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znModeratorRAMS’ SECONDARY ADDITIONS: This unit is now the NFL’s best
Bucky Brooks
When the Los Angeles Rams acquired two-time Pro Bowler CB Marcus Peters in a trade a few weeks ago, I thought their secondary joined the ranks of the elite. Now, after the ensuing additions of Aqib Talib and Sam Shields, this unit looks like it’s the best in the business.
No disrespect to the talented quintet in Jacksonville, but the secondary for #MobSquad is downright scary, with Peters, Talib and Shields joining safeties Lamarcus Joyner and John Johnson to form a five-man crew that can completely shut down the passing game on the perimeter. While some will dismiss that talk as me gushing over a pair of acquisitions that seemingly came out of the blue, a quick look at the numbers suggests that the Rams’ secondary is legitimately the best unit in the league, particularly with Peters and Talib on the island.
In the wake of the Talib trade, NFL Research dug up the top five cornerbacks in passer rating allowed since 2015 (min. 230 targets) — Peters ranked first at 60.7, while Talib placed fifth at 68.0. In addition, Peters leads the NFL in interceptions (19) and passes defensed (55) during that span, which covers his three years in the league. While the skeptics and naysayers chalk up the 25-year-old’s takeaway prowess to wild gambles and guesses, Peters is a calculated risk-taker with an outstanding feel for route recognition.
“Peters is a lot smarter than people think,” a Chiefs assistant coach told me. “He puts a lot of time into his preparation. He might act nonchalant about it, but he studies the tape and he makes a lot of plays because he knows what to expect.
“His success as a young player isn’t by accident.”
Not to be outdone, Talib leads all active players with 10 career pick-sixes, and his 34 interceptions are the second-most in the league since 2008 (his rookie season). Although the five-time Pro Bowler’s game has slipped a tad in recent years, he is still a turnover machine with a knack for jumping routes in his area. Talib is one of the best “clue” corners (a defender who plays with vision on the QB and WRs to recognize and anticipate routes) in the game and his instincts have been refined through years of experience on the island. With Wade Phillips keenly aware of Talib’s game and his potential deficiencies — remember, they spent the 2015 and ’16 seasons together in Denver — the veteran corner can comfortably slide into a CB2 role, with Peters penciled in as the top dog at corner.
Shields gives the team another playmaker to put on the field as a nickel or dime corner. Despite missing almost two seasons of action due to a string of concussions, Shields was quite a player over the first six seasons of his career, having won a Super Bowl as a rookie and made the Pro Bowl in 2014. If the 30-year-old can return to anywhere near that level as a player, the Rams will have three ball magnets on the field in their sub-package. In a division where the quarterback play is rapidly improving, the presence of a playmaking threesome at corner could be the deciding factor in the NFC West race.
From a schematic standpoint, the Rams will continue to feature man-coverage tactics under Phillips, but we could see the corners spend more time using off technique. As clue corners, Peters and Talib are at their best when they are able to sit back at 8 or 9 yards and read the quarterback. They will key the quarterback’s drop to get an early jump on quick passes before turning their attention to multiple receivers in their area to diagnose the route combination. With a fierce, Aaron Donald-led pass rush generating pressure on the passer, the combination of gambling and guessing could lead to a bushel basket of turnover treats for the Rams.
That’s why I’m pushing my chips to the middle of the table when suggesting the #MobSquad has the No. 1 secondary in football, with Peters and Aqib suddenly joining forces in Los Angeles. The duo is so good at taking the ball way and blanketing receivers that quarterbacks will be forced to throw more passes between the hashes, where Joyner and Co. can swipe balls off tips and overthrows in congested areas. Given how the Rams’ offense is already capable of lighting up scoreboards across the league, the extra possessions generated from the league’s top secondary could pave the way for the team to make a trip to Super Bowl LIII
znModeratorIt wouldn’t take much, and you eliminate having to compete against other teams. I would think the issue would be more along the salary lines then compensation.
