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znModeratorSo it’s great to see the New York Times (7/29/16) excoriating North Carolina Republicans’ “scurrilous attempt” to “suppress the rising power of black voters.” In a better world, of course, such campaigns would not have enjoyed years of tailwind from media like the Times rhetorically “balancing” claims of potential voter fraud with evidence of actual voter suppression.
In the words of my youth…what a burn. This is typical american mass media bs. That is, NOW the NY Times celebrates a court decision to strike down voter suppression. But back when North Carolina was voting in such restrictions, the NY Times couldn’t be bothered to say that’s what it was:
The issue used to illustrate the argument over false balance is voter fraud. The facts are clear: This is basically a nonexistent problem that Republicans and conservative groups are using to push laws make it more difficult to vote.
The media problem is that reporters treat both sides of this “debate” as if they are more or less equally valid. Sullivan says she’s heard from readers who want the Times to be clear about what the facts are:In his article, which led last Monday’s paper, the national reporter Ethan Bronner made every effort to provide balance. Some readers say the piece, in so doing, wrongly suggested that there was enough voter fraud to justify strict voter identification requirements–rules that some Democrats believe amount to vote suppression. Ben Somberg of the Center for Progressive Reform said the Times itself had established in multiple stories that there was little evidence of voter fraud.
“I hope it’s not the Times‘s policy to move this matter back into the ‘he said she said’ realm,” he wrote.Disclosure: Ben Somberg is a former FAIR intern, still doing media criticism.
The most valuable part of Sullivan’s column is here:The national editor, Sam Sifton, rejected the argument. “There’s a lot of reasonable disagreement on both sides,” he said. One side says there’s not significant voter fraud; the other side says there’s not significant voter suppression.
“It’s not our job to litigate it in the paper,” Mr. Sifton said. “We need to state what each side says.”
Mr. Bronner agreed. “Both sides have become very angry and very suspicious about the other,” he said. “The purpose of this story was to step back and look at both sides, to lay it out.”
While he agreed that there was “no known evidence of in-person voter fraud,” and that could have been included in this story, “I don’t think that’s the core issue here.”The admissions are remarkable. An editor at the Times likens providing useful context to readers to “litigating” an argument. If you’re a vote-suppressing Republican, this is music to your ears; it confirms that an editor doesn’t seem to think checking the integrity of your argument is the business of the Paper of Record.
link: http://fair.org/media_criticism/at-nyt-she-said-no-to-he-saidshe-said-but-they-said-yes/
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znModeratorNew York Times Could Kick Voter Suppression While It’s Still Up
Janine Jackson
link: http://fair.org/home/new-york-times-could-kick-voter-suppression-while-its-still-up/
Big media are heralding a federal appeals court ruling striking down a North Carolina law that made it harder to vote. Harder for some, that is; the court noted that the restrictions—on things like early voting and same-day registration — targeted African-Americans with “almost surgical precision” — and, indeed, came in the wake of the state’s request for specific data on voting practices by race, which came in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Shelby County v. Holder saying states with histories of discrimination no longer needed to get federal clearance for such changes.
So it’s great to see the New York Times (7/29/16) excoriating North Carolina Republicans’ “scurrilous attempt” to “suppress the rising power of black voters.” In a better world, of course, such campaigns would not have enjoyed years of tailwind from media like the Times rhetorically “balancing” claims of potential voter fraud with evidence of actual voter suppression.
And, mindful of the paper’s current note that court decisions like this one show the “bitter struggle for basic fairness beyond the national spotlight,” we will look for media to report this story out—with follow-up on how, for instance, North Carolina will address the inevitable confusion over the amended rules, given there’s no funding for public education, as Samantha Lachman notes at Huffington Post. Or on how, as The Nation‘s Ari Berman points out, this ruling poses a challenge to the Supreme Court’s Shelby decision, premised as it was on voter suppression as a thing of the past.
Kristin Clarke of the Lawyer Committee for Civil Rights Under Law reminded in testimony at the DNC how, after the Fifteenth Amendment, states like Alabama introduced bans on voting by people convicted of felonies along with purposefully ill-defined crimes of “moral turpitude,” in an admitted effort to disenfranchise black Americans. Like North Carolina’s, these rules that prevent many who’ve served time in prison from ever voting again were also precisely crafted with a goal in mind. And even after the court’s recent ruling, they’re still achieving it.
Media interest in the issue is welcome; we hope they’ll remember that their spotlight is most useful where folks are still working in shadow.August 7, 2016 at 1:01 am in reply to: 8/6, Rams practice in the coliseum, tweets & vids & articles #50328znModeratorEnjoy the Rams nostalgia while it lasts
VINCENT BONSIGNORE / STAFF COLUMNIST
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-724920-day-time.html
The nostalgia will wear off at some point. Sooner or later the Rams will blend back into Los Angeles as if they never left for St. Louis and spent two decades away from the region they called home for nearly 50 years.
The magic will fade. The charm of their return will dim. And they’ll reclaim their spot in the L.A. sports landscape as if they’ve been here the whole time.
But it’s going to take awhile.
And as sure as Deacon Jones invented the sack and Jack Youngblood played in Super Bowl XIV with a broken leg, there might be moments that come along over the next few months that take your breath away. Especially if you’re a longtime Angeleno who remembers a time when the Rams stood as tall as the Dodgers and Lakers and USC football.
The recommendation here is to just sit back enjoy it.
It isn’t every day one of the iconic sports teams in town moves away for 22 years only to triumphantly return home.
Which brings us to the sun-splashed afternoon that unfolded Saturday when the Rams stepped foot for the first time in the stadium they called home from 1946-79 and where L.A. sports heroes such as Elroy “Crazy Legs” Hirsch and Merlin Olsen and Norm Van Brocklin and Bob Waterfield and Fred Dryer sprung to life.
And where Todd Gurley and Jared Goff and Aaron Donald and Tavon Austin hope to inject themselves into the L.A. bloodstream.
In the whole scheme of the Rams’ walk-up to their first season back in L.A., Saturday marked practice six of training camp. And if you’ve seen one NFL practice chances are you’ve seen them all.
But it was so much more than that when you consider the Rams left the Coliseum for Anaheim 37 years ago, and when then-owner Carroll Rosenbloom marched his franchise south to Orange County the last place anyone thought they’d ever see the Rams call home again was the Coliseum.
But here they are.
And there they were on Saturday during an open practice in which an estimated 25,000 fans came to watch.
“That was fun.” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “That was great. This actually concludes that first phase of training camp and you couldn’t think of a better place to do it then here, in front of the fans in this environment. It was really, really, really fun.”
The nostalgia was everywhere. And Fisher felt it.
The San Fernando Valley native and son of a life-long Rams fan watched the Rams with his dad at the Coliseum back in the day – or, as he explained Saturday: “From way up there in the top some place,” while pointing to the highest section of the Coliseum. “It was one of the greatest moments of my life.”
He then went on to star at USC, where he played four years at the Coliseum, then returned here from time to time during his NFL career.
So to run through the Coliseum tunnel as the head coach of the team he and his dad rooted for was a special moment for Fisher.
“To be able to have the opportunity to play here in college then come back here on numerous occasions during my NFL career was really cool. But this … it was really fun.”
Of course, with this being an actual work day, and with the Dallas Cowboys coming to town in exactly one week to open the preseason, the Rams had business to tend to.
Fisher liked what he saw.
“We definitely got better today as a team,” he said. “I saw good things from everybody.”
Gurley agreed.
“It was a great day of work, especially for the offense,” he said. “We were able to get some of those red zone scores and goal line runs which we really need to get points on the board. So offense and defense, we all got better today.”
The workout followed the typical schedule, which meant an hour in the real pay off for the fans began.
The Rams, dressed out in full pads, transitioned to 11-on-11 drills. And that meant a clean look at the quarterback battle between current starter Case Keenum and Goff, the first-round rookie from Cal.
One week into training camp, it’s obvious the advantage Keenum holds over Goff in play book command and overall polish. And he wasted little time showing that with completions to Kenny Britt and Tavon Austin. In between was a long run from Gurley, the second-year running back, who blew easily past the edge of the Rams defense.
Keenum also connected with rookie tight end Tyler Higbee in 11-on-11 red zone drills, with Higbee doing what he’s done all camp: Using his speed, size and athletic ability beat his defense to the back of the end zone, then leap over him to reel in the pass.
But Goff took some strides forward Saturday with a strong day.
He was initially limited to handoffs when he took over with the second team, but he looked polished during his phase in red zone drills, including a smoothly executed play-action touchdown throw to Jake Stoneburner in the back of the end zone.
But the highlight for Goff was when the Rams put 1:46 on the clock and asked him to run the no-huddle two-minute drill.
He promptly completed five passes – including a strikes to Nelson Spruce and Duke Williams – while driving the Rams down the field, then found Williams crossing through the end zone for a touchdown with 15 seconds remaining.
Fisher was impressed.
“He was locked in, focused and he knew exactly what the game clock was, what the play clock was, the timeouts,” Fisher said. “He had a good day today.”
Goff said he’s feeling more and more comfortable each day, and he showed that on Saturday. The two-minute drill culminating his first week in training camp.
“A lot of those plays, we’ve run a lot, so I felt really comfortable,” Gof said. “We didn’t run anything out of the ordinary, so it was good. “
Based on crowd reaction, it’s obvious the people’s choice at quarterback is Keenum, who came off the bench last year to lead the Rams to a 3-1 record over the first four games in place if Nick Foles.
