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znModeratorOfficial inactives
David Arkin OG Inactive
Kenny Britt WR Inactive
Rob Havenstein OT Inactive
Lamarcus Joyner CB Inactive
Case Keenum QB Inactive
Matt Longacre DE Inactive
Cody Wichmann OG InactiveJanuary 1, 2017 at 1:15 pm in reply to: LA Times: It's been a long but fast year for Jared Goff #62113znModeratorLink: http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-cardinals-20161231-story.html
Not everyone has full access to the Times so I will just post the article. (That’s not a “comment,” Nittany, you post how you post, I am just supplementing this one.)
————
Jared Goff’s long, strange year, and Rams’ dismal season, come to an end Sunday
Gary Klein
link above
The Rams’ rookie quarterback led California to a bowl game victory on Dec. 29, 2015, immediately jumped into the NFL pre-draft evaluation process, attended the scouting combine, was selected No. 1 overall in the draft, participated in Rams rookie camp, organized-team activities and training camp and then worked to stay prepared through nine games before starting the last six.
All without much, if any, real break.
Goff’s 12-month whirlwind, punctuated by organizational tumult, ends Sunday when the Rams play the Arizona Cardinals at the Coliseum.
The Rams are 4-11. They have lost 10 of their last 11 games and have won only one home game.
The franchise in the next month or so will hire a new coach to replace the fired Jeff Fisher, but Goff said this week that he was not looking ahead to the impending changes.
“I’m just focused on beating the Cardinals right now,” he said.
A victory would qualify as an extraordinary achievement for a team that has not won at home since Week 2 against Seattle. The Rams have lost six games in a row since defeating the New York Jets on Nov. 13.
“We haven’t won a game in I don’t know how long,” middle linebacker Alec Ogletree said. “To get a win would definitely send everybody off in good spirits.”
The Rams were in position to win two of Goff’s starts at the Coliseum but let victory slip away in the final minutes both times.
In Goff’s Week 11 debut against Miami, the Rams led, 10-0, with about six minutes left. But the Dolphins scored a touchdown, the Rams’ offense failed to produce a first down, and the Dolphins scored again to win, 14-10.
Last week against San Francisco, Goff’s touchdown pass to rookie tight end Tyler Higbee early in the fourth quarter put the Rams ahead, 21-7. But 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick rushed for a touchdown, the Rams’ offense failed to produce a first down, and the 49ers scored again and added a two-point conversion for a 22-21 victory.
After the game, Goff, 22, pledged to fans that the Rams would fix their problems.
“It was just kind of what I was thinking at the time,” Goff said after practice this week. “I want the people that truly support us and the people that are truly supportive to understand that it’s growing pains — it’s not easy for us and it’s certainly not easy for them.
Rams will try one last time to let Todd Gurley run wild (or for 100 yards at least)
Rams will try one last time to let Todd Gurley run wild (or for 100 yards at least)
“We’re going to come out of it, though. I’m positive it’s going to happen. It may not be overnight, but it will happen and it’s going to happen with the people in this building.”The Rams were riding high the last time they played the Cardinals.
A 17-13 victory in Week 4 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., improved the Rams’ record to 3-1 and put them in first place in the NFC West. Case Keenum was the starting quarterback for a team that has won only one game since.
Goff was installed as the starter the week after the Rams defeated the Jets, 9-6, and he has struggled to put together a noteworthy performance in an offense that is ranked last in the NFL for the second consecutive season.
Goff has completed 53.5% of his passes, five for touchdowns, with seven interceptions.
Offensive coordinator Rob Boras mentioned Goff’s freshman season at Cal, when the Golden Bears finished 1-11, as an example of how Goff fought through and emerged from adversity.
“His freshman year at Cal didn’t define him,” Boras said, “and his rookie year in the NFL is not going to define him. I think he’s a real mentally tough guy.”
Arizona Coach Bruce Arians sees Goff as “a young guy getting better and better” and said he played “extremely” well in the first half of the Rams’ Dec. 15 loss at Seattle.
“With all young guys, you’ve got to learn from playing and learn from making mistakes — that’s the only way to get better,” Arians said.
Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer, who returns to the Coliseum for the first time since playing for USC in 2002, endured many of the same struggles as Goff early in his career.
“It’s so important to learn from them and not bury them away and be disappointed by them,” said Palmer, 37. “Not that you’re going to be happy with not having success, but use them as learning experiences.
“Bad throws, bad reads, bad choices, whatever it is that comes up, losses, struggling on third down in the red zone — all of those things are so important to learn from and improve from.”
Goff’s improvement and first-year progress will get a final measure on Sunday.
To finish with a victory “would be big” he said.
“Any time you win a game it’s nice,” he said. “But I think to end the season on a win would give us a good taste in our mouth and something we can kind of build on in the off-season.”
znModeratorMarvin Lewis could be gone from the Bengals. If true he has to be a leading for other jobs, including the Rams, candidate IMO.
Marvin Lewis won’t be fired…
See, I jinxed it.
.
znModeratorMarvin Lewis could be gone from the Bengals. If true he has to be a leading for other jobs, including the Rams, candidate IMO.
Marvin Lewis won’t be fired…
See, I jinxed it.
.
znModeratorMarvin Lewis could be gone from the Bengals.
If true he has to be a leading for other jobs, including the Rams, candidate IMO.
znModeratorWell, there’s a gig that might be more popular among coaches than the Rams job. The Broncos probably have more pieces in place.
Now it’s
Denver
SF
probably ARZ (Arians retires)
Jacksonville
BuffaloAdd the Rams and that’s 6 (and counting).
6, including Denver? (And I think you’re right about Denver.) That’s a disadvantage for the Rams, I think.
