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znModeratorThe Top 100 Players of 2018 revealed players ranked No. 20-11 last night. Here they are pic.twitter.com/YMywOkyxRW
— NFL Media (@NFLMedia) June 19, 2018
znModeratorCBS Sports: #LARams Boast Three of the NFL’s Top 30 Players Over 30
Daily Dose 🗞 » https://t.co/qjR1OSMmlS pic.twitter.com/ovgAUF2w3r
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 19, 2018
znModeratorCheck out the fresh 🆕 look on https://t.co/k2pMH0hZZr 💻 pic.twitter.com/28itYDS6vy
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 19, 2018
June 19, 2018 at 2:14 pm in reply to: How the Government Managed to Lose Track of 1,500 Migrant Children #87450znModeratorJune 19, 2018 at 2:12 pm in reply to: How the Government Managed to Lose Track of 1,500 Migrant Children #87449znModeratorOver 10,000 migrant children are now in US government custody at 100 shelters in 14 states
The number of migrant children held without their parents by the US government has surged 21% since last month to 10,773 children, the Washington Post reported.
The uptick comes after the Trump administration imposed a new “zero tolerance” policy to prosecute migrants who cross the US border illegally.
The policy means that migrant parents who cross the border with their children are forcibly separated while they await criminal prosecution.
The Trump administration’s new “zero tolerance” policy toward migrants who cross the US border illegally has driven up the number of migrant children held in government custody without their parents, the Washington Post reported Tuesday.
The US Health and Human Services Department said it was holding 10,773 migrant children in custody as of Tuesday — up 21% from the 8,886 it was holding a month earlier.
The surge comes in the wake of the Trump administration’s new tactic to criminally prosecute every person who crosses into the US illegally, which requires them to be separated from any children they brought with them while they’re detained.
But it’s unclear exactly how many of the 10,773 children being held in government custody were actually forcibly separated from their parents — a Customs and Border Protection official told lawmakers at a hearing last week that 658 children had been separated from 638 adults between May 6 and May 19 under the new zero tolerance policy.
Many of the other children may have arrived at the border unaccompanied. They’re typically held in government custody briefly before being placed with “sponsors,” who are usually parents or immediate relatives of the children.
The shelters the children are staying in are at 95% capacity and are expected to add thousands of bed spaces in the coming weeks, one HHS official told the Post.
To house migrant children, HHS relies on “an existing network of approximately 100 shelters in 14 states.”
HHS has also reportedly weighed housing migrant children on military bases, but the HHS official told the Post that measure is being considered only as a “last option.”
The Trump administration has come under fire in recent weeks for its policies toward migrant children. The family separation policy sparked an uproar, particularly after the White House chief of staff John Kelly dismissed concerns that the policy was “cruel” during a recent interview with NPR.
“The children will be taken care of — put into foster care or whatever,” Kelly said. “But the big point is they elected to come illegally into the United States and this is a technique that no one hopes will be used extensively or for very long.”
Anger over the issue reached a boiling point last week, when a month-old piece of news resurfaced, prompting Trump critics to assail the government for losing track of 1,475 immigrant children who arrived at the border alone.
But both the Trump administration and immigration advocates have sought to tamp down concerns about those children, many of whom may have deliberately chosen not to tell the federal government where they are.
June 19, 2018 at 9:47 am in reply to: the other 3 NFC West teams (ie. the ones who didn't & won't win the division) #87443znModeratorLed the league in TD passes.
Led the @Seahawks in rushing yards. @DangeRussWilson did it all and is #11 on the #NFLTop100! pic.twitter.com/Ys2tfwJKis— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) June 19, 2018
June 19, 2018 at 9:05 am in reply to: Minicamp & post-minicamp "so how did they look" reports #87441znModeratorRams another ‘Dream Team’ Eagles? We’ll wait and see
Alden Gonzalez
http://www.espn.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/130041/rams-another-dream-team-eagles-well-wait-and-see
LOS ANGELES — The heightened excitement and the lofty expectations that surround these Los Angeles Rams have been tempered, somewhat, by the faint-yet-lingering presence of a recent cautionary tale.
The 2011 Philadelphia Eagles, who carried the burden of a “Dream Team” moniker all the way through a disastrous season, have occasionally been linked to a 2018 Rams team that is suddenly bursting with star talent.
Sean McVay will be tasked with improving on an NFC West-winning season while welcoming several high-profile additions. Jeff Gross/Getty Images
In a stretch of five days, from July 28 to Aug. 2, those Eagles added seven impact players to a team coming off a division title. Quarterback Vince Young gave them the nickname that would haunt them all year. They thought it would propel them to the Super Bowl. Instead they began 4-8 and ultimately missed the playoffs for the first time in four years. In the end, they reinforced some valuable lessons — that free agency is dicey, that team chemistry is fragile and that the proverbial super team might not work so well in the NFL.So, what does that say about this year’s Rams?
Well, nothing. Yet.
Comparisons between those Eagles and these Rams can’t truly be made until this season plays out. But some glaring similarities exist, as do some notable differences. Let’s explore some, just for fun.
SIMILARITIES
Circumstances: The Eagles won the NFC East, lost in the Wild Card round, and then, motivated by the prospects of a resurgent quarterback in Michael Vick, they decided to go all in. They added two elite corners — Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie — defensive end Jason Babin and defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, then sprinkled in running back Ronnie Brown, quarterback Vince Young and offensive lineman Evan Mathis.
The Rams won the NFC West, lost in the Wild Card round, and then, motivated by the prospects of a developing quarterback in Jared Goff, decided to go all in. They added two elite corners — Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters, a dominant interior lineman –Ndamukong Suh, and a true No. 1 receiver in Brandin Cooks.
