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June 11, 2018 at 3:35 pm #87277
znModeratorRams To Conclude 2018 Offseason Program with Mandatory Minicamp
Kristen Lago
Los Angeles will begin its mandatory minicamp on Tuesday afternoon, wrapping up Phase III of the club’s 2018 offseason program. The three-day event will run through Thursday. Unlike the 10 OTAs of the last three weeks, this is the only portion of the spring that is not voluntary.
But similar to the previous practices, head coach Sean McVay said the staff will look to continue building on the progress made over the last couple of months.
By focusing on the installation process early on, McVay is hopeful that the minicamp will provide a good opportunity to wrap up the learning phase — instead allowing players to work on perfecting the system.
“You try and progressively build throughout the offseason with the OTAs, so you really kind of get the finality of your installs,” he said recently. “[Minicamp] will offer us a couple days to really do a good job with our walk-thrus in the morning, practice in the afternoon, and it will somewhat mimic and emulate a training-camp day.”
This week will signal the conclusion to McVay’s second offseason with franchise — marking the final team workouts until Rams training camp begins in late July.
As such, McVay’s expectations surround fostering a competitive environment, while maintaining players’ health as a top priority.
“We also want to be smart, get guys out of here healthy knowing that we have a long offseason still ahead,” McVay said. “The goal is to get to training camp healthy and ready to go.”
“But in terms of the walk-thrus and then being able to get some situational work, some competitive move-the-ball stuff,” he continued, “that’s kind of what we’ll hope to get out of the minicamp having had most of our installs in — kinda forcing guys to think on their feet, as opposed to just the scripted practices.”
Full coverage of the Rams three-day minicamp will be available on therams.com.
June 12, 2018 at 9:20 am #87300znModeratorAs Rams gear up for minicamp, Aaron Donald seems unlikely to suit up
GARY KLEIN
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-camp-20180611-story.html
Players paraded through the Rams’ Thousand Oaks practice facility Monday, taping television and in-game stadium promos and posing for media-guide portraits.
Aaron Donald was not among them.
As the Rams prepare for the start of a mandatory minicamp Tuesday, all indications are that Donald, embroiled in a contract dispute that dates to 2017, will not attend.
Last year, after sitting out organized-team activities, the star defensive tackle attended the mandatory minicamp but did not participate in drills. By attending, he avoided slightly more than $80,000 in fines.
But this year, the financial penalty probably won’t factor into the decision for the reigning NFL defensive player of the year, a four-year veteran capable of resetting the market for players other than quarterbacks.
Donald, 27, is scheduled to earn about $6.9 million this season in the final year of his rookie contract.
Neither the Rams nor Donald’s representatives have commented publicly about his desired salary figure or range. Donald, however, is thought to be seeking a deal that will pay him in excess of $20 million per season. That would not only make him the highest-paid defensive player in history, but would also put him in the company of highly compensated quarterbacks.
The Rams have leverage: If they don’t eventually come to terms with Donald this season, they could put the franchise tag on him in each of the next two.
And if Donald does not report to training camp at least 30 days before the Sept. 10 season opener against the Oakland Raiders, he would lose the opportunity to accrue a year toward unrestricted free agency.
Coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead have said they were in communication with Donald’s agents, but neither side has expressed publicly that they are close to working out a deal.
McVay said last week he would speak with Donald regarding the minicamp.
“I know we’ll have an idea based on whether it’s ‘OK, I’m not going to come until there’s a resolution,’ or ‘I will be there,’ ” McVay said.
Donald is not the only marquee player staying away from an NFL minicamp because of a contract situation.
The Atlanta Falcons announced Monday that receiver Julio Jones will not participate. Oakland Raiders defensive end Khalil Mack, the 2016 NFL defensive player of the year, reportedly also will be absent.
Donald’s participation in minicamp would help strengthen a remade Rams defense that features new defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh and cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib.
But his absence is not regarded as a major distraction for a team that features a majority of players who are familiar with McVay’s offense and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme.
McVay said the minicamp would seek to “somewhat mimic and emulate” a training camp schedule, with walk-throughs in the morning and workouts in the afternoon.
“The goal is to get to training camp healthy and ready to go,” McVay said.
During OTA workouts, McVay and players on offense said quarterback Jared Goff demonstrated confidence and growth as he prepared for his second season in McVay’s system.
