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znModeratorRams to put emphasis on fixing offense through free agency, draft
VINCENT BONSIGNORE
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-745521-mcvay-offensive.html
INDIANAPOLIS – Like the super smart kid in class who teachers sometimes neglect in order to tend to their less-gifted students, new Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips is probably feeling a bit overlooked these days.
It’s one of the double-edged swords of taking over a unit that, frankly, is already playoff caliber
Especially when the group it has been lining up against every day in practice is, well, challenged.
As the Rams work through free agency and draft preparations – including this week in Indianapolis at the NFL draft combine – so much of the focus and talk and concentration is on lifting an offense that ranks dead last in nearly every category that Phillips sometimes feels invisible.
To the point of speaking up.
“And as any good coach will do, (he’ll say) ‘Hey, don’t forget about us over here. We’re playing defense too,’” is how Rams general manager Les Snead put it.
Good luck with all that, Wade.
No matter how many times he raises his hand or jumps up and down or tries to bring attention to himself, the Rams need to ignore him as much as possible.
Nothing personal, good sir.
The Rams won’t completely shun Phillips this offseason – the change to his 3-4 scheme preference creates a natural need for specific additions – but let’s not get things twisted.
They arrived here in Indianapolis with a particular game plan. And it’s one they’ll carry into free agency next week and the draft seven weeks later in Philadelphia.
It’s time to pull the offense into the 21st century, once and for all.
That was the driving force behind firing Jeff Fisher last November.
And it was the motivation in identifying the offensive minded Sean McVay as Fisher’s replacement, and then locking him up almost immediately after first meeting with him.
“We’ve got to improve the offense,” Snead said, rather obviously.
Step one in that direction was taken care of when they hired McVay, a 30-year-old ball of energy and enthusiasm who spent the last three years as Washington’s offensive coordinator and whose entire coaching roots are planted exclusively on that side of the ball.
Step two was McVay hiring an offensive staff heavy on quarterback development experience and with strong backgrounds in designing offenses.
That includes new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, quarterback coach Greg Olson and offensive line coach Aaron Kromer.
Along with McVay, they’ll form a virtual offensive think tank
Now comes the really fun part.
And probably the hardest.
It’s time to find the necessary talent to carry out McVay’s vision.
Which, at the risk of putting poor Wade Phillips on mute for now, means the Rams focusing almost entirely on offense this offseason.
The needs are too vast.
Like capable blockers to protect second-year quarterback Jared Goff.
And perimeter skill players to surround Goff with, preferably ones who strike fear in the hearts of opposing defenses and, as absurd as it might sound, can be counted on to run precise routes and hold onto the ball when targeted.
Maybe the fresh breath of offensive air McVay will blow on the Rams will transform previously ineffective players into assets.
Certainly Goff will make the natural progression in his second year. And third-year running back Todd Gurley is much too talented to suffer through another season like the last. The offensive line still tilts to the young side, so upside remains.
But across the rest of the board, improvement will require bringing in better players.
And that process begins now.
After spending the last month taking a deep dive into the Rams present roster – deciding who fits and who doesn’t – and talking through philosophies, preferable scheme fits and desired skill sets, Snead and McVay and their staffs now get a chance to put potential replacements to all those theories and prototypes they’ve been talking about.
“That’s why it’s been beneficial to have Les be able to kind of give me a jump start on, what are our needs?” McVay said. “And then is this something we feel we might be able to address in the draft or in free agency? Because just like in both, there are certain positions where there’s a little more depth in free agency. Certain positions where there’s a little more depth in the draft. And being able to use those two ways of acquiring players to improve is going to be really important for us.”
The Rams won’t find all their answers in Indianapolis, where more than 300 of the best college football prospects are gathered, a handful of whom will soon find their way to Los Angeles.
Nor will all their problems get fixed in free agency, which opens next week and offers a group of serviceable offensive lineman and wide receivers who offer immediate upgrades from last year.
But it’s a start.
And they can take a big step forward by drafting and spending their cap space money wisely.
In an encouraging sign, it looks like the Rams are ready to pounce on the free agent market. And Snead specifically mentioned the wide receiver position as a focus.
“We’re confident that we knowmarket and who, in that market, fits Sean the most, and from there we’ve got to wait and see what happens next week,” Snead said. “But we’re confident we’re prepared to test that market, and that we’re prepared to test the market in the draft as well. We know we want to get better on offense.”
If that means sticking Wade Phillips in the corner or Snead and McVay clasping their ears to tune him out, so be it.
znModeratorMcVay, Snead in Sync as NFL Combine Begins
Myles Simmons
INDIANAPOLIS — The 2017 Combine has arrived, with coaches, general managers, scouts, media, and league personnel all descending on the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium for one of the NFL’s marquee offseason events.
