For Cleveland, CB Joe Haden and TE Housler ruled out.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) October 23, 2015

FS Gipson is doubtful w/ankle.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) October 23, 2015

LB Carder, DL Hughes, WR Moore, LB Robertson, DT Shelton all questionable for Browns.

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) October 23, 2015

I have no reason to think the Rams would use the franchise tag, but it is out there.

Fisher likes CBs that can tackle. Which of the CBs can tackle?

Another thing, in 2017 our FA situation is going to be similar to this year, about 15 FAs. In 2018 we have to deal with Foles, Robinson, and Donald being FAs. It never stops. 😉 So, we can’t solve free agency in 2016 by using the future. I think we pretty much have to strictly use “pay as you go”, no big second year jumps in contracts. etc.

The Rams might have to structure a contract with a jump in the second year if they extend somebody early this year. But that is a function of the limited cap space left this year and that you figure an early extension is a bit cheaper overall, than competing with the other teams..

If Cook is there in the 1st, I am not passing on him. 😉

InvaderRam wrote:

not so sure about gaines. i think he might be fragile. what does the draft look like for corners? if they sign him, it’ll have to be at the expense of another player.

my only question with him is what happens when he gets that huge pay day? right or not i question his motivation.

This is how one draft site list the first 3 rounds by number at a position. I take that to be a rough estimate of the strength of how the draft plays out. The Rams have 6 picks. An extra 2 for Bradford, they used a 5 on Battle, and a 7 for Keenum. Most team needs for the entire NFL seem to be OT, CB, and of course QB. I don’t expect an epic draft, but with an extra 2, we are in good shape to find help at most of the positions we might need.

This appears to be a draft where that sets up so that we can match need to talent in a number of different directions. imo I don’t expect we will find a Donald, Gurley, or Quinn. Although we might find a couple of players in the 1st round that we like alot. There is a certain advantage to drafting players in the the bottom of the 1st round. It is the extra year you can keep them, like Ogletree.

I believe that we have enough depth, that we don’t have a compelling need to draft any specific position, especially in a draft that seems to offer a bit of everything..

I think it is all about value. In the end the Rams/Demoff are going to spend to the cap. They will spend where they think they get the best value. imo

zn wrote:

The average if the top 5 CBs in terms of amount per year is about 13.2 M. The top 4 all get about 14 M a year. I doubt he would accept anything less than that.

That is what guys like Darrelle Revis, Patrick Peterson, Richard Sherman, and Joe Haden get. Do you or Jenkins think he can command that kind of money? If so, we will only have a bigger example of another Joe Barksdale.

What makes Jenkins a top 5 CB?

I doubt he can get more than ~10 M a year at best. imo

Present roster = 38 plus 17 FAs = 55 players. I count the 5 RFAs at minimun tender. That equals 7.5 million.
..
Estimated draft for 2016 = ~6 million for our 8 draftees.
For each player we draft, we can subtract 0.5 million, cause we are replacing a player with a draftee. 8 x 0.5 = 4 million.
We add 8 players, we can subtract 4.0 million. We can figure the draft expense to be 6.0 million – 4.0 million = 2.0 million.
..
Say we spend no more for IR and we carry all our excess cap over to next year. The Cap we have left now is ~5 million.
..
Cutting 2 minimum players, (Dunbar and Bryant) to get the roster to 53 gains a 1.0 million credit.)
..
Estimated cap for next year is 155 million.

Cap Space 2016 = 37.5 million
..
FAs to sign = 11

(All the RFAs are already figured, see notes above. I am not counting Dunbar, he is minimum wage.
Anyway, 17 FAs – Dunbar – 5 RFAs = 11FAs.
..

Ok, I think that I corrected all my mistakes. 😉
Of course this will change everytime the Rams make a roster move. But, it should be close enough for anyone who is interested to to look and see something about our Cap Space. I assumed we sign all our RFAs to minimum tenders. I added all the credits and expenses I could think of. I made no cuts or extensions to players already under contract, ie Long, Saffold or anyone else. I did some of the math like I did, so that I can just add any player that is signed before next year and I know we are going to add 11 FAs. I just don’t know who they will be. If we cut somebody, or trade them, replacement cost might have to be figured.

http://walterfootball.com/draft2016DE.php

2016 NFL Draft Prospects: Defensive Ends

image: http://walterfootball.com/college/OhioState_logo.gif
Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
Height: 6-6. Weight: 275.
Projected 40 Time: 4.72.
Projected Round (2016): Top-10 Pick.
9/26/15: Bosa recorded six tackles and .5 sacks against Northern Illinois. He was suspended for the season opener against Virginia Tech for either an academic violation or testing positive for marijuana use. Bosa was quiet against Hawaii for his first contest of the season.

