NFL chat with Jim Thomas…8/2

NFL chat with Jim Thomas

http://sports.live.stltoday.com/Event/NFL_chat_with_Jim_Thomas_21?Page=0

If Grob struggles bad the first half of the season can you see him being moved to guard and Saffold slides to LT if healthy?
by Dwayne 2:07 PM

Don’t know if that’s even in the thought processes of the coaches right now. It’s always a possibility, even though the coaches think Saffold is a better right tackle than left tackle.
by jthomas 2:10 PM

Jim: Get right to the good stuff — how awful will Jeff Fisher’s 2016 team be?
by Sam Etcheverry’s neighbor 2:10 PM

I didn’t really watch practice like a beat writer would on Saturday, because I was writing more of a color story on the first open practice in southern California. But I watched it pretty closely on Sunday. Man, the receivers have a tough time catching the ball. Didn’t really see any “wow” plays from what I saw of Goff. The defense looked good. The pass rush looked good, as always. It’s always dangerous to make judgments based on a couple hours of practice. But it looks like a 5-11, 6-10 team to me.
by jthomas 2:14 PM

If Bradley Marquez gets beat out by Cooper and Quick gets beat out by Thomas who sticks on the roster out of the 2?
by Dwayne 2:14 PM

Marquez won’t get beat out by Cooper; Quick won’t get beat out by Thomas.
by jthomas 2:15 PM

Who’s your early camp favorite for the FS spot?
by Dwayne 2:15 PM

I didn’t write on this over the weekend, but keep an eye out for Maurice Alexander, the Eureka High product out of St. Louis who once worked as a janitor at the Edward Jones Dome. Alexander is fast and physical, his frame reminds you of Kam Chancellor. The game is still new to him particularly at the safety level. (He’s a converted college linebacker.) So he’s still learning and seeing things he hasn’t seen before. But he was working with the starters at free safety during my weekend in LA, and I get the feeling that’s the way the coaches think it will end up.
by jthomas 2:18 PM

What would it take for the Rams to make the playoffs this year?
by Chris 2:19 PM

Very good health _ they lack the overall depth they’ve had in recent years. A top 10 finish by the defense, which has flirted with that in recent years but finished in the middle of the pack statistically. A better year for Gurley in 2016 than he had even as a rookie in 2015. Consistent quarterback play and improved play by the wide receivers/tight ends.
by jthomas 2:21 PM

Do you know if there are any Rams fans from St. Louis that are season ticket holders for this season? If so, you should do a story on them. I want to hear about folks sticking with the team despite the move. I’m doing everything I can by getting the Sunday Ticket package.
by Chris 2:21 PM

I’m not sure the Rams are selling season tickets to anyone from the St. Louis area. I had one fan from the area tell me he tired to get season tickets but was denied.
by jthomas 2:22 PM

Jim – I have enjoyed your coverage of the Rams and the NFL. But I’m just a casual NFL fan, mostly because we had an NFL franchise in town. So, I’m going to take Jose’s advice. I’m turning my back on the Rams, and the NFL, and as an extension this chat. This is the last time I’ll tune in. Best wishes to you and yours.
by Simple.10 2:23 PM

Best of luck.
by jthomas 2:23 PM

Do you think if Boras can’t get the Offense going Fisher might swap him out with Mike Groh?
by Dwayne 2:23 PM

Can’t see anything like that happening this year.
by jthomas 2:23 PM

Playoffs? Did I just see a question about playoffs? Playoffs?
by Mora 2:23 PM

Yes you did. It’s this extra round of games you get if you perform at a high standard over the course of the regular season.
by jthomas 2:24 PM

Hi Jim, PFW has given low grades to Saffold the past few years. Is that a result of his injuries, their ratings formula being inaccurate in some way, or is no longer as good as he used to be?
by Spock 2:24 PM

Do you mean PFF, or Pro Football Focus? If you do, it could be related to injuries. And to be honest, I don’t regard PFF as the end-all, be-all in player evaluations. In football, the further you get away from team analysis and lean to individual analysis, the more likely you are to be inaccurate when it comes to analytics. Just my opinion.
by jthomas 2:27 PM

True or False will Aaron Donald be the highest paid non QB defender when his contract is up?
by Dwayne 2:27 PM

