Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50 prospects for 2017 NFL Draft 2.0

Daniel Jeremiah

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000784163/article/daniel-jeremiahs-top-50-prospects-for-2017-nfl-draft-20

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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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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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Marshon Lattimore – CB, Ohio State
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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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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5
Jonathan Allen – DT, 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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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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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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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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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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Solomon Thomas – DE, Stanford
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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Dalvin Cook – RB, Florida State
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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David Njoku – TE, Miami 1
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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O.J. Howard – TE, Alabama 5
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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Sidney Jones – CB, Washington 2
Jones has ideal height but a very slight, narrow frame. He excels in both press and off coverage. In press coverage, he isn’t physical with his jam but he has very quick feet and fluid hips to open up and mirror all over the field. In off coverage, he has a fluid, easy backpedal and very good awareness to read and drive on balls in front. He is an extremely smooth athlete. In run support, his lack of bulk isn’t an issue. He is aggressive to fill and tackle ball carriers. I love his toughness. He’ll willingly trade one for one against a pulling offensive lineman, which frees up a teammate to make the tackle. Overall, Jones lacks bulk but he is always in proper position and rarely gets beat in coverage.
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Ryan Ramczyk – OT, Wisconsin 1
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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Derek Barnett – DE, Tennessee 1
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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Forrest Lamp – G, Western Kentucky 1
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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DeShone Kizer – QB, Notre Dame 3
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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Tre’Davious White – CB, LSU
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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Teez Tabor – CB, Florida
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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Christian McCaffrey – RB, Stanford 4
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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Quincy Wilson – CB, Florida 1
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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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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Budda Baker – S, Washington
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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Taco Charlton – DE, Michigan 2
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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Alvin Kamara – RB, Tennessee
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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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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Garett Bolles – OT, Utah
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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Gareon Conley – CB, Ohio State
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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Jarrad Davis – LB, Florida
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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Mitch 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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Deshaun Watson – QB, Clemson
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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Jabrill Peppers – S, Michigan
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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T.J. Watt – LB, Wisconsin
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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Charles Harris – DE, Missouri 1
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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Marlon Humphrey – CB, Alabama 9
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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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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Tim Williams – LB, Alabama
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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Curtis Samuel – RB, Ohio State 2
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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40
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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Haason Reddick – LB, Temple NR
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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Ryan Anderson – OLB, Alabama 5
Anderson has been a productive outside linebacker for Alabama the last three seasons. He has average height and outstanding bulk for the position. He isn’t a freaky athlete, but he’s a steady, reliable player who has found a way to make impact plays throughout his career. As a pass rusher, he relies on his strength and effort. He doesn’t possess an elite get-off, and he isn’t a bendy, nifty athlete. He does an outstanding job of overpowering tight ends and running backs. He is a dominant point-of-attack run defender. He shoots his hands and stuns blockers before shedding them and finding the football. His effort on the backside is outstanding. He isn’t smooth when dropping in coverage, but he is very aware and has really good ball skills (see pick-6 vs. Washington in Peach Bowl). Overall, Anderson will bring toughness to his drafting team and become a very reliable player early in his career.
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Evan Engram – TE, Ole Miss NR
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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Gerald Everett – TE, South Alabama 9
Everett usually lined up flexed in the slot, but on occasion he put his hand on the ground. He has average size and bulk for the position but he is an excellent athlete. In the passing game, he is sudden in his release and very quick in and out of breaks at the top of his route. He has strong hands to pluck the ball in traffic, and has produced some huge plays on simple underneath throws. After the catch, he uses his speed to pull away from defenders and has the ability to make people miss as well. In the run game, he isn’t very physical but his effort is strong and he effectively mirrors and walls off opponents. Overall, don’t let the smaller school fool you. This is a big-time talent who could emerge as a top-tier tight end in the NFL.
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45
Cooper Kupp – WR, Eastern Washington 1
Kupp has outstanding size and solid play speed. He lined up outside and in the slot at EWU. He uses his physicality to power through press coverage and is a very precise route runner. He uses his body to shield off defenders and has the ability to adjust and make contested catches down the field. He has very strong hands. After the catch, he flashes some burst, and he’s a physical runner. He also has some experience returning punts. Overall, the level of competition isn’t great but he’s stepped up when EWU faced top-notch teams out of conference. Despite the large step up, Kupp is prepared to make an immediate impact in the NFL.
RANK
46
DeMarcus Walker – DE, Florida State 4
Walker became a starter midway through his freshman season at FSU. He has a thick, square build for the position. He was probably carrying about 10 extra pounds last fall. He lines up at defensive end primarily but he will slide inside as well. As a pass rusher, he lacks explosiveness but he’s very polished and productive. He has a variety of hand moves and an assortment of counter moves. He doesn’t win with pure speed or power but he gets the job done. As a run defender, he beats up tight ends and avoids getting cut on the edge. He has found a way to make crucial plays in crunch time throughout his career. Overall, I wish Walker was a little more dynamic but I love that he finds different ways to make plays and positively impact every game.
RANK
47
Fabian Moreau – CB, UCLA NR
Moreau has an excellent combination of size, speed, and fluidity. He aligns at left cornerback and plays both press and off coverage. In press coverage, he is patient and very fluid when he flips his hips. He doesn’t use his hands much to re-route but he stays on the hip and mirrors easily. From off coverage, he uses a side shuffle and reads through the wide receiver to the quarterback. He is very quick and explosive to drive on balls in front. He has plenty of make-up speed to recover if he’s beat vertically. His ball awareness is an area where he can improve. He also needs to play to his size against the run; he gets swallowed up by blockers too often. Overall, Moreau has a tremendous upside at the position and should quickly develop into a quality starter at the next level.
RANK
48
Jourdan Lewis – CB, Michigan 1
Lewis lacks ideal height and bulk for the position, but he’s a very sound football player. He lined up outside and inside at Michigan, but I’m projecting him as a nickel cornerback at the next level. He’s patient in press coverage. He sits and catches wide receivers, forcing them to re-route. He is very fluid and has outstanding recovery speed if he falls out of phase with his man. He has excellent ball skills, but his lack of size does show up at times down the field. He is a very reliable, low tackler in space. Overall, Lewis lacks ideal size, but his combination of quickness, toughness and ball skills project well as a Day 1 nickel starter in the NFL.
RANK
49
Tarell Basham – DE, Ohio NR
A defensive end at Ohio, Basham projects as a 4-3 end or 3-4 outside linebacker at the next level. He has a thick, muscular frame and average length. This is an impressive pass rusher that wins with a combination of twitch, power, and effort. He has an impressive stutter-bull rush and he can win with pure speed as well. He isn’t a nifty, bend-the-edge-type athlete and he has some ankle stiffness. His motor is outstanding (see crawling sack and forced fumble against Tennessee). Against the run, he makes a lot of plays from the backside because of speed and effort. He plays with good overall awareness. He did some dropping in Ohio’s defense and while he has the speed to cover tight ends, his stiffness is an issue. Overall, Basham has the traits to develop into a double-digit sack artist in the NFL, but he will struggle to drop and cover until he gets more reps.
RANK
50
Chad Hansen – WR, California 2
Hansen started one season at wide receiver after transferring from Idaho State. He has a tall, lean build and outstanding play speed. This is a pure vertical receiver. He is sudden in his release, stacks on top of cornerbacks and tracks the ball naturally. He can find a second gear when the ball is in the air. He does have some trouble getting off press coverage at times and he wasn’t asked to run the entire route tree at Cal. He will need some time to develop, but I love his size, speed and ball skills.

Five moves each NFC West team should make this offseason

http://www.espn.com.au/nfl/story/_/page/Barnwell5Moves2017NFCW/bill-barnwell-five-moves-nfc-west-team-make-2017-nfl-offseason

Many NFL teams script their first 15 (or more) plays before a game starts to focus on getting a few fundamental concepts right. Whether they want to attack a particular defensive player or scheme, exploit a perceived weakness or simply drill down on the offensive elements they think are most critical to winning, they pay particularly close attention to the plays they’ll start with on Sunday as they wrap up the week.

Five Moves For Every NFL Team
NFL Playoffs Bill Barnwell takes a division-by-division look at moves each NFL franchise should make this offseason.

NFC East
AFC East
NFC North
AFC North
AFC West
NFC West
AFC South: Wednesday, Feb. 22
NFC South: Thursday, Feb. 23
Likewise, organizations need to pay attention to the first few critical things they do during the 2017 offseason, as those might end up defining the year to come. Some teams have a lot to do before the new league year begins March 9, while others won’t have to make critical calls until the first day of the NFL draft on April 27.

In this two-week series for ESPN, I’ll be running through the first five things that should be running through each team’s mind as it prepares for the 2017 offseason.

Let’s get to the NFC West, where we have a near-dynasty, a team that unexpectedly fell apart last season and two teams that overhauled their coaching staffs in a hope to return to relevance …

Arizona Cardinals

1. Pick up Deone Bucannon’s fifth-year option. The Cardinals were ahead of the curve in using a first-round pick on Bucannon, who is maybe the best example of the hybrid linebacker/safety combinations that continue to sprout around the league. Arizona will want to keep him around for the long term, but it’ll at least get Bucannon for another season in 2018.

2. Franchise Chandler Jones. The trade for Jones may not have put the Cardinals over the hump the way that they surely expected last offseason, but the former Patriots star delivered on his end of the bargain. Jones stayed healthy, making it through all 16 games for the second time in his career, while finishing with 11 sacks and 21 knockdowns. He also drew enough attention to make things easier for Markus Golden, who broke out with a 12.5-sack season across from Jones.

Arizona’s in a difficult financial spot because of the heavy investments made in Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald, who are due a combined $40 million on the cap in 2017. General manager Steve Keim was likely overaggressive in giving Palmer a one-year extension in August. Had the Cardinals not re-signed Palmer, they could have cut him this offseason and freed nearly $12 million in cap room. Instead, Palmer’s contract is stuck on the Arizona ledger, with his $24.1 million cap hit ranking as the third-highest in football behind Tony Romo (who won’t be playing under that cap hit) and Joe Flacco. Had Palmer retired, Arizona would have owed a staggering $28.8 million.

Pass-rusher Chandler Jones could be headed for one of the richest contracts for a defender in the league. Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports
The Cardinals have suggested they will choose to franchise Jones. The tag would cost them $17 million this season, which the Cardinals could use as leverage for a long-term deal while waiting until they get cap relief in 2018. After next season, Fitzgerald will be a free agent and Palmer can be cut with just $6.3 million in dead money remaining. Jones likely will aim to get Von Miller money, which isn’t out of the question. Miller will earn $60.5 million over the first three seasons of his extension with the Broncos, and if the Cardinals wanted to go year-to-year with their star edge rusher, they would owe $66.8 million for three consecutive franchise tags. Keim likely will need to hit that $60 million mark in guarantees to keep Jones in the desert past 2018.

3. Create additional cap room. Keim probably needs to create extra space, given Step 4. The Cardinals have $35.5 million in room at the moment, but that will drop to $18.5 million if they franchise Jones. They’ll gain an additional $7.2 million if Daryl Washington remains ineligible, but Arizona might just want to move on from the long-suspended inside linebacker, a move which would instead create $4.7 million in cap room.

Besides Washington, the Cardinals will have to make some tough calls. With the news that Arizona intends to flip its tackles and move D.J. Humphries to the left side, Jared Veldheer’s $10 million cap hit looks untenable. Keim could create $6.8 million in space by releasing the former Raiders pickup. (Remember when the Raiders were a laughingstock by letting Veldheer and Lamarr Houston leave?)

Justin Bethel is a star special-teamer, but he has hardly been playable at cornerback. The player Bruce Arians called “a failure in progress” in December has a $5.3 million cap hit, with $3.8 million shaking free if he’s released. I suspect the Cardinals will keep him, in part because Bethel’s penciled in to start at cornerback in 2017, but they may force him to take a pay cut. In all, if Washington stays suspended and Keim cuts Veldheer and Bethel as suggested, the Cardinals would free up an additional $17.8 million.

4. Figure out who among the rest of the defensive pieces you want to retain. Including Jones, six of the seven Arizona players who led the defense in snaps last year are free agents. The only returning player from that group is Patrick Peterson. Inside linebacker Kevin Minter, safeties Tony Jefferson and D.J. Swearinger, cornerback Marcus Cooper, and two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell are unrestricted free agents this offseason. And that’s without including depth pieces like Frostee Rucker and Alex Okafor, who were starters in 2015 and will hit the market. (Rucker could retire.)

