tweets & other bits … 5/6 thru 5/8

from 2019 NFL All-Rookie Team: Kyler Murray, Devin Bush to show out

Chad Reuter

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001029901/article/2019-allrookie-team-kyler-murray-devin-bush-will-show-out

Defensive tackle: Greg Gaines, Los Angeles Rams (Round 4, No. 134). Assuming free agent Ndamukong Suh does not return to the Rams, Gaines is in a perfect position to make an impact for the reigning NFC champions as a rookie. His motor and strength at the point of attack are well-known, but he can also be a factor in pushing the pocket.

Cornerback: David Long, Los Angeles Rams (Round 3, No. 79). Pro Bowlers Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib are the scheduled starters, but Talib only played in eight games last year (due to injury) and hasn’t ever played a full 16-game season. It won’t be a surprise if Rams coaches get Long on the field early. He’ll be tested, too, which gives him a shot at racking up interceptions and/or pass breakups, statistics that help young players receive postseason accolades.

Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
This time next month we’ll be able to say training camp starts next month AND that a year and a month from now the new stadium in Inglewood will be complete.#timeflies

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Mike Garafolo@MikeGarafolo
Here’s an interesting one. The #Raiders are working out free agent G Richie Incognito today, sources say. Incognito didn’t play last season after he retired, un-retired and then was cut by the #Bills. But word is he’s in shape and feeling well in all aspects. Wants to play again.

Pro Football Rumors@pfrumors
Richie Incognito has left the #Raiders without a deal, though he still could sign with the club later on. He is by all accounts in great shape, so other teams may be interested as well

Tom Pelissero@TomPelissero

Incognito pled guilty last month to misdemeanor disorderly conduct, stemming from an August incident at a funeral home after his father’s death. He has been out of the NFL for over a year, so may take a bit for league to gather info and hand down a decision.

Richie Incognito remains in Oakland after today’s workout and my understanding is there’s mutual interest in a deal with the #Raiders. He’s in great shape. Main holdup seems to be figuring out what discipline, if any, he’s facing from the NFL.

Pro Football Rumors@pfrumors
It sounds as though the #Raiders and Richie Incognito could be nearing a deal

CROMWELL21

I like going back to last year’s mocks of this draft and seeing where the guys we drafted were going had the mocks played out this year.

Edwards was mocked in the first round and mostly in the second. Rapp and Hendrerson were in the second. One thing I also noted was most draft publications this year had Dakota Allen ad a third or fourth round pick. Obviously those are pre-combine, but still.

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
ESPN’s fantasy football experts got together and constructed an early PPR (points per reception) ranking of the top players at each position. The Rams are well-represented in ESPN’s early fantasy football rankings. Not surprisingly, the Rams have players ranked highly at each spot. They have three WRs in the top 19 at the position

Quarterback

12. Jared Goff

Running back

6. Todd Gurley

Wide receiver

16. Robert Woods

17. Brandin Cooks

19. Cooper Kupp

Defense/special teams

2. Rams

Kicker

1. Greg Zuerlein

Tragedy in STL this wkd as 8th-grade football phenom was killed by a stray bullet. I’ve learned Ezekiel Elliott (from the area) reached out to the family to cover the funeral costs. Kind gesture from someone who continues to grow off the field. Sad story: https://t.co/PMUSJOXOHJ

— Ben Rogers (@BenRogers) May 8, 2019

from NFL’s top 10 offenses: Saints, Colts, Eagles best of bunch

Chris Wesseling

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001030168/article/nfls-top-10-offenses-saints-colts-eagles-best-of-bunch?campaign=Twitter_atn

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5) Los Angeles Rams

Quarterback: B | Jared Goff, Blake Bortles

Goff unfurled some of the league’s most beautiful passes in the season’s first three months, only to backslide following Cooper Kupp’s season-ending injury and Los Angeles’ thrilling 54-51 victory over Kansas City in mid-November. If his disturbing Super Bowl LIII performance raises doubts about the upcoming season, the presence of play-calling savant Sean McVay should allay the darkest fears of Rams fans.

Backfield: B+ | Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson, John Kelly

The 2017 Offensive Player of the Year found himself back in the MVP discussion early last season, operating as the game-breaking focal point for McVay’s attack. Neither Gurley nor the Rams’ offense was ever the same, however, after a knee injury he suffered in Week 1 flared up in the final month of the season. Now he’s facing whispers about a potential arthritic condition, a decreased workload and more two-back formations going forward. Even with third-round draft pick Darrell Henderson around for insurance, Gurley’s durability and explosiveness are two of the biggest question marks in the Rams’ quest for another NFC title.

Receiving corps: B+ | Robert Woods, Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp, Gerald Everett (TE), Tyler Higbee (TE), Josh Reynolds

While Cooks is a dangerous deep threat, Woods has developed into one of the finest all-around receivers in football. As productive as that tandem was in 2018, Kupp’s November ACL injury left Goff without a safety blanket in key situations. McVay’s quarterback averaged roughly 330 yards with Kupp in the lineup, compared to 256 yards without benefit of the chain-moving slot receiver.

Offensive line: B+ | Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein, Austin Blythe, Joseph Noteboom, Brian Allen, Bobby Evans, David Edwards

Similar to New Orleans, the Rams’ offensive line was dominant for three months before springing leaks once the weather took a turn for the worse. Veteran guard Rodger Saffold priced himself out of Los Angeles, while 33-year-old center John Sullivan was put out to pasture. That savvy duo is expected to be replaced by 2018 draft picks Joseph Noteboom and Brian Allen, offering younger legs but little NFL experience. This unit could go either way in 2019.

Pass-Rush vs Coverage – which is more important, which is more stable from year-to-year and which should you rather your favorite team covet each offseason to improve?@PFF_Eric & @PFF_George go in-depth to figure out the answers ⬇️ https://t.co/XP0ZUqncX9 pic.twitter.com/e3qEPy1ukk

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) May 8, 2019

Silver (vid, last post): Matthews not happy with the Packers. All that aside, the news: Colts and Ravens were interested in him but he took less to play with the Rams.

Bucky Brooks@BuckyBrooks
Paralysis by analysis is common when coaches are given extra time to prepare. I appreciate Sean McVay’s honesty acknowledging his missteps leading up to the game… The playoffs and the pressure that comes with it can overwhelm coaches as much as players. SB 53 was an example

For everyone acting like they can fully understand how McVay was lured into the trap of overanalysis, just think about the nerves you may get coaching your kids in a playoff flag football or baseball game. Pressure will make you overthink easy decision when focused on results

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Note. The article Brooks bases that on is here: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/the-inside-story-of-the-rams-super-bowl-defense/

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Brandin Cooks only sees room for Rams to grow: It's 'scary in a sense' https://t.co/TkzX1duHKJ via @theramswire

— RamsNewsNow (@RamsNewsNow) May 8, 2019