Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher – August 9, 2016

(On practice today)

“Practice was good. I can’t ever remember where we didn’t have a good practice. There were some highlights in it and some things we’re going to have to correct. The two, two-minute drives that we had were extraordinary. It’s really, really fun once you get into that. And we’ll be doing that quite often as we move through camp – just putting offense and defense in different situations. It’s not only good for players, but it’s good for coaches because every scenario ends up being different. You can start with 1:10 and one timeout, down by a touchdown and you never know what you’re going to end up with. I thought the offense handled it really well, there was some cerebral things that took place in both drives.”

(On what it is about DT Aaron Donald that enables him to do so many things at such a young age when, in some circles, he’s not your typical defensive lineman)

“Aaron, he’s exceptionally strong and explosive. Then you add the instincts to it and he’s very, very smart. Aaron will watch the huddle break and he’ll look out and look at receiver splits and see where the tight end is and what the back’s depth is and pressure on offensive linemen’s stances and basically know where the ball is going. Because of that, he puts himself in position to make so many plays.”

(On how happy he is with the progression of TE Tyler Higbee)

“He’s a rookie in training camp that’s just getting better every day. He had to work through some injury issues through the OTAs, but he’s there. He’s been there every day. He’s making plays, blocking is something that’s improving that we need to continue to work on. As far as going down the field and catching the football and running after catch, he has got all those qualities to play in the open.”

(On how he felt QB Jared Goff did in the two-minute drills today)

“It was designed to give him a chance to work with the 1s in two-minute. He took the ball right down the field and got points and that was good – not necessarily good for the defense, but it was good for Jared and the offense. It’s always good to get him working with the other offensive linemen and get him a chance to work with (C) Tim (Barnes) from a communications standpoint, because Tim is so smart up front. Tim can take some of that load off him and let him play.”

(On if there was something he wanted to see TE Brian Quick focus on this offseason.)

“No different than anybody else, but we stressed improvement, the relationship with his new coach (wide receivers/passing game coordinator Mike Groh), different techniques, different types of routes. Somewhat of an offensive change that we went through and he’s done that; he’s making plays, he’s going up, he’s elevating, he’s staying healthy. He’s running all day long, which is good, he really conditions himself and put (himself) in a position to get ready for camp. Hopefully that will translate over into production in the preseason games.”

(On the decision to bring in Mike Groh)

“We made some hard decisions, not only during the season, but after the season was over – changes were necessary. So, we went out and tried to hire the best guys we could. It was an opportunity for us to be able to talk to Mike as a passing game coordinator. The Bears and (Head) Coach (John) Fox gave us permission and it really fit in because (offensive coordinator) Rob’s (Boras) expertise is in the run game and the play-action and protection. I just wanted to expand it a little bit in the passing game. Watching tape and having played the Bears and being familiar with what they were doing, in the passing game, was kind of the direction we wanted to go. It’s been great, he’s handled it really well and they’re working really well together. So hopefully it turns into production for us.”

(On if he’s had a chance to see the robotic tackling dummies on the field and what his thoughts are)

“Yeah, it’s kind of cool. We were aware of it, we were aware of the concept and the prototypes a long time ago and they just got the first two out, so we invited them out. There’s a place for it, there’s a place for it at our level and there’s a place for these things at all levels. In this day and age when we’re so concussion-conscious and contact-conscious, live contact between players, you want to reduce as much as you can – but you still have to have the contact. This is an opportunity to hit a bag that’s moving and a bag that moves around pretty fast. We had the demonstration right after the walk-thru and even got to drive it a little bit. It’s kind of cool. If I could get it to go upstairs, I could have them do bed-check.”

(On if Goff will continue to get playing times with the 1s)

“Yeah, that’s part of the process. As I mentioned, he’s getting walk-thru reps with the 1s. This is one of the first or second times he’s gotten live reps with the 1s, but that will increase.”

(On if the media can read into that, if a quarterback change is imminent)

“Read whatever you want. I’m going to start him when he’s ready to play. It’s all about the process and it’s about being patient.”

(On if the change in the rookie wage scale makes it easier for a guy to be able to come along slowly)

“There’s really no financial consideration entering into our decision.”

(On if that change plays into how a roster is constructed)

“I don’t think so. The higher you draft players, the quicker you want them to play. I don’t think it does – maybe at some other positions. You can rest assured that you’ve got a good deal for four or five years. If you’ve done your homework and you get the right guy and you’re efficient in the organization, you’re extending the contracts before they expire.”

(On if he typically doesn’t have tackling practices before games)

“We tackled today, we don’t tackle to the ground, but we form tackle every day on defense – whether we’re in pads or not, there’s some type of tackling drill that we do. We had 10 plays at the Coliseum Saturday that were live plays where we did tackle to the ground, but typically we wait. I, personally, always wait until the preseason. That’s the first thing that we address in the game is tackling. That’s always an issue, there’s always more missed tackles in the first preseason game than there are in the second and the third and the fourth because you just haven’t done it from a live, go to the ground standpoint.”

—

Rams Offensive Coordinator Rob Boras – Training Camp Post-Practice – August 9, 2016

(On how things have been going the past two weeks)

“Good! Obviously, we’re just going through the teaching process of everything, for all the players, and still installing the offense, and all the different situations that (Head) Coach (Jeff) Fisher is putting in. Each day, we just try to attack that day.”

(On how is QB Jared Goff doing, and what do you expect from him this Saturday in the first preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys)

“Jared is getting better. Just like we hope everybody is getting better. Again, every day is a new day. A lot of the install that we put in today was the first time that these guys got to do it. Not just him, but for everybody. It takes guys two or three times running the play before they really feel comfortable with it, and you saw that across the offense today. So, Jared is handling everything well. Obviously, we want him just to relax Saturday night. It’s just kind of like when we started OTAs and we started training camp, everybody gets on edge, there’s a lot of expectations. The more that he can go out there and just settle in, like we saw him settle in at the coliseum during the family day, he’s going to play confident. We know he’s talented, so, him just doing what he does. And obviously everyone else just playing football around him.”

(On whether or not the coaching staff has formulated a game plan on usage on how much Jared is going to play Saturday against the Cowboys)

“No. Right now, we’re dialed in, tomorrow is the special teams practice, and then we’re doing install number nine, and then after that we’ll start talking about the Cowboys. Right now, it’s about the Rams getting better. And we’ll talk the playing time, we’ll figure out exactly what we’re going to do game-plan wise. We want to run plays that guys are comfortable with. But, we’re just focusing on, right now, the Rams getting better.”

(On if the mentality of the players have changed from last week to this week)

“Players are resilient, I don’t know if it’s changed much. You know, obviously, it was exciting to be in that Coliseum. I think that all of the guys felt that and they were prepared for that. And I think their excited to get back in there. They understand though they’ve got to deal with, today was win Tuesday. And then we’re back out here Thursday, it’s winning Thursday. And eventually, we’ll try to win Friday, and the next day. So, they know it’s out there. But again, we’ve got to make sure that they’re focused on today.”

(On what you’ve seen out of TE Tyler Higbee that has shown you he is a consistent player)

“Tyler really has handled everything well. It started fast, and I don’t know why, but you get to that point where you’re kind of waiting for that rookie slump, if you win for a couple of days, it hasn’t happened. He’s mentally tough. He’s handled the installation well. We’re putting him in some situations that he wasn’t asked to do in college, and handling it very well. Every day is a learning experience, and he’s going to see some things in the run game and protections that he’s got to improve, but he’s just a mentally tough kid that is determined to succeed.”

(On the kind of situations have you put TE Tyler Higbee in)

“Blocking (DE) Will Hayes. There’s not many Will Hayes. When you’re asked to block that, that’s different than what he’s had to do. You do that enough times, you better learn how to drop your pads and play a little stronger.”

(On WR Pharoh Cooper not falling into a rookie slump)

“Coop is handling everything really well. We love what Pharoh can do. It’s great to get him back out and just, obviously Saturday night we’re going to try and get those guys going and just feeling comfortable, and not trying to overthink anything.”

(On being an offensive coordinator now, and how have things gone for him personally these past few weeks of training camp)

“It’s just like the players. Every day is a new day. This is my first time going through the training camp experience. I’d be lying if I say I’m still not learning, and that’s why we come out and practice. It’s a new day. Just like I challenge the players to try and attack that day and us coaches, we have to have that same sort of mentality. So, tomorrow is a new day and coach is going to put us in different situations. And then those team periods where it’s not scripted, you got to think and tries to make it as game-like as possible. Between the offensive staff and everything that’s going on, it’s been a great group to work with.”