It’s difficult to imagine a win-now team like the Cardinals losing a superstar like Campbell, who is perennially one of the most underrated players in the league and hasn’t slipped much despite turning 30 this past season. Given that teams like the Buccaneers and Titans can and would likely offer Campbell in excess of $13 million per year without batting an eye, though, can the Cardinals really afford to re-sign him given their other needs? They might instead decide to let Campbell go, hope that Robert Nkemdiche shows more after a frustrating rookie season, and bring back younger talents like Minter and Jefferson with the money they’ve saved. Jefferson, who was tied for second in the league in tackles for loss, might be the best safety on the market if Eric Berry re-signs with the Chiefs.

There’s an alternate path that might be interesting. The Cardinals could choose to bring back Campbell via the franchise tag, re-sign Jefferson, Minter and Okafor, and take a swing at Swearinger or Cooper before targeting a released veteran or two in free agency. They could do all of that by letting Jones leave town. It would seem like a waste, but remember that the Cardinals are likely to recoup a high compensatory pick for doing so. If the Cardinals stay out of free agency, Arizona would pick up a third-rounder in the 2019 draft as compensation for losing Jones. In essence, given that they wanted to wash their hands of guard Jonathan Cooper (who subsequently failed to suit up for the Patriots), they would have dealt a second-round pick in the 2017 draft to New England for a year of Jones and a third-round pick in 2019.

EDITOR’S PICKS
Cardinals president Michael Bidwill has said the team intends to franchise Jones if it can’t come to terms with him on a long-term deal, but Bidwill might be saying that as a negotiation ploy. Given Golden’s breakout season, the Cardinals might just want to rely on the former Mizzou standout as their primary pass-rusher, bring back as much of the defense as possible, and let Jones leave after one season.

5. Find a receiving tight end. Arizona has basically gotten nothing out of the tight end position recently, with Troy Niklas struggling with injuries after being taken in the second round of the 2014 draft, while Darren Fells has been a replacement-level contributor. Starter Jermaine Gresham is a free agent this year, and the Cardinals will want to find a better option to work in the red zone. They probably won’t be able to afford Julius Thomas even if he’s released by the Jaguars, although a Thomas-for-Veldheer swap could make some sense. Keim might want to take a one-year flier on a player like Jacob Tamme or look for someone with soft hands in the draft.

Los Angeles Rams

Whatever the Rams do this offseason probably isn’t going to make a huge difference, and that should be OK. Goff will be better as a sophomore. Gurley will break off more big runs in 2017. Austin might thrive in the Jamison Crowder role under McVay. They still have a great defensive line, and in Phillips, they have arguably the best defensive coordinator in the league. Los Angeles will probably be better in 2017. That should be enough for now.

San Francisco 49ers

1. Re-sign Eric Reid. One of the few promising young players on the San Francisco roster, Reid has been relatively effective as a pro while struggling with injuries. He has suffered multiple concussions and missed the final six games of the 2016 season with a torn biceps. Reid’s in the fifth-year option of his rookie deal, and the 49ers might have to pay a premium to keep him from testing the open market next season, but they will likely have in excess of $100 million in cap space with which to work. The 49ers might also try to bring back Jeremy Kerley, who was a useful slot receiver for $760,000 last season.

2. Resist the urge to do something dramatic at quarterback with the second overall pick. If Colin Kaepernick opts out as expected, the 49ers will literally have no quarterback on their roster. Blaine Gabbert, Christian Ponder and Thaddeus Lewis are unrestricted free agents, and they wouldn’t exactly inspire confidence if they were on the roster. Coach Kyle Shanahan and GM John Lynch have two paths to a new quarterback: the No. 2 pick or free agency.

It’s possible that the brain trust could fall in love with Mitch Trubisky or Deshaun Watson and decide to take one of them with the second overall pick. It would be aggressive given that the league-wide perception, at least at this point, seems to be that neither Trubisky nor Watson is that highly rated. Some have suggested that the 49ers send the pick to the Patriots to acquire Jimmy Garoppolo, which might be even more aggressive, given that the organization would then need to pay its new quarterback to keep him in town after the 2017 season. It’s also way out of line with what teams have paid for emerging backups like Garoppolo in the past.

Colin Kaepernick is 11-24 as a starter since the 2014 season began. Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports
The 49ers also possess the 34th pick, which would be a more plausible and palatable offer for Garoppolo, who has attempted only 94 career passes. They could also pursue one of the options available in free agency, with the ability to outbid anybody for a quarterback like Tyrod Taylor or Jay Cutler. Kaepernick could very well decide to return if he doesn’t like his market. There are options here.

There are two things to keep in mind, however. One is the enormous opportunity cost of trading away the No. 2 pick for a quarterback. Not only would they be making their most important guess as an organization with the very first pick they have, but they’re incurring an enormous opportunity cost by not using that pick elsewhere. The 49ers have so many needs that the second overall pick could fill — most of the defenders likely to go in the top eight would make sense for a team that was 28th in defensive DVOA last season — that they basically have to be 100 percent sure about a quarterback to justify the selection.

And the other one is that this is a group of coaches and executives that will be learning on the fly. Which brings us to:

3. Actually, resist the urge to do something drastic in general. Shanahan has never been a head coach at any level. Lynch has never even held a personnel job, having transitioned immediately from his time as a player to an announcing career. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has never been a coordinator at any level and didn’t even have his own positional room until 2014.

None of this is to say that the new guys are doomed to fail, and the 49ers can’t be much worse than the 2-14 mark they posted last season. It is fair to say, though, that there will be a learning curve. Everybody running this team will know a lot more about how to do their jobs in a year than they do right now. Given how late in the cycle they had to hire Shanahan, the 49ers might very well want to hire two different coordinators next year. Making bold decisions right now might seem foolish in 2018.

Patience is a dangerous virtue to espouse for a team on its fourth head coach in four years, but the 49ers gave Lynch and Shanahan six-year contracts under the idea that this rebuild is going to take a while. This team is almost definitely not one quarterback away from contention, unless Aaron Rodgers is suddenly on the market. (They should trade for Aaron Rodgers if he’s on the market.)

The other benefit to waiting on a long-term quarterback decision is that Shanahan’s oft-discussed affinity for Kirk Cousins could come in handy next year. If the rumors are true that Cousins is disgruntled in D.C., Washington will basically have to let him leave after the 2017 season. Cousins’ franchise tag of $23.9 million this season would be feasible, but there’s no way Washington can realistically pay their passer $34.4 million on a one-year deal for 2018. San Francisco could then sign Cousins without having to give up any draft picks. It’s also likely that the 2018 quarterback draft class will be better than this year’s bunch.

4. Pursue defensive help. The 49ers will want to target players who are going to hit their peak in two to three seasons, so their goal should be to look for young talents who can help one of the league’s worst defenses. This is a relatively deep class of defenders in free agency, so the 49ers should have a few options.

The 49ers desperately need a pass-rusher; Aaron Lynch went through a lost 2016 season, combining a four-game suspension with a high ankle sprain, and the only San Francisco defender who shone as a pass-rusher was rookie DeForest Buckner. San Francisco could take some risk on Nick Perry, who broke out last season, and the 49ers could be in line to go after Patriots rotation end Jabaal Sheard. Both Perry and Sheard are 26, which is the age range the Niners should be targeting.

Behind Perry and Sheard, the Niners need to spend on a cornerback after years of letting the position fester. The 25-year-old A.J. Bouye makes sense, and the 49ers could be the team that goes after Stephon Gilmore or Logan Ryan, both of whom are 26. The Niners aren’t going to fix their defense overnight, but making one or two additions this offseason is wise.

5. Re-sign Carlos Hyde. The 49ers probably don’t need to treat Hyde like a superstar back, but he has been useful enough amid some pretty middling offenses, and it would mean that at least some small number of fans in the stands at Levi’s won’t have to buy new jerseys over the next 18 months. Hyde’s an unrestricted free agent after the 2017 season, and his injury history suggests that the 49ers probably won’t have to pay him like a superstar to keep him in San Francisco.

Seattle Seahawks

1. Re-evaluate left tackle. And left guard. And right gua … You get the idea. I was tempted to just make each of the five items on this list a different offensive line spot, but that’s no fun. It’s safe to say that Pete Carroll, John Schneider, and Tom Cable need to re-evaluate their plans up front, given how bad the offensive line was in 2016. Sheil Kapadia wrote in January about Seattle’s offensive line philosophy, noting how the Seahawks want to draft and develop offensive linemen while trying to find buy-low opportunities from other teams.

That’s great in theory, but the Seahawks haven’t been able to pull it off. Their offensive line is a mess, and it’s time for them to shift — at least a little bit — in a different direction. It’s reasonable to give 2016 first-rounder Germain Ifedi more time to develop at guard, and Justin Britt has been decent at center when healthy, but it’s downright dangerous to go into 2017 with George Fant at left tackle.

There will be plenty of left tackle options available. Russell Okung, the team’s former starter on the blind side, will be a free agent if Denver declines his option. Branden Albert’s likely going to leave Miami. Kelvin Beachum was cut by the Jaguars. Andrew Whitworth’s a free agent and was still playing at a high level for the Bengals. Jason Peters could be available via trade from the Eagles. None of these players represent long-term answers at left tackle, but the Seahawks haven’t shown much aptitude for solving their O-line problems in recent years.

Jimmy Graham had 65 catches and six touchdowns in 2016. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
2. Leave the Jimmy Graham contract alone. Somehow, all options are on the table for the Seahawks and their tight end, who delivered a surprisingly effective 2016 season after rupturing his patellar tendon in 2015. As Graham enters the final year of the four-year, $40 million deal he signed with the Saints before the 2014 campaign, the Seahawks could conceivably decide to keep Graham around by signing him to an extension. They also could feasibly cut Graham to free up cap space in the hopes of addressing another position. Not that any positions come to mind.

The best option seems to be keeping Graham on his current deal for another year. His $10 million cap hit is tenable given Seattle’s current cap situation, and as Graham hits the wrong side of 30, the Seahawks might be better off drafting a tight end to team with Graham this year before taking over for the four-time Pro Bowler next season. The Seahawks can also franchise Graham in 2018 if he has a stellar season.

3. Add depth at defensive tackle. Otherwise, truthfully, the Seahawks don’t really have much to write about. They’re going to continue to do what they do with their core of talent, and while they’ve made surprising trades in the past, there’s no obvious weakness on the roster requiring attention. They perennially cycle through veterans at defensive tackle, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them target a couple of veterans to play behind Jarran Reed and Ahtyba Rubin. They’re already planning to meet with former Dolphins tackle Earl Mitchell, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them give Jags free agent Tyson Alualu a look.

4. Draft a strongside linebacker. Carroll is set at linebacker with Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright, but the Seahawks need somebody to play in their base packages with Michael Morgan hitting free agency. Morgan played less than 13 percent of the defensive snaps last season, so it’s not a huge position of need, but the Seahawks would love to draft a physical linebacker who can also take some of the load off Wagner and Wright as a reserve.

5. Target Adrian Peterson or Jamaal Charles in free agency if their market crashes. Thomas Rawls was effective as a rookie, but he struggled mightily last season and has missed chunks of each of his first two pro seasons with injuries. There’s still plenty of promise, but Rawls might end up as a better fit in a situational role.

The Seahawks have a pair of interesting backups in C.J. Prosise and Alex Collins, but Prosise profiles more as a receiving back, at least thus far in his career. I don’t think anybody would have done well behind the Seahawks’ awful 2016 offensive line, but if Peterson or Charles (both of whom presumably will be cut) want to try to rebuild their value on a one-year deal, Seattle would be a fascinating place for one of them.

Todd Gurley wanted another chance with Rams RB coach

By Alden Gonzalez

http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/231139/todd-gurley-wanted-another-chance-with-rams-rb-coach

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay was in the process of putting together his coaching staff and was getting ready to sit down with the incumbent running backs coach, Skip Peete, when he got a call from an unrecognized North Carolina phone number. It was Todd Gurley. He wanted Peete back. He wanted another chance to work with him.

McVay obliged.

“When you’ve got a key player like that,” McVay said, “I think you want to be able to try to demonstrate that you’re going to listen to your players. Their opinion matters.”