Though whoever lands in Denver probably will have to keep Wilson as the DC, not that that’s a drawback.
.
znModeratorYou know the advantage of having the oldest posting roster on the net?
Lack of discipline.
January 1, 2017 at 9:10 am in reply to: Injury report for ARZ game: Britt, Havenstein and Joyner are doubtful #62089znModeratorBritt And Joyner Doubtful For Cardinals Game
Rams Week 17 Injury Report: Britt And Joyner Doubtful For Cardinals Game
By Sam McPherson
The Los Angeles Rams host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday in a game that means nothing to either team in terms of standings or playoffs. The Cardinals are 6-8-1, while the Rams are 4-11, both teams falling well short of 2016 preseason expectations. At this point, there’s very little incentive for either team to put injured players on the field, so even though the Rams have five players listed on the official injury report, none of the five may play on New Year’s Day.
That will be especially challenging on offense, as two of the players listed are wide receivers: Kenny Britt and Mike Thomas. With rookie quarterback Jared Goff struggling to find his NFL game, losing two WRs isn’t a good thing. Also, cornerback Lamarcus Joyner is also on the injured list, and the Cardinals possess a potent offense that likes to throw the ball. With nothing to play for but pride on Sunday, don’t look for Joyner to be rushed onto the field.
WR Corps Taking A Hit
Britt (shoulder) was unable to practice all week, and he’s listed as doubtful for the Arizona game. He cracked the 1,000-yard receiving mark last week, the first time in his career he’s accomplished the feat. Britt also posted a career-high 68 receptions this year, so there’s no point in running him out on the field for this game. Meanwhile, Thomas (hip) was a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday in workouts before fully practicing on Friday. He is listed as questionable for the game and may need to play with Britt out of the equation.
Thomas was a sixth-round draft pick last spring, and he has just two catches this season: one each in his last two games, against Atlanta and Seattle, respectively. However, he was targeted four times against the Seahawks in Week 15, so if he plays against the Cardinals, Goff could be looking his way repeatedly.
Defensive Secondary Ailing
Two members of the unit are injured: safety Maurice Alexander (concussion) and Joyner (ankle). Alexander was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, but he was a full participant in Friday’s workouts. That means he just needs to be cleared through league protocols before he can take the field, but that is an inexact science. Therefore, he is questionable foe the game. Joyner, as noted above, probably won’t play, especially since he was unable to participate in practices all week. He is listed as doubtful.
Los Angeles is ninth this season in pass yards allowed, so it’s been a strong unit for the Rams all year. Without Alexander and Joyner, though, Arizona could find itself with easy goings through the air at the Coliseum on Sunday. The Cardinals have a few good wideouts on their roster, and a thin Rams secondary could be an inviting target for Arizona QB Carson Palmer, who is having a relatively poor season. He could end it on a high note against the injured L.A. secondary.
Cardinals Hurt On Defense
Three Arizona defenders are listed as questionable for Sunday: cornerback Marcus Cooper (back), defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (ankle) and defensive end Ed Stinson (hip). The Cardinals are third in the NFL when it comes to giving up yards, so it’s a strong unit. But with nothing real to play for on Sunday, look for the Arizona coaching staff to exercise caution when determining if the trio suits up and plays against the Rams.
Questionable:
Maurice Alexander, safety (concussion)
Mike Thomas, wide receiver (hip)Doubtful:
Kenny Britt, wide receiver (shoulder)
Rob Havenstein, tackle (ankle)
Lamarcus Joyner, cornerback (ankle)znModeratorHappy new years you crazy diehards.
Have a good 2017 doggone it.
znModeratorI had an off year, its true.
But i blame it on the move.
w
vThe move was nearly 3 years ago.
Time to catch up I think.
..
znModeratorznModeratorThat Darth Vader scene you’re referring to is one of the coolest scenes in film history. Badass is right. I almost wish that was the only time we see him in the film…would have made it even cooler.
There’s already a lego version.
znModeratorI suppose how much you enjoy it depends on how much of a Star Wars fan you are.
I actually saw the first Star Wars in Hollywood the first week of its release, and went in totally with no expectations and so on. I liked it then, but it never stuck the way other things have. So I enjoyed the movies (first 3 anyway) but would not count myself among the dedicated believers.
When I see them I just keep noticing stuff that keeps me at a distance. Like, for example, why do storm troopers wear armor if does them no good whatsoever. It’s like the empire didn’t want wounded storm troopers, so they just said, okay we’ll put them in this plastic “armor” which amplifies any hit they take anywhere on their bodies so they are automatically killed no matter what.
One thing over time that did stick with me as good was Carrie Fisher as Leia, who refuses to be a damsel in distress type.
I like Carrie Fisher’s quotes about that.
“It’s hard to date once you’re a big Star Wars star, because you don’t want to give people the ability to say, I had sex with Princess Leia’.”
“The father who flipped out about it, ‘What am I going to tell my kid about why she’s in that outfit?’ Tell them that a giant slug captured me and forced me to wear that stupid outfit, and then I killed him because I didn’t like it. And then I took it off. Backstage.”
“This’ll impress you – I’m actually in the Abnormal Psychology textbook. Obviously my family is so proud. Keep in mind though, I’m a PEZ dispenser and I’m in the abnormal Psychology textbook. Who says you can’t have it all?”
znModeratorRidiculous to put him in a list with Linehan and McDaniels fucking ridiculous.
Mod issue: you’re getting a little bit “over the line”-ish there. Doesn’t all have to be tea n honey but there is a line.
Fair enough?