(On the limitations when you’re practicing against each other and when you’re still installing the system)

“Well what we’ve tried to do is not change our rules. Offense, you need to know your rules. And if you start game planning specifically against Coach (Gregg) Williams’ defense and you change your rules, then you’re going to struggle to succeed when the game really matters. Again, it’s just teaching the rules, understanding what the foundation is, and they can always go back to that.

(On what do you see Saturday that you just can’t see out here on the practice field)

“Well, the speed. We try to get fast here, but for a lot of these guys, speed on Saturday, even in the preseason, it’s going to be a step higher than what they’re getting in practice. Then when we have the opener, it’s going to be a step faster. And a lot of these young guys are not going to really recognize how much faster the game is on Sunday, or Monday night in this case. It’s different, and it’s going to be different Saturday for them. That’s why you have preseason games, so those guys can understand how it changes.”

(On having two tight ends you’re comfortable with, is that something you’re looking for)

“Obviously, anytime, really, three with Cory Harkey, and obviously we’re bringing Temarrick (Hemingway) along, and all those guys in that group. The more guys that you can have do multiple jobs, so that they’re lining up as a tight end and maybe as a fullback. Or, they’re lined up as slot receiver. Hopefully we can dictate and it provides a little bit more versatility for us. So, we’re looking for that with all of these tight ends.”

Rams’ E.J. Gaines Making Progress In Return From Foot Injury

August 3, 2016

Rams’ E.J. Gaines Making Progress In Return From Foot Injury

IRVINE (AP) — Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines knows it could be a lot worse.

Such as last year when he injured his foot during the first week of training camp, had surgery and missed the season.

Or during offseason workouts, when he stood impatiently on the sideline in uniform but still not cleared to practice.

So this is definite progress with the Rams opening their 2016 camp at UC Irvine and Gaines finally cleared to play.

“I was just cleared last week,” Gaines said. “I’m pretty much 100 percent. The coaching staff is taking it slow with me, but for the most part I’ve pretty much been out here for all the snaps.”

Not all the snaps he would normally take. The Rams are being careful to ease him back, continuing to build his foot and leg strength as he regains any timing lost to an offseason on the sideline.

“We’ve been increasing his reps,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “We just have to see how he tolerates that.”

At Wednesday’s practice, the Rams suspected he was feeling the effects of early training camp and shut him down for the last part of the afternoon. They are being careful with his return.

The Rams need him to stay healthy.

Gaines, 23, started 15 games as a rookie in 2014 when Trumaine Johnson was injured. He went into camp last season in a competition with Johnson to start. Johnson won when Gaines was injured. The Rams used their franchise tag on Johnson ($13.9 million) to secure him.

Meanwhile, the other starting corner, Janoris Jenkins, signed as a free agent with the New Giants for five years and $62 million ($29 million guaranteed).

The Rams need another starting corner. If Gaines is the logical replacement, he still has to prove himself fully healed and ready to go.

“That’s no problem,” Gaines said. “I’ve always played with a chip on my shoulder. I think this is just another year I get a chance to go out there and showcase my talent.”

The 5-foot-10 Gaines came to camp listed behind Lamarcus Joyner and Coty Sensabaugh at right corner, but defensive backs are being rotated throughout practice. Sensabaugh got most of the snaps with the starters on Wednesday.

“Coach keeps saying there really are no starters and backups right now,” Gaines said. “Everybody is pretty much rotating to keep it competitive. I think that’s the best for everybody.”

The first preseason game is Aug. 13. The Rams opener isn’t until Sept. 12 in San Francisco. Gaines figures that’s plenty of time to prove he’s healthy and earn playing time.

“He’s coming on and making progress,” Fisher said. “He’s worked hard, came back and hasn’t missed a snap. We’re not giving him the snaps for a week or so that he would normally get, but he gives us the opportunity to have him be in a position to win that job back and compete there.”

Sensabaugh is a fifth-year pro signed in the offseason as a free agent. He started 15 games last season for the Tennessee Titans. The 5-foot-8 Joyner is in his third year with the Rams. He started six games last season.

Now the Rams look to see exactly where Gaines is in his comeback.

“I’m pretty much in good shape and ready to go,” he said. “They gave me a long time to rehab and get my strength back in my legs. It hasn’t been an issue for me to this point.”

Friendly Competition Helping Both Keenum, Goff Improve

Myles Simmons

http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Friendly-Competition-Helping-Both-Keenum-Goff-Improve/bfce66da-bbd0-46e9-8e74-6075e72fee3a

It’s hard to train your replacement.

You can say that about any profession. Blue collar, white collar, sports — it doesn’t matter. When an individual sees someone is coming to take his or her job, usually an inherent defense mechanism arises. It’s a natural human instinct.

But there are exceptions to the rule, and the Rams appear to have one in their quarterbacks room. Even though Case Keenum is Los Angeles’ incumbent starter, he’s apparently embraced the role of being a mentor and guide to No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff.

Going back to OTAs, there appeared to be a mutual respect between the two QBs. That seems to have only increased as the two players began their first training camp together.

Keenum was particularly complimentary of Goff at camp check-in last Thursday.

“I really like Jared. I think he’s a great football player, but he’s a great person too,” Keenum said. “I’m excited to see what he brings to the team, to the quarterback room. He’s very, very talented. He came in that way. So I’m excited to see where he’s going to grow and what he’s going to be able to accomplish in this league. He’ll play for a long time.”

But it’s more than that. Keenum said he’s willing to be a resource for anything Goff needs when it comes to learning the offense and reaching his full potential, supplementing what the rookie receives from offensive coordinator Rob Boras and quarterbacks coach Chris Weinke.

“I’m going to help him when I can,” Keenum said. “I don’t want to overload it with stuff, but if he needs something, I’m definitely going to be somebody — whether my advice is good or what — but I’ll lend him some advice when I need to.”

For anyone in the position of Keenum, this is fairly unusual — a fact not lost on Goff.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming in, and it’s been far and away more than I could’ve ever expected from somebody like him — the way he’s helped me, treated me, and brought me in, helped me with anything,” Goff said. “If I’ve got a question, I’ll go to him and he’s going to help me.”

And even when Goff isn’t seeking out Keenum’s advice, sometimes the Houston product will be proactive in making sure the former Cal quarterback is picking up the offense properly.

“He’ll ask me little things to keep me on my toes — just stuff like that,” Goff said. “He’s been really good and really helpful, and one of the best teammates I’ve ever had.”

One of the best teammates he’s ever had? Yes, that’s atypical for one quarterback trying to unseat another. But it’s part of the culture head coach Jeff Fisher has tried to foster within the team.

“Well I’d like to think that it’s top-to-bottom and that’s important,” Fisher said of Goff’s comments on Keenum. “And it’s important around the league, but especially important here. They have grown closer together, they’re patient but focused. So I’d like to think that they all would talk about each other like that.”

But it also says something about Goff that he’s willing to take the coaching and advice of his peer. Even though competition can put a strain on a relationship, Keenum said all that’s made easier when you’re working with good people.

“And he’s good people,” Keenum said. “So we’re trying to make each other better.

“The way I’ve always seen it is, I don’t want him to do bad. I want him to do good,” Keenum continued. “When I’m competing with someone, I want my best to be better than his. And that’s just how I’ve been. I’m not wishing bad for anybody. I want him to do well, but I want to do well as well.”

And so when it comes to the Rams’ quarterbacks, it’s a friendly competition — emphasis on friendly.

“Anytime anybody’s doing well, it’s exciting for our team. It makes our team better,” Keenum said. “He’s doing well, it pushes me. I’m doing well, it pushes him. And I think that’s what competition is about — making each other better. And in turn, that’ll make the team better.”

