zn wrote:

Why keeping Lance Kendricks was a Rams priority

Nick Wagoner, ESPN

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/17511/why-keeping-lance-kendricks-was-a-rams-priority

EARTH CITY, Mo. — By now, you’ve probably already heard the story of tight end Lance Kendricks taking a slightly smaller offer to stay with the St. Louis Rams rather than head south to the Atlanta Falcons.

As Kendricks explained, it was a move made in no small part because of other things on the periphery, such as a close relationship with tight ends coach Rob Boras and promises of an expanded role in the passing game.

From the Rams’ side, many of those things held just as true. Upon promoting Boras to assistant head coach/offense and Frank Cignetti to offensive coordinator, the offensive staff began evaluations from last season. One undeniable discovery was Kendricks’ role in pretty much everything that they do.

Lance Kendricks, who had a career-low 27 catches in 2014, hopes to get more looks this season.Joe Sargent/Getty Images

“Coach Boras had a lot to do with him coming back,” head coach Jeff Fisher said. “They talked throughout the process. When we sat down and made the offensive change, the offense sat down there [and] started reviewing our run game and the passing game. It became apparent to them that Lance was very important to us moving forward. As an organization we recognized that, so it was important to get him back.”

While Kendricks played 569 snaps in 2014, which was second among Rams tight ends and in the neighborhood of 60 percent of the total offensive snaps, it’s not so much the number of snaps as the flexibility he gives the offense within those plays. According to Pro Football Focus, Kendricks was asked to run-block on 55 percent of his plays, to pass-block 9 percent of the time and to run a route on 36 percent of his snaps.

It’s in the run game that the Rams particularly value Kendricks because he’s able to be a lead blocker from the backfield or on the line or even out in space.

As for the idea of Kendricks turning down more money elsewhere, Fisher said that was no concern of his, and he’s just happy to have Kendricks back in the fold.

“He was talking with — I believe Atlanta was a key competitor with him,” Fisher said. “It may have been the case where there were a few more pennies on the table there than there were here, but we’re excited to get him back.”

So in Fisher speak they will be trading Kendricks?

Agamemnon wrote:

The 2015 draft class of receivers is one of the deepest in recent memory, and there are all kinds and types for NFL teams to consider — everything from top-tier game-changers to perfect complementary pieces, to talented players in need of development work. It’s time for Doug Farrar of Sports Illustrated and Greg Cosell of NFL FIlms and ESPN’s NFL Matchup to move through this group of pass-catchers player by player and determine their best NFL traits and fits.

Wr Dorsett might be there in the 3rd. That would give Foles a DeSean Jackson type target.He obviously missed that in 2014.

zn wrote:

wv wrote:
“this guy is running him offtackle, LoL, lets send him DEEP…”

What Orlando ISN’T is observant.

They did send him deep.

Bradford threw to him deep.

Hill didn’t.

Shrug.

He also wants Austin to be Hakim. Well. Hakim could do that stuff. So far Tavon can’t. As long as we’re wishing guys into a different existence, let’s say Givens can be Jerry Rice.

Some good points Zn also to be fair Austin’s job would be a whole lot easier with Bruce and Holt out wide and Faulk in the backfield. Austin broke out with Clemens throwing on the run. Imagine Mariota and Austin

wv wrote:

i think the chances of taking mariota are increasing by the day.

Does he have big enough hands?

w
v

Yes just about 10″.

What if the Rams take Mariota ?

More integrity here

Ridiculous to wait till after the Super Bowl,might not have affected the Colts game but the Ravens game very well could have.The goal of any cheating would have been to get to the Super Bowl if allowed to play in the Super Bowl anyway why not cheat is the message that sends

joemad wrote:

Dak wrote:
All of that said, cheating is still cheating. The Colts were playing by the rules, and they also were trying to get to the Super Bowl.</P>

Baltimore was also trying to get to the Super Bowl and only lost by 4… you can’t help but think that those balls most likely weighed 2 lbs PSI less in the 2nd half against the Ravens when the Pats offense got hot.

Exactly , instead of talking about football,talent execution and strategy we’re talking about a team that has already been caught cheating ,cheating again. I’m boycotting the Super Bowl.Think I’ll watch Hawk and Animal in a cage match instead.

Fines ? Draft picks ? fuck that if they cheated no Super Bowl and no more home games

Never had control , amazing catch though!

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/jason-la-canfora/24652025/is-this-the-nfl-ref-czar-on-cowboys-party-bus-irate-nfl-execs-say-yes

TackleDummy wrote:

GreatRamNTheSky wrote:
I think this is kind of like just after the 1998 season and the Rams were about to can Dick Vermeil. They forced him to make changes to his staff and to bring in Martz as the OC. I think Fisher is only fooling himself if he thinks the offense will be any better next season with Schottenheimer. There are at least 4 guys who are OCs that are better than Schottenheimer, and they are available. Trestman, Chudzinski, Mike Shanahan, Mike Martz

I would not bet that any of the four would accept an OC job which would say they are not available. And Martz would not at all fit in with the Rams. He has a very large ego problem and cannot get along with anyone. He would not follow orders. I would not like his baggage at all.

I agree Martz wouldn’t fit with these players but painting him as an ego maniac that can’t get along with anyone is simply wrong.If you need an OC to follow orders (which Fisher has stated many times he does not)then don’t hire someone to install their offense and call plays.With the exception of Chudzinski, Cutler is the common thread linking Trestman,Shanahan and Martz.Martz has improved the offense everywhere he’s been and when he leaves the opposite effect can be seen.

zn wrote:

PA Ram wrote:
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen an interception by a lineman when the QB was trying to throw the ball at the ground.

How do you miss the turf? Pretty big target.

Yes you haven’t seen that before, but, seem to assume it was the Rams that caused that. That was just a weird heads up play by the DL and you’re right it has basically never happened before.

IMO it was another bad decision by Hill. He drives me nuts one play will be wow nice throw and then you get the 3ft over your head at mach6 from 3yrds on a screen pass that needs to be out front in stride to work and not get you tiny X factor killed.Hill is the anti-clutch. Why ground the ball at all ? , air mail to the sideline a yard past the los,I mean we all know Hill has the ability to throw it high and uncatchable .He started getting hit and he falls apart.