Whoever signs him would owe 3 M. That;s it, that’s what his contract gives him. There was 5 M guaranteed roster bonus which the Rams will just eat, then what’s left is 3 M in salary beyond that.
znModerator“Wade is another big influence. I definitely like his scheme and what he likes to do. I know I can fit in it.” – Sam Shields pic.twitter.com/4LJLzyskbd
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 9, 2018
znModeratorLeague Adjusting to McVay?: http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=22701917
Stephen A. expects down year from Goff Stephen A. Smith still isn’t sold on the Rams after acquiring CB Aqib Talib, as teams will be better prepared for Sean McVay’s offensive attack.
Well that depends. Is McVay as flexible as Pederson, who can adjust to adjustments and see where his system can expand, or is he a dogmatist with a set way of doing things that can be figured out?
Though as you said a lot of it depends on how much Goff can grow in a year.
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znModeratorYa know, this guy made the pro bowl not too long ago.
Yep he did. But what is he now? If he makes it, he’s a 3rd option and depth behind Taters and Pelib. Which I count as good.
Now that this is the George Allen Rams again.
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znModeratorCleveland Browns to trade for Bills QB Tyrod Taylor
Chris Wesseling
The Rams’ overhauled defense may have taken center stage in the week leading into the new league year, but Friday belongs to the Browns.
Just hours after landing wide receiver Jarvis Landry from Miami, Cleveland has pulled the trigger on two more trades.
The Browns have acquired Tyrod Taylor from the Bills in exchange for the No. 65 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports, via a source informed of the situation. In turn, new general manager John Dorsey dealt quarterback DeShone Kizer to the Packers, netting cornerback Damarious Randall in return, sources involved in the trade confirmed to Rapoport.
The Bills did well to land an early third-round pick for a player they weren’t intent on keeping. Buffalo is now flush with five choices (Nos. 21, 22, 53, 56, 65) in the draft’s first 65 selections. General manager Brandon Beane has the ammunition for a trade that will net the franchise a high-profile quarterback in next month’s draft.
From the Browns perspective, Taylor figures to slot in as the veteran bridge quarterback, keeping the seat warm for the quarterback of the future — likely drafted with the No. 1 or No. 4 pick. Striking before the onset of free agency also allowed Dorsey to outflank the competition, eliminating a fallback option for the Broncos and Cardinals.
Although Taylor’s penchant for leaving throws on the field led to a midseason benching last season, he balances that deficiency by avoiding turnovers, moving the chains with his legs and making big plays via the deep ball. He kept a less talented Bills outfit in games, managing an admirable 22-20 record in 42 starts over the past three years.
His addition is bad news for former Bengals quarterback AJ McCarron, previously viewed as the apple of Hue Jackson’s eye. On the other hand, the arrival of a veteran field general is good news for All Pro left tackle Joe Thomas, who is wrestling with the idea of retirement.
The Browns’ 0-16 record last season belies a competitive week-to-week outfit undone by untimely turnovers and poor decision-making in the red zone. Even if Taylor isn’t the long-term answer in Cleveland, he offers respectability as an instant upgrade on the raw, mistaken-prone Kizer.
With Taylor under center and a first-round pick likely to be waiting in the wings, Kizer was the odd man out. Dorsey spun an expected third-string quarterback into Randall, a former first-round pick with 30 NFL starts under his belt and the talent to push Jason McCourty as the No. 1 cornerback in Cleveland.
Armed with Taylor, Landry, a full season of Josh Gordan and a stockpile of early-round draft picks, Jackson’s offense is primed for a dramatic turnaround in 2018. A coach who spent 2017 on the hot seat suddenly has a fighting chance to pull out of a 1-31 tailspin.
znModeratorznModeratorznModeratorI'm told besides the #Browns, other teams that were interested in making a trade with the #Bills for Tyrod Taylor were the #Cardinals and #Broncos. #Browns offer of a third-round pick easily trumped what other two teams were offering.