December 30, 2016 at 7:43 pm in reply to: PFF on the Rams week 16: some good news, some bad news #62037znModeratorTop offensive grades:
RG Andrew Donnal, 83.2
BEST PLAYER AT EVERY POSITION IN NFL WEEK 16
Right guard: Andrew Donnal, Los Angeles Rams, 82.9
An encouraging sign for an offensive line in desperate need of some hope. The fourth-round pick from a year ago is making the most of his late-season opportunity. He didn’t give up a single pressure or penalty against the 49ers.
Bit of a surprise there. Donnal not only graded well as a Rams player, he was PFF’s highest graded RG in the league for week 16.
..
December 30, 2016 at 7:28 pm in reply to: Injury report for ARZ game: Britt, Havenstein and Joyner are doubtful #62034znModeratorGosh the passing game might get worse.
Defense too. From what I see the defense is just not the same without Joyner.
znModeratorBills draw universal criticism in aftermath of Rex Ryan firing
Mike Florio
Bills draw universal criticism in aftermath of Rex Ryan firing
ORCHARD PARK, NY – The decision itself is understandable. The decisions surrounding it aren’t.
Rex Ryan is out after fewer than two seasons as the coach of the Bills. He has only himself to blame for making big promises publicly and privately about the team’s performance and then failing to deliver.
But the Bills also have failed as an organization, in numerous ways. And the media seems to generally agree that the Bills have handled the situation poorly.
The Bills handled it poorly by placing and keeping Rex Ryan on an island for multiple weeks, with leaks regarding the eventual terminations (leaks that undoubtedly came from the front office) forcing Ryan and the players to answer tough questions while ownership and management hid. The Bills handled it poorly by summarily dumping Ryan on a Tuesday, only five days before what will be interim coach Anthony Lynn’s on-the-job audition to be hired as Ryan’s replacement. The Bills handled it poorly by putting G.M. Doug Whaley in charge of the search for a replacement, a move that sends a clear message that the Bills won’t be looking for an A-lister who would want control over the roster and/or his own personnel executive. The Bills handled it poorly by making a smart business decision to bench quarterback Tyrod Taylor but by forcing Lynn to address it while continuing to hide.
Ultimately, ownership bears responsibility for the current state of the team. At a time when few if any media voices are praising the decision to fire Ryan, the decision to keep Whaley, and the decision to let Whaley shape the search for a coach who will accept working with and for Whaley, it’s fair to ask whether Terry and Kim Pegula truly understand what it means to run a sports team successfully.
“The people of Buffalo should be happy Terry Pegula got the team but I hope he does better w/the Bills than he has w/the Sabres,” President-Elect Donald Trump said via (where else?) Twitter in October 2014 after the Pegulas won the right to purchase the franchise over Trump and others. And Trump’s point remains valid. (The Sabres currently are faring better than the Bills, but not by much. The hockey team is 13-13, and the football team is 7-8.)
The football team won’t improve until it removes any and all dysfunction from the organization and develops a true sense of cohesion and unity. There can’t be separate tracks of accountability, and there can’t be an avenue for the likes of Whaley and team president Russ Brandon to blame the coach in order to preserve their own standing. Either everyone succeeds together or everyone fails together.
For now, everyone really is failing together. And that’s primarily because ownership either can’t or won’t realize that firing Ryan and letting Whaley find the next coach while Brandon pulls the strings from above constitutes the kind of half measure that will make it impossible to hire the kind of coach who will return to team to full prominence.
Ownership can continue to hide, but ownership will have a hard time running from the many voices who believe that the team quickly has become one of the most dysfunctional organizations in all of football. Especially since no coach will options will opt to become the next coach to potentially get jerked around the way Rex Ryan did in the final days of his time with the team.
znModeratorThe temperature of the planets of our solar system
Frankly, earth looks like the best one of the bunch.
.
znModeratorPalmer’s brother was Mannion’s QB coach when he worked out before the draft.
Interesting!
znModerator5 Toughest Games For Los Angeles Rams in 2017
Dan Parzych
http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5-toughest-games-for-los-angeles-rams-in-2017-122816
Dec 15, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin (89) is defended by Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson (22) during a NFL football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Here’s a look ahead at the five toughest opponents the Los Angeles Rams will face during the 2017 season.
After a disappointing year in which the team ended up parting ways with Jeff Fisher, it’s time to look ahead to the 2017 season and examine the five toughest opponents the Los Angeles Rams will have to face.
Expectations were high for the Rams heading into the 2016 season after a 7-9 finish the previous year thanks to having one of the league’s top defenses led by Aaron Donald. While Donald has done a solid job for the most part, it was the offense of Los Angeles that made this team one of the worst in the league this year.
To top it off, the Rams won’t even earn a high draft pick for their frustrating year due to the team’s decision to trade up in the 2016 NFL Draft in order to select Jared Goff.
Between dragging out the decision to keep Case Keenum as the starter to the organization making the foolish decision of rewarding Tavon Austin with a hefty $42 million extension in the preseason, there are plenty of reasons why the Rams’ offense failed as much as they did in 2016. Instead of moving forward in the right direction after a decent finish last year, Los Angeles took a major step back this season as they will have quite the work load cut out next year if they’re going to have any chance of turning things around.
Of course, having a difficult schedule doesn’t make it any easier for the Rams as the team will face numerous playoff-caliber teams. Starting off with the Tennessee Titans, here’s a look at the five toughest opponents Los Angeles will have to face during the 2017 season.
Dec 24, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Tennessee Titans running back DeMarco Murray (29) runs the ball during the first quarter of an NFL Football game Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
5. Tennessee Titans
When it comes to the biggest surprise teams of the 2016 season, the Tennessee Titans rank near the top of the list after Marcus Mariota and company went from finishing last in the AFC South last year to competing for the division title. Even if their playoff dreams fell short, the Titans are one of the teams to keep in eye on heading into 2017 as they seem ready to become serious contenders in the AFC.