Receiver Cooper Kupp said mastering the system during minicamp was the goal for the entire offense.
“Come training camp, we’re going to be right where we need to be to hit the ground running,” Kupp said, “And just continue that process all the way up to [the season opener at] Oakland that first week.”
June 12, 2018 at 9:49 pm #87321znModerator10 Observations from Day 1 of Mandatory Minicamp
Myles Simmons
1) With the beginning of minicamp on Tuesday, the Rams went through a walk-thru in the morning, then had regular practice in the afternoon following a lunch break. The club started with special teams drills before the rest of the squad went through a stretch prior to individual drills.
2) It’s a pretty minor detail, but the Rams got new scoreboards for practice. They’re bigger and easier to see from any part of the field. There’s a large clock, a play clock, and segment section on the scoreboard to the left. And then an offensive tally and defensive tally to the right for compete periods.
3) The defense began individual drills with each position group — defensive line, linebackers, and secondary — going through takeaway stations. One station simulated strip-sacks, with the defensive players rushing a QB dummy, hitting the ball out, and recovering the fumble. Another practiced the proper technique to dive on the football. And the last simulated a defensive player ripping the ball out from an offensive ballcarrier.
4) As always, head coach Sean McVay was active on the practice field during individual drills, covering different receivers on certain routes — especially Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, and Cooper Kupp. McVay also would ask for different routes from the various wide receivers in the group, with routes changing for the X, Z, and F positions.
5) Los Angeles began its 7-on-7 drills with the starters on offense going against the starters on defense. It was a move-the-ball period with the offense pushing the tempo and going no huddle. Quarterback Jared Goff had a few nice completions to wide receivers Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods. He also fit the ball in a tight window to tight ends Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett.
6) During 7-on-7 with the second group of offense and defense, cornerback Troy Hill went up to make a nice pass deflection on a deep pass from Sean Mannion to wide receiver Mike Thomas. Hill and Thomas were down the middle of the field, with the corner effectively keeping up stride for stride until the ball arrived.
7) As McVay noted after practice, the Rams kept things a bit lighter for the first team offense and defense, with neither group going through 11-on-11 drills on Tuesday. The second group, however, did go through a full speed 11-on-11 period.
8) That period began with running back Malcolm Brown ripping off a nice run to the right side of the field. Brown has quietly had a productive offseason program, working as running back Todd Gurley’s backup.
9) Wide receiver Fred Brown ended the 11-on-11 period by making a nice diving catch on the left side of the field from quarterback Brandon Allen. While the Rams have a talented receiving corps, Brown will have a chance to compete for a role on the 53-man roster during training camp.
10) Los Angeles ended Tuesday’s session with Sam Ficken kicking field goals. As McVay has said during the offseason program, L.A. will continue to bring along kicker Greg Zuerlein slowly so as to not risk any setbacks.
June 13, 2018 at 8:47 pm #87343znModerator10 Observations from Day 2 of Rams Minicamp
Myles Simmons
Team insider Myles Simmons shares his top 10 observations from the last practice of minicamp.
1) Special teams coordinator John Fassel began the session by practicing kickoff return with the group. Fassel had said in his press conference earlier in the day that the new return rules will necessitate more changes than the new kickoff rules.
2) Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips and defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh stood next to each other and ostensibly had a long conversation along the sideline while special teams got its work done on the field. There was certainly a good amount of knowledge and experience going on in that talk.
3) On the second field, kicker Greg Zuerlein was practicing field goals with the entire operation of long snapper Jake McQuaide and holder Johnny Hekker. There were no goalposts on the field, but it was still a good sign to see him launching the ball off his right leg.
4) As head coach Sean McVay said it would be during his Tuesday press conference, Wednesday’s session was fairly light to cap the offseason program. The offense and defense stayed on separate fields throughout the short session, which meant there was no 7-on-7 or 11-on-11 work.
5) The offense started individual drills with running backs, tight ends, and wide receivers catching a quick pass in the flat from the four quarterbacks. The receiver then had to run past a pair of tackling dummies and stiff arm each of them to get through the drill.
6) The same group also went through a red-zone drill, where each quarterback had to scramble out of the pocket and then throw to a receiver on the run in the end zone. That can be a tough pass for a quarterback to complete in live-game situations.