— Vic Carucci (@viccarucci) March 9, 2018
znModeratoralyoshamucci wrote:
Guess we don’t need a corner high anymore … I’m doing this in 2 sections … top 5 and dart board …
I think we resign Watkins.
Top 5
1) Harold Landry Edge… smooth movement skills, 4.6 40 … burst, bend and flatten to the QB. I think he’s probably a better overall player than Vic Beasley was coming out but the higher profile athletes are marginalizing his ability. I was hoping he wouldn’t come out last year so we’d have a shot at him this year. Backup plan: Lorenzo Carter
We may even be able to trade down here and still get him or Carter or Key.3) Tim Settle NT. Rough combine will have him slide. Great. He’s a nose tackle. I need him to “not move” better than he “moves.”
4) Will Clapp OC. Center and OG that can backup a year if needed.
4) Micah Kiser ILB … signal caller and “heart of the defense” kinda guy that should go higher … but the position has a lot of talent this year.
Dart Board My guess is that these will be used to get picks in 19′ or to move up in this draft … but since they’re here, I’ll use them.
6) Durham Smythe TE … bad combine, high talent at the position, he slides.
6) Joe Noteboom DT Kinda pedestrian but could be a decent RT and finish the game at OLT in a pinch.
6) Travon Young rOLB This guy gets no love, no idea why.
6) Godwin Iqwebuike S Liked him for years, tested better than I thought.
6) Daurice Fountain WR Put on a show at the East West game and got no combine invite.
I’ll wait to pick up CBs and more DTs in UDFA to fill our final roster spot or compete for the practice squad.
Also, when it comes to ILB, TE, OC and NT .. I have backup plans in Jason Cabinda ILB, Ryan Izzo, Khalil Mckenzie NT, and Brian Allen OC
znModeratorWell, he’s no Chris Massey but I guess he will,have to do.
Ah…the bitter, seething antagonism.
It’s Bulger/Warner all over again.
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znModeratorBonsignore: Aggressive Rams acting like team that knows it’s on cusp of Super Bowl
VINCENT BONSIGNORE
The best track and field coaches will tell you races begin long before the actual gun goes off. Training. Mental preparation. Strategic planning. All of those lead-up factors play a major role in the eventual outcome. And while no race is ever won before it actually starts, many have certainly been lost.
Clearly, the Rams are trying to avoid the latter.
And they are doing it by acting every bit like a franchise situated in the second-biggest market in the country, one that genuinely believes it’s on the cusp of Super Bowl contention and is confident in the leadership and culture in place to add difference-making players with the kind of bold, combustible personalities that sometimes accompany them.
The new league year doesn’t technically begin for another five days, but when the gun sounds to set off free agency and the opportunity for teams to reshape their rosters and fill needs and better position themselves for the 2018 season, the work general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay and Vice President of Football Operations Kevin Demoff have put in prior to the actual frenzy has already them a major leg up on the process of building off last year’s surprising 11-5 season.
The Rams are thinking big.
Like Super Bowl big.
And they are doing so with a level of intelligence and calculation often lacking when teams take big, mighty swings for the fences only to be undone by their own aggressiveness.
The Rams are being bold and smart. That’s a fine line that often gets crossed.
By agreeing to trade for Chiefs and Broncos Pro Bowl cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib and trading away linebackers Robert Quinn and Alec Ogletree and using their franchise tag to guarantee the return of safety Lamarcus Joyner, the Rams have already addressed a major area of need while preserving the financial flexibility to do even more.
Peters and Talib provide Wade Phillips with two critical components for his 3-4 defense: A pair of elite cornerbacks whose coverage skills will create more opportunities for the front seven to pressure the quarterback. And they make as much money combined (about $12 million) as it likely would have cost to retain free agent to be Trumaine Johnson by himself.