8/22/15: Bosa will miss the first game of 2015 over a suspension for violating team rules. It will be interesting to see if this comes back to hurt him in the future. In 2014, Bosa recorded 55 tackles with 13.5 sacks, 21 tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles and pass defended. He simply lived in opponents’ backfields. The 6-foot-5, 285-pounder has quickness to go with natural strength. He has a serious burst off the snap with the speed to turn the corner. The sophomore also displayed good hands to shed blocks while working upfield. Many have compared Bosa to J.J. Watt, but that isn’t fair to Bosa as Watt has rewritten NFL record books and is the best player in the NFL. That being said, Bosa is a great prospect who looks like he has the talent to be perennial Pro Bowler and double-digit sacker.

Bosa was one of the best freshmen in 2013 and clearly is full of talent. He racked up 44 tackles with 13.5 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks and one forced fumble that season.

image: http://walterfootball.com/college/MichiganState_logo.gif
Shilique Calhoun, DE, Michigan State
Height: 6-5. Weight: 250.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2016): 1.
9/26/15: Calhoun notched four tackles against Air Force. A week earlier, he had a solid performance against Oregon with three tackles and a coverage sack. Calhoun has shown an improved set of pass-rushing moves this season, including a spin move and a rip move. In 2015, he has eight tackles, two for a loss, and two sacks.

8/22/15: Calhoun needs to add some weight for the NFL if he’s going to remain a defensive end. It would help if Calhoun added some functional strength as well. He also needs to add to his repertoire of pass-rushing moves. After a slow start to 2014, Calhoun played better in the second half of the year. The junior speed rusher recorded 39 tackles with 12.5 tackles for a loss, eight sacks and a forced fumble for the season.

Calhoun was one of the top players on Michigan State’s superb defense in 2013. For the year, he recorded 37 tackles with 14 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception.

image: http://walterfootball.com/college/OklahomaState_logo.gif
Emmanuel Ogbah*, DE, Oklahoma State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 275.
Projected 40 Time: 4.77.
Projected Round (2016): 1-2.
9/26/15: While going against the early season’s weak opponents, Ogbah has sacks in all three games. He’s totaled 13 tackles, 4.5 for a loss and three sacks so far.

8/22/15: Ogbah broke out for the Cowboys in 2014 with 11 sacks, 49 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and five passes batted. He has quickness to go with strength and made a lot of plays in the backfield. Ogbah isn’t a pure speed rusher or quick twitch, but he has power, plays the run well and has a good motor. As a freshman in 2013, Ogbah had four sacks and 20 tackles while rotating into the game.

image: http://walterfootball.com/college/Mississippi_logo.gif
Robert Nkemdiche, DE/DT, Ole Miss
Height: 6-4. Weight: 296.
Projected 40 Time: 4.81.
Projected Round (2016): 1-3.
9/26/15: This season, Nkemdiche has 11 tackles, 3.5 for a loss and one sack. He had a huge performance against Alabama with six tackles, one sack and another 1.5 of his tackles were for a loss.

Nkemdiche has a tremendous skill set with the speed and agility of a linebacker. For the NFL, there is no doubt that he has the ability to be a disruptive presence at the point of attack. Nkemdiche is a tremendous run defender, but sources say that he isn’t a natural pass-rusher and his lack of sacks illustrates that.

8/22/15: Laquan Treadwell and Laremy Tunsil weren’t the only star recruits to choose Ole Miss in an amazing 2013 class. Nkemdiche was considered to be the No. 1 player in the nation. He certainly flashed more than once in 2013. The freshman totaled 34 tackles with two sacks and eight tackles for a loss that year.

The 6-foot-4, 280-pounder has tons of physical talent with speed and athleticism. He could grow into a defensive tackle. In 2014, Nkemdiche recorded 35 tackles with two sacks. Thus far, he has not looked like a natural pass-rusher. Nkemdiche flashes serious size and speed talent, but lacks consistency. Perhaps that will come as a junior.

image: http://walterfootball.com/college/Oregon_logo.gif
DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
Height: 6-7. Weight: 290.
Projected 40 Time: 4.82.
Projected Round (2015): 1-3.
9/26/15: In 2015, Buckner has 15 tackles with four for a loss, 1.5 sacks and a pass batted. He has played really well for the Ducks as a run defender and could produce more pass rush if they turned him lose. Their scheme has suppressed the pass-rush potential of other edge rushers like Arik Armstead and Dion Jordan.

8/22/15: Buckner has a similar skill set to former teammate Arik Armstead. Buckner recorded 81 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, four sacks and four passes broken up in 2014. He looks capable of a big senior year, but Oregon’s scheme doesn’t lend itself to big sack totals as evidenced by Armstead and Dion Jordan.

image: http://walterfootball.com/college/Baylor_logo.gif
Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor
Height: 6-9. Weight: 275.
Projected 40 Time: 4.84.
Projected Round (2016): 1-3.
9/26/15: Oakman has six tackles, 3.5 for a loss, one sack and one forced fumble in his one games this season. He was suspended for the season opener because of a team rules violation. NFL teams already had off-the-field concerns with Oakman that the suspension will only add to.