7) The offensive skill players went through plays in their group drills very quickly — averaging about 10 seconds between snaps as McVay barked out formations and plays.
8) On the other field, the defense worked on covering routes with a split squad in order to maximize the individualized attention and reps for the players. One pair of inside linebackers was working with a corner and safety on one field side of the field, with the same thing happening in somewhat of a mirror image on the same field.
9) The defense also worked on a pursuit drill, with different coaches stationed at different places on the field to represent various wide receiver routes. After the coaches mocked the snap, the defensive players had to find the coach with the ball raised above his head, and then run to that spot. There were swing passes, deep passes, and midrange passes for the defense to pursue.
10) Overall, McVay seemed satisfied with the day’s mental work, saying in his press conference he was “pleased with the focus and concentration” from the walk-thru and practice.
June 16, 2018 at 1:11 am #87397znModeratorFive Takeaways from Rams OTAs and Minicamp
Myles Simmons
Team insider Myles Simmons shares his top five takeaways from the Rams offseason program, which concluded this week.
1) McVay remains in total command in Year 2
Head coach Sean McVay has always been effective in leading the Rams — most notably illustrated by the club’s 11-5 record, division title, and McVay winning AP Coach of the Year in just his first season on the job. But even so, it appears McVay is more comfortable in his role as he begins his second season.
McVay has talked of wanting to maximize every moment possible, and that was clear from the efficiency of the team’s OTAs. From having multiple drills ongoing at the same time, to the tempo of each session, Los Angeles squeezed plenty out of the 10 OTAs and minicamp practices.
But more than that, the Rams’ success in 2017 has had an effect on the way newly acquired players view McVay upon entering the building.
“It’s not like when he came in here we didn’t support him, or we didn’t buy in. It’s just the fact that now, this is his team,” defensive lineman Michael Brockers told therams.com. “A lot of these guys are his guys that he brought here. So he’s in control. He’s always been in control, but he’s the man now. Everybody knows. The rookies know — he’s the guy.”
There’s certainly much expected from the Rams in 2018. But with McVay at the helm and his process focused on daily improvement and daily excellence, Low Angeles has a strong chance to navigate through them successfully.
2) Defensive additions fitting in just fine
With the three headline-grabbing acquisitions of Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, and Ndamukong Suh, many offseason questions surrounding L.A. focused on how McVay and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips would manage the strong personalities.
Phillips and McVay have addressed such questions throughout the offseason, largely dismissing any concerns. Both men talked of a philosophy of working with players rather than managing them.
But the 70-year-old defensive coordinator probably said his best quote on the subject earlier this week.
“I like personalities because they’re independent enough to do things on their own and they’ve shown they’re independent enough to be great players too,” Phillips said. “You don’t want a player who does everything you say, you want guys that have some initiative. We tell them to do this and do that, but Marcus Peters a couple plays last year … he’s playing man to man and they throw it to another player but he intercepts it.
“That’s what I’m talking about — [you can’t say], ‘No you cover your man,’” Phillips continued. “Well, if you intercept it when they throw it to somebody else, that’s great. Those are the kind of guys they are. You want them to do all the right things and help them to be a better player, but you don’t want them to lose that initiative. That’s what they have and that’s the way I’ve always coached.”
3) Brandin Cooks is, too
When the Rams traded a package that included their first-round pick to the Patriots for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, they knew they were getting a player with speed and dynamic playmaking ability.
That was displayed time and again during Phase III, as Goff hit Cooks with a number of deep passes during OTAs.
McVay noted this week just how much of a weapon Cooks can be in the club’s offensive scheme.
“He can obviously win short, intermediate down the field, you’re not limited in any way that you can use him,” McVay said. “He’s a guy that you can give jet sweeps, reverses to — so he’s a really versatile player. You see why he’s had the production and I think it’s also a credit to him being as conscientious as he is with how quickly he’s picked things up.”
But what McVay failed to mention is how Cooks is a comedian. Recently, quarterback Jared Goff called Cooks a “sponge,” given the wide receiver’s willingness and ability to learn. So when a reporter referenced Goff’s quote to Cooks this week, Cooks kept a straight face and deadpanned this response:
“I would have to say, you know, my favorite show is SpongeBob SquarePants, so for me just watching him how he soaks up all that water while he’s over there under the sea,” Cooks said. “I try to emulate that in my game and being a student of the game as well.”