Well, there are a lot of excellent defensive players out there, but I bet he’ll be in the top 10.
by jthomas 2:27 PM

Why doesn’t Hekker be our full time Kicker and punter can’t be worse than Zerluin right.
by Dwayne 2:31 PM

Different leg motion between a punter and kicker. Doesn’t transfer.
by jthomas 2:32 PM

How long will you be in LA monitoring practices?
by bfulton 2:32 PM

I was just there for the weekend, I’m back in St. Louis, although I still have one more story to right off that trip from Irvine interviews. (It’s on two undrafted rookies from St. Louis trying to make the team – WR Paul McRobert and CB Michael Jordan. It’s scheduled to run in Wednesday’s paper.
by jthomas 2:34 PM

With the way the Los Angeles franchise went above and beyond in crapping all over Saint Louis on their way out of town (and continue to do so via multiple kevin demoff comments) I almost couldn’t believe when jeff fisher actually had the gall to say he hoped the people of St. Louis would continue to support the franchise. Are you kidding me? These people got what they wanted, why can’t they just leave us alone and go on about the business of lowering the standards of pro football in Southern California?
by Thad 2:34 PM

I asked Fisher the question, when it was just he and I standing off to the side following his overall media session. And he tried to give me a sincere answer. That’s all. I get where you’re coming from, though.
by jthomas 2:36 PM

Should Akeem Ayers be looking over his shoulder for anyone?
by Dwayne 2:36 PM

Don’t think there’s anyone there to look over his shoulder at this point.
by jthomas 2:36 PM

Jim thank you for continued support for the Rams. Truly enjoy your chats and hope they continue
by oscar 2:36 PM

The chats will continue. Again, the coverage will be broader _ involving more non-Rams topics _ as we go through the season.
by jthomas 2:37 PM

If EJ Gaines plays with his hair on fire any way he could beat out TRU?
by Dwayne 2:37 PM

He probably would’ve beaten out Johnson last season were it not for the injury. And they’re not competing with each other this year _ they’re on opposite side.
by jthomas 2:38 PM

Hands down Tavon Austin is the fastest Ram?
by Dwayne 2:39 PM

Don’t know if it’d be hands down, but he’d certainly be at or near the top. By the way, I think the Rams have offered Austin a new contract.
by jthomas 2:40 PM

Any updates on Stedman?
by Jiffy Jeff 2:40 PM

Non other than he’s with West Virginia this season as a graduate assistant.
by jthomas 2:41 PM

Let it go fans. Rams are gone. Don’t buy into Kroenke and Demoff, who actually has shown to be an idiot.
by Duke 2:42 PM

I get what you’re saying. But think about it as a 21-year marriage that ended in a messy divorce. That’s usually not something you completely get over in a few months.
by jthomas 2:43 PM

Reading between the lines of what I read, the Rams shouldn’t felt they could rely on Tre Mason making it to camp. Did they have an extra RB in camp to compensate?
by bfulton 2:43 PM

Actually, Mason didn’t show up to camp. And the Rams can’t reach him. If he showed up to camp, he’d be out there. It’s not as if they told him: Stay away. Without Mason, it might give Aaron Green and/or Malcolm Brown _ who both entered league as undrafted rookies _ a chance to make the squad.
by jthomas 2:46 PM

Where is Trey Watts?
by Dwayne 2:47 PM

Still on the suspended list.
by jthomas 2:47 PM

What if Nick Foles sat on the bench following that hit to the sternum by Clay Matthews would it have matterd?
by Dwayne 2:47 PM

Don’t think so.
by jthomas 2:48 PM

Hi Jim, thanks for the chats. I’ve been looking at the LA Times and some other West Coast media. Rams coverage seems to be buried pretty deep if you can find it. No comments on most articles. Since you’ve been there what’s your take? Is the excitement real? If they go 6-10 will the coliseum have 50,000 by year end?
by Waddles 2:48 PM