Thank You!!! pic.twitter.com/QySNPhr1on
— AqibTalib21 (@AqibTalib21) March 9, 2018
Meanwhile, both are under contract for the next two seasons on their base salaries. To put that in perspective, just imagine what it would cost in salary and signing bonuses to reel in players of Peters’ or Talib’s caliber on the open market. Let alone two.
Yes, both come with big personalities and emotional levels that sometimes need checking, but the Rams believe they have the necessary leadership in place to manage them accordingly.
Joyner’s return keeps intact a young, effective safety pairing — along with John Johnson — equally adept in pass coverage and run support. Throw in former Packers Pro Bowl cornerback Sam Shields, who is returning to football after sitting out all last year recovering from multiple concussions, and the Rams have the foundation of a dominant secondary.
Maybe even the best in football.
And while trading away Quinn and Ogletree is certainly a net loss in the locker room and, to some extent, defensive production, neither were ideal fits in the 3-4 scheme, and their departures preserve salary cap flexibility while increasing the Rams draft arsenal.
When all the dust settles once the trades are officially recorded — and the likely release of veteran wide receiver Tavon Austin is added — the Rams will have a shade under $40 million in cap space, and ten picks in the upcoming draft.
Think about that for a second: The Rams have already dramatically improved their secondary — an area that required the most attention this offseason — and increased their draft picks by one, while remaining net neutral on cap space. They have just as much money to spend under the cap as they anticipated, only with far less needs to address.
No longer in need of another cornerback to play opposite Johnson — or two if he left as a free agent — the Rams can focus on finding replacements for Quinn and Ogletree and beefing up the interior of their defensive line either in free agency or through the draft.
And keep in mind there are young players on the current roster they believe are ready to step in as starters. Samson Ebukam and Cory Littleton will be in the mix at outside linebacker and inside linebacker after both flashed last season in their first and second years.
Most importantly, they have the flexibility to match any prudent contract offer free agent wide receiver Sammy Watkins might get on the open market (provided it isn’t an irresponsible overpay) and, peeking ahead down the line this year and beyond, they are well positioned to retain core players Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, Jared Goff and Peters on eventual long-term deals.
The Rams are acting big — and shrewd — all right.
And the race hasn’t even started.
znModeratorThe Great West Virginia Wildcat is the single most important labor victory in the US since at least the early 1970s.
And from another thread:
At a town hall on Wednesday night, the survivors of the shooting in Parkland, Florida, made Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) squirm with a series of pointed questions about his support for the Second Amendment.
It’s things like that. That’s why I never say the dark side has won, that the fight is over, that hope has no chance, that there’s no point to the struggle, that it’s endgame and we lost.
There is always SOMETHING around the corner.
Sometimes it’s scattered and beset, but, something is always there, waiting to happen.
If you have an issue that most still seem blind to…well, give it time. Hang in there. Be patient and be of good cheer.
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znModeratorThanks, zn.
Bookmarked.
Cause I will tell you this. I feel your pain. So much so that I have not watched network, cable, or local news for over a decade. Not a lick of it. Not even a little bit. And news radio never gets near me. I couldn’t even name the local news radio stations and to find them I would have to go through the whole dial from scratch. I don’t read newspapers either, with rare exceptions when I am eating breakfast in a diner before work and just killing time. And usually I am just fine in a diner without doing that, so that only happens 2-3 times a year.
How do I stay informed then? First, my facebook page is full of different “friends” who like to post articles, and usually it’s not the mainstream press. I use this forum for the same reason. Plus I browse sites like the one I linked for you, and will even browse headlines on yahoo news feed, though that’s much iffier. I will also browse the jokesters like John Oliver etc. Those things combined do me just fine.
