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Billy_TParticipantThe Jets, man. I would hate to be a Jets fan. They are in worse shape right now than Seattle. Like Seattle, they entered with season with high hopes, and Rodgers is gone. The final piece to their puzzle was wiped out on the opening drive. A 40-year old QB with a 2-year $75 million guaranteed deal. He might be ready for next year. Maybe. He’s 40. Achilles. It’s bad. For myself, part of me is giggling, but part of me misses the storyline that everyone just got robbed of. Aaron Rodgers will be just fine, but his opportunity to “pull a Brady” is gone. And the Jets gave up a 1st and two 2nds, and something else for him. Sux to be a J-E-T-S fan.
Wasn’t it ex-Ram, Leonard Cohen — you know, the author of “Hallelujah!” — the edge who did him in?
I’m not a fan of Rodgers. He’s a jerk, IMO, especially when it came to the pandemic. But I didn’t want to see him go out in the first game.
Lotsa talking heads were saying the Jets might call the Rams again about Stafford. With MS playing so well this past Sunday, the price has likely gone up.
Would you trade Stafford to the Jets at this point?
If the Jets offered Sauce Gardner, Jermaine Johnson, and their 1st next year, I think I would.
Billy_TParticipantI only saw the highlights, so have no idea about the flow of the game. But the score and the stats at least tell me the Rams were really good in protecting Stafford, and it looks like they have the needed receiver depth to weather the Kuppless storm.
Also noticed that Tutu looks bigger, as does Kyren Williams. They’ve added good weight, and it’s helped their game.
As others have already said, it’s just the first game, but this is obviously an excellent start. Makes my earlier doom and gloom comments seem, well, too doomy and gloomy.
If they beat the Niners next week — arguably the best team in the NFC going into the season — the Rams may well be for real. At the very least, a win would really help the Rams believe in themselves, and that’s essential for a young team.
Billy_TParticipantWV,
I can see 7-10 too. But I think 3 to 6 wins are more likely.
Btw, does the 17 games figure strike you as a cosmic crime of sorts? Just hate even the look of 7-10 or any combo thereof.
Personally, would rather see 14 games. But the players never should have agreed to more than 16. The future, most likely, is 18. While that’s far too many games, it at least has some balance and sense to it, home and away games, etc.
Hope all is well.
Billy_TParticipantIt’s my view that the Rams didn’t have to be this bad, potentially. They put themselves into Cap Hell, and had to cut vets, some of whom were still in their rookie contracts. They got less athletic, far less stable, and if their rationale was to just get ready for 2024, I don’t see this as the wise first step.
Saw this today, and it bothers me, if true:
Jets tried trading for Matthew Stafford before acquiring Aaron Rodgers
A little confusing as to whether any terms were discussed, but it sounds like the Rams stopped the inquiries before they could even get to that point. To me, that’s just flat out nutz. Stafford is very good when healthy, but he’s also taken an enormous pounding over his career, and he’s an old 35. If I’m the Rams, I at least give the Jets a full hearing. See what they’d be willing to give up, and how much of his contract they’d be willing to take on. What could be the harm? They could just say No if the terms are lousy. But to shut things down even before that?
Anyway, I’m not sanguine about this season. Someone else on the board said their way of coping was to focus on individual accomplishments in down times. That makes sense. Most of us are long-time diehards, and we’ve seen our share of down years. That’s probably how most of us cope. But aside from AD, not sure we’ve got a lot of that happening in 2023. Perhaps Jones makes the Pro Bowl? And I think Young will flash from the edge. Avila will probably be overlooked by all-star voters, but he should have a good year. I’m guessing he makes a few Pro Bowls soon enough. The punter? He’ll be one of the hardest working players in the league, and he seems like a goodin’.
Not the year to try Youtube’s NFL ticket, most likely.
Hope you and yours are well, Zooey.
Billy_TParticipantStrange. This will be the third of three preseason games televised here.
