The idea that the USA’s involvement in Syria can’t accomplish anything is serious.

The idea that the USA started the situation in Syria is just bad history. Things are far from being that simple.

The idea, floated during the election, that Trump as opposed to Clinton, was at least going to keep the USA from being involved in foreign entanglements, was delusional. This is a good rule of thumb when assessing Trump, and many were stating it during the election: no matter how bad you think Trump will be on something, he was always going to be far far worse.

Aaron Donald-Khalil Mack debate

Bucky Brooks

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000926403/article/josh-allenbrowns-talk-is-real-aaron-donaldkhalil-mack-debate

THE DONALD-MACK DEBATE: Is inside or outside pressure more valuable?

We keep talking about the NFL being a quarterback-driven league, but this offseason could change that narrative when the past two Defensive Player of the Year recipients sign deals that pay them “quarterback money” for their dominance as disruptive pass rushers.

Aaron Donald and Khalil Mack are each on the verge of breaking the bank. Both fifth-year pros, Donald and Mack are in line for lucrative contract extensions following a series of spectacular campaigns that confirmed their status as elite players. This will put pass rushers in the spotlight, forcing executives to think deeper about the value of particular quarterback hunters in the team-building process.

For years, general managers, personnel execs and scouts ranked pass rusher as the second-most important position in football, with most citing defensive end/outside linebacker as the marquee spot on defense. But lately, with pass-rushing defensive tackles or inside sub-package rushers taking over games in critical moments, I sense that sentiment changing. Teams are increasingly looking to win with A-gap (space between the offensive guard and center) pressure, due to the chaos and disruption at the point of attack. For immobile quarterbacks, in particular, pressure from the middle of the line completely disrupts their timing in the pocket and blurs their vision and/or blocks available passing lanes.

That’s why I’m fascinated to see the numbers Donald and Mack will tally at the end of their negotiations, because it will shed light on just how valuable executives view premier inside and outside pass rushers at the moment. From a contract perspective, each player is looking at a deal that should feature somewhere around the $60 million guaranteed Ndamukong Suh received as part of his six-year, $114 million contract in 2015 and the $70 million in guarantees included in Von Miller’s six-year, $114.5 million deal in 2016.

NFL Network’s Steve Wyche says Mack is seeking guarantees in excess of $65 million. Meanwhile, Donald’s apparently on the verge of becoming the highest-paid defensive player in the league. Based on their production and performance as disruptive sack artists, they are certainly worthy of getting deals that place them near the figure commanded by top quarterbacks: $20 million-plus per season. Mack has amassed 40.5 sacks in four years, including 36.5 over the past three. He also has added nine forced fumbles as the Raiders’ designated pass rusher. Donald has been just as productive as a disruptor, with 39 sacks and nine forced fumbles to his name. He has also delivered 108 QB hits during that span (compared to 84 from Mack), while amassing 72 tackles for loss (Mack has 68) as a destructive force on the interior.

Given Mack and Donald’s emergence as elite defenders in a league full of blue-chippers, it is not surprising that executives are looking for clones at their respective positions. With that in mind, I thought I would pose a question to a handful of my scouting buddies to see how they view pass rushers, and more specifically, what kinds of pass rushers they prefer. Would you want to build your defense around an inside or outside pass rusher? Here are some of their responses …

AFC assistant general manager: “I’m old school, so I’m going to go for the edge rusher.”

AFC college scouting director: “I would take an inside rusher like [Aaron Donald] or Warren Sapp because they can disrupt the interior line, which will affect both the run and pass. Plus, the pressure in the face of the quarterback is better than an edge rusher because he can be pushed around the edge.”

NFC pro personnel director: “You can’t go wrong with either one, but the inside rusher makes a bigger impact. If you can affect the quarterback immediately up the middle or disrupt the run up the middle, it messes up plays from the jump.”

AFC pro personnel director: “I’ve always been taught that you build your defense from inside out. I’m going to go for the inside pass rusher because he can completely disrupt the game.”