After a disappointing 1-3 start to the season, Tennessee eventually found a way to turn their season around to compete with the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts for the AFC South. With impressive wins against teams like the Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs, the Titans took a step in the right direction this year by proving they have what it takes to be the best.
Tennessee will be one of the opponents Los Angeles will have to face on the road, and based off what fans saw in 2016, it’s not going to be an easy matchup. Between Mariota officially having two years of experience under his belt along with the improvement in the ground game thanks to DeMarco Murray, the Rams will have quite the work cut out for them in this one.
Dec 24, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans strong safety Quintin Demps (27) celebrates his interception against the Cincinnati Bengals in the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Houston Texans won 12 to 10. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
4. Houston Texans
Speaking of the AFC South, the Houston Texans may have won arguably the weakest division in football this season, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be considered one of the top contenders in the AFC heading into next season. Over the years, the Texans have established a reputation for having one of the league’s best defenses thanks to J.J. Watt, even though the defensive end was limited to playing in just three games this season due to injuries.
Assuming all goes well in the offseason with Watt’s recovery along with Jadeveon Clowney continuing to progress, there’s every reason in the world to believe Houston will enter the 2017 season having one of the league’s top defenses once again. And when seeing how much the offense of Los Angeles struggled to score points throughout the regular season in 2016, it’s easy to see why this could turn out to be one of their toughest battles.
Hopefully, the Rams figure out a way to improve the offense in the offseason, whether that comes through free agency or the draft. Otherwise, this game against Houston could get ugly real fast for Los Angeles when they host the defending AFC South champions in front of their own fans.
Oct 23, 2016; London, ENG; Quarterback Eli Manning (10) of the New York Giants prepares for the snap during the fourth quarter of the game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants at Twickenham Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Flynn-USA TODAY Sports
3. New York Giants
When these two teams met in London earlier in the 2016 season, the Rams looked like they had what it takes to defeat the New York Giants after jumping out to an early 10-0 lead. Unfortunately, those ended up being the only points scored by Los Angeles all game as Case Keenum had a game to forget after throwing four interceptions as the team went on to lose the game 17-10.
Obviously, the circumstances will be much different this time around now that Jared Goff has officially taken over as the starter at quarterback, but that doesn’t mean it will be any easier for the Rams. In fact, the Giants’ defense has been one of the main reasons behind the team’s second-half surge in the 2016 season as the unit makes the team even more dangerous heading into the postseason.
Everybody knows what the offense is capable of when Eli Manning and Odell Beckham Jr. get going, but the defense is turning out to be the main difference maker for this team as of late. Between the defense having their hands full with Beckham along with the possibility of Goff facing plenty of heavy pressure from the Giants, the Rams will need to be on top of their game just to have a shot.
Not to mention, this will be one of the few times Los Angeles will have to travel across the country to the east coast, which is never easy for a west coast team to deal with.
Sep 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams defensive end Robert Quinn (94) pressures Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) in the second half of the game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
2. Seattle Seahawks
For whatever reason, no matter how bad their season is going, the Rams always seem to elevate their game to a whole new level whenever they face the challenge of the Seattle Seahawks. Even if they were embarrassed in the previous matchup 24-3, the fact that Los Angeles has won four of their last six games against their division rivals will certainly give them confidence heading into next season.
The Rams realize the only chance they’re ever going to have of emerging as contenders in the NFC is figuring out a way to win the division over Seattle, which is never an easy task. There’s a reason why the Seahawks have won the division in three of the last four years as they will head into the postseason as NFC West champions once again since the Arizona Cardinals failed to live up to expectations in 2016.
When looking at all of the talent on both sides of the football, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out Seattle isn’t slowing down any time soon when it comes to being one of the top contenders in the NFC. Here’s to hoping Los Angeles has what it takes to continue their success from the previous three years against Seattle to make the division race a little more interesting in 2017.
Dec 18, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) celebrates with running back Ezekiel Elliott (21) and head coach Jason Garrett after scoring a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
1. Dallas Cowboys
At the beginning of the season, everybody knew the potential was there for the Dallas Cowboys to be successful with Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott leading the offense. With that being said, nobody could have predicted the Cowboys to dominate the way they have in 2016 as they head into the postseason with the best record in the NFC, no matter what happens during the final weekend of the regular season.
Since the Rams are lucky enough to face the NFC East in 2017, this means one of those games will be against the champions of the division as this could turn out to be the toughest battle for the defense next season. To top it off, Los Angeles will be lucky enough to travel to Dallas for this one, which only makes this game even more difficult.
If the Cowboys found a way to be this successful in 2016 with two rookies leading the way on offense, just imagine what type of damage Prescott and Elliott will do with a year of experience under their belts. Whether football fans across the country want to admit it or not, Dallas has put together the type of unit that seems capable of being strong contenders for years to come as it’s easy to see why they rank No. 1 on the list of opponents Los Angeles has to face next year.
December 29, 2016 at 2:49 pm in reply to: the esteemed profession of sports writers previews the ARIZONA game #62000znModeratorThis week’s Rams opponent: Cardinals
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20161228/this-weeks-rams-opponent-cardinals
Bruce Arians will face the Rams for the eighth time this Sunday. For the first time, Jeff Fisher — fired earlier this month — won’t be on the opposite sideline.
Thus ends one of the most entertaining NFL coaching tiffs this side of the Rocky Mountains.