RamBill

http://www.rams-news.com/jared-goff-finds-comfort-level-rams-fans-must-learn-patient — As Jared Goff finds comfort level, Rams fans must learn to be patient

http://www.rams-news.com/pressures-goff-rams-open-camp — Pressure’s on Jared Goff as Rams open camp

http://www.rams-news.com/46505-2 — Alec Ogletree has been the man in the middle of a lot of activity

http://www.rams-news.com/46503-2 — Alec Ogletree prepares to take over the middle for the Rams

http://www.rams-news.com/l-times-day-2-rams-training-camp-report-video — L.A. Times Day 2 Rams Training Camp Report –Video

http://www.rams-news.com/alec-ogletree-rams-keeping-playoff-hopes-alive-audio — Alec Ogletree: Rams keeping playoff hopes alive –Audio

http://www.rams-news.com/dmarco-farr-rams-return-l-audio — D’Marco Farr on Rams return to L.A. –Audio

http://www.rams-news.com/rams-training-camp-special-hour-2-audio — Rams Training Camp Special: Hour 2 –Audio

http://www.rams-news.com/rams-training-camp-special-hour-1-audio — Rams Training Camp Special: Hour 1–Audio

http://www.rams-news.com/going-tre-mason — What Is Going On With Tre Mason?

http://www.rams-news.com/22-years-fans-thrilled-rams-back — After 22 years fans are thrilled Rams are back

http://www.rams-news.com/big-crowd-greets-rams-1st-camp-practice-la-return — Big crowd greets Rams for 1st camp practice in LA return

http://www.rams-news.com/jeff-fisher-hasnt-even-spoken-tre-mason-since-end-2015 — Jeff Fisher hasn’t even spoken to Tre Mason since the end of 2015

http://www.rams-news.com/following-l-rams-family-affair — Following L.A. Rams a Family Affair

http://www.rams-news.com/instant-success-isnt-part-plan-jared-goff-l-rams — Instant Success Isn’t Part of the Plan for Jared Goff and L.A. Rams

http://www.rams-news.com/rob-havensteins-foot-injury-forced-onto-pup — Rob Havenstein’s foot injury forced him onto PUP

http://www.rams-news.com/jared-goff-case-keenum-one-best-teammates-ive-ever — Jared Goff: Case Keenum is ‘one of the best teammates I’ve ever had’

http://www.rams-news.com/training-camp-means-back-college-rams-receiver-tavon-austin — Training camp means back to college for Rams receiver Tavon Austin

http://www.rams-news.com/jared-goff-rams-camp-presser-730-video — Jared Goff Rams Camp Presser: 7/30 –Video

http://www.rams-news.com/faulk-goff-im-impressed-way-throws-video — Faulk on Goff: I’m Impressed by the Way He Throws –Video

http://www.rams-news.com/jeff-fisher-rams-camp-presser-july-30-video — Jeff Fisher Rams Camp Presser: July 30 –Video

http://www.rams-news.com/inside-training-camp-rams-back-action-video — Inside Training Camp: Rams Back in Action –Video

• This topic was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by zn.

Rams Head Coach Jeff Fisher –– July 31, 2016

(Opening remarks)

“Alright, day two, day two with everybody. Update on (WR) Tavon (Austin), he’s fine, he got a little dehydrated. He was cramping a little bit, so he’ll be fine. He’s not going to miss any practice, won’t miss any time. Great lesson to be learned there, I heard that, for some reason he didn’t eat lunch. Go figure. So anyway, a good message for the rest of the team. He’s doing fine, he’s having a great camp, he’s in great shape. No worries there. We released (WR) Deon Long this morning. We’ll probably bring some receivers in; we’re just trying to upgrade the bottom part of our roster. (WR) Kenny Britt was excused from practice today; he’ll be back in the swing of things tonight in meetings and tomorrow.

“Beyond that, we had a good day, a good second day. We’re installing, getting a lot more in and I thought (QB) Jared (Goff) had a good day, made some really good throws. We’re eagerly awaiting that opportunity to put the shoulder pads on so the offense can show what they’ve got, because it’s obviously a practice scenario situation where the defense typically gets the advantage before the pads go on. So the offense is looking forward to it. Tomorrow, we’re having a special teams practice; it’ll be our first practice with the shoulder pads. Then we’ll come back the next day with shoulder pads and we’ll be rolling. Questions?”

(On if this seemed more like a typical practice after all the excitement from yesterday’s first day)

“Yeah, it was great. It’s kind of what we’re hoping to get out of training camp throughout the way. It’s been great. And unfortunately, we don’t have time to get every autograph signed because players have responsibilities inside and then meal and meetings. But they’re doing the best they can. I think the offensive line is up tonight (for autographs) and some of the defensive line stayed out. But it’s a good situation for us.”

(On Alec Ogletree’s transition to middle linebacker)

“It’s been seamless. He really has a great understanding of the defense – making all the calls; he’s taking that leadership role over. He’s off to a great start. I think one of the things that’s indicative of that is what a guy does during the time off – like we talked about yesterday. He went out and he worked and he came back and had the best overall time, from a defensive standpoint, in the conditioning test. What a difference a couple years makes. I’m just really proud of him. He’s our guy in the middle.”

(On if he saw the same qualities last year that made him think Ogletree could handle the move)

“Yeah, we did. Unfortunately, the season didn’t work out the way he, and all of us hoped, because of the injury. He stayed focused throughout the rehab. He held onto the hope that he could come back, perhaps for the last game, but it just didn’t work out. I think the fact that he was around, he was rehabbing, he was studying, he was a teammate – I think it really helped him to prepare.”

(QB Jared Goff saying that QB Case Keenum is one of the best teammates he’s ever had and if camp is about team bonding)

“Well I’d like to think that it’s top-to-bottom and that’s important. And it’s important around the league, but especially important here. They have grown closer together, they’re patient but focused. So I’d like to think that they all would talk about each other like that.”

(On how CB E.J. Gaines looks coming off an injury and what he could mean to the secondary going forward)

“Well he’s done fine. He got involved towards the end of the OTAs and was coming on, making progress, worked hard, came back and he hasn’t missed a snap. We’re not giving him the number of reps, for a week or so, that he ordinarily would get, but he gives us the opportunity to have him be in a position to win that job back and compete there. In addition to that, we know that he can come inside and play in the slot, because he proved that his rookie year.”

(On integrating young guys like WR Pharoh Cooper and TE Tyler Higbee into what the team does offensively)

“We just plug them in and go. If you watch practice, they’re lining up with the 1s. That should tell you something – they’re lining up and going. They have a good feel. We’re not going to put them in to fail, but they know what to do, they’re going to get their reps.”

NFL chat with Jim Thomas

http://sports.live.stltoday.com/Event/NFL_chat_with_Jim_Thomas_20?Page=2

Is this FINALLY the end of the line for Aldon Smith?
by Rudy Bukich 1:07 PM

Not quite. But I think he’s close.
by jthomas 1:07 PM

Jim, I knew Aldon Smith a little at Mizzou. We had biology class together in 2010. Super nice guy, it is really sad to see what has happened to him. You just wonder what happened in his mind when he left Missouri and went to the Bay Area.
by TexasTiger 1:08 PM

Interesting. Yeah, I don’t know much about his time at Mizzou.
by jthomas 1:09 PM

Also, I did receive the email about Los Angeles Rams hats….just laughed and clicked the unsubscribe button in the email.
by StlFanDan 1:09 PM

Aldon Smith made a pre-draft visit to Rams Park when he came out. I know he turned off some in the Rams front office during the visit. Supposedly, they didn’t like his attitude.
by jthomas 1:11 PM

Were you invited to the Friday dinner with the Rams legends? Would’ve loved to be a fly on the wall there.
by rp 1:11 PM

I attended a media session before hand at the restaurant.. It was great to see the players, and it was great to see them interact with their former teammates. After a couple of minutes together, the old stories start flowing like the players were still in the locker room together.
by jthomas 1:14 PM

Yes – I got one of the hat emails: I unsubscribed to the Rams emails immediately.
In recognition of the event last weekend, my 5 best wins in St. Louis Rams history (not counting the Super Bowl or NFC Championship Game wins: too easy):
1. 49-37 Divisional Playoff win over Minnesota in Jan. 2000 – almost better than winning the Super Bowl
2. 27-20 Divisional Playoff win at Seattle in Jan. 2005 – 3 for 3 that season!
3. 42-20 over San Francisco in Oct. 1999 – finally breaking the 49ers losing streak
4. 33-27 (OT) at Seattle in Oct. 2004 – the most unlikely comeback!
5. 27-14 over San Francisco in Dec. 2001 – Niners were treating it like a “see where we’re at” game. Ans they found out.
Honorable Mention: 16-13 (OT) over San Francisco in Dec. 2012 – hey, a win in the Fisher Era! Memorable game, though.
by kman 1:14 PM

I like your list. I’d have to include the very first St. Louis Rams victory, 17-14, at Green Bay. Unheralded second-year pro Isaac Bruce blocked a Craig Hentrich punt, getting to the ball so quickly it hadn’t even reached Hentrich’s foot. Then on the very next play, he lined up at wide receiver and caught a touchdown pass. Some other’s to consider, the Trent Green revenge game in 2000, with Mike Martz pouring it on in a 57-31 victory over San Diego _ 13 months after Rodney Harrison crashed into Green’s leg in a preseason game; or how about that 20-17 overtime victory at Philadelphia to start the 2001 season.
by jthomas 1:21 PM

Jim do you remember on maybe back to back plays where Ironhead Heyward and Toby Wright hit each other? I think they each won one of those. Always have tried to find a clip to no avail.
by Tom 1:21 PM