While Sean McVay has been to his share of Combines, this year marks his first as a head coach. Speaking to the media Thursday morning, McVay said his obligations in 2017 aren’t too different from what they’ve been in the past as Washington’s offensive coordinator.
“You know, really, this is the only thing that’s different, in terms of the coordinator approach,” McVay said, referring to speaking with the media. “And then I’ll be here the entire week with the defense.”
The Combine is, of course, one of the crucial checkpoints for incoming rookies because it gives teams a chance to get to know them not only through their on-field drills, but also through medical evaluations and in-person interviews. With McVay working to assemble his staff and get acquainted with Los Angeles’ current roster, the head coach said he’s relied on Snead to help get him up to speed on this year’s talent crop.
“That’s why it’s been beneficial to have Les be able to kind of give me a jump start on, what are our needs? And then is this something we feel we might be able to address in the draft or in free agency?” McVay said. “Because just like in both, there are certain positions where there’s a little more depth in free agency, certain positions where there’s a little more depth in the draft. And being able to use those two ways of acquiring players to improve is going to be really important for us.”
Player acquisition is an area in which a strong working relationship between head coach and GM is key. While it’s only been a few weeks, McVay and Snead have begun to develop good chemistry. It’s something that even goes back to the interview process, where both men have said they discovered comfort in merging their individual plans for developing a winning franchise.
“Les and I’s relationship has been very good so far,” McVay said. “We’ve been in communication every single day, constantly talking about situations, scenarios, how we evaluate our players, what we’re trying to do to find players that fit our offensive and defensive schemes. And really feel fortunate to work with him and looking forward for this partnership for a long time.”
“I think philosophically we think very, very similarly,” Snead said Thursday. “But like anything, when you have a partner in fantasy football and you’re trying to decide who to insert in fantasy football, you may have a different running back or receiver than you’re buddy. But I think all of those things work together.”
As with any new partnership, Snead and McVay are stressing the need for open communication.
“It’s evolving, but we’re making it a priority to go, ‘These are the type of decisions we’re going to have to make.’ Not just personnel, but how you lead, the vision of each part,” Snead said. “All of those things — we’re sitting down right now and merging our philosophies. And through that, we’re finding that we think alike. You found that out during the interview process, as well.”
As the offseason progresses, it becomes even more important for Snead and McVay to remain in lockstep, as there are important decisions to be made across the board when it comes to personnel. That starts with free agency next week, but goes into the draft and beyond, as teams pick up undrafted free agents or even veterans who had yet to latch on with a team through the early goings of the offseason program.
“These four weeks are really special in terms of, you go in and you’re digging through your roster, free agency, and now the draft,” Snead said. “So you’re really working together — not only with Sean, but his staff trying to figure out what they’re trying to do in there schemes, what they’re type player fits that scheme, how do our players fit? Who’s available in free agency? Who’s available in the draft to help? And those moments start early and go late, and that where you really get that synergy.”
“The thing you feel great about with Les being where it’s a new staff coming in, he’s got a jump on kind of what the draft has available, where there’s depth at certain positions that we need to address,” McVay said. “And that’s going to dictate what we do in free agency, maybe we’re able to address a certain need in the draft because there is a little more depth at a certain spot. So we expect to acquire some good players both through free agency and the draft and it’s something we’re looking forward to.”
znModeratorI thought Walter Benn Michael initially had a point about analysis neglecting class. But to me since then it has become a far less effective “bashing point” among some. So I also agree very heavily with your last 2 posts. I personally think that the real historical situation in the USA means that those things are inseparable. I tend not to use the term “identity politics” because to me it’s an updated misuse of an older concept and I don’t like the way it’s now being used…and it’s now being used as a kind of slogany pejorative. If you look around no one is used the term “identity politics” in a positive sense. It’s always a basher term used by people who instead of saying class has been neglected, want to bash people for not making class the one central focus. So no one says “I am FOR identity politics.”
The REAL problem IMO is that those things–class, race, and gender–are often (if not always) pitted against one another in “divide and conquer” ways. So for example there’s white working class guys who think the problem is that people of color get benefits they don’t get and as a result they vote Trump (and IMO ignoring how race was a big part of Trump voting is just to abandon reality.)
That;s not easy stuff to sort out and is multi-complex, AND on top of it this problem is simply not new—it goes back to the aftermath of Bacon’s rebellion.
znModeratori don’t have a problem acquiring more offensive linemen.
Hey i.r. … I wasn’t disagreeing with you, I was more in “agree and then add more by changing the topic somewhat” mode.
