He has a great way about himself, just dealing with people. And that’s something that I want to try to mimic and emulate. I think Coach Gruden was very similar in that regard, where they’re two big personalities that you always felt and I thought they did a great job with their motivation. What Mike’s been is just a great influence in terms of that advice for how to deal with a team, how to handle adversity, always making sure that you have a message but you stay true to yourself, who you are and what your core beliefs are. I can’t tell you how much respect I have for Mike and I’ll continue to try to bother him. We don’t play them this year, so hopefully he’ll be a little more willing to share.”

(On if it’s a sharing experience when he talks to Tomlin or if it is mostly him asking questions)

“It hasn’t been a lot of that. I think he’s probably always just taking in and having that dialogue. Mike’s a guy that, in our interactions, it’s been more conversational than anything. I’m sure that he’s observing and taking stuff in, but I’m the one that’s asking questions. You have your notes and you want to make sure that you get an opportunity to get everything in and take it all in when he’s willing to sit down and talk to you.”

(On when becoming a head coach started being on his radar)

“I think, when you get into coaching, it’s always a goal. I’ve always been intrigued with leading, teaching and motivating. Whether you’re an assistant coach, whether you’re a coordinator, whether you’re a head coach, I think inevitably, it’s all-encompassing. That natural progression kind of takes care of itself. I’ve always learned that if you try to focus on your job and do it to the best of your ability, then eventually those next steps will come if it’s the right situation and you do a good enough job. That’s why you feel good about coming from Washington, where Jay enables you and empowers you to do a lot of the different things – where you’re addressing the unit, you’re making some of the decisions. Then, you look at it now where you’re doing it with the entire team. It’s an exciting challenge and it’s something that we’ll all do together. It’s not just about me, it’s about us, collectively, doing it as a group.”

(On when becoming a head coach this year was becoming more serious to him)

“I think as soon as we lost to the Giants, (McVay’s agent) Bob LaMonte calls me and says, ‘The L.A. Rams and 49ers want to talk to you.’ I said, ‘Oh my God, you have to be kidding me.’ I’m still getting over not getting that thing done on that Sunday afternoon. But that was immediately when it started. You always try to set your goals in alignment and you want to make sure that, when the opportunity presents itself, you’re ready to attack it and go compete for the job. That was what was exciting about it, when you get into it, even getting on board with Bob, he’s got a great program where they kind of, in essence, help prepare you for these interviews. That’s something that goes back to when you’re on the radar. Where you might potentially get those opportunities so when you go into it, you expect to compete for the job. You don’t want anything given to you. But what I thought was unique about it, what was pretty cool and flattering was I don’t think a lot of people expected us to be sitting in this situation. But, you go there, you present a vision and you know that it’s about a lot more than just you, and I think you feel good about that. And that’s why I was excited about being able to earn this job.”

(On the vision he presented to the Rams)

“I think you’ve got a vision for the team and then you have a vision for each individual player within the framework of the team. We talk about this a lot, we’re trying to be a culture of we, not me. It’s always about the team and really, what’s going to help us establish that is our character and our communication. That’s football character and kind of that mental make-up. Your understanding of different things, but you want players that are coachable, that are dependable, that are accountable, they’re great teammates. And then that communication, I think, is a quality trademark of any organization that is a quality organization. When you look at what we want our individual players to represent from that make-up, we’re looking for mentally and physically tough players who are smart and love to compete. When you say smart, you talk about situational awareness, guys that are instinctual, that are smart football players. I’m not the smartest guy, but I’d like to think you have a little bit of awareness and an understanding about the game. I’m looking for good football players that get situations and that’s our job to be able to teach that and we want to make sure that we’re doing to the little things the right way. It was those things, kind of sharing on terms of how we saw their personnel, how you develop a quarterback. And being around the guy that I was in Washington, his success definitely helps get you into some of these situations. It felt more like a conversation than an interview, and that was why I was so excited to be a part of this with Kevin and Les.”

(On where he picks up with Jared Goff)

“You start from scratch. With him, the first thing is being able to learn our verbiage, how to call a play, get in and out of the huddle and understand the intent of the play, the mechanics, what are the problems with it. It’s a daily process and it’s very important for us to incrementally give him our offense and help him learn that. Once we get out on to the grass, I think we’ll have a much better idea. It’s one thing to sit in the meeting room, talk about it, then him being able to regurgitate that information. It’s a totally different thing when you’re accepting a snap, you’re having to decipher a coverage and how that dictates and determines where I’m going to go, what’s the timing and rhythm. Once you get on to the grass, that’s really where we’ll start to see how much he’s able to retain. Then based on the more that he can handle, the more we’ll give him. But it’s starting from ground one. And that’s really for everybody when you’re teaching them a system.”