When I flew out of Orange County on Monday, both the LA Times and Orange County Register had stories about Alec Ogletree on the cover of their sports sections. So I wouldn’t call that burying coverage. There is a lot more to cover in the LA area _ two baseball teams, two NBA teams, two hockey teams at the major league levels. Two major universities _ UCLA and USC are right in town. They have MLS, there was a big surfing tournament in Orange County while I was there. Looking back in our archives over the early days of the Rams in St. Louis _ meaning the first training camp _ we had a lot more coverage. That’s just the way it is in a smaller market compared to a larger market. Everyone, even the Rams if you put the truth serum in, are wondering about fan support. I found it very interesting, for example, that there were 4,000 fewer fans at the second Rams training camp practice than there was on Day 1. I mean, there are 18 million people in that metro area, and they’ve been without the NFL for 21 years. It was surprising to see that kind of drop off after 1 day. Now, saying that, I’ve heard the Rams are expecting a huge crowd for their scrimmage this coming Saturday at the Coliseum, maybe 80,000. But I think long-term it remains to be seen what kind of support they get.
by jthomas 2:56 PM

I put nothing past the NFL anymore, so I going out on a limb and saying the Rams miraculously win a SB in the next 4 years. Makes the league look great for bringing the team back to LA and yet another middle to the STL fans……
by Jiffy Jeff 2:59 PM

In four years? As a certain radio host in StL says, I’ll bet you a milkshake that’s not the case.
by jthomas 3:00 PM

What are the hot head coaching candidates for next season?
by bfulton 3:00 PM

BFulton, already looking for Fisher replacements?
by jthomas 3:00 PM

Jim – any word on what team’s games will be televised locally?
by Ryan 3:06 PM

by jthomas 3:08 PM

Any Kroenke sightings?
by ExRamsFan 3:08 PM

Say and talked to Kevin Demoff both days. Did not see Malibu Stan.
by jthomas 3:08 PM

JT, It was great to see you at Rams training camp, ill miss your daily coverage of the Rams. I happy the Rams moved back to LA, but miss the detailed cover of the STLPD
Ozy
by OzyRamsFan 3:08 PM

Thx. Good to see you as well.
by jthomas 3:09 PM

I really resent the constant implication that the fans won’t show up here. As you point out, there is a lot more sports happening here than in ST. Louis. The fans will be there when it’s time for football. Also, the LA bashing has got to stop. We didn’t ask for the Rams to come back…they did this on their own. Finally, I get that you all hate Kroenke, but isn’t it true that without him the Rams never move to SL in the first place? Thanks for letting me vent.
by MR 3:09 PM

Well, there is a track record of lack of support in LA, especially when the team wasn’t winning. It is what it is.
by jthomas 3:10 PM

Any demoff sightings or conversations?
by Kevin’s babysitter 3:10 PM

Yeah, as I mentioned I talked to him both days for a few minutes.
by jthomas 3:11 PM

2 questions: So what did kevin have to say? Do you believe it?
by Kevin’s babysitter 3:11 PM

I asked him if he had some new hats for sale. He laughed. It was mainly small talk.
by jthomas 3:12 PM

What are Duke Williams odds at making roster?
by LA Troll 3:12 PM

Based on what I saw over the weekend, I would say slim and none.
by jthomas 3:13 PM

Plan to watch the rams games this season, as am very interested on how the team moves forward with Goff at QB, and seeing how the draft picks from the past few seasons progress. I recall last season at this time the fans were told by media members to go to games and support the players, not the owner. Doesnt that still fit? Thanks
by Paul 3:13 PM

I have some fans in St, Louis tell me that on a pretty regular basis.
by jthomas 3:14 PM

Please tell MR, yes stan moved the rams here, increased his profit tenfold and then left to do it again.
by RM 3:14 PM

The Rams were one of the league’s two or three most profitable teams during their early years in St. Louis, so yes, Kroenke made a lot of money off the team here.
by jthomas 3:15 PM

Wife and I spent the last 5 years in L.A. and have recently moved back to Missouri. I can tell you that last season I was a regular at the Hermosa strand in south bay and could never find any bar that was showing the Rams games even after we all “knew” they were moving. it was all Raiders and 49er fans. I don’t think they care about the team so much, they just want.
by TR 3:23 PM

I talked to a lot of Rams people over the weekend, but didn’t see Larry.
by jthomas 3:24 PM

JT – If you were from St. Louis and a Rams fan for the last 21 years but now live in North County San Diego, would you route for the Chargers or the Rams. I am struggling with which way to go. Keeping in mind that the Chargers could very well be playing in LA next year too and I do not want to be flip flopping.
by TimProctor10 3:25 PM

