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DakParticipant
I’ve got no worries about Donald. He’ll make some plays. And, oftentimes, rookie DTs are barely noticeable in this league, even when drafted near the top of the 1st round.
DakParticipantThe Rams will turn on their pass rush in this game and help offset the speed of that WR corps. I am worried about Peterson, too, due to the injuries in the center of this defense. We will also miss Tru at CB. I do expect the Vikes to put up some numbers. On offense, the Rams will do well to try to control the clock. Yes, they’ll run some, but I think what makes me like Hill better than Clemens is that he’ll be able to burn defenses a little deeper. He looked efficient with the 1s when given the opportunity in preseason, and I expect some big plays out of the Rams’ receivers. Quick has to show up, for sure. I really feel like if Hill gets protection (I’m looking at you, Long), he’ll make some hay in the intermediate passing game.
I do expect a close game. Should be a nail biter.
August 31, 2014 at 11:41 am in reply to: The team to cut the most draft picks was the Rams (4) #5667DakParticipantThe all-undrafted list.
Rams who are currently on the roster (which is not a sure bet right now) who were either UDFAs or waiver-wire claims or young veteran cuts (2-3 year pros) [just to be efficient, starters and key role players in bold…not that I don’t think people need to be told who’s a starter]:
Austin Davis
Benny Cunningham
Trey Watts
Chase Reynolds
Corey Harkey
Justice Cunningham
Alex Bayer
Joe Barksdale
Tim Barnes
Mike Person
Ethan Westbrooks
Ray Ray Armstrong
Darren Bates
Rodney McLeod
Marcus Roberson
Johnny Hekker
Jake McQuade17, or 32%.
.
Those are huge acquisitions. Those guys round out this team and give it depth it hasn’t had for years. Corey Harkey quickly became an important backup at TE. Barksdale may be their most reliable offensive lineman at this point. Many of the others help fortify one of the best special teams units in the league. Cunningham and Watts finally give this team depth at RB. And, Westbrooks could replace someone like Hayes in the coming years.
DakParticipantWell, I understand fortifying the practice squad at positions where you’re weak. But, if the Rams see Sam as just a victim of the numbers, I hope they place him on the P.S. instead of someone like a second WR. I’m not sure why Emory Blake is a priority.
I don’t agree with Prisco’s analysis. Sam looks like a natural pass rusher, and he’s a hard worker who has room to improve. I would think an NFL team somewhere would have room for him.
DakParticipantAnd, I mean, Jacksonville?
Really. It’s time to move the Jags to L.A. That makes the most sense to me. Khan would make out like a bandit. But, whatever happens, the NFL is going to have to grease the skids. Isn’t there a huge relocation fee that would make it just about impossible to afford to move to L.A.?
DakParticipantI’ll just say that the Rams as an organization has done nothing but try to engage St. Louis fans and improve their product. I think that a public-private partnership is still possible for a new stadium, but that the details will be hidden right up until a plan is complete. I strongly believe that he has been looking at potential stadium sites around St. Louis. I believe that he has postured some to force local and state leaders to engage him in discussion about what it will take to build a premier stadium. He is definitely interested in staying here. And, at the same time, I think it’s always a possibility that he could move the franchise to L.A., but I don’t expect that to happen until after he’s exhausted all of his local options.
And, his decision will have nothing to do with the final record this year. Sorry, but except for a few franchises, when you lose horribly, your fan base erodes. And, this team has been so bad in the last decade, you’d think their fan base would have eroded to nothing. Instead, I see excitement for this team, more excitement than in years. If you replace that gawd-awful convention center stadium with a football stadium experience, fans here will start forking over some more money and showing up. The St. Louis Cardinals baseball team has 81 home games. I know that baseball here is king, but they’ve had down times when attendance dwindled. Now, they have a great organization that puts butts in the seats all season long. I know that a quality Rams’ football product and stadium experience can draw more fans throughout the region. I think that will happen if something can get worked out that doesn’t raise taxes too much.
The one thing hat concerns me is that STL has lost a lot of corporate business offices in recent years. The business climate is such that major corporations are not likely to participate in any type of plan. But, I figure that Kroenke is richer than just about anybody here and can afford to foot the entire private part of any bill for a new stadium experience. Plus, with the way he develops, the stadium would just be part of a larger complex. If he can get the right location, he could develop a regional destination that doesn’t just rely on 8 football games a year … and you just know that he’d book international soccer games and other attractions throughout the year. It’s quite possible that if he can get a good return on investment that there could be minimal public dollars involved, as long as the stadium deal wets SK’s beak quite nicely for any events that t hey can pull in.
August 28, 2014 at 5:56 pm in reply to: I think Sam Bradford will renegotiate his deal with Rams #5410DakParticipantOh, OK.