I believe it was in ’96 or ’97, in Atlanta.
by jthomas 1:22 PM

In his MMQB column, this week, Peter King says the NFL doesn’t have enough minority head coaches given their success (with which I concur) but also makes a couple of other interesting points including: Head coaching is a young person’s game and head coaches don’t get enough time to succeed. Do you think Brooks, Linehan or Spagnuolu could’ve made the Rams winners, eventually? Do you think younger NFL head coaches would be better?
by bfulton 1:22 PM

Of the three, I think Brooks might have been the best head coach. With a strong general manager _ he was saddled with Steve Ortmayer _ he might have had a chance. Remember, Big Daddy got only two seasons. John Shaw felt bad about that in retrospect, and it factored into him giving Dick Vermeil a third year in 1999.
by jthomas 1:25 PM

Hey Jimbo-Come party with me!
by Tre Mason 1:25 PM

Sorry Tre. Not much of a partier these days.
by jthomas 1:25 PM

And, to keep things in balance, my 5 most excruciating losses (not counting the Super Bowl ‘loss’ to the Patriots):
1. 29-23 (OT) to Carolina in the Divisional Playoff in Jan. 2004 – to this day I can’t think about this game without getting angry!
2. 31-28 at New Orleans in the Divisional Playoff in Jan. 2000 – if Az-Hakim doesn’t fumble that punt, I still think the Rams come back to win
3. 38-35 at Tampa Bay in Dec. 2000 – Monday night, another galling loss
4. 24-22 at Seattle in Nov. 2006 – thank you, Richie Incognito
5. 10-3 at Philadelphia in Dec. 2002 – the true end of the Greatest Show on Turf era
Honorable Mention: either of 2 home losses to Seattle in 2007 (24-19) or 2013 (14-9) – gotta punch it in , guys
by kman 1:25 PM

Excellent choices, Kman. Can’t argue with anny of them. The ’02 game in Philly was the game in which Warner’s hand was bothering him badly and the aftermath led to the Brenda-gate outburst.
by jthomas 1:27 PM

My outsider view of Spags was that he was an insecure coach who wasn’t a true leader. Were the rumors true that he banned Hanifan from using the gym at Rams Park and took down pictures from the GSOT era?
by rp 1:27 PM

Yes, Hanifan was not allowed in the building. And yes, the pictures were taken down. Spags is a good man, but was just too much of a control freak as a head coach. Insecurity may have played a role in that.
by jthomas 1:28 PM

To add to the excruciating loss list, how about the loss to Detroit in 1999. 4th and 18 or something right? Or, the loss to the Titans in ’99. Wasn’t there a terrible non-call on a roughing the kicker that could’ve made a difference in that one?
by rp 1:28 PM

Taje Allen getting beat in Detroit! Some of the Rams in town for the Legends game were joking about that Friday night.
by jthomas 1:29 PM

Any behind the scenes anecdotes you can share from the Legends of the Dome “reunion” this past weekend?
by rp 1:29 PM

Mike Furrey is head coach at Limestone College, a Div. II school in South Carolina. Mike Jones is head coach at Lincoln U., a Div. II in Jeff City, Mo. I suggested to Furrey that the schedule each other. Most players signed memorabilia with their uniform numbers. I was asked to sign a few items, and put 431 next to my signature. That’s the number of preseason, regular season, and playoff games for the Rams during their 21 seasons in St. Louis. All in all, it was a great afternoon. The players genuinely enjoyed being there, and with rare exception patiently signed everything put in from of them. Not only were the former players on hand, but former Rams PR personnel, game day (press box) personnel, team doctors, trainers, equipment guys were all on hand to help run the event on their own time. It was great to see them all.
by jthomas 1:35 PM

Who does better this year, Bradford – Eagles or Rams?
by Don 1:35 PM

I’ll go Bradford-Eagles, but not by an overwhelming amount. I see the EAgles as like an 8-8 squad.
by jthomas 1:36 PM

I heard on the radio, or in a chat, or on Twitter, or somewhere, that you’re going to the opening of Rams training camp. One question: Why?
by Shirley in Fenton 1:36 PM

Because the team’s first practices in California as well as the first home game in California are part of the story of the team leaving St. Louis. If you are following our coverage of the Rams, it has been cut back drastically from what it used to be, and that will continue to be the case. But we will continue to have some coverage. Many fans are still interested because they want to root against the team. I’ve had many other fans tell me they hate what Kroenke did, but hold no ill will against the players, especially those who played in St. Louis. I’ve had some fans in StL tell me it’s the only team they’ve ever known, and will continue to follow the Rams.
by jthomas 1:40 PM

How much do you think the Rams will miss Jenkins this year? It seems as if he caught inordinate amount of criticism among fans. He stayed relatively healthy and outside of a few bad decisions seemed to be the Rams most productive corner since his arrival in STL.
by Fletch32 1:40 PM

Jenkins has a lot of talent, and was serious about his craft at Rams Park. But he could also be a selfish player, gambling for interceptions and getting burned. His tackling was inconsistent. Saying that, his play last season was easily his most consistent as a Ram. If E.J.Gaines returns to his 2014 form as a rookie, the absence of Jenkins will be minimized. If not, of if Trumaine Johnson is injured, then there will be problems.
by jthomas 1:42 PM

Any chance of Kurt Warner making a run as a third party candidate this year? He’d have my vote and I think he’d win in a landslide (and i probably don’t even agree with him on most issues).
by rp 1:43 PM

That’s funny. I’ve never asked Kurt about any political ventures. Don’t think it’s in the Cards.
by jthomas 1:43 PM

Will you still be reporting on the Rams or shifting into more of a columnist role?
by RamsFansUnited 1:43 PM

My new job description is NFL writer. So there will be some Rams coverage, but it will be more broad-based coverage. Last week, for instance, I wrote about the possibility of the Raiders moving to Las Vegas. For this Wednesday _ tomorrow _ I’m writing 10 questions (and answers) around the NFL as training camps open.
by jthomas 1:46 PM

Jim, have any of the GSOT players said anonymously anything bad about the NFL or Kroenke?
by TexasTiger 1:46 PM

Not as much as you’d think. Otherwise no comment.
by jthomas 1:46 PM

Jim, was there any talk among the guys this past weekend about trying to do a charity game again in the future or was this it?
by WIU Leatherneck 1:46 PM

Some thought it would be a good idea. But the cost and time expended by Tiffani Burris of the Isaac Bruce Foundation and Bruce himself, probably means it’s a one-shot deal. For example, it cost more than $100,000 just to open the dome doors for business. Bruce got no breaks on that from the stadium people. Plus, it’s difficult to get all these players together at one time.
by jthomas 1:49 PM

Since you’re doing more reporting on the entire NFL, now, could you do reporting for fantasy football?
by bfulton 1:49 PM

Thanks for asking. As part of a regular Sunday NFL package we’re planning, we will have some sort of Fantasy Football presence.
by jthomas 1:50 PM

Hi Jim, here’s the link to bring the nfl back to st louis on facebook. http://www.facebook.com
by Alton Ken 1:50 PM

Alton Ken, believe it or not I’m not a facebook guy. But my wife is on facebook and I’ll try to have here punch it in for me. Thx.
by jthomas 1:51 PM

Where do you see, the PD NFL coverage in 3 years? Next year, I expect to see a heavy Rams coverage with more coverage than previous years of the other regional teams (Chiefs, Colts, and etc) but in three years and as the Rams roster churns, there will be less connection with the team.
by Mark S 1:51 PM

That’s a good question. So the short answer is probably less Rams coverage and more regional or overall league coverage as the years go by.
by jthomas 1:52 PM

Howcome no Faulk this past weekend? He was at a golf tournament? Weak. In my opinion, he has been tepid at best in his defense of St. Louis’ football fans, in the wake of StanK’s condemnation of our value as a football town. I get that he works for NFL network, but so does Kurt.
by rp 1:52 PM

Yeah, I talked to Marshall about this a couple of weeks ago, and I believe he was in the big charity pro-am at Lake Tahoe and couldn’t get out of that commitment.
by jthomas 1:53 PM

Jim, Josh Gordon had drug issues in college. I believe he has 3 suspensions in the NFL. I believe in second chances, but what kind of message is Goodell sending. When is enough enough? Thanks.
by Michael 1:53 PM

Well, there’s no indication that he will make the Browns’ final roster. And yes, Gordon has had more chances here than many people get in life.
by jthomas 1:54 PM

Jake Long to the Ravens. Not that he’s away from that cancer of a team…pro bowler again?
by Road to 0-16 1:54 PM

Don’t think the knees and other assorted injuries/surgeries over the years will allow it.
by jthomas 1:54 PM

Several teams, including the Rams, have made big and risky investments in unproven QBs, this offseason. Who do you think made the best bet?
by bfulton 1:55 PM