Sorry Tim, you’ll have to solve that dilemma on your own. But let me know how it works out as the season progresses.
by jthomas 3:26 PM

Hi Jim, I am an LA resident and former season ticket holder and was unhappy to see the Rams leave LA. I understand and feel for the great fans of Stl. This move, like the move 22 years ago is not about the fans. I hope the fans can stick with the Rams team and I want to thank you Jim for your great coverage all these years. I will still follow and read your Rams/NFL coverage.
by Patrick 3:26 PM

It isn’t about the fans. It has never been about the fans. They have been mere pawns in this whole LA-StL thing. It was great to talk to dozens of fans in Irvine, just like it was great to mingle with the fans at the Legends of the Dome game. Fans are fans.
by jthomas 3:28 PM

Just a heads up for fans still wanting to watch the team.. NFL Sunday Ticket live streaming offers a student package for $100 for the whole season and you dont need direct tv
by heytherejim 3:34 PM

Here you go. . . .
by jthomas 3:34PM

Yes. Yes, I am looking for Fisher replacement. LOL. (Not that I believe SK will pick a winner, tho.)
by bfulton 3:34 PM

Any up-and-coming college coaches on the West Coast?
by jthomas 3:35PM

I’ll say StanK made a killing after the Rams moved to STL…$80 million for his initial investment for the 40% ownership, $450 million to buy the remaining 60% in 2010. Last year Forbes magazine estimated the Rams value at $1.45 BILLION BEFORE leaving STL. We all wish we could increase our investment by 18 times.
by Patton 3:35 PM

Yeah, E.S.K. did pretty well in StL.
by jthomas 3:35PM

Jim, don’t you think there must be some serious pressure on Fisher to start winning? This is his fifth year, and 5-11 or 6-10 isn’t going to help see the no doubt high priced PSL’s and tickets they have in mind for the new stadium.
They need to be pretty good pretty soon, don’t you think?
by Tom 3:35 PM

One would think so.
by jthomas 3:36PM

Yeah, Jim…there is that track record. But it happened in St. Louis as well. It’s pretty much a fact that a winning team draws better than a losing one.
by MR 3:36 PM

But then there’s this, a stat that colleague and friend Bernie Miklasz has pointed out: Until the last year or two in St,. Louis, the losing Rams averaged more per game than the LA Rams did in Anaheim when the team was going to the playoffs nearly every season with Eric Dickerson.
by jthomas 3:37PM

Lack of support in LA was due to Georgia. YOU guys in st louis sure do like to throw stones in your glass house. Now that house is broken and the team went back to their rightful home. Your support in the dome was the other teams fans filling it up. It is what it is.
by Hero 3:38 PM

I believe the rightful home would be Cleveland, where they spent their first decade.
by jthomas 3:38PM

Two-faced Fisher wants me to root for LA? I am rooting for him to become the 1st head coach in history with 5 consecutive losing seasons!!
by Dr D 3:38 PM

You sound pretty serious about this.
by jthomas 3:39PM

It looks like this question made the chat, but didn’t receive an answer, great question too, so I’ll repost for Jeff…
How big a scandal will it take to get Goodell fired? Obviously not destroying evidence of cheating, trying to cover up domestic violence, etc…..
by Stooby 3:39 PM

I thought I answered it, saying the only thing that might negatively impact Goodell’s standing is a decrease in TV ratings.
by jthomas 3:40PM

Who plays the most in Preseason Goff Keenum or Mannion?
by Dwayne 3:40 PM

I’d say Goff plays the most, followed by Keenum and then Mason.
by jthomas 3:41PM

Jim, am I wrong to think that this whole LA thing may back-fire on Jerry and Stanley? I mean, Goff throws and interception in his first day of pro football training camp and he is met with instant hostility and boos? How will LA handle this Rams organization once they get more familiar with how Stan runs the show? Will they fill up a brand new 2 billion dollar stadium for a below average team?
by Dr D 3:41 PM

We’ll see. Just wait till the fans out there see the price of PSLs in 2019. Especially if they’re still losing.
by jthomas 3:42PM