Unfortunately, I’m guessing I won’t be able to see them much in the regular season. Hope I’m wrong. But it looks like a long wait between full-game encounters in 2023. Will have to make do with highlights and so on. Perhaps later in the year, when prices fall, NFL Gamepass.
Big change from the days when I had Directv Sunday Ticket, and could get it for free.
Billy_TParticipantPossibly the best move made so far this off-season. I also like the pickups of Witherspoon and Robinson.
Concur. How’s the health, Billy? Been a while since I’ve seen an update.
Thanks for asking, Zooey. All things considered, doing fine. In remission still, as far as I know. Though I’ve been beset lately by dental issues. I guess if we live long enough, everything falls apart!
;>)
But back to the cancer stuff for a moment. I am a bit bothered by recent changes at the oncology center.
Relatively new doc, and a new philosophy, sorta. I joked with my GP (after my most recent oncology visit) that it seems like the self-service model has infected the medical field too. Basically, they want me to let them know if something’s wrong, rather than do the usual tests. I asked them about CT scans, PETscans, etc. etc. and they said No need, until or unless I notice something wrong. Have been with them now for 20 years, and in the past they were more proactive. Wonder if this is a trend around the country?
Hope you and yours are well. Again, appreciate the ask.
Billy_TParticipantPossibly the best move made so far this off-season. I also like the pickups of Witherspoon and Robinson.
Wish SF, the Jets, and Tampa would all lose their minds and cut Bosa, Sauce Gardner, and Wirfs, respectively. The Rams swoop them up and are back in business!
:>)
Billy_TParticipantThat’s pretty cool, Joe and Zooey. Admirable, too. How much land do you guys have? Is it naturally fertile, or did you have to bring in special soil, etc.?
Have always wanted to grow my own (organic) food, but have just never gotten around to it. I have a relatively small yard, and the soil isn’t so great here, but some of my neighbors have nice gardens. It can be done, and I really should give it a shot.
When I was much younger, I fantasized about having thousands of acres one day, a gazillion trees, a small organic farm, and give away surplus. A small dairy, too, for fresh eggs, butter, milk, ice-cream, and yogurt . . . plus a huge, exceptionally clean lake and stock it with fish and fowl. Wanted to be able to avoid grocery stores, if at all possible. And as my fantasies evolved, they also included really going back to Nature and pre-capitalist modes to make my own tools, and avoid plastics of any kind — to the degree possible. I’d have lotsa horses, too. Old-fashioned horse and carriages for guests, as well.
This and that got in the way, especially a fairly important element: lack of money.
Oh, well, maybe in the next life.
Billy_TParticipantGood to see Nacua doing well. Would be great if he outperforms his draft slot, and his predraft positioning. None of that will mean a thing if he does well, nor will his rather mediocre testing. Really encouraging so far.
His play on Sundays, of course . . . and all the other days the NFL has these poor guys playing . . . :>) is all that matters.
I agree that Avila is likely the best bet of all, and it also looks like the Rams found at least three top flight specialists. I’m also looking forward to seeing Evans (RB) give Akers a run for his money, and Allen to aid Stafford and company, especially in the Red Zone. The latter’s relatively slow (tested) speed becomes almost irrelevant on a short field, where his height, great vert, and solid record of winning contested catches will take over.
Overall, the Rams are probably in the 5-7 win range this season, with the best case, “we’ll show you!!” 8-9 wins.
I agree with the current conventional wisdom: this is all about 2024.
Billy_TParticipantI thought your point was the quick switch from a tragedy to the sports desk. A sign of the emptying out of sympathy and empathy for a fellow human and her family. Her being two makes the tragedy far worse, of course. I think I just misread you.
Oh, sure. You want me to believe there was miscommunication on the internet. Nice try, Billy, but you’re not getting away with that.
Well, on second thought, you’re just upset cuz we now know you hate puppies, The Beatles, and Willie Mays.
Billy_TParticipantThanks, ZN.