I still think Paxton Lynch could very well be considered the best of the lot when all is said and done in a few years. Plus Denver didn’t have to give up all those picks to get him like Philly did for Wentz and the Rams did for Goff.
by jthomas 1:56 PM

Hello Jim, What are your thoughts about moving T. J. McDonald to LB to replace Akeem Ayers (hybrid S/LB)?
by Pat M 1:56 PM

You know, T.J.’s hard-hitting playing style could make him an effective undersized LB, but the Rams already have one of those in Mark Barron. They probably don’t need two.
by jthomas 1:57 PM

Do you think if the Rams get off to a good start the rating here will drop? I will watch every week as long as they’re getting blown out.
by Road to 0-16 1:57 PM

Interesting question. Will most of the Rams fans watching here root for the team to lose, or to win? It could be a mixture.
by jthomas 1:58 PM

I sure hope Ike’s foundation didn’t get stuck with a bill after the event last weekend. Any info on that? I was hoping more fans would show up than that. I’m sure he didn’t, but that would’ve been a great opportunity for Kroenke to make amends…maybe a nice sized donation towards the event and Ike’s foundation.
by rp 1:58 PM

I’m told they made a modest profit when all was said and done, but nothing to write home about. The only Rams involvement that I’m aware of was sending a list of former dome suite holders to the Legends organizers, but most of those e-mails bounced back. The Bruce Foundation people asked for a season-ticket list from the Rams _ for help in contacting potential Legends ticket buyers _ but I was told the Rams declined to do so. The LA Rams had an employee there who’s involved in the team’s charity flag football game in Carson, Calif. next month. Interesting, isn’t it, that after zero flag football games in 21 seasons in St. Louis, the Rams decide to hold one in their first year back in LA next month, just a few weeks after Bruce’s game.
by jthomas 2:05 PM

I guess what i meant was, in Irvine will you be covering the Rams like a beat reporter covering the team, or more as a columnist on the aftermath of the move, if that makes sense…
by RamsFansUnited 2:05 PM

I get it. The short answer is a little of both. I’ll certainly want to describe the scene and atmosphere in Irvine. But also write about some of the players.
by jthomas 2:06 PM

Attendance figure for Legends of Dome was just over 10,000, correct? Did you get any sense that Bruce was disappointed in turnout?
by Andy 2:06 PM

Yes, he would’ve liked to have seen more people there, but was very happy about the response and the warm feelings generated by those who were there.
by jthomas 2:07 PM

Hi again, More about moving T. J. opposite of Barron. I was thinking more into the future if Ayers doesn’t work out
by Pat M 2:07 PM

Again, I don’t think you necessarily want two undersized linebackers lining up _ meaning Barron and McDonald both lining up at linebacker at the same time.
by jthomas 2:08 PM

What we’re the deciding factors that led to the cards leaving after 1987?
by Corey 2:08 PM

I was covering Mizzou football and basketball at the time, so I wasn’t involved in the coverage. But it was all about the stadium, a football only stadium because the Big Red as they were called locally at the time had been sharing Busch Stadium with the baseball squad. The big difference between then and now as I recall is that St. Louis civic, business, and political leaders didn’t really have anything resembling a stadium plan. This time around, with the Rams, there was a stadium plan in place by Peacock & Blitz. A stadium plan that Houston owner Robert McNair, chairman of the NFL finance committee, said was “pretty close” to being a good plan in early December.
by jthomas 2:12 PM

jim used to be a rams fan. now I’m going for the titans what do u think their record will be.
by scott 2:12 PM

I think the Titans will be improved. It looks like they want to re-establish themselves as a power running team, hearkening back to the days of Eddie George. Dorial Green-Beckham needs to step up his game at wide receiver. But I think the AFC South will be an improved division overall this year after being a floor mat in recent years. I think Jax will be much improved. Houston bears watching with Osweiler. And the Colts should rebound with a healthy Andrew Luck.
by jthomas 2:14 PM

See another team that may have interest in Foles for a backup? Thanks
by Paul 2:18 PM

Unless there are some injury needs that crop up in the preseason/training camp, I can’t see anybody trading for him. So teams I think will wait to see if he gets released at the end of camp.
by jthomas 2:19 PM

With ESPN Nick Wagnor headed to the 49ers any chance you can take his spot for the Rams?
by Dwayne 2:19 PM

Nope. But best of luck to Nick, a good man and a good reporter.
by jthomas 2:20 PM

What if Nick Foles came into camp and set the field on fire?
by Dwayne 2:20 PM

Don’t think he’ll get that chance.
by jthomas 2:20 PM

do u think st.louis will ever get a team again
by scott 2:20 PM

Doesn’t seem likely in the short term. For one, I don’t think the current group of civic, business, and political leaders have any appetite for pursuing a team, not after they spent lots of time, effort, and money ($16 million) to keep the Rams here and felt like they got nothing resembling a fair shake in return from the league _ and certainly not Kroenke. I do wonder about the long-term viability of the Jaguars in Jacksonville. But that’s a ways down the road, if it materializes.
by jthomas 2:24 PM

Any chance Higgbee beats out Kendriks in camp?
by Dwayne 2:24 PM

Slim. . .and none.
by jthomas 2:24 PM

I recently watched a documentary on Netflix called “Sonicsgate” that discussed Seattle’s loss of its NBA team. Many similarities in this situation and to the loss of the Rams in STL. If the opportunity was presented to you, would you consider being the local journalist who is interviewed to provide background and details on the shady moves by Stan, Demoff, Grubman, owners, etc.? Know any good, local filmmakers who may want to create an ESPN “30 for 30?”
by Greyhound314 2:25 PM

I don’t know. If ESPN has no apparent interest in doing a 30-for-30 on the Greatest Show on Turf _ which I think would be a compelling story _ why would they have an interest in the Rams departure from St. Louis?
by jthomas 2:27 PM

Question for the big O.. As a HOF left tackle what does he see or not see in GRob that is causing him to get so many penalties and does he think GRob can overcome those issues?
by Players fan, not NFL fan 2:27 PM

I’ll pass it along.
by jthomas 2:28 PM

My 2 cents, I left the dome last Saturday with my family and grateful feelings towards the GSOT and Isaac. Truly enjoyed seeing many people I got to know over the years, looked at my old booth which is now empty and closed that chapter. I hope the players are not strangers to STL, but that ending was for us and it ended on our terms. Long live the St. Louis Rams.
by TK 2:29 PM

Thanks for sharing those thoughts.
by jthomas 2:29 PM

Fisher should have picked up Anquan Boldin while he could and cut Quick real quick?
by Dwayne 2:29 PM

I think Boldin would prefer playing for a contender, particularly at this stage of his career.
by jthomas 2:30 PM

Only reason I ask about cards is it makes me wonder if we had our act together they’d be here today. I think that’s where we dropped the ball.
by Corey 2:34 PM

I don’t think St. Louis had it’s act together when it came to the Cardinals. Keep in mind, we also fumbled as a city/region when it came to the expansion bid in the early 1990s.
by jthomas 2:35 PM

Any injury report from Saturday? I saw more than a few guys holding on to their hammys by the 3rd quarter.
by rational fan 2:35 PM

Jeff Wilkins suffered at the least a sprained ankle when he was thrown down on the sidelines by his former long snapper, Chris Massey. His left ankle was wrapped as he left the field Saturday, said it would truly mess up his golf game for a while. I’m sure there were plenty of aches and pains for others on Sunday and Monday as well.
by jthomas 2:37 PM

Jim, This is truly outrageous. Today I got an email from the LA Rams trying to sell Rams’ hats and jerseys. Are they nuts? Anyone else get such an email? Your thoughts.
by Snugglemoose 2:37 PM

Yeah, seems like a lot of people got the e-mail.
by jthomas 2:38 PM

I’m at a weird pace as far as what I would like to see the PD cover NFL-wise. As an organization, I hope the Rams continue to perform exactly as they did here for the last 12 years indefinitely. However, there were players who showed true compassion for STL fans (Heck, Quinn among others) that I will continue to root for and Gurley has a fan for life for immediately acknowledging STL fans when he won the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. However again, I’m looking forward to your broader-based coverage of the league.
by YZ 2:44 PM

We plan to make some training camp stops in the Midwest. And we’ll be in Arrowhead on Sept. 11 for the Chiefs’ season opener. Interesting question. Will most of the Rams fans watching here root for the team to lose, or to win? It could be a mixture.
by jthomas 2:45 PM

I’m rooting that the Rams lose for as long as Kroenke owns the team. That would be an interesting poll question. My gut is many in St. Louis feel the same way I do, but I’m open to the possibility some misguided souls will still root for them – like an addict that can’t kick a bad habit.
by JR 2:46 PM

