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znModeratorAnd to state what i assume is obvious — i am not saying identity politix issues are unimportant. Of course they are important. But when they are used as a diversion from ‘class’ or inequality or what i call ‘poor people issues’ then it sets me off.
I think it simply amounts to the liberal types having their own class interests to protect. Which of course they don’t realize they’re doing.
We;ve already had this discussion, but, I know a lot of people who see through that particular liberal dynamic. But then I know a lot of people who just assume I identify with Hillary, and it’s not even worth it to respond. I smile. Righties expect resistance. Liberals get shocked. Zooey put that all very well. Cultural politics is necessary and important, but if all it does is change the way the powers that be dress and talk, then, it’s not changing anything. As you know (just tossing in my own “preaching to the converted” 2 cents).
This is from 73. Forgive me for posting an annotated version…it’s just for the sake of clarity.
“Who Said It Was Simple” (1973)
By Audre Lorde
There are so many roots to the tree of anger
that sometimes the branches shatter
before they bear.Sitting in Nedicks*
the women rally before they march*
discussing the problematic girls
they hire to make them free.
An almost white counterman passes
a waiting brother to serve them first*
and the ladies neither notice nor reject
the slighter pleasures of their slavery.But I who am bound by my mirror
as well as my bed
see causes in colour
as well as sexand sit here wondering
which me will survive
all these liberations.==
* Nedicks: popular New York city chain diner
* march: the (obviously white) women are going to a demonstration
* the waiter is being chivalrous by serving the women firstznModeratorThen unless he is an experienced PT he seems like trouble to me. Who is going to step up in the locker room to counteract such behavior?
Well, this is all just (partly) informed guesswork, but, the Rams have a famously stable locker room, with leaders (on the DL no less) like Hayes and Donald. Plus I don’t imagine the Rams would sign him unless they made their parameters clear. That’s leveraged by the fact that he knows he can’t get cut again—and he also knows (from watching Fairley get signed) that being a good and productive citizen on the Rams DL leads to down the road benefits.
znModeratorDAILY FOCUS: THE RAMS’ PASS RUSH JUST GOT EVEN BETTER
Los Angeles is teaming the highly efficient Dominique Easley up front with last year’s best NFL player, Aaron Donald.
GORDON MCGUINNESS
https://www.profootballfocus.com/pro-daily-focus-the-rams-pass-rush-just-got-even-better/
The Rams’ interior pass rush gets even better with Dominique Easley signing: It came as something of a surprise when the New England Patriots released Easley, their first-round draft pick from 2014. The move was reportedly more due to off-field reasons than his play on the field, which makes sense given that, when healthy, Easley was a pretty good defensive lineman for New England. He had the 12th-highest grade among defensive tackles in 2015, playing just 275 snaps.
While he graded positively against the run, it was as a pass-rusher where he really made his mark. Rushing the passer on 210 of his 275 snaps, Easley had the highest pass-rushing productivity of any defensive tackle in the NFL at 12.9. With three sacks, eight hits and 24 hurries, not even new teammate Aaron Donald was as productive on a per-snap basis. That’s not to say he’s better than Donald, who was the best player in football last year, and dominated across a much higher sample size, but it’s an indication of how good Easley was in limited action.
The knock on Easley is that, at 6-foot-2 and 290 pounds, he’s considered undersized for his position. That was the same knock on Donald coming into the league, and was the same knock on Nick Fairley, who played in St. Louis with the Rams last year, and recently signed with the New Orleans Saints. Fairley played 427 snaps for the Rams last year, and that’s the kind of role that we can expect to see from Easley, with Donald and Michael Brockers seeing the bulk of the snaps in the interior of the Rams defensive line.
That’s the beauty of this signing for the Rams. They don’t need Easley to come in and be a superstar, they just need him to be productive as part of a defensive line rotation, and replace Fairley’s production.
znModerator“The Patriots opted to cut their losses due to Easley’s philosophical differences with the organization’s injury program, CSN New England’s Tom Curran reported at the time.”
What does this mean?
He wanted to do the training and physical therapy on his injuries his own way. Patz wanted him doing it in the building, their way.
znModeratorAnd, yes, I agree with him that, in America especially, liberal elites have often used the issues of race, gender and sexuality to forestall any discussion of economic inequality and class
Just jumping in, I have to say…meaning no offense to anyone…that this is all old. I think it’s important to recognize that…it puts the discussion more in context, IMO.