Goff will get the job eventually. Not in time for the Cowboys game. But soon enough.
And after a day mixed with nostalgia and work, the Rams were pleased to finish their first week of camp on a positive note in former and current home.
“It was cool be able to play in the Coliseum for the fist time and get a reaction,” Gurley said. “It was cool.”
August 7, 2016 at 12:58 am in reply to: 8/6, Rams practice in the coliseum, tweets & vids & articles #50327znModeratorPractice Report 8/6: First Workday at the Coliseum
By Myles Simmons
It may have been only a practice, but it was still a special afternoon.
The Rams have gone through an offseason program in Oxnard, and a week of training camp in Irvine. But the club may finally feel a bit at home after hosting Family Day at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
The once-and-current home of the L.A. Rams was buzzing from when the doors opened at 1 o’clock to when the final whistle blew at 5:30. And those in attendance were treated to a particularly competitive practice.
With the Rams in full pads, head coach Jeff Fisher said all units got after it in order to foster improvement throughout the squad.
“They came out and we got better today,” Fisher said. “I don’t know how we’re going to be next week, but we definitely got better today as a team. I saw good things from everybody. We stayed healthy and what we would consider to be somewhat of a physical practice, so we stayed healthy. We got in great work, so they got a day off tomorrow.”
“We most definitely got better today,” running back Todd Gurley said. “It was a great day of work, especially for the offense. We were able to get some of those red zone scores and some of those goal-line runs, which we really need to put points on the board. It felt like offense and defense — we all got better today.”
Los Angeles went through a normal practice routine — individual drills, 1-on-1s, 7-on-7, 11-on-11, and special teams work. There were a few standout players in each situation. Wide receiver Bradley Marquez made a tough catch in the end zone from Case Keenum in 1-on-1s. Tight end Tyler Higbee made a number of touchdown receptions in the red zone during 7-on-7. And Keenum made a few nice throws to wideout Kenny Britt during team drills.
But the highlight of the day was quarterback Jared Goff’s performance during a two-minute drill toward the end of practice.
Goff began the period with a pair of sharp throws to fellow rookie wide receiver Nelson Spruce — both of which were toward the sideline and stopped the clock. Next, Goff scrambled for a first down, making it out of bounds to once again freeze the time. While a pass went off wide receiver Duke Williams’ hands and was nearly intercepted inside the five-yard line, Goff went right back to Williams for a reception to put the offense at 4th-and-goal from the one.
“I told [Williams], right after he dropped it — I said I’m going to come right back here,” Goff said. “Sure enough, I did.”
On conceivably the last play, Goff found Williams at the back of the end zone for a touchdown, capping a great drive and a strong day.
“I don’t know if you saw the two-minute drill, but that stuff was real,” Fisher said. “He was locked in, focused, and he knew exactly where the play clock was, game clock, timeouts, everything.
“He had a good day today — you know, finish up the week on a really good note and now he can get his mind right for next weekend,” Fisher added.
Goff said one of the reasons for his prowess in the two-minute drill was his familiarity with the plays.
“A lot of plays we have ran a lot. I felt really comfortable with it,” Goff said. “We didn’t run anything out of the ordinary, so it was good.”
After a rough day toward the beginning of camp, Williams has come back with a string of nice practices. Fisher he’s noticed improvement out of the wide receiver, but would like to see more consistency.
“He’ll catch three, drop one, so we’ll need to get him to catch four, no drops — that type of thing,” Fisher said. “But he’s getting a feel for what we’re doing. He’s been active. And, as I mentioned, Duke lost a lot of weight during the summer, and he knows that this is his only opportunity, so we’ll wait and see how he does. But you should expect to see him be productive in the second half of the preseason games.”
Those exhibition matchups will begin in just a week with the Rams taking on the Cowboys at the Coliseum. Family Day served as a dress rehearsal of sorts for everyone to get the stadium prepared for the first NFL contest at the venue in over two decades.
“The organization, the Coliseum, and everybody looked at it kind of as that first step — that dry run type of thing, and things were perfect,” Fisher said. “We’re looking forward to next weekend.”
That goes from the on-field, playing standpoint as well.
“Seems like a long time coming. But it’ll be nice,” Goff said. “I’m sure it’ll be great. I’m sure we will have a packed house and have a lot of fun playing the Cowboys and hopefully execute and play well.”
And so the Rams will take a day off to rest and recover before getting back to business on Monday afternoon with a 3:30 practice at UC Irvine.
“This will conclude that first difficult phase of training camp,” Fisher said. “And we couldn’t think of a better way than to do it here in front of the fans and in this environment. It was just really, really, really fun.”
August 7, 2016 at 12:58 am in reply to: 8/6, Rams practice in the coliseum, tweets & vids & articles #50326znModeratorRams move into Coliseum, hold open practice
Rich Hammond,
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20160806/rams-move-into-coliseum-hold-open-practice
It’s been 90 years since the Chicago Bears and Grange, their star halfback, traveled here for an exhibition at the Coliseum against a loosely organized team of college all-stars dubbed the Los Angeles Tigers.
The Coliseum’s first (unofficial) pro football game took place in daylight, because it had no lights in 1926. Now the iconic stadium shines brightly as the unlikely home of an NFL team for the first time in 22 years. The venue, and part of town, once given up for dead by owners soon will become vibrant on Sundays.
The Rams moved in Saturday afternoon, and held an open practice that drew nearly 30,000 fans. It marked a homecoming for a team that played in the Coliseum from 1946-79, then spent 15 years in Anaheim before a two-decade St. Louis sojourn. Los Angeles’ original major pro sports franchise has returned to its roots.
“For those people to be able to come back and bring their child or even grandchild, I don’t mean to sound corny, but it’s so special that it’s off the charts,” Coliseum general manager Joe Furin said this week.
Next Saturday, the Rams host Dallas in the preseason opener, so while Saturday’s practice was billed as a fan event, its practical purpose was as a dry run for a stadium that hasn’t hosted the NFL since 1994.
The Rams simulated a game situation, from player parking to locker-room setup to communication among coaches, even down to assistant coaches attempting to navigate the Coliseum’s sparse elevator setup.
“It’s just to get us into the groove,” said Bruce Warwick, the Rams’ director of operations. “When we show up next week against the Dallas Cowboys and there’s 80,000-plus people there, that’s not the time to figure things out.”
The Coliseum hasn’t been vacant. The Rams left in 1979, followed by the Raiders in 1995, but USC never left. And while the Coliseum has been a serviceable home for a college football team, it is 93 years old and in dire need of more than a fresh coat of paint.
USC has pledged $270 million in upgrades, to be completed before the start of the 2019 season, but the Rams will be gone by then, off to their to-be-built $2.4-billion stadium in Inglewood.
So, the Coliseum upgrades became reprioritized, and some were completed this summer ahead of schedule. All eight of the major lighting stanchions were redone, with brighter and more energy-efficient LED lights. Upgrades were made to communications, electrical, plumbing and sewer systems.
NFL-mandated security procedures now require all fans to walk through metal detectors and prevent them from bringing most bags into the stadium. Otherwise, Rams and Coliseum officials say, most of the logistics of game days will remain the same.
“The Rams have been extremely accommodating,” Furin said, “to the point of saying, `If it works on Saturday, there’s no point in reinventing the wheel. Make it work on Sunday.’ They recognize that they’re a guest, a tenant. We want to make them feel at home.”
To the greatest extent possible, the Coliseum looked like the Rams’ place. Many of the red USC-themed banners and stadium art were covered by blue and white Rams banners. The locker-room floor still has a large interlocking “SC” logo, but the walls were covered in Rams items.
“We wanted the inner bowl and the locker room to kind of feel like a home game,” Warwick said. “We’re in no rush to do every single space in the Coliseum. They’re going to see a lot of USC stuff, but at least on television and in the stadium, it will look like a Rams game.”
The Rams and the Coliseum made things look good Saturday, but still face significant challenges, some of which have no feasible solution. Locker-room space, for instance, will be cramped.
Parking will be a challenge, in terms of availability and cost. Saturday’s “free” practice came with a $20 parking charge, and a lot across the street from the Coliseum was charging $40 per car.
Three times this season, USC and the Rams will play on back-to-back days. An enormous amount of resources will be required to clean the stadium and change over all the internal signage.
“It is frenetic, and people will be running hither and fro, but it’s what we do,” Furin said. “We swap over. We’ve gone from USC football to soccer games. We’ve had changeovers in the past. This is just another one. It might be a little more complex, but it’s just more bodies at 3 in the morning getting it done. It’s not necessarily the easiest thing in the world, but we have confidence that it’s going to happen.”
Then there’s the field. The grass, even after a normal practice, receives a lot of wear and tear. Should USC play a night game and the Rams follow with a 1 p.m. game, the Coliseum crew might have only 12 hours to make the grass look playable.
“Sure, it’s going to take some wear and tear,” Warwick said. “During our bye weeks, we’ll see if they can re-sod some things, but we’ll figure it out. They’ve got a good grounds staff.”
There will be issues down the line, also. The major parts of USC’s Coliseum renovation will take place in 2018, while the Rams are still tenants, and the pending demolition of the neighboring Sports Arena will cost Coliseum officials some of their storage space and staging arenas for stadium workers.
Still, there’s optimism, even among players, who, Warwick noted, will be happy to be playing outside and on grass, as opposed to their previous domed home in St. Louis.
