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August 5, 2016 at 7:18 am in reply to: Isiah58 tweets & vids – some play by play from 8/2 camp #50200
znModeratorI think the team is still ascending and I want to keep the coach and GM in place, if for no other reason than to prevent what happened to Bradford and the parade of offensive coordinators every year. Plus I LIKE Fisher and Snead, and want them to do well and flourish.
I’m not sure that’s a minority position on THIS board. We have some skeptics and doubters and flat-out anti-Fisher guys, but I think most of the posters here are somewhere in between what you just said (which speaks for me too btw virtually word for word) and a more wait-n-see, but cautiously okay with it stance.
My own feeling, to add to what you said, is this: given that last year they had a melted down starting qb plus a pretty good #2 qb type, a very inexperienced OL, key defensive injuries, and a very tough schedule, pulling off 7-9 was actually quite an accomplishment.
znModeratorTrump’s Outrageous Attacks Against Father of Slain Muslim Soldier Aren’t Gaffes—It’s How He Talks to His Base
Among Trump supporters, white nationalist sentiment far outstrips allegiance to the U.S. military.Adele M. Stan / AlterNet
Many are the pundits who view the attack by Republican presidential nominee Donald J. Trump on the parents of a soldier killed in Iraq as an ego-driven gaffe—one Trump just can’t let go of because of his allergy to admitting mistakes.
But while the attack may indeed be ego-driven, it’s in line with the campaign’s messaging, which appears to be crafted by political operative and longtime dirty trickster Roger Stone. The bet is this: In the demographic the Trump campaign has targeted, white nationalist sentiment far outstrips allegiance to the U.S. military, a multicultural force that Trump has described as “a disaster.”
At issue are remarks made from the podium of the Democratic National Convention by Khizr Khan, father of the late Humayun Khan, a United States Army captain who ordered his unit away from a suspicious vehicle and approached it himself, only to be killed when it exploded. Referring to Trump’s proposed ban on Muslims who wish to enter the U.S., Khizr Khan issued a direct challenge to Trump during the nationally televised convention, asking if the GOP standard-bearer had ever read the U.S. Constitution and offering to lend him a copy. Trump, he added, had “sacrificed nothing and no one.”
Trump’s initial response was rather tame and lame, when he told George Stephanopoulos on ABC News’ This Week that, hey, he had sacrificed plenty by creating all kinds of jobs and having “tremendous success.” But Trump couldn’t stop himself from insinuating that Khizr Khan’s wife, Ghazala, stood silently by his side at the convention because her religion forbade her to speak. (Not true, she responded in an interview on CNN; she was simply too overcome with emotion to speak.)
Still Trump, who took three draft deferments during the Vietnam War, just couldn’t stop insulting the family of the slain Army officer, and took to Twitter to accuse Khizr Khan of “viciously attacking me.”
Trump Allies Tar War Hero
That’s all small stuff compared to what came next from Team Trump. Roger Stone, business partner of campaign manager Paul Manafort and the campaign’s apparent messaging guru, took to Twitter on Sunday night to advance a scurrilous article by right-wing conspiracy nuts Walid and Ted Shoebat that alleges Khizr Khan is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and that his slain son Humayun was an Islamist terrorist.
Brian Tashman of Right Wing Watch reports that Ted Shoebat “has called for gay people, Muslim Americans, Hillary Clinton and others to be put to death by the government, while Walid has said that Jesus Christ would ‘kill gays,’ lashed out at ‘dumb Jews’ and said that only ‘liberals, idiots and gay lovers’ would mourn the recent attack at a gay nightclub in Orlando.”
This isn’t the first time Stone has allied with right-wing conspiracy theorists in the service of the Trump campaign. I reported for AlterNet on a rally in Cleveland co-hosted by Stone and far-right radio host Alex Jones of InfoWars, at which the messaging offered by the right-wing fringe figures featured at the gathering turned out to be a preview of that advanced by the campaign at the Republican National Convention later that evening, with particular focus on a false allegation of criminality against Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
Stone apologized for his tardiness in arriving at the rally, saying he was delayed by meetings with the Trump staff. It was Stone who convinced Trump to appear on Jones’ radio program in December; months before Trump called for a ban on Muslims entering the U.S., Jones called for the deportation of Muslims already in the U.S.
It’s Brand-Building
What I’m trying to get at is that, despite the horror of establishment Republicans and the handwringing over whether Trump is sinking his campaign, his ongoing jihad against the Khans is a feature, not a bug, of his messaging. He knows that those who are inclined to vote for him will accept these libels against the Khans; it’s their way of discrediting them.
If you think no one would possibly believe such crazy accusations, think again. Philip Klinkner, professor of government at Hamilton College and coauthor of The Unsteady March: The Rise and Decline of Racial Equality in America, found that if you asked a voter one question, you could determine whether or not he or she supported Trump for president: “Is President Obama a Muslim?” If the answer was yes, bingo!
After examining data from the 2016 American National Election Study (ANES) pilot survey, Klinkner wrote on Vox on June 2, “If they are white and the answer is yes, 89 percent of the time that person will have a higher opinion of Trump than Clinton.”
At the root of Trump’s appeal, he found, was racial, religious and cultural resentment—not concerns about the economy or trade deals. Negative views of both blacks and Muslims are hallmark sentiments of Trump supporters.
Attack to Have Little Effect?
At least one prominent pollster sees little damage coming Trump’s way from the continued war of words between Trump, the Khans, and those—including U.S. Senator John McCain and President Obama—taking Trump to task for insulting the grieving family.
“I don’t expect it to have a huge impact on the numbers in the presidential race because what we’ve found, when Trump goes off on one of these outrageous tangents, is that his voters tend to just rally around him about it,” Tom Jensen, director of Public Policy Polling, told Rolling Stone’s Tessa Stuart. “Some of the examples of that are when he said that stuff about Muslims in New Jersey actively celebrating 9/11. That was something that was clearly, factually untrue and sort of a wild accusation, but when we asked about that in the weeks after he said that, we found that all of his supporters said they thought that that happened, too. We saw the same sort of thing with his Muslim ban.”
In fact, Jensen said, any backlash against Trump by the political or military establishments will only push his supporters to rally around him in a “cult-like” manner.