Liberals who buy into multiculturalism (my preferred term) often, yes, ignore, misunderstand, or don’t get class.
But then the left opposition to that particular construction is old. In fact Michaels was writing in the 80s and 90s.
The left opposition to all that liberal stuff goes way back, and it does not make the corresponding error of ignoring race, gender, and sexuality.
And that has been true for a few decades.
The left is fragmented into pockets, and sometimes, one given section of it has not heard about other sections of it.
What’s interesting to me is that in the last few years, this stuff has gone much more mainstream. That is, access to it and interest in it has gone up.
znModeratorMorgan Fox, DT, Colorado State-Pueblo:
Don’t know why Wagoner has Fox at DT? He’s small for that. Not too small to be a pass-rushing end though.
.
znModeratorRams hoping to find more help from undrafted rookies
Nick WagonerSince coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead took charge of the Los Angeles Rams’ roster in 2012, identifying, signing and developing undrafted free agents who can help the team is one of their top priorities.
Along the way, the Rams have found important contributors, such as running back Benny Cunningham, defensive lineman Ethan Westbrooks, safety Cody Davis, former starting safety Rodney McLeod and All-Pro punter Johnny Hekker after the draft has concluded. Just last year, the Rams’ roster at various points included running back Malcolm Brown, linebacker Cameron Lynch, defensive tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat, defensive end Matt Longacre, receiver Bradley Marquez and offensive tackle Darrell Williams.
This year, the Rams had a smaller draft class than usual (six players) after trading away three second-day picks to move from No. 15 to No. 1. That meant finding potential undrafted gems took on an even greater importance.
“It’s an important process,” Snead said. “Obviously a larger subset of players come into the league through college free agency, but if you look at data, if a college free agent gets on the field and actually plays, let’s call it one percent of the offensive or defensive snaps, that player is going to go on and play just as much as any fourth-rounder. So it’s important when you do find one to two to three to four a year that can get on the field, and if they do get on the field, they usually go in to play just as much or more than like the fourth-rounders, fifth-rounders, sixth-rounders. Even though it’s less sexy, it’s still an important part of the process.”
Brandon Chubb, LB, Wake Forest:
There might not be much flash to Chubb’s game, but he was consistently productive for the Demon Deacons. There’s no shortage of opportunity here, either, as the Rams still need depth at linebacker. With competition from the likes of Lynch, Bryce Hagerand fellow rookie Josh Forrest, Chubb could carve a path to the roster by proving capable on special teams first.
Michael Jordan, DB, Missouri Western:
An under-the-radar player from the Rams’ former home state, Jordan split time between corner and safety in college. The Rams could use some depth at both spots, but they earmarked Jordan before the draft was over as a possible contender for a job at cornerback. Jordan had 16 interceptions in his college career, which means he is often around the ball. He’ll have to adjust to playing better competition, but he’s got a chance to push players like Marcus Roberson for a job.
Brian Randolph, S, Tennessee:
Really, you can take your pick between Randolph, Jordan Lomax and Rohan Gaines as a contender for the team’s needs at safety. All were productive college players, but we’re giving Randolph a little bit of a head start because of his ability to contribute on special teams, the quickest way to make a roster after going undrafted. Randolph had a knack for blocking kicks for the Volunteers, a skill that can help break ties when it comes to formulating a 53-man roster.
Paul McRoberts, WR, Southeast Missouri State:
Like the other positions listed above, there’s room for an unheralded player to step in and make the roster at wide receiver. The competition could be tough, though, as the Rams brought in others such as Marquez North, Nelson Spruce and Duke Williams to add to the mix. But McRoberts is a guy the Rams eyed from up close while still in St. Louis and they liked his combination of size (6-foot-3) and college production. McRoberts will have to answer questions about the level of competition he played in college but if he can adjust quickly, he’ll have a chance. The Rams used a second-round pick in 2012 on Brian Quick, who profiled in a similar way to McRoberts, albeit with better physical traits.