I didn’t think you were against acquiring linemen the Vermeil way.
znModeratorSo has there been a better TV battle scene
But as far as the most ‘realistic’ battle scenes go
Since the evil Nittany laughingly violated WV’s rights and changed the topic to film and not just tv, I will add to SP Ryan by mentioning Letters from Iwo JIma. I also thought Glory and Platoon were good in this regard. None measure up to SPR but are worth a mention.
But then there’s a big difference between modern post-gunpowder warfare and old “edged weapon” warfare.
For one thing, in modern warfare, after a while, they figured out it’s a good idea to duck.
In old stone, bronze, iron, and steel warfare, you sooner or later had to face off man on man.
I don’t think anyone, in tv or film, captured that quite as well as GOT.
znModeratorMarch 4, 2017 at 12:21 am in reply to: the 2017 uni (whole thing) (still some gold on the jersey) #65813znModeratorRams’ revised uniforms are an awkward half-measure
Mike Florio
Rams’ revised uniforms are an awkward half-measure
The Rams blew a golden opportunity during their annual Color Rush game by not eradicating the gold from uniforms worn below blue helmets and white horns. For 2017 and 2018, the mistake will be repeated on a regular basis.
The good news? The team has dumped the gold from the helmets and the pants, re-embracing the white horns from the days of George Allen and Deacon Jones. The bad news? The team’s jerseys won’t be changing, for now.
It’s an awkward half-measure by necessity, because teams can’t abruptly change their jerseys — for reasons that relate more to merchandising than aesthetics. And so the new jerseys (presumably without gold) will arrive in 2019, and the two-phase uniform change will be completed.
Why not wait until 2019 to change the uniform at all? If the Rams had the L.A. market to themselves, maybe they would. With the Chargers now coming to town, the Rams have opted for the partial re-branding, with the full-blown white-and-blue uniforms likely coming when the Rams and Chargers christen the new stadium they will share.
znModeratorif that player has a chance to be exceptional, then go for it. but i don’t see any linemen available in the second round with the chance to be exceptional. the offensive line is young. maybe the coaching staff can develop them.
there’s gonna be guys on defense available who could be great players.
Just thinking out loud. Yes some of the guys on hand can step up…they were after all young…but there are actually a lot of ways to add linemen. I remember the Vermeil OLs and how he used every acquisition method available, all at the same time, to build a new line.
There are any number of ways to add linemen, and like Vermeil this bunch could easily use them all. One factor is that sometimes teams cut young linemen who are not that far off from developing. There are budget free agent types who step up (happens every year). And that’s without even mentioning high market free agency. They could draft some but I agree that the 2nd round might not be the place.
Remember, in 98/99, they used some of those methods to get Gruttadauria, McCollum, and Nutten.
Often the cuts, presumed cast-offs, and low budget free agents are guys the new coaches know from previous teams. So if you add up Olson, LaFleur, McVay, and Kromer, that’s 4 different teams where they might know the odd player or two who is the type who can drift between teams then stabilize in a new place.
The 4 teams are Washington, Jacksonville, Buffalo, and Atlanta. Each of those teams has at least 10 linemen, so there’s a chance for one or two to get cut loose when maybe they have some value. 2 of those teams have new head coaches, and sometimes with changing systems, guys can fall between the cracks.
For example, if you add up the regular roster, injured reserve, and the practice squad, Washington has 13 OL at this point.
..
March 3, 2017 at 9:42 pm in reply to: the offensive coaching staff … & updated: on the new offense #65806znModeratorMcVay to Implement West Coast-Based Offense
Myles Simmons
INDIANAPOLIS — It’s no secret the Rams have struggled on offense recently, finishing No. 32 in total yards each of the past two years. In the Los Angeles’ head coaching search, one of the most significant qualities the club looked for was an ability to create a cohesive, competitive offensive unit. That’s part of why the club landed on Sean McVay.
“Going back to when we were searching for a head coach, one of the things that stood out about Sean is — and I know it’s getting talked about at this Combine — the last two seasons that Kirk Cousins had,” general manager Les Snead said Thursday. “So, he’s taken a quarterback that was, hey, drafted in the mid rounds and wasn’t drafted to be a starter, and he’s probably the darling of the Combine for content for really one thing: His last two seasons were really productive.
“So there’s no doubt Sean’s offense has been successful,” Snead continued. “So we do think, just him coming in and setting up his system will help our team.”
Even so, McVay sought to temper any grandiose expectations for 2017 as he addressed the media on Thursday.
“I think really what we’re looking at is that daily improvement,” McVay said. “You know, we’re not going to make any promises, but we are going to focus on getting better every single day, focusing on our process, developing our standard of performance. And if we do that, then I think you’ll see those incremental improvements that will lead to big things over time.”