I dislike mainstream news so much that I just simply will have nothing to do with it. My reasons are probably pretty much the same reasons you dislike it. My own personal solution is to completely ignore it, and I really do mean pretty much completely.
znModeratorThe divorce between Talib and the #Broncos was amicable. They have agreed to divide all of Michael Crabtree’s jewelry equally, per @AdamSchefter
— ThatsGoodSports (@BrandonPerna) March 9, 2018
znModeratorznModeratorRichard Sherman released by Seattle Seahawks
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000920383/article/richard-sherman-released-by-seattle-seahawks
Richard Sherman’s marvelous and memorable run in Seattle is over.
Sherman told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero he has been released by the Seahawks after seven seasons in the Pacific Northwest. Sherman’s departure opens up $11 million in salary-cap space for the roster-churning ‘Hawks.
During an interview with KIRO-FM’s Gee Scott on Friday, Sherman said, “We’ve had conversations and they’ve told me that they’re going to allow me to go into free agency.”
But they want me to understand that the door’s open for me to return. They’re just trying to do what they need to do to clear up space and give me and them the best chance at free agency, and I’ve got to appreciate and respect that.”
NFL Network’s Michael Silver also noted Wednesday on NFL Total Access that Sherman’s official departure would come before the weekend.
Coach Pete Carroll said at last week’s NFL Scouting Combine there was “nothing specific” to report on the concept of trading Sherman. He’s not an easy player to move right now, set to turn 30 later this month and coming off a ruptured Achilles that forced him to miss the final seven games of the season.
Sherman also underwent a recent operation to clean up his left Achilles, but the three-time All-Pro expects to be back on the field come June.
Whether or not he returns to Seattle boils down to his market, but the Seahawks are clearly open to moving on from one of the team’s most celebrated defenders. Along with cutting Sherman, Seattle shipped defensive lineman Michael Bennett to the Eagles and could be without injured pass-rusher Cliff Avril and safety Kam Chancellor — another reminder the team’s vaunted Legion of Boom is all but history.
Sherman’s celebrated run in Seattle was nothing short of stunning, powerful and captivating.
The four-time Pro Bowler still leads the league with 32 interceptions since entering the NFL in 2011 as a fifth-round draft pick. Sherman also stands above the rest in passes defensed (99) and completion percentage allowed (47.4) during that span (min. 300 targets), per NFL Research.
The passes defensed mark stands out because Sherman spent games at a time with quarterbacks simply avoiding him in coverage. If he’s not the same player he was a few seasons ago, receivers still fear his next-level ability to wipe away pass-catchers from the game plan.
Off the field, Sherman was equally colorful, curious and outspoken, quickly morphing into one of the league’s biggest stars on a team that encouraged him to be himself.
If he doesn’t return at a discount, Sherman immediately becomes one of the most impactful Seahawks in team history. Not an easy figure for fans to say farewell to.
znModeratorDo you have this link? IMO all lefties should: http://buzzflash.com/
znModeratorI asked Wade Phillips in Indy how he felt about Marcus Peters. He told me, I love all my corners. … Maybe GM Les Snead misunderstood and sent him ALL the corners.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2018
znModeratorRestructure doesn’t mean a cut in salary. Hell still get his money, but it will be more in a signing bonus, or something, but the got will look less for us though.
I doubt the Rams would do that. It would mean subtracting cap space from the future when they will have to be paying both Donald and Goff.
I am glad you used “restructure” in its real sense, and mea culpa for misreading you on that.
znModeratorI do see Sim’s point but it was it was 4 wrs. 2 TEs an OLB + the OT and C 3rd down RB a slot corner allowing Joyner to slide to Safety a CB and a Safety iow Fisher had a great running back and T.A. Foles was the Superbowl mvp and Keenum led the vikings to the NFC championship Goff flourished under Mcvay Keenum flourished under Shurmer and Foles won a Superbowl with about the same number of pieces as McVay added. Hayes is loyal to Fish as is expected but his evaluation is skewed.