Peete inherited Gurley as the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year. He finished that 2015 season with 1,106 rushing yards — third in the NFL — despite coming off the torn ACL he suffered at Georgia and starting only 12 games. But Gurley dropped off considerably in 2016, gaining only 885 yards (lowest ever for a running back with more than 275 carries) and averaging only 3.18 rushing yards per attempt (41st among 42 qualified running backs in 2016).

Peete pointed to frequent miscommunication between Gurley and the offensive line, something young guard Jamon Brown alluded to the day after the season.

“Everybody has to be cohesive and be on the same page,” said Peete, heading into his second season with the Rams. “The key is the timing of the block, you as the runner setting the front for the linemen, so when they come off the double team, the back is in a certain position so he can come off the block. You can’t predetermine and say, ‘OK, I’m going to make it look like I’m going to do this, and then I’m going to go over here.’ It’s got to naturally happen that way; you can’t predetermine. It’s kind of a combination between all of that.”

Gurley ascended quickly, totaling 566 rushing yards in the first four starts of his NFL career. But then defenses began to pick up on his tendencies and game-planned around stopping him, and the Rams were never able to adjust. Gurley has now rushed below 100 yards in 23 of his past 24 games. This past season, he broke off runs of 20 or more yards only two times, 10 fewer than in 2015.

When holes didn’t open up early, Peete noticed Gurley getting impatient and going away from the playcall.

“He started changing what he was trying to do,” Peete said. “The most important thing, like we talked about, is you have to have total confidence in the scheme of the play.”

Those who don’t contribute on special teams typically get together with their position coach during special teams meetings, so Gurley and Peete spent a lot of alone time this season. Peete talked to Gurley about how fleeting success can be in the NFL. He preached patience with his runs, and he told Gurley that sometimes failure can be a blessing.

“I think sometimes he pressed, and he wanted to make more things happen,” Peete said. “Sometimes it worked out, and sometimes it didn’t. But he is a very talented runner. He has good run instincts and runs with good balance.”

Gurley was called on to do a lot more in his second year, as expected. He was utilized far more frequently in the passing game, targeted more than twice as many times. He received 67 of his carries with the quarterback operating out of the shotgun, 60 more than he did as a rookie, which can be a major adjustment for downhill runners like Gurley. And he was on the field for 711 offensive snaps, fourth-most among running backs.

Peete believes that might have taken a toll and suggested it might be better to limit his workload once again.

Asked to identify the biggest thing Gurley needs to correct, Peete smiled.

“This is going to blow your mind,” he said. “It has nothing to do with the running game. I think the most important thing in this league, as far as a running back is concerned, is his ability to pass protect, whether it’s first or second down. Because they think it’s easy. They’ve all come into the league comfortable as a runner. But that aspect of it is a little bit different than you’re accustomed to coming out of college. He and I talk about that all the time — your ability to completely understand the blocking scheme, whether it’s run or pass.”

Peete has spent 18 years coaching NFL running backs, making prior stops with the Raiders, Cowboys and Bears. He usually starts his end-of-season meetings by putting the onus on the player and asking them what they believe they could have done better. Peete asked the same of Gurley at the end of his disappointing 2016 season.

“He had a long list,” Peete said.

Gurley talked about becoming more patient in the running game, becoming more disciplined with his footwork and becoming more physical in pass protection, all music to Peete’s ears.

“He was very disappointed in the season and in himself,” Peete said. “Very prideful guy. Works hard, understands what he needs to do in order to get himself prepared to play. But like I always tell young players, sometimes you’re not necessarily sure if that’s true, what you think. What you think you’re fine at, you might not be truly fine at. You still need to fine-tune some things.”

Super Bowl 51: Matt Ryan’s Falcons vs. Tom Brady’s Pats

The Big Game in Houston is set, after Atlanta throttled Green Bay and New England dismissed Pittsburgh. Here’s a look at the Atlanta quarterback’s breakthrough and his counterpart’s continued brilliance. .e
.
Peter King

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2017/01/23/super-bowl-51-matt-ryan-falcons-tom-brady-patriots-nfl-peter-king

ATLANTA — To appreciate the magnitude of what we saw Sunday in the last football game ever at the Georgia Dome, we must consider what was happening in this city the April day Matt Ryan was drafted in 2008.

I was in Atlanta that weekend. Michael Vick was not. He was in federal prison in Kansas, serving nearly two years for dogfighting and animal cruelty. But the city not only hadn’t forgotten him; many in the city were keeping his seat warm and wanted him as their quarterback when he finished doing his time.

I remember the day before the draft walking through a mall and thinking, All these people with Vick jerseys or T-shirts supporting him … amazing. So when Ryan got picked third overall by new GM Thomas Dimitroff, it was a new start. But some locals seemed unmoved.

An Atlanta TV sports anchor, Gil Tyree, told me on draft day 2008 that Vick “is a messiah here. … No matter what Matt Ryan will do, he’ll never be accepted.”

Yikes.

Now to Sunday, and the 44-21 beatdown of the Packers in the NFC Championship Game, leading to the second Super Bowl appearance for the Falcons in their history. As Ryan compiled a four-touchdown, 392-yard game in the biggest game of his nine-year career, three times the crowd in the Dome rained down chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P! M-V-P!”

Six straight games without an interception … Heavy favorite to win the NFL MVP on Feb. 4 … Crowd screaming for him as he left the field like New York screamed for the Beatles in 1964.

The screams and chants sounded a lot like acceptance to me. This seemed a cruel time to remind Ryan of that day and the words of the sports anchor in 2008, but in a quiet moment at his locker after the game, I did.

This is not a topic Ryan wants to revisit. In his nine years at the helm of this team, nobody’s ever seen Ryan sweat. He says the right things, does the right things, works the right way. But he understood the gravity of this day, and what he’d accomplished under such initial pressure. Vick thrilled this town like few athletes have, but Ryan has taken the franchise further than Vick ever did.

No matter what Matt Ryan will do, he’ll never be accepted.

Ryan said quietly: “Some things you don’t forget.”

That was it. But others took up Ryan’s cause. “Matt’s created great memories in this dome,” said Dimitroff, who made Ryan the first pick of his tenure. “Back then, when Matt was drafted, the doubts were there. But he’s evolved and stayed above it all.”

“That’s a long time ago,’’ said receiver and returned Eric Weems, who was a Falcon when Ryan was drafted and who knew the tenor in the city. “If people are still holding grudges, and I doubt there are, it’s on them. I can tell you Matt’s my quarterback. Matt’s our quarterback. I love him.”

The best teams are often forged through difficult times. Ryan was drafted the year after Bobby Petrino pulled one of the all-time classless coaching moves, quitting with two games left in the 2007 season to take a college job. Ryan had some shaky playoff games, but Dimitroff and Blank were unwavering in their support.

Blank, wisely, held onto Dimitroff—a strong scout—when he fired Mike Smith two years ago and hired Dan Quinn as coach. Ryan has gotten excellent coaching from offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan over the past two years, and Quinn’s definitive demands for every position on the field allowed Dimitroff and key personnel men Scott Pioli and Steve Sabo to know exactly what to scout.

Two excellent drafts and good free-agent finds (Alex Mack, Mohamed Sanu), and here we are—an Atlanta-New England Super Bowl.

Two things I notice about Ryan’s game under Shanahan: He’s more comfortable as an athlete—that 14-yard touchdown run against Green Bay, his first TD carry since 2012, showed he’s not a lumberjng runner, but a competent one. “There was nobody to account for the quarterback,” Ryan said. “And everybody’s backs are turned playing coverage, playing man‐to‐man coverage. Just saw a lane open up.” In the past, Ryan likely would have stuck in the pocket, looking at his third and fourth targets.

“Matt’s been a grinder, getting his mental right,” is how Weems put it.

Ryan is better at play-action and run fakes, a more complete player who doesn’t think being a pocket quarterback means you actually have to be in the pocket all the time, surveying the field seven steps behind center. I loved his first touchdown pass Sunday, which was a combination of Steve Young and Brett Favre.

On Atlanta’s first drive of the game, from the Green Bay two-yard line, Ryan took off to his left near the goal line, and it looked like he’d run it in. But then he threw a flip pass to Sanu for a touchdown. I just don’t think that’s the kind of thing he’d have been comfortable doing pre-Shanahan.

Against New England, the more multiple a quarterback can be, the better. You saw how Bill Belichick and defensive boss Matt Patricia began to neutralize Le’Veon Bell even before he got hurt in the AFC game by taking away those creases in the defensive front that Bell uses so wisely.

The Patriots take what you do well and find a couple of ways to combat it. No doubt that Shanahan today and tomorrow will be all over New England tape trying to play Spy Vs. Spy, figuring what the Patriots will do if the Falcons do such-and-such.

The last player you’d compare Ryan to is Vick. But in the next two weeks he’d better get ready for it. During the run-ups to Super Bowls, long perspective stories are the order of the day. Vick, 2001: thrills and chills, a roller coaster, but didn’t work overall. Ryan, 2008: by the book, outworking everyone, in the Super Bowl. The Falcons, and Ryan, have been rewarded, and a date with Tom Brady is the result.

* * *

COACH OF THE WEEK

Dan Quinn, head coach, Atlanta. All coaches coming from great programs get pegged as so-and-so’s “guy.” Quinn was Pete Carroll’s “guy.” High energy from day one, like Carroll. And, like Carroll, he was teamed with a personnel guy (Thomas Dimitroff) he really didn’t know. But from the start, Quinn was clear he wanted this team not to be “Seattle East” but rather “Atlanta Now.”

And there are some striking differences. But the important thing is Quinn has the Falcons in the Super Bowl in his second season—a great achievement considering he took over a 6-10 team that was comatose on defense and needed an injection of life. Quinn did that, and he built a very good defense in two years.

* * *

We Could Use a Great Game in No. 267

After 256 regular-season games and 10 in the playoffs, the NFL season comes down to game number 267 in Houston, Super Bowl LI between Atlanta and New England. I love the game, because there’s so much new and interesting about Atlanta (particularly on defense, where seven of the 12 “starters,” including third corner Brian Poole, are first or second-year players), and because there’s so much history on the line for New England.

Tom Brady and Bill Belichick could become the first QB-coach duo in history to win five Super Bowls. Brady could be the first quarterback in history to win five Super Bowls. It could be a momentous night in Houston 13 days from now.

And it’s new for the teams too. Of Atlanta’s 53-man roster, 37 players weren’t Falcons the last time these two teams met, a 30-23 win for New England at the Georgia Dome in 2013. It’s fresh for them, fresh for the players and coaches.

I loved Kyle Shanahan’s reaction when, just before I recorded a podcast conversation with him Sunday night in the Falcons’ equipment office at the Georgia Dome, I told the Falcons’ offensive coordinator it looked like the Super Bowl foe would be New England.

“Good,” he said. Not because he’s a cocky glutton for punishment, but because he wants to play the best. That sounds nuts, but what coach who considers himself really good at his job wouldn’t want to match wits with Bill Belichick and his staff in the game of the year?

By the way: I sure hope it’s the game of the year. We could use one. Average margin of victory in the 10 playoff games: 15.7. Games decided by 13 points or more in the 10 playoff games: eight.

New England (16-2, AFC top seed) versus Atlanta (13-5, NFC second seed), Feb. 5, 6:30 p.m. ET, NRG Stadium, Houston (retractable roof). New England will play in its ninth Super Bowl (a record), Atlanta its second. Tom Brady plays in his seventh, Matt Ryan his first. So clearly, the Patriots have cornered the market on experience. But Atlanta hasn’t shown many signs of being intimidated by the bright lights this postseason, putting up 80 points on Seattle and Green Bay, teams far more playoff-experienced than the Falcons; defensively Atlanta held the Aaron Rodgers-led Packer offense scoreless for the first 35 minutes Sunday.

It’ll be fascinating to see the game plan Josh McDaniels weaves after studying players he’s never faced—rangy and instinctive Falcons rookie middle ’backer Deion Jones, for instance—this week. The bigger New England secondary could be a matchup problem for Atlanta, even thought Julio Jones laughs at matchup problems. One Falcon told me Sunday night, “Julio’s playing with half a toe, and it doesn’t matter,” referring to a nagging turf toe injury that won’t get better until he gets four or five months of rest and rehab.