Cooks assured reporters he still watches SpongeBob to this day.
4) Goff is an offensive leader
There have been plenty of articles written and videos produced about Goff emerging as a leader for the offensive unit after his successful 2017. The signal-caller himself has talked about how much being in the same system under McVay and the growth in the relationship between coach and QB has added to his sense of comfort.
And it’s also been easy to notice how Goff has taken command of the group, going over to discuss previous plays with receivers and linemen on the field at practice. That’s in addition to his strong play throughout the offseason program, making accurate passes in the rhythm and timing of the offense.
But wide receiver Cooper Kupp was definitive when discussing Goff and his leadership qualities during OTAs, essentially saying that questions and reports are beating around the bush a bit too much.
“I think it’s time just to stop that and say it how it is — he is a leader of this team,” Kupp told therams.com. “He is our quarterback and he leads this offense. It’s time to put those away and call it for what it is. He is a leader and guys respect him. They want to play for him. He’s grown into that and has commanded it.”
Of course, Kupp is always going to be biased toward his teammate. But those aren’t empty words from the young wideout.
5) There will be competition at linebacker
When training camp rolls around in late July, the Rams won’t have many unsettled position groups on offense or defense. But due to a few injuries, the Rams could have an open spot or two at linebacker.
Cory Littleton and Rameek Wilson took the majority of snaps at inside linebacker during OTAs and minicamp, with Littleton as the unit’s signal-caller. It’s not a position Littleton had done before, but appeared to adjust to it well, according to McVay and Phillips.
Second-year outside linebacker Samson Ebukam also appears to have the inside track on a starting role, receiving compliments from his coaches for a strong offseason program, too.
Inside linebacker Mark Barron and outside linebacker Matt Longacre were limited to work on the side during the offseason program, as both were still rehabbing injuries. Phillips noted this week Barron could also potentially be the defensive signal-caller once he’s back on the field.
Morgan Fox was making the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker, but will now be out for all of 2018 after suffering a season-ending knee injury during Phase III. Phillips said Fox was working toward a starting role.
Rookie outside linebacker Obo Okoronkwo could challenge for that spot on the outside, as could fellow rookie Justin Lawler. Given all the injuries at OLB — including to Okoronkwo, who missed all of Phase III but should be back for training camp — Lawler received the majority of first-team reps opposite Ebukam.
As the club is currently constructed, this could be a particularly competitive group in August.
June 16, 2018 at 10:59 am #87402znModeratorFive things to know as the Rams wrap up their offseason program early
Joe Curley
Head coach Sean McVay must have been pleased with the strides his team has made during the offseason.
The Los Angeles Rams tied a bow on their offseason training program this week by running quickly though Wednesday’s practice and turning Thursday’s scheduled practice into a field trip to Inglewood, to visit the team’s future home.
“I think we finished it up the right way,” McVay said. “Felt like, with the way that the players worked, let’s go ahead and call it an offseason program.”
There’s only so much a football team can do without pads, and considering the playbook had been fully installed entering this week’s three-day minicamp, the downside of a potential injury outweighed the upside of getting the rookies a few extra practice looks.
“We also want to be smart, get guys out of here healthy,” McVay said. “The goal is to get to training camp healthy and ready to go.”
The Rams made it through the entire eight-week program with only one season-ending injury. Outside linebacker Morgan Fox was lost to a knee injury in May.
Besides a healthy roster, what else is there to know about the team as it enters the six-week break before training camp?
Offensive continuity
The Rams will return 10 of 11 offensive starters, including quarterback Jared Goff, center John Sullivan and running back Todd Gurley, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
The only turnover was at the outside receiver position, where Brandin Cooks was acquired as a like-for-like replacement for Sammy Watkins, who signed with Kansas City.
The only real turnover was on the coaching staff, where Shane Waldron and Aaron Kromer were promoted to serve as passing-game and run-game coordinators, respectively, after offensive coordinator Matt Lafleur left for Tennessee.
“What we did last year is great, but our focus is on this year,” Waldron said. “We have a bunch of young players mixed with veterans who have shown a great amount of improvement in grasping this system. I’m pretty confident moving forward with that.”