How did were you treated in LA over the weekend by Rams staff?
by Tim 3:42 PM

Great. Lots of handshakes, man hugs. Got to chit-chat informally with several coaches. Good to see the equipment guys, other staffers, etc. Love the PR staff _ we spent a lot of hours together over the years.
by jthomas 3:44PM

Asking for a friend.
by Mike Martz 3:44 PM

Unlike baseball, you don’t go in wearing a hat of a particular team. Or with an allegiance to a certain team.
by jthomas 3:50PM

LA sent a 25 person contingent to Rio to prepare for the 2024 Olympic bid and I bet stan wasn’t far behind. I can’t imagine how he’s frothing at the mouth to get that Olympic money and as dirty and underhanded the Olympics have turned out to be, he should fit right in.
by Kevin’s tiny jockstrap 3:50 PM

Maybe that’s where he was.
by jthomas 3:51PM

About the future PSLs in2019. Formal surveys have already been sent out to season ticket holders regarding PSLs. Prices seemed pretty reasonable to me, and I’m definitely middle class.
by MR 3:51 PM

Just curious, what kind of price range have you seen?
by jthomas 3:52PM

Is Manion just another wasted draft pick?
by Trevor 3:52 PM

it’s hard to say until he gets any kind of a chance.
by jthomas 3:52PM

In defense of LA fans, I will repeat something I mentioned last year: Anaheim is NOT LA. It was then largely a retirement community (Orange County as a whole) and residents there were from elsewhere, with no big Rams loyalty. For lots of LA residents, getting to Anaheim could easily take 2 hours or more. Georgia moved them there, she knew nothing about owning an NFL team, and it was STUPID!
by Tom 3:52 PM

Interesting perspective. Thanks for playing.
by jthomas 3:53

Hi Jim, Which organization do you think is providing the best free coverage of the LA Rams? I much prefer your daily in-depth work, but would like your opinion. Thank you in advance for what is at best an uneasy situation for us St Louis Rams fans.
by Novo 3:54PM

Well, the two main sources are the LA Times and the Orange County Register (which would include the LA Daily News). And eventually, I’m sure ESPN.com will be up to speed. They’re kind of in-between writers since friend and colleague Nick Wagoner has been assigned to the 49ers.
by jthomas 3:55PM

How were the fans at the practices?
by Mike 3:55 PM

The fans were great. I talked to dozens over the weekend, some have been following the team through the Post-Dispatch and stltoday.com for years. Many _ not all, but many _ feel bad for the fans in St. Louis. They went through basically the same thing 21 years ago. I posed for many pictures, and believe it or not signed a few autographs. I always put #431 next to my name, representing the number of games (preseason, regular season, postseason) played by the Rams in St. Louis.
by jthomas 3:58PM

Respectfully, why are we still talking about the Rams?
by Josh Stevens 3:58 PM

Thanks for asking. We were in Orange County over the weekend for three major reasons. 1.) We’re covering the NFL at large now, and the biggest story in the league entering camp was the Rams’ setting up shop once again on the West Coast. 2.) The closing chapters of the team leaving St. Louis are the first practices in LA and the first home game in LA. 3.) There obviously is still much interest in the team here, either in a negative way, or from fans who still want coverage, who say they may hate Kroenke, but they still care about the players, and that it’s the only team they have ever known. I hear from these people regularly. .
by jthomas 3:59PM

Can you see Coty Sensabaugh beating out EJ?
by Dwayne 4:02 PM

I guess it could happen if Gaines doesn’t regain his old form, but if Gaines is physically right I can’t see it happening.
by jthomas 4:03PM

What do you think the chances are of Goff starting this year? Yes, I’m still a Rams fan.
by Chris 4:03 PM

I say he starts at least 12 games.
by jthomas 4:03PM

Hi Jim,
Hope you’re well. How do the Rams look at Isaiah Battle? Is a player from the supplementary draft considered a second year player with catching-up to do or a rookie with a head-start?
Thanks Jim, still enjoying your writing here in the uk. Haven’t found an LA journalist who comes close.
Gavin, Newcastle.
by Gavin 4:04 PM

Hey, NFL UK was out at Rams camp over the weekend, so you might want to check out their coverage. I think Battle is viewed as a player with a lot of catching up to do. He has been working at right tackle in training camp, and although I wasn’t at OTAs I was told that was the case then as well. He was working with the second unit at RT over the weekend behind Saffold (and remember, without Havenstein).
by jthomas 4:06PM