McVay described his offense as being based in the West Coast system, in large part because of what he’s learned from both Jon and Jay Gruden.
“I think when you look at some of the quick game, the way that you have that quick game, where you’re using the width of the field, have it become an extension of your run game, there’s some definite principles,” McVay said. “But I think really when you talk about West Coast it’s more of what is your verbiage and how you call plays and different things like that, so it is West Coast based in that regard.”
Generally, though, McVay’s aim is to marry the run and pass in order to make a cohesive unit that can score from anywhere on the field. But in order to do that, the offense has to stay what coaches term “on schedule” or “ahead of the chains” by avoiding lengthy second- and third-down situations.
“You know a lot of the things that we’ve been fortunate enough to do in Washington and some of the offenses I’ve been a part of, the play actions and the movement are where you can kind of create some of those explosive plays,” McVay said. “And then, obviously, being able to run the football is going to be a very important part of it, to stay in manageable third downs.”
“And then we’ll talk about being situational masters. We’ve got to do a great job in red zone, third down, and two minute,” McVay added. “Those will be the three main situations that we talk about with our offense specifically and, really, defense as well.”
While L.A. will certainly look at external options for improving its offense, McVay said there are players already on the Rams’ offense he’s looking forward to working with to further their development.
“You look at Todd Gurley, you look at Tavon Austin — two explosive playmakers and you can never have enough of those guys,” McVay said. “I see encouraging traits in Jared Goff and some guys up front. You look at Rob Havenstein, you look at a Tim Barnes, Rodger Saffold, you know Greg Robinson is showing signs.”
And so when it comes to building a competitive offense, Snead described a three-pronged approach the Rams will take over the course of the offseason.
“I think this: We’ve got to improve the offense,” Snead said. “And that could come by addition, it can come by subtractions, it can come by evolution, which is the less sexy guys from within.”
“I think there’s a lot of things that we’re looking to do moving forward, where it’s figuring out what do our players do best?” McVay said. “And then there’s also going to players we’ll acquire in free agency and the draft that are going to try to help that process of becoming a good offense.”
znModeratorIt was pretty good.
There’s some stuff in Band of Brothers that came close.
But they didn’t have a giant.
March 3, 2017 at 3:43 pm in reply to: the 2017 uni (whole thing) (still some gold on the jersey) #65789znModeratorI don’t mind the remaining gold.
It doesn’t strike me as intrusive or out of whack. It’s just a flourish. Doesn’t bother me at all.
znModeratorznModeratorMcVay is in a tough spot in the draft. No first round pick and no comp pick at the end of the third round. Hard to get your guys in the draft and make an impact when you lose picks like that.
Well, to be fair though, 2 things.
1. The Rams deliberately traded the 3rd round comp pick rather than their own 3rd round pick. It means they kept the higher pick.
2. This draft is supposed to be one of the deepest people have seen in years at a number of key positions, including the secondary, pass rushers, and receivers and tight ends. 3rd and even 4th round picks are worth more in this draft than in most.
znModeratorRams GM insists moving up to draft Jared Goff was right move and would do it again
Goff started just seven games and didn’t do much to make many believers think he is a star in waitingPete Prisco
INDIANAPOLIS — Almost a year after trading a bevy of picks to the Tennessee Titans to draft quarterback Jared Goff with the first pick in last April’s NFL Draft, Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead said here this week that he would make the same move all over again.
Even though Goff started just seven games and didn’t do much to make many believers think he is a star in waiting, Snead is emphatic that the team made the right decision and would still do it again. We would expect him to say that, but Snead laid out some of the reasons why.
“Yes, no doubt,” Snead said during a break here at the NFL Scouting Combine. “Last year we were sitting at No 15 (in the first round) and we knew we had to find a long-term starter. We then identified Jared and we liked Carson (Wentz) too. I always say this about the calculus equation. Needing one is part of the equation. Identifying one is another part. But the toughest part is how do you acquire that guy. We found a way and decided to do it. That’s why we made the move.”
Snead said the team also looked at this year’s draft potential and realized they had to make a move last season, rather than wait. That’s why they gave up a No. 15 last year, this year’s first (No. 5 overall) and a handful of other picks to move up to the top spot.
As it turns out, this year’s quarterback class isn’t a strong one, so it made sense. Would you rather have Goff or Clemson’s DeShaun Watson or North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky?
I’d rather have Goff, which is why the Rams making the move was the right one.\Yet there are those around the league who wonder if Goff can be the guy for the long haul. Goff lost all seven of his starts and completed 54.7-percent of his passes with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. That’s bad accuracy, no matter if he’s a rookie or not.