Billy_TParticipantWell, my point is…where’s the story? What is the purpose of literally ONE sentence saying a 2-year old girl was killed by Russians? That’s not a news story. It is literally not a “story” at all. It’s simply a one sentence reminder that Russia is terrible. That’s 100% all that is. And now…the sports desk….
I thought your point was the quick switch from a tragedy to the sports desk. A sign of the emptying out of sympathy and empathy for a fellow human and her family. Her being two makes the tragedy far worse, of course.
I think I just misread you.
Billy_TParticipantI was working in the garden this morning, and I tuned into NPR for a bit. The top of the hour news had this little bit in it: Something about the debt ceiling stuff. Followed by one sentence that said, “The body of a two-year old girl was recovered from a Russian strike in Ukraine this morning.” And the very next sentence was something about Game Two of the NBA finals tonight. Of course, two-year old girls die all over the planet every day. I know everyone on this board knows this, but it’s sometimes just amazing how little effort the public opinion manipulators even put into trying to cover their tracks. They know the vast majority of people aren’t paying critical attention to anything.
I mentioned the Jonathan Crary book in another thread, but some things he talks about go directly to what you’re saying. I think capitalism itself has done a major number on our ability to feel empathy and sympathy toward one another, but Crary, with the help of key intellectuals, past and present, makes the point that the Digital Age has done extra damage within the context of “late capitalism.” That its essence is to anesthetize us, separate us into our own little consumerist/private worlds, where nothing is really ever private at all. That we’re losing our ability to be human, as we talk with machines, through machines . . . as I’m doing now! etcetera . . . instead of face to face.
Hard to do the book justice in just a few words here. But I think he makes excellent points throughout. If we don’t radically downsize, degrow, and wean ourselves from the current system entirely, I don’t think humanity is going to make it very far into the next century.
Billy_TParticipantCrary is married to an old girlfriend of mine. We broke up in 83 and she met him later that year. They’ve been married 38 years. She and I are still distant, occasional contact friends.
That’s pretty cool.
I finished it today, and am thinking about trying to contact him via email, though that would be rather ironic, given the focus of his book.
;>)
Devastating and necessary critique of capitalism, with a focus on the Internet and digital culture overall. He takes a dissenting position from those who tout its ability to bring disparate groups together, and sees it as doing the opposite, and much worse. Actually atomizing, separating us, segregating us, and alienating us even further than was already the norm under capitalism before the digital age.
And he gets granular about this all too, getting into biometrics, eye scans, etc. etc. I knew a lot of that already, but hadn’t really thought of it within the context he presents.
About the only quibble I have with the book, and it’s not a big one, is that I think he uses too many “As the philosopher X said . . .” It’s so filled with the thoughts of others (relevant, brilliant others); I would have rather heard more uninterrupted sections in his own words.
Will add some more thoughts about this tomorrow.
Also: I borrowed it from my library in ebook form. It’s likely pretty easy for you guys to get as well. I highly, highly recommend it.
Billy_TParticipantBest way to manage a cap, avoid dead money, and still win? Take advantage of rookie contracts, especially the QB’s. Don’t redo them early, just cuz it feels good at the time.
Same goes for “core” veterans. I can understand Donald’s contract redo, cuz I think he really would have retired, even a few years ago, without it. He had radically out-played that contract. But I would have waited on Kupp, and definitely wouldn’t have backed up the proverbial truck for Stafford.
Those contracts forced the Rams to dump good players this offseason, like Wagner, Ramsey, A’Shawn, Scott, Gaines, and Floyd. I think they’re a better team if they keep ’em, especially the first four, and I’m betting they woulda if they had had the cap room . . .
Of course, if they had just listened to me on every facet of the game, they would have won every Super Bowl from 1967 to the present!
;>)
Billy_TParticipantUsing a 1st on running backs now is frowned upon, but I think they have more value overall than a receiver. The downside, obviously, is they have shorter careers.