But if you saw his 73-yard catch-and-run and breaking of two tackles against Green Bay, you’ve got to figure the Patriots are going to try to eliminate him and let someone else beat them. That someone else might be Mohamed Sanu. I was disappointed in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman (25 carries, 71 yards, long of 14) against Green Bay, and New England’s run defense is better. So that means it’s up to Matt Ryan to justify his MVP-ness and have a big day if Atlanta hopes to keep New England from its fifth Super Bowl win.

* * *

Marveling at Brady

You are living through a remarkable time if you’re a football fan. You’re seeing one of the great athletic careers in history play out, apparently with no sign of diminution.

Tom Brady won his 24th NFL playoff game Sunday. To put that in some perspective—though, obviously, there are more playoff games today than there were for much of the NFL’s history—the Chicago Bears as a franchise have won 17, according to Pro Football Reference.

Considering that the Bears played their first playoff game in 1932 and are a flagship franchise of the league, and considering Brady was born in 1977, that’s quite a feat for the Patriots QB.

One more gem: New England’s total of 24 playoff wins with Brady under center surpasses the all-time postseason win totals of 25 of the remaining 31 NFL franchises.

Rightfully, having Bill Belichick coaching (with Josh McDaniels constructing the offense and Matt Patricia taking on increasing importance as a defensive brain and presence) and Tom Brady playing is just about the perfect formula for success. Brady, as our Jenny Vrentas wrote so smartly last week, is a perfect leader of the franchise because he likes to be coached, and he can take being coached hard, and Belichick has always believed in coaching hard.

I found it interesting last week that the Patriots put pads on before the 18th game of the season, at a time when most teams have put the practice pads away for the year. New England practiced in pads Wednesday. Nobody bitched. If Brady’s not bothered by it, no other player would dare be bothered by it.

The game against Pittsburgh was a good illustration of the Patriots’ intelligence and patience. Against a zone team like Pittsburgh, an offense has to be patient. It’s not likely to yield many over-the-top big plays; the Steelers challenge you to take yards and eventually make a turnover or get greedy and throw risky or incomplete passes downfield.

Now, I didn’t watch a lot of this game, but I did think the mid-second-quarter flea-flicker touchdown from Brady to Chris Hogan was very interesting. On a play like that, with Brady handing it to Dion Lewis, and Lewis shoveling it back to Brady, and Brady looking deep, a young secondary like Pittsburgh’s might be tempted to bite on the run. Well, Brady did catch the Steelers looking run, and slipping past the secondary was Hogan, who caught an easy touchdown from Brady.

One other thing, not to go all hagiography on the Patriots: After the game, the little-used Lewis was near tears in the locker room. Why? Because he finished with 11 yards rushing and was angry at the game plan? No. It’s because he’s going to his first Super Bowl. He never thought his meandering and previously unproductive career would take him this far.

But when you’re with the Patriots, you get the team concept. It’s the way they do business. If you don’t like it, you won’t be around long. If you’re okay with it, the Super Bowl is often at the end of the rainbow. Such as this season.

“Bill [Belichick] showed this pass that was probably the worst pass I’ve ever seen Brady throw. The ball just completely missed the wide receiver and ended up skipping to the ground and falling out of bounds. Bill was saying, ‘What kind of throw is this? I can get Johnny Foxborough from down the street to make a better throw than this.’ … If Brady is getting it, no one is safe. I just immediately fell in line.”

—Former Patriots receiver Donte’ Stallworth, recalling his first New England team meeting to Jenny Vrentas of The MMQB in her excellent story about the hard coaching that Tom Brady takes.

* * *

The Times They Have a-Changed Dept.:

I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a playoff weekend as run-pass unbalanced as this one.

• No running back had a 20-yard run in either championship game.
• Sunday’s four rushing leaders by team gained 46, 42, 34 and 47 yards.
• Sunday’s four passing leaders by team threw for 392, 287, 384 and 314 yards.

—————————-
Mark Twain on India: The Indian Crow
link:http://learningindia.in/mark-twain-on-india-the-indian-crow/

Continuing this series with an excerpt from Mark Twain’s Following the Equator. This humorous passage looks at the under-celebrated and under-demonized Indian crow. Judging by this account, the crow hasn’t changed much in the last 100 years.

This passage picks up after Twain recounts a tumultuous night’s sleep only to be awoken by the crows.

[Taken from The Complete Works of Mark Twain: Following the Equator, Volume 2, Harper and Brothers: New York, 1925.]

“…it all broke loose again. And who re-started it? The Bird of Birds the Indian crow. I came to know him well, by and by, and be infatuated with him. I suppose he is the hardest lot that wears feathers. Yes, and the cheerfulest, and the best satisfied with himself. He never arrived at what he is by any careless process, or any sudden one; he is a work of art, and “art is long”; he is the product of immemorial ages, and of deep calculation; one can’t make a bird like that in a day. He has been reincarnated more times than Shiva; and he has kept a sample of each incarnation, and fused it into his constitution. In the course of his evolutionary promotions, his sublime march toward ultimate perfection, he has been a gambler, a low comedian, a dissolute priest, a fussy woman, a blackguard, a scoffer, a liar, a thief, a spy, an informer, a trading politician, a swindler, a professional hypocrite, a patriot for cash, a reformer, a lecturer, a lawyer, a conspirator, a rebel, a royalist, a democrat, a practicer and propagator of irreverence, a meddler, an intruder, a busybody, an infidel, and a wallower in sin for the mere love of it. The strange result, the incredible result, of this patient accumulation of all damnable traits is, that he does not know what care is, he does not know what sorrow is, he does not know what remorse is, his life is one long thundering ecstasy of happiness, and he will go to his death untroubled, knowing that he will soon turn up again as an author or something, and be even more intolerably capable and comfortable than ever he was before.

In his straddling wide forward-step, and his springy side-wise series of hops, and his impudent air, and his cunning way of canting his head to one side upon occasion, he reminds one of the American blackbird. But the sharp resemblances stop there. He is much bigger than the blackbird; and he lacks the blackbird’s trim and slender and beautiful build and shapely beak; and of course his sober garb of gray and rusty black is a poor and humble thing compared with the splendid lustre of the blackbird’s metallic sables and shifting and flashing bronze glories. The blackbird is a perfect gentleman, in deportment and attire, and is not noisy, I believe, except when holding religious services and political conventions in a tree; but this Indian sham Quaker is just a rowdy, and is always noisy when awake–always chaffing, scolding, scoffing, laughing, ripping, and cursing, and carrying on about something or other. I never saw such a bird for delivering opinions. Nothing escapes him; he notices everything that happens, and brings out his opinion about it, particularly if it is a matter that is none of his business. And it is never a mild opinion, but always violent–violent and profane–the presence of ladies does not affect him. His opinions are not the outcome of reflection, for he never thinks about anything, but heaves out the opinion that is on top in his mind, and which is often an opinion about some quite different thing and does not fit the case. But that is his way; his main idea is to get out an opinion, and if he stopped to think he would lose chances.

I suppose he has no enemies among men. The whites and Mohammedans never seemed to molest him; and the Hindoos, because of their religion, never take the life of any creature, but spare even the snakes and tigers and fleas and rats. If I sat on one end of the balcony, the crows would gather on the railing at the other end and talk about me; and edge closer, little by little, till I could almost reach them; and they would sit there, in the most unabashed way, and talk about my clothes, and my hair, and my complexion, and probable character and vocation and politics, and how I came to be in India, and what I had been doing, and how many days I had got for it, and how I had happened to go unhanged so long, and when would it probably come off, and might there be more of my sort where I came from, and when would they be hanged,–and so on, and so on, until I could not longer endure the embarrassment of it; then I would shoo them away, and they would circle around in the air a little while, laughing and deriding and mocking, and presently settle on the rail and do it all over again.

They were very sociable when there was anything to eat–oppressively so. With a little encouragement they would come in and light on the table and help me eat my breakfast; and once when I was in the other room and they found themselves alone, they carried off everything they could lift; and they were particular to choose things which they could make no use of after they got them. In India their number is beyond estimate, and their noise is in proportion. I suppose they cost the country more than the government does; yet that is not a light matter. Still, they pay; their company pays; it would sadden the land to take their cheerful voice out of it.”

The Rise And Fall Of Rams RB Todd Gurley

As a rookie in 2015, Todd Gurley took the NFL by storm in his first four starts. However, there’s been quite the drought since. Here’s why…
by misone Jan 9, 2017, 12:35pm CST

http://www.turfshowtimes.com/2017/1/9/14170656/la-rams-todd-gurley-jeff-fisher

Los Angeles Rams Running Back Todd Gurley was pegged by former Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher, as the next big thing. No one can forget Fisher’s excitement about landing Gurley at number 10 overall in the 2015 NFL draft. Watching him sit at the press conference and gush over him with every word when he opened his mouth to talk about him.

In the beginning, it looked like Fisher may have been right about the young polarizing running back. Gurley began his career as a starter by rushing for over 125 yards in four straight weeks. But over his next 25 games, he would only eclipse 100 rushing yards one time.

The question now is; Why?

In going back and watching all of the games from the 2015 season and watching the games from 2016, there are a lot of things that remain the same, and then there are things that are completely different. The issue is, those things that are the same, aren’t necessarily good things. However, let’s began with the things that are different.

It starts with coaching, which is the case in most situations. The Rams had former OC Frank Cignetti employed at the time of Todd Gurley’s rise to stardom. Cignetti installed a zone run scheme that allowed the Rams to attack in different ways, and covered up a lot of flaws in Gurley’s game initially, and the Rams run game took off averaging a staggering 170+ yards a game in Gurley’s first four starts. The Source, was the involvement of Rams WR Tavon Austin…

Over at Battle Red Blog, Brett Kollmann put together an excellent breakdown of what made the Rams offense click.

Austin’s ability to break loose forces defenses to account for him. But for some strange reason, the Rams got away from the successful zone scheme, and even worst the usage of Austin as a threat. Of course the firing of Cignetti — who by all accounts has been the only person to prove he understands how to use Tavon Austin (with the exception of going deep) — and hiring Rob Boras was a big issue. Boras chose to run more power, which is what Jeff Fisher preferred to run. As a result, Austin saw a vast drop in carries in 2016 (28) from 2015 (52), and Gurley suffered the most.

The Rams only used the Austin affect one time in 2016. Now what does it mean to use the Austin affect? It’s when you give the same look twice in a row, but run two different plays. This occurred about 6-10 times a game before Cignetti was fired. The one time the Rams used the Austin affect in 2016, was in the finale against the Cardinals.

It is clear to see here the result of using Austin to free up Gurley. First you have Austin getting the ball and getting around the edge for a few yards. Then directly to follow you have Austin appearing to get the ball again, only for Gurley to slip out for a catch in the flat and a huge gain. The play probably should have gone all the way, but he was tripped up down the field, which brings up the next point.

Another big difference between Todd Gurley of last year and Todd Gurley of this year; he gets tackled way to easy. Not that it was the smartest career move ever or anything, but I didn’t see a single hurdle at all in 2016. Last year, there were 5 of them. Also last year, Gurley didn’t go down from shoe lace tackles. He evaded them, and weaved his way around diving tacklers all season long. This year it was quite the opposite. Gurley often found himself stumbling and falling. The balance was not the same as last year. And that’s part of what drew him the hype and praise coming into this year. The little things are the differences between good players and great ones. Look at the top backs over the last five seasons. Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Lesean McCoy, Jamaal Charles, etc… None of them was going down the way Gurley did in the example above. It was a half-ass, sliding, shoe lace tackle, effort from the defender and it worked.

Derrik Klassen

This is another example of Gurley going down easier this year than he did last year. Yes, he lost weight in the off-season, but it was only 10 lbs. Backs lose this much weight all the time in the off-season in an attempt to gain more speed and and quickness. Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell lost 24 lbs upon enter the NFL, and he’s still one of the hardest backs in the NFL to bring down. Let’s remember, Gurley did not lose 10 lbs and drop below 200. He is still a 220 lb back out there. The effort just isn’t the same.

The one other issue that is different between last year and this year, is the line did not open up as many holes as they did last year. Although in watching the games between the two years, the line didn’t really open up a massive amount of holes last year either. As mentioned before, a lot of the success for the run game was because of the Austin affect, which created designed cutback lanes, and wide open holes on the play side. And when teams decided they were going to stop Gurley, Austin had a field day running. Just watch the tape from 2015 on the Rams vs Bengals and the Rams vs Ravens, and you will see how if you focused on one, the other would go crazy. However, overall on a snap to snap basis, the lines play did take a step back.