It’s also, in some cases, a personal homecoming. Rams safety T.J. McDonald played four years at the Coliseum for USC and joked that he would attempt to reclaim his own locker at the start of the season.
“I’ve tried to think about it, and how I’m going to feel, but I can’t really put it into words,” McDonald said. “I’ve just got to do it. After leaving there, I never thought I’d be playing there again. I think it’s a blessing, and I’m excited. I can’t wait for the opportunity.”
August 7, 2016 at 12:57 am in reply to: 8/6, Rams practice in the coliseum, tweets & vids & articles #50325znModeratorRams return to Coliseum to end first week of training camp
By Joe Curley of the Ventura County Star
LOS ANGELES — The old team with the new stars emerged from a Coliseum tunnel wrapped in blue and white.
The public address announcer roared “Touchdown, Los Angeles!”
It may take some getting used to, but nearly 30,000 fans gathered Saturday afternoon to see it with their own eyes.
The Rams were back on a football field in Los Angeles for the first time in decades.
“This was fun,” said Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, who attended Rams games at the Coliseum with his father and played in the stadium for USC.
“I told you guys, dad brought me out here and I sat way up there when I was about 7 years old, and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. To be able to have the opportunity to play here in college and then come back on numerous occasions during my NFL career was really cool. But this was really, really fun for me.”
One week before they welcome the Dallas Cowboys in their nearly sold-out preseason debut Saturday, the Rams wrapped up the first week of training camp with a full practice in their former, and now current, home stadium. The Rams played in the Coliseum from 1946 to 1979 and will play in it for the next three seasons.
Undrafted wide receiver Nelson Spruce, a Westlake High product, opened the afternoon to chants of “Spruuuuce!” as he emerged from the tunnel and ended it by dominating the live period.
“It was a great atmosphere,” Spruce said. “I think everyone is excited for football to be back in L.A.”
Playing an unfamiliar position and running an unfamiliar rout, Spruce turned a Sean Mannion pass into a 40-yard catch-and-run, setting up his 6-yard touchdown catch on a corner rout to end the practice.
They were the two biggest plays of the rare live scrimmage, which was a great opportunity for the younger players to show the coaching staff their abilities at game speed.
“It’s real football,” Spruce said. “That’s as close to you’re going to get to a game situation. So I think, as an offense, we put together a great drive. I was lucky enough to be on the end of those couple receptions, so it was a good period.”
After two runs by rookie running back Aaron Green and a short out by tight end Benson Browne, Spruce, split wide left, ran a deep crossing pattern to spring the big play.
“Luckily, I got put in that spot,” Spruce said. “Sean put a nice throw out there.”
So Spruce returned from Family Day with a story for his family.
“My family was busy today, so they couldn’t make it,” Spruce said. “I’ll tell them all about it. It was a great day. I think as an offense all around, we had a really good day.”
The biggest cheers of the day seemed reserved for two more offensive players, rookie quarterback Jared Goff and second-year running back Todd Gurley.
One day after Fisher named Case Keenum the starting quarterback for the preseason opener, Goff answered with a strong performance, especially in the two-minute drill.
“I’m starting to settle in,” Goff said. “I was awesome to see the fans out here and see how excited everyone is for us to be back in L.A. Right now, they’re very happy to see us and hopefully we can keep it that way.”
Gurley was the center of attention on the field after the game, posing for photo after photo.
“We were just excited to be able to play at home of the first time,” Gurley said. “Everybody was a little amped up.… It was a great day of work.”
Other memorable moments included interceptions by cornerback Trumaine Johnson and rookie safety Jabriel Washington, as well as a 65-yard catch-and-run from Keenum to Tavon Austin.
“We got better today,” Fisher said. “I don’t know how we’re going to be this week, but we got better today as a team. Saw good things from everybody. We stayed healthy in what we would consider to be a physical practice.
“Next week is going to fly by and, before we know it, seven days from today, we’ll have the Cowboys here in town.”
August 7, 2016 at 12:56 am in reply to: 8/6, Rams practice in the coliseum, tweets & vids & articles #50324znModeratorJared Goff continues to make progress during Rams scrimmage at the Coliseum
Gary Klein
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-scrimmage-20160806-snap-story.html
He has yet to take a first-team snap in a training-camp practice.
He has not stared across the line of scrimmage at middle linebacker Alec Ogletree, felt pressure from two-time Pro Bowl tackle Aaron Donald or tried to fit a pass by franchise cornerback Trumaine Johnson.
But Rams rookie quarterback Jared Goff is making progress.
He took another step Saturday during a workout at the Coliseum, which doubled as a showcase before tens of thousands of fans.
“I’m starting to settle in a little bit,” Goff said.
The crowd cheered just about every move the Rams made during a 2 1/2-hour workout that ended with players signing autographs.
The Coliseum, home to USC, was outfitted with Rams signage.
“Walking down the tunnel for the first time, for some of these guys, was a cool experience,” said Coach Jeff Fisher, who played defensive back at USC and coached in the stadium as an NFL assistant.
Goff was the main attraction for many fans.
He ran onto the field to cheers and received more after he completed a long pass to rookie receiver Michael Thomas. Goff was nearly perfect during a two-minute drill that ended with a touchdown pass to rookie receiver Duke Williams.
Goff’s next test comes Saturday night when the Dallas Cowboys visit the Coliseum for the near sold-out exhibition opener that might have the buildup and electricity of a playoff game. It will be the first NFL game at the Coliseum since 1994, the Raiders’ final season in Los Angeles.
After going through pre-draft workouts, rookie orientation, organized team activities and nearly two weeks of training-camp activities, Goff, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, is eager to finally play in a game.
“It seems like a long time coming,” he said.
Fisher said this week that Case Keenum would start against the Cowboys and that Goff would probably play a half.
Keenum had one pass intercepted Saturday but otherwise performed efficiently and connected with receivers and tight ends for several touchdowns during drills.
Fisher said Goff has worked with the first-team offense during walk-throughs and that he may get some work with the starters during practice this week.
He pointed to Saturday’s two-minute drill as an example of how far Goff has come.
“He was locked in, focused and he knew exactly where the play clock was,” Fisher said, adding, “It was good for him to finish up on a really good note.
“And now he can get his mind right for next weekend.”
Goff anticipates another strong reception from fans when the Rams play the Cowboys.
“Right now they’re very happy to see us,” he said, “and hopefully we can keep it that way.”
Star power
Running back Todd Gurley was one of the last players to come out onto the field, and fans had no trouble recognizing him.
“It was cool just to be able to play in the Coliseum for our first time and get a reaction,” Gurley said.
Gurley went through drills but he is expected to play sparingly during the exhibition season as the Rams attempt to protect one of their most valuable assets.
Gurley, the 10th pick in the 2015 draft, did not take an exhibition snap last season as he was still recovering from a knee injury suffered during his final season at Georgia.
Leg up
Kicker Greg Zuerlein wowed the crowd by kicking a 64-yard field goal.
Zuerlein made 20 of 30 field-goal attempts last season.
Fisher said in March that Zuerlein needed to compete for the spot this season.
Taylor Bertolet, who played at Texas A&M, also is in camp.
Notes
Third-team quarterback Sean Mannion completed a touchdown pass to receiver Nelson Spruce during a live tackling drill for younger players at the end of practice…. Cornerback E.J. Gaines remained sidelined because of a hamstring issue…. The Rams are off Sunday. They will resume practice Monday at UC Irvine.
August 7, 2016 at 12:55 am in reply to: 8/6, Rams practice in the coliseum, tweets & vids & articles #50323znModeratorRams move into Coliseum, hold open practice
By Rich Hammond,
http://www.dailynews.com/sports/20160806/rams-move-into-coliseum-hold-open-practice
It’s been 90 years since the Chicago Bears and Grange, their star halfback, traveled here for an exhibition at the Coliseum against a loosely organized team of college all-stars dubbed the Los Angeles Tigers.
The Coliseum’s first (unofficial) pro football game took place in daylight, because it had no lights in 1926. Now the iconic stadium shines brightly as the unlikely home of an NFL team for the first time in 22 years. The venue, and part of town, once given up for dead by owners soon will become vibrant on Sundays.
The Rams moved in Saturday afternoon, and held an open practice that drew nearly 30,000 fans. It marked a homecoming for a team that played in the Coliseum from 1946-79, then spent 15 years in Anaheim before a two-decade St. Louis sojourn. Los Angeles’ original major pro sports franchise has returned to its roots.
“For those people to be able to come back and bring their child or even grandchild, I don’t mean to sound corny, but it’s so special that it’s off the charts,” Coliseum general manager Joe Furin said this week.
Next Saturday, the Rams host Dallas in the preseason opener, so while Saturday’s practice was billed as a fan event, its practical purpose was as a dry run for a stadium that hasn’t hosted the NFL since 1994.
The Rams simulated a game situation, from player parking to locker-room setup to communication among coaches, even down to assistant coaches attempting to navigate the Coliseum’s sparse elevator setup.
“It’s just to get us into the groove,” said Bruce Warwick, the Rams’ director of operations. “When we show up next week against the Dallas Cowboys and there’s 80,000-plus people there, that’s not the time to figure things out.”
The Coliseum hasn’t been vacant. The Rams left in 1979, followed by the Raiders in 1995, but USC never left. And while the Coliseum has been a serviceable home for a college football team, it is 93 years old and in dire need of more than a fresh coat of paint.
USC has pledged $270 million in upgrades, to be completed before the start of the 2019 season, but the Rams will be gone by then, off to their to-be-built $2.4-billion stadium in Inglewood.