It didn’t help that the Rams’ offensive line was a disaster, running back Todd Gurley struggled and the outside receivers were little more than average. The Rams finished 3-13 and coach Jeff Fisher was fired during the season.
“There was adversity, road blocks, hindering type issues,” Snead said. “But it was the first step for him to becoming a franchise quarterback. He didn’t blink. He didn’t mope. He didn’t shake his confidence. We saw a lot of what we saw at Cal in college, but what we didn’t know was when things went bad how would he handle it. And none of that shook him.”
Now Goff has a new coach and a new system. Former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay takes over as coach, and he is considered one of the bright offensive minds in the league. That should help Goff, but the team needs to get more pieces around him.
“Once we get Jared in the building, it’s going to be about teaching our system,” McVay said. “Seeing how he processes things, and he’s able to handle the above-the-neck information and then be able to translate it to grass once we get on the field. You see the traits. You see the characteristics. I am really excited to how he retains information, how it translates to the grass. But very excited about Jared and some of the things we’ve seen from him on tape.”Goff has spent time this offseason working with Tom House, who has worked with a lot of NFL passers on motion and mechanics. House works with Tom Brady, so it has to help Goff.
The next step will be to spend time with McVay, but league rules prevent that from happening until later this month. The big jump for Goff this season will be getting through his progressions better. As a rookie, quarterbacks tend to get to the first or the second, but not the third or the fourth. You can’t win consistently in the league without getting to the third and fourth progression.
“He definitely got to two, but not three or four,” Snead said. “Those things are evolving. But his big thing will be calling protections at the line of scrimmage. Sean is a big believer in calling protections at the line of scrimmage. That’s a big pat of what he needs to do. He didn’t do that in college. He did very little of that last year. That’s something he has to work on.”
Even so, there is no remorse for Snead.
“No, none,” he said. “We looked at a lot of factors and made the move. We are happy we did.”
Time will tell, but judging by what’s in this year’s draft class, I tend to agree.znModeratorLes Snead, Rams GM joins Mornings with Keyshawn, Jorge and LZ to talk about the NFL Combine without a 1st round pick and his top priority in the draft. Key ask him if they will move up to get a good WR and the franchise tag of Trumaine Johnson. How Aaron Donald will fit into Wade Phillips’ 3-4 defense and any looking for the bevy of veteran QB that are available.
znModeratorRams Coach Sean McVay Talks with ESPN’s NFL Insiders –Audio
Suzy Kolber hosts as Adam Schefter, Bill Polian and Louis Riddick speak with Sean McVay, John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan at the NFL Combine.
http://www.rams-news.com/rams-coach-sean-mcvay-talks-espns-nfl-insiders-audio/%5DListen to McVay Interview
znModeratorLos Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead addresses the media at the 2017 NFL Combine
znModeratorGood one.
I have to dash out to do stuff at the moment but later I will put one up too.
znModeratorRams have already begun talks with Nike, NFL about a complete uniform change for 2019. For now, retro helmets. … https://t.co/nm6i5LwbNs
— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) March 2, 2017
March 2, 2017 at 9:20 am in reply to: Jeff Sessions Met Twice With Russian Ambassador During Trump Campaign #65737znModeratorBush’s ethics lawyer on Sessions talks with Russia ambassador: ‘Good way to go to jail’
Richard Painter, the former White House ethics lawyer to President George W. Bush from 2005 to 2007, blasted Attorney General Jeff Sessions after it was reported that he spoke with the Russian ambassador while Trump was on the campaign trail.
When asked in the hypothetical during his confirmation hearing as Attorney General what he would do if he learned a member of Trump’s campaign had communicated with the Russian government over the course of the 2016 campaign, Sessions responded: “I’m not aware of any of those activities … I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I did not have communications with the Russians.”
But the Washington Post reported Wednesday night that Sessions had spoken to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak twice during 2016, once in a private conversation.
Officials said Sessions did not consider his conversations with Kislyak relevant to the lawmakers’ questions and did not remember their discussion in detail. And as a senior member of the committee, he regularly met foreign ambassadors, his spokeswoman said.
Painter blasted the statement on Twitter.
“Misleading the Senate in sworn testimony about one own contacts with the Russians is a good way to go to jail,” Painter tweeted.
Painter is now a professor of law at the University of Minnesota.
That September conversation between Sessions and Kislyak took place during the same time intelligence officials have said Russia was interfering with the U.S. presidential election through a hacking and influence campaign.
TAGS
znModerator#Rams Uni Update: The white horns are back!