In other words, Trump’s attacks on the Khans will only serve to build his brand among those already leaning his way.
znModeratorThe figure Duke Williams cut as he slashed across the back of the end zone Tuesday was probably noticeable off nearby Newport Harbor.
Big, physical and imposing.
After an early rough start, Williams is getting a LOT of camp reporter (+ media reporter) positive buzz. PLUS he showed up on special teams.
It’s interesting.
znModeratorRobinson will get beat by speedy edge rushers, all tackles get beat from time to time. But many of his gaffs last year came when he simply blocked the wrong person while a defender ran by him to the QB, or he was late picking up the rusher. Those are the things that have to stop if he is going to be a good to very good left tackle.
To be fair and scrupulous, right now, out there in the wide ocean of the net, there’s some controversy among camp reporters about whether GR is looking good. Some emphasize him being beat by Quinn. Some say in general he is looking fine.
I personally wonder if GR is more of a “Jake Long at his best” with the Rams kind of LOT. In 2013, before his first knee, JL did not handle speed rushers with the kind of finesse we associate with top LOTs. BUT he was splendid in a play-action attack. That means you’re trading his ability to smash linemen on running plays for his ability to just form an anti-speed rush island.
Your point about GR working on all the mental errors is well taken.
znModeratorAugust 5, 2016 at 5:42 am in reply to: Pace in the Hall thread… w/ "Tom Nutten on playing next to Orlando Pace" #50183znModeratorFormer Rams left guard Tom Nutten discusses what it was like playing next to Orlando Pace
August 5, 2016 at 5:27 am in reply to: Pace in the Hall thread… w/ "Tom Nutten on playing next to Orlando Pace" #50182znModerator20 years after popularizing ‘Pancake,’ Orlando Pace’s legacy grows again
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The exception to the rule used to line up across from him on the practice field, and Luke Fickell still hasn’t forgotten the lesson.
An Ohio State defensive tackle during the Year of the Pancake in 1996, Fickell was regularly drilled on the importance of leverage and frequently heard the “low man wins” mantra that he still uses today as a defensive coordinator at his alma mater.
But there was one guy who wasn’t susceptible to that technique when the Buckeyes matched up for board drills or worked on their goal-line sets, pitting Fickell against one of the most imposing blockers in the history of football. And that might not have been the only way Orlando Pace broke the mold before leaving Ohio State after three years and embarking on a career that will be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend.
“There are some things that overtake the laws of physics,” Fickell said. “And Orlando is one of those things that doesn’t obey the laws of physics.
“My coach used to always say, ‘Look, the low man always wins.’ Then I would have to go against him. I’d say, ‘Coach, I thought the low man always won.’ But the thing about Orlando was he was a great person, great teammate. He knew the difference between teammates and the guys he had to finish off. It was almost like he was toying with us, saving the real stuff for the game.”
When Pace unleashed his full complement of power, agility, speed and flawless technical skills, there was virtually no chance of getting the better of him on a game day. Just to try to quantify how otherworldly Pace was after arriving on campus in 1994 and instantly becoming a starting offensive tackle: By his final season, the Buckeyes had created a statistic just for him as part of a rare Heisman Trophy campaign for a blocker.
The Pace Pancake was born, both in the numerical form and in the shape of a magnet the school sent out to publicize him for national awards. The Buckeyes provided a running tally of blocks that left defenders flat on their backs, a total that eventually reached 80 and helped Pace finish fourth in the Heisman race. While the coaching staff would count the Pancakes for anybody on the roster who managed them, there was really no need to bother keeping track of anybody other than the freakish big man on the left side of the line.
Orlando Pace might have cemented his Pro Football Hall of Fame career at Ohio State before ever playing a snap in the NFL. Jonathan Dani/Getty Images
“I’m not sure exactly how it started, but he was the only guy we kept Pancakes for,” said former Ohio State coach John Cooper. “We might have kept Pancakes probably for other people, but he got a hell of a lot more than anybody else, that’s for sure. I mean, he wouldn’t get one a game, he would get several a game. He was a mismatch. I jokingly tell people, he was 6-7, 320 pounds, he could bench press 400 pounds, run a 4.7 in the 40 and go bear hunting with a switch. He could do it all.“People ask me, who is the best athlete I ever coached? I don’t know to be honest with you. Joey Galloway, Robert Smith, Shawn Springs or David Boston, it’s hard to say who the best athlete was. But in my opinion, Orlando was the best football player. I mean, I don’t know how you could play the position any better than he played it.”
Pace continued setting that high standard in the NFL. He skipped his final season of eligibility, becoming the No. 1 overall draft pick of the St. Louis Rams and starting a decorated 13-year career in the league. But in some ways, his legacy as one of the all-time greats in the trenches might have been sealed before he even stepped foot on an NFL field.
Certainly, Pace wouldn’t be Canton-bound without winning a Super Bowl or playing in seven Pro Bowls or becoming a model of consistency over 154 consecutive starts. But he was already being hailed as a mythical figure before then. There was his stockpile of individual awards with the Buckeyes and the plays he finished as a lead blocker 70 yards down the field. Then there was the dominating performance that Cooper still fondly remembers when Pace blasted open holes against Illinois stars Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice as Eddie George rushed for 314 yards in 1995.
“I can’t imagine coaching anybody better than him,” Cooper said. “We didn’t even need to talk to him about coming back or not — we knew he was going to leave after three years.
“Every game was a highlight film for him. For goodness sakes, you didn’t have to go through and make a highlight film, you just looked at the game. It was an easy decision, if it’s third-and-short, fourth-and-short, pretty easy decision to run behind Orlando.”
Those short-yardage situations still required reps in practice, of course.
Even 20 years later, even against a guy who might have been taking it easy on him, Pace’s impact can still be felt by a coach who remembers that the low man doesn’t always win.
“One thing I can always tell you, I don’t know if during all those pass-rush drills and things we used to do if me or [All-American Mike] Vrabel or anybody else ever beat Orlando,” Fickell said. “Vrabel might not admit it, but I can tell you that I’m not sure if in practice or any drill if anybody ever beat him.
“We knew he was great, but even the whole Pancake thing, the promotions, without all the social media back then, I never really saw that much about it other than a magnet. So I guess if I look back at it, we probably didn’t realize just how good he was in the moment.”