So, the Coliseum upgrades became reprioritized, and some were completed this summer ahead of schedule. All eight of the major lighting stanchions were redone, with brighter and more energy-efficient LED lights. Upgrades were made to communications, electrical, plumbing and sewer systems.
NFL-mandated security procedures now require all fans to walk through metal detectors and prevent them from bringing most bags into the stadium. Otherwise, Rams and Coliseum officials say, most of the logistics of game days will remain the same.
“The Rams have been extremely accommodating,” Furin said, “to the point of saying, `If it works on Saturday, there’s no point in reinventing the wheel. Make it work on Sunday.’ They recognize that they’re a guest, a tenant. We want to make them feel at home.”
To the greatest extent possible, the Coliseum looked like the Rams’ place. Many of the red USC-themed banners and stadium art were covered by blue and white Rams banners. The locker-room floor still has a large interlocking “SC” logo, but the walls were covered in Rams items.
“We wanted the inner bowl and the locker room to kind of feel like a home game,” Warwick said. “We’re in no rush to do every single space in the Coliseum. They’re going to see a lot of USC stuff, but at least on television and in the stadium, it will look like a Rams game.”
The Rams and the Coliseum made things look good Saturday, but still face significant challenges, some of which have no feasible solution. Locker-room space, for instance, will be cramped.
Parking will be a challenge, in terms of availability and cost. Saturday’s “free” practice came with a $20 parking charge, and a lot across the street from the Coliseum was charging $40 per car.
Three times this season, USC and the Rams will play on back-to-back days. An enormous amount of resources will be required to clean the stadium and change over all the internal signage.
“It is frenetic, and people will be running hither and fro, but it’s what we do,” Furin said. “We swap over. We’ve gone from USC football to soccer games. We’ve had changeovers in the past. This is just another one. It might be a little more complex, but it’s just more bodies at 3 in the morning getting it done. It’s not necessarily the easiest thing in the world, but we have confidence that it’s going to happen.”
Then there’s the field. The grass, even after a normal practice, receives a lot of wear and tear. Should USC play a night game and the Rams follow with a 1 p.m. game, the Coliseum crew might have only 12 hours to make the grass look playable.
“Sure, it’s going to take some wear and tear,” Warwick said. “During our bye weeks, we’ll see if they can re-sod some things, but we’ll figure it out. They’ve got a good grounds staff.”
There will be issues down the line, also. The major parts of USC’s Coliseum renovation will take place in 2018, while the Rams are still tenants, and the pending demolition of the neighboring Sports Arena will cost Coliseum officials some of their storage space and staging arenas for stadium workers.
Still, there’s optimism, even among players, who, Warwick noted, will be happy to be playing outside and on grass, as opposed to their previous domed home in St. Louis.
It’s also, in some cases, a personal homecoming. Rams safety T.J. McDonald played four years at the Coliseum for USC and joked that he would attempt to reclaim his own locker at the start of the season.
“I’ve tried to think about it, and how I’m going to feel, but I can’t really put it into words,” McDonald said. “I’ve just got to do it. After leaving there, I never thought I’d be playing there again. I think it’s a blessing, and I’m excited. I can’t wait for the opportunity.”
August 6, 2016 at 10:46 pm in reply to: 8/6, Rams practice in the coliseum, tweets & vids & articles #50322znModeratorznModeratornote: Stiglitz is one of my favorite economic commentators
==
Trump and the damage done
OPINION | JOSEPH E. STIGLITZ
ONE OF Donald Trump’s slogans is “Make America Great Again.” The irony is that probably never before has a presidential candidate done so much damage — damage that will be hard to repair even if he is not elected.
In a democracy, each elected government has the intrinsic right to change policy; each president has the right to try to persuade Congress to support his priorities. Thus, in a democracy, a “commitment” is always temporary, but the credibility of a country and its government is based on confidence that there will be sufficient continuity among successive governments. Historically, in the United States, foreign policy has been largely bipartisan. At its base, such continuity is based on the premise that there is a broad social consensus. Governments seek to achieve political sustainability of the policies that they enact by working to achieve broad support, often through compromise and cooperation among all elements of society.
Regrettably, the Republican right has sought to polarize the United States. They enacted, sometimes with support of conservative and center-left Democrats, policies that led to the “great divide” between the rich and poor in the United States — to the point where median income, adjusted for inflation, of a full-time male worker is lower than 40 years ago, the hourly wage at the bottom comparable to levels 60 years ago. It is not a surprise that there are many angry people who see the economy not working for them.
Trump has exploited this great divide, announcing a striking change in US policies toward others. Trade agreements will be broken, so too will NATO agreements. Everything is to be renegotiated — even the US debt. Trump, in his own dealings, never seemed to have believed that a man’s word was his honor. A contract, a promise to pay, was just the beginning of a negotiation.
Unless Trump is ignominiously defeated, with something like the landslide that defeated Barry Goldwater, the fact that Trump has done as well as he has — that he has received the nomination of one the two major parties, the Grand Old Party — puts all countries on notice: Next time, someone as or more extreme may be elected, someone even less committed (if that is possible) to honor old agreements.
Whether Trump likes it or not, the world has become highly interdependent. No country can solve the problems it faces — let alone the problems the world faces — on its own. Whether the United States likes it or not, it will be affected by global warming and climate change; there will be huge economic and social costs associated with weather variability. Terrorism is a global threat. Diseases move across borders, whatever Trump’s oratory. The United States is dependent on imports from other countries for many raw materials that do not exist within its borders. The United States requires cooperation with others for the stability of the global financial system and to enforce the global system of intellectual property.
But with such interdependence, there is a need for global cooperation. Such cooperation can’t exist if there isn’t a basic element of trust and confidence in one another. Trump has issued a strong warning to all other countries: You can’t trust me or any agreement I make. And Trump’s success — with the support of even seemingly “reasonable” Republicans, like Paul Ryan — has demonstrated that the problem is not just Trump. It is a problem with America. Others are asking, “Can America be trusted? Is its word its honor?” Trump has given a triumphant answer of American exceptionalism. He has said no.
Some might say: Hasn’t the United States (like other countries) always acted in its own interests? Isn’t Trump simply speaking honestly, something admittedly unusual in the world of global diplomacy?
This misses the critical issue: Yes, countries should act in their own long-term interest, but that requires trust and cooperation among countries. In ordinary business, cheating, lying, breaking one’s word, reneging on contracts, defaulting on loans might be good in the short run, but a businessman who engages in such policies will lose the respect of others — at least those who value honesty and trust, who will not want to deal with such a person. So, too, for countries. While the United States has not always been an exemplar of good behavior, never before has anyone in a responsible position suggested that we would renege on our debt. The United States has been a strong supporter of the international rule of law. We may not always fully live up to our agreements, but we typically do. Countries that violate the rule of law face the risk of sanctions. The enforcement of the international rule of law may be imperfect, but it is better than having no rule of law.
We need the cooperation of others. Trump’s success has raised the question: Can the United States be trusted in the long run? Trump has already done enormous damage to America’s reputation. The only way that the US can ameliorate this damage is for its voters to overwhelmingly repudiate Trumpism.
Joseph E. Stiglitz is a Nobel laureate in economics, university professor at Columbia University, and chief economist of the Roosevelt Institute. He is author of “Rewriting the Rules of the American Economy’’ and “The Great Divide.”
August 6, 2016 at 9:13 pm in reply to: 8/6, Rams practice in the coliseum, tweets & vids & articles #50318znModeratorRich Hammond @Rich_Hammond
Undrafted WR Nelson Spruce having a nice little afternoon in team drills. Just caught TD from Sean Mannion.Rich Hammond @Rich_Hammond
And that appears to be a wrap on practice drills. Nice crisp 2 hour, 25-minute practice…==
Todd Gurley. Popular guy. pic.twitter.com/mwvCWIIjwx
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) August 7, 2016
August 6, 2016 at 8:26 pm in reply to: 8/6, Rams practice in the coliseum, tweets & vids & articles #50315znModeratorRamBill: Some Tweets from the Scrimmage
Lindsey Thiry @LindseyThiry
Tavon Austin catches a short pass near the 40 then shows his wheels on the way to the end zone. No tackling here, but still impressive.Case Keenum intercepted by Trumaine Johnson during 11v11.
Rams cornerback EJ Gaines is on the sideline, not dressed for practice today.
===========
Ryan Kartje @Ryan_Kartje
Trumaine Johnson with the first INT of the day. Nice jump on Case Keenum’s pass.
Taylor Bertolet just hit a 60-yard field goal, too, so apparently the balls are juiced here at the Coliseum
Most exciting revelation today at the Coliseum: The #Rams media food is on its way to ELITE status this season
Jared Goff just handed it off 3 times and checked down once on his 1st drive of the scrimmage portion. Fisher is trolling us all, apparently
Every time I watch Benny Cunningham closely, the more I think that the #Rams wouldn’t miss Tre Mason much, if he’s cut from the roster
Case Keenum goes vertical for the 1st play of today’s scrimmage period. Nice completion to Kenny Britt.
===============
Joe Curley @vcsjoecurley
Another two-minute still is set up for the 2s. Goff opens with a pair of completions to Spruce sandwiching an out to Duke Williams.
Trumaine Johnson picks off Keenum. Then Keenum finds Austin for a 65 yard catch and run for a score.
Another day another Goff to Thomas completion. This time in the two-minute drill.