Uncertainty at linebacker: The Eagles beefed up their secondary and their pass-rush with hopes of improving a unit that allowed a then-franchise-record 31 touchdowns through the air in 2010. But that came at the expense of linebacker, where they integrated a rookie fourth-round pick (Casey Matthews) and had questions about the incumbent starters (Jamar Chaney and Moise Fokou). The Rams freed up the salary cap space to add Talib and Suh by parting with a couple of core pieces in outside linebacker Robert Quinn and inside linebacker Alec Ogletree, both of whom will be replaced internally. They’re generally hoping to piece it together at linebacker, similar to what the Eagles attempted.
Impact talent: Adding proven, high-impact talent also means injecting strong personalities into a volatile ecosystem. It’s a risky proposition that did not work well for the Eagles (example: Asomugha reportedly ate lunch out of his car on practice days, rather than with teammates). ESPN Eagles reporter Tim McManus, who covered the 2011 team for the ESPN Radio affiliate in Philadelphia, doesn’t see many obvious similarities between the 2011 Eagles and the 2018 Rams.
“But I think the chemistry part can be applicable,” McManus said. “It’s a risk any time you’re bringing in big-name, high-priced free agents and adding them to a group that showed a level of harmony, at least from afar, as the Rams did last year. You run the risk of disrupting that.”
DIFFERENCES
Coordinator turnover: The Rams lost their offensive coordinator when Matt LaFleur left to join the Tennessee Titans in January. But on the Rams, head coach Sean McVay calls the offensive plays. He’ll replace LaFleur by committee, with offensive line coach Aaron Kromer serving as the running game coordinator and Shane Waldron stepping in as the passing game coordinator. But not much, if anything, will change about the offense. A lot did change, however, when the Eagles swapped defensive coordinators in 2011.
Sean McDermott was fired from that post and replaced, inexplicably, by Juan Castillo, a longtime offensive line coach. Castillo wasn’t ready to guide the defense. He made the young Matthews his middle linebacker and signal-caller, a role he was not ready to take on. He also turned Asomugha into a rover, forcing him to learn the plays for multiple positions in a new scheme. Both moves cost the Eagles. The Rams have a legendary defensive coordinator in Wade Phillips, who should only help.
Changes along the offensive line: On the laundry list of what went wrong for the 2011 Eagles, the offensive line ranked near the bottom. Mathis was perhaps the least heralded of the new additions, but he was among the most productive. From 2010 to 2011, the Eagles improved in sack percentage (8.0 to 5.5) and generated almost as many rushing yards per carry (5.4 to 5.1). But integrating a new offensive line became one of several adjustments heading into the season, specifically along the interior.
The Eagles had a new left guard in Mathis, plus a rookie center (Jason Kelce) and a rookie right guard (Danny Watkins). The Rams return all five starters from last year’s formidable offensive line (left tackle Andrew Whitworth, left guard Rodger Saffold, center John Sullivan, right guard Jamon Brown, right tackle Rob Havenstein). It’s one of many reasons they’re so optimistic.
The lockout: This part cannot be overstated. A dispute between the players and the owners caused a 130-plus-day lockout that lasted from March 11 to July 25 in 2011. Players and coaches were not allowed to interact during that time. Organized team activities never took place, training camp was shortened, and so the Eagles scrambled to integrate several new players at important positions. It hurt them. The Rams won’t have that problem. In fact, McVay will only be more comfortable in his second year as an NFL head coach. The same can be said for Goff as a third-year quarterback who is now fully integrated into the offense, and an entire defense that is now more closely in line with Phillips’ 3-4 principles.
If there’s one thing the Rams can learn from those Eagles, it’s this: Stay quiet.
The Eagles’ season might have turned on July 30, during what would’ve otherwise been a routine training camp press conference. In a makeshift tent near the practice field that day, Young wore a red jersey and a green visor and was asked about all the moves the Eagles made in a short offseason. “Dream team,” he said, then he chuckled.
The line, harmless as it might have been, made headlines throughout the country and put an unnecessary target on the Eagles’ backs, ratcheting up the pressure for a season that already had enough of it. The Rams have made no such proclamations, toeing the line between confidence and humility.
McVay hopes it stays that way.
“There’s a confidence that this group has that you feel good about,” he said, “but I think there’s also got to be humility and an understanding that you have to earn it every single day. … It’s a very competitive league. There are 31 other great teams in this league that are striving to do the same things that we are. We know that we are confident in the personnel that we have here, but we also know that they’ve got to wipe the slate clean every year. Some of the success we had last year won’t win us any games this year, and I think our players respect and understand that.”
June 19, 2018 at 9:02 am in reply to: Minicamp & post-minicamp "so how did they look" reports #87440znModeratorRams have owned the offseason, but will success follow?
Lindsey Thiry
The Los Angeles Rams ended their offseason program on June 14. Here’s a look at how they fared:
Offseason goals: Continue to master second-year coach Sean McVay’s system and build chemistry among several new players in defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ 3-4 scheme. McVay’s offense produced the highest-scoring team in the NFL last season, averaging 29.9 points per game, and helped lead the Rams to their first playoff appearance since 2004. Defensively, the Rams must improve a unit that allowed 339.6 yards per game and ranked 19th in total defense.
How they fared: Above average
Move I liked: The Rams’ moves to bolster their defense, trading draft picks for All-Pro cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib and acquiring All-Pro defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh in free agency. Peters, who has intercepted 19 passes in three seasons, and Talib, an 11th-year pro, demonstrated throughout the offseason program their ability to make plays. Peters got his hands on two passes on his first day of workouts alone. Suh’s acclimation to playing in a 3-4 for the first time will take more time to evaluate, given practices aren’t in pads during the offseason program, and Aaron Donald — who Suh will play alongside — was absent.
Move I didn’t like: The addition of Peters, Talib and Suh. Yes, this is single-handedly the best, and potentially, worst move. All three are known personalities, or “dynamic competitors” as McVay said. While each is capable of making a game-changing plays, each also has a track record for picking up penalties after the play, something the Rams must avoid if they want to improve on last season’s 11-5 finish and make a deep run in the playoffs.