Morgan Fox, DT, Colorado State-Pueblo:
A defensive lineman from a small school who posted outrageous, video game-like numbers in his final college season. Sound familiar? That’s how the Rams found Longacre and Westbrooks. The need for depth on the defensive line isn’t all that pressing, but if there is a need, it’s inside. As it stands, the only backup with any experience is Westbrooks, and he’s been playing both end and tackle. Fox will be up against Trinca-Pasat, another undrafted rookie the Rams found last year, and Doug Worthington for a possible job. If he follows in the footsteps of Longacre and Westbrooks, it’s not that far-fetched that he could stick.
znModeratorRams addition of Dominique Easley makes sense to replace Nick Fairley
Nick Wagoner
The Los Angeles Rams and coach Jeff Fisher have a certain affinity for former first-round defensive linemen. That love led them to their latest addition Tuesday when they agreed to terms on a one-year deal with former New England Patriots defensive tackle Dominique Easley.
With Easley’s addition, the Rams have five former first-round picks on their defensive line for the second consecutive year. After losing defensive end Chris Long and tackle Nick Fairley to the Patriots and New Orleans Saints, respectively, during this offseason, the Rams added end Quinton Coples and now Easley to get that number back to five.
Easley was a first-round pick by New England in 2014 after a knee injury wiped out his final season at Florida. In two seasons with the Patriots, Easley had 25 tackles, three sacks and an interception in limited action.
Many were surprised when the Patriots released Easley, though his health issues were an ongoing concern. Now, Easley will bring a familiar combination of off-field issues and talent to the interior of the Rams’ defensive line.
It’s an easy comparison to the Fairley signing last year. At the time, the Rams were looking for low-cost, high-upside depth behind starters Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers. They brought in Fairley, who had battled his share of injuries and red flags, but who also had plenty of talent.
Fairley played well in a limited role as the team’s primary backup interior pass-rusher. Although he didn’t have the normal statistics to prove it, Pro Football Focus graded him as a top-five defensive tackle in the league on a production-per-snap basis despite playing just 427 snaps.
If Easley can stay healthy and come prepared, he could offer similar production. In fact, PFF graded Easley as the second-most productive pass-rusher on a per-snap basis among all defensive linemen last year. Like Fairley, that also came on a small sample size, but also like Fairley, he figures to be a rotational piece for the Rams if he secures his spot on the roster.
So, how does Easley ensure that happens? I asked Patriots reporter Mike Reiss to offer some insight on what type of player Easley is, what went wrong in New England and how he might fit with the Rams.
Here’s what Reiss had to say:
“Easley’s first two years in New England concluded with him on injured reserve by mid-December, so health is the first thing on the list of reasons why it didn’t work out for him with the Patriots. The backstory is that he had entered the NFL in 2014 with significant medical questions, having torn both of his ACLs over a three-year span in college, so it was a continuation of those issues in the NFL.
“Then behind the scenes, Easley butted heads with some on the coaching staff at times, and there wasn’t always agreement between management and Easley as to the best course of rehabilitation. It is extremely rare for any team to part ways with a first-round pick after just two seasons, but that provides some context as to why the Patriots moved on so quickly and absorbed more of a cap hit by releasing him than they would have if they kept him.
“The other part about Easley’s time in New England that is a bit different is his body type relative to what the Patriots have traditionally looked for in their defensive linemen — he’s undersized for their scheme, but with such a focus on sub defenses these days, the Patriots figured he’d be on the field at almost starter-like playing-time levels when they picked him in the first round. It just never panned out that way. The Patriots have since gone back to focusing on bigger-bodied defensive tackles, but it’s easy to see his fit in Los Angeles’ scheme as a backup to Aaron Donald.”
znModeratorThomas Brings Big-Play Ability to L.A.
Myles Simmons
Following their blockbuster trade up to No. 1 overall, the Rams entered the 2016 NFL Draft with only five picks in the seven-round event. But a trade back from No. 113 to No. 117 brought Los Angeles No. 206 from Chicago. And that could turn out to be a move with long-lasting, positive consequences.
The Rams finished out this year’s draft by picking up their fifth offensive player, wide receiver Mike Thomas. Known a strong outside threat who can stretch the field vertically, Thomas finished his 2015 season at Southern Miss with 71 receptions for 1,391 yards and 14 touchdowns. That’s an average of 19.6 yards per catch, illustrating his penchant for big plays.