There’s certainly no mistaking it now. But just in case, there’s a new bust in Canton that will serve as a permanent reminder.
znModeratorD’Marco Farr Announces He’s Leaving 101ESPN
znModeratorI find the standard deviation and coefficient of variation to be the most useful.
Yeah. Of course. Uh…me too. Obviously.
znModeratorI’m not a fan of clothes where the main appeal is the corporate logo of the company that made it, but I think I would wear this shirt…
I wonder what’s on the t-shirt of the guy who played Ramsay Bolton.
The possibilities are of course endless. Like
AND PEOPLE THOUGHT MY DAD WAS A PSYCHOTIC SADIST
znModeratorramsman34
First, about padded practices; I truly believe gone are the days of full pads and full, all-out e contact. We debated this among ourselves at at camp and i just think today’s practice was about as padded as its going to get – at least when it is one v ones. Coaches really don’t want guys getting in scrums or going to/getting taken to the ground. I know, I know – this is football. Ya, it is. But it is also a big time business with tons of pressure on organizations to succeed and with teams paying obscene money to star players. The reward is not worth the risk, IMO. I think there will only be “real” hitting in some goal line situations, STs, and when the back end of the roster guys go at it.
The Offense:
They have been improving incrementally each day. And in pads, the o-line can actually block and engage the D-line. All in all, the O out performed the D today in 11 v 11 and even in 7 v 7 (as they should). There were two separate 11 v 11 sessions which I have not seen done before. the offense did well in the first session but really shined in the second
I am focusing more on the team O work than anything else so far as this has been, as we all know, the weak link.
11 v 11 – Session 1:
I am not going to do the play by play that I did last report. Someone brought up that it might be too much detail (personnel group, down, distance, etc.) and that might piss the Rams off. I don’t think so, but just in case…
Keenum started the session and got the first 4 plays. First was an intermediate out route to Tay which was complete but Quinn smoked GRob and would have had the sack, Next Gurley ripped of a big outside zone run to the weak side. The personnel group and formation were interesting and different. Toss to Benny next that would have been a first down followed by an inside run out of a formation/personnel group that is a dead “we are running the ball” give away. Hopefully they will use play action out of this group/formation
Goff got the next 5 plays. He fumbles the snap from under center on play 1 – not good, but he shook it off. 2. Play-action, but Goff checked it down – he had #81 Duke Williams open for a TD on a post route – the clock in Goff’s head is slowly getting adjusted to NFL speed and NFL timing. 3. Checked to a run play pre snap, short gain by Reynolds. 4. Zone read, short gain – benny. 5. Sprint draw, might have been against a blitz, Benny gets a big gain.
Back to Keenum. 1. Gurley, inside for a tough 4 yds. 2. Quinn again blows by GRob but it is a 3-step whip out to Britt for the completion 3. Ck down to Benny, short gain. 4. Jet sweep to Tay, totally blown up by one of our new stud DL – Quinton Coples.
Mannion. 1. Inside run, Aaron Green – no gain, he is tentative running inside, no churn. 2. Nice ball to Harkey on a seam route. 3. Off tackle run – A. Green, good for 5yds. 4. Ck. down on a delay drag, big hit by Ayers to knock receiver down (didn’t get the #), short gain.
Back to Keenum. 1. Curl to Kendricks good for a 1st down. 2. ** Gurley out of the backfield on a post route for 20+ yds. against TJ McDonald. TG3 is going to be a match-up problem (cue Marshall Faulk highlights)! 3. Swing to Tay, blitz beater against man coverage – short gain – great closing speed by D 4. corner blitz cover-2 pre snap to cover 1, crossing route to Kendricks – another great blitz beater.
Back to Goff. he had a couple nice throws to TEs on crossers and outs, his first throw this session should have been a pick six, threw a nice deep post to Duke but McDonald broke it up with what would have certainly been called PI – McDonald is NOT a coverage safety, in case anyone is still wondering if he is.
NOTES: We have seen almost ZERO motion or shifts. Also very few screens, no slip screens or middle screens. Very few jet sweeps or jet-action passes. Gurley is running legitimate routes out of the back field – not just wheel or swings routes. His post route from the right side of the QB in shot gun “was a thing of beauty. Spruce, Michael Thomas, occasionally McRoberts, Bradley, and Duke Williams are impressing me – a lot. Quick is better than last year and he made a siiiiick grab in the last 11 v 11 red zone session that I will get to in a minute. But, the level of competition is better than I have seen in years at WR and at TE. I think the 5-6 WRs and the 4 TEs will be a significant upgrade over last year in sum.
Goff is much better against zone than man coverage at this point in camp. Although he crushed it in the 7 v 7 red zone against pure man. He is truly at his best in the red zone. And THAT is fucking good thing!
In 7 v 7 Keenum threw a pick -Lamarcus Joyner made a great leaping play at the goal line – he looks really good and improved. He hit Quick on a double-move corner-post route in the back of the end zone – great, and I mean stellar, leaping grab by Quick – another “flash” of his immense, but under tapped potential. Case had another TD to Spruce with some incompletions scattered in between.
Goff had TD throws to M. Thomas, Harkey, and a great in-cut to Duke (yes, I am truly pulling and hoping for this kid to make it). Goff also would have been sacked once and should have been picked once.
All in all, this was the best 7 v 7 session to date with the offense finally finding a way to beat man coverage.
The second 11 v 11 was red zone and a much shorter session. Keenum was ok, but as Hacksaw64 noted, late and threw behind his receivers. He was the same in 7 v 7 against no rush/pressure. CASE IS NOT GOING TO BE THE STARTER! I just can’t see it.
Goff kicked ass in this session with 2 TDs to Tavon (smoke screen, and corner route).
If Goff isn’t the starter in SF game one, I will be shocked. Keenum has him in the command and control dept. and maybe a little bit in the moxie dept. But everywhere else Goff is dominant: feet, pocket awareness, arm strength , ball placement….the kid just needs reps, and a lot of them in order to get him really ready. It will be interesting to see how much he plays in preseason. If it is more than one would expect, then I am certain he will be the starter day 1 as the coaches are trying to get him repped up and ready as quickly as possible.
I think the kid can handle the adversity of making mistakes, throwing picks, and even losing a couple games.(only a couple, kid) He will make a lot of plays for us this season and beyond and I truly think we are on the verge of a long run of winning football. Goff looks like the real deal to me.