Biggest question still to be answered in training camp: Determining whether young and inexperienced players will be ready to start at outside and inside linebacker. The Rams traded veteran outside linebacker Robert Quinn and inside linebacker Alec Ogletree. Samson Ebukam, a second-year pro, practiced in place of Quinn and Cory Littleton, a former undrafted free agent, in place of Ogletree. McVay said both were among standouts throughout the offseason program. But training camp, and padded practices, will better determine if both are capable of filling big roles.
Quotable: “We all know how important Aaron is to this football team and this organization. I think that what I would say is we’re proactive towards finding a solution to make sure that everybody feels good about that… That’s definitely something that we’re proactively trying to figure out a solution to make sure that he feels good and so do we as an organization.” — Rams coach Sean McVay
The Rams and Aaron Donald remain in a contract dispute that dates to 2017. Donald, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is scheduled to earn $6.9 million in the final season of his rookie contract and is holding out to become the highest-paid player on defense, if not among the highest-paid players in the league.
June 18, 2018 at 11:50 pm in reply to: How the Government Managed to Lose Track of 1,500 Migrant Children #87437znModeratorJune 18, 2018 at 3:08 pm in reply to: How the Government Managed to Lose Track of 1,500 Migrant Children #87433znModeratorThe mainstream media is doing an embarrassing job covering Trump’s family separation policy
The NYT, Washington Post, and others have uncritically parroted Trump’s false framing.
AARON RUPAR
The policy of separating immigrant children from their parents and detaining them in cages was implemented by President Trump, and could be ended by him at any time.
It could also be ended by Congress. A group of Senate Democrats has banded together in support of a bill that would do just that, but not a single Republican has come out in support of it. Given that Republicans hold a one-vote majority in the Senate, all it would take is two Republican senators to join 49 Democrats and independents and pass legislation that would end family separation. (Or 11 Republican senators if one of them decided to filibuster the legislation.)
The policy is Trump’s, Democrats are united in opposition, and Republican members of Congress have the power to end it, but refuse to do so. Those are the basic facts of the matter. But if you read publications like the New York Times, Washington Post, and Politico, you might be confused about what’s going on.
On Saturday afternoon, the Washington Post published an article framing Trump’s family separation policy as a false equivalency.
“GOP, Democrats are outraged but at odds over ending family separation at border,” reads the article’s headline.
GOP, Democrats are outraged but at odds over ending family separation at border https://t.co/KD2B3DNN7g
— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) June 17, 2018
Republicans, however, are not “outraged” enough to actually do anything to stop family separation. If they were, they could join with Democrats and support legislation to end it.
A Politico article published Sunday makes the same mistake. The piece, headlined “Pressure mounts for Trump to address family separations at border,” discusses letters Republican senators have written to DHS and HHS as if it’s the most members of Congress can do to end the policy. From the article:
GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Jeff Flake of Arizona amped up the pressure, too, by sending letters to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar seeking to clarify the policy.
“Secretary Nielsen recently appeared before the U.S. Senate and testified that immigrant parents and children who present themselves at U.S. ports of entry to request asylum will not be separated. Despite Secretary Nielsen’s testimony, a number of media outlets have reported instances where parents and children seeking asylum at a port of entry have been separated,” the two senators wrote. “These accounts and others like them concern us.”
A piece from the Associated Press is headlined, “Family separation starts to divide Republicans.” But in reality, Republicans are united in their unwillingness to do anything about the policy.
Family separation policy starts dividing Republicans (from @AP) https://t.co/7soBAveUKh
— Eric Tucker (@etuckerAP) June 18, 2018
The New York Times also rushed to give Republicans — specifically, First Lady Melania Trump — way too much credit.
In an article about a statement Melania’s office released on Sunday claiming that “Mrs. Trump hates to see children separated from their families and hopes both sides of the aisle can finally come together to achieve successful immigration reform,” the Times uncritically spread the false premise of Melania’s statement — that family separation is a “both sides” issue.
In a rare public intervention, Melania Trump urged “both sides of the aisle” to come together to stop federal authorities from separating children from their parents when apprehended at the border https://t.co/8I9TK6c1Sq
— NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) June 17, 2018
In another tweet about the article, the Times spread the lie President Trump has been repeatedly making about his policy — that it somehow isn’t his fault.
By saying "both sides" needed to agree, Melania Trump adopted President Trump's argument that the situation was caused by political stalemate rather than a policy he initiated https://t.co/639PcSelqQ
— NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) June 17, 2018
In that tweet, the Times uses “argument” as a euphemism for “lie.” It wasn’t even the first time over the weekend they did that.
Consider this tweet:
President Trump has steadfastly tried to deflect blame for the separation of children from their parents, consistently dissembling about why it is occurring https://t.co/ccwE3pDOwn
— NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) June 17, 2018
“Steadfastly tried to deflect blame” is a tortured euphemism the Times used instead of telling the blunt truth — the family separation policy was implemented by the Trump administration, and he’s lying about it.
znModeratorAaron Donald wants to reset the market for non-QBs
Lindsey Thiry
http://www.espn.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/130063/aaron-donald-wants-to-reset-the-market-for-non-qbs
The Los Angeles Rams and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, who is scheduled to earn $6.9 million in the final year of his rookie deal, remain in a contract dispute that dates to 2017.
Here are answers to a few key questions as negotiations continue ahead of training camp.
Why don’t the Rams just “pay the man,” as Marcus Peters said?
It’s all about the salary cap. The Rams must maintain space under the cap for large contracts that loom in the not-so-distant future, including fourth-year pros Todd Gurley and Peters and third-year pro Jared Goff. The Rams made several moves that cleared cap space this offseason — they’ll have room for $41.5 million in 2019 and more than $120 million in 2020 — but they must maintain space to sign other stars.