Goff with a pretty play fake on a goalline TD pass. TE Jake Stoneburner in the house.
Lot of “Let’s go, Troy!” from the stands when St. Bonaventure High product Troy Hill takes a rep. @thrilll_32 #FamilyDay
Paul McRoberts with a good leaping catch on a fade to end 1 on 1s #RamsCamp #FamilyDay
Bradley Marquez on the post corner for the first big cheer of 1 on 1s
August 6, 2016 at 7:55 pm in reply to: 8/6, Rams practice in the coliseum, tweets & vids & articles #50313znModeratorRyan Kartje @Ryan_Kartje
Case Keenum goes vertical for the 1st play of today’s scrimmage period. Nice completion to Kenny Britt.Down With Damon @DownWithDamon 44m44 minutes ago
Case Keenum is for sure the starter for the Rams.. For now at least.. #RamsFamilyDay #RamsCampJoe Curley @vcsjoecurley
Teams period ends. I don’t have Keenum or Goff with an incompletion. Lot of runs. One nice downfield completion from Keenum to Britt.Ryan Kartje @Ryan_Kartje
Jared Goff’s best throw of the day is a laser down the field to Michael Thomas, 25ish yards. That was on a ROPE.Ryan Kartje @Ryan_Kartje
Tyler Higbee might not be polished yet, but I’m becoming more of a believer each practice. He’s a matchup nightmare.Lindsey Thiry ✔ @LindseyThiry
Case Keenum completed about a 15 yard touchdown pass to Tyler Higbee in the back corner of the end zone. Higbee is a standout rookie.Rich Hammond ✔ @Rich_Hammond
Doesn’t take much imagination to see Tyler Higbee as a major red-zone target for Rams this season.Joe Curley @vcsjoecurley
Beautiful 1-yard playaction TD pass from Keenum to Higbee in red zone drill. Across grain.Lindsey Thiry ✔ @LindseyThiry
Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein just nailed a 64-yard field goal in the Coliseum.Rich Hammond ✔ @Rich_Hammond
Rams did no-tackle 11-11 drill. 27 plays. Stat estimates: Keenum 6-6, 53 yds, 1 TD; Goff 4-4, 29 yds, 1 TD. Many short TD runs.znModeratorOk, but i can tell you I bet no-one on this board
thinks you were being all “MOD-heavy” in any way. This aint got
nuthin to do with Mod or Not-Mod.I get PMS all the time, and I have to take a break from
pol-threads from time to time. So, if you need to take a break for a while, fine,
but there’s no need to make it permanent.I mean dont take any blood oaths or anything. Dont go
and join the Night Watch.w
vI know. I didnt get any vibe that I was seen as mod-heavy. This was all me, responding to me. It didn’t have nuthin to do with what others might think. I was thinking, I am a little edgy when I post on this election stuff…and, that means (in my own eyes) that I am not as effective as a mod, who needs to be more above it all. Matter of degree. This is just how I see it. And I have no issues with the other mods at all. But to me, a mod is Dudley Do-Rright. As an election issue poster I was channeling some Cartman.
So I promise. No Night Watch. No oaths. Just me on a minor little thing, trying to do a minor little version of the right thing.
Though I will post articles about everything. Just not engage in debate. I mean it’s not fair. I always win. So, I should be more restrained.
znModeratorGood work with posting all the reports and stuff, zn.
Tx, to all. I will mention Isiah too, for his live camp reports.
It’s easy n fun, like the zine was back in the day.
Later I will post my own camp report. It includes things like this: “Is Coach Waufle more Nietzschean or Hegelian? Well if you watch him during drills…”
znModeratorIn the real world, I have to deal with enough of that as is. In my social/work world, I am surrounded by both Clinton nazis who don’t get or tolerate dissent, and Sanders nazis who don’t get or tolerate “selling out.” Well a pox on both their houses. In this election, I am both a dissenter and a sell out. Which only means I can’t talk about it with anyone cause they are all diehards. I nod and smile.
————-
Thats all well and good, but other than W, i cant think of anyone on this
board who would care whether you did the “lesser evil” thing or the “fuck the Duplicats” thing. No-one here has ever called you a sell-out or a dissenter, etc. People have just shared what ‘they’ are gonna do. Thats how ive seen it, anyway. I havent seen anybody trying to ‘persuade’ anybody about how to vote — cept, W. (and we all like W, so even that dont matter)w
vI know. I was just getting in some extra-curricular griping. That wasn’t supposed to be a comment on the posters here. I was suggesting that my real-world demeanor was spilling over, and that in recognition of that, I wasn’t going to get into election discussions. I didn’t “blame” that on anyone but me.
znModeratorMerlin: 8/5 camp report
SOME FOLLOW-UP
We were discussing in our section how IF you were to take the numbers off the QBs and watch them the guy you would think is the rookie is Mannion. Goff is very measured and confident and in most of his snaps smooth with his decision making and of the three the only one who routinely makes the time to look downfield; if a nice pass goes mid to further range it’s usually Goff. The occasional INT would plague the others I think IF they were looking downfield and across the middle more often, because this defense is fast and knows what they are doing.
In yesterday’s practice there were probably 3x or so where I chuckled and said something along the lines of “welcome to the NFL rookie.” Other than that you just wouldn’t know he was a rook based on his demeanor. I think he is going to make the doubters look pretty silly, personally. And I think the team knows it too, not just the offense.
My guess is the kid will light Dallas up by the time they play that game. And he’ll probably make a mistake or two that will be trotted out there on social media but that’s ok. I just don’t see any way he’s not running this offense soon as the starter, whether it’s game 1 or game 3 or so.
If game 1 in SF was tomorrow Keenum would start, because he has the offense down and has all the confidence of the staff in managing it. But I do not see some big dropoff personally, where Goff looks lost or behind. What I see personally is a kid who seems to know the offense quite well for a rookie who has seen 5 camp practices, and who offers so much more upside that there is absolutely no reason to think he won’t be the best option a month from now.
IMO the reason most top 5 QBs start soon is because teams that pick early do not have holdover starters at QB of the quality required to give them a better chance to win. So inevitably those top 5 picks end up being the clear best chance to win for the team and they play. Looking at Goff, the kid seems confident and like he’s making daily strides. Keenum is a good guy and a solid backup type QB, but he is not Brett Favre. He is not a QB of the caliber required to hold Goff on the bench.
***
Higbee — in the drills and scrimmage every time the ball comes his way he reels it in smooth, and he’s so big defenses are gonna have to tee off on him to make him feel hits. Of all the players yesterday outside of Gurley and Tavon he was the one that most impressed me.
znModeratorznModeratorramsman34
SOME FOLLOW-UP
Goff looked much sharper day 3 and his clock looked to have sped up a bit relative to the first 2 practices. That said, Keenum hasn’t looked bad at all. It is his utter lack of arm strength that gets me. I came away after Tuesday’s practiced certain Goff would claim the staring roll. More will be revealed today and throughout the preseason. Unless one of them totally craps the bed, I can see Fisher waiting to name a starter for game one as early as after preseason game 3, or as late as the week of practice prior to the opener.
znModeratorOoh, a challenge. Let’s see if we can bait zn into participating on this forum…
Oh I will participate in the forum. Just not on election stuff. There are plenty of other topics (example: how a bad movie season influences garden design.)
For example, I am sure to speak up whenever someone flagrantly, with malicious intentions, misreads a post. And I bring hell with me.
znModeratorBesides, I;m cranky.
I;ve come to a little conclusion. I can’t mod politics discussions AND participate. So I won’t participate. This year is different—this year, a formerly united left (which is what we had on the original huddle public board) is now divided. That calls for a different kind of moderating. I personally can’t do that and then also jump in with my cranky 2 cents. So I will save my own 2 cents for other topics. I am not complaining btw, just making what I think is the best choice as a mod.
In the real world, I have to deal with enough of that as is. In my social/work world, I am surrounded by both Clinton nazis who don’t get or tolerate dissent, and Sanders nazis who don’t get or tolerate “selling out.” Well a pox on both their houses. In this election, I am both a dissenter and a sell out. Which only means I can’t talk about it with anyone cause they are all diehards. I nod and smile.
August 6, 2016 at 10:35 am in reply to: ESPN/Football Outsiders rank Rams 5th In Under-25 Talent #50288znModeratorRams have only 18 players over 25, one over 30
This is a direct result of 2 things IMO.
1. They have only 6 guys on the roster from before 2012 (Quinn, Sims, Saffold, Barnes, Kendricks, Reynolds).
2. They got out of the high-end FA market. It didn’t help that of their 4 biggest contracts for FAs, 3 got massively injured (Finnegan, Long, Wells) and 1 (Cook) wasn’t worth the money. They do better in the lower FA market (Hayes, Reynolds, Fairley, Ayers). IMO one aspect of this is that buying expensive FAs now takes future cap space away for when they have to re-up Donald and Goff.
znModeratorKevin Greene first soared in the ‘Eagle’ defense the Rams designed for him
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/greene-724864-robinson-defense.html%5B/quote%5D
It’s almost absurd to think about it now, what with Kevin Greene donning the iconic gold jacket signifying membership into Pro Football Hall of Fame and his bust soon on display in Canton. But back in the mid 1980s, the rangy fifth-round pick from Auburn was so starved for playing time he was literally begging then-Los Angeles Rams coach John Robinson for a chance to play.
Never the wallflower type, Greene kept showing up in Robinson’s office asking what he needed to do to get on the field.
Over and over and over.