Our primary helmets will have white horns in 2017. pic.twitter.com/hkQZr6b7ff
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) March 1, 2017
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Rams will don blue and white helmet design of ‘Fearsome Foursome’ era
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-helmets-nfl-20170301-story.html
IN an effort to leave last season — and the color palette of their St. Louis era behind — the Rams on Wednesday revealed another uniform change.
The team announced it will don blue helmets with white horns, a design that harks back to the “Fearsome Foursome” era of the 1960s. The Rams wore the helmets with that design once last season in a December game against the Seattle Seahawks.
The helmets announcement — and the elimination of gold horns — came a day after the Rams said they were “evolving” their uniforms by eliminating the gold stripe from white uniform pants worn during home games at the Coliseum. Fans were invited to vote on whether the pants should be emblazoned with two blue stripes or only one.
Fans also can vote on whether the helmet facemask should be blue or white.
The Rams are not expected to change jersey colors or design until the 2019 season, when they are aiming to introduce a major rebrand for the opening of their new Inglewood stadium.
The full 2017 uniform will be revealed Thursday, the team said
znModeratorKyle Shanahan thinks new Rams OC Matt LaFleur is ready to call plays
Alden Gonzalez
INDIANAPOLIS — Sean McVay will call the offensive plays in his first season as the Los Angeles Rams’ head coach, but eventually that task will probably fall on Matt LaFleur, the former Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks coach who was brought in as the new offensive coordinator. Kyle Shanahan, the former Falcons offensive coordinator who is now head coach of the division-rival San Francisco 49ers, was asked if LaFleur is ready for something like that.
“Yeah,” Shanahan said, “he’s been ready for a while.”
As quarterbacks coach, LaFleur helped make Robert Griffin III the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012 and Matt Ryan the MVP in 2016. He was with the Redskins from 2010 to ’13, while McVay coached tight ends and Shanahan ran the offense. LaFleur went on to coach quarterback Everett Golson at Notre Dame in 2014, then reunited with Shanahan in Atlanta, a stint that ended with a bitter Super Bowl loss.
After Shanahan took the job with the 49ers, LaFleur was free to become the Rams’ offensive coordinator, a role in which LaFleur said he’ll “organize and kind of set the table for Sean.”
Falcons coach Dan Quinn, who could’ve blocked LaFleur from leaving, said he spoke to LaFleur about becoming his new offensive coordinator because of how well he worked with Ryan. Quinn instead opted to go with Steve Sarkisian, largely because he wanted someone with playcalling experience. But Quinn raved about LaFleur, calling him “a really, really detailed teacher” and “the ideal person” to pair with a young quarterback like Jared Goff.
“They’re getting a hell of a coach,” Shanahan, speaking from the scouting combine Wednesday, said of LaFleur. “… Matt understands the game. He played college quarterback. He knows a lot about that position. He knows the run game, he knows the pass game, he knows how to tie them together.”
znModeratorThere is this creature in Papua New Guinea called the Ropen, that supposedly looks a lot like a Pteradactal, a prehistoric flying creature.
Jack, the Ropen is just legend, like the loch ness monster or the yeti.
—
ANTISCIENCE, BELIEF/SUPERSTITION, CRYPTOZOOLOGY, PSEUDOSCIENCE
This just in: Pterosaurs are STILL dead, maybe even more solink: http://doubtfulnews.com/2014/11/this-just-in-pterosaurs-are-still-dead-maybe-even-more-so/
Dr. Donald Prothero exposes the myth of the ropen, a pterosaur-like flying animal claimed to have been observed in Papua New Guinea. It has even been suggested it is a self-luminous creature. It’s a story well-known to cryptozoologists (the same stories get recirculated repeatedly to make up for no new evidence to fill a book). Turns out, as in many cryptid tales, it falls apart when you dig into it. And thanks to one crank’s ridiculous Creationist ideas, and his spreading around the same story under pseudonyms, people actually believe this stuff.
Fake Pterosaurs and Sock Puppets
Virtually all discussion of the ropen comes from a single individual, Jonathan Whitcomb!
Whitcomb admitted the deception in July, 2014. The book Searching for Ropens? Self-published by Whitcomb [sic]. Ropens.com is run by Whitcomb, as is LivePterosaur.com. Modern Pterosaur.com is supposedly written by someone named Norman Hungtingdon. “Who is he? It’s me, Jonathan David Whitcomb,” he admitted. The site Dinosaurs and Pterosaurs Alive.com by Nathaniel Coleman? “That’s also me, and I’m still Jonathan David Whitcomb.” Several sites are maintained by Whitcomb under aliases. In short, it’s a classic case of a typically modern internet phenomenon, sock puppetry, where one individual floods the internet with material using different aliases and email accounts to escape detection (and spam filters). Eventually, it was spread so widely that two paranormal pseudo-documentaries were produced, Destination Truth (on SyFy) and Monster Quest (on the History Channel), all unwittingly based on the obsessions of one individual. Whitcomb admits to his rampant sock puppetry, and doesn’t seem ashamed of the deception…
I’d guess Creationists are nice people but their tactics for deliberately deceiving people to undermine science are seriously deplorable.