So what’s the same about Gurley? Well as mentioned before, there’s nothing good in the things that remained the same.

Gurley has never shown me three key things to being a great back. All of the great backs has had these things, but Gurley has never demonstrated any of them consistently. Those three traits are;

Vision
Patience
Elusiveness

Gurley’s vision and patience are two things I have harped on all year. I’ve taken a lot kickback from people who have not agreed with my stern, but honest, analysis of Gurley’s running. Even the great Hall of Famer and former Los Angeles Rams RB Eric Dickerson himself disagreed with me when I asked him personally if he saw Gurley missing holes and running with less patience.

The question about Gurley’s vision and patience takes place at the 13 min mark.

My critique of Gurley hit an all time high after week four this season. During a weekly recap of the game I previously had pointed out Gurley’s issues and was asked for proof. Here’s what I had to say..

“Rams RB Todd Gurley is becoming his own worst enemy. You can see him in every post-game interview pouting and looking all sad — whether the team wins or loses — because he is not getting the big time gains he wants. However, I mentioned in last weeks recap he was not seeing the holes, and he is running without patience to set up the blocks. This was the case again against the Cardinals. By my count he missed four gaping holes that had he seen and hit surely at the very least all would have gotten him 10-20 yard gains. There is one play that stood out more then the others to me. It’s because the Cardinals ran the exact same play, to the exact same side, with the exact same looks, and had different results.

I received a message from one TST reader that asked me to show what I meant about his lack of vision and patience, so here you go…

Derrik Klassen

As you can see in the footage above, the Rams run a stretch to the right of the formation against another stacked box with eight defenders. The play is blocked unbelievably well. The offensive line moves the entire front side of the defensive line 3-4 yards off the ball. On the backside, C Tim Barnes and LG Rodger Saffold chop down the defenders. As you can see it creates a hole that is about five yards wide. If Gurley slows down (patience) and looks about a yard to his left (vision), there is a good chance he’s still running today. Instead he just barrels into the back of his linemen for no reason whatsoever.

Derrick Klassen

Here we see the Cardinals run the exact same play and get the exact same hole, but the result is much different. RB Chris Johnson slows down as he presses the hole, looks to his left about a yard, sees the opening hits it and falls into the end zone. It is literally the exact same. And the Cardinals ran it again two drives later with David Johnson. The result was a 31-yard gain, his longest of the day.

I get it. Gurley is a helluva talent and a damn good back, but without patience and vision you’re only average at best. Add a stacked box, and you’re mediocre. Rams fans, try not to forget that for nine seasons straight, no running back in the NFL saw more stacked boxes than RB Steven Jackson. But due to his vision and patience — coupled with his superstar talents — he ran for over 1,000 yards in each of those seasons regardless.”

Here we have another example of Gurley simply running into the backs of his linemen, when in fact they are doing their jobs, and have opened a massive crease, but Gurley missed it from lack of vision and patience.

Derrik Klassen

(My apologies, the sideline view — unavailable at the time — shows a more clear shot of the hole and open field, here you can see only the hole)

Here Gurley takes the ball up the gut and picks up two yards. But he fails to see the OLB cheating in and crashing inside. This opens up a massive cutback lane to the outside. There is no one in the vicinity and it’s highly likely if he sees it and bounces to the left of the center, he hits his head on the goal post.

This season there has been a lot of running with his head down, not even attempting to see what is taking place in front of him.

Interim HC John Fassel is on record saying the following about Gurley in his post game press conference after week 17.

““I think he started pressing a little bit. Because there wasn’t success that came at any point, especially early. And it was human nature to become frustrated. Whether he pressed or wasn’t patient, whatever it is, I’d have to go back and look at the whole seasons tape. But frustation set in and confidence dropped””

Rams Guard Jamon Brown went on to say this,

Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer

One thing is for sure, I was alone in my criticism of Gurley in the beginning but as time has gone on, the rumblings of running without patience, vision, and less authority started to be talked about more and more. I even began hearing commentators talk about it during games over the final four weeks.

We can all sit here and point the finger at the line and play-callers all day. And they are without question at fault in some instances. But Gurley’s biggest issues lie within himself. They are all correctable, but he has to stop moping around and realize, that as an NFL running back, you are going to be tasked with creating your own lanes more times than not (unless you play for the Cowboys). All of the best to ever do it, have been good at creating space and getting yards. They can set up blocks, as well as read the ones that lie before them.

I mentioned before that Rams fans have forgotten about former Rams RB Steven Jackson already. For so many years during his 10 year career with the team, he had no pass game, and a horrible offensive line. Teams stacked the box weekly, and he didn’t have a Tavon Austin to distract anyone. He had guys like Laurant Robinson, Danny Amendola, Mike Sims-Walker, etc.. But he still found a way to eclipse 1000 yards every year, using great patience, vision, a sick jump cut, and effort.

It’s time to hold Todd Gurley accountable…

Source: 49ers are Josh McDaniels’ preferred team

Eric Branch

http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Source-49ers-are-Josh-McDaniels-preferred-team-10841023.php

Josh McDaniels’ preferred team is the 49ers if the Patriots’ offensive coordinator decides to leave New England to become a head coach, a source said.
McDaniels, 40, will interview with the 49ers, Rams and Jaguars on Saturday near the Patriots’ facility.

The 49ers, who are the only team with a general-manager opening, are appealing to McDaniels because of their clean-slate situation and CEO Jed York’s stated commitment to patiently rebuilding. It’s believed the 49ers’ status as a marquee franchise, despite their recent free-fall, also makes them more attractive than Los Angeles and Jacksonville.

It’s possible, of course, McDaniels’ preference could change after meeting with each team Saturday. McDaniels, who has served as New England’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since 2012, is probably ready to take his second head-coaching position, the source said.

On Monday, York discussed having a long-term vision with the new regime, which will inherit the NFL’s second-most salary-cap space and 11 expected 2017 draft picks, including No. 2 overall. The 49ers are coming off a 2-14 season and have lost 29 of their past 37 games, dating to 2014.

“The decisions that we’re going to make are not going to be to have a quick fix, PR turnaround,” York said. “Go from a two-win team to an 8-8 team, but that’s going to falter and not get to where we need to go.”

McDaniels declined an interview with the 49ers in 2011, about a month after he was fired as Denver’s head coach with an 11-17 record. He spoke with the 49ers in 2015 before they hired Jim Tomsula.

Of the 49ers’ seven known head-coaching candidates, only McDaniels and Seattle offensive line coach Tom Cable have served as NFL head coaches on a non-interim basis.

The 49ers obviously are seeking a head coach and general manager who will form a collaborative partnership. They reportedly have requested an interview with New England director of player personnel Nick Caserio, although it’s not known if a meeting will occur. McDaniels and Caserio, who has been with the Patriots since 2001, were teammates at John Carroll University.

ESPN analyst and former NFL executive Louis Riddick, who reportedly will interview with the 49ers next week, has been an avid fan of McDaniels on social media. Riddick and McDaniels also have strong ties to New England head coach Bill Belichick. Riddick, 47, played for Belichick for three seasons during his six-year NFL playing career. McDaniels has spent 13 of his 16 seasons in the NFL with Belichick.

Riddick said Monday on air that York’s stated approach to rebuilding makes the 49ers an attractive destination and that he would take the job.
“He will give whoever is given that position the support and the time to get that done,” Riddick said.

The 49ers interviewed Vikings assistant general manager George Paton and Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan on Friday

Rams Interim Head Coach John Fassel –– January 1, 2017

(Opening remarks)
“Our goal was to start out 2017 with a win and a little bit better vibe – clearly that didn’t happen. I really don’t have much more to add because what I would say is probably what I would’ve said the last couple weeks – as far as the actual offense, defense and special teams – just didn’t get it done. What I told the guys after the game here in the locker room was that I was proud of them and everything we’ve been through is tough. Definitely not any excuse because we’re pros – we’re expected to overcome adversity, perform at the highest level and win – we just didn’t do that. Wish I probably had more for you to just kind of start out, but at this point I think I’ve run out of words.”

(On how much the loss hurts)
“It hurts bad. It hurts. I was expecting to win. Anytime you lose hurts, but it hurts to lose in the fashion that we did because people are going to ask ‘did the team quit, did they not prepare, did they not care?’ Before you ask that, I will just say, in my opinion, whether its correct or whether it’s naïve, preparation this week was great. We had a good Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday practice – we did. There wasn’t any lack of energy, there wasn’t anybody that was late and obviously, today, we just weren’t good enough. Offensively, again, we just couldn’t get anything going. That just puts us in a hole and it’s hard for us to come back, when we don’t have a lead. It hurts. Sorry for a long answer to a simple question”

(On whether it would be fair to judge QB Jared Goff on the 2016 season and whether people even know what kind of quarterback he is going to be yet)
“I don’t think so. I think the only thing you can judge about Jared is that he’s tough. You can say that he didn’t win a game as a starter, but we also weren’t very good in, really, any of the positions on offense to give him a chance. He’ll take responsibility for himself too. I think he’s a building is a building block and I think Todd Gurley is – we made (WR) Tavon (Austin) last year with the contract part of that. Then our offensive line has really got to step up to protect a building block who we’re building around Jared. I admire his toughness. I think you can judge whatever you want. But I just think he needs more opportunities and more help to really judge him. I love the kid. I think he’s what you want – he’s tough”

(On how he would evaluate RB Todd Gurley this season and whether it’s the same sort of thing as Goff)
“I would say the same sort of thing. You have two building blocks. I think you have a quarterback and running back – a rookie and a second-year guy. Clearly, they need to perform better, but they need help”

(On if there was anything specifically regarding Gurley that he saw that was different than last year)
“Yeah. I think two things. I think he started pressing a little bit because there just wasn’t success that came, really, at any point, especially early. It was probably human nature to become a little bit frustrated. Whether he pressed and wasn’t patient or whatever it is – I’ll have to go back and look at the whole season worth of tape. But frustration set in and confidence maybe dropped, whether it was in himself or just the whole package. I think you have a really good running back. Last year, he really was pretty spectacular in the last 12 games of the season and it just didn’t work out this game. But I would go to battle with those guys on offense moving forward. There has to be some help”

(On if there was a scuffle outside the locker room at halftime between players)
“There was, I didn’t see it, and I haven’t got a full report. From what I heard, (DT Dominique) Easley one of the Cardinals guys started some kind of banter back and forth. I’m not sure what provoked it, and really how it finished because I didn’t see it, but I heard about it and I think whoever it was did a good job at breaking it up and it didn’t carry over in the second half, which was good”

(On if the scuffle was between the Rams and the Cardinals)
“Correct. It was a Ram and a Cardinal. Then, once two guys, a Ram and a Cardinal went at it, then a few more Rams and a few more Cardinals went at it. But to follow up on that, there hasn’t been any internal clashes of hate or fighting, and sometimes, maybe as poorly as our offense performed, let’s face it. You know a lot of teams might have the defense start pointing fingers, and screaming and shouting, and, you know, a hoedown goes on in the locker room. None of that happened. That was my understanding of what happened”

(On what the most positive thing is that he can take from this season)
“That’s a really good question. That’s a really good question. It’s hard to think of one right now. The only thing I would say is, you know, in the full year of moving out here and being in different places and not having really any sustained success except for maybe that three-game winning streak early in the season, is I think the positive thing you take from it is, there are some pros in the locker room that, as bad as things got, prepared, practiced, and gave it their all to perform, although I can see how some people might question that. But, that’s not at all what I saw. So maybe, intangibles, I think there’s some positives to take, but as far as the measurables, with offensive numbers, wins and losses, it’s tough maybe to see the positives in any form or fashion from that, other than, there is fighters in the locker room, and there’s guys who I think believe in the ‘stonecutter credo.’”