The Cardinals’ fourth-year coach had let off a few volleys at Fisher and the Rams over the past few seasons. After a 12-6 win in December 2014, Arians noted that the matchup featured “a team that is always 8-8,” a shot at Fisher logging just six winning records in a two-decade career. A year later, he said of the Rams: “I’ll have dinner with ’em, but I ain’t liking ’em. I ain’t drinking with ’em.”
Fisher finally responded this past October after a 17-13 road upset in Arizona pushed his team to a 3-1 start. “This was their Christmas present,” he told NFL.com. “We just gave it to them early, OK?’”
Good thing too, because Fisher didn’t last until the holidays. The Rams fired him on Dec. 12, after three consecutive losses by a combined 72 points.
Arians said Wednesday that it will be “kind of odd” to face the Rams without Fisher, but was otherwise cordial about their exchanges.
“We’ve always had our little barbs,” he said. “They’re all out of fun. I think they’re out of respect for each other. But I started it and I wish he had the chance to finish it, so I can say ‘Happy New Year.’”
Arians also didn’t seem to take Fisher’s “Christmas” comments too seriously.
“I laughed,” he said. “It was good. Hey, when you win, you get to say things, and when you lose, you eat it.”
WHO’S COACHING THE CARDINALS?
For the first time in his short coaching career, Arians will finish with a losing record.
Coming off a division title and an appearance in the NFC Championship, his Cardinals took a step back in a season plagued by injuries and inconsistent play at quarterback. That run has come with a number of close calls. They have lost five games by seven or fewer points and tied the Seahawks 6-6 in Week 7 after kickers for both teams missed potential game-winners in overtime.
But if Arizona beats the Rams this weekend, it will at least finish on top against NFC West opponents.
“We have a chance to go 4-1-1 in the division,” Arians said, “make a statement for next year and that’s all we can do at this point in time.”
BY THE NUMBERS
• 83.3: Carson Palmer’s 2016 passer rating through November
• 97.7 : Palmer’s passer rating in his last four games
• 27: Sacks given up by the Cardinals in 2015, fourth-lowest in the NFL
• 40: Sacks given up by the Cardinals in 2016
• 41: Sacks made by the Cardinals’ defense, second-most in the NFL
• 7-3-1: Cardinals’ record against division opponents since the beginning of 2015
PLAYER TO WATCH
Ezekiel Elliott gets most of the buzz, but David Johnson may very well be the best back in the league.
The Cowboys’ rookie leads the league with 1,631 rushing yards — 363 more than anyone else in the NFL — but the Cardinals’ second-year runner may be the more versatile weapon. Johnson is far and away the league’s best pass-catching tailback and his 2,074 scrimmage yards edges out Elliott by 80.
He has 841 yards through the air, doing so not only on screen passes, but by running routes alongside full-time wideouts. No other running back in the league has more than 616 receiving yards and only six have topped 400.
Johnson didn’t score in his last game against the Rams, but he’s found the end zone seven times in December, including five touchdown runs in his last two games.
WHAT DID HE SAY?
“Anytime that you throw the ball out there, you play to win. Since you were a little kid, you play to win. That’s what got you to this level.”
– Arians, on how he motivates his players despite being eliminated from playoff contention
December 29, 2016 at 2:47 pm in reply to: the esteemed profession of sports writers previews the ARIZONA game #61999znModeratorA senior moment awaits Carson Palmer in LA
Kent Somers
Carson Palmer will have a second senior moment at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, 14 years after his first.
In 2002, Palmer was a senior quarterback leading USC to a victory over Notre Dame. It was an emotional day, complete with the pomp and circumstance of honoring the Trojans’ seniors.
Palmer turned 37 on Tuesday, which makes him a senior by NFL standards. He returns to the Coliseum on Sunday to lead the Cardinals against the Rams, who returned to Los Angeles this year.
RELATED: Cardinals love Jermaine Gresham, and he wants to stay
“(I) never thought it would have happened, way back when,” Palmer said. “It was senior night and you think you’re never going to get this opportunity. You hear chatter of a team moving to LA but you…….just don’t think you’ll have the opportunity to run out of that tunnel one more time.”
Two weeks after that game, Palmer was awarded the Heisman Trophy and later was drafted No. 1 overall by the Bengals. The Cardinals are Palmer’s third team in a 14-year career that’s expected to extend another year or two.
Palmer is under contract through 2018, and each year’s salary and roster bonus becomes guaranteed if he’s on the roster five days after the Super Bowl. Palmer wants to return for 2017, at least, and the Cardinals want him back.
Palmer’s statistics have plunged from a year ago when he threw 35 touchdown passes and had 11 throws intercepted. It’s easy to point to that as the reason the Cardinals (6-8-1) will finish with a losing record for the first time since trading for Palmer in 2013.
It would also be wrong, coach Bruce Arians said. His quarterback’s statistics are worse (23 touchdowns, 13 interceptions) because so many people surrounding him have either been injured or played poorly.
Over the past month or so, the Cardinals offense has started to play better. In the past four games, Palmer has thrown for eight touchdowns and had only two throws intercepted.
In the past four games, the Cardinals have had four pass plays gain at least 30 yards. They had only six of those in the first 11 games.
Through the struggles, Arians was impressed by Palmer’s leadership.
“He knows how to give a guy confidence and pick him up and not let him worry about failure,” Arians said. “That’s what leaders do.”
Two weeks ago, Palmer smiled when reporters asked him about playing behind a makeshift offensive line beset by injuries.
“I’m not dreading it as much as it sounds like you guys are dreading it,” he said.
Palmer went out of his way to talk to the new starters, just as he has with kicker Chandler Catanzaro when he has struggled.
“They know he has confidence in them,” Arians said. “That’s what you want, your quarterback to be a leader, but he’s also a father figure to those guys. He’s too old to be a big brother. I’m a cool uncle but he’s a father figure.”