More from Camp Friday.
RM34
znModeratorWell, that’s mostly encouraging.
I will keep adding to (and bumping) that post as things come in.
Some people say, a camp report can’t tell you anything.
Maybe. But my experience is, if you follow the RANGE of different comments from different people, it gives you a pretty good idea about many different things. So of course the trick is to put them all in a bucket and then see how much it weighs.
.
znModeratorRamzee
ADDED REMARKS
I’ve been at camp the last few days and the fact is, Robinson has gotten beat a few times (GRob) and it hasn’t all been roses. Quinn just flew right by him two times in a row and I know someone has pictures of it on a website somewhere. I also have pictures of GRob stone walling lots of our defenders. Overall I think he has been very good but he still has shown lapses. In the past it’s the lapses that cost him. GRob is a beast when he is on. We’re looking for more consistency at this point.
Duke Williams and Mike Thomas are really kicking ass at camp from my perspective. Bradley Marquez watch out!
znModeratorSo Ram
Myles Simmons ✔ @MylesASimmons
Keenum just fit a ball into a pretty darn right window to Tavon Austin along the left sideline. Austin fired up after making the grab.Was right there on that catch. He was guarded by C. Lynch who had perfect coverage.He never turned his head other wise it was a INT or batted by his body.
I don’t know how Tavon Austin caught that pass.He stayed with it was able to see it last second.What a good catch by Tavon.Ball was on the money.–Case looked the part as the starting QB.
SeattleRams @seattlerams_nfl
That groan from the crowd was Goff missing B MarquezHe was way off today.
–Bradley was getting a lot of playing time(reps) today.
He was in the slot ,playing for Copper.
–Goff talked to him after that pass.Maybe not that play because he missed him a lot.
Bradley might have ran a bad route.Brian Quick looks like a starter.He is so tough in the Red Zone !!
Quick was the star of practice yesterday !!! You can’t stop him in the Red Zone. Just throw him the dam ball.Well Kenny sleeps on you, Quick is a guy you put in on situations & match ups.He is a Red Zone guy.
Mike Thomas is a guy that gets open & moves the ball down field.
Duke really is showing up on special teams & has upside. Might make the 47 on game day because of it.
Nelson Spruce surprised me with his speed running down field on special teams.
Copper will get his in the slot ahead of Bradley Marquis. He did show up in 2 minute drill. He is a special teams guy, that still has a way to go at WR.
I don’t think Marquez has looked better than Mike Thomas or Duke Williams personally and Marquez has had some mental mistakes, like running the wrong routes. Which in one instance led to a red zone turnover.
Wichmann is the best option playing guard right now as a back up.Battle isn’t ready to start.I think Reynolds might even be the 3rd string RT ?? Reynolds is nothing special,but he really works his ass off in practice.A leader by example.
–Btockers is a very hard working vet as well.They both go down the field until the whistle every play.It stands out during practice, because at some point your just going Dam how did he get there on that play.
Case looks the part
Case is such the veteran & a leader out there.He is an extension to the coach.Robinson sure looks better than Goff !! He is going against Robert Quinn mind you ??
Goff can only complete short stuff underneath right in front of him against the 2nd & 3rd string defense.The exception is unless it is to Mike Thomas who looked really good & was impressive.My take on WR’s
Mike Thomas is a keeper & Brian Quick is a man child in Red Zone. Just throw him the dam ball !!!
–Tavon Austin is tough on those short roll outs by a QB. They throw it to the one or 2 yard line & he dives in. Really quick & hard to get a hand on when cutting in & then goes out.–Case is solid & is great with Barnes. Goff fumbled at least twice & Mannion probably 3 times. There is an issue there that needs to be fixed.
Alexander for sure he is the starting FS !! He is calling out plays on defense. Greg Williams loves him & always talks him up.
–TJ is right back starting at SS , Mo is always talking with him.
– Mo (starters) were in on a 11-11 drill against the 3rd string,& he was smart enough to that. He lit that guy up for a non- contact practice to finish the drill up. He is a flat out stud. He is going to open some eyes.
Cody is just a baller. He plays & does everything ok.He doesn’t make mental mistakes & can be trusted in center field.
He also has good hands, to make a game changing play.Troy Hill looks good for a name no one is talking about.
CB’s
Tru
CJ Gaines
Coty
Marcus Roberson
Troy HillAugust 4, 2016 at 1:26 pm in reply to: Clint Eastwood on the "kiss ass" and "pussy" generation of political correctness #50145znModeratorYeah, well, it’s easy for the people at the top of the hill to tell the people at the bottom of the hill that they are making too big of a deal out of the climb.
Especially for the ones who were born near the summit in the first place.
Summit? No way. Not me. Not most either.
Well if like me you were born white, male and straight in north america, we are already heaped with advantages…most of which we tend not to see.
Reminds me of the famous Eddie Murphy SNL sketch where he puts on white face and discovers how different the world is:
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/white-like-me/n9308
August 4, 2016 at 1:20 pm in reply to: Isiah58 tweets & vids – some play by play from 8/2 camp #50144znModeratorWhen I got to the first practice, I watched the QBs go through their footwork drills. Thompson, Goff, and Keenum went through the drills very smoothly, but Mannion looked laughably bad at it. And it made me wonder about his skill level. But then in the actual throwing drills, he looks very good and very polished. I like that he has a big arm and is not afraid to use it. Everything I saw from Mannion outside of the footwork drills was very good, although he is relegated to third string snaps. I would not be surprised if he is the back-up next year, and I think he will flourish in that role and could come in and win a game or two.
Interesting.
Yeah my take on Mannion is that he CAN be good in spite of some physical flaws (like slow feet).
This is my take on Mannion. It’s hardly original, just spelling it out.
Keenum is on a one-year. If they can sign him again, I like their depth. If they can’t Mannion is the #2 (provided he comes through). Even if they do sign CK after the year, they presumably have Mannion as the #2 if Goff misses time. In fact if that happens look for them to draft another young qb for the #3 spot.
How many times over the last decade have the Rams started their 3rd qb? For that matter at one point Bulger was the 3rd qb. Off the top of my head, without being thorough, there was Bulger Martin Fitzpatrick. There was Bulger Boller Null. There was Bradford Feeley Clemens. In 2014 technically before the injury Austin Davis was the #3.