(On the influence that his grandfather, John McVay, has had on him and if they have stayed in contact)

“I’m in contact with him pretty frequently. He’s had a huge influence. I think he’s really been such a huge example of why I was fortunate enough to get into this business right away. Especially coming here this week, you realize how many different people he’s touched, what a small circle of people it is in this league. He’s been a huge influence and a huge mentor of mine. I’ll continue to go back to this – I know, I’m not naïve to think that I wasn’t fortunate to get in when I did and a lot of that is because of his reputation and what he was able to accomplish in this league, doing things the right way.”

(On if he has remained in contact with his grandfather)

“Oh yeah, I’ve remained in contact with him. He lives, actually, off Lake Folsom in the Sacramento area. Once we get through the offseason program, I’ll zip up and see him this offseason. But, I talk to him all the time.”

(On how much he takes from other coaches he’s been with)

“I think you’re a product of your experiences and what you’ve been exposed to. Fortunately for me, I’ve seen it done the right way from a lot of great coaches. So, I think what you’re always doing is you’re kind of pulling, and saying this is something that I like, but you also want to make it true to what we’re trying to do in L.A.. Being around guys like Jon Gruden, Jay Gruden, Mike Shanahan, when you see the way they lead, the way that they teach, the way that they handle adversity or certain things, problems that inevitably will come up. You always want to try to incorporate that and that’s why this week is such a great opportunity because guys have been so willing to share. How do you handle your first team meeting, how do you deal with players that are late? All the different things that come up and being around people that are willing to share, you definitely pull that and you include it in kind of the way that we’ll do things in L.A.”

(On what his grandfather has shared with him)

“The one thing that he told me is the salaries are a lot different. Really, I think coaching is coaching. I think a lot of the ways you communicate with technology and kind of the ways that we’re able to put together a game plan has shaped the way you go about it, and how much more efficient we can be now. I think it all goes back to building relationships with these players, and then being sound and good communicators. I think that’s been something that’s always been true. You look at any great coach, I will be willing to bet that they all probably have that similar trait and characteristic. I think whether it’s 1978, 1958, 2017 – those things that you value and you want to embody as a good leader and as a great coach, will remain the same.”

(On the adversity his grandfather faced)

“We’ve absolutely talked about it. I think what you realize is that adversity is inevitably in this game. In some form or fashion, it’s going to come up. I think how you handle that and how you respond is really what ends up determining what type of leader and what type of person you are. I think you look at the way my grandfather was able to respond from that tough experience says a lot about him. Where you kind of don’t blink. You show me a successful person, you show me a great leader, they’ve been through some adversity and they’ve responded in a way that you want to show that mental toughness, that resilient mindset. I think that’s what he did.”

(On if he has spoken with former NFL Head Coach Herm Edwards)

“You know, I haven’t. But when I do come across Coach Edwards, I’m going to say, ‘You caused my family a lot of stress,’ (laughs).”

(On TE Tyler Higbee’s role in the offense)

“I think that’s something that we’re going to continue to evaluate and I’ll have a better feel for it once we get on the grass. But he is a guy that I really liked coming out of college – I think he’s got a natural feel on the pass game. A good feel for how to work those seams, he has a big catch radius. Talking to (General Manager) Les (Snead) about some of the things that he did, especially early in camp, gets you excited to be around him. But how we’ll utilize him will be predicated on, kind of, what we feel like his best strengths are. He’s going to be different than (Washington TEs) Jordan Reed and Vernon Davis. We have to find a way to fit our stuff to Tyler Higbee and make sure we’re accentuating his skillset – that’s something that’s going to be evaluated once we get into the field in Phase Two and Phase Three (of the offseason program). But he is a guy that we’re excited to work with and just getting around him, he’s got a nice way about himself. Looking forward to seeing how he competes when we get on the grass.”