“At the time, he threatened to send my butt back to Alabama,” Greene recalled.
That didn’t stop Greene, the son of military man and himself a Captain in the Army Reserves.
“I just kept knocking on the door.” he said.
Robinson feigned annoyance, but deep down he couldn’t help admire the nerve, confidence and hunger of the longshot linebacker.
“He was just so eager,” Robinson remembered. “He was, good gosh, just the epitome of a guy trying to figure out a way to get better and become a productive player.”
But there was a problem. In Robinson and defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur’s traditional 3-4 scheme at the time, outside linebackers were asked to rush the passer and drop back into pass coverage.
“He could rush the passer,” Robinson said. “But he couldn’t pass cover for crap.”
He also wasn’t strong enough to hold up against offensive tackles as a traditional 3-4 defensive end. So a position switch wasn’t an option.
Which explains why Greene didn’t make a single start over his first three years in the NFL.
Fortunately for Greene – although not so much for the Rams – the defense was so putrid getting pressure on the quarterback in 1987 that Robinson and Shurmur had to cook up something different to fix it.
Enter an innovative new defense, and the key that turned an average outside linebacker into a dominant pass rusher.
“Fritz Shurmur, our defensive coordinator, saw something in me and put together a defense for me,” Greene said.
Or so he was about to find out. Because the day Robinson called Greene into his office to let him know about the change, Greene was so worried the meeting was to tell him he was getting cut he later said he darn near wet his britches.
Only to learn Robinson and Shurmur were designing a defense to highlight his skill set.
“Changed my career,” Greene said.
Essentially, Robinson and Shurmur eliminated Greene’s pass coverage responsibilities and turned him into a full-time edge pass rusher operating out of formations designed to drive quarterbacks batty.
At its core, the Eagle defense was about speed and chaos. And in its essence, it was the birthplace of the zone blitz, with pressure coming from linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks.
The goal was to take advantage of Greene’s speed and rush instincts and create confusion for opposing quarterbacks, who often gazed across the line of scrimmage to see two outside linebackers stacked over the tight end and a “nose backer” lined up a yard behind the line of scrimmage – only to pop up as a standup linebacker.
So sure of the new scheme and Greene’s fit in it, Robinson promptly declared Greene would lead the league in sacks the following season.
“I didn’t know crap about what I was talking about,” Robinson said, laughing. “But I had a feeling he’d be good at it.”
And Greene was ready to break loose.
“I paid my dues at that time and seasoned a little bit, and I was really chomping at the bit to go,” he said.
Greene didn’t lead the league in sacks like Robinson predicted – but he came close. His 16.5 sacks in 1988 were second behind Eagles defensive end Reggie White’s 20 .
A star was born.
“I was able to be productive in that defense, so yes, it definitely helped me,” Greene said.
As Robinson recalls, a couple of things lined up perfectly for Greene.
“We put the defense in, and Jackie Slater was his opponent all the time.” Robinson said.
That would be eventual Hall of Fame left tackler Jackie Slater, who became Greene’s daily practice nemesis. The two would consistently square off in memorable match ups, with the older, wiser, more seasoned Slater usually getting the best of Greene.
“I mean, it was really competitive,” Robinson said. “And I don’t know if they were enemies or friends but they worked hard.
“I can remember Jackie just crushing Kevin and Kevin jumping up and saying: ‘Thank you Jackie I needed that. Now let’s do it again.’ That’s how he was, and he got to be really, really good.”
Greene followed up his 16.5 sacks in 1988 with 16.5 in 1989 and 13 in 1990 while emerging as one of the league’s best pass rushers.
“It was really nice to see him blossom,” Robinson said. “He wanted it so badly, and was willing to stick at it and work out of it.
But in 1991, Robinson hired Buddy Ryan disciple Jeff Fisher as his new defensive coordinator – yes, the Rams current head coach – and Fisher moved away from the 3-4 defense in favor of the 4-3 scheme. Greene was moved from outside linebacker to defensive end as a result, and his sacks plummeted to three.
Robinson and his entire coaching staff got cleared out at the end of the season – replaced by Chuck Knox – and while Greene’s sack total shot up to 10 playing outside linebacker in the 4-3, the fit just wasn’t right.
Greene hit free agency after the 1992 season, and went looking for a team with a 3-4 defense. He eventually landed in Pittsburgh, where he reclaimed his pass rushing status under Dick LeBeau while racking up 36.5 sacks over the next three seasons.
“His career really took off there,” said Robinson.
Greene would play 15 years total – including stints with the Panthers and 49ers – before retiring in 1999 with 160 career sacks, which ranks third in NFL history.
And now he’s in the Hall of Fame.
Looking back, who knows what would have happened had Robinson and Shurmur not needed to figure out a way to get to the quarterback as desperately as they did in 1988. Or had the foresight to scrap conventional wisdom in pursuit of creating a scheme to fit a unique skill set like Greene’s.
“And really, that’s what coaching is all about,” Robinson said. “Your job is to bring out the best in players. Help make a player. And if there is greatness, try to find it. Sometimes it isn’t obvious, you have to dig a little bit.
“And whether it’s the head coach or coordinator you have to give the guy the scheme that brings it out in him. A Bill Walsh bringing out the skills of Joe Montana. Or any of those situations where the coach and the player together create a successful environment. It’s one of the ultimate aspects of being a coach.”
And in this case, it turned a decent outside linebacker into an eventual Hall of Famer.
August 6, 2016 at 9:44 am in reply to: ESPN/Football Outsiders rank Rams 5th In Under-25 Talent #50285znModeratorYouth movement: Rams have only 18 players over 25, one over 30
steve Dilbeck
IRVINE, Calif. — Ah, youth. So fleeting, so exciting, so very unpredictable.
The Rams were one of the league’s youngest team’s last season and went 7-9.
They had the worst passing game in the NFL and are now expected to turn the offense over to 21-year-old quarterback Jared Goff. Their star player is 22-year-old running back Todd Gurley. Their defensive standout is a comparative old man, 25-year-old tackle Aaron Donald.
Los Angeles’ William Hayes
At 31, defensive end William Hayes qualifies as a grizzled veteran on the Rams.
Indeed, on their roster they have exactly one player over 30. Starting defensive end William Hayes is a team aberration, sliding in at age 31.In ESPN’s annual age rankings for every NFL team released this week, the Rams came in as the league’s fifth youngest team. That’s actually an uptick from last year when this massive team was in full bloom and they were at No. 3.
But on their 89-man roster this season, they have only 18 players over the age of 25. Half of those, however, are expected to start. That still leaves plenty of young starters, who for the most part, will be backed up by even younger players.
So it may not be peach fuzz all around, but youth clearly still abides as the Rams try to win over their new Los Angeles fan base.
All that youth began to show promise last season. The Rams won three of their last four games, losing the season finale to the 49ers in San Francisco in overtime. Which is where they open the regular season next month.
If youth is to be served, and the Rams are going to make that next step as a developing team, they need it to be now.
znModeratorMerlin
8/5 camp report
Ok so got back late after a post-practice stop that was in truth a derailment at Hooters. Had a great time, so from the top I gotta give the Rams org props on setting up a really fine venue. Picked up some gear for the kids, looked around and wished there was a beer stand, but learned later in practice why there is no beer stand which I’ll cover in a moment.
First off watched the QBs doing all manner of basic drills. Handoffs, footwork, even making throws over the crossbar to each other I suppose to ensure the right arc is there I don’t know. Got bored though, and will only note what everyone knows, which is that Keenum has some athleticism to him, Goff is incredibly light on his feet, and Mannion is a bit plodding in comparison to them.
I was very relieved to see Cooper out there. Watched him quite a bit with all the other WRs as they did their drills and then as they moved into the scrimmage, and he looked smooth with good hands, just as advertised. I presume the time he missed set him back a bit, and he didn’t really stand out in a busting big plays kind of way or anything. But he is very bold in traffic and across the middle for a small dude, which is also not news to anyone here.
So right off the top what I saw was a defense that was bringin it. The offense made some plays that were impressive like Goff’s beautiful pass down the middle that was on point, and they won some in the redzone, but looking a bit deeper at things many of the passes would have had some “blown up” receivers. TJ made some hits today that he did not follow through on, where he was in position to lay dudes the F out and he was not the only one. The secondary closed fast and swarmed, and the front seven was in the offensive backfield a lot. I think Fish was real happy with how the defense looked.
Back to the offense the protections were breaking down a reasonable amount as the DL in particular were going hard. There were quite a few passes that would not have gotten out of the pocket without that red jersey on the QB. I watched GRob struggle a couple times on edge rush (still his greatest weakness) and also do well, and across the OL it was much the same and I thought very good back and forth competition between the units. This is going to sound ridiculous, too, but it seemed like Keenum got more heat than Goff, and have no idea whether it’s the line blocking being better when Goff was in there, the DL being afraid to hurt the #1 draft pick, or whatever. Goff did get swarmed quickly a couple times, like when he dropped to his knees it would have been a very fast sack in a live game so taking the sack and living to throw another day was a good decision by him vice forcing something. The dude who yelled that was probably the same one who yelled some other idiotic things, and our section was crackin jokes about how dudes like him are the reason why we can’t have an effin beer truck. {zn note: M is referring to a tweet where it was reported that Goff was struggling a bit so a member of the crowd yelled “bring in 17!”]