And if they’re lucky and Mannion develops to be a starting caliber guy, well, that’s just a good problem to have.
The thing is, he seems to work around his limitations. So for example he has an odd wind-up release yet the ball comes out quickly enough anyway. He has lumbering feet but he might be one of those guys, like Hav, who just gets to the right place at the right time anyway (Hav isn’t known for nifty feet). So it’s like Hav and Mannion are both Lurch, but still manage to play effectively.
znModerator69RamFan
Today I focused more on the Offense side of the ball, since we really know what we have on the D side.
Offense
QBs
Keenum with the 1s Looked pretty good, had a few good throws to his WRs, especial;y one for about 20yrs to TA. And a deep post to Britt.Goff with with the 2s but played again the 2s and 1s Defense. Goff had some good throws, but I felt he didn’t have a great day, just my observation, I want to say hitting about 55 to 60% of his throws, that’s what it looked like, I wasn’t counting his throws, just an estimate. But one thing I did notice, if given the time, he reads through his progressions down the field as long as he can before checking down.
Mannion with the 3s, I must say, with my naked eye, Mannion looked really good, he didn’t look slow with his feet as some have been putting out. And he has a strong arm.
RBs
Gurley had this 40 or 50yd run, with a hole opening up and he took it to the house.
Benny Cunningham looked slim and trim, he had some nice runs.WRs
1s, Britt and TA Looked really good,
especially TA, when he gets the rock in open space, he is like a jack rabbit, hard to stop.
Britt a nice deep post catch.2s Quick, had some nice catches, one for a TD
Mike Thomas was looking really good, catching everything that was throw his way, maybe missed one or two throws.Duke Williams had a deep ball thrown to him for a TD, not sure if it was from Goff or Mannion.
After the catch, all of the WRs went to grab him and cheer him on. But it was a questionable call whether he caught it inbounds.TEs
1s Kendricks, I seen one drop, but mostly he was being target about five or more times.
Harkey, he is out there blocking.2s Higabee, everything that was thrown to him, he was making the catch. He is a nice big target. (He is no Cook which is good.)
OL
Hard to really tell, cause they didn’t seemed to really go all out from the D-line side of the ball.But the 1s did open up a hole with Gurley finding it and taking it to the house.
It was a nice time at the camp, my youngest daughter was getting some autographs and selfies,
one from Westbrooks and Greg the Leg.I actually walked right by Robert Quinn and William Hayes, but my daughter didn’t want their autograph,
she was all into getting Goffs autograph and selfie,,, which never happened,,, LoLznModeratorThis is always open to change, but as of right now, according to overthecap.com this is the Rams cap situation next year, assuming a cap of 166 ML
Team Salary Cap: $166,000,000
Team Cap Space: $43,955,849Cutting Foles added 12+ M to next year’s cap space.
That’s a big deal THIS year because it gives some future space to use for extensions (eg. words is, they have an offer out to Tavon).
The downside this year is that Foles, Long, and Laurinaitis combined = 13+ M in 2016 dead money.
August 4, 2016 at 10:37 am in reply to: Isiah58 tweets & vids – some play by play from 8/2 camp #50136znModeratorHow does Mannion look? Is he a viable possible future #2? (Keenum right now is on a 1-year.)
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znModeratorRamzee
Some of what I got from Rams camp in Irvine on August 2nd, 2016. I’ll keep editing and posting pics one by one until I’m done. Enjoy!
EJ Gaines (#33) nearly intercepts Jared Goff (#16) in 11 on 11’s. Goff intended the pass for Michael Thomas (#13) but Marquez Bradley (#15) is suspiciously running a similar route a yard away from him in the same area. Gaines was covering Bradley and I don’t think he’s supposed to be there by design.
Lamarcus Joyner (#20) high points a pass by Case Keenum (#17) in the front of the end zone in 7 on 7’s.
Brian Quick (#83) high pointing a pass in the back of the end zone. He holds onto the ball and gets both feet in bounds for the touchdown in 7 on 7’s. T.J. McDonald (#25) in coverage on the play.
Case Keenum (#17) throws a touchdown in the back corner of the end zone to rookie TE Tyler Higbee (#89) during 7 on 7’s. Higbee gets both feet in bounds for the score. T.J. McDonald (#25) in coverage on the play.
Rookie WR Michael Thomas (#13) jumps to catch a Jared Goff (#16) touchdown pass during Rams 7 on 7 red zone drill. Coverage by Cody Davis (#38) on the play.
WR Duke Williams (#81) dives in the back of the end zone for the touchdown in Rams 7 on 7’s. He retains possession but doesn’t stay in bounds. T.J. McDonald (#25) in coverage on the play.
Tavon Austin (#1) muffs a punt here in punting drills. Johnny Hekker (#3) was booming them 60+ yards regularly. Great hang time. Austin doesn’t seem to watch the ball into his hands on punts. I noticed it on several returns. He had a few dropped ones throughout the afternoon.
This time Austin reels it in.
Aaron Donald (#99) blew by Jamon Brown (#68) to stuff Gurley (#30) for a big loss in the back field during 11 on 11’s. He put his tremendous lower body explosion and quickness on display. He’s very hard to out leverage.
New thing I’ve been seeing over and over at camp is the Rams dropping Aaron Donald (#99) into coverage on zone blitzes. Here he covers TE Lance Kendricks (#88). He did it on back to back plays when this pic was taken and a few more times over the last two practices. He seems athletic and talented enough to do it! That should throw a few QB’s off this year. Maybe even generate the Rams a turnover.
Tavon Austin (#1) has an uplifting experience thanks to teammate Aaron Donald (#99). Austin spun to avoid a hit by Mark Barron, right into Donald’s waiting arms. After Donald ran him down on a quick screen across the middle. Thankfully Donald decided not to obliterate Austin and set him down nicely.
Lance Kendricks (#88) makes the catch across the middle with Aaron Donald (#99) in tight zone coverage. Despite giving up the catch, I was very impressed by Donald’s coverage and overall athletic ability.
Here is Ethan Westbrooks (#93) splitting the double team and getting what would have been a Jared Goff sack in a live game. Westbrooks had several disruptive plays throughout the day.