“That’s exactly it. Obviously, he probably was on ESPN a couple times for top 10 plays, at least one Saturday in the fall,” general manager Les Snead said. “The La. Tech catch for sure.”
Snead’s referring to a reception Thomas made in late November, as Southern Miss defeated Louisiana Tech, 58-24, to clinch the Conference-USA West division title. Thomas had seven receptions for 162 yards and one special touchdown catch.
With just over 10 minutes left in the second quarter, Thomas made an Odell Beckham Jr.-esque one-handed grab in the end zone to give Southern Miss a 21-3 lead. It was a play that undoubtedly put Thomas on more teams’ radar.
“That play, my quarterback Nick Mullens, he gave me the look,” Thomas said during rookie orientation. “The team was blitzing anyway, so I knew it was coming to me. And I just told him, ‘Just throw it anywhere — I’m going to go get it.’ And he threw it out of my frame, and I just stretched my hand out and grabbed it.
“People were like, ‘Dang, are you surprised that you caught it?’” Thomas continued. “I was like, ‘No, I catch a lot of balls one-handed every day.’ So that was nothing new to me. It just happened in the game. And it was on TV.”
According to head coach Jeff Fisher, Thomas has the ability to uncover and make contested catches. Fisher said for some receivers, every pass is contested because they can’t get open.
“In his case, he gets open, but he can make the plays out of frame,” Fisher said. “So he’s got a chance. We’re looking forward to watching him compete against our defensive backs.”
Thomas is the kind of player who always looks like he’s having fun on the field. From celebrating touchdowns to dancing during warmups, Thomas carries himself in a way that shows his passion for the game.
“That comes from Chicago — that’s that Chicago swagger right there,” Thomas said. “Just coming from the city of Chicago, I just love to have fun.
“In high school, our football program wasn’t big. We didn’t have a lot of students, fans — none of that,” Thomas added, noting many times there were only 20 people at their games. “I still like to have fun while I’m playing. So that’s where the swagger comes from.”
As Thomas continues in the offseason program, he’s looking to master the L.A. offense as quickly as he can. After that, he feels everything will take care of itself.
“My first goal is to get the playbook down pat so I can play as fast as I can,” Thomas said. “That’s what I’m aiming for — just learning the playbook as fast as I can so once I learn the playbook, and play it fast, I know I’m going to make the team. I’m confident.”
znModeratorTwo ACL surgeries and he’s a knucklehead,
but i got no problem with it since its a one year
prove-it deal.This coaching staff seems to do pretty well with
DLinemen.w
vThere’s a lot of coach pressure there. Waufle is one of the best DL coaches. Wms, gets guys to play and be accountable. Fisher apparently knows which buttons to push to get knuckleheads to buy in. The DL has its share of leaders in Hayes, Donald, and Quinn.
Looks like the Rams are becoming this DL restoration center where players come to “prove it” and resurrect their careers.
..
znModerator==
For more on Easley see this thread:
==
Dominique Easley to Rams: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction
Adam Wells
Dominique Easley to Rams: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction
Dominique Easley is getting a fresh start with the Los Angeles Rams, as the former first-round pick agreed to a one-year deal on Tuesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Rand Getlin.
The 29th overall pick by the New England Patriots in 2014, Easley is still in the embryonic stages of his career. He’s an athletic and versatile interior defensive lineman who is just 24 years old.
Schefter added Easley gives the Rams five first-round picks on the defensive line, joining Aaron Donald, Michael Brockers, Robert Quinn and Quinton Coples.
The Patriots made a surprising decision to release Easley in April. He ended each of his first two NFL seasons on injured reserve, playing just 11 games each in 2014 and 2015.
Injuries have been a problem for Easley going back to his college days at Florida. He tore the ACL in both of his knees from 2011-13 with the Gators, and his 2015 season ended in December as the result of a knee injury.
Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reported that there were also problems behind the scenes with Easley and his maturity level:
“Saw that coming,” one of Easley’s former Patriots teammates said upon hearing the news. “Injuries and locker room cancer.” …
Multiple league sources said Easley was unreliable and immature.