I think Sim’s evaluation is right on. So this is just what the other side says:
Keenum did pretty well with the Rams considering that in 2016 he had no running game. He had no running game because according to McGinnis Gurley was playing hurt (remember he did not practice all summer in 2016) though whether he was playing hurt or not, he was certainly not himself–that was visible in his play. Keenum had a better situation in Minn and that was due to things that are just not under a coach’s control. Either way with CK I saw the same guy in 2017 with the same limitations as before in much better circumstances—the team had not moved (and that was a HUGE factor in 2016), the Vikes could run, they had a veteran OL, he had some weapons. I was a big advocate of CK’s in 2016 and nothing he did in 2017 surprised me.
Foles did with the Eagles what he always does. Some abysmally poor games mixed in with some good ones. That’s just as true of 2017 as it was of 2015. It’s just that the order was reversed. The Eagles coaching staff did a good job with Foles in the superbowl, albeit against a defense that was subpar, but anyone who traded for NF now with the hopes of having a real qb would be bitterly disappointed.
The thing with Joyner? It was a different system that used the safeties differently and Alexander and McDonald fit that nicely. In fact Joyner was on the field more than most strongside LBs because they were in nickel a lot and Joyner was a GREAT nickel. That worked with that defense. Even in 2016 with all the problems they had they were 9th in total defense and 10th against the pass and 9th in yards allowed per passing attempt.
znModeratorTrade: Broncos deal CB Aqib Talib to the Rams
Barnwell
Grade for Broncos: B
Grade for Rams: B-The Rams appeared to enter the offseason with serious question marks at cornerback, but in a matter of two weeks, they’ve pieced together what might be the best cornerback duo in football. After trading for Marcus Peters, the Rams added another playmaking veteran on the outside by dealing a fifth-round pick to the Broncos for Talib, whose departure from Denver had been rumored since the end of the regular season.
Denver had clearly made the decision to promote fifth-year corner Bradley Roby into an every-down role at the expense of Talib, who failed to pick off more than one pass for the first time in his professional career last season. Given that decision, John Elway did well to create a market and pick up a fifth-round pick for a player the Broncos seemed likely to release. With Roby and Chris Harris Jr., the Broncos should still be set at cornerback for years to come, and Denver can put the $11 million they owed Talib toward a new deal for Roby and/or their bid for Kirk Cousins.
Wade Phillips must be excited to reunite with his former star pupil. There are certainly signs of decline from Talib, who had a particularly rough game against Alshon Jeffery when the Broncos played the Eagles last season, but he’s still an above-average cornerback as he enters his age-32 campaign. That lone pick was a Dak Prescott throw he took 103 yards back to the house, so the wheels are still there.
At two years and $19 million, the Rams aren’t paying an exorbitant amount for Talib at his current level of play, since the going rate for solid 1A cornerbacks in free agency these days is $10 million per season. If Les Snead restructures Talib’s deal and adds guaranteed money after this season, I would be a little concerned, but this is a logical acquisition for the Rams. Throw in the low-cost addition of cornerback Sam Shields, who sat out in 2017 as he recovered from a concussion, and the Rams probably have the best set of corners in the game.
Watching the Los Angeles defense is going to be fun next year. Peters and Talib are absolute ball hawks who fool quarterbacks into throws they regret from the moment the ball leaves their hand, but they also take risks and get beat by double-moves more than most cornerbacks of their ilk. It will be on franchised free safety Lamarcus Joyner to clean up when his cornerbacks get beat, and on the Aaron Donald-led pass rush to get home quickly and allow L.A.’s two star cornerbacks to break on the football.[
znModeratorJim Everett@Jim_Everett
This sure ain’t the Fisher’s @RamsNFL!Eugene Sims @EugeneSims2
He don’t have to take credit cause he built a damn good team tooMcvay added a couple of pieces to the team fisher built (Olineman) to be exact and 2 WR and himself as Offensive Co
Also think he’s a damn good leader.. we had a key part missing that we didn’t capitalize on
@#$%& happens but know we had a Offense but no OC. Fish took care of the family know that.