A second NFC pro personnel director: “Philosophically, you would want to take the edge rusher, but Aaron Donald’s success clouds the debate. … It’s easier to create matchup problems on the inside because teams can always turn protections to edge guys and use running backs and tight ends to help the offensive tackle.”

Former NFL vice president of personnel: “Ideally, you would take the edge rusher because they command so much attention. But when you see a guy like Donald dominate from inside, it makes you re-think that a little bit.”

I find it interesting that the overwhelming majority of executives I spoke to preferred the inside rusher over the edge rusher. That’s a drastic philosophical shift from what I was taught when I entered the business. Yet, it falls in line with what one of my old coaches told me as a young player. Dick Jauron, my defensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars, said a defense should be strong down the middle, and that you need to build it with that premise in mind. He told me that philosophy is true in all sports (point guard and center in basketball; catcher, pitcher, shortstop, second baseman and center fielder in baseball), which is interesting when you consider the entirety of his point.

From a statistical standpoint, the argument doesn’t necessarily hold up when looking at the sack numbers from the 2017 season. The top 23 sack producers were listed as defensive ends/outside linebackers before Geno Atkins appears on the list with 9.0 sacks as a defensive tackle. (Donald is listed as a 3-4 defensive end, but plays inside in the Rams’ nickel rush package.)

That brings me back to my fascination with the Donald and Mack contract negotiations. With the majority of evaluators favoring an inside pass rusher, I’m curious to see which guy lands the bigger deal. Compensation reflects value, so we will soon see if the inside rushers (or edge rushers with inside pass-rush ability) become the new marquee players on the defensive roster.

Rams set on defensive line now that Ndamukong Suh is on board, but may still look to add depth

GARY KLEIN

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-defensive-line-20180413-story.html

The Rams do not need a good draft to boost their defensive line.

They accomplished the feat, at least for the short term, with one huge free-agent acquisition — signing Ndamukong Suh to a one-year, $14-million contract.
Suh, selected second overall in the 2010 draft, will line up in a front that includes reigning NFL defensive player of the year Aaron Donald and a third former first-round pick, Michael Brockers, who enjoyed perhaps his most successful season in 2017.

The most highly regarded prospects in the April 26-28 draft — players such as North Carolina State’s Bradley Chubb, Washington’s Vita Vea and Texas-San Antonio’s Marcus Davenport — will be long gone by the time the Rams finally make the 87th pick, a third-round selection on Day 2.
But they still will be looking to possibly add depth to a line that could be dominant.
Suh should help the Rams improve dramatically against the run. Last season, they ranked 28th in rushing defense, surrendering 122.3 yards per game.
Suh, with 51½ sacks, also should help an already formidable pass rush.
The NFL’s best quarterbacks are capable of avoiding pressure and stepping up in the pocket to make plays. Atlanta’s Matt Ryan gave a clinic in last season’s playoff victory over the Rams.
But with Suh, Donald and Brockers now there …
“It’s a real bonus,” Phillips said, “to have the kinds of guys we have in the middle.”
The Rams have plenty of productive rotational players, but they could still use depth, especially players of the larger variety.
Brockers’ injury against the Falcons last season forced Morgan Fox into a role that lasted longer than he was accustomed to, limiting his effectiveness.
Defensive linemen under contract: Ndamukong Suh ($14.5 million), Michael Brockers ($11 million), Aaron Donald ($6.9 million), Ethan Westbrooks ($2.25 million), Matt Longacre ($1.9 million), Dominique Easley ($850,000), Morgan Fox ($630,000), Tanzel Smart ($596,000), Omarius Bryant ($480,000).
Free agents: The Rams re-signed Easley, who is coming off a season-ending knee injury, and let rotational tackle Tyrunn Walker become a free agent. They might venture into the market after the draft to add depth.
Draft: Last year, when they were looking for receivers, the Rams found Cooper Kupp in the third round and Josh Reynolds in the fourth. The scouting department is on the spot again as the Rams look for value with a total of eight picks in the third, fourth and sixth rounds.
Roster decisions: General manager Les Snead has said for months that the Rams have a plan for signing Donald to a huge extension. Those kinds of moves usually come with a cost that forces the exit of others.

wv wrote:

How much is locked in topsecret lie-files at the CIA/NSA.

w
v

I don’t know.