(On if he has spoken with former Rams RB Eric Dickerson)

“I have, actually right when I got hired. Eric’s been great. I talked to him the day that I got hired and I’ve run into him a couples times since. I saw him at the Super Bowl, saw him at the Combine as well. He’s a guy that will be around. You look at what he was able to accomplish as a player in his career – and I think what’s important is there are so many great players that were a part of this organization and you want those guys around. You want winners around, they know what it looks like. Marshall Faulk, Kurt Warner, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce – D’Marco Farr is still present. I think being able to have those guys around, where your players can see. And we were talking about it earlier, there’s a difference when a guy has done it, he’s been in that role when he’s talking to a Todd Gurley and a (RB) Lance Dunbar, kind of what it looks like. I have talked to Eric and he’s a guy that I’m looking forward to getting to know a little bit better, as well.”

(On why he thinks some coaches are reticent to bring in former players)

“I don’t know. I can just say this, the guys that I’ve been around have always embraced and appreciated that and that’s something that we’ll try to do in L.A.”

(On if Jay Gruden has spoken with him about Gruden’s first season in the NFL)

“Oh yeah, we talked about that all the time. I think, especially when you look at his first year going into a lockout – but he talked about the challenges, the players, how much respect he had for (Bengals President) Mr. (Mike) Brown and (Bengals Head Coach) Marvin (Lewis) and the way that they were able to help, kind of, get him the opportunity where he’s in Washington now. He got a really good feel and understanding for a lot of the coaches that are there. But he talks about it all the time because you are a product of your experiences and some of the things that you’ve been a part of. I know that was a great experience for him and he goes there for three years, does an excellent job – that’s why he’s sitting as the Head Coach in Washington.”

(On if learning from Jay Gruden’s time in Cincinnati was helpful)

“It was. And I think what was so special about it is he gets (Bengals QB) Andy (Dalton) as a rookie (Bengals WR) A.J. (Green) as a rookie – they’ve got those first two picks – and you really look at what they were able to do as a team. And (current Vikings Head Coach and former Bengals defensive coordinator Mike) Zimmer did such a great job on the defense. I want to say they went 9-7 and got in as a wild card. But to be able to do that is a real credit to Jay and Marvin and that entire staff.”

(On how big it was to get a veteran player like T Andrew Whitworth on the line to help develop continuity)

“Huge. We’re a young team, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Getting a guy that’s done it at a high level for a long time, that kind of embodies what you’re looking for from a leader. The way that he handles himself on the field and his ability to communicate with his teammates. I think that was a really big part of why we wanted to get him on board with us – for what he can represent as a player, but also in the locker room as a leader, just some of those intangibles that he brings to our organization.”

(On if Whitworth mentioned being older than him)

“No, he didn’t, but I did. I said, ‘Now, you’re the only guy that’s older than me.’ But he’s still playing at a high level. He takes great care of himself and we’re hopeful that he’ll be able to continue do that for a couple more years moving forward.”

(On whether he feels that he has enough playmakers on offense to do what he wants to do conceptually)

“I think one of the things that you talk about is that you can never have enough playmakers. We’ve got some guys that we think are playmakers, but you can never have enough of those guys. I was fortunate in Washington to be a part of an offense that had a handful of guys – from the receivers, tight end and the running back room. Had some quarterbacks that knew how to distribute the ball, kind of be a point guard, where they’re figuring out a way to get a bunch of different guys involved and that’s what we’ll strive to do here. I think you always want to make sure that you’re aware of that. We have a couple guys that we feel like can do that right now. But that’s definitely something where you can’t have enough of those guys. You feel fortunate that in the draft, I think there’s a lot of depth at that receiver, that tight end spot. Les (Snead) has done a great job of filling me in – he’s a little bit further along, in terms of his evaluation of where those guys are at and kind of how that might affect what we’ll do with those eight picks that we have.”

(On the process of getting to know a quarterback’s likes and dislikes in terms of play calling and how long it takes)

“It’s definitely a process that you have to be patient with. I think a lot of it is predicated on the player and it’s always about the player. I think that when you look back to the rapport and the relationships that you’re able to develop with the players you have in Washington and we were there together for a good amount of time. But I think it takes communication both ways. The players have to able to articulate that to you. I’m expecting Jared (Goff) and Sean (Mannion), when we’re calling a play – and that thing cuts off at 15 seconds, if we get it in early enough – are you a guy that wants information when you’re at the line of scrimmage or would you would you say, ‘Give me the play and just stop.’ Those are the types of things that are ongoing. It’s just like anything else, it takes time to build relationships and that’s what it will do. It will be a daily approach, but our ability to have that open communication can expedite that process.”