I could see a restructuring that gave him another year in 2016, then. But, I still think the Rams have to get another QB to compete with him, because Sam is the definition of injury-prone at this point.
Let’s say the Rams did draft a QB in the 1st round or 2nd round next year. OK, he could be the future, or he could be one of the many in a line of unsuccessful relatively high QB picks. I doubt the Rams are going to pick in the top 5 to get the most elite QB next year, so they’ll be rolling dice with a QB who has potential. That young QB competes with Shaun Hill, and if he wins the starting QB spot, you have your future starter. AND, you have Bradford back in 2016 as a backup. Or, if the rookie QB can’t hack it, you have Bradford back as the starter, and you still have a young prospect looking forward who could spell Bradford or maybe eventually replace him. I could live with this scenario. I don’t think some competition is bad here. You can’t rely on Bradford anymore. That’s just the way it is.
DakParticipantWould you feel comfortable rolling with Austin Davis against Seattle and San Francisco? I can’t say that I would. Shaun Hill has experience, and that counts for a lot at the QB position.
DakParticipantYeah, but Bernie’s always so “logical” about stuff. Why can’t everyone else be the same?
August 28, 2014 at 5:34 pm in reply to: I think Sam Bradford will renegotiate his deal with Rams #5406DakParticipantDoes Sam have another year on his contract after this year? I thought this was it. I’m confused.
DakParticipantLove the response.
August 26, 2014 at 6:09 pm in reply to: I think the Rams can still have a good season. I am not writing it off #5245DakParticipantNothing we can do but hope that this team can still take step forward. I think it’s the uncertainty at QB for years to come that leaves me more unsettled. The Rams may very well pull it together this year, and Hill may provide a steady, veteran presence. … It gets more interesting next year.
DakParticipantHe’s probably the best backup the Rams have had in years, so at least the Rams have that going for them. Of course, right now, their backup is Austin Davis.
- This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by Dak.
DakParticipantLet’s rally around Shaun Hill and the league’s new rules, and play good football.
DakParticipantHmm, according to Prisco (and other “national experts”), the Rams weren’t making the playoffs with or without Bradford. If I thought that were the case, I wouldn’t be terribly upset by Bradford’s injury. But, last year the Rams likely would have won two more games with Bradford over Clemens.
As for Hill, I don’t know. He looked better than Clemens. Maybe the Rams win an extra two games with Hill, and if so, that could get the Rams to the playoffs if another NFC West team fades.
This blows so hard.
DakParticipantOne other thing: On the Pead injury. That guy should have just hit the hole and carried the ball deep into GB territory. Instead, he did these sudden, jerky cuts that led to the injury that will likely end his career. Shame he did that, but it kind of fit into what I saw of him as a ball carrier. Never too sure of himself, a little clumsy in space, and not ready to be a serious NFL contributor.
- This reply was modified 10 years, 4 months ago by Dak.
DakParticipantInteresting comments. I learned more from this thread than from watching the game. I’ll just say how impressed I was with that TD … both the pass and catch. You just didn’t see that very often in the past where Bradford basically threw a guy open and he makes a really nice grab for a TD.
After two games, I get the distinct impression that opposing defenses are going to make the Rams throw. They’re going to game plan against the run, and make Bradford beat them. It was disappointing to see Sam miss a wide open Britt, but I’ve seen some other good QBs do the same thing this preseason. Not Rodgers, Brees and company. There are reasons those QBs are the elite. I just hope Bradford can be in the next level of QBs this year, because the Rams’ offense is going to need it.
August 13, 2014 at 2:43 pm in reply to: Torry Holt: Tavon Austin’s Biggest Impact Will be on Special Teams #3923DakParticipantDak wrote:
I respect Holt’s opinions since he’s played WR at a high level. And, I understand his concern about Austin’s production. But, Austin is not going to ever be a Torry Holt 80-catch-a-year guy. He will be a quick strike guy, though, and if he can get you 10-12 TDs in this offense, he will be a monster contributor. I also thought that in the 2-minute drill at the end of the first half, he showed that he could get open for short sideline passes that he could keep the chains moving at times. I think he can still be a “go to” guy in certain situations, just not a traditional No. 1. And, I’m sure from Holt’s perspective, Tavon was picked too high not to be that No. 1 WR.I have no idea what Torry is talking about.
Tavon has been ‘quiet in camp’ ?
I think Tavon will be a dangerous weapon
that defenses have to account for on every down –
assuming:
1 Tavon stops dropping passes, and
2 he can stay healthy.Those are open questions.
But as we all know, he’s not a “WR”.