Just taking off and running (so to speak) with that point. I agree with the sentiment that a 1st round RB isn’t worth it really. But then this discussion reminds me of people who have said you can wait for a back in the lower rounds (after the 3rd). (You did not say that, this is not addressed to you personally BT, just me thinking out loud.) I’ve done the numbers on that before…and, your chances of getting a starting RB after rounds 2 and 3 go way down. Yet having said that, the Rams have 3 backs in camp that could pan out, and they’re all either low picks or a UDFA. This is 3 guys after Akers of course, who as we know was a 2nd rounder. They are Evans (round 6 23), Wms (round 5 22), and T.Evans (UDFA 23). I don’t think it’s a stretch to think one of them will come through. …
You make good points. Can’t argue with any of it.
I posted a similar break-down earlier, can’t remember when or where, of the best rounds for each position. If memory serves, running back was one of the few where 2nd and 3rd rounds were actually better than the 1st. For most positions, the first round was the best, but not all. If you can remember where I posted that, please let me know.
I feel good about the Rams running backs now, after the Evans pick. We won’t know until Sundays, of course, but right now I’m thinking they got a steal there. Don’t know what to think yet about Williams, but I can admit to a bias against rather slight runners who run in the 4.6 to 4.7 range. Testing isn’t destiny, obviously. But I think it can give us a basic idea, relative to other backs. They ran under the same conditions, after all. Would be another issue entirely if the Combine had some players run in full gear, and others in gym clothes.
Anyway, I was just thinking out loud too, regarding a general idea of best way to maximize a 1st. If the player is just crazy good, a match-up nightmare, and has Aaron Donald type drive and intangibles . . . those theories go out the window. I’d run up to the stage and hand the Commish the player’s card, etc.
Billy_TParticipantPersonally, I’m not a fan of drafting a wideout in the 1st or 2nd round, unless they’re truly special, match-up nightmares. That usually means big, fast, quick, explosive, great hands, great at contested catches, and can block. That doesn’t happen often, and there were no receivers like that this year. None of the guys who went in the 1st checked all of those boxes. I think Jonathan Mingo (2nd round, #39) is close, but he’s not super-fast, at 4.46, and not exceptionally tall, at slightly under 6’2.” I think he has the makings of a really good receiver, and I wish the Rams had drafted him, but not with a 1st rounder.
For me, the main reason I’d avoid spending a top pick on a wideout is cuz they don’t impact the game on every play, or most plays, like a lineman or a QB. Even a running back has more touches. Probably twice the number, at least. Using a 1st on running backs now is frowned upon, but I think they have more value overall than a receiver. The downside, obviously, is they have shorter careers.
Anyway, I’m very glad they didn’t trade up for another wideout. I would have been less opposed if they had grabbed a plug and play LT. But the pickings there were slim by the time #25 came around, if that was the move-up point. They also tend to give up too much in those trade up scenarios, and they didn’t have much draft capital to give.
Billy_TParticipantCertainly by some measures, he was the ‘best NFL player, ever’. For starters, i dont know of any NFL player that created so much distance between the best and the second best player. Seemed like there was a consensus he was the best, and the second-best was nowhere in sight of Jim Brown. w v
That’s a good point. The distance between the next best.
One could argue a few “might have beens.” Like, if Dickerson had actually visited the gym once or twice, he might have elevated from all-time great to the best ever. I loved his game. A true wonder to watch, at least when he was a Ram. :>) But he basically relied on his incredible size/speed/power combo, as is. No real attention paid to working out, at least not consistently. And he played a few years too long too.
Sayers is another. Terrible, career-ending injuries. But he didn’t have Brown’s size. I think Sayers was 6′ 200. Extremely fast, with great moves, in the Sanders realm (though more fluid). But not as powerful as Brown.
Sad that the position seems to have been devalued in recent years.