This season has tested Palmer’s counseling ability and leadership skills, although he doesn’t see it that way.
“The more years you have and the more experience you have, the more that’s expected in that department,” he said. “I don’t feel like it’s weighed heavy on me or been a burden. It’s just part of your role.
“Once you get to 10 years in the NFL, you’ve seen a lot. You’ve been through a lot of situations, and you have the right to say certain things. That’s kind of where I’ve felt most of the year.”
The decline in Palmer’s statistics has led to increased criticism of him, something with which Arians takes issue. Not only have there been injuries on the offensive line, but two of the teams’ top three receivers entering the season, John Brown and Michael Floyd, had disappointing seasons.
Palmer was to blame for some of the early problems, too, because he underthrew deep passes that he connected on a year ago.
Coaches forced Palmer to start sitting out of Wednesday practices and part of those on Thursday.
That high-mileage maintenance program has paid dividends in the past month, because Palmer’s arm has looked as strong as it was a year ago.
“I know it saved him coming down the stretch,” Arians said. “He took a day off a week in training camp, so it’s nothing really new. Talking him into it was the biggest thing.”
When Palmer joined the Cardinals in 2013, Arians likened himself and Palmer to cowboys headed to their last rodeo. That rodeo isn’t likely to end Sunday at the Coliseum for either one, but Palmer isn’t looking beyond Sunday’s game.
“It’s just one week at a time,” he said. “As exciting as that win was, coming back from Seattle you start watching LA. The turnaround is so quick that you don’t have time think about what’s next. The only thing you can think about or focus on is the next opponent.”
znModeratorNote: I added a good one (previous post) and expanded the first one in the thread’s original post.
There are some good reads here.
.
znModeratorDeadpool
I talked to a former college QB and he said typically what happens is that you will go into a pro camp and they will start to fix things that are wrong with your throwing motion (elongated release like Wentz, dropping the ball down like Hogan, etc…) or they start to get you ready to play in an NFL offense from playing the majority in shotgun. For a former Air Raid qb like Goff, the first thing that happens is you are dropping back instead of just catching and throwing the ball. It messes with how you see the field, it messes with your timing which is very under estimated.
Add in the fact that the NFL is 10 times faster then college and you end up feeling rushed. And if they are working on your mechanics you can end up paralyzed by information overload.
2 things then can happen: You fight through it and the new way becomes the default setting, or you revert back to old habits because once the bullets start flying you go to what is comfortable and has worked in the past.
Look at Wentz and Goff. Wentz’s high passes are due to his elongated release, which he had issues with at NDSU, while Goffs lower half is not synced up with his upper half right now because too much going on in his head. Goff is fighting against reverting to college ways while Wentz gave in to the darkside. Goff wants to get this right.
So IMO, Goff’s body is at odds with his mind. When body and mind get back in sync not only will his arm talent re-appear, he will be better for it. Of course like many spread QBs or Air Raid QBs it may never happen. Thats why the draft is a crap shoot.
But they cannot just keep him in the shotgun. Sitting in a shotgun just isn’t practical in today’s NFL. It will only hamper his development. He NEEDS to learn to drop back, do play action, locate options 1 then 2 then 3 and throw with proper mechanics. The other thing that is hindering him is the new NFL rules on coaches having contact with players in the offseason and the reduced practices. If Goff is serious, he will go out and hire a personal QB guru for the offseason.
I think he will be ok. And when I say ok, I don’t mean his ceiling will be average at best. i mean he will learn the NFL game just fine. I think the biggest problem fans have with him has nothing to do with him. If he was drafted 17th overall and no draft picks were traded for him, would anyone be freaking out right now? Some would because its in their nature, but i think most wouldn’t. But then again the only way I would call a first round pick a bust after 8 games is if he literally quit playing football.
znModeratorHere’s why Kyle Shanahan should be high on Rams’ coaching search list
By VINCENT BONSIGNORE
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/shanahan-739702-rams-offensive.htm
Kirk Cousins didn’t get much playing time as a rookie quarterback with Washington in 2012.
As a lowly fourth-round pick playing for a team that just invested three first-round draft picks to move in position to draft Robert Griffin III second overall, he was destined to be a sideline mainstay.
Especially with RG3 on his way to a Rookie of the Year season while pushing Washington to the playoffs,
As professionally frustrating as that season might have been, it wasn’t a total waste for Cousins, who eventually supplanted RG3 and now has Washington on the brink of the playoffs.
In fact, the insight he gained observing then Washington offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan provided a class study in game-planning and play-calling. The lessons from which Cousins still marvels at to this day.
Albeit from afar now that Shanahan has moved on to the Atlanta Falcons.
Which brings us to the Rams and their coaching search, which kicks into high gear next week when they finally get to sit down with current NFL assistant coaches for interviews.
Shanahan sits among the top of potential candidates for the Rams, and for good reason.
In need of vision, imagination, a proven track record of developing, fine tuning and pushing multiple quarterbacks and teams to high-level offensive plateaus, Shanahan checks off almost all the boxes the Rams should be mindful of as they prepare to make one of the most important decisions in franchise history.
Just listen to what Cousins had to say about his former coach last year ahead of a Washington-Atlanta showdown.
“When you look at creativity and the ability to not be predictable, I was on the Redskins with Kyle, knew the system and didn’t know what was coming,” Cousins said. “I don’t mean to say he was pulling stuff out of left field. The ability to be thinking of the next play and being a step ahead, I think there’s a level of having the innate ability to do it that requires a quick mind. Kyle has that.”
It’s something Cousins immediately realized.