Zac Taylor was also promoted to quarterbacks coach when Greg Olson left for Oakland.
“The biggest thing is keeping that consistency to what the messaging has been in the meeting room,” Waldron said. “Coach McVay, his messaging has been the same, we’re falling in line there.”
Defensive potential
After leading the NFL in scoring in 2017, can the Rams allow the fewest points in 2018?
That seems like a legitimate question to ask considering the star-studded additions on the defensive side of the ball, including cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
“The (starting) defense, man,” Gurley said. “Those guys are some ballplayers.”
McVay was quick to point on that under-the-radar additions, like former Green Bay cornerback Sam Shields and former Kansas City linebacker Ramik Wilson, also can make an impact this fall.
“Those are guys that we haven’t talked about a lot, but they’ve been very productive,” McVay said. “We’re excited about them, guys who have had a lot of experience in this league and have been successful.”
Position to watch
The offseason maneuvering on the defensive side of the ball has left linebacker as the biggest position to watch in training camp.
Alec Ogletree was traded to New York, Robert Quinn was traded to Miami and Connor Barwin remains a free agent, meaning the Rams’ only returning starter at the position is Mark Barron, who spent the offseason rehabilitating from injury.
“We’re not set there like we are in other positions, like our cornerbacks,” defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said this week. “We just need some guys to come through.”
The edge position was further muddled by injuries in May. Fox was earning first-team reps when he was lost. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, the fifth-round pick from Oklahoma, suffered a foot injury that ended his offseason program.
That left plenty of work during OTAs for other young, developing players, like the eight players the Rams have drafted at the position over the past two drafts.
“We’re looking at them now,” Phillips said. “I think training camp is going to show which ones step up.”
The team will go into training camp expecting on a couple rotational pieces who excelled on special teams last year to move into the starting lineup.
Cory Littleton, who started four games last year, could end up calling the defensive signals from middle linebacker.
Samson Ebukam, who started two games as a rookie last year, “certainly” looks like a starter on the edge, Phillips said.
Matt Longacre, who had 5.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits last year, also looks to move into the starting lineup, as long as he recovers from offseason back surgery.
“Unless there’s a setback, he should be ready to go,” McVay said. “We’re expecting big things for Matt. We know Matt has been an extremely productive player for us. He’s going to take on a larger role moving forward.”
Rookies like Justin Lawler, John Franklin-Myers and Micah Hyde will enter training camp in a position to be rotational pieces this fall.
Holding out hope
And then there is the biggest question of training camp.
Just when will Aaron Donald arrive?
The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year was one of a handful of stars who skipped their team’s mandatory minicamp.
A year ago, he held out for all of training camp and missed the season-opening win over Indianapolis.
Phillips, for one, hopes he sees Donald sooner, rather than later.
“It’s something you can’t do anything about,” Phillips said. “I don’t stay up all night every night. … It’s the business part of it.
“We feel like it’ll happen sooner than later, hopefully sooner. He didn’t come until later last year and he did OK.
“Knowing our people, we’ll get it done. I think they’ll get it done. Hopefully training camp, early in training camp, we’ll get it done and get going.
June 16, 2018 at 11:48 am #87406
Billy_TParticipantI’m warming up to the Cooks trade, almost on a daily basis. I still think it’s risky, due to the possibility that he just moves on after this year, like Sammy . . . But I think he’s the better receiver overall. They just have to make sure they keep him, or it’s a very costly one-year rental.
So far . . . and this is just amateur fan stuff . . . but I don’t think Cooks has been utilized properly in his career to date. He can do the end-arounds, the quick pitches in the backfield, the short stuff too. He’s more than just a one-trick Ferrari. It looks like McVay sees this.
Oh, and who is Micah Hyde? Does the author mean Kiser?
June 19, 2018 at 9:02 am #87440znModeratorRams have owned the offseason, but will success follow?
Lindsey Thiry
The Los Angeles Rams ended their offseason program on June 14. Here’s a look at how they fared:
Offseason goals: Continue to master second-year coach Sean McVay’s system and build chemistry among several new players in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme. McVay’s offense produced the highest-scoring team in the NFL last season, averaging 29.9 points per game, and helped lead the Rams to their first playoff appearance since 2004. Defensively, the Rams must improve a unit that allowed 339.6 yards per game and ranked 19th in total defense.