It’s the same as always, in all human regimes, ever.

We just do what we can.

Rams will be looking to address linebacker in draft as they rebuild middle of defense

GARY KLEIN

http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-linebackers-20180412-story.html

With the addition of defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, the remade Rams defense is even more stout along the front and upgraded on the back end.

But what of the middle?
Trades that sent linebackers Alec Ogletree and Robert Quinn to the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins, respectively, make linebacker a position of need for the Rams heading into the April 26-28 draft.

“That’s a position where you have to add depth,” general manager Les Snead said. “It’s very hard to replace Alec Ogletree with one player, because Alec could play the run and play the pass.
“We may have to address that with a rotation of players who have different strengths.”
The Rams’ strength and conditioning staff managed linebacker Mark Barron’s multiple physical issues last season. It could be a challenge again as Barron, 28, begins his seventh NFL season, the third year of a five-year contract he signed before the 2016 season.
Third-year pro Cory Littleton, a special teams standout, stepped in at times last season for Barron and Ogletree, and could start inside with Barron. Second-year pro Samson Ebukam is in line to take Quinn’s spot after starting two games and recording two sacks last season.
The Rams added free-agent Rakim Wilson, who started 16 games the last two seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Defensive coordinator Wade Phillips acknowledged that the Rams need “six or seven” linebackers to fill out the 90-man offseason roster.
“We’re not where we need to be yet,” he said. “But I think we will be after the draft. … I think we’ll be comfortable about where we are.”
Linebackers under contract: Mark Barron ($10 million), Cory Littleton ($635,000), Rakim Wilson ($750,000), Samson Ebukam ($707,000), Bryce Hager ($723,000), Carlos Thompson ($630,000), Ejuan Price ($555,000), Garrett Sickels ($480,000).
Free agents: Connor Barwin, 31, is testing the market. There is a possibility that the locker room leader and mentor for Ebukam and others could return, but it would be at a price well below the $3.5 million he earned last season. Free agent Junior Galette was on the Washington Redskins roster when coach Sean McVay and linebackers coach Joe Barry were with that franchise, but he was hurt both seasons.
Draft: The Rams have eight picks — one in the third round, three in the fourth round and four in the sixth. They will be looking for linebackers — especially edge rushers — in all rounds, and also as they attempt to sign undrafted free agents.
Roster decisions: The Rams are not in panic mode about their linebacker corps, especially in a league in which five and, occasionally, six defensive backs are deployed to stop passing offenses. Barron’s salary was thought to make him a potential target for release or restructure, but the Rams instead dealt Ogletree to make room for Talib and his $11-million price tag.

This all came out back when, in the run-up to the Iraq invasion.

from NFL Draft Rumors

ALBERT BREER

https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/04/12/cleveland-browns-nfl-draft-rumors-quarterback-mmqb

• Late first-round picks lack value. The other day I was spitballing on a potential Bills-Giants swap with a team exec, who said to me, “The problem is that the 22nd pick might as well be in the third round.” He was exaggerating, but only a little bit. The consensus I’ve heard is the difference between 22 and 52 is minimal this year, which is part of why the Colts did well to land a couple high second-rounders in their trade with the Jets.

A good draft for grunt positions. You like interior offensive linemen? How about nose tackles? Nickel corners? Then this is the draft for you. We told you a couple months ago that Barkley and Nelson would likely be the top two prospects in the class—and that a back and a guard being rated that high would cause positional value debates all over the Top 10. Well, those could continue on down the line with really good tailbacks and guard/centers, and inside corners and big bodies for the defensive line available late in the first round and into Round 2.