“I remember our very first game against the Saints, when Robert Griffin and I were rookies,” he explained. “I remember calling my dad after the game and saying, ‘I cannot believe how well-called that game was.’ They kept the Saints on their toes the whole game. They had no idea what was coming next. All of it was positive plays that put (Griffin) and the offense in a good situation to be successful. So, that was kind of my first taste of how good of a play-caller Kyle really was.”
If you’re the Rams, this should leave your ears ringing.
Even though it only scratches the surface of why the 37-year-old Shanahan makes so much sense for them.
As we’ve all seen this year, the Rams are in desperate need of an offensive overhaul as they try to grow and prosper around rookie quarterback Jared Goff.
From scheme to talent to play calling, to position development , nothing short of a complete renovation is required.
Short of prying a proven head coach away from his present job, the Rams will look to current coordinators for their next head coach. Almost undoubtedly one with an offensive track record.
Shanahan and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are the two most popular names, but while McDaniels’ resume is limited to working with Tom Brady and a complete nosedive in his two years as head coach of the Denver Broncos, Shanahan brings a wide-ranging resume that includes successful coordinator stops with Houston, Washington and now Atlanta.
In fact, RGIII, Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, and the Falcons’ Matt Ryan have all had their best seasons working under Shanahan, who also oversaw strong running games at all three stops.
You can argue McDaniels is simply the product of working with Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Brady.
But with Shanahan, you’re talking about someone whose scheme, system and expertise have consistently resulted in top-10 offenses. It’s an attack based on a quick-strike, rhythm passing game that can get aggressive downfield in a hurry by spreading the ball around with boot-leg action quarterback roll-outs and a wide-zone run game grandfathered to him by zone-blocking guru Alex Gibbs, the offensive line coach under Shanahan’s father, Mike, during their time with the Denver Broncos.
The result being a balanced attack everywhere Shanahan has laid down roots.
It’s a resume that’s rightfully grabbed the attention of the Rams, who desperately need someone to bring out in Goff and young running back Todd Gurley everything they have to offer.
But also re-tool and develop an offensive line and overhaul a wide receiver group that presently strikes fear in no one.
That isn’t to say Shanahan will work immediate miracles if he’s hired.
But with a body of work like that, he’s exactly what the Rams should be focused on.
And if it means his father joining him in some capacity, preferably in a position that impacts personnel, all the better.
After all, with the Rams in need of a talent infusion along the offensive line and at wide receiver, you could do worse than Mike Shanahan calling those shots. And with his son making the transition from assistant to head coach, he wouldn’t be a bad confidante to have nearby.
The Rams figure to touch base with a number of candidates over the next few weeks.
But from this vantage point, Kyle Shanahan is well qualified.
znModeratorI have never been in favor of moderation, despite the results of our last “no moderation” experiment.
I understand and appreciate the work of all the board mods here, but, in the spirit of the season I’d like to ask for a light hand, especially on this board.
Matt
How light?
And do others agree?
BTW I am only information gathering. If the community would like more leeway on this forum, that is honestly worth hearing.
…
znModeratorThe GSA is comprised of mostly academics and government geologists always on the make for government funding.
International.
Multiple fields.
znModeratorOh, good. A case study of the backfire effect.
Since we’re trying to clean up the politics board a mite…isn’t that one pushing it? Cause you know how it CAN be read….
December 28, 2016 at 11:01 am in reply to: Fassel on Robinson & more on OL tinkering before the ARZ game #61954znModeratorWith inconsistent play of Greg Robinson, Rams struggling to find solution at left tackle
RICH HAMMOND
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/robinson-739611-rams-season.html
THOUSAND OAKS – The Rams thought they solved their left tackle problem in 2014. Perhaps not.
Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick in that year’s draft, is near the end of a difficult season. His streak of 38 consecutive starts ended last month and he has been inactive for two of the last five games.
“It kind of caught me off guard,” Robinson said after Tuesday’s practice at Cal Lutheran. “I don’t really know what to expect, week in and week out. It was a decision they made as a staff, and I just took it on the chest and I’ll try my best to be positive about it.”
It’s premature to say the Rams have given up on Robinson, the most-penalized offensive player in the NFL this season, but it’s not too early to say they’re exploring their options, and possible changes.
Robinson was inactive last week but is expected to play Sunday in the Rams’ season finale against Arizona. He might even start again at left tackle, but that wouldn’t mean the end of the issue, because Robinson’s young career clearly has reached an important juncture.
“He’s been a little slower to develop than we all would have liked,” General Manager Les Snead said recently. “He’s got some skills that we can make successful. We now have to go back to the drawing board and ask, in our plan for success, where have we gone wrong? Where have we gone right?”
If right tackle Rob Havenstein is unable to play Sunday because of injury, Rodger Saffold could shift there and Robinson could return at left tackle. Rams interim coach John Fassel said Monday that Robinson might get snaps at guard, but Fassel backed away from that Tuesday. Perhaps Robinson could thrive at guard, but a move would be an acknowledgement that things aren’t working at tackle.
Robinson hasn’t played guard since he started there for one game as a rookie. Asked whether he would be open to changing positions, Robinson was noncommittal.
“I haven’t talked to (the Rams) about it,” Robinson said. “If that opportunity ever presents itself to me and I feel it’s best for me, then that would be the time to talk about it, but right now, that’s in the wind. I don’t really know about that.”
Robinson’s NFL-leading 15 penalties have nullified 92 Rams yards. That’s the most of any left tackle and third among offensive lineman.
Robinson’s penalties have “stalled” eight drives, the highest total of any offensive lineman. The NFL defines a stalled drive as one in which a team fails to get a first down or score after a particular penalty.