8/22/15: Oakman notched 48 tackles with 18.5 tackles for a loss, 10 sacks, three passes batted and three forced fumbles in 2014. In the early going of the season, he was one of the more impressive players in college football. Oakman cooled down as the season progressed. He lacks instincts and technique, so he needs development. In some ways, Oakman is similar athlete and prospect to Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Margus Hunt, a second-round pick in 2013.

Oakman is strong and quick, but doesn’t play consistently up to his skill set. He looks like a great fit as a five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 defense. Oakman also could be a base end in a 4-3 defense. Baylor also lines him up at defensive tackle and as a standup rush linebacker. Oakman just has to get more consistent and play up to his physical skills. In 2013, he totaled 33 tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles. Oakman spent 2011 with a redshirt at Penn State. He then sat out the 2012 season after transferring.

image: http://walterfootball.com/college/NotreDame_logo.gif
Sheldon Day*, DE/DT, Notre Dame
Height: 6-2. Weight: 285.
Projected 40 Time: 4.95.
Projected Round (2015): 2-3.
9/26/15: Day has six tackles, three for a loss and one sack in 2015. He has been a difference-maker and very disruptive at the point of attack.

8/22/15: Day was a disruptive presence for Notre Dame in 2014 and played better than the numbers suggest. He totaled 40 tackles with 7.5 for a loss, one sack, two forced fumbles and two passes batted. Day has some natural strength and athleticism. He had a solid sophomore season, but the first-year starter didn’t have the breakout 2013 that many expected. He recorded 33 tackles with 5.5 tackles for a loss and only .5 sacks that year.

image: http://walterfootball.com/college/Alabama_logo.gif
Jonathan Allen*, DE, Alabama
Height: 6-3. Weight: 264.
Projected 40 Time: 4.76.
Projected Round (2016): 2-3.
9/26/15: This season, Allen has seven tackles, three for a loss, three sacks and two passes batted. He recorded two sacks against Ole Miss and was impressive against Wisconsin. Allen has helped his draft stock this season. He’s a tough player at the point of attack.

8/22/15: Allen played well for the Crimson Tide as a sophomore. He had 33 tackles with 11.5 for a loss, 5.5 sacks and one pass broken up. Allen could produce more as a junior.

Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2016DE.php#VPXPPQgAHq2SfIg5.99

TE Preview
By Colin Lindsay | August 25, 2015
http://gbnreport.com/te-preview/

As more and more college teams across the country adopt the spread offense, more and more college teams are downplaying the TE position. Or at least the traditional two-way TE position which requires both a good blocker and receiver. And that trend shows up in the 2016 TE draft class which may end up being one of the weakest in years as there doesn’t appear to be any player at the position likely to be taken anywhere near the opening round.
However, pro teams that are looking to upgrade at TE at the upcoming draft may adopt the old ‘go west young man’ in their search. At least they’ll head to the SEC West which has the consensus top three prospects at the position this year in juniors Hunter Henry of Arkansas, Alabama’s O.J. Howard and Evan Engram of Mississippi. The Hogs’ Henry is the closest to a throwback among the top prospects at the position this year; on the one hand, Henry is a physical in-line blocker who can get some push at the point of attack, but is also an accomplished receiver with good hands who uses his size effectively to shield defenders away from the ball. And while no gazelle, Henry does have just enough speed to get into the seam on occasion. Meanwhile, Alabama’s Howard is a former 5-star recruit with exceptional athletic ability including reported sub-4.6 speed. The 6-6 Howard also has prototype length and a huge catching radius, as well as better than average hands, but pro scouts are still waiting for that talent to translate to productivity on the field. For his part, Ole Miss’ Engram is more a glorified WR with big-play receiving skills; indeed, the 6-3, 230-pound Engram, who isn’t much of a blocker, averaged over 17 yards per catch in 2014 when he had 38 total receptions despite missing three games with an ankle injury. There could be another underclassman in that top group if Stanford junior Austin Hooper, another solid two-way guy who can block as well as contribute as a receiver, opts to enter the upcoming draft; however, Hooper technically still has three years of eligibility left and may choose to stick around school awhile longer.
There is something of a drop-off to the senior TEs in this year’s class, but there are several veterans at the position who could be useful options in the middle rounds including Nick Vannett of Ohio State, Kyle Carter of Penn State, Darion Griswald of Arkansas State, Bryce Williams of East Carolina, Jay Rome of Georgia, Braxton Deaver of Duke and Ryan Malleck of Virginia Tech.
Everything else being equal, though, the top senior prospect at the position should be athletic Pharoah Brown of Oregon; however, the rangy 6-6 Brown suffered a rather gruesome leg injury late last season and still isn’t 100% sure he’ll even play at all this fall. Pro scouts will also be watching the progress of Colorado State’s Kivon Cartwright, another solid receiver with some explosiveness, who was granted a 6th year of eligibility after he played in only one game last year because of an ankle injury.

4th Down: When to Go for It and Why

http://theramshuddle.com/topic/4th-down-when-to-go-for-it-and-why/

Every Rams 4th Down

http://nyt4thdownbot.com/team/rams