(On what he thinks the problems with the offensive line are)
“Yeah. Two years ago in Todd’s (Gurley) class I think we drafted five O-lineman, and then a supplemental sixth. So, I believe it’s a solid group. Weather it’s finding the right lineup, or building an identity – that’s the biggest thing. Just from observation the past three weeks, when a unit has an identity that they believe in, then they have an expectation of how they need to perform. In my evaluation, I didn’t sense an identity on the offensive line, you know, are we great pass protectors, are we smash-mouth drive blockers, are we going to communicate. I know from a special teams perspective, the better special teams groups in the league, there’s an identity. Whether they’re fast, or they’re tough, or they’re relentless, or they can return the football. And I think that would be the biggest thing. Maybe that’s a bad answer because it’s not something that you can measure, but identity is a big thing, especially, I think, on offensive line”

(On what the explanation was for the Goff motion penalty)
“I asked a couple of times. They said that because he’s a quarterback, it’s different as a guy in motion if he doesn’t get set because it falls under the rules of deceit. That’s what I was told because he can still be making calls and making signals. The one ref who didn’t make the call – I kept asking him for an answer – because a guy can go in motion as long as everybody is set before he goes in motion, and that’s what happened. And he said ‘there was motion by the quarterback, penalty because of the rules of deceit.’”

(On if he is going to read the rule-book and look up the rules of “deceit”)
“Yeah I got to read the rules on that one. Obviously, the category of deceit is pretty subjective. That was a strange one that just – I’ll get an explanation so I’ll know better than next time because that was a unique one”

(On QB Jared Goff seeming upset on the fake-punt with P Johnny Hekker)
“I didn’t even see it. He obviously didn’t know we were going to run a fake punt. I’m sure he wanted to go for it. And the crowd was booing, and I’m just listening to the crowd, saying, well, you’ll find out in a few seconds what’s going to happen. I’m glad he was mad – I didn’t see him. I wasn’t concerned. I figured we’d get the first. The other one too that I got to find the film, because all I saw was live – I was standing right there – was the personal foul at the end of the half. In my opinion, the referees gave him the opportunity to get the three points. I saw our guy get blocked in the back, which ricocheted him into their guy. So, I could be wrong, that’s just what I saw live, and it’s unfortunate when you give up three points at the end of the half. If that wasn’t the call, then they wouldn’t have had an opportunity for that. But, that wasn’t a factor in the game. That was just two things that I’ll have to look at and learn from on why those were called”

(On what’s next for him)
“Well, I’m going to go home tonight and spend some time with my wife and kids and go back to the office in the morning, but, I told the guys in the locker room after the game that I’m very proud to be a Ram. I’ve been a Ram for five years – longest I’ve been as a coach in any place in my career – college or pro. I feel like I’m a Ram. I’m proud to be a Ram. Obviously, the changes that are going to happen – my fate is really up to other people. Whether it’s the new head coach wants to keep me or not, that’s kind of the way it goes. Thanks for asking, I haven’t, really, actually thought about it. But I’m sure tomorrow I’ll have to start working on thinking about it”

(On how he would summarize his three-game stint as interim head coach)
“Unsuccessful, because we didn’t get a win. But on a personal level, it was probably the best coaching experience of my life. It’s definitely something that I’ll never forget. I think it will be an experience that has made me a lot better coach, and has given me a little bit different perspective on things to be able to do that in this situation. I can’t imagine ever being thrust into a more unique situation. It quite possibly could happen, just because it’s football. I would have to summarize it as probably the best coaching experience of my life.”

***

Rams QB Jared Goff

(On the positives he takes out of this season moving forward)

“I think there’s a lot of things. I think you can learn a lot about yourself, a lot about your teammates, a lot about how not to do things and that sometimes can be the best stuff. You can learn from the bad things. In life and in football and everything you do it’s not always going to be up, up, up, up, up all positive. There’s going to be down years, down games, down times in your life and the way you get better from them is you learn from them. That’s what we need to do. If you don’t learn from them then it’s going to keep getting worse and if you learn from them it’s probably going to get a lot better. I’ve experienced that in football and life and everything and I know that you guys have, too. It’s a pretty simple concept. If it’s not going very well learn from it.”

(On whether or not he compares this season with the Rams to his experience in college)

“Yeah, absolutely. That was a hard time and this feels just about the same. It’s pretty identical and I think the best part about it was that we weeded out the people we needed to weed out. We changed the culture in the building, and then we won in the coming years with the same guys that were 1-11 the year before and that’s kind of what I expect to happen here as well. Four and twelve with some more talent than we looked like in that room. We need to do some things and get the culture changed and with that comes higher standards and better players and more talent and it just rolls. It just keeps going. It’s momentum and I expect that to happen here.”

(On if he thinks it’s fair for the fans to judge him as a quarterback after this season)

“I’d hope not. It’s only been seven games and I know it’s my rookie year. I came in midway through the season, but I’m not trying to make any excuses. I’ve got to be better and everyone’s got to be better, but I think I’ve got a lot of football ahead of me and I expect to continue to improve and expect the guys in there to rally around me and get things done around here.

(On how banged up he feels)

“I’m fine.”

(On where he feels he’s made the biggest strides and what areas need improvement)

“There’s a million things. I don’t know if I can pinpoint it, but I feel like I’ve made great strides all the way from April until now. Just understanding everything and seeing everything and letting it slow down a little bit and being able to not think so much and just react and play. In these last few games that became more and more apparent as it did when I first started playing against Miami into the coming weeks. It just became slower and it became easier to see. I was seeing things better. I think it’s kind of a natural progression for guys. Like I said, it’s only seven games, but it’s enough to know what I did well and what I didn’t do well and what I need to work on.”

(On his excitement to play a new system and what he plans to do in between the coaching change)

“Very. Going back to what I just said I know what I need to work on. I know what I need to get better at. I know what I have to do well, so as far as that goes I probably won’t focus on this year as much. As soon as the new coach is hired we will be diving into the new playbook and giving it everything I’ve got and learn as quickly as I can, picking it up and getting ready for OTAs. I’m very excited. I think everyone there is very excited. We know this year didn’t go the way we liked it to and we know that there are greener pastures ahead especially with what should be coming in the future. We’re excited.”

(On if he hopes the new playbook lets him take more chances)

“Of course, I mean sure as a quarterback you always want to throw it, but with what we had I think we did the best job at that with what we did have and what we were able to do. Of course you like to be able to throw the ball around and get some guys running around, making plays, and having big long passes and big long runs. At the same time, whoever it is it will be a good hire and I’m excited for it.”

(On the message he had to the other players as the leader of the team)

“I told all the guys, especially the young guys that I know are going to be here for a while, ‘Just remember what this feels like. It’s going to drive you through the offseason. It’s going to drive you into next year. It’s going to maybe even carry with you for the rest of your life.’ I tried to let them know that this isn’t the end of anything. It’s really the beginning. This feeling should linger with us and it should stick with us all the way through next year.”

(On the Cardinals defensive performance)

“They were doing a good job up front. They were bringing it. Obviously, they had nothing to lose just like us, so they were going to bring a lot of pressure. We kind of expected that and we wanted to pick it up better than we did. That group up front, I don’t care what anyone says about them. I appreciate their effort and everything they gave me and Case (Keenum). Those guys up front gave me everything they had. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out, but I’m very appreciative and very happy for those guys.”

(On what he will do different this offseason)

“It’ll be a little different. I’ll have my first kind of real offseason in a long time and not have school or anything like that. I’ve talked to some receivers already and most of us will be down here, so we’ll train and whenever we get that new playbook start digging into it, getting ahead of it and get ready for OTAs. I think the guys are hungrier than ever now. I understand that this is not what we want to do. It’s not what anyone wants to do. We need to just hold ourselves to a higher standard and it starts as soon as we start working out.”

(On his opinion of RB Todd Gurley)

“Todd’s (Gurley) great. Todd’s going to be fine. I don’t know what he ended up with. He probably ended up with 900 yards, and sure you know what people probably expected him to do more than that, but Todd’s a great player, great teammate, great leader. He’s going to be just fine. I expect him to have a big year.”

(On his sense of ownership going forward)

“It’s huge. As a quarterback of this team and a leader of the team it’s big, especially going through a little bit of a change and a shift, but I know I won’t have to do it all on my own. I know there’s guys in there that think the same way I do and understand that things need to be changed and the culture needs to be changed and a million other things have to be changed and I don’t have to do it by myself because those guys are in there. A bunch of great guys, and a bunch that is going to be as resilient as anybody else.”

(On what he thinks the silver lining of the season is)

“I’m not sure there is much. Maybe that we have a change coming that is going to be positive and is going to bring a lot of positive energy and something we’re all excited for and something we’re excited to get going with. We want to put this behind us as quickly as possible and want people to understand that this is not what we’re about and the standard will be set higher.”

***

Rams G Rodger Saffold

(On what he took away from this season from a team standpoint)

“It just seems like it’s just a bunch of missed opportunities. We had two touchdowns, and we missed those huge plays, huge turns of momentum, the turnovers – it just constantly happened. Wherever these guys go, they have to workout, and get in the film room, and be like, ‘No more,’ wherever you end up, because this isn’t the culture that you want to live in. I’ve been here seven years and still haven’t had a winning season. I know I’ve worked hard enough to deserve better.”

(On why the team lost by so many points today)

“That’s pretty easy to understand – we had all of those turnovers. We had, I think it was, I don’t know how many straight three-and-outs, you’d probably know better than I know. But, then your defense gets tired. They probably ran 90 plays today – anytime that you do that towards the end of the game, they’re going to be really tired from running all around. The other offense from the other side is going to be really amped to continue to score.”

(On if seven sacks allowed stings a little as an offensive lineman)

“Yeah, especially when it’s sacks in the back of your legs. For me, I just kind of look at it as what do you want to leave on tape? Obviously, guys got to take a hard look at themselves and challenge themselves to be better.”

***

Rams WR Tavon Austin

(On how the season unfolded the way it did after starting the year 3-1)

“It kind of goes back to ourselves. You can’t blame on the coaches, you can’t blame on nobody else. We’re the guys out there playing. Like I said, we continue to shoot ourselves in the foot with the type of things that happened. This is the NFL. There’s not going to be way too many blowout games going to be like this in the NFL. A lot of our games that we lost was one point, one yard too short – things in that nature. We just got to correct little things. If we can convert on those, it’s a different type of ball game right now. But, we didn’t. I think that’s one thing we got to work hard on.”

(On if his conversation with QB Jared Goff in the locker room after the game was in regards
to the future)

“Yeah, definitely. Just about when we’re going start getting started, and who it’s really going to run through, as far as the both of us. We got elevate our game to a whole other level next year. Everybody is going to be held accountable. Whatever coaches are in here, everybody is going to be held accountable, and we’re going to go from there.”

(On what he offers to the fans at this point)

“I want to say from my heart, I apologize for the things that happened this year. We thought it was going to be a better year, but it wasn’t. Like I said, the tables will be turned around, and we will be on top one day.”

***

Rams RB Todd Gurley

(On the progress of QB Jared Goff)

“I felt like he did good. Obviously, it was a lot of struggles with protection. He probably got hit more than me, actually. Just got to protect him. It’s hard trying to – I mean, I’m not a quarterback – but, I’d imagine if you get hit in the first play of the game, and it’s a two or three-man rush, that’s going to affect you. He’s a young quarterback. He’s going to be great. He’s definitely going to get better.”

(On if a change between personnel from an offensive standpoint will affect the team)

“I’m not going to get into all of that. It’s just kind of is what it is at this point. Just going to try to enjoy this offseason a little bit, and get back to work.”

(On what he learned about the team’s character this season)

“No matter what, everybody’s sad. We knew things weren’t going our way. We just stuck together. It wasn’t an, ‘Awe man, offense – you need to do this. Defense, you need to do that.’ Obviously, as an offense, we know what we needed to do. But, we just stuck together as a family, and that’s what we break it down on. At the end of the day, we might not have had the season we wanted, but I love every single one of these guys in here, and they bring it every week.”

***

Rams LB Alec Ogletree

(On the disappointment of ending the season on this note)

“It sucks to lose like this, definitely don’t want to go out the way we did. It’s what happened today. We have to get some things fixed around here and get ready for the next season. The end of this season is over with, there’s nothing we can do about it. Now it’s time to get started for the next season.”

(On what he is expecting to see this offseason)

“I just would like to see some consistency as far as the whole team goes. When they bring in a new coach, they’re going to bring in who they want to bring in, but we definitely need a guy that’s going to demand consistency and bring a winning culture. We’re out here to win games and that’s our goal.”

(On what happened after the 3-1 start)

“We just kind of lost, I guess you could say, our mojo. I felt like we kept trying to play each week – I wouldn’t say we lost our mojo, I think it’s just more so we didn’t learn how to finish games. We played a lot of close games and we didn’t finish a lot of them. But that’s the biggest thing, just not finishing.”