This isn’t new. Robinson also struggled last season, but the Rams had hope. At the start of training camp, they touted Robinson’s offseason work with former Pro Bowl lineman LeCharles Bentley, and then-Coach Jeff Fisher praised Robinson’s dedication. It didn’t last long, as the penalties and mistakes mounted.
“I think what happens when you get frustrated and you go through a stretch with a couple penalties, you almost revert back to what got you here, which wasn’t the right technique,” Snead said. “That’s when you’ve got to calm him down. Sit down. Take a deep breath.”
The Rams tried that last month, when Fisher ended Robinson’s 38-start streak and made him inactive in New Orleans, even though dozens of Robinson’s friends and family made plans to attend the game.
Robinson returned to the lineup the following week, but the “time out,” as Fisher called it, didn’t lead to much. Last week against San Francisco, the Rams made Robinson inactive and chose to play Pace Murphy, an undrafted rookie the Rams signed in April.
Snead joked recently that his 15-year-old son went online and researched the players the Rams could have selected instead of Robinson with that No. 2 overall pick in 2014. It’s extensive.
Already, 17 players from that 2014 draft have been picked for the Pro Bowl. That includes Tennessee left tackle Taylor Lewan, drafted nine spots after Robinson. Lewan made the Pro Bowl this season.
Robinson remains under contract through next season, but his future will be in the hands of a yet-unknown new coach, whom the Rams will hire next month.
Should the Rams seek an upgrade at left tackle, the expected free-agent market is not deep. Matt Kalil, a Corona native and former USC standout, is in the final year of his contract in Minnesota but has been on injured reserve since September after hip surgery. Cincinnati’s Andrew Whitworth and Jacksonville’s Kelvin Beachum are the only other starting left tackles set to become unrestricted free agents.
Or perhaps the Rams will hope that Robinson simply is a late bloomer.
Robinson didn’t play tackle until his first season at Auburn in 2012, and he started only 25 games before he declared for the draft as a redshirt sophomore. The Rams made Robinson a starter five games into his rookie season, but progress hasn’t been swift.
“My mindset hasn’t changed all season,” Robinson said. “All I can do it just focus on getting better and trying my best to perform at the best of my ability, week in and week out. I don’t think, as a competitor, that I would let it get to me, because then it would hinder me a little bit. I think the best thing is just to go out to practice each week and try my best to get better.”
December 28, 2016 at 10:56 am in reply to: Fassel on Robinson & more on OL tinkering before the ARZ game #61953znModeratorPractice Report 12/27: Rams Tinkering with Offensive Line
By Myles Simmons
There are likely more changes coming to the Rams’ offensive line for Week 17 against the Cardinals.
With right tackle Rob Havenstein day-to-day with an ankle injury, Los Angeles is looking at the possibility of moving around offensive lineman Rodger Saffold once again. Saffold started his second game of the 2016 season at left tackle on Saturday, having spent the year primarily at left guard.
For Tuesday’s light practice — which interim head coach John Fassel characterized as more of a walk-through — L.A. had Saffold working at both left and right tackle. When Saffold was at left tackle, rookie Pace Murphyworked opposite him. With Saffold on the right, Greg Robinson worked as the left tackle.
“That’s kind of the lineups we’re tinkering with,” Fassel said. “Very likely, by tomorrow, we’ll have something pretty determined because that’s our big practice. But they’ll be ready.”
Saffold did work at right tackle for much of the Rams’ offseason program and training camp, with Havenstein recovering from offseason surgery at that time. And so the veteran lineman said after Tuesday’s practice that he’s embracing the challenge of getting prepared for wherever the coaches decide to place him for Sunday’s game.
“It’s basically like telling you to go from being left handed to just, hey, just start being right handed — which is not the easiest,” Saffold said. “Makes this last week pretty eventful. I already watched a lot of film, so I’m on the right track to get it done.”
As for Robinson, the third-year tackle was deactivated for the second time this season against the 49ers. Fassel said after the game that decision was not made to make Robinson a kind of scapegoat, but with the thinking that Saffold at tackle and Jamon Brown at left guard could help spark the run game.
“It probably caught me off guard at the beginning of the week,” Robinson said. “It was a decision they made as a staff and I just took it on the chest and tried my best to be positive about it.”
“My mindset hasn’t changed all season,” Robinson continued. “All I can do is just focus on me personally getting better and trying my best to perform at the best of my ability week-in and week-out. I don’t think, as a competitor, that I would let it get to me because then it would hinder me a little bit. So I think the best thing is just, go out to practice each week and try my best to get better.”
While Fassel mentioned on Monday there had been some discussion among the coaching staff regarding moving Robinson to guard. But that will not come to fruition this week.
“Greg — benched last week — I talked to him about being ready to go this week, he took to it and I would imagine that he would perform at the highest of his ability,” Fassel said.
Really, I think the best thing for him is to give him one spot and let him really just focus on that,” Fassel added. “That was a discussion, but I would imagine that there will be one position picked for him and master this position. I think that’s where he’s at and that’s what’s best for him.”
Likely because of that, Robinson did not appear to have a position change on his mind when asked about it following practice.
“If that opportunity ever presents itself to me, and I feel it’s best for me, then that would be the time to talk about it,” Robinson said. “But, right now, that’s in the wind — I don’t know anything about that.”
Generally, though, the offensive line as a unit would like to finish the season on a high note by protecting quarterback Jared Goff well and springing running back Todd Gurley for a big day on the ground.
“That’s definitely the goal, but in order to run the ball, it’s going to take more than the offensive line,” Saffold said. “In order to protect the quarterback, it’s going to take more than the offensive line. Everybody has to do their job and we need to be consistent at doing their jobs. So, we’ll just see how it goes.”
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