“He’ll make an appointment for a massage and not show up,” one source said. “He’s just very disrespectful and irresponsible.”
“I think he rubbed a lot of people the wrong way,” another source said. “He comes across as an entitled kid. He reneges on everything. He thinks he’s invincible.”
Yet even with the questions about Easley’s character and locker room etiquette, Bryson Vesnaver of Pro Football Focus pointed out the talent on the field is hard to ignore:
Bryson Vesnaver @PFF_Bryson
Easley was the Pats most productive interior defender last year, despite low snaps. Injuries the only issue with him
1:07 PM – 13 Apr 2016The Patriots have always been quick to cut bait on players they don’t believe are buying into their system. Easley made things easier by getting hurt each of his first two seasons, but his age and high level of performance when healthy do make him an intriguing gamble.
Interior defensive linemen who can create pressure and perform well against the run are hard to find. Easley has that ability and the talent to continue getting better at just 24 years old. This is a great chance with Los Angeles to reinvent his career.
znModerator==
For more on Easley see this thread:
==
Rams sign Dominique Easley to one-year contract
Chris Wesseling
Former New England Patriots first-round draft pick Dominique Easley has found a new NFL home.
The Los Angeles Rams have signed the third-year defensive tackle to a one-year contract, NFL Media’s Rand Getlin reported, via a source familiar with the deal.
Easley was released by the Patriots last month in a move that stunned many league observers.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports, the Patriots still owe Easley more than a million in guaranteed money this year.
Although Easley ended each of his first two NFL seasons on injured reserve after tearing both ACLs in college, he was New England’s most disruptive pass rusher when healthy. Prior to last season, coach Bill Belichick lauded Easley an “explosive player that is very disruptive.”
Pro Football Focus credited Easley with one quarterback pressure for every six pass-rushing attempts in 2015, a better rate than All Pros Aaron Donald and Geno Atkins.
The Patriots opted to cut their losses due to Easley’s philosophical differences with the organization’s injury program, CSN New England’s Tom Curran reported at the time.
The Rams are getting an effective first-round talent with major durability and attitude concerns. The question is whether he will ready to open the season after tearing his quadriceps in December.
znModeratorThe one good thing about a Hillary presidency is that she would protect women’s reproductive rights and maybe promote equal pay, etc…
I already said that I won’t fight over it, or anything like that, and I ain’t talkin anyone into anything.
But really, my experience of worse is, worse really IS worse.
You know the states you read about where the right got a nutjob elected and he then made everything worse? I live in one of those. I don’t like worse. It actually IS worse.
The fact that there is no left in this country hurts, and that the “middle” is actually a right-middle. But the right is beyond bad. They’re “if I wrote a dystopian novel about this you wouldn’t accept it as realistic” level bad.
And that’s me speaking as someone who has not one grain of an illusion about who or what the Clintonistas are.
And also this “no utopias I want common sense” rhetoric? Yeah, to me (like others) it just comes across as bad campaign propaganda. With that stuff, I am like at the breakfast table reading the paper saying please pass the salt, while quietly adding oh and I don’t cotton to this “the middle way” rhetoric stuff, I don’t buy it.
….
znModeratorGroh doesnt get talked about much
but he might end up being the most important
cog in the machine next season.w
vWe don;t know much about Boras either.
With Groh, I noticed that at one point during the season Fisher praised what Chicago was doing with Cutler. He attributed that to the coaches. So it seems he wanted in on that.
But it’s going to be hard to sort out sometimes.
How much of “this” (whatever happens with the offense) is Boras, how much Groh. They have a new TE coach too. Then there’s a developing OL. GR. Goff. Gurley in his 2nd year (after being all the way back from the knee). Maybe the receivers from last year improve over last year, and there are new receivers and new TEs (if any rookies make it to the field).
I see improvement potential–not a LOT but some–in Tavon (experience), Quick (maybe getting confidence back), Britt (being challenged), maybe Marquez (a brainy feisty guy with room for growth?). Could also be that one or 2 of those are gone.
znModeratorAlso: Weird that someone thinks “Single Payer,” Medicare for All would be the same as the British System. I’m no expert on the latter, but from what I know of it, it’s a socialized health care delivery system, whereas Medicare for All would be a socialized insurance system.