Maybe that will be a poll question next week.
by jthomas 2:47 PM

Last year Jeff Fisher was on the sideline(forget the game) with the player huddled around him while he was trying to motivate them. I knew then that the Rams were missing players how were leaders. Now with C. Long and JL55 gone they are even more devoid of players who are leaders in my mind. How do you see stepping up now on O and D?
by Players fan, not NFL fan 2:48 PM

I think Ogletree has some leadership qualities that will come to the forefront this season at middle linebacker. William Hayes has always been a team leader. On offense, I’m thinking Cory Harkey, maybe Lance Kendricks.
by jthomas 2:49 PM

I would love to hear about Orlando’s memories of Coach Hannifan during games.
by Trip 2:49 PM

Good one. I’m writing it down.
by jthomas 2:50 PM

Do you see Mason eventually using up all of his chances and getting cut?
by steve r 2:50 PM

He’s getting ever closer to that point.
by jthomas 2:50 PM

I’d like to see the Rams references removed from the Post Dispatch. No sense giving free publicity to the team owner that didn’t want to stay in our town.
by MB 2:50 PM

Well, you’ll have to settle for fewer Rams references.
by jthomas 2:50 PM

Where their guys you were suprised to see didnt show for the Legends game?
by Jiffy Jeff 2:54 PM

Not really. I had contact with Faulk and London Fletcher, and knew they had commitments they couldn’t get out of. I was told Kevin Carter also had such a commitment. As for Steven Jackson, I was told he’s still contemplating playing this year, so he didn’t want to commit. And Long and Laurinaitis are reporting to camps this week and I’m sure didn’t want to pull a hammy or something in a flag football game. Fred Miller had agreed to play but didn’t show. Don’t know why. Tommy Polley was a surprise appearance, organizers didn’t know he was coming, but there he was. (He was the one _ the only one _ on the field without a legends jersey.)
by jthomas 2:58 PM

Hi Jim, Here is a question for Orlando Pace, ask is the Rams have a “ring of fame” once they get the new stadium in Inglewood built, would he be receptive to being there for the honor even though he never played in LA? As a Ram fan, I know he would surly deserve it as one of the greatest Rams of all time.
by RR 2:58 PM

I’ll ask. Thx.
by jthomas 2:58 PM

I pull for individual success of SOME of the players, especially after they leave the team via FA, but hope for the franchise to fail miserably. I’m not sure if that’s possible, but that’s what I feel. Make sense? I wonder if others feel that way.
by steve r 2:58 PM

Makes sense. I’m sure there are others that feel the same way.
by jthomas 2:59 PM

With no injuries involved can Reynolds beat out Saffold straight up?
by Dwayne 2:59 PM

Can’t see it. Reynolds is tough and smart. But Saffold is strong and athletic.
by jthomas 2:59 PM

Do you see enough improvement in the Rams’ o-line?
by damien 3:00 PM

A healthy Saffold means instant improvement right off the bat. A healthy Jamon Brown and another year for Rob Havenstein should only help. Greg Robinson of course is a key.
by jthomas 3:06 PM

I’ll be rooting for certain ex-StL Rams (Long, Laurinitis, Gurley). But, I hope the Rams go 0 for eternity. I also hope they continue to have the worst HC and GM in the business. Also, you may still have to deal with him, so you probably can’t answer honestly…but, did you always know Demoff was a little weasel?
by rp 3:07 PM

Honestly, Kevin and I always had a good relationship. Sure we had some ups and downs. But I can only think of one time he misled me. I get the ill-will. It’s totally understood. And I’m sure there are some things Kevin regrets doing or saying and would have done differently.
by jthomas 3:08 PM

Couldn’t help but think Of Bryan Burwell when I was at the Dome on Saturday. I used to have a press pass and even as a radio nobody, Mr Burwell was always very nice and always said hello when a lot of other guys wouldn’t even look us.
by Jiffy Jeff 3:08 PM

He was the best. I think of him often. And miss him dearly.
by jthomas 3:09 PM

not much of an o-line, Case as QB, no-one to catch a ball….how long before the Rams use up Gurley?
by Bigtuna 3:09 PM

That could be a concern given Gurley’s past injury history and the lack of anything resembling a proven passing game.
by jthomas 3:10 PM

Had the same thought about Burwell while at the game Saturday. He and Strauss are really missed.
by rp 3:10 PM

No doubt. I didn’t know Joe nearly as well as I knew Bryan _ in part because of his time spent as a Cardinals baseball beat writer. But I got to know Joe better once he became a columnist, and yes, I think about him a lot as well.
by jthomas 3:12 PM

So Kroenke wanted a fee from Shad Kahn to sell his 40%!to him?
by Tim C 3:12 PM

As I recall at the time, that was the case.
by jthomas 3:13 PM

I always get the impression that the national media thinks the Rams have moved back “where they belong”, hence there’s really no outrage on the move outside of St. Louis. Seems to me that the GSOT was undervalued nationally way back when too; there seemed to be a bias against St. Louis as the Rams’ home the whole time.
Also, was there any bias against the Rams because they were the only team owned by a woman (seen by some as ‘eccentric’)?
by kman 3:13 PM

I know some in the national media have expressed that sentiment to me, and if that’s the case, perhaps the Lakers should return to Minneapolis, the Clippers to San Diego, and the Dodgers to Brooklyn to square all accounts. And I guess the Rams by all rights should return to Cleveland _ they spent their first decade there after all. The Greatest Show Rams were considered a finesse team by some, and trust me, that description rankled Martz and the players at the time. But I think they got plenty of respect overall. In the case of Georgia, I think some of those feelings were present when it came to the league and some club owners _ she was eccentric. But I don’t recall that such feelings were prevalent among league owners however.
by jthomas 3:19 PM

Randy Kariker (sp?) said on the radio the other day that a close friend of Georgia’s told him Saturday that when she wasn’t doing well StanK promised her that he wouldn’t move the rams from STL when he took over the team. Have you ever heard anything about this before?
by steve r 3:20 PM

Sorry, haven’t heard that one.
by jthomas 3:20 PM

Gut feeling for Rams record this season?
by Adam 3:21 PM

OK, one more. I’ll make some kind of prediction at the end of training camp.
by jthomas 3:22 PM

jus thot the bolded sentence was interesting.

w
v

===================================
George Will: The Path Ahead For Hillary Clinton

GEORGE F. WILL

PHILADELPHIA — En route to fight one of his many duels, French politician Georges Clemenceau bought a one-way train ticket. Was he pessimistic? “Not at all. I always use my opponent’s return ticket for the trip back.” Some Hillary Clinton advisors, although not that serene, think her victory is probable and can be assured.

george will funny mugHer challenge is analogous to Ronald Reagan’s in 1980, when voters were even more intensely dissatisfied than they now are. There were hostages in Iran and stagflation’s “misery index” (the sum of the inflation and unemployment rates) was 21.98. By August 1979, 84% of Americans said the country was on the wrong track. A substantial majority did not want to re-elect Jimmy Carter, but a majority might do so unless convinced that Reagan would be a safe choice. Reagan’s campaign responded by buying time for several half-hour televised speeches and other ads stressing his humdrum competence.

Now, voters reluctant to support the unpleasant and unprepared Republican also flinch from Clinton, partly because of the intimacy the modern presidency forces upon them: As one Clinton advisor uneasily notes, a president spends more time in the average family’s living room than anyone who is not a family member. Clinton is not a congenial guest.

More On The 2016 Democratic Convention:

Philadelphia: The Balkanized Vision Of America
Democrats And Organized Labor, Locked In Embrace
Nancy Pelosi: We Have To Boo Hillary Clinton … Then Let’s Nominate Her

Her opponent radiates anger, and America has not elected an angry president since Andrew Jackson, long before television brought presidents into everyone’s living room, where anger is discomfiting. Clinton’s campaign must find ways to present her as more likable than she seems and more likable than her adversary, both of which are low thresholds. Regarding the threshold that matters most — 270 electoral votes — she would not trade places with her opponent.
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Since 1976, Florida, today’s largest swing state, has been somewhat more Republican than the nation. Clinton now is in a statistical tie there (in the Real Clear Politics average of polls), where the Hispanic vote is growing and moving left. She leads in Virginia, the third-largest swing state (behind Ohio), by RCP’s 5.3 points and in another purple state, Colorado, by 8 points.

One state that might indicate a tectonic shift in American politics is Arizona, which has voted for a Democratic presidential candidate only once since Harry Truman in 1948 (Bill Clinton in 1996, by 2.2 points). In 2012, Mitt Romney defeated Barack Obama there by 9 points.

Today, however, John McCain’s sixth Senate campaign may be becoming his most difficult. His trademark has been “straight talk” but now he must mumble evasions about the man at the top of the Republican ticket who has disparaged McCain’s war service. McCain, who has won his five previous elections by an average of 33.4 points, today leads in the RCP average by 5.5.