May 20, 2023 at 9:08 am in reply to: previews, forecasts, predictions, roster guesses…from June on #144209Billy_TParticipantIn my view, the Rams overall strategy was a bit confusing. In one sense, it was the strategy of a team without many holes on the roster, which is clearly not this team. In another sense, it was the strategy of a team that has basically taken a red-shirt year in 2023, waiting for 2024 to get here as soon as possible. Far too quick, IMO, to dump young players from recent draft classes, without compensation, and far too quick to move on from key vets they just brought in, especially Wagner. And, yes, they were in Cap hell and had to make cuts. But several of the players they let go were still in rookie contracts, or signed for “reasonable” dollars with other teams. Nick Scott and D’Shawn Robinson come to mind, especially.
Anyway . . . I’m still pulling for them, but I don’t really feel the need to agree with their actions, or their language regarding where they are. To me, this is clearly a rebuilding year, with more than a hint of desperation attached. “Remodel” or whatever the current term is . . . it’s FA spin, as far as I’m concerned.
And while we’re at it, get off my lawn!!
;>)
May 20, 2023 at 8:50 am in reply to: previews, forecasts, predictions, roster guesses…from June on #144208Billy_TParticipantI don’t want this to be true, obviously, but I think this assessment of their off-season is accurate, and it doesn’t say good things about 2023:
Rams earn grade of D- for departure-filled offseason
Cameron DaSilva
May 19, 2023 10:32 am PTThere isn’t a team in the NFL that has made fewer additions this offseason than the Los Angeles Rams. That’s because they still have yet to sign a single free agent. The only non-draft additions to this roster are Hunter Long, who was acquired in the Jalen Ramsey trade with the Dolphins, and Vincent Gray, who was claimed off waivers from the Saints this week. That’s it.
On the flip side, they’ve lost Ramsey, Leonard Floyd, Bobby Wagner, Allen Robinson, Nick Scott, Greg Gaines, A’Shawn Robinson, Taylor Rapp, David Long Jr. and David Edwards. See the contrast?
In no way did the Rams get better this offseason. That doesn’t mean they won’t have a better record than they did in 2022, but the roster itself has certainly not improved.
Gilberto Manzano of Sports Illustrated has been unimpressed by the Rams’ moves this spring and he appropriately gave them a terrible grade on his NFC West report card. He gave the Rams a D- for their offseason so far, expecting another losing season from Los Angeles.
Outside of creating cap space for next season, the Rams didn’t do much for this year’s team. McVay will likely use the underdog role to motivate his inexperienced roster, and they’ll probably win a few games with Stafford, Kupp and Donald still there. Perhaps the rookie class will show enough flashes throughout the season to become building blocks for the future. But expect the Rams to endure back-to-back losing seasons after winning the Super Bowl, as they might find themselves in the race for Williams and Maye by Halloween.
The Rams aren’t necessarily looking to compete this season. They’re using 2023 as a reset year before likely getting more aggressive next offseason with an abundance of cap space and a first-round pick (yes, really!). Of course, they could choose to trade that first-rounder for a proven veteran as they have so many times before, but with their new shift in mentality from the “F them picks” era, they’ll probably hold onto that pick.
If they’re bad enough in 2023, they could even find themselves in contention for the top two quarterbacks, Caleb Williams or Drake Maye, as Manzano mentioned.
Billy_TParticipantI vaguely remember seeing him in his last two seasons, but I wasn’t a diehard football fan yet. Too young. I became a Rams’ fanatic the following season, in 1966, and remember some year-after retrospectives. To me, there’s no question: greatest running back ever. One can make an argument for greatest football player ever — though I’m fan-partial to Deacon, Merlin, and AD for that accolade.
But if you think in terms of the overall career, and winning all of those rushing titles, and All-Pro selections . . . he was great every year. No off years, which isn’t really the case with other players we remember as “great,” primarily because they played a bit too long. Brown left the game still on top.
And his life off the field was even better, especially his Civil Rights work.
Billy_TParticipantIn my view, if Stafford has solid protection, and he’s healthy, he’s a top three QB. I think O-line protection is more important for him than most. Give him that protection, and I take him over Rodgers. I take him over Hurts, and 99% of the QBs in the league.