What’s Shelly Smith’s problem with St Louis? Is she sucking up to the Rams or is she just that ignorant about the past 21 years?
by Sam 4:07 PM

Can’t really comment, because I’m not aware of what she said or hasn’t said about the Rams.
by jthomas 4:07PM

Emotionally and personally how has this move affected you?
by Tim 4:07 PM

It’s been a change, and an adjustment. But I’m keeping busy, it’s just a different kind of busy. I genuinely feel bad for the fans of St. Louis. St. Louis may have deserved it when the Big Red left in ’88 because the region really didn’t have a stadium plan. But there was a plan this time around, what some in the NFL thought was a pretty good plan, with hundreds of millions of dollars on the table for Kroenke. A part of me likes the more varied aspects of the coverage, and not having to worry about every pulled hamstring. But I’ve got to tell you, I really enjoy watching football practice every day _ and I’ll miss that aspect of the job.
by jthomas 4:12PM

How were you perceived out in LA over the weekend? Did you get the “what are you doing here”?
by Jerry G 4:12 PM

Only by a couple of fans, and even they were friendly about it. All of the Rams employees I saw seemed genuinely happy to see me, Fisher included.
by jthomas 4:13PM

Now that u have made a trip to LA for the Rams and its probably clear that people in STL don’t care. Can u please visit Indianapolis or KC and do some type of fan recruitment tour? I could be wrong but I believe the majority of fans in STL either don’t care about the Rams and the NFL or they are looking for a new team to follow
by StanIsNotTheMan 4:13 PM

Actually, a lot of people read those stories from LA. You may not be one of them, but there are still Rams fans in StL, some still rooting for them, many rooting against them. And think about our subject matter that we covered during the trip out West. We wrote one story about the fans at the first practice; OK, I’m sure that was unnerving for some, but it had to be done. We wrote another story on the No. 1 overall pick in the draft (Goff), a story that should be of general interest no matter who drafted him. We wrote another story on E.J. Gaines, a story that should be of general interest to fans in this market because he’s a former Missouri Tiger and a native of the Show-Me State. And tomorrow’s story is on two longshots who played their high school football in St. Louis, but just happen to be in Rams camp. That should be of interest to anyone who follow high school football here or follows Southeast Missouri State or Missouri Western football, where they played in college. We will be covering other NFL teams as we go through camp. We’ve already written about 10 storylines in the NFL entering training camp, had a story about Mark Davis eyeing up Las Vegas as a home for the Raiders, and about Mike “The Tackle” Jones fighting to get the program going at Lincoln U.
by jthomas 4:21PM

Jim do you think Goff will be the week 1 starter if he shows any progression in camp?
by oscar 4:21 PM

In a word, yes. You don’t put all that money and give up all those draft picks for a guy and save him for later.
by jthomas 4:22PM

Can you share a link to your podcast with O. Pace?
by bfulton 4:25 PM

Sure. feedproxy.google.com
by jthomas 4:25PM

I read both last week and in this chat today about a St. Louis based fan that wanted to buy season tickets to the LA Rams games and was denied the opportunity. It seems interesting, to say the least, that Fisher is quoted in the paper as wanting St. Louis fans to stay fans of the Rams while the are in LA and saying they are always welcome. I am sure he does not have a say in who gets season tickets, but I think that illustrates that just about anyone, except the players, that speaks for the Rams from upper management to ownership, is full of hot air and cannot be trusted in their remarks. Thoughts?
by Todd 4:26 PM

Todd, I get what you’re saying. But it was just one fan. I don’t know if he sent in his request late, there was some kind of glitch, or there was a concerted effort not to sell tickets to fans here.
by jthomas 4:27PM

Looking back, who were you favorite Rams players to talk to after the games? Anybody you kept in touch with even after they were gone?
by Jiffy Jeff 4:27 PM

OK, that’s it for today. Couldn’t get to some questions. Todd, I especially liked yours about why the Rams’ defense hasn’t lived up to its hype but couldn’t get to it today. Please try again next week. We may change the time and even the date of next week’s chat because I may be on the road at other training camps. So please stay tuned, and as always. . .thanks for playing.
by jthomas 4:35 PM