If Clinton, who is in another statistical tie in Arizona, decides to compete there, one reason will be the Mormons. They are just 5% of the state population, but 8% of the general election turnout. In a competitive election, their deep cultural antipathy toward Donald Trump might swing 11 electoral votes. Utah Republicans in this year’s caucuses voted 69.2% for Ted Cruz, 16.8 for John Kasich and 14% for Trump. If Arizona becomes a presidential battleground this year, it will validate The Atlantic’s Ron Brownstein’s analysis that any Trump gains for the GOP among white blue-collar votes in Rust Belt states (e.g., Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan) may be more than matched by Clinton gains among minorities and persons with college educations in Sunbelt states and elsewhere.

Clinton’s selection of Virginia’s U.S. Sen. and former Gov. Tim Kaine represents the rare intersection of good politics and good governance. He increases her chance of winning the 13 electoral votes of his state, which has voted with the presidential winner in four consecutive elections and seven of the last nine. He, like she, has been an executive, so perhaps experience has inoculated him against the senatorial confusion between gestures and governing.

There probably is no Democratic governor or senator more palatable than Kaine to constitutional conservatives. Such conservatives are eager to bring presidential power back within constitutional constraints, and Kaine is among the distressingly small minority of national legislators interested in increased congressional involvement in authorizing the use of military force. And as a member of both the Armed Services and Foreign Relations Committees, Kaine can, if their paths ever cross on the campaign trail, patiently try to help Trump decipher the acronym NATO.
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Fisher adamant he won’t rush Goff into a starting role at quarterback

By RYAN KARTJE

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/goff-723446-fisher-quarterbacks.html#

LOS ANGELES – In 21 seasons as an NFL head coach, Jeff Fisher has been charged with the development of just two rookie franchise quarterbacks. With each, he proceeded with industrial-strength kid gloves.

Steve McNair, the third overall pick in 1995, started just two games as a rookie in Houston, then four as a sophomore before finally rising to the top of the depth chart in his third season. He stayed for a decade.

By the time the Titans moved on, drafting Texas phenom Vince Young as McNair’s replacement, the league’s standard for developing quarterbacks had shifted. But true to form, Fisher waited as long as he could to throw the Heisman runner-up into the fire. After three straight losses to open the season, though, Young was named the starter in Week 4. He went on to win Rookie of the Year, leading the league in fourth-quarter comebacks. But the success was fleeting. Four years later, he was released.

It should come as no surprise then, given the past that colors this conservative approach, that Fisher has been in no hurry to anoint his latest rookie quarterback, Jared Goff, to unquestioned starter until absolutely, unabashedly necessary.

But trust this: Fisher understands the price the Rams paid to move to No. 1 and select Goff. Six picks. Two first-rounders. Plus a new city of prospective fans waiting to see what unfolds. Mishandling Goff would almost certainly mean a clean sweep of the front office and coaching staff.

This is the reality in today’s NFL, where the pressure to start quarterbacks early has never been higher, leaving far less room for nuance than in 1995, when McNair spent two seasons carrying a clipboard. All five quarterbacks selected at No. 1 since Oakland’s JaMarcus Russell in 2007 have been in the starting lineup for Week 1. None has had the weight of a rejuvenated franchise on his shoulders.

On the final day of OTAs in June, Fisher was asked whether Goff would get the majority of the team’s first-team reps at training camp, in order to prepare for a Week 1 debut on “Monday Night Football.”

“We haven’t changed our philosophy,” Fisher said. “We’re going to coach him to be successful. We’re not going to put him in with a chance to fail. That’s the most important thing in developing a young quarterback.”

A few hours before the question was posed, Goff stood under center, taking snaps with the first-team offense. It would be his worst practice yet as a Ram. Goff threw four interceptions, missing high and wide, never quite finding a rhythm. It was a dispiriting conclusion to an otherwise impressive three weeks. Shortly after practice, Fisher declared that incumbent Case Keenum would open camp as the starter.

But the question remains: With the Rams in a new city, desperate for a franchise face, how long can he possibly hold off the future?

• • •

When Kurt Warner signed with the Giants in 2004, after six years and a Super Bowl in St. Louis, the 34-year-old former league MVP understood that he was only a stopgap. Six weeks earlier, New York had traded for Eli Manning, the No. 1 overall pick, on draft night.

Manning was the new face of the franchise. Still, Warner hoped he could start 16 games and parlay it into another contract elsewhere.

Then, as Manning struggled through camp, the prospect didn’t seemed so farfetched. “Quite frankly, I was the better quarterback,” says Warner, now an NFL Network analyst.

Manning’s timing was off. He was clearly overwhelmed. Suffice to say, he looked like a rookie, drowning in an offense that was still over his head.

“Everything pointed to me being the starter,” Warner says. “The bigger question was for how long? How soon did they feel Eli would be ready? Or, really, how soon did they want to look to the future?”

The answer: Nine games. At 5-4, Warner was benched in favor of the overwhelmed rookie. Manning lost six straight, while “learning on the fly.”

All season, as Warner tried to help Manning navigate the offense, he was confident he was the better option to win. But sitting patiently through Manning’s growing pains, Giants coach Tom Coughlin told him it was for the good of the franchise. Two Super Bowls later, he doubts the coach regrets his decision.

“Coaches that are more secure and are willing to say, ‘I’m not going to start this guy right away, and let him learn,’ I still think those are always the best-case scenarios,” Warner said. “But we just know there’s a lack of patience in our business.”

Over the past decade, though, patience with a rookie quarterback drafted in the top-10 has hardly been a foolproof method for development. Since Fisher and the Titans drafted Young third overall in 2006, only six of the 16 quarterbacks selected in the top 10 failed to secure a starting spot for the season opener. Fifteen of 16 were starters by Week 5, with Russell as the exception. But among those six briefly held out – Young, Russell, Blaine Gabbert, Matt Leinart, Jake Locker, and Blake Bortles – there isn’t much in the way of NFL success. Their combined career record sits at a sad 71-109.

“The quarterbacks that end up really good hit the ground running,” says Pro Football Focus analyst Sam Monson. “They warp expectations.”

Warner sees tools in Goff that suggest he could be one of those special few – the footwork, the pocket presence, the quick release. Still, no matter when Goff starts, the former Rams star assures there will be growing pains. It’s how Goff navigates those obstacles that could very well define him.

“Being a starter Day 1 goes beyond how smart (Goff) is, how well he knows an offense, what kind of throws he can make,” Warner said. “It’s the demeanor that makes up who that player is. “How is he going to handle failure?”

• • •

Considering his 21-32 record in Berkeley, there was plenty of that to go around during Goff’s tenure, when Cal’s rebuild meant climbing out from a devastating 1-11 record in his freshman season. But it was in the midst of early struggles that former Cal offensive coordinator Tony Franklin saw what he thought to be flashes of true greatness.

In his first game against Northwestern, the stringy, 175-pound Goff threw for 450 yards, but gave away two pick-sixes in the second half, both of which were frustratingly tipped at the line. Franklin watched for signs of his quarterback deflating. But as the game went on, Goff only steeled in his resolve.

“He never, ever lost any confidence in himself,” Franklin said. “Even then.”

This resilience is one of many reasons Franklin is sure Goff could succeed right away in the NFL – assuming, of course, he’s put in a position to be successful. “There’s nothing worse than having a really talented guy, but then asking him to do stuff he can’t do,” he says.

Last season, Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, drafted first and second overall, were introduced as their team’s starting quarterbacks before training camp began. But both the Bucs and Titans, respectively, took different approaches to keeping their quarterbacks comfortable and confident. With Mariota, that meant installing counter option fakes and half-field reads to ease his transition from Oregon’s spread offense. For Winston, who came from a pro-style system at Florida State, the Bucs more or less trusted him to adapt to the system they had in place. Both strategies, in their own ways, worked.

In Goff’s case, Fisher has been open about the Rams’ plans to ease his transition with a heavy dose of running back Todd Gurley. In an ideal world, Gurley’s constant presence would mean an extra defender in the box and more 1-on-1 matches deep and on the edges for Goff to exploit.

“Jeff Fisher’s offense has been at its happiest when he’s had an Eddie George to ride as far as he’ll take him,” Monson said. “All you’d really need Goff to do is to pick up the slack when Gurley can’t quite get it done on his own.”

In speaking with his former pupil, Franklin says Goff has noticed a number of similarities between Cal’s offensive concepts and those he’s learning in Los Angeles – somewhat contrary to the concerns about his ability to transition from an Air Raid offense at Cal.