What i mean by that he trusted the guys that was under him. He gave them opportunity to move up on the coaching side.
znModeratorWith Aqib Talib Trade, Rams and Broncos Show That Neither Is Content to Settle for Mediocrity
Les Snead is at it again, this time acquiring Aqib Talib in a second statement move in as many weeks for the Rams, creating one of the NFL’s most dominant secondaries. In Denver, this clearing of cap space signals only one thing: A likely run for Kirk Cousins.
With Thursday night’s trade of Aqib Talib to the Rams, both Los Angeles and Denver showed the NFL world at large that it’s entirely possible to remake your franchise overnight if you’re aggressive enough.
Consider what is in the works:
In the trade, the Broncos received a fifth-round pick and managed to get the Rams to digest Talib’s contract as is: $11 million for the 2018 season, and $8 million for the ’19 season. This puts them over $35 million in projected space, according to Overthecap.com, and in better condition to make a run at QB Kirk Cousins.
The Rams, since last Monday, have amassed arguably the league’s second-best cornerback tandem out of thin air—and without mortgaging the near future. Their 2018 draft coffer is still robust, having lost just one significant pick for the right to take Marcus Peters from the Chiefs.
For general managers who spend their media opportunities telling reporters and fans that this is a process, treating the navigation of their roster like a mathematician taking a crack at the Millennium Prize Problems, both Les Snead and John Elway represent the antithesis. When the climate is right, there is a chance to reshape your approach significantly while not drastically altering the economic health of your club.
Assuming the Broncos also part ways with running back C.J. Anderson, they’ll have a formidable amount of first-year cap space (nearly $40 million) to offer Cousins, plus a lineup that still includes Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders on offense, and Chris Harris, Bradley Roby and Brandon Marshall on defense. As attractive as the Vikings’ offer could be, Elway has put himself in striking distance both financially and competitively.
Assuming the Rams are done wheeling and dealing this offseason (which isn’t a safe bet given the roll Snead has been on) the team still has the following picks in the 2018 draft coming up: 1 (23), 3 (87), 4 (111), 4 (135), 5 (160), 6 (176), 6 (183), 6 (194), 6 (195) and 6 (198).
There is a downside to all of this. Obviously, the Rams would not have gotten a pair of All-Pro cornerbacks at Dollar General prices if there weren’t concerns. Peters was suspended by the Chiefs and was also thrown off his college football team. Though Kansas City notoriously placed a premium on talent over character, and maybe didn’t do enough to foster Peters during his time with the Chiefs, the Rams have been forewarned. Talib is 32 years old, and throughout his career has not been unfamiliar with the league office’s disciplinary program despite his reputation as a studious, lock-down defender.
Obviously, the Broncos could whiff on Cousins and hamstring their defense—by far their strongest asset—heading into a 2018 season where the division could be more wide open than ever.
But it’s the distaste for mediocrity, whether on a micro level in Los Angeles (their cornerback situation) or the macro level in Denver (their entire offense) that makes this a beautiful moment in the NFL offseason.
We are coming off a year where the most situationally aggressive NFL teams—the Eagles, Jaguars and Patriots—all wound up among the league’s final four. Their roster not only churns at the bottom third, but at the top, where premium, in-prime talent gets combined with flexible coaching to create a dominant force.
There are plenty of general managers in Elway’s position who would dig into the Paxton Lynch pick and watch the franchise slowly sink into deeper water while a base of season ticket holders waits for him to develop. There are plenty of general managers in Snead’s position who would still be taking a victory lap, clapping back at everyone who scoffed at the hiring of a 31-year-old head coach and the drafting of Jared Goff the year before.
Neither of these executives will rest. It could very well be their undoing in the end, but at least it will be one hell of a ride.
znModeratorAnd if he could restructure?
If by “restructure” you mean the fan fantasy of asking players to give back money from their contracts…uh, no.
Why would he do that.