How they fared: Above average
Move I liked: The Rams’ moves to bolster their defense, trading draft picks for All-Pro cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib and acquiring All-Pro defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh in free agency. Peters, who has intercepted 19 passes in three seasons, and Talib, an 11th-year pro, demonstrated throughout the offseason program their ability to make plays. Peters got his hands on two passes on his first day of workouts alone. Suh’s acclimation to playing in a 3-4 for the first time will take more time to evaluate, given practices aren’t in pads during the offseason program, and Aaron Donald — who Suh will play alongside — was absent.
Move I didn’t like: The addition of Peters, Talib and Suh. Yes, this is single-handedly the best, and potentially, worst move. All three are known personalities, or “dynamic competitors” as McVay said. While each is capable of making a game-changing plays, each also has a track record for picking up penalties after the play, something the Rams must avoid if they want to improve on last season’s 11-5 finish and make a deep run in the playoffs.
Biggest question still to be answered in training camp: Determining whether young and inexperienced players will be ready to start at outside and inside linebacker. The Rams traded veteran outside linebacker Robert Quinn and inside linebacker Alec Ogletree. Samson Ebukam, a second-year pro, practiced in place of Quinn and Cory Littleton, a former undrafted free agent, in place of Ogletree. McVay said both were among standouts throughout the offseason program. But training camp, and padded practices, will better determine if both are capable of filling big roles.
Quotable: “We all know how important Aaron is to this football team and this organization. I think that what I would say is we’re proactive towards finding a solution to make sure that everybody feels good about that… That’s definitely something that we’re proactively trying to figure out a solution to make sure that he feels good and so do we as an organization.” — Rams coach Sean McVay
The Rams and Aaron Donald remain in a contract dispute that dates to 2017. Donald, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is scheduled to earn $6.9 million in the final season of his rookie contract and is holding out to become the highest-paid player on defense, if not among the highest-paid players in the league.
June 19, 2018 at 9:05 am #87441znModeratorRams another ‘Dream Team’ Eagles? We’ll wait and see
Alden Gonzalez
http://www.espn.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/130041/rams-another-dream-team-eagles-well-wait-and-see
LOS ANGELES — The heightened excitement and the lofty expectations that surround these Los Angeles Rams have been tempered, somewhat, by the faint-yet-lingering presence of a recent cautionary tale.
The 2011 Philadelphia Eagles, who carried the burden of a “Dream Team” moniker all the way through a disastrous season, have occasionally been linked to a 2018 Rams team that is suddenly bursting with star talent.
Sean McVay will be tasked with improving on an NFC West-winning season while welcoming several high-profile additions. Jeff Gross/Getty Images
In a stretch of five days, from July 28 to Aug. 2, those Eagles added seven impact players to a team coming off a division title. Quarterback Vince Young gave them the nickname that would haunt them all year. They thought it would propel them to the Super Bowl. Instead they began 4-8 and ultimately missed the playoffs for the first time in four years. In the end, they reinforced some valuable lessons — that free agency is dicey, that team chemistry is fragile and that the proverbial super team might not work so well in the NFL.So, what does that say about this year’s Rams?
Well, nothing. Yet.
Comparisons between those Eagles and these Rams can’t truly be made until this season plays out. But some glaring similarities exist, as do some notable differences. Let’s explore some, just for fun.
SIMILARITIES
Circumstances: The Eagles won the NFC East, lost in the Wild Card round, and then, motivated by the prospects of a resurgent quarterback in Michael Vick, they decided to go all in. They added two elite corners — Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie — defensive end Jason Babin and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, then sprinkled in running back Ronnie Brown, quarterback Vince Young and offensive lineman Evan Mathis.
The Rams won the NFC West, lost in the Wild Card round, and then, motivated by the prospects of a developing quarterback in Jared Goff, decided to go all in. They added two elite corners — Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters, a dominant interior lineman –Ndamukong Suh, and a true No. 1 receiver in Brandin Cooks.
Uncertainty at linebacker: The Eagles beefed up their secondary and their pass-rush with hopes of improving a unit that allowed a then-franchise-record 31 touchdowns through the air in 2010. But that came at the expense of linebacker, where they integrated a rookie fourth-round pick (Casey Matthews) and had questions about the incumbent starters (Jamar Chaney and Moise Fokou). The Rams freed up the salary cap space to add Talib and Suh by parting with a couple of core pieces in outside linebacker Robert Quinn and inside linebacker Alec Ogletree, both of whom will be replaced internally. They’re generally hoping to piece it together at linebacker, similar to what the Eagles attempted.