5 ideal OLB targets for the Rams in Round 3 of the NFL Draft

Cameron DaSilva

5 ideal OLB targets for the Rams in Round 3 of the NFL Draft

Early on in the draft process, the Los Angeles Rams’ top targets included the likes of Harold Landry and Marcus Davenport – two of the best pass rushers in the 2018 class. After trading for Brandin Cooks, however, those players will be long gone when the Rams finally go on the clock in the third round.

As a result, their focus will shift toward players more likely to be there at No. 87, particularly at outside linebacker. There are still starters to be had at that spot, they just won’t have the ceilings that Landry and Davenport possess.

Here are five ideal targets for Los Angeles in the third round, not all of whom are locks to be there.

Rutgers OLB Kemoko Turay

Turay should be the Rams’ No. 1 target in the third round, regardless of position. He’s not the most refined pass rusher, but his best football is ahead of him. He boasts elite athleticism with great explosiveness, both of which are traits teams look for in pass rushers in the middle rounds of the draft.

Put him on a team coached by Wade Phillips and he’ll absolutely maximize his potential relatively soon. As it stands right now, he can step in from Day 1 and be a designated pass rusher for the Rams, which is exactly what they need off the edge.

He’s the perfect size to play outside linebacker, too, standing at 6-foot-5, 252 pounds with 4.65 speed. At his pro day, Turay posted a 6.84-second three-cone drill, which would’ve ranked fourth among defensive linemen and linebackers at the combine. That’s an outstanding number for an edge rusher.

Florida State OLB Josh Sweat

Sweat is a similar player to Turay in the fact that he wasn’t wildly productive in college, posting only 5.5 sacks his final year at Florida State. However, at 6-foot-4, 251 pounds, he has great measurables and athleticism for the position. There are some concerns about his durability, having suffered two knee injuries since his senior year in high school, but when healthy, he has great potential.

He performed well at the combine, too, running a 4.53 40-yard dash with a 4.28-second 20-yard shuttle, both of which were among the best in Indianapolis. He fits well as both a 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 outside linebacker, the latter of which he’d obviously play in Los Angeles.

His draft projection is all over the map, from early second round down to the fourth round. The third round would be the sweet spot for him, especially for a team in need of an uber-athletic edge rusher.

Sweat’s length would also be a nice addition on special teams, particularly as a punt and field goal blocker.

Oklahoma OLB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo

Okoronkwo is clearly someone the Rams are interested in. He’s one of their 30 official pre-draft visits, which teams reserve for players they’re high on. A bit undersized at 6-foot-1, 242 pounds, Okoronkwo’s draft stock gets hurt by his lack of length. His 4.77 40-yard dash didn’t do anything to wow scouts, either, but his production is impossible to ignore.

Last season, he had 76 tackles, eight sacks and 17.5 tackles for loss, earning Co-Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year honors along with Malik Jefferson of Texas. Add those numbers to his nine sacks and 67 tackles in 2016, and it’s easy to see why teams are intrigued by him.

The third round is a perfect time to draft Okoronkwo, too. He does have a great motor and always gives 100-percent effort. He’d be a perfect fit in Wade Phillips’ defense, which doesn’t exactly prioritize top-tier measurables. Shaq Barrett, for instance, is just 6-foot-2, 249 pounds, while Von Miller is just a shade bigger at 6-foot-3, 250 pounds.

LSU OLB Arden Key

Key is quite possibly the biggest boom-or-bust prospect in the draft. If you watch his tape from 2016, you’ll see a potential top-10 pick. He earned All-SEC honors with 12 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss, following up an eye-popping freshman year where he recorded 41 tackles and five sacks.

Pop in his tape from last season and you wonder whether he should be drafted before the fifth round. He took time away from the team for personal reasons and comes with some off-field concerns, which will give general managers and coaches pause in the draft.