LT Greg Robinson (#73) stonewalls DE Eugene Sims (#97) during 11 on 11’s. He did a great job mirroring him and riding him out of the pocket during this particular drill.
WR Paul McRoberts (#8) makes a nice diving catch on the sideline from Jared Goff (#16) with CB Troy Hill (#32) on the coverage.
Case Keenum (#17) scrambles to the end zone for a touchdown in 11 on 11’s. The pocket broke down and Keenum escaped to his left. Using some pump fakes and head nods, he got the defenders in coverage to stick to their receivers, while he slipped away unabated to the corner of the end zone for the score.
Jared Goff (#16) scrambles to the end zone past Cameron Lynch (#50) and co. for a touchdown in 11 on 11’s. The pocket broke down and Goff scrambled to his right, right into about 4 Rams defenders but was still able to maneuver himself enough to get into end zone for the score. This came right after Keenum’s scramble. Rams QB’s showing off their mobility.
QB Sean Mannion (#14) bobbles the low snap on this play. This was a pretty common theme for the day for all the center/QB exchanges. I saw at least 5 bobbled or lost snaps just like this one between the different QB’s. Now’s the time to sort that out.
TE Justice Cunningham (#48) scores on a Sean Mannion (#14) pass during the red zone drill 11 on 11’s.Cunningham and Cory Harkey especially had very productive days in the 7 on 7 and 11 on 11 red zone drills. Harkey had at least 3 TD’s I saw. Cunningham at least 2. All of the QB’s seemed to be using the TE’s a lot throughout the day. Harkey had a lot of targets for a guy who is primarily known for his blocking repertoire.
znModeratorChiefs are giving QB Nick Foles a one-year deal plus a team option for a 2nd year, per source.
Cowboys' hunt for a backup QB goes on.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 4, 2016
znModeratorWith (LT Greg Robinson) Rob missing time right now
Whoever did this transcript knows less than we do. The missing “Rob” is not Robinson, it’s Rob Havenstein.
Maybe it;s the donut intern. Job description–get donuts. Now and then, type up a transcript. Knowledge of football and/or of the Los Angeles Rams not required.
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znModeratorhttp://www.footballoutsiders.com/stat-analysis/2016/qbase-2016
for what it’s worth football outsiders rates goff as the ninth best prospect since they’ve collected data on this stat. it’s a pretty impressive list. outside of leftwich every qb has had some degree of success at the pro level.
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Jared Goff (California)
While Goff is not a sure thing, his estimated chances of succeeding in the NFL are only a little bit lower than Marcus Mariota’s, QBASE’s favorite prospect from the 2015 draft. Goff had the kind of numbers in his final collegiate season (64.5 percent completion rate, 8.9 YPA, 43 TD, 13 INT) that successful NFL quarterbacks usually have. He posted those numbers against a good, but not great, set of defenses (ranked No. 30 in college football by our estimates). He had little help in terms of NFL-caliber talent at receiver or on the offensive line. The only teammate at those positions who projects to be drafted in the first four rounds this year or next is potential third-round receiver Kenny Lawler.
Goff becomes QBASE’s No. 9 quarterback prospect of the last 21 years. Mariota occupied that same spot last year, but has moved up in the reshuffling since another year of data has been added to the model.
QBASE Top 10 Prospects Since 1996
Player Projected DYAR
Philip Rivers 1,969
Carson Palmer 1,934
Donovan McNabb 1,831
Peyton Manning 1,306
Marcus Mariota 1,302
Russell Wilson 1,246
Byron Leftwich 1,239
Ben Roethlisberger 1,227
Jared Goff 1,211
Aaron Rodgers 1,205Players from earlier years are part of the model that creates the projections, so the takeaway here is not that Goff is likely to be as good as his fellow Cal alum just below him on the list. Goff placing so highly instead says that his resume resembles those of other prospects who succeeded as NFL quarterbacks. Our projection gives Goff the best shot this year, almost 40 percent, of being the kind of upper-tier player who solves a team’s long-term quarterback dilemma.
znModeratorMore talented? Gurley is an upgrade otherwise there isn’t an Amendola on this offense. TA is more of a runner and decoy.
You can’t neglect the difference the defense makes. It’s huge. And while SB had Amendola, he had nothing else. The Rams have a lot of developing “else” and just not one guy…yet. And IMO you underestimate what Tavon brings. He is not just a runner, he catches passes, which is why he works as a decoy–they don’t know which he will do, and that’s a guy who can break almost any play. A player does not work as a decoy unless defenses fear him. So he’s a combined yards player with 9 TDs. That’s something. He’s just not dismissable.
znModeratoroff the net from Eric
Goff and footwork
Want to see what it looks like? And compare it to other Rams QBs?
Welp.. here you go!
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-training-camps/0ap3000000679089/Will-Jared-Goff-
:46 seconds in, you can see the drills and how much smoother Goff is.. how the ball is *always* in the right position and just how fluid he is.
The difference between him and the lumbering Mannion couldn’t be more stark.
znModeratorPractice Report 8/3 – ‘Iron Sharpens Iron’
Myles Simmons
On Tuesday, the Rams staged their first full practice in pads. And by all accounts, the offense was the better of the units for that particular session.
Los Angeles’ defense being full of competitors, head coach Jeff Fisher predicted the group might have a little extra in store for Wednesday. In fact, some defensive even asked to keep things exactly the same from one day to the next.
“The players actually were kind of lobbying to put pads back on today, because I think that was coming from the defense,” Fisher said.
One such defender was defensive end William Hayes.
“I was pushing for it,” he confirmed. “I felt like, since I’ve been here — four years — that was the most competitive we’ve been against each other. So I was all for it.”
But that’s not how the schedule worked out.
“But, we originally planned on not going back-to-back. So, they’re going to have to wait until Saturday now,” Fisher said.
Still, what made Tuesday so competitive? From Hayes’ perspective, it was all about the battles in the trenches.
“Those pads came on [and] I saw a different offensive line, which was pretty cool,” he said. “Those jokers were coming off the ball and they were getting after it. I think that was the biggest thing.”
“And it was like every single play [we were] fighting until the whistle was over with, which is a good thing,” Hayes continued. “So that was pretty exciting for me.”