Impact talent: Adding proven, high-impact talent also means injecting strong personalities into a volatile ecosystem. It’s a risky proposition that did not work well for the Eagles (example: Asomugha reportedly ate lunch out of his car on practice days, rather than with teammates). ESPN Eagles reporter Tim McManus, who covered the 2011 team for the ESPN Radio affiliate in Philadelphia, doesn’t see many obvious similarities between the 2011 Eagles and the 2018 Rams.
“But I think the chemistry part can be applicable,” McManus said. “It’s a risk any time you’re bringing in big-name, high-priced free agents and adding them to a group that showed a level of harmony, at least from afar, as the Rams did last year. You run the risk of disrupting that.”
DIFFERENCES
Coordinator turnover: The Rams lost their offensive coordinator when Matt LaFleur left to join the Tennessee Titans in January. But on the Rams, head coach Sean McVay calls the offensive plays. He’ll replace LaFleur by committee, with offensive line coach Aaron Kromer serving as the running game coordinator and Shane Waldron stepping in as the passing game coordinator. But not much, if anything, will change about the offense. A lot did change, however, when the Eagles swapped defensive coordinators in 2011.
Sean McDermott was fired from that post and replaced, inexplicably, by Juan Castillo, a longtime offensive line coach. Castillo wasn’t ready to guide the defense. He made the young Matthews his middle linebacker and signal-caller, a role he was not ready to take on. He also turned Asomugha into a rover, forcing him to learn the plays for multiple positions in a new scheme. Both moves cost the Eagles. The Rams have a legendary defensive coordinator in Wade Phillips, who should only help.
Changes along the offensive line: On the laundry list of what went wrong for the 2011 Eagles, the offensive line ranked near the bottom. Mathis was perhaps the least heralded of the new additions, but he was among the most productive. From 2010 to 2011, the Eagles improved in sack percentage (8.0 to 5.5) and generated almost as many rushing yards per carry (5.4 to 5.1). But integrating a new offensive line became one of several adjustments heading into the season, specifically along the interior.
The Eagles had a new left guard in Mathis, plus a rookie center (Jason Kelce) and a rookie right guard (Danny Watkins). The Rams return all five starters from last year’s formidable offensive line (left tackle Andrew Whitworth, left guard Rodger Saffold, center John Sullivan, right guard Jamon Brown, right tackle Rob Havenstein). It’s one of many reasons they’re so optimistic.
The lockout: This part cannot be overstated. A dispute between the players and the owners caused a 130-plus-day lockout that lasted from March 11 to July 25 in 2011. Players and coaches were not allowed to interact during that time. Organized team activities never took place, training camp was shortened, and so the Eagles scrambled to integrate several new players at important positions. It hurt them. The Rams won’t have that problem. In fact, McVay will only be more comfortable in his second year as an NFL head coach. The same can be said for Goff as a third-year quarterback who is now fully integrated into the offense, and an entire defense that is now more closely in line with Phillips’ 3-4 principles.
If there’s one thing the Rams can learn from those Eagles, it’s this: Stay quiet.
The Eagles’ season might have turned on July 30, during what would’ve otherwise been a routine training camp press conference. In a makeshift tent near the practice field that day, Young wore a red jersey and a green visor and was asked about all the moves the Eagles made in a short offseason. “Dream team,” he said, then he chuckled.
The line, harmless as it might have been, made headlines throughout the country and put an unnecessary target on the Eagles’ backs, ratcheting up the pressure for a season that already had enough of it. The Rams have made no such proclamations, toeing the line between confidence and humility.
McVay hopes it stays that way.
“There’s a confidence that this group has that you feel good about,” he said, “but I think there’s also got to be humility and an understanding that you have to earn it every single day. … It’s a very competitive league. There are 31 other great teams in this league that are striving to do the same things that we are. We know that we are confident in the personnel that we have here, but we also know that they’ve got to wipe the slate clean every year. Some of the success we had last year won’t win us any games this year, and I think our players respect and understand that.”
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