How much money does Donald want?
Donald, 27, wants to reset the market for non-quarterback players. Currently, the highest paid non-quarterback is Von Miller, who is scheduled to make more than $19 million this season. Neither Donald nor the Rams have publicly discussed financial terms, but it is thought that Donald is seeking a deal that will pay him more than $20 million per season.
Didn’t Donald hold out last year seeking a new deal?
Yes. Going into his fourth season, Donald skipped most of the offseason program but reported to mandatory minicamp to avoid about $80,000 in fines — however, he did not participate in drills.
Donald then skipped training camp and reported to the practice facility a day before the opener — without a new deal in place.
The Rams activated Donald in Week 2. He finished the season with 11 sacks in 14 starts and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Will his holdout last that long this season?
It could, but that seems unlikely. Because Donald held out of training camp last year, he lost an accrued season toward unrestricted free agency, which requires four seasons. Therefore, if Donald does not report by Aug. 7 — 30 days before the season opens — he will lose another accrued season and will remain a restricted free agent.
How long do the Rams have Donald’s rights?
If Donald reports to training camp by Aug. 7, he will become an unrestricted free agent after this season. However, whether he’s an unrestricted or restricted free agent, the Rams have the option to franchise tag him for two years at below his market value and then another year at just over his current market value. The Rams basically hold the rights to Donald through the 2021 season.
Does Oakland Raiders defensive lineman Khalil Mack affect Donald?
Mack, the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, did not report to Raiders minicamp as he seeks a new deal entering the fifth season of his rookie contract. It has been speculated that Donald and Mack are paying close attention to each other’s situations. The first to sign a deal will reset the market. The second to sign will likely up the ante to become the highest-paid defensive player in the league. But unlike Donald, Mack can hold out of training camp and become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Are the Rams concerned Donald’s absence will affect the team’s performance?
No. On the final day of minicamp, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips deadpanned: “He didn’t come until later last year and did OK. I guess he fit in, in a 3-4, everybody was worried about that.” The Rams know Donald is working out at his home in Pittsburgh and will be ready to contribute if he reports.
June 18, 2018 at 12:22 am in reply to: the other 3 NFC West teams (ie. the ones who didn't & won't win the division) #87427znModeratorCards QB Sam Bradford still expected to open 2018 season as starter
It is “hard not to see” veteran quarterback Sam Bradford as the opening day starter for the Arizona Cardinals according to Darren Urban of azcardinals.com.
That was the expectation when the team handed Bradford a two-year, $40 million free agent contract in March and it remains the plan despite trading up to land UCLA QB Josh Rosen in the draft this past May. The Cardinals are proceeding cautiously with Bradford’s troublesome knee but Urban reports that the now-30-year-old has looked good when on the field.
Whether Bradford remains the starter is another matter altogether. The former No.1-overall pick has been plagued by injuries his entire NFL career and has not played a full 16-game season since 2012. He remains one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the league, however, and the team’s best chance of winning games in 2018 is likely starting the veteran while Rosen develops
znModerator.@JakeMcQuaide snaps it back, @JHekker with the hold, Zuerlein on the kick…. IT’S A GIRL!! 🙌
Baby girl Bones coming soon! 🎀☠️ Congratulations to the Fassels! #FathersDay pic.twitter.com/vlYR3SHYtd
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) June 17, 2018
June 17, 2018 at 6:08 pm in reply to: How the Government Managed to Lose Track of 1,500 Migrant Children #87425znModeratorEmployee quits job at for-profit child prison camp after being told to order three siblings not to hug each other.
“[they were] huddled together, tears streaming down their faces”https://t.co/WHBQ2LVwdD
— Matt Bors (@MattBors) June 15, 2018
June 17, 2018 at 11:53 am in reply to: How the Government Managed to Lose Track of 1,500 Migrant Children #87423znModeratorTrump could stop family separation policy with a phone call, senior Republican says
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-today-06-15-18/h_dc9d4446085477c7dbe9af3144b292cc
Sen. Lindsay Graham told CNN’s Kate Bolduan that President Trump could stop the Department of Homeland Security from separating young, undocumented children from their parents when families are detained for illegally crossing the southern border.
“President Trump could stop this policy with a phone call,” Graham said. “I’ll go tell him: If you don’t like families being separated, you can tell DHS, ‘Stop doing it.'”
Earlier today, President Trump falsely blamed Democrats for the thousands of migrant children who have been separated from their parents at the US-Mexico border. His administration’s zero-tolerance policy to refer anyone caught crossing the border illegally for federal prosecution has led to a notable uptick in the number of children taken from their parents since the change was announced in May.However, Graham added that the separation policy discourages illegal immigration.
“I’m sure that people are going to be less likely to bring their kids to America if they get separated than if they lived together and get released into the country. I’m real sure about that,” Graham said.
Trump could stop family separation policy with a phone call, Lindsey Graham says pic.twitter.com/1VYy79jjGz
— Meg Wagner (@megwagner) June 15, 2018
znModerator==
Lol I love this… people always think they can “beat” a pro linemen in a 1 on 1. I’ve been asked too many times to get in a stance because so and so wants to try getting around me. It’s not happening. https://t.co/4FJwpyQ4zk
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) June 17, 2018
==
Pence wasn’t trying very hard but when Allen threw him like a rag doll at the end, he realized this is for real
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) June 17, 2018
znModeratorPFF: Adjusted quarterback rating
This drives home the view of Goff as a safe qb, not in the sense that he won’t take risks, but in the sense that he doesn’t throw INTs. In his 2nd year he is ranked 8th in adjusted passer rating, behind guys like Brady, Brees, and Ryan, but ahead of guys like Wentz, Roethlisberger, and Wilson.