***

Rams CB Trumaine Johnson

(On if this is the way he pictured the season ending)

“Never, not at all. It was a tough loss. It’s been a rough season.”

(On the most positive thing to come from the season)

“Building chemistry with my teammates. Like I said, I’ve been with guys for four or five years. Going to work every day, there’s still laughter in the building. Building chemistry with my teammates and just being around them.”

***

Rams S T.J. McDonald

(On what needs to happen this offseason)

“Something has to change, something has to change – a lot. A lot has to change.”

(On the most positive thing to come from this season)

“Camaraderie with my teammates. Going through a lot of different things, I don’t think we’ll ever have a season as challenging as far as the move from St. Louis and all that. Us coming together and all that, so that’s the most positive.”

(On if you forget a season like this as quickly as possible or if you use it for motivation)

“Yeah. In this business, you want to move on, but at this point, where we are right now, we just want to move on, flush it and get to this organization to where it needs to be.”

***

Rams DE Will Hayes

(On where the improvements need to be made on the team)

That’s above my pay scale. The only thing I know is, individually, everybody just needs to work their craft and when the new coach comes in here, make sure we don’t do anything to get him fired (laughter). That’s the reality of it. Guys just have to step their games up and be a little bit more productive. It’s just unfortunate, the season we had, I felt pretty good coming into the season. When we start off 3-1, I thought that was going to be the thing to help us transcend and be a playoff team. It just didn’t work out that way.”

Smog linked to third of deaths in China, study finds
Research puts air pollution on a par with smoking as threat to human health

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/2056553/smog-linked-third-deaths-china-more-deadly-smoking-study-finds?utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=contentexchange&utm_source=biv

Smog is related to nearly one-third of deaths in China, putting it on a par with smoking as a threat to health, according to an academic paper based on the study of air pollution and mortality data in 74 cities and published in an international journal.
The findings by Nanjing University’s School of the Environment, which were published in the November edition of the journal the Science of the Total Environment, provides the latest scientific estimates of the health cost of China’s notorious smog.

The latest bout of smog began last Friday, affecting about half a billion people on the mainland, with the severest impact in the last three days.

Previous research work have found equally alarming results about the country’s toxic air. The International Energy Agency published its first study on air pollution in June and estimated that severe air pollution has shortened life expectancy in China by an average 25 months.
An academic paper co-authored by researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US, Tsinghua University and Peking University in China, plus the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2013 concluded that bad air has cut life expectancy by an average of 5.5 years in the north of the country.
China’s smog knocks 2 years off life expectancy: International Energy Agency

There are so far no concrete or widely agreed estimates on the impact of air pollution on health in China partly because it is scientifically complicated to measure and also because there is little historical precedent for prolonged exposure to such high levels of air pollution.
The six researchers from Nanjing University said they conducted the study because air pollution was the “most severe and worrisome environmental problem in China”, but knowledge of its health effects was insufficient.

When they looked into 3.03 million deaths in 2013 in 74 cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region and the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta, they found 31.8 per cent could be linked to PM 2.5 pollution – the tiny smog particles most hazardous to health.
Baoding, Shijiazhuang and Handan in Hebei province, the cities with the worst air pollution, each reported more than 30,000 deaths in 2013 related to smog.
How scientists cracked the puzzle of Beijing’s wintertime smog

By comparison, smoking-related illnesses cause about one million deaths in the country each year.
An improvement in air quality would have an “outstanding” impact on the reduction of mortalities linked to smog, the report said.
If Beijing can deliver its promise of reducing PM2.5 concentrations in the air by 25 per cent in 2017 compared with 2012 levels in areas around Hebei, mortality related to smog would be reduced significantly, it said.
Over the past week, hundreds of flights were grounded, schools suspended classes, private cars were banned in northern China from city roads, highways were closed and hospitals were jammed with patients suffering from a level of air pollution that, in many places, exceeded the limit of air quality monitoring devices.
The National Energy Administration said on Thursday that they will strictly limit the construction of petroleum coke-fired power plants to help preventing air pollution, and limit emissions of high-pollution fuels.
The nation also launched a satellite to monitor carbon dioxide levels on Thursday.
Analysts have warned that the air pollution problem would become a public policy outcry if Beijing fails to clean up the air. Leaders have vowed to make tackling air pollution a war.
Even though the government pledged to scale down production, factories are still stepping up their operation and local authorities are worried that production suspension may lead to economic downturn.
Some lawyers have filed suits against the governments of Beijing, Hebei and Tianjin.

Rams Interim Head Coach John Fassel – – December 30, 2016

(Opening remarks)

“I guess the only thing on my mind now is I’m going to miss football practice. It’s great to always be able to come out here on the grass, huddle the guys up, and pick some dirt and grass up, and said this is pretty sacred stuff – this green grass and dirt that’s between the lines. Just never take it for granted. Practice is fun, man, and it’s a long time before we get to do it again. I’m going to miss it.”

(On if this season has gone by fast for him)

“Right now looking back, it seems like it’s gone by fast. But, you know when you’re in it, and it’s Week 4, and Week 8, and Week 12, it kind of goes about how you think. I wish we had more, I wish we had more. It’s too bad.”

(On if he’s ever had a season similar to this year in all of his years around the game of football)

“No. You hit me with that – if I had to look back, I don’t think. Especially if you count relocation, and then all the different places we’ve been, and then obviously what’s happened in the past three weeks. I think this has to be up there with one of the most unique seasons I’ve definitely been a part of, and it just kind of shows you that the only thing that’s constant is change. That’s pro football and we adapt, and that’s just the way it is.”

(On what it would mean to him for RB Todd Gurley to have the best game of his season in the finale)

“It would be great. I’d imagine from Todd’s perspective, it would almost be like a big sigh of relief. But, finally – we talked about the stone cutter. That would be the epitome of the stone cutter, where for 15 weeks or 16 weeks, you just keep chipping away. Then, Week 17 would be that 101st blow for him where, finally, I got it. I think he needs 155 or something like that, to get his 1,000 yards, which would special for a season where maybe he didn’t get everything he wanted. But, to still say I got 1,000 yards, that would be a pretty spectacular feat. That would be one of the cool things to see guys achieve – a goal that, obviously, has been a real struggle to get.”

(On if as a coach, will he make sure those players reach certain milestones going into the last game of the season)

“Yeah, that would figure into feeding him the ball a little bit more, or (P) Johnny (Hekker) trying to get in another punt, or for any position. If you need another sack, or – (LB Alec Ogletree) ‘Tree’ needs, I think, five more tackles to get his career best, or something like that. That would be a factor. Week 17 at this point in the season, you try to get guys to achieve their goals, whether if you have to manufacture a play-call, or something like that.”

(On what strikes him the most about Gurley’s personality and how he handles adversity)

“I think he’s been – it’s been tough for him, for sure – but kind of like (QB) Jared (Goff). They’re young guys that have had a lot of accolades coming into the NFL. Then Todd, obviously, last year had accolades with the Pro Bowl and all of that. But I think, in a real twisted way, it’s really good for a coach or a player that’s been successful to have to go through a tough time, and kind of see really what they’re made of and see how they respond to either the critique, or lack of production from what they’re used to. I think if we just look at it that way – like how do we respond to the tough time and can we bounce back. I think he’s handled it really well, and I think it’ll be good for him going forward to go into the offseason with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder and a little extra hunger, rather than coming off a lot of accolades.”

(On what his message will be to the team before the last game on Sunday)

“I’m actually kind of still thinking about it. I can’t say that I know right now exactly what I want to say for Saturday night. It won’t be long. It won’t be much. But, I want to make sure my last message is short and sweet, with a little extra emphasis on sweet. I’m still kind of building up in my head of what I want to say, it’s my last shot, so, I got to make it great.”

(On if his father will be on the sideline)

“Yes, yeah he’ll be there. He’ll be there just like he was the past two games. That’s been a really cool part of these last three weeks – have him be a little bit more involved with just what I’m doing, which has been cool.”

(On what it will mean to him to get a win as an interim head coach)

“I don’t know, other than after the season, one day look back and say when the Rams relocated, I was given a unique opportunity to lead the team for three games. I think it would be cool to say, as a head coach, I won a game. So, I don’t know what it would mean. I don’t know. I think it’s been very meaningful to be in this position to be a leader with the situation that we’re in. I think that’s super meaningful. What does a win mean? Maybe ask me after that game. I don’t know. That’s a good question. I haven’t really thought about it to be honest with you.”

Rams Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams – – December 30, 2016

(On if he has ever been through a season like this)

“It’s pretty tough, there’s a lot of different things. As a professional, inside the white lines, you have to get ready to go. I think one of the more comforting things for these guys, and I’m very proud of a lot of the things that they’ve been through this year, is that there’s more peace and more calmness when they’re in the meetings and when they’re inside the white lines doing what they’re supposed to be doing. Those are excuses, we’re pros, we’re supposed to be able to do what we’re supposed to do. A good, young team defensively, I’m really proud of how far they came. We had a lot of moving parts at the start of the season, guys having to step up and move in to some new roles for us. They’ve done very good. I think (LB) Alec (Ogletree) has done an outstanding job this year defensively. We’ve got another one to play, play it our way, and do a better job finishing at the end.”

(On if anybody surprised him this season)

“There’s really, in all honesty, not a lot of surprises when you go through them. I think back in the old days when all we had was two, three day mini-camps when I started back in the ‘80’s in the league, and early ‘90’s – you didn’t have offseason training, you didn’t even have weightlifting and that kind of stuff because you didn’t have the facilities back then. When I’ve got them for nine straight weeks, they need a break from me and I need a break from them, there’s no surprises (laughter). I treat them all like my own sons, anyway – I’m just very hard on my own sons. They responded very well. I’m very proud of and again, I’ve told you guys this before, of guys that maybe other teams gave up on, they come here and we’re able to get things out of them. Undrafted free agents, all of the sudden they play very well for us – why is that? I’m okay with changing the style or the scheme of play to fit their strengths, hide their weaknesses. As long as they’re tough, as long as they’re smart, we’ll find a place for them. A lot of those guys have stepped up this year – especially in the secondary. I’ve been really proud of the secondary coaches, both (defensive backs coaches) Brandon (Fisher) and Dennard (Wilson) have done a very good job of taking some inexperienced guys and doing pretty well in our league, because the league has turned into a passing league. They’ve done very well.”

(On if he would be open to staying with the Rams following this season)

“It’d be one of those things. I love coaching. I don’t have hobbies. I’m happiest at practice, I’m happiest in games. The coaches and players get fed up with me in the meetings, so we like to get out here. But, yeah, sure. I’m going to coach for as long as I can. People say, ‘When will you know it’s time to stop doing this?’ It’s when they stop paying attention to me – it can’t be that simple. Can you step in the room, that’s when you know you belong in this league, especially from a coaching standpoint, is when they tone you out or they don’t listen to you, then maybe you better take a look at something else. I don’t have any problems of getting people to listen to me, I don’t have any problems with that. This is a good group, it’s a good profession. We’ll see, it’ll be an interesting offseason, but I’ve been through a bunch of those kinds before.”

(On what he has thought of his time with the organization)

“It’s been tough in some ways. But the thing that I promised when I came back to help Jeff (Fisher) was that I’m not going to complain about anything to do with the people that coach – I’ll coach them. Now, get out of the way and don’t get upset with the way I coach them because it’s not always, maybe, a human resource kind of coaching because I’m going to make sure that they understand exactly what I’m saying. And they’ve done that, Jeff did that, so I enjoyed that part of it.”

(On how going against Cardinals QB Carson Palmer and WR Larry Fitzgerald alter the game plan)

“I never had a chance to be on the same team with them, but I have admired them from afar for a long time. They’re very, very, very tough, veteran players, both of those guys. There’s not a lot of things that you can do to trick them anymore, it just comes down to a battle of wills, a battle of discipline. They’re both outstanding players. The fact that we’re playing in the same division – they know us, we know them. They’re two of the very top guys in our league.”

