tweets & other bits … 6/27 thru 6/30

Gil Brandt lists John Johnson as breakout candidate in 2019 https://t.co/HnfrBxVm5s

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) June 27, 2019

.@EricDickerson running wild! 🙌#LARams | #TBT pic.twitter.com/CDxAsqdcLW

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 27, 2019

Each season sees a few surprise playoff teams, so which teams from last year's postseason won't make it back? https://t.co/6kz6vvb2C1

— The MMQB (@theMMQB) June 28, 2019

Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
NFL announced Rams OL Aaron Neary has been suspended 4 games for violating the substance abuse policy

==

Aaron Neary, a Rams practice squad lineman, will be suspended for the first four games of this NFL season: https://t.co/z1WItnHAPa

— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) June 28, 2019

PFF: Eric Weddle, John Johnson are 2nd-best safety tandem in NFL https://t.co/XHVLilh0v6

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) June 28, 2019

Downtown Rams [DTR]@DowntownRams
Just a reminder that the #Rams defense proved in the Super Bowl they are turning the corner and are primed to be an elite unit this year.

Tom Brady 2017 & 2018 Super Bowl Stats
71/110 – 971 YDs, 5 TDs, 1 INT

Tom Brady vs. the Rams Super Bowl Stats
21/35 – 262 YDs, 0 TDs, 1 INT

#Rams Cory Littleton ranked 7th among all LB’s in Coverage grades and 10th in Tackling last season. He also had the 6th most defensive stops (min 200 snaps)

What’s in store for year 4? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/BzbcyxDjqs

— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) June 29, 2019

Adam Schein, from best of past nine draft classes

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001034443/article/russell-wilson-jj-watt-among-best-of-past-nine-draft-classes

…

2014: Aaron Donald, DT, Los Angeles Rams

Drafted: Round 1, No. 13 overall.

With all due respect to pass-rushing great Khalil Mack (now with the Bears, picked fifth overall by the Raiders), receiver Mike Evans (picked seventh overall by the Buccaneers), receiver Odell BeckhamJr. (now with the Browns, taken 12th overall by the Giants) and guard Zack Martin (picked 16th overall by the Cowboys), this one was easy. When it’s all said and done, the league might have to name the Defensive Player of the Year award after Donald, who’s won it the past two years (in addition to being the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2014). Donald is an unstoppable, tone-setting, game-changing force in the middle of the defensive line for the Rams. He posted 20.5 sacks last season, more in one year than any other interior defender in NFL history. The four-time All-Pro is special, mesmerizing and a joy to watch.

2015: Todd Gurley, RB, Los Angeles Rams

Drafted: Round 1, No. 10 overall.

This class is tricky — and relatively weak. We are still waiting for quarterbacks Jameis Winston (taken first overall by the Buccaneers) and Marcus Mariota (picked second overall by the Titans) to truly arrive as starters in the NFL. You can make the case that running back David Johnson (taken in Round 3 by the Cardinals) will get back in this conversation; two years removed from a 2,118-scrimmage yard campaign in 2016, Johnson missed all but one game in 2017 with a wrist injury and struggled to make an impact in 2018, but now he’s healthy and working with a new coach in Kliff Kingsbury. You could also argue that receiver Amari Cooper (picked fourth overall by the Raiders) will shine moving forward in Dallas, considering the numbers he put up (725 yards and six scores in nine games) after being traded to the Cowboys last October. And I love Chargers running back Melvin Gordon (Round 1, No. 15 overall).

But no player, not even Johnson, has been able to stay at the highest point reached by Gurley. A knee issue seemed to limit him last season, but when Gurley is healthy, he plays like an MVP. In the four seasons since he entered the NFL, no one has more rushing yards (4,547), scrimmage yards (6,430), total touchdowns (56) or touches (1,229) than Gurley.