Problem is, the Rams have not kept up with the rest of the league when it comes to their O-line. They haven’t invested in elite talent in a long, long time . . . until Avila. But one guard or center does not make a line. They need an elite LT at the very least, and that does not exist on the roster.
In the absence of an elite offensive line, you need a QB who can run, scramble, extend plays on his own. That’s not Stafford’s MO.
May 13, 2023 at 10:12 am in reply to: 2023 schedule & strength of schedule (schedule’s here now) #144146Billy_TParticipantZN,
What’s your take on the schedule, as far as why it seems like they really stuck it to the Rams?
The folks at NFL Live rated the Rams as having the second toughest schedule — unless I misread their graph. I thought it was supposed to be based on W/L record. Um, well, the Rams were 5-12, or did the league forget that part?
May 13, 2023 at 10:08 am in reply to: 2023 schedule & strength of schedule (schedule’s here now) #144145Billy_TParticipantLooking over the schedule, I think I’ve got just three games that are pretty much guaranteed to be on here. The rest are completely up in the air — or off it. Late games they may or may not broadcast. In my area, they usually don’t, but I’m occasionally, pleasantly surprised.
My other option is to wait a bit until NFL Pass reduces their prices and gives us the monthly choice. I think it was $9.95 per month last time.
Oh, well. Times change. It is the Not For Long league, as they say.
May 13, 2023 at 10:00 am in reply to: 2023 schedule & strength of schedule (schedule’s here now) #144143Billy_TParticipantI find reading the options exhausting. What is Sunday Ticket? Does it require a sat/cable subscription in order to pay even more to add it to the monthly package? I looked at the YouTube thing, but didn’t read through it all. A page or two with multiple questions
Zooey,
Apologies if you already knew most or all of this already:
I really don’t know much about the new Youtube version. But the old Sunday Ticket was started by DirecTV roughly 25 years ago. It was basically the only way to watch out of market games “live” at home. They used to offer it for free to new customers for their satellite package . . . but they almost always gave it to existing customers, too, who threatened to cancel. I was successful at doing that for years, primarily cuz I really meant it. Cancellation for me wasn’t an empty ploy, etc. I could take the service or leave it, and I think their reps could tell. So they’d virtually always give it to me for free, or with a very deep discount, to keep me as a subscriber.
There was a running joke-thread on the old board for awhile, where posters would talk about how much they’d get from DirecTV in addition to the Sunday Ticket. Mortgage payments made, trips to Disney, etc. etc. Pretty funny. I think it started because one poster just couldn’t ever get anything from them, so we’d respond with ever more absurd freebies . . .
:>)
Anyway, all of that stopped not too long after ATT bought DirecTV. I could get Sunday Ticket for free early on, but then they cracked down, and just said “cancel, if you want to.” So I did.
Was hoping Apple might win the bidding war, cuz I had a feeling they’d offer it for a much lower cost, and probably for free with a purchase of some Mac product. I doubt Google will do anything like that. It’s just too expensive for me to ever pay in full.
May 12, 2023 at 1:10 pm in reply to: 2023 schedule & strength of schedule (schedule’s here now) #144130Billy_TParticipantHave you guys signed up for the new NFL Ticket, or going a different route?
I’m leaning toward just watching the few games that may show up in my area. I’m guessing four or so. A return of sorts to the old days when we had just two networks covering those games.
Used to get the Ticket until ATT cracked down on negotiating for a free year. Then dumped Directv altogether. Haven’t heard Youtube’s policies on discounts or freebies, but I kinda don’t even care at this point.
That schedule seems unduly tough, given their recent record. Jourdan guesses 7 and 10. Fits in with my 6-8 wins.
Billy_TParticipantHave always thought Hendo was their best back, when healthy. Better than Akers. He just couldn’t get past the injuries. I disagree with their decision to cut him for nada. Not even a comp pick.