At his best, though, he has the potential to be an elite pass rusher. If he can get his mind right and focus on football, Key could be a steal in the third round. Unfortunately, it’s unclear how committed he is to the game and his physicality after running a 4.89 and 4.91 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day.

That’s a terrible time, but it’s his burst and short-area quickness that will allow him to win at the next level … if he wants to.

USC OLB Uchenna Nwosu

Nwosu is an intriguing prospect in the fact that he has good size and speed at 6-foot-3, 251 pounds, running a 4.65 40-yard dash at the combine. He has the athleticism to chase down ball carriers from the backside, which is a plus, but he has room to grow as a pure pass rusher.

He sometimes has trouble getting off of blocks against the run and is best suited to rush off the weak side, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He simply has the be better against the ground game, which is crucial when playing SAM linebacker in a 3-4 defense.

Initially, he can be a designated pass rusher for the Rams. Phillips will find the proper way to use him early on, which is what makes him such an enticing player in the third round.

===

alyoshamucci says:

I’d add Holland because I think Sweat is off the board. Key won’t get there either … regardless of his 40 his tape is good.

I’d go

Sweat
Ogbo
Turay
Nwosu

Rams Want to Repeat Success of Drafting Without First-Round Pick

Myles Simmons

http://www.therams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Want-to-Repeat-Success-of-Drafting-Without-First-Round-Pick/dc02c4fe-de2c-4498-9bdc-2df42e66fad2#content-tools-share

The Rams are no stranger to quiet first rounds of the NFL Draft — particularly in the last few years.

Sure, Los Angeles traded up to select quarterback Jared Goff at No. 1 overall in 2016. But that created a relatively drama-free first evening of the draft for the franchise. And since the Rams traded their 2017 first-round pick to the Titans for the right to select Goff, last year’s opening night was tranquil, too.

The script will largely be the same on April 26, as the Rams traded their first-round pick to the Patriots as part of a deal to acquire wide receiver Brandin Cooks. But this year will at least start out quiet on Friday, too, as Los Angeles dealt its second-round pick to Buffalo last August to acquire wide receiver Sammy Watkins.

At this point, the Rams’ first 2018 draft pick doesn’t come until No. 87 overall — that’s the 23rd pick in the third round. Los Angeles does currently hold eight draft picks, with three in the fourth round, and four in the sixth. All the late-round picks prompted general manger Les Snead to joke with the media last week, “Yeah, we’re going to give up all our sixes for somebody’s first.”

But not having a pick until No. 87 does change the way the club approaches the draft. Realistically, it has to.

“I found it easy when we’re doing draft meetings now,” Snead said. “[L]et’s just say we’re [looking at] position A. You say, ‘Look, if these four or five players, if they fall guess what we’re picking them.’ They’re not falling to 87, so now we go, ‘Alright, let’s focus on the ones that are really realistic in that part of the draft, especially in the third and the three fourths.”

One factor that helps in drafting players in that range is the clarity the coaching staff and personnel staff have in what a fit looks like for the Rams on offense, defense, and special teams.

“We know what we’re looking for and then we just have to sit down,” Snead said. “Because I think when you’re specific with your fits in what you’re looking for, you can manage — especially those in that subset of picks — and try to find four contributors in that area.”

The Rams did go through a somewhat similar process last year and were successful with it. As Snead pointed out, L.A. drafted a pair of starters in wide receiver Cooper Kupp and safety John Johnson III. It won’t necessarily be easy, but the Rams would like to replicate that kind of success in 2018.