Yes, different things. Socialized medicine makes the medical industry itself public–like the fire dept. or post office. That’s the British version. The Canadian version is public health insurance only which leaves the medical industry itself a private industry. If someone confused the 2, they don’t know the issues.
znModeratorMay 16, 2016 at 2:38 pm in reply to: from "away" – draftniks & reporters on the draft as a whole #44147znModeratorfrom Best offseason acquisitions for all 32 NFL teams
ESPN.com
From free agents to coaches and draft picks to general managers, NFL Nation reporters select the top offseason pickup for every team:
….
Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback Jared Goff
Really, this choice goes hand-in-hand with the runner-up here — new passing game coordinator Mike Groh. The Rams had the worst passing offense in the league in 2015 and finally made a major investment in hopes of fixing it. They didn’t go out and make a lot of other major additions in part because the cost of landing Goff was so high. Goff’s impact in Year 1 doesn’t have to be franchise-altering so much as steadying for a position that has been filled with instability over the past four years. — Nick Wagoner
znModeratort I couldn’t get past this sort of lazy way to bring them into battle against one another. Anyone who has seen it will know what I’m talking about–and maybe they’ll disagree. but I can’t say much about it without spoilers.
I thought the plot machinery was fine. Basically it depends on who thinks the Winter Soldier is what.
I liked the film better than you did, I think.
I didn’t like the “powers consistency” change between this and Ultron (in Ultron, Wanda has mind-reading powers but not here).
But that was minor.
For the most part I liked it though I thought Cap #2 was better.
…
znModeratorZN–you have my sympathies on this guy. What a dolt.
That vid barely scratched the surface and didn’t even look at the actual harm this guy did.
LePage is one reason why I say “yes Clinton is no ideal, but Trump is worse…and believe me when I say, worse is worse.”
Worse IS worse.
.
znModeratorNo I would argue it IS Brady.
===============
Well you are wrong. Just substitute
any other Hall of Fame, Multiple MVP QB,
and the Patriot Offense would be fine……I dunno If I’d agree that there’s no chance
Goff could be bust. Too early for me to be sure
about him. I preferred him to Wentz though.w
vWell, I understand. As a Seattle fan, you can’t afford to be objective about any of this.
…
znModeratorCourse its not really Brady’s ‘quick release’ that makes
that offense so deadly. Its the whole damn thing: Brady,
The OC, the coaching, the scheme, the brains of the WRs…Its some sort of weird Patriot-synergy.
Goff’s been a great college QB. Quick-minded, a magician in the pocket,
very accurate, nice touch on the ball.I think we can all see why Martz would be intrigued by him.
He’s still a gigantic question mark.
Moreso than Gurley was, I’d say.
The rams have taken chances the last two
first round picks. Gurley with the knee,
and betting Goff is worth all those pix.w
vNo I would argue it IS Brady.
Last year the Patz OL had Rams-level OL injury issues. Yes, THAT bad.
And they made it work for much of the season because Brady has that combined pre-snap read ability, good eyes, and quick release.
When they finally met a defense capable of demolishing that, however, the fairy tale ended. Reportedly Denver hit Brady more times in that game than any qb got hit at anytime during the season.
Subtract Brady, which Denver DID, and all the other things Brady makes look really good (including the coaches and scheme) suddenly did not look so good.
Anyway, I am willing to venture that Goff is not a GIGANTIC question mark. To me the questions are only these: HOW good will he be, and how soon.
I don’t think there;s any bust potential there. Or even any “turns out just to be average” potential there.
I think that qbs with those combined traits come along rarely. So I know he will be good…I just don’t know how good or how soon.
I don’t care about the picks. A good 12-15 year qb is worth whatever number of players they WOULD have gotten. If you heard that in 2004, SD, NYG, and Pitt gave up that many picks for Rivers, Eli, or BR, would you doubt the value of it? (And actually the Giants did trade a lot for Eli.)
Now of course this is all just “where I stand” and “how I see it.” It’s opinion, but one I have confidence in. Years from now, if it plays out like I think it will (with Goff being AT LEAST good), only then will I consider punishing posters who disagreed.
…
..znModeratorWaterfield, everyone should post their views. It’s open season for that.