How much Fisher or offensive coordinator Rob Boras will have to water down the game plan to cater to Goff remains to be seen. But during OTAs, Fisher gave some indication, refusing to simplify defensive coverages against Goff. “That’s just not our nature,” he said.

Of course, starting a rookie quarterback in Week 1 isn’t in Fisher’s nature, either. But with Goff, it’s fair to wonder if Fisher’s conservative approach of the past could become more progressive in a hurry. If Goff doesn’t surpass Keenum before Week 1, expect doubts, fair or not, to roll in, even as those closest to Goff trust that he would take it in stride.

In his first news conference introducing Goff, Fisher suggested that starting the rookie quarterback in Week 1 was “the goal.” In the coming weeks, he’ll undoubtedly be held to that, as Goff’s development – and his own decisions – will be put under the microscope.

But this time, in a city yearning for quick success and an impatient league desperate for positive returns on quarterbacks, there may not be enough time – or patience – for kid gloves.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/sex-abuse-scandal-2400-doctors-implicated-patients/story?id=40356840

MkUltra was the name for the CIA program whereby various Americans and Canadians were experimented on. (some died)

I was curious about the “sexual abuse” allegation in the Wiki article. I cant find any info on that.

w
v

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http://gizmodo.com/project-mkultra-one-of-the-most-shocking-cia-programs-1370236359
According to the hearing report, “eighty-six universities or institutions were involved,”[12] and “185 non-government researchers and assistants” worked on these projects.[13] “Physicians, toxicologists, and other specialists in mental [and] narcotics” were lured into MKUltra through the provision of grants that were “made under ostensible research foundation auspices, thereby concealing the CIA’s interest from the specialist’s institution.”[14]

For some of the 12 hospitals that participated in Project MKUltra, tests were conducted on terminal cancer patients – presumably because the experiments were anticipated to have long-lasting detrimental, if not lethal, effects…
Project MKUltra consisted of 149 subprojects…
…6 subprojects studied the effects on human tissue of “exotic pathogens and the capability to incorporate them in effective delivery systems.”[22]….
…Sadly, but not surprisingly, almost no records remain of the 10 years of covert activity. As Senator Kennedy noted:
Perhaps most disturbing of all was the fact that the extent of experimentation on human subjects was unknown. The records of all these activities were destroyed in 1973, at the instruction of then CIA Director Richard Helms.[23]

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_MKUltra
The program began in the early 1950s, was officially sanctioned in 1953, was reduced in scope in 1964, further curtailed in 1967 and officially halted in 1973.[2] The program engaged in many illegal activities,[3][4][5] including the use of unwitting U.S. and Canadian citizens as its test subjects, which led to controversy regarding its legitimacy.[3](p74)[6][7][8] MKUltra used numerous methodologies to manipulate people’s mental states and alter brain functions, including the surreptitious administration of drugs (especially LSD) and other chemicals, hypnosis,[9] sensory deprivation, isolation, verbal and sexual abuse, as well as various forms of torture.[not verified in body]

The scope of Project MKUltra was broad, with research undertaken at 80 institutions, including 44 colleges and universities, as well as hospitals, prisons, and pharmaceutical companies.[10] The CIA operated through these institutions using front organizations, although sometimes top officials at these institutions were aware of the CIA’s involvement.[11] As the US Supreme Court later noted, MKULTRA was:

concerned with “the research and development of chemical, biological, and radiological materials capable of employment in clandestine operations to control human behavior.” The program consisted of some 149 subprojects which the Agency contracted out to various universities, research foundations, and similar institutions. At least 80 institutions and 185 private researchers participated. Because the Agency funded MKUltra indirectly, many of the participating individuals were unaware that they were dealing with the Agency.[12]

Project MKUltra was first brought to public attention in 1975 by the Church Committee of the U.S. Congress, and a Gerald Ford commission …

Omar Mateen and Rightwing Homophobia: Hate Crime or Domestic Terrorism?

Juan Cole

link: http://www.juancole.com/2016/06/rightwing-homophobia-terrorism.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=facebook

US law enforcement is at least initially categorizing the horrific Orlando shootings as “domestic terrorism.”
I don’t think it probably was terrorism in any useful sense of the term.
I used to know what domestic terrorism was, before the term became politicized in the past decade. It was defined right there in the Federal code of 1992:

“(5) the term “domestic terrorism” means activities that—
(A) involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State;
(B) appear to be intended—
(i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population;
(ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(iii) to affect the conduct of a government by mass destruction, assassination, or kidnapping; and
(C) occur primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.”

The great thing about this definition is that it focuses on the motive behind the act. And it specifies that the motive has to be to coerce people or influence or affect government policy.

So if the alleged shooter, Omar Mateen, was a terrorist you would expect him to make demands about US government policy. There will be more such acts, he would have said, unless the US government passes a law outlawing homosexuality. Or unless the US government withdraws from Afghanistan. (But if he aimed to change the latter policy, why shoot up a civilian gay club on Latin night? Wouldn’t he have targeted, say, a US Army base?)
Shootings like Orlando that hit “soft targets” such as restaurants or nightclubs are not a form of classical strategic terrorism. Serious terrorist would hit military targets, e.g.–an act that might hope to degrade US security. Shooting down people at a nightclub has no obvious strategic goal. Such a goal is intrinsic to the tactic of terrorism, and its absence should cause us to question the use of the term.
What we know about Mateen so far doesn’t indicate that he was a member of a terrorist organization. If the authorities thought that he was, the crime would have been labeled international terrorism, not domestic.
We know that his father, Seddique Mateen, is a Pushtun nationalist from Afghanistan who objects to the 1893 Durand Line that the British drew between British India and Afghanistan, which cut the Pushtun ethnic group in two. Today, the Pushtuns (called Pukhtuns in the local dialect) are a majority in the province of Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa of northern Pakistan, while the Afghanistan Pushtuns dominate a number of provinces stretched across eastern and southern Afghanistan. Decades ago a Pushtun nationalism that wanted to unite Pushtuns into a single country and secede from both Pakistan and Afghanistan had some popularity, but it is now a fringe movement.
Mateen senior goes on a California Persian-language tv and promotes this subnationalism. He is also said to support the Taliban, but that may be because he sees them as authentically Pushtun and oppressed by the Punjabi Pakistani officer corps, rather than because he is a fundamentalist. His big emphasis seems to be on erasing the Durand Line. He asserted that his son’s action had nothing to do with Islam. Although the US press is depicting Seddique Mateen as himself perhaps unbalanced, his position isn’t crazy, it has just become a minority idea.

You could imagine Mateen being brought up to resent that the West had divided and weakened the Pushtun ethnic group. But there isn’t any evidence that Omar shared his father’s separatist politics.
We know that Omar Mateen’s marriage failed because, his ex-wife alleges, he beat her. Her Muslim relatives were so appalled on hearing this that they extracted her from the match.
She says he wasn’t religious 8 years ago.
We know that a co-worker when he was employed as a security guard considered him unbalanced, racist and homophobic, and even left his position rather than continuing to have to work with him.
We know the FBI investigated him twice and found no reason to pursue the inquiry or to keep him on a terrorist watch list.
So this person looks as though he was unbalanced and extremely prejudiced individual who bought two semi-automatic weapons only last week and then committed a mass shooting against a group against which he was bigoted.
He may have invoked Daesh (ISIS, ISIL) as he began his mayhem, but there is no reason at the moment to think that he was involved with them in any practical way.
He was about to commit a mass murder that he must have known would likely end in his own death as well.
So it may be that he was searching for a way to make sense of his homicidal impulse, a way to give meaning to his senseless killing and senseless death.
So, a major, major hate crime for sure. But terrorism? What is the governmental policy he wanted changed?
If it was about gay marriage, well, there is a lot of political opposition to that on the Republican Right, and violence against gays has been a feature of the American far right.
In fact, you could argue that the American evangelical groups that successfully lobbied Uganda to execute gays were engaged in a form of international legislative terrorism–they are certainly driven by a political agenda and wanted to see people killed; they were just more patient about it.
In a mirror image of Mateen, police in LA arrested James Wesley Howell , a right wing white conspiracy nut. Howell was found with high powered rifles and bomb-making materials. He says that Hillary Clinton is Hitler, and he is a truther, alleging that the US government is behind terrorist attacks since 2000. He was headed to the Gay Pride parade in Los Angeles, though friends of his denied that he is a homophobe. (Friends don’t always know these things).
If Howell was planning an act of violence at the parade, it was forestalled by his arrest, so it is hard to compare him to Mateen, especially since we know so little about Howell’s intentions. But these two men both seem to have been unbalanced, and both intended to go to a gay event.
The biggest thing they had in common between being off their rockers was that they had free access to high powered firearms despite all the signs they exhibited of being one can short of a six-pack.