“I think we really have to scrutinize the players that are going to be in and around that third round pick and early fourth rounders and make sure we make the most out of them,” Snead said. “Historically, you can. Last year we got Cooper Kupp and John Johnson in the third round. You’d love to repeat that. Hard to do sometimes, but that will be the goal and you have to really take advantage of those slots and make it work.”

canadaram wrote:

If anyone has Sirius Radio I’d highly recommend listening to at least some of the draft on the radio. I always listen to the entire first round on NFL Radio. I also record ESPN’s and the NFL Network’s coverage and watch those later. Sirius’s coverage is far more extensive than than the tv networks. Pat Kirwin, Jim Miller and Gil Brandt have all spent time interviewing the prospects, they’ve been to Senior Bowl and Brandt has been to many of the Pro Days. They all have a decent feel for the needs of each team and Brandt always seems to have some inside information that no one else has access to. If you haven’t tried it out, give it a shot and let me know what you think. Or don’t do it, just watch it on your tv. What do I care?

You know what would be fun? If any things worth posting show up in your Sirius broadcast, post em here. Not saying take notes and write an exhaustive transcript. Just toss us a cool bone or two, anything that strikes you as interesting.

PFF: Los Angeles Rams 2018 offseason moves

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-state-of-the-franchise-2018-rams

One of the busiest teams since the 2018 league year began, the Los Angeles Rams bolstered their defense, shipped away a playmaker (or two) and brought back key players who put forth career years in 2017.

While we wrote about their aggressive offseason moves earlier this year, after their signing of Ndamukong Suh, the Rams are firmly on the radar for a deep and lengthy playoff run in 2018. Perhaps going under-looked, is their franchise-tagging of cornerback-turned-safety Lamarcus Joyner who registered a career-high 90.3 overall grade last season. Joyner is joined by Marcus Peters, Aqib Talib, Nickell Robey-Coleman and burgeoning star in second-year safety John Johnson III to arguably form the league’s best secondary as a whole while also holding the league’s top interior defender duo in Suh and Aaron Donald.

With their aggressive offseason approach, the Rams have set themselves up to have a successful 2018 campaign while they can also look to the draft to add some depth and a key player or two at certain positions that could become an upgrade. What do PFF Senior Analysts Steve Palazzolo and Sam Monson think of their offseason so far?

FYI. For slightly older material and discussions, the April draft thread #1 is here: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/rams-draft-april-thread-1/

Aaron Donald on verge of being highest-paid defender?

Chris Wesseling

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000925817/article/snead-aaron-donald-on-verge-of-being-toppaid-defender

As Tinsel Town’s Showtime Rams dominate the NFL’s offseason news cycle, inquiring minds want to know how the organization will squeeze Aaron Donald’s impending mega contract into a salary cap suddenly saturated with star power.

General manager Les Snead assured reporters last week that a new deal for Donald has already been budgeted into the team’s financial plans.

The Rams front office is under no illusion that the most valuable non-quarterback in the league will sign for anything less than top dollar.

Appearing on The MMQB Podcast with Peter King, Snead casually acknowledged that Donald is poised to supersede new teammate Ndamukong Suh as the game’s highest-paid defender.

“The nice thing about Ndamukong,” Snead offered, “at age 31 and somebody who’s been the highest-paid defensive player in football, winning was very important in this phase of his career.

“He’s well aware that when you can partner, be beside someone who is on the verge of being the highest-paid defensive player in football, then that’s a really good thing. I guess you’d say two is better than one.”

That makes sense. Over the past two years, Donald has surpassed a suddenly snakebit J.J. Watt as the dominant defensive force, featuring unparalleled speed off the snap.

The Rams have made it clear that Donald’s contract extension is a top priority, with team sources assuring NFL Network’s Steve Wyche that no player acquired this offseason will upset the budget already set aside for the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

Here’s where it gets tricky, though: Donald isn’t the lone upper-echelon defensive star in search of a market-setting contract.

Raiders pass rusher Khalil Mack, the 2016 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, is also seeking a lucrative new deal.

Whereas Donald spent last summer as a training-camp holdout in search of a pay day, it’s fair to wonder if his representatives will switch gears this time around, waiting for Mack to set a market soon to be surpassed by his counterpart in Los Angeles.