Whitcomb, who is not a scientist by any stretch but a Certified Court Videographer, believes the ropen is a Rhamphorhynchoid pterosaur based on the stories he’s collected. He has done the most to promote the reality of the ropen, self publishing two books on the topic including one that many science-lacking crypto-enthusiasts might see as “authoritative” Searching for the Ropen as well as Live Pterosaurs in America. Obviously, ropens.com, complete with citations to books of the Bible, would be seen by those who want to know more about the creature they heard about inTime’s Top 10 Famous Mystery monsters
The truth is, nothing biologically resembles a ropen in real life. There are no existing pterosaurs – they absolutely went extinct tens of millions of years ago. There is no evidence for bioluminosity in birds, reptiles, or mammals (with the possible question about barn owls but not confirmed). And reports of pterosaurs (or ropens) have never been verified. As noted in this article, frigate birds in flight may resemble what we think a flying pterosaur looked like.
Prothero notes that Wikipedia deleted its Ropen page since all cited sources are “seemingly from the personal websites of the author of the vanity press Searching for Ropens and Finding God book”. The word “crank” was lavishly used which was appropriate (an eccentric person, especially one who is obsessed by a particular subject or theory). There is no evidence for the ropen, just legend.
Shoddy scholarship, belief-based conclusions, terrible quality evidence, and propagation of errors is rampant in cryptozoology literature which makes the field deserving of the scientific scorn it gets.
znModeratorIf I followed that chart correctly, then it follows that the US Military should merge with Walmart.
znModeratorI guess he wants to be a 4-3 DE.
Ah yes. Long being a me-first primma again, as always.
Anyway I could also see him as a Quinn style 3/4 OLB somewhere.
znModeratorjulie’n davenport
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/julien-davenport?id=2557963
6’7″
310LBS.OVERVIEW
Davenport is the odds-on favorite to be the eighth offensive lineman from outside the FBS in the last ten drafts to be been selected in the top 100 picks. The cousin of former Kentucky and NBA player Michael Kidd-Gilchrist didn’t have FBS offers coming out, but should have. He started all 44 games at left tackle in his career with Bucknell, earning all-conference honors each year (second team in 2013, first team from 2014-2016). The Bison’s two-time team captain was named first-team All-American teams from multiple outlets in 2016, as well.ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Possesses elite arm length and hand size for the position. Can unravel his arms and stick them into the chest of a frustrated edge rusher. Able to gain necessary ground to race to the edge over first two kick slides. Keeps head back and out of pass sets when he punches. Team leader and two-year captain. Good strength in hands to snatch and secure the frame of defenders. Has adequate athleticism to reach and hook the edge. Able to get out in space as pulling tackle or on screens. Has moldable physical traits to work with.
WEAKNESSES Competition level won’t have him prepared for NFL rushers. Feet are a little heavy. Struggles to redirect back inside against stunts. Plays with inconsistent base width and balance. Will allow secure blocks to slip out of the side door due to poor footwork. Leans into run blocks rather than running feet under him. Has to keep his feet alive and moving after initial contact. Hand approach and placement is spotty. Loses base on lateral work due to tall pad level and uneven weight dispersal.
BOTTOM LINE Raw tackle lacking in technique but long on physical traits. Has been able to dominate against lower level of competition and his step up in competition during pre-draft workouts will either throw a wet blanket over his draft grade or send his stock soaring. Despite a lack of technique, his traits will have teams willing to draft and wait for him as a project. He will be a work in progress and might be forced to move to the right side.
-Lance ZierleinznModeratorRams Announce New Helmet with Fan Vote
By Nate Bain
Between 1964-72, the Los Angeles Rams wore all blue and white uniforms, including white horns on their helmets. Many Rams Legends donned these blue and white helmets, including the “Fearsome Foursome” of Rosey Grier, Merlin Olsen, Deacon Jones, and Lamar Lundy, and the great quarterback Roman Gabriel.
In their inaugural season back home as the Los Angeles Rams, the team brought back these legendary blue and white helmets in their Thursday Night game at Seattle. Following a great response from their fans, the Rams are proud to announce the return of the white-horned helmet for the 2017 season.
The Rams are seeking their fans’ help with a decision on the new helmet, specifically the face mask color. In 2017, the team will pair its historic white-horned helmet with a blue or white face mask.