As one of the veteran leaders on the defensive line, Hayes has been around for a while and knows how to get ready for a season. During this time of year, there’s no scout team — the first-team O and first-team D go head-to-head to try to make one another better. And at this point, Hayes feels like both the offense and defense are about even.
“We’re pretty good right now, man,” Hayes said.
For the D-line in particular, Hayes said one of the unit’s goals is to make sure it’s not just the Aaron Donald show. As good as the third-year defensive tackle is, everyone has to support him along the line.
“I mean, I don’t want it to be where you just see Aaron Donald — Aaron Donald’s carrying the D-line and he’s the only one making flashes the whole game,” Hayes said. “I want it to be all four of us just being disruptive and playing off of each other. And that’s one thing we’re doing better this year than we did last year. Everybody’s playing off of each other really good this year.”
And the camp competition between the two lines should help both units when it comes to translating those improvements into Ws once the regular season hits.
“Iron sharpens iron, and we’re going out there and we’re getting after each other really good,” Hayes said. “They’re getting after us really good. The only thing it’s going to do is just push us toward greatness.”
“I’m real optimistic to see what the season is going to look like,” Hayes added. “Right now, I can’t really see too many weaknesses on both sides of the ball. So I’m pretty excited to see what we’ve got ahead of us.”
EXTRA POINTS
— Are players a more self-conscious with Hard Knocks cameras around during camp? Perhaps a little bit.
“I’m trying not to censor myself so much, but I have to kind of watch my mouth a little,” Hayes said. “It’s just a little different than what I’m used to. It seems like every time I want to start laughing and joking, I start seeing a camera in my face. And I’m not really big when it comes to cameras. I’m not like a television-type guy. So that’s a little different for me. But it’s been fun.
“But the cool thing about Hard Knocks,” Hayes continued, is that “it’s given our team — well the whole NFL and everybody within the community — a chance to get to know our players and get to know us.”
— Wide receiver Mike Thomas has put together a couple strong practices in a row, catching a number of passes form fellow rookie Jared Goff. According to the sixth-round pick, the duo is establishing a nice rapport.
“We’re getting a lot of reps in together, so I feel like the chemistry is going great,” Thomas said. “Of course, there’s a lot of we need to work on. Just the timing and everything, yeah. But our chemistry is going great.”
— With starting right tackle Rob Havenstein on the preseason physically unable to perform list, Rodger Saffold has been filling in at right tackle with Cody Wichmann playing at left guard. Over his years in the league, Saffold has played all over the line, and has a good comfort in doing so.
“With Rob missing time right now, we decided prior to the start of camp — and notified [Saffold] — that we’re going to move him out to right tackle. He said, ‘Cool,’” Fisher said. “He says he loves it. He will play any position but center. So, it gives us the flexibility and the peace of mind knowing that if you do have an issue, Rodger can play any place.”
— Cornerback E.J. Gaines did get a few reps with the first-team defense on Wednesday, but Fisher said the Mizzou product “came up a little bit lame” toward the end of practice. The club will check him out and we’ll have an update when one is available.
— Finally, the Rams had a special guest at practice on Wednesday — seven-time Grammy award winner Kendrick Lamar. Check out our Dani Klupenger’s one-on-one interview with him in the video below.
znModeratorJared Goff shows off his arm and release to Rams and fans at training camp
By Gary Klein
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-training-camp-20160802-snap-story.html
It was only one pass, one late-practice throw.
And it seemed, for an instant, to momentarily freeze the Rams’ practice on Tuesday at UC Irvine.
Rookie quarterback Jared Goff had dropped back, stepped up to avoid the rush and zipped a spiral deep through the defense and into the hands of receiver Nelson Spruce.
It marked the first time the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft truly showed the arm and release that caused the Rams’ brain trust to trade numerous draft picks for the opportunity to select the former California standout.
Goff had displayed flashes during rookie camp workouts after the draft and during off-season and organized team activities in Oxnard.
But Tuesday was the first time that the Rams were in pads.
So when Goff stepped up and delivered, the crowd in the nearby bleachers roared. And though the play came with the second-team offense operating against the second-team defense, players and coaches appeared to sense the moment.
“He made some really good throws,” Coach Jeff Fisher said of Goff, adding, “We added a little bit of noise so they had to focus in the huddle and I thought he took charge of it.
“He’s progressing well.”
Goff is attempting to supplant Case Keenum at the top of the depth chart. He will need to make plays like he did Tuesday against the first-team defense and against exhibition opponents to convince Fisher that he is capable of starting the Sept. 12 season opener against the San Francisco 49ers.
Whether it happens at the outset or during the season remains to be seen, but it is only a matter of time before Goff ascends to become the starter.
Keenum, for his part, has looked comfortable in the role for now.
On Tuesday, he made several impressive plays, including a touchdown pass in a tight window to Brian Quick and a touchdown pass to Tavon Austin in the left corner of the end zone.
“I’m doing my job,” Keenum said. “When I’m at quarterback, I’m running the show. … It’s my huddle, my squad, my offense and I’m taking ownership of it.”
Comeback trail
Defensive end Robert Quinn took part in the team drills as he attempts to return to full strength after back surgery.
Quinn, 25, was a Pro Bowl selection in 2013 and 2014 before he was injured last season.
“I’m feeling more and more like my normal self,” he said. “They’re taking their time, making sure I’m healing properly and building my strength back up without trying to overwork me.”
Quinn, William Hayes, Eugene Sims and Aaron Coples are among the ends that will flank tackles Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers on a line that is regarded as a Rams’ strength.
“By Game 1, I should be full-go,” Quinn said.
Fisher said there was no rush.
“We’re going to watch him,” he said. “His reps probably aren’t up to where they normally would be. He’ll get there.”
znModeratorLA Rams’ rookies steal the spotlight
Vinny Bonsignore,
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20160802/bonsignore-la-rams-rookies-steal-the-spotlight
IRVINE >> The figure Duke Williams cut as he slashed across the back of the end zone Tuesday was probably noticeable off nearby Newport Harbor.
Big, physical and imposing.
He certainly caught the eye of Rams rookie quarterback Jared Goff, who immediately unleashed a tight spiral that Williams gracefully went to his knees to corral for a touchdown during 7-on-7 drills on the Rams’ first day in full pads.