…
znModeratorThey overwhelmingly voted for Trump. Now they’ll pay the price…
Perhaps Iowa farmers’ biggest fear is becoming a harsh reality: The escalating U.S.-China trade dispute erupted Friday, with each country vowing to levy 25 percent tariffs on $50 billion in goods.
U.S. and Iowa agriculture is caught in the crossfire, with farmers selling $14 billion in soybeans to China last year, its top export market.
Soybeans are among hundreds of U.S. products China has singled out for tariffs. The U.S. has an equally long list that includes taxing X-ray machines and other Chinese goods.
Iowa farmers could lose up to $624 million, depending on how long the tariffs are in place and the speed producers can find new markets for their soybeans, said Chad Hart, an Iowa State University economist.
znModeratorJason Cole@JasonCole62
I love Belichick as a coach, but it’s worth saying that Joe Gibbs won 3 titles with 3 different QBs and none of them were Hall of Famers. Making the qb position an interchangeable part is extraordinary.—
The best safeties in the NFL in 2017! pic.twitter.com/WzTLjl2HYy
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) June 16, 2018
==
When you realize there’s no @RamsNFL football until Training Camp… pic.twitter.com/rkM7QaqBnc
— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) June 16, 2018
znModeratorfrom PFF: Adjusted quarterback rating
One of my favorites reads of this offseason was from the hosts of the PFF Forecast podcast, Eric Eager and George Chahrouri, who looked at a metric they called Adjusted Quarterback Rating. You can read that article here. https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-re-evaluating-the-nfl-passer-rating-using-big-time-turnover-worthy-throws
Essentially, not all interceptions are the fault of the quarterback. A ball could be placed perfectly within the frame of the receiver, only to have that ball deflected off of the receiver’s hands and into the arms of a willing defender. The quarterback is then undeservingly credited with a negative play. The same can be said for touchdowns. A quarterback could throw an inaccurate ball only to have a wide receiver make a highlight-reel catch and then break three tackles on his way to a 63-yard score. The quarterback’s positive impact on this play was minimal, but they are still awarded full credit for the touchdown.
Eager and Chahrouri attempted to help solve this problem and improve upon traditional passer rating by using PFF’s grades to better isolate a quarterback’s performance independent from the rest of his team. Rather than crediting quarterbacks with positive and negative throws using two of the primary variables in the passer rating formula (touchdowns and interceptions), they added more clarity by replacing these components with “big-time throws” and “turnover-worthy throws” – two PFF-exclusive metrics that were explained in greater depth here. https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-pff-qb-grading-most-effective-tool-there-is
In their conclusion, they write, “Touchdowns and interceptions tell you what happened, while big-time throws and turnover-worthy throws tell you more about how good a player is (and likely will be in the future).” That latter point is true and backed by their data – adjusted quarterback rating is far more stable than traditional passer rating, with a year-to-year correlation of 0.48 to traditional passer rating’s 0.39.
In this article, my focus is primarily on the differential between adjusted passer rating and traditional passer rating, to highlight potential ADP values. If the public perception is that a quarterback disappointed as a passer last year (perhaps caused by analysts focusing too much on traditional passer rating), but they ranked much higher by adjusted passer rating, perhaps we should be targeting them at their now-depressed ADP.
Indeed, since 2007, of all 200 quarterbacks to attempt at least 300 passes in back-to-back years, 67 percent of all quarterbacks with a positive differential (between traditional and adjusted passer rating) improved in traditional passer rating in the following season. Only 40 percent of all quarterbacks with a negative differential improved in the following season.
Here’s the list of all quarterbacks with at least 400 pass attempts last season, sorted by adjusted passer rating:
…
June 16, 2018 at 2:07 pm in reply to: PFF: NFL's prototypical defensive linemen for each DL technique #87407znModeratorWhile most other actors were getting out of active duty in WW 2, Stewart was insisting on flying bombing missions over Nazi occupied Europe.
Tried to do some quick duckduckgo on actors who served, but it’s not easy to get a definitive or even helpful list.
Well a lot of recognizable screen actors did fight. In Stewart’s case, there was an active push to keep him doing the PR work back in the states. He was already a big name at that point, in fact an academy award winner, and therefore a studio commodity (It Happened One Night = 1934, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington = 1939, Philadelphia Story = 1940). He pushed to get into active combat, where he not only distinguished himself as a pilot and officer, but was awarded medals several times for his valor. He often scheduled himself to lead missions when he did not have to fly.
But I didn’t mean to imply he was the only one.
Here’s a list of some recognizable actors who fought in the war:
Charles Bronson, tailgunner, B29s, the Pacific, 25 missions, purple heart
Paul Newman, radioman/tailgunner in torpedo bombers, Pacific
Rock Hudson, carrier aircraft mechanic, Pacific theater
Henry Fonda, air-combat intelligence, Pacific theater, received a bronze star
Tony Curtis, submariner, Pacific theater
Clark Gable, at 40 years old a gunner aboard bombers in Europe
Lee Marvin, enlisted in the Marines at 18, badly wounded on Saipan
June 16, 2018 at 10:59 am in reply to: Minicamp & post-minicamp "so how did they look" reports #87402znModeratorFive things to know as the Rams wrap up their offseason program early
Joe Curley
Head coach Sean McVay must have been pleased with the strides his team has made during the offseason.
The Los Angeles Rams tied a bow on their offseason training program this week by running quickly though Wednesday’s practice and turning Thursday’s scheduled practice into a field trip to Inglewood, to visit the team’s future home.
“I think we finished it up the right way,” McVay said. “Felt like, with the way that the players worked, let’s go ahead and call it an offseason program.”
There’s only so much a football team can do without pads, and considering the playbook had been fully installed entering this week’s three-day minicamp, the downside of a potential injury outweighed the upside of getting the rookies a few extra practice looks.
“We also want to be smart, get guys out of here healthy,” McVay said. “The goal is to get to training camp healthy and ready to go.”