(On how long it will take for that to happen)

“I would say, really, you go through the game experiences and try to mimic that in practice with the way that you set up certain situations and team periods. I think being able to get on the grass, we’ll probably have a better feel going through the offseason program, where you’ve got a voluntary minicamp, you’ve got your 10 OTAs and then you’ve got your mandatory minicamps. After that, I think I’ll have a much better idea of what we’re going into, how these guys like it and what they feel most comfortable with, with regards to that process.”

Benching struggling Tyrunn Walker was ‘best decision’ for Lions

November 20, 2016

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2016/11/benching_struggling_tyrunn_wal.html

DETROIT — The Lions have been patient with Tyrunn Walker, their talented but struggling defensive tackle. But that patience has run out.

Walker was benched for Sunday’s 26-19 win against Jacksonville, and the reasoning was simple.

“Just like anything else, we look at who we’re playing, schemes that we’re going to have to deal with, and make the best decisions for us,” coach Jim Caldwell said.

For the first since since signing with Detroit in 2015, the best decision for the Lions was to bench Walker.

The Detroit Lions beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 26-19 on Sunday at Ford Field. Here are some quick observations from the victory, Detroit’s fifth in six games.

He signed here loaded with potential, a powerful player who was a bad fit for New Orleans’ 3-4. He looked like he was starting to really turn it on, too, when he broke his leg in a Week 4 game against Seattle.

Walker said he felt he was primed for an even bigger season in 2016, now that he spent so many months studying the playbook and understanding the nuance of Detroit’s 4-3 scheme. But that has not translated to the field.

He has three tackles for loss, but no sacks, no fumbles forced and no fumbles recovered. He has 18 tackles overall. His most notable play actually came on special teams, where he blocked a field-goal attempt in the overtime win against Minnesota.

So with players such as Khyri Thornton, Stefan Charles and A’Shawn Robinson all playing well, he became the odd man out against Jacksonville. Thornton got the start in Walker’s place — his second in a row — and Charles played well again in a reserve role, including dropping Chris Ivory for a 5-yard loss on the Jaguars drive that was sandwiched between Detroit’s go-ahead drive, and that 15-play drive that iced the game.

“(Charles) made a lot of plays for us, really tough in the middle,” Caldwell said. “He’s a powerful man, glad to see he keeps coming along. He and Khyri both are playing well, obviously Haloti (Ngata) made some plays in there. That front is a very active front.”

wv wrote:

I wonder if its possible to ‘go too far’ with the American public. I dunno.
Its possible the Reps are lying too much now.

Just depends how brain-damaged the public really is, due to lifetimes of
corporate-propoganda.

w
v

Good point. I think they may have. It’s actually kind of shocking to me that the narrative has changed so much on health care. It seems even Trump voters understand the GOP is trying to screw them. Bernie’s town hall in West Virginia recently was a good indication.

Maybe they understand they can’t shop for the best “deal” on this, like they can, again, with an Iphone. It’s not, “Here’s my $700 dollars, now hand me that phone.” It’s “You received my $700 premium, please honor the agreement and pay $200K to the hospital for my heart bypass.”

The so-called “free market” has absolutely nothing to do with any of this, nor can it. If corporations had Randian “freedom” to do as they pleased, they wouldn’t pay that claim. They’d do whatever they could to get out of paying it. They did, repeatedly, under the modest regulations prior to the (severely flawed) ACA, like yearly/lifetime caps, pre-existing conditions, typographical errors on patient claim documents, etc. etc. The ACA got rid of most of those, and insurance companies are still playing games with patients, because they have to if they want to even make overhead and turn a profit too.

The private sector, for-profit model simply can’t work. It’s impossible for both the patient and the insurance company to get what they want at the same time.

A sidebar:

I recently rewatched the Lonesome Dove series, and aside from enjoying it for its own sake, it made me think about another way to fix our health care system. America used to hire doctors and nurses via towns. Towns chipped in and paid their salaries. Patients didn’t pay doctors when they got sick. The entire town already had that covered.

So, in addition to going Medicare for All, with zero privatization, we need to have free clinics, hospitals, GPs in every community, paid for by that community, with no fees when people utilize their services. All the basics should be covered. Perhaps have the Medicare for All kick in when “specialists” are needed, or longer term care. But every single American, with no exceptions, should be able to walk into a regular doctor’s office, a hospital (not just the Emergency Center), a clinic, and get prepaid care, via taxes, simply by being a citizen.

That’s the humane way to do things. That’s the moral and ethical way to treat our fellow human beings.