In what was a bit of a theme on the day, Goff, Williams and fellow rookies Tyler Higbee, Nelson Spruce and Michael Thomas looked polished, athletic and productive against a Rams defense many consider on the cusp of being a top 10 NFL unit.
On a day the old dogs on the defense were supposed to bark loudest, it was the Rams’ puppies making the plays drawing the most ooohs and ahhs from the fans on hand.
“We’re young and fresh,” Williams said, smiling. “We’re letting the veterans take us under their wing and we’re trying to help get the defense better.”
They did more than that, actually. In fact from top the bottom, the entire offense looked good Tuesday.
And for an organization that desperately needs its offense to show an actual pulse outside of running back Todd Gurley, the surprising development was as pleasant as the soothing breeze coming off the Pacific Ocean just a few miles away.
“I like the group of receivers, young group of receivers,” Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said, “Coach (Mike) Groh’s doing a really good job with them. I think I said, you change the numbers, they’re all tall, they make plays, they elevate.”
Goff will play his part in making that happen — and his workout Tuesday was by far his best of the first four days of training camp — but it sure would help if a couple of playmakers can emerge around him.
Gurley has a chance to lead the league in rushing in his second season and Tavon Austin is an ace on the perimeter and screen and run games.
But the Rams need to add some power and productivity on the outside, and a go-to target Goff — or Case Keenum if he wins the starting job — can turn to on a consistent basis.
Enter Williams and Higbee, a pair of rookies who certainly look the part of the a pair of must-have assets Goff and the Rams need to turn a morbid offense into a respectable one.
The 6-foot-6, 250-pound Higbee is a fourth-round tight end out of Western Kentucky whose already getting run with the first-team offense. Higbee was considered a second-round talent before getting arrested April 10 on suspicion of second-degree assault, evading police and public intoxication after an altercation outside a bar in Kentucky that left Nawaf Alsaleh, 24, unconscious and bleeding from the mouth.
Higbee’s next court hearing is in September.
“I made a mistake and it’s something I’m still learning from,” Higbee said. “But it’s also something I’m not going to let define me. I’m just moving on.”
On the field, he’s unusually fast for his size and is easy to spot cutting across the field. And over the first four days of camp has shown an ability to get open and make himself a big target for Goff and Keenum.
“I’m just trying to get better every day,” said Higbee
Said Fisher: “Better every day. … Made a lot of plays, acted like he’s played before.”
Not thinking too far ahead, but the skill-set is there to be a match-up nightmare for smaller linebackers and safeties.
Williams, an undrafted free agent out of Auburn, adds a commodity sorely missing on the Rams the last few years. A big, fast, physical wide receiver who can take the top off a defense and make plays in the red zone. At 6-2, 215 pounds, that’s the sort of package Williams brings.
And he’s already opening eyes.
“I like Duke,” said Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson.”Just a big wide receiver. I like Duke a lot.”
For Williams, the positive day Tuesday followed a dreadful Sunday afternoon in which he dropped five passes. That’s not exactly the kind of impression you want to make trying to fight your way from the very bottom the roster.
Especially when you arrive with the kind of baggage Williams is carrying. Two years ago he was considered one of the best NFL wide receiver prospects in the country, but his reputation and draft status took a beating after a series of off-field incidents and rules violations got him kicked off the team at Auburn.
“Just complete immaturity on my part,” Williams said. “But it’s behind me. I look at life completely different now. All of that stuff, it’s in the past.”
Nevertheless, his amends weren’t enough to repair his reputation. He went undrafted as a result. In a low-risk, high-reward roll of the dice, the Rams signed him as a free agent on a prove-it or move-on basis.
“Duke came in, knew he had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity based on some of the things that happened in his history,” said Fisher. “We gave him the opportunity. He took advantage of it. Went off in the summer, came back, took a lot of weight off.”
Only for him to drop everything in sight the first chance he got on Sunday.
“It was a day I just had to mentally take on,” Williams said.
But it ate at him the rest of Sunday.
“It was in my head since since it happened,” he said. “It was like, ‘I can’t have a day like that again. I’m hurting myself, I’m hurting the offense. I’m hurting my teammates.’”
He rose out of bed on Monday determined to change the narrative, then went into beast mode during physical special teams practice in which me made like a battering ram against anyone he encountered.
“We saw a different side of Duke,” said Austin.
The momentum carried over into Tuesday, with Williams fighting to get open and hanging onto the ball whenever targeted.
“It’s just learn from my mistakes,” he said. “Today I came out and dominated. I had to come out here and forget about those drops, put them behind be. Nobody wants to drop a ball.”
As a result, on a day the defense was supposed to own it was the offense commanding the action.
znModeratorNick Foles has agreed to terms to join the Chiefs, source says. Reunion with Andy Reid.
Makes sense. He probably had an option or 2 besides that.
Article:
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Chiefs agree to terms with former Rams QB Nick Foles
Chris Wesseling
The Kansas City Chiefs have found some insurance at the quarterback position.
The Chiefs have agreed to terms with former Rams quarterback Nick Foles, NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo reported, via a source informed of the clubs talking contract with Foles’ representatives. The Cowboys and the Vikings had also extended offers to the former Los Angeles Rams quarterback, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport added.
It comes as no surprise that Chiefs coach Andy Reid was open to a reunion with a quarterback he selected in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. In fact, Garafolo reported in February of 2013 that Reid was interested in bringing Foles along to Kansas City if Philadelphia were open to a trade.
Reid viewed Foles as a future starter at the time and has long been a believer in his talent.
The Chiefs do have a pair of promising young arms in Tyler Bray and 2014 fifth-round pick Aaron Murray. When Chase Daniel followed offensive coordinator Doug Pederson to the Eagles, though, Reid was left without an experienced option behind starter Alex Smith. Neither Bray nor Murray has ever thrown a pass in an NFL regular-season contest.
August 3, 2016 at 11:34 pm in reply to: Clint Eastwood on the "kiss ass" and "pussy" generation of political correctness #50095znModeratorYeah, well, it’s easy for the people at the top of the hill to tell the people at the bottom of the hill that they are making too big of a deal out of the climb.
Especially for the ones who were born near the summit in the first place.
Yeah. Mainstream straight white males telling everyone else to quit their bellyachin. Used to be better when MSWMs could say anything about everyone else, and why can’t everyone else just recognize that things were better then.
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