The Rams made it through the entire eight-week program with only one season-ending injury. Outside linebacker Morgan Fox was lost to a knee injury in May.
Besides a healthy roster, what else is there to know about the team as it enters the six-week break before training camp?
Offensive continuity
The Rams will return 10 of 11 offensive starters, including quarterback Jared Goff, center John Sullivan and running back Todd Gurley, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
The only turnover was at the outside receiver position, where Brandin Cooks was acquired as a like-for-like replacement for Sammy Watkins, who signed with Kansas City.
The only real turnover was on the coaching staff, where Shane Waldron and Aaron Kromer were promoted to serve as passing-game and run-game coordinators, respectively, after offensive coordinator Matt Lafleur left for Tennessee.
“What we did last year is great, but our focus is on this year,” Waldron said. “We have a bunch of young players mixed with veterans who have shown a great amount of improvement in grasping this system. I’m pretty confident moving forward with that.”
Zac Taylor was also promoted to quarterbacks coach when Greg Olson left for Oakland.
“The biggest thing is keeping that consistency to what the messaging has been in the meeting room,” Waldron said. “Coach McVay, his messaging has been the same, we’re falling in line there.”
Defensive potential
After leading the NFL in scoring in 2017, can the Rams allow the fewest points in 2018?
That seems like a legitimate question to ask considering the star-studded additions on the defensive side of the ball, including cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
“The (starting) defense, man,” Gurley said. “Those guys are some ballplayers.”
McVay was quick to point on that under-the-radar additions, like former Green Bay cornerback Sam Shields and former Kansas City linebacker Ramik Wilson, also can make an impact this fall.
“Those are guys that we haven’t talked about a lot, but they’ve been very productive,” McVay said. “We’re excited about them, guys who have had a lot of experience in this league and have been successful.”
Position to watch
The offseason maneuvering on the defensive side of the ball has left linebacker as the biggest position to watch in training camp.
Alec Ogletree was traded to New York, Robert Quinn was traded to Miami and Connor Barwin remains a free agent, meaning the Rams’ only returning starter at the position is Mark Barron, who spent the offseason rehabilitating from injury.
“We’re not set there like we are in other positions, like our cornerbacks,” defensive coordinator Wade Phillips said this week. “We just need some guys to come through.”
The edge position was further muddled by injuries in May. Fox was earning first-team reps when he was lost. Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, the fifth-round pick from Oklahoma, suffered a foot injury that ended his offseason program.
That left plenty of work during OTAs for other young, developing players, like the eight players the Rams have drafted at the position over the past two drafts.
“We’re looking at them now,” Phillips said. “I think training camp is going to show which ones step up.”
The team will go into training camp expecting on a couple rotational pieces who excelled on special teams last year to move into the starting lineup.
Cory Littleton, who started four games last year, could end up calling the defensive signals from middle linebacker.
Samson Ebukam, who started two games as a rookie last year, “certainly” looks like a starter on the edge, Phillips said.
Matt Longacre, who had 5.5 sacks and 12 quarterback hits last year, also looks to move into the starting lineup, as long as he recovers from offseason back surgery.
“Unless there’s a setback, he should be ready to go,” McVay said. “We’re expecting big things for Matt. We know Matt has been an extremely productive player for us. He’s going to take on a larger role moving forward.”
Rookies like Justin Lawler, John Franklin-Myers and Micah Hyde will enter training camp in a position to be rotational pieces this fall.
Holding out hope
And then there is the biggest question of training camp.
Just when will Aaron Donald arrive?
The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year was one of a handful of stars who skipped their team’s mandatory minicamp.
A year ago, he held out for all of training camp and missed the season-opening win over Indianapolis.
Phillips, for one, hopes he sees Donald sooner, rather than later.
“It’s something you can’t do anything about,” Phillips said. “I don’t stay up all night every night. … It’s the business part of it.
“We feel like it’ll happen sooner than later, hopefully sooner. He didn’t come until later last year and he did OK.
“Knowing our people, we’ll get it done. I think they’ll get it done. Hopefully training camp, early in training camp, we’ll get it done and get going.
znModeratorRams DL Ndamukong Suh described Wade Phillips’ personality today as a “fun-loving grandfather.” Phillips spent time talking with Suh today about Reggie White and how he could potentially emulate him. pic.twitter.com/xU9VofOyAH
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) June 14, 2018
znModeratorfrom offseason standouts to know for all 32 NFL teams
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/23786801/surprise-offseason-camp-standouts-know-32-nfl-teams-2018
…
Los Angeles Rams
Linebacker Cory Littleton
A former undrafted free agent in 2016, Littleton took the place this offseason of former team captain Alec Ogletree at inside linebacker. Littleton demonstrated to the staff in limited playing time in 2017 that he had the ability to be a playmaker. Coach Sean McVay said Littleton “immediately stepped in” during the offseason program and that he has done a “great job communicating” in a position that requires a leader. — Lindsey Thiry
June 16, 2018 at 10:37 am in reply to: the other 3 NFC West teams (ie. the ones who didn't & won't win the division) #87398znModeratorJosh Rosen looked good in minicamp, but don't expect him to beat out Sam Bradford as the Cardinals' starter https://t.co/RFqbyKgoHC
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) June 15, 2018
June 16, 2018 at 1:11 am in reply to: Minicamp & post-minicamp "so how did they look" reports #87397znModeratorFive Takeaways from Rams OTAs and Minicamp
Myles Simmons
Team insider Myles Simmons shares his top five takeaways from the Rams offseason program, which concluded this week.
1) McVay remains in total command in Year 2
Head coach Sean McVay has always been effective in leading the Rams — most notably illustrated by the club’s 11-5 record, division title, and McVay winning AP Coach of the Year in just his first season on the job. But even so, it appears McVay is more comfortable in his role as he begins his second season.