The receivers overall had a good day I thought. Thomas is just, well, as someone said the other day about him “he belongs.” Really the best way to put it. The dude straight stands out in that he’s very big, and is already playing fast in this system. His feet are really quick, which is something to see with a guy his size. And Quick, man. I gotta admit the dude is looking great, he’s like a different receiver from the one I’ve seen drop everything and run the wrong routes. Marquez goes 100% every single route and is showing good hands and body control, same exact thing with Spruce. Watched coach Groh doing the tennis ball routine with them midpoint and I continue to feel like this is an entirely different group of receivers now, where all of a sudden they all have solid to good hands. It’s weird man. I mean today Britt had a focus drop, but overall he’s movin and catching things and it just seems like an insane turnaround as an entire group so it will be interesting to see if it carries over to preseason games. I am REALLY looking forward to seeing that.
The TEs are similar to the above as well in that this group straight catches the ball now with good hands as a unit. Higbee is just downright ridiculous. The dude is huge, has a big catch radius, moves like a WR, and just makes whoever throws him the ball look great. Watched him in drills with Thompson throwing the ball I think it was, and he reels the catch in smoothly before having a couple DBs who due to his size get just as good as they gave on the hits. Kendricks looks so much more consistent too, but when you watch these guys live it’s just not even a comparison in terms of imagining who’s gonna add what to this passing game.
Run game had some good moments but it’s just too hard to tell whether the back would be down if they were playing for real. The D as I mentioned was bringin it, but it did seem like they’re aware they don’t want to be wrapping Gurley up and driving him to the ground like they would in a game. But still, the dude is so damn good he just makes it look easy. Aaron Green in both phases flashed and is really busting his butt to make this roster. Had a really nice run but the pass he caught was more impressive and like all the good catches I saw today had the crowd appreciation going.
So last but not least the QBs. Here’s where I differ from a lot of what I read tweet-wise. The sack and the moron yelling whatever he yelled don’t matter as I was very pleased overall with Goff’s play. He put up a couple “rookie” throws but also put that ball down the field in the face of the rush with calmness which is far more important and far more telling as to what to expect from him throughout the remainder of camp into preseason. Watching his snaps directly against Keenum’s snaps and it’s not like Goff is suffering by comparison to my eye. Keenum made some nice throws but most of his are short ranged and/or checkdowns, he’s really the same guy I saw get overwhelmed by the whiners late last year. He made one redzone throw on a full run to the right and across his body for a scary TD but it’s one I wouldn’t want to see him attempt again. Goff in the redzone is an assassin. Dude was droppin dimes on the corner route and across the middle for a TD (at least I think that one was from him to Higbee had a lady chatting with us that was a big distraction).
Tried to download it while I remember it still. Bottom line is this practice only served to boost my excitement about this offense. This team has some significant difference maker type players and we might be witnessing many elements finally coming together on the offensive side of the ball.
znModeratorPractice Report 8/5: Rules of the Game
Myles Simmons
Every year there are a few changes to the NFL rulebook. Some are designed to enhance player safety, others made to quell any competitive unbalance. On Friday, a crew of NFL officials were at UC Irvine to help explain them to the Rams through a short video presentation and officiating practice.
“It’s always good when you have a referee and part of his crew out,” head coach Jeff Fisher said. “We’ll kind of informally talk; they’ll informally talk with the players, answer questions and things like that. It’s always a good meeting to attend.”
“One of the reasons we come to training camp, is to show the video and to answer questions, and then put ourselves on the field with them, so [they can] ask questions out on the field,” said referee John Hussey, who also gave a presentation to the media. “A lot of times they won’t ask a question in the meeting, just for whatever reason. But they’ll come up to you out on the field and they’ll talk in further detail. It’s very helpful for us, and I’ve always found it good to engage with the players in an environment where we can kind of interact and kind of figure stuff out.”
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PHOTOS: #RamsCamp Day 6
Fisher said he wasn’t too concerned about any of the rule changes, though there was one he brought up that may take some adjusting.“There’s not really anything significant other than, to me, from my opinion, other than the touchback,” Fisher said. “We have to wait and see where that goes during the year. Beyond that, subtle changes related to player safety and things like that.”
While many recent changes to the rulebook have a reputation for benefiting the offense, there are a couple this year at least in part designed for defensive players. The most clear example of that is the elimination of the chop block.
From the video the officials show to players around the league, a chop block is “a two-man, high-low block, in which a defensive player is engaged above the waist by one offensive player, and blocked at the thigh or below by another offensive player.” As Hussey put it, these blocks have mostly been phased out of offenses. But in the few instances that they do happen, it is a safety issue because of the high risk for lower-leg injuries.
“If you’re out there and you see it, it’s ugly,” Hussey said. “And it engenders ill will because players have careers. I like [the change].”
Another point of emphasis this year will be the quarterback feet-first slide. This year, it’s a point of emphasis for signal-callers to get down early if they want full protection from receiving a legal hit by a defender.
“They were pushing the envelope of getting to the ground,” Hussey said. “And that’s what the point of emphasis is to them, to say, ‘hey, you want max protection and you don’t want to get touched at all, then get down early.’ And that’s the message that we hope is clear.”
That, however, doesn’t mean a defender has free reign on a quarterback who’s clearly going to the ground — particularly when it’s a player-safety issue.
If [the quarterback] slides while the defensive contact is imminent, then the defender needs to stay off the head,” Hussey said. “If he’s airborne and he’s launching, and he’s up around the head or neck area [the quarterback is] fouled. Or if [a defender] lowers the crown of his helmet to any part of his body, [the quarterback is] fouled.”
Another headline-garnering change is two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties resulting in an ejection. Officials have always had the option to eject a player if necessary — for actions such as a punch or spitting. But implementing this rule is akin to making a deterrent so players will be less likely to do whatever they’ve done again.
“This is really an emphasis toward behavior toward your official and your opponent,” Hussey said. “Taunting, actions towards us — so it’s just putting more depth in the unsportsmanlike [conduct penalties].”
There are a few more rule changes and points of emphasis that will be implemented for the 2016 season. If you’d like to watch the video the players saw about them, you can view it here.
EXTRA POINTS
— The Rams will host Family Day at the Coliseum on Saturday afternoon. The players will strap up their pads at the stadium for the first time since returning to Los Angeles.
“Oh man, that’s going to be a great feeling. It’s definitely going to be breathtaking,” offensive lineman Rodger Saffold said. “You’re talking about just a ton of people in there. It’s going to be good just to just scrimmage.”
While the event is free, fans do need to register for tickets. You can do that at the link here.
Gates open at 1 p.m. and practice will start at 3 p.m.
— Rookie wide receiver Pharoh Cooper made his return to the practice field on Friday after sitting out a few practices due to a mild quad issue.
“They’re just being precautionary about it — nothing real, real serious,” Cooper said of his quad. “It felt good to get back on the field today after a couple of days off. It was the first time I could actually put the pads on, so it felt good to be back out there with the boys instead of just watching.”
— Fisher said cornerback E.J. Gaines has a mild hamstring strain and will be out for a little while.
“I haven’t ruled him out for Dallas yet, but I’m not anticipating him doing anything tomorrow,” Fisher said.
— As expected at this point, Fisher confirmed Case Keenum will be the starting quarterback in the Rams’ first preseason game against the Cowboys on Aug. 13. Rookie QB Jared Goff will follow Keenum and get significant playing time.
“Nothing unusual — what you want to do is you want to play your starting quarterback with your starters and then you start subbing and then Jared comes in,” Fisher said. “He will get to play. I’m sure he will get to play quite a bit — probably play a half.”
— Finally, the Rams had another special guest at practice as the club hosted new Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton for Friday’s session. Fisher said he was excited to have Walton around the team.
“We made contact over a week or so ago and I was really impressed that he wanted to come down and see what we do,” Fisher said. “We got to spend a lot of one-on-one time together today, which was very, very impressive from my standpoint — to have an opportunity to learn his world and he got an opportunity to learn our world.”
Our Dani Klupenger sat down with Walton for her own one-on-one time with the head coach, which you can view in the video below.
znModeratorCase Keenum holding off Jared Goff in Rams quarterback competition
By RICH HAMMOND / STAFF WRITER
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/practice-724842-keenum-rams.html
IRVINE – After the first week of training camp, the Rams’ quarterback battle is, well …
“Put in number 17,” a fan yelled after Jared Goff kneeled to avoid a “sack” in Friday’s no-contact practice at UC Irvine. Not long after, number 17, Case Keenum, entered and threw a touchdown pass.
There’s a long way to go before the Rams open their season on Sept. 12 in San Francisco, including four preseason games and a dozens of hours of practice, but at least for one week, Keenum has held off Goff.
Through the first week of training camp, Keenum has been steadier and made fewer mistakes than Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft. Coach Jeff Fisher said Keenum will start the Rams’ first preseason game, Aug. 13 against Dallas, but that Goff will play as much as a full half in that game.
“I’m not looking as far forward as that,” Keenum said Friday. “As far as that determining my confidence level, I don’t think it will. I’ve got a job to do, and that’s to lead the offense when I’m out there.”
Not surprisingly, Goff, a 21-year-old rookie, has been less consistent than Keenum, who is 28 and in his fifth NFL training camp. Goff threw two interceptions in practice Friday but, in the final drill, threw red-zone touchdown passes to Tyler Higbee and Brian Quick.
Keenum, anointed the starter by Fisher at the end of last season, hasn’t necessarily been dynamic but rarely has made errors. Keenum, undrafted in 2012 and on the Rams’ practice squad as recently as Dec. 2014, said he enjoyed his first-ever week as a training-camp starter.