There were options. Like red-shirting him, let him get healthy, work with him. They seemed to have done their best to buck up and retain Akers. Why not Hendo?
Zack Evans has the pedigree. A top-two recruit out of high school, he’s had injury issues as well, but seems okay now. I’d like to see him gain a little weight, but I see a lot of upside there. As mentioned before, I think he’ll end up taking RB1 before the season ends. Good pick. Good value.
Am also hoping they’ve found something in Tiyon Evans. Could surprise. I also hope they keep scanning the waiver wires, and if Keaton Mitchell is cut, they sign him (or any other promising back). Great speed and elusiveness, and would give McVay quite the weapon on 3rd downs and goal lines. He could be Mr. Jet Sweep par excellence.
Billy_TParticipantI think losing Wagner and A’Shawn Robinson is gonna really hurt their run D. Losing Ramsey and Nick Scott will really hurt their pass D. Losing Floyd will hurt their pass rush, though Young may well make up for that. Not early in the season, perhaps. But mid to late. He’s a lot faster and stronger than Floyd, and that should yield good things.
They drafted a lot of older, try-hard guys for the D, but they all seem to have some physical deficit. Mostly in the “too small” range. And none of them, outside Young and THT, could be said to have “elite” athleticism, though Hampton is very athletic, and Turner isn’t too shabby. I just think they lost too much, all at once, for this new class to deal with . . . As usual, hoping I’m wrong.
On O, if Stafford and Kupp are healthy, I think the passing game will light things up, and I’m high on Davis Allen as TE, especially in the Redzone. He needs to add some good weight, and get some NFL coaching, but he should make Stafford a happy camper inside the 20. Zack Evans should surprise too. I see him taking over for Akers before the season is over . . . which may cause another ruckus for Akers, though I hope he’s grown out of that by now.
Avila should bring the Rams something they haven’t had in a long time: a real road-grader/pancake guy at guard. I think he leads a vastly improved run-game.
Overall? The rest of the league, including Seattle, seems to have improved too much for the Rams to compete this season for a playoff spot. I’ll give them six to eight wins. They should be fun to watch, at least at times. But it’s a long way to Tipperary.
Billy_TParticipantZN,
Thanks for posting that. But I was talking about the article that focused on UDFAs.
Anyway, the one you posted seems to be saying Covid had a big impact on getting the Rams into a more virtual mode, and they’ve pretty much decided to stick with that, even after the worst of the situation is over. They see it as more efficient. I get that — to a point. It probably is. Must save a ton of time, and so on. Might even make sense to expand the virtual realm more than they have so far. But, to me, there’s no substitute for true face to face, and going to as many places as possible.
Both/and, not either/or.
Their new method sounds like it may rely too much on the collection of data from other sources, outside their control. I’d want far more direct control in the process before the film reaches the analysts, etc. etc.
Billy_TParticipantJust in case it’s not clear. All the picks listed are by the Rams. I probably needed more coffee when I posted, cuz I thought it might look better to vary the listing every other pick.
;>)
“Rams take” etc. Should have been for each one.
Oh, well.
So, they end up with two starters at edge, with White and Harrison; two big starters at corner, with Rush and Trice ; one starter at safety at early 6’4″, with JL Skinner. They need that size.
I think Abanikanda ends up beating out Akers for RB1, and Darnell Washington pushes Higbee to TE2 before the year’s up. Owen Pappoe is part of the inside linebacker rotation early, and takes snaps at safety too. Demon on special teams.
Jaelyn Duncan needs more time, but I think he can take over at LT in 2024 or 2025. Could see reps at RT as a rook. Moro Ojomo and Jalen Redmond will both get rookie reps at DT. Both are pretty athletic for their size. Wypler was at one time thought of as a 2nd or 3rd rounder, but fell for some reason. He should give the Rams solid depth, at least, at center; Ekiyor the same, at guard.
Last, but not least, the QB, Thompson-Robinson should offer them solid athleticism and a strong arm. Good enough for spot starts, at least.
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