McVay has talked of wanting to maximize every moment possible, and that was clear from the efficiency of the team’s OTAs. From having multiple drills ongoing at the same time, to the tempo of each session, Los Angeles squeezed plenty out of the 10 OTAs and minicamp practices.
But more than that, the Rams’ success in 2017 has had an effect on the way newly acquired players view McVay upon entering the building.
“It’s not like when he came in here we didn’t support him, or we didn’t buy in. It’s just the fact that now, this is his team,” defensive lineman Michael Brockers told therams.com. “A lot of these guys are his guys that he brought here. So he’s in control. He’s always been in control, but he’s the man now. Everybody knows. The rookies know — he’s the guy.”
There’s certainly much expected from the Rams in 2018. But with McVay at the helm and his process focused on daily improvement and daily excellence, Low Angeles has a strong chance to navigate through them successfully.
2) Defensive additions fitting in just fine
With the three headline-grabbing acquisitions of Aqib Talib, Marcus Peters, and Ndamukong Suh, many offseason questions surrounding L.A. focused on how McVay and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips would manage the strong personalities.
Phillips and McVay have addressed such questions throughout the offseason, largely dismissing any concerns. Both men talked of a philosophy of working with players rather than managing them.
But the 70-year-old defensive coordinator probably said his best quote on the subject earlier this week.
“I like personalities because they’re independent enough to do things on their own and they’ve shown they’re independent enough to be great players too,” Phillips said. “You don’t want a player who does everything you say, you want guys that have some initiative. We tell them to do this and do that, but Marcus Peters a couple plays last year … he’s playing man to man and they throw it to another player but he intercepts it.
“That’s what I’m talking about — [you can’t say], ‘No you cover your man,’” Phillips continued. “Well, if you intercept it when they throw it to somebody else, that’s great. Those are the kind of guys they are. You want them to do all the right things and help them to be a better player, but you don’t want them to lose that initiative. That’s what they have and that’s the way I’ve always coached.”
3) Brandin Cooks is, too
When the Rams traded a package that included their first-round pick to the Patriots for wide receiver Brandin Cooks, they knew they were getting a player with speed and dynamic playmaking ability.
That was displayed time and again during Phase III, as Goff hit Cooks with a number of deep passes during OTAs.
McVay noted this week just how much of a weapon Cooks can be in the club’s offensive scheme.
“He can obviously win short, intermediate down the field, you’re not limited in any way that you can use him,” McVay said. “He’s a guy that you can give jet sweeps, reverses to — so he’s a really versatile player. You see why he’s had the production and I think it’s also a credit to him being as conscientious as he is with how quickly he’s picked things up.”
But what McVay failed to mention is how Cooks is a comedian. Recently, quarterback Jared Goff called Cooks a “sponge,” given the wide receiver’s willingness and ability to learn. So when a reporter referenced Goff’s quote to Cooks this week, Cooks kept a straight face and deadpanned this response:
“I would have to say, you know, my favorite show is SpongeBob SquarePants, so for me just watching him how he soaks up all that water while he’s over there under the sea,” Cooks said. “I try to emulate that in my game and being a student of the game as well.”
Cooks assured reporters he still watches SpongeBob to this day.
4) Goff is an offensive leader
There have been plenty of articles written and videos produced about Goff emerging as a leader for the offensive unit after his successful 2017. The signal-caller himself has talked about how much being in the same system under McVay and the growth in the relationship between coach and QB has added to his sense of comfort.
And it’s also been easy to notice how Goff has taken command of the group, going over to discuss previous plays with receivers and linemen on the field at practice. That’s in addition to his strong play throughout the offseason program, making accurate passes in the rhythm and timing of the offense.
But wide receiver Cooper Kupp was definitive when discussing Goff and his leadership qualities during OTAs, essentially saying that questions and reports are beating around the bush a bit too much.
“I think it’s time just to stop that and say it how it is — he is a leader of this team,” Kupp told therams.com. “He is our quarterback and he leads this offense. It’s time to put those away and call it for what it is. He is a leader and guys respect him. They want to play for him. He’s grown into that and has commanded it.”
Of course, Kupp is always going to be biased toward his teammate. But those aren’t empty words from the young wideout.
5) There will be competition at linebacker
When training camp rolls around in late July, the Rams won’t have many unsettled position groups on offense or defense. But due to a few injuries, the Rams could have an open spot or two at linebacker.
Cory Littleton and Rameek Wilson took the majority of snaps at inside linebacker during OTAs and minicamp, with Littleton as the unit’s signal-caller. It’s not a position Littleton had done before, but appeared to adjust to it well, according to McVay and Phillips.
Second-year outside linebacker Samson Ebukam also appears to have the inside track on a starting role, receiving compliments from his coaches for a strong offseason program, too.
Inside linebacker Mark Barron and outside linebacker Matt Longacre were limited to work on the side during the offseason program, as both were still rehabbing injuries. Phillips noted this week Barron could also potentially be the defensive signal-caller once he’s back on the field.
Morgan Fox was making the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker, but will now be out for all of 2018 after suffering a season-ending knee injury during Phase III. Phillips said Fox was working toward a starting role.
Rookie outside linebacker Obo Okoronkwo could challenge for that spot on the outside, as could fellow rookie Justin Lawler. Given all the injuries at OLB — including to Okoronkwo, who missed all of Phase III but should be back for training camp — Lawler received the majority of first-team reps opposite Ebukam.
As the club is currently constructed, this could be a particularly competitive group in August.
znModeratorI think I tried that. I don’t think it works, because they don’t use the mp3 format
Thanks. A link will do. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing anything.
Nothing against Long, but, I miss Savard.
znModeratorHey, ag…how do we copy these to the site here?
Thanks.
June 15, 2018 at 7:50 pm in reply to: informal poll: go ahead & guess…if healthy do the Rams have a top 5 offense? #87390znModeratorSince you said healthy I’ll say sure they can definitely be top five. I just don’t see how they experience two consecutive years of such good health. Of course, that’s nothing more than a feeling on my part.