He’s an “X factor” player. He’s a little
of this and a little of that. Whatever
you wanna name it. A TD-maker, maybe.w
vYeah, I’m going to judge him based on how many points he puts on the board. If he gets behind the offense, or has one man to beat, he will score … or at least set the offense up for a score. He could do this as a punt returner, as well. Just score, baby.
DakParticipantNice updates. Thanks.
DakParticipantBradford and a three-way tie for 2nd: Tavon, Quick and Britt. Oh, you wanted 3? Also, E.J. Gaines. I have a good feeling about him as a backup CB and potential safety down the road. Let’s see if he builds on a pretty good start last week.
August 13, 2014 at 2:28 pm in reply to: Torry Holt: Tavon Austin’s Biggest Impact Will be on Special Teams #3918DakParticipantI respect Holt’s opinions since he’s played WR at a high level. And, I understand his concern about Austin’s production. But, Austin is not going to ever be a Torry Holt 80-catch-a-year guy. He will be a quick strike guy, though, and if he can get you 10-12 TDs in this offense, he will be a monster contributor. I also thought that in the 2-minute drill at the end of the first half, he showed that he could get open for short sideline passes that he could keep the chains moving at times. I think he can still be a “go to” guy in certain situations, just not a traditional No. 1. And, I’m sure from Holt’s perspective, Tavon was picked too high not to be that No. 1 WR.
DakParticipantI like the extra point moved back. Kickers should actively lobby for that, because it will make them more important. Otherwise, I could see them getting rid of the extra point altogether.
DakParticipantPettis is useful, no doubt. I also liked the confidence that Tavon Austin showed near the end of the first half. He’s going to be a handful for opposing secondaries.
August 9, 2014 at 9:50 pm in reply to: Kellen Clemens looked very good for Chargers last night #3729DakParticipantI hope we don’t have to find out if Hill is better than Clemens this season.
DakParticipantI did see Donald get some penetration on some plays. I saw him handled on others. Overall the Saints lines beat the Rams lines.
So it’s true–starters were out. It’s also true that the Saints had people sitting. It’s hard to look at the 1st preseason game and determine what–if anything–it all means. But in THIS game, with THESE players…they did get sort of manhandled by the Saints line. Should that be a concern? I don’t know–but it’s going to at the very least be tough to watch. And of course the expectation for this defense is huge.
But Chris Long even said that they kind of sucked against the run and they would fix it.
I hope so.
But I’m not panicking in any way. I do want to see a better performance in game #2.
No–I demand a better performance.
Maybe that’s what this team is waiting for, my demands, I don’t know.
But I want a better looking defense in game #2–and even if it’s this group of players–I want to see improvement.
I hold my self to the same standard as a fan–sitting there eating my cheese puffs and drinking a nice summer brew. I was in mid-season form already. I was sharp. My comments to the tele3vision were spot on: Holy s@#$! Do the Saints have vaseline on their uniforms?” “Hey, Brian Quick…shove that a#%&*@# out of the way and go get the ball!” “Really, Greg the Leg? Or should I say, Greg the BROKEN leg?” “YES!!!!!!! Sted-MAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!!!”
So yes–I need more next time.
Like.
DakParticipantYup. Size. That’s why Donald was around for the Rams. But, D’Marco says that his arms are really long for his body size. He has just about everything you need, just not all of the measurables. I thought he looked damn good, so I was happy to see him “fall” to 13. Actually, early on, the mocks had him lower in the 1st round.
DakParticipantCenter Scott Wells and end William Hayes are also coming back from illness and injury, respectively, but both seem to be coming along just fine. Wells has been getting more and more repetitions each day and Hayes has also been back in the mix.
That’s good, both of them active, getting ready for the season.
Maybe Wells just had his annual missed time early. You know get it over with.
Boy, I hope that’s the case. I really think if he’s healthy this year, this offensive line will be one of the better units in the league, and this offense will have its best year since the GSOT.
July 31, 2014 at 5:04 pm in reply to: NFL Nation: 4 Downs- NFC West Beat Writers Predictions/ESPN #2955DakParticipantmwahahahahaha….
Let them continue to underestimate our Rams…
We will rally around Sam Bradford and we will play good football.
I think they do fine within their division this year. The Rams actually match up well with the ‘Hawks and even the Niners. I could see them going 3-3 within the division and have a winning record against non-divisional opponents.
July 31, 2014 at 4:55 pm in reply to: July 30 camp report follow-ups + 1 belated (& fun) report #2954DakParticipantI am excited. I want to see the Rams practice, but man, I am so damn busy at work. Too much to get done. Maybe next week …
DakParticipantI agree, Mac. I really like that the Rams moved up to get him. Donald and Joyner both look like great picks.
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