“I’m getting a lot more reps,” Keenum said. “My wife came the other day to watch, and usually I’d get three or four passes and she would have 5-10 minutes between reps. She’s like, ‘I can’t even go to the bathroom now. I have to keep watching.’ So it’s fun, and I feel like I’m getting better.”
It would have been shocking to see Goff, who mostly has taken second-team reps thus far in camp, start next weekend against the Cowboys. That job belongs to Keenum for now, but Fisher said he had yet to determine exactly how many series each quarterback would play.
“At some point we’ll discuss it next week,” Fisher said. “It’s nothing unusual. You know what you want to do. You play your starting quarterback with your starters and then you start subbing and then Jared comes in. He will get to play, probably quite a bit. He will probably play a half, but we’ll discuss that.”
WELCOME ‘HOME’
Players and coaches will get a first look at their home venue for the next three seasons when the Rams hold an open practice at the Coliseum on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
The full practice, which the Rams are calling “Family Day,” is free to the public (other than a $20 parking fee) and essentially will be a regular session with some fan-friendly events.
The practice purpose, though, is to give the team a chance to get acclimated to its new home. Players will get situated in the locker room (usually used by USC) and coaches will navigate the elevators and press box and adjust to any possible technological glitches.
“It’s a dress rehearsal in every way,” said Bruce Warwick, the Rams’ director of operations.
NEW RULES
NFL referee John Hussey attended practice Friday to help instruct players on rule changes for this season. After practice, Hussey planned to show players a 10-minute video and answer questions.
The rule changes, approved in March, mostly involve player safety. All chop blocks are now illegal, as is taking down an opponent by the back of the jersey in a “horse collar” fashion. Officials also will put a stronger emphasis on some rules, such as hitting below the knee or with the crown of the helmet.
NOTES
The Rams announced that J.B. Long will be their radio play-by-play broadcaster, with former UCLA and NFL standout Maurice Jones-Drew as analyst and former Rams defensive lineman D’Marco Farr as sideline analyst. Long most recently worked as a play-by-play announcer for Pac-12 Network. … Cornerback E.J. Gaines missed practice with a hamstring injury, but receiver Pharoh Cooper, who had been out with a quadriceps injury, returned. … Lakers coach Luke Walton watched practice from the field and talked with Fisher when it ended.
znModeratorMyles Simmons @MylesASimmons
Fisher said CB EJ Gaines has a hamstring strain and will be out for a bit. Fisher not ruling him out of the DAL game next week, though.znModeratorI think it’s sensible for Fisher to officially name Keenum the starter and stick with him through at least the first half of the season. The veteran not only gives the Rams the best chance to win right now, but the team believes in his talent and leadership skills. Speaking to several offensive players, I repeatedly heard the word “gamer” and “winner” in reference to the 28-year-old Keenum.
This gets one thing right IMO but then neglects the chance to notice another.
Yes, not only is Keenum more in charge, his intangibles are what give him an edge…he self-maximizes.
But. He comes from the same kind of college offense Goff does. So if Keenum can do it obviously so can Goff.
znModeratorJared Goff should begin on bench
Bucky Brooks
Patience is a virtue — in virtually all aspects of life. But it is rarely found in NFL locker rooms.
In a league where production and performance are paramount, general managers and scouts frequently fall prey to the outside noise and rush players onto the field to justify lofty draft-day selections. This happens with most top picks, but quarterbacks are especially susceptible to microwave treatment when they are selected in the first round — and even more so when they’re taken with a top-10 pick.
That’s why I’m paying close attention to how the Los Angeles Rams are bringing along Jared Goff.
The football world will be clamoring to see the No. 1 overall pick when the Rams open their season in front of a national television audience at San Francisco in the final game of Week 1 on Monday, Sept. 12. While I’ve heard all of the rhetoric from coach Jeff Fisher and his staff on resisting the urge to put the rookie out on the field before he is ready, we’ve seen nearly every quarterback selected with a top-five pick over the past five years take the ball as the team’s starter very early in the season. Thus, I traveled to Rams camp fully expecting to see Goff primed and ready to supplant Case Keenum as the team’s starter.
I mean, on paper, this shouldn’t be a fair fight: Goff boasts prototypical physical dimensions (6-foot-4, 215 pounds), A+ arm talent and a polished game, while Keenum has a smallish stature (6-1, 205 pounds), an average arm and a lack of cachet as a former undrafted free agent and current NFL journeyman. Sure, Keenum led the Rams to a 3-2 record as the team’s part-time starter a season ago, but Fisher wouldn’t seriously consider using the fifth-year pro as a legitimate starter this season. Right?
To my surprise, Goff isn’t anywhere close to being ready to play as a starting quarterback at this stage of training camp. Now, this isn’t a direct knock on him or his future potential. It can be a process. Having been around some of the best quarterback developers in the game (Mike Holmgren, Andy Reid, Jon Gruden, Steve Mariucci, Dan Henning, Kevin Gilbride, Mike McCarthy and Mike McCoy), I know that young signal callers must check the boxes in three key areas before they are primed to step on the field as a starter:
» Communication
» Coverage identification
» JudgmentWatching Goff over a full workout, I sensed that — despite widely reported improvement since the end of OTAs and minicamps — the Cal product still has a long way to go before he reaches the standard needed to wrestle the starting job from Keenum.
After spending his formative years directing a spread offense (Sonny Dykes’ “Bear Raid”), Goff is still mastering the verbiage and communication skills to own the huddle. The lengthy play calls and at-the-line adjustments require far more verbal communication than the no-huddle system he ran in Berkeley. In addition, the constant chatter and identification require complete mastery of the playbook to make split-second decisions at the line. While I’m not privy to the Rams’ playbook or their audible system, I can say that the offense operated with better tempo and pace when Keenum was at the helm. Goff had his moments directing the two-minute offense in team drills, but the pauses between plays were noticeably longer with the rookie in charge.
Moving on to some of Goff’s post-snap responsibilities, I believe he is still adjusting to the complex coverages routinely employed by NFL coordinators. Rams DC Gregg Williams is one of the most creative tacticians in football, and his carefully crafted pre-snap disguises frequently mask the designated coverage. Thus, opposing quarterbacks must be in tune to the depths of linebackers and safeties in order to get a bead on the blitz or coverage. Keenum efficiently sorted out the myriad disguises and blitzes from the Rams’ starters to find the hot route or open receiver down the field. He was rarely flustered by the constant movement, and his efficiency certainly surprised me, based on the complexity of the defensive looks.
Meanwhile, despite facing a more static look, Goff struggled a bit against the defense in team drills. Williams frequently aligned his defense in a Cover 2 shell (two deep safeties with corners aligned at 6 to 7 yards) and used a variety of simple zone (Cover 2, Cover 3) or zone-blitz (five-man rush with three deep and three under) concepts against the rookie. These defenses are the equivalent of what you would see in an NFL 101 class, yet Goff routinely had a tough time finding the open guy. And when he did identify the open man, he was frequently late with his throw, resulting in a contested catch or off-target toss down the field. At the NFL level, quarterbacks must throw with timing and anticipation to consistently complete passes in tight windows between multiple defenders.
Now, I don’t want to be too critical of a young passer in the opening stretch of his first NFL training camp, but judgment is arguably the most important part of playing the position, and Goff seems so overwhelmed by the speed of the game that he’s been inconsistent with his decisions. Some of his poor determinations are understandable, due to the uncertainty that plagues every young QB, but he also has been prone to making some “hero” throws in traffic. In the workout I attended, Goff threw four passes that should’ve been intercepted, each the result of a forced throw at intermediate range despite the fact that a checkdown was available underneath.
To be fair, most quarterbacks are reluctant to take the open checkdown when they believe they can make a “hero” throw. But Goff is in line for a number of turnovers off tips and overthrows until he develops the patience and poise to settle for a short completion instead of gambling on a “wow” play. He might foster these characteristics after a few preseason games, but I believe it will take him some time to learn the management skills needed to start for a competitive team.
Taking all of this into account, I think it’s sensible for Fisher to officially name Keenum the starter and stick with him through at least the first half of the season. The veteran not only gives the Rams the best chance to win right now, but the team believes in his talent and leadership skills. Speaking to several offensive players, I repeatedly heard the word “gamer” and “winner” in reference to the 28-year-old Keenum. In fact, one Rams receiver said the offense would thrive in 2016 with Keenum at the helm, even though everyone expects Goff to eventually become a “baller” at the position.
To get a management perspective, I talked to several team officials who suggested Keenum can succeed because he has a clear understanding of his limitations and won’t try to do too much with the ball in his hands. Unlike some quarterbacks who shrug off the “game manager” label, Keenum seemingly has embraced the approach — and everyone in the building believes he won’t mess it up if he gets the chance. Given that Los Angeles has a budding superstar in Todd Gurley who can pound the football, savvy game management from the quarterback position could work quite well for this team.
For the past several months, I thought the prospect of Keenum taking the field with the starting unit was simply the product of coachspeak. But after spending time at Rams camp, I believe the team should play the veteran quarterback until the youngster proves that he is ready to handle the job. This is the blueprint Fisher successfully used with a young Steve McNair during his time heading the Oilers/Titans. Despite entering the NFL as the third overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft, McNair didn’t become a full-time starter until 1997. He went on to make three Pro Bowls and earn NFL MVP honors in 2003. Fisher should keep this in mind, to help Goff eventually reach his full potential as the Rams’ franchise quarterback.
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