I dunno. You’re probably right. But, maybe playing in the dome actually took a toll? Though, it didn’t in 99. So who knows.
znModeratorBTW, I really hate the fact that all the talk is still about N Korea when that was a big nothing, and the G7 was highly significant, and that’s been completely buried in the news cycle.
G7 was bad and does need to be talked about. But N.Korea was it’s own, different kind of bad.
===
===Trump’s Unhinged Fox News Interview on the White House Lawn Was Frightening
Donald Trump’s admiration of Kim Jong-un shows the president embracing dictator tendenciesRyan Bort
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/trump-fox-news-interview-w521581
Donald Trump has exhibited authoritarian impulses since the early days of his campaign. But the president’s recent meeting with Kim Jong-un seems to have inspired him to throw around language and ideas that would turn America into a dictatorship. Trump gushed about the North Korean leader following their meeting in Singapore, calling him a “smart,” “funny guy” with a “great personality,” among other fawning praise. His admiration of the dictator continued on Friday during a wild, impromptu interview with Fox & Friends on the White House lawn, when the president expressed in no uncertain terms how envious he is of Kim’s regime. “He speaks and his people sit up at attention,” Trump said. “I want my people to do the same.”
TRUMP on Kim Jong Un (note the final two sentences): "He's the head of a country, and I mean he's the strong head. Don't let anyone think anything different. He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same." (via FOX) pic.twitter.com/ed9AMRl9ny
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) June 15, 2018
It might be the most frightening statement of Trump’s presidency. The people of North Korea are of course forced to “sit up in attention” when Kim speaks – in 2016, Kim executed the nation’s deputy premier for education with a firing squad for showing “disrespectful posture” in a meeting. But Kim’s human rights violations do not seem to be of any concern to Trump, who has repeatedly defended the dictator’s inhumane treatment of his people. When confronted about the regime’s atrocities, Trump has made excuses ranging from “it’s rough in a lot of places” to explaining that Kim is carrying on his father’s legacy. “He’s a tough guy,” the president said to Fox’s Bret Baier on Air Force One following the summit.
When Trump says that Kim’s people “love” him, he is effectively endorsing the way Kim’s regime treats its citizens, who are often starved and incarcerated without trial. The president has legitimized North Korea through more than just his words. Many were shocked at the commingling of the American and North Korean flags in Singapore, and North Korea’s nation’s state-run TV network has since released footage of the summit that shows Trump saluting what appeared to be a high-ranking North Korean military official, a shocking visual of the president’s deference to the dictatorship.
North Korean TV has aired its first footage of the #TrumpKimSummit. Look out for the handshake/salute confusion 55 seconds in. pic.twitter.com/JS5yEUprgz
— BBC Monitoring (@BBCMonitoring) June 14, 2018
When CNN asked retired Navy Rear Admiral John Kirby, who is also a former spokesman for both the Defense and State departments, about the salute, he called it “striking,” “inappropriate from a protocol perspective” and something “you most certainly don’t do it with the leaders of foreign militaries of an adversary nation.”
The most prominent theme of Trump’s time in office has been his sustained excoriation of the American media, so it should come as no surprise that Trump was enamored by North Korea’s state-run media. According to the Washington Post, the president marveled at how positive one of the nation’s female broadcasters spoke of Kim, and remarked that she should get a job on TV in the United States. After returning from Singapore, Trump tweeted that the media is America’s “biggest enemy.”
The Post noted how Trump praised how “tough” the North Korean guards looked. It’s an adjective he also used to describe Kim’s treatment of his people, and one that Trump used repeatedly throughout the campaign and during his presidency to describe the attitude America must take toward a variety of issues.
Trump drooling over the prospect of a dictatorship was only a small part of what was a wild morning on the White House lawn. After the president noticed Fox & Friends was broadcasting only a few feet away from where he was presumably ensconced in Friday morning’s Executive Time, he tweeted that he would stop by for an “unannounced” interview. He did, clearly taking everyone off guard before sidling up next to Steve Doocy for a live interview that lasted over 30 minutes.
While speaking with Doocy, Trump cycled through most of his usual talking points, from his displeasure with the media, to the success of the economy, to the need for a border wall and how the Democrats are the ones responsible for children being separated from their parents at the border (which is not even remotely true). Also discussed was the Inspector General report that found that the FBI acted with no bias as it investigated the Trump campaign’s connection to Russia prior to the 2016 election. Despite the report’s conclusion that there was no foul play, Trump and his allies have used its contents to argue the opposite.
“I beat Clinton dynasty. I beat Bush dynasty, and now, I guess, hopefully I’m in the process of beating very dishonest intelligence,” Trump said.
Following his lengthy interview with Doocy, Trump made his way to the White House driveway, where he went back and forth with reporters for almost as long as he spoke with Fox & Friends, ranting about several of the same issues, with a focus on the Mueller investigation. “Here’s the good news: I did nothing wrong,” Trump said. The president also claimed that Paul Manafort, his former campaign manager who has been indicted on a number of crimes relating to Russia, “had nothing to do with our campaign.”
Trump defended the corruption-addled EPA chief Scott Pruitt, said he could meet with Vladimir Putin this summer and reiterated his belief that the North Korean nuclear threat is no longer a concern. “I did a great job this week,” Trump said. “You know what I gave up? I met. I met, we had great chemistry. He gave us a lot.” The president added that he and the dictator “really did hit it off.”
Though it’s concerning that Trump legitimized North Korea on a global stage by meeting with Kim and then came away from that meeting with nothing of substance, it’s just as troubling that this in-person taste of the trappings of a dictatorship has clearly renewed Trump’s vigor in taking on his perceived enemies in America. To the president, these enemies are any person or institution that attempts to question his actions or check his power. In other words, his enemies are the tenets of democracy.
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