The coaches and GM knew what his contract was. There were other ways to handle this that would have cost less (draft pick). They traded for his contract and if the cap doesn;t work (though it probably will) that;s on the GM and coaches. Players aren’t obligated to get the coaches and GM off the hook that way.
znModeratorFor Rams, signing Sam Shields is a gamble worth taking
Alden Gonzalez
The Los Angeles Rams signed cornerback Sam Shields on Thursday. The former Green Bay Packer has been a Pro Bowler but spent most of the past two years away from the NFL because of concussions. Here’s a closer look at the signing:
Grade: B. This is a prototypical low-risk, high-reward signing. The Rams are buying low on Shields. If he gives them anything close to what he gave the Packers earlier in his career, it’s a steal.
What it means: The meaning of this signing changed completely in a matter of hours. Shortly after adding Shields, the Rams acquired All-Pro cornerback Aqib Talib from the Denver Broncos for a 2018 fourth-round pick. Talib joins another shutdown corner in Marcus Peters on the outside, which means that Shields — along with Kayvon Webster, who is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon — will serve as depth. Shields can try to regain his form without the pressure of producing immediately.
What’s the risk: The obvious risk is that concussions continue to keep Shields off the field. He hasn’t played since suffering his latest concussion in the opener of the 2016 season, which was the fourth of his NFL career and his second in a span of nine months. The risks lie in Shields’ long-term health, not necessarily the Rams’ immediate plans. At his best, Shields was a speedy matchup corner who was able to compile 18 interceptions from 2010 to 2015. He can help make the Rams special at cornerback.
znModeratorznModeratorznModeratorAlden Gonzalez@Alden_Gonzalez
So, Wade Phillips will have the game’s best pass rusher (Aaron Donald), perhaps the best cornerback duo (Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib), and one of the game’s premier ball-hawking safeties (Lamarcus Joyner). Should be fun.Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters have combined for 7 Pro Bowls and 2 first-team All-Pros. They’re each signed through 2019 and will combine to cost about $30M for two seasons. The Rams will also probably get a third-round compensatory pick for Trumaine Johnson in next year’s draft.
Another part of this: The Rams don’t have to really worry about CB in the draft, especially not with their first-round pick. Can get a linebacker or, if they’d like, a center.
Yes, you can rule out Trumaine Johnson’s return to the Rams now. His market will be robust, and the Rams have always preferred not to sign him at the top of his market. Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters together will cost $12.74M against the Rams’ cap in 2018.
Yes, the Rams still want to bring back Nickell Robey-Coleman. He’s important to them in the slot.
Sam Shields worked out at the Rams’ facility on Tuesday and impressed the coaches enough to make them believe he can provide depth, perhaps even compete for playing time. From 2012 to 2016, Peters generated either an INT or a PD on 16.2 percent of targets thrown into his coverage, fifth-best among CBs during that stretch, according to Pro Football Focus. He has 18 INTs in 80 career regular-season games.
Football Outsiders identified the top needs for all 32 teams. For the Rams, they listed edge rusher. ($) …
The market for edge rushers looks very dry, which makes me wonder if the Rams will give strong consideration to bringing back Connor Barwin to take some snaps away from a still-developing Samson Ebukam. He’s comfortable in Wade’s scheme.
Four teams have expressed at least some interest in former Rams WR Stedman Bailey, who is on the comeback trail. But no contract offers just yet.
@DanGrazianoESPN predicts a 5-year, $77.5M contract for Trumaine Johnson and a 1-year, $13M contract for Sammy Watkins. The Rams would certainly sign up for the latter. ($) …
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This is how I’m going to start keeping track of the Rams’ 2018 and 2019 draft picks. pic.twitter.com/SaOAAtrNRH
— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) March 9, 2018
znModeratorsecondary is set. looks like they’re going to be able to afford watkins.
I doubt they go pure BPA or even close. I think the pick is either going to be a linebacker or a DT.
They still need to sign robey-coleman too.
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