(On the final minutes of last week’s game)

“You don’t take a look at there’s no explosive plays and that’s outstanding in that respect. Our guys have done a very good job on not letting the ball get over the top of them. But then you have to be able to make the key little tight plays at the end and a couple times they haven’t done that. We did a great job last week of minimizing the scrambles until the very end and that wasn’t a part of our game plan. Our game plan was dominate in the rushing attack and then making sure that he (49ers QB Colin Kaepernick) couldn’t scramble. I’ll be doggoned, the last two drives, he didn’t put the ball in his own hand and we didn’t play very well on those couple of plays – we make those couple of scramble plays, then it’s a different world, a different game. The guys have done a good job all year long. People focus on that game there or one other game like that, but there’s been about four or five of them where we’ve done very well in the two-minute where we’ve made the play, we’ve knocked the ball out, we’ve created the fumble or the interception at the Jets like Ogletree did. Our guys have a short memory, hopefully, and they’ll be able to come back this week and play hard. But we want to be in those situations, you want to be in those situations where you’re leading at the end and have to make those plays, we just didn’t.”

(On what some of the younger players learn from the adversity this year)

“I would hope that they’d understand the resiliency and the toughness and the discipline part of it. There’s two words that I preach constantly to the guys on the defensive side of the ball that they have to own these two words that begin with the letter ‘A’ – and that’s accountability and availability. From an accountability standpoint, they all of the sudden see that they’re no longer on full-ride, they’re no longer on scholarship. This is a production business, there’s so many people waiting to sit in their chairs or waiting to sit in my chair. People want to be in the National Football League, so they have seen and gotten an opportunity to show whether they belong or not. So it’s been a good audition for some of these guys and it’s a good resume-builder for some of these guys. I’m proud of several of these guys that nobody else liked, but we gave them a chance and they stood out.”

(On taking a lot of snaps on defense)

“It’s just part of it. I look back at my early years when I was with the run-and-shoot (offense) – they scored a ton of points, but how fast the game was going and we had to play a lot of snaps back in those days, too. In this situation, it does pile on you, it does from a fatigue standpoint. We do a good job here, (Director of Sports Medicine and Performance) Reggie (Scott) and everybody does a good job with recovery here. That hasn’t been a problem, I don’t think, with any of our guys. And it also shows you, when you have a young team, they can last a little bit longer. If it was an older team in some of the positions, it would be tough, it would be very physically demanding on them. But, we don’t complain, we enjoy playing every single snap we get out there. You’ll see how we take the field, you can read their body language, they’re ready to go. And I’m anxious to watch them play this week, I’m anxious to watch them finish, because they’ve had a very good week of preparation.”

Rams RB Todd Gurley – – December 30, 2016

(On this week’s practice and preparing for Arizona)

“I felt like it was a great week. It wasn’t a short week, but we came out here with some energy. Last game of the season, so we’re going to try and get a win.”

(On whether the season has gone by quickly)

“Yeah. It always goes by quick. It feels like you just started a month ago, instead, it’s the end of the season.”

(On what stands out to him about this year)

“I haven’t really got there yet – can’t really tell you.”

(On whether there was anything he thought he could have done differently to provide more production in the running game and how he can improve for next year)

“Obviously, looking at every game you make mistakes in the game – that’s just part of it. Just looking back and correcting the mistakes that I had in the games. But other than that, not really. I felt like I’ve prepared myself every week and tried to play as hard as possible.”

(On the Georgia win over TCU in the Liberty Bowl and whether he’ll be talking smack to teammate RB Aaron Green)

“Oh, we won? Okay, cool. That’s all I need to know. I knew we were losing when we came out here. He’ll probably be gone by the time I get back in there, but it’s about to be on now (laughter).”

(On what it would mean to finish the season finale with a big game personally)

“Most definitely. I’ve been waiting for that one game every game. But like I said, you just have to trust in the process. Even if something’s not going your way, you still have to work hard at it and just hope that it happens the next week. My mindset is still the same, just to go out there this weekend and try to give it my all. If we could make something happen this weekend, it would definitely be a good feeling.”

(On whether it’s been easy or difficult to remain patient)

“It’s been fine. I found myself a couple of times, the last couple of games getting a little frustrated. But if you’re not getting frustrated then I don’t think you have the passion for the game. Just me not being content with myself and just knowing that I feel like I can do better as a player. As a team, I know we can do better.”

(On whether he’s gotten any advice from other running backs in the league on how to handle struggles in the running game)

“You get some pretty good advice. It’s kind of all the same, you know, just control what you can control, just stay patient. Everybody’s not going to have eight good years in a row, unless you’re – I don’t know I can’t name anybody – (Patriots QB) Tom Brady (laughter). But every year is not going to be the year. I can’t judge myself off what I did last year because that was last year and this is a new year – a whole different team. You just have to be patient and just work hard. Like I said, just control what you can control and hope that you can just progress every game.”

(On whether that’s something he learned this year – not to judge himself on what he accomplished last year and whether he ever found himself chasing)

“Yeah, as a player you find yourself doing that. It’s just growing up from high school to college. You’re like ‘Oh, I had 800 yards my freshman year, I should have 1,200 yards.’ So, you can never get stuck in the past and just worry about the future – what happened last year, happened last year or what happened last game, happened last game and you just kind of go from there.”

(On whether he’s looking forward to being in a new scheme or a new situation given the big changes to come during the offseason)

“I really haven’t even thought about. Honestly, just trying to finish these last couple games off and make sure I end this last ‘Week 17’ on a good note. Get a win and just try to do as good as possible.”

Rams Interim Head Coach John Fassel – – December 16, 2016

(Opening Remarks)

“Gosh last night, this morning, and right now has come pretty fast again. Leading up to the game yesterday, it was a tough couple of days – we’ve got some really tough guys and we came out of the game with a couple bumps and bruises. The tough guys are going to have to continue to be tough for a couple of weeks. Obviously, there was probably – same old story – some missed opportunities, whether it’s throwing the ball, catching the ball, faking the punt, getting the goal-line stop, the interception where we just missed it – the review – I think that had a big factor on the game, that was unfortunate.

Here’s a couple of injury updates: (DB) Marqui Christian, we’ll put on IR (injured reserve) with an ankle injury from last night. Ninety-four, (DE) Robert Quinn – I think we discussed this – we put on IR with a concussion. Just basically a conservative decision with a couple weeks left and not really feeling like he’d be prepared to play within the next couple of weeks – he’ll be on IR. (RB) Benny Cunningham will be on IR – suffered a neck sprain and it’s a couple week injury, but with two weeks left in the season, we figured we’d put him on the IR. All three guys are expected to make full recoveries. Our decisions were based on the health of the players and what’s best for them at this point.

Jared Goff, quarterback, is in the concussion protocol. A medical timeout was initiated last night, from upstairs, by the NFL. They got him out of the game. He was assessed and he is currently in the concussion protocol. We saw him today and he seems sharp, but he’ll go through the protocol over the next nine days.

(S) T.J. McDonald has a wrist sprain – he’s day-to-day. (CB) Mike Jordan is also in the concussion protocol from last night. (WR) Bradley Marquez suffered a knee sprain on the first punt of the game last night – he’ll be day-to-day. (WR) Kenny Britt, another stinger or two and he’s day-to-day – he continues to tough it out. Much respect for a lot of those guys.”

(On if he spoke to Jared Goff today)

“I did. I went in this morning and I saw him in the training room when he was getting treatment. He was getting a back massage and a neck massage. Obviously, he’s a little bit banged up. But, like I said last night, just a really tough kid. I think he was going for the touchdown. Without the experience of being a real runner, the defender got on him a lot faster than he anticipated. From a special teams perspective, we prefer brawns, maybe, over brains. I told Jared, from a quarterback perspective, brains got to trump the brawns. As a rookie quarterback, he’ll learn to know when to maximize his yardage, but then protect his body. A lot of respect for a really, really tough, competitive kid. It’ll be a good learning experience for him.”

(On how will the concussion protocol affect his ability to practice this week)

“I think it depends on how he’s assessed during the concussion protocol, of when he’s allowed to return to practice.”

(On if he’s confident Goff will be able to play against the 49ers)

“I guess I’d say this – I probably should’ve said this earlier. But, our schedule for the week is the players will he off Saturday and Sunday. There will be treatments Saturday and Sunday morning. Then when we come back Monday, we’re going to treat it like our normal week Tuesday. So, he’ll get three more days to get treated and become assessed, and we’ll probably make a decision from there where he’s at, how much he’ll be able to do in practice. By then, we’ll probably have a better idea of how close he’ll be to playing in the game.”

(On how was the experience of being the head coach)

“It was great. I got on the airplane last night flying home, and I kind of just said, ‘Did all of this really just happen over the course of four days?’ Being thrown into the situation, and got to figure it out. Then, all of a sudden, game day came just like that. Being on the sideline was really special, kind of taking on a little bit different role and responsibility. Having my dad (Jim Fassel) there was really cool. From being on the sideline with him for so many years, and learning so much without even maybe even knowing it. It was an experience that I’ll definitely never, never forget. Unfortunately, we lost, winning is the ultimate goal. But, I still think I’ll look back on it and have a pretty special memory.”

(On if his father shared any words with him prior to, during, or after the game)

“Not really. I don’t think any conversations were different than I’ve always had with him. Be yourself. If you’re not really sure what to do, go for it. You’ve got nothing to lose man. Just kind of the, rah, rah…go get them boy. I’m proud of you no matter what. He’s always been very supportive.”

(On if he spoke with Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll on the field before the game)

“I did, yeah. I talked to him for just a minute. He came up when I was helping the punt returners. I still wanted to perform my duties in pregame with the punter and kicker and punt returner. He came over and just said, ‘Congrats. But, under circumstances that are not ideal. We feel for Coach (Jeff) Fisher.’ He said just congrats and we got a good young team. He said he knows that the Rams will play hard tonight, and I think that our Rams’ players did. I’m certainly proud of how they prepared, and really how they performed. It just kind of got away from us. We missed some opportunities, but Coach Carroll has always been pretty good.”

(On advice he gives WR Michael Thomas after his struggles in the last two games)

“I’m glad you asked that. Michael Thomas – a kid from Chicago, junior college, a little bit of success at Southern Mississippi. And he’s just kind of a guy that I’ve really enjoyed coaching and developing and watching him go through some really good plays. Whether it’s been a couple of good kick returns early in the season and some great gunner play on punt, to some misses, with the fumbled kick return and the missed opportunity on the long catch. And I really think Michael Thomas is a guy that we have to be patient with and he’s going to blossom into a really, really good football player – not only on special teams, but also on offense. He works so hard, he does everything he’s asked, he’s tough, he’s mentally strong. He’s crushed that he dropped the pass, and that he dropped the kickoff the return. But I really believe in the kid and I think he’s got great potential and hopefully he keeps his morale up and knows that I love him.”

(On if he had much interaction with QB Jared Goff during the game after saying he would stay out of the quarterback’s room)

“Yeah, I did. Before the game we shared a good little conversation. And then during the game, I didn’t feel like I should offer any input, as far as performance, but I just said, ‘Hang, tough man. Great throw. Come on, move the chains,’ just kind of encouragement more than coaching, I guess you could say. Before, I didn’t want to say that I wanted to steer clear of the quarterback room, it was just something, based on my role before, that I didn’t have the opportunity to do. I’m excited to be involved just a little bit more and learn about the quarterback room just a little bit more, because I think we have a really good quarterback. He’s tough, he’s talented, he moves in the pocket. So it’ll be fun for me to witness him over the next two weeks, get better.”

(On if he feels he can grow in to this role more now with the two days where the players are off)

“Yeah, I think so. I think what’s really helped me out is being a special teams coach, where every day I have the opportunity to coach different groups of guys every day, including offensive linemen, defensive linemen, and then, of course, all of the more skilled positions. All it really is, is just a few more people in the room, but I don’t my message is different. I think it all comes down to instead of 35 bodies in there, there’s 53 bodies in there. I think special teams has really helped me out, I think across the league, I think special teams coaches are pretty special in their ability to talk to the whole team and be around all that.”

(On preparing for the 49ers now as opposed to the season opener)

“I definitely remember the first game, it’s one we haven’t forgotten. But when we look at both rosters right now, the rosters are totally different. San Fran has had a huge share of injuries, as well as we have the last couple of weeks, so I think that’s the biggest thing. I think going in to the game, it’s a division game, they’ll be excited. We’ll have some new guys likely promoted from our practice squad that will hopefully give us a little bit of juice, because they know that they’re going to be evaluated for future employment – as well as myself and everybody else. There’s a lot to play for. I’m excited about some of the young guys getting an opportunity to perform. There won’t be any problems with emotion and energy I know that.”