The helmet change comes as the team continues to evolve their uniforms. Last season, the Rams wore white uniforms at home as a modern nod back to the team’s history in the Coliseum and Los Angeles. It was announced yesterday that in 2017 the team will wear white pants with either one or two blue stripes, a decision that was put up for a fan vote.
The Los Angeles Rams full 2017 uniform will be revealed on Thursday, March 2.
The team is continuing to explore a full rebrand, including new uniforms, that will be unveiled in 2019.
znModeratorPrice is steep to keep cornerback Trumaine Johnson, but Rams’ hands are tied
VINCENT BONSIGNORE
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-745349-johnson-cornerback.html
INDIANAPOLIS – At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter whether Trumaine Johnson deserves to make more money than any cornerback in the NFL.
Or that, coming off a 2016 season that wasn’t quite as good as the one he delivered in 2015, he still stands to earn a $3 million raise from the $13.9 million he made last season.
All of which moved into the very likely category Wednesday when, as expected, the Rams placed their non-exclusive rights franchise tag on Johnson just hours before the deadline NFL teams get to utilize the designation on pending free agents.
As a result, barring the club and Johnson coming to terms on a long-term deal between now and mid-July – or another team snatching him up and compensating the Rams with two first round picks per the non-exclusive tag rules – the fourth-year defensive back from Montana will make more money than any other cornerback in the league next season.
Is Johnson the best cornerback in the NFL?
Of course not.
He might not even be among the top five, especially coming off an injury riddled season in which he missed two games and his on-field play was a step back from the level he played the season before.
From that standpoint, there is absolutely no case to be made paying him the kind of money he’ll likely make next season.
But I reiterate: Whether he deserves it or not is of no significance.
This is a case of a major Rams need trumping the cost it will take to address it.
As thin as the Rams are at cornerback, and as uncertain as the position is right now even with Johnson in the fold, losing him would be a punch even more painful than the blow they’ll absorb to the wallet and on their 2017 salary cap.
As of now, the Rams will have $20 million under the cap to address their various needs in free agency. And that includes retaining safety T.J. McDonald, who is set to hit free agency next week.
That’s not a lot of leeway given the needed upgrades the Rams face. So Johnson’s contract – if it stays as is – limits their ability to improve through free agency.
But the reality is, the Rams can’t afford to lose Johnson, no matter how expensive it will be to keep him around at least one more year.
That’s the conundrum they’re confronted with, partly due to losing Janoris Jenkins last year to the New York Giants and the difficulty E.J. Gaines, his replacement, has had staying on the field the last two seasons.
Letting Johnson walk would put the Rams cornerback population on razor-thin ice, lest you are comfortable going into next season with Gaines and Lamarcus Joyner – ideally a slot corner – as your starters with fringy players such as Michael Jordan and Troy Hill in reserve.
Sure, you could look to the open market, where A.J. Bouye of the Texans, Logan Ryan of the Patriots and Stephon Gilmore of the Bills should be available beginning next week.
But all the free agent cornerbacks come with some combination of price, performance and scheme concerns. And ideally, the Rams should be looking for outside help to supplement Johnson, not replace him.
The draft is another option, but without a first-round pick this year and with so much help needed offensively, the Rams need to focus on the offensive line and wide receiver at the top of their draft rather than a cornerback.
So, as you can see, the Rams find themselves in a bit of a predicament.
On the open market, Johnson isn’t worth $17 million.
But in the Rams’ unsteady cornerback situation, it’s a price worth paying.
Ideally this becomes a moot point by the Rams and Johnson coming to agreement on a long-term deal, one that lowers the annual pay but guarantees Johnson more money over the long haul.
Of course, that raises a rather obvious question: What’s the hold-up?
This is the second straight year Rams and Johnson couldn’t find the middle ground necessary to lock him up long term, resulting in them putting the franchise tag on him.
By all accounts, Johnson wants to be in Los Angeles long term and the Rams feel the same.
Yet, the two sides remain too far apart to make it happen.
Yes, he slipped to just one interception last year after a registering a career-high seven in 2015. And he ranked in the middle of the pack among qualifying cornerbacks in snaps per catch and opposing QB rating when targeted.
But he’s a 27-year-old proven player just now entering his prime. And the club believes he’s an ideal fit for the scheme new defensive coordinator Wade Phillips will implement.
That doesn’t mean he’s worth $17 million.
But the Rams really have no other choice.
znModeratorWith Tru’s tag.
According to http://overthecap.com/salary-cap/los-angeles-rams
Team Cap Space: $20,192,280
znModerator#Rams Uni Update: The white horns are back! Our primary helmets will have white horns in 2017.
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