As for me personally? I never buy the “there’s the extremes, we’re on the side of common sense” rhetoric.
I think it’s just simplistic propaganda spin for the status quo.
I always wonder why bright people who claim to be above mass media sound byte type discourse fall for it. Because it precisely IS mass media sound byte type discourse.
Of course everyone waves their flags and pretends they aren’t just flags.
znModeratorTrying to look for scale tippers that may have led to the Rams decision to pick Goff over Wentz.
In the same spirit, I looked for positives on Goff.
Martz said Goff showed enough mobility to extend plays as well.
“Now he made some bad plays, but the (good) plays that he made are plays that only an elite player can make,” Martz said. “I think he could be just ‘stupid’ good. He gets rid of the ball so quick.”
Fisher has said recently that he likes the offensive approach he sees with Brady, where you get rid of the ball in a blink.
Quick release.
Among other things they liked.
Actually there’s a sports science vid up here somewhere, where they showed that Goff’s release is quicker than Brady’s.
.
May 16, 2016 at 9:07 am in reply to: from "away" – draftniks & reporters on the draft as a whole #44126znModeratorMay 12, 2016
Football Gameplan’s 2016 NFL Draft Grades: Los Angeles RamsznModeratorBT, I am going to recommend a short story. In terms of genre it’s post-apocalyptic, although it initially feints at being dystopian.
As it happens, it’s online as well as in print.
znModeratorHemingway Ready for Jump from FCS to NFL
Myles Simmons
Making the jump from college to the NFL is a challenge for any first-year player. But when a rookie comes from the FCS level of college football, the leap can be that much more difficult
But such a factor doesn’t make the transition impossible. And tight end Temarrick Hemingway feels like he’s someone whose talent may have been overlooked because he played his college ball at South Carolina State.
“They really haven’t gotten to see me play,” Hemingway said of NFL scouts and personnel. “So all they can really look at is the highlight tape that’s on YouTube, and that really doesn’t show my intangibles or anything like that.”
The Rams, however, did take notice of the 6-foot-5, 244-pound tight end who was productive in college and had an outstanding Combine performance. Hemingway was a top performer in the 40-yard dash (4.71 seconds), the three cone drill (6.88 seconds), and the 60-yard shuttle (11.5 seconds) at the event in February.
Despite upping his profile, Hemingway still wasn’t sure how draft day would end up.
“It was an amazing experience to go through,” he said during rookie orientation. “I didn’t know when my name was going to get called, or if it was going to get called. But I appreciated that they did it, and I was glad I came to the Rams.”
One of Hemingway’s traits that excites both general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher is the tight end’s ability to get bigger. While he is raw, he has the chance to put on a good amount of weight once he’s in the league for a bit.
“He’s got tremendous growth potential to where, he comes in at 240 [pounds this year] — a year from now he’s 265 and he’s strong,” Fisher said.
Hemingway was primarily used as a receiver in college, but Los Angeles likes him as a potential run blocker, too.
“He’s tenacious in the box,” Snead said. “He likes contact. He likes going to block people.
“In this league, when you can block and go out and catch footballs, it’s tough on defensive coordinators,” the GM continued. “You don’t tip where you’re going to run the ball. And that’s key for a tight end.”
Because he’s a bit more green coming in, Fisher said Hemingway is most likely to contribute on special teams in the 2016 season. It’s an area where he can be an asset, as he played on every special teams unit but kickoff at South Carolina State.
“When the season’s all said and done, he’ll probably be one of our top special teams players because he’s highly athletic,” Fisher said.
Still, Hemingway will have to make that significant adjustment from the MEAC to the NFC West. But he doesn’t seem too worried about it.
“I don’t think it’s going to be really difficult,” Hemingway said. “Jumping from college, period, to the NFL is a big change. The speed of the game is different. The older guys that you’re going against, they know more than you do. So I think it’s just going to be a learning experience, adjusting to the game itself.”
That’s part of why Hemingway is confident he’ll be able to contribute in his rookie season.
“I’m a competitor. I take advantage of every play I get because I know it might be the last play you get if you don’t take advantage of it,” he said. “I’m 6’5”, 245 pounds [and] can run a 4.6 or 4.7 — whatever you want to call it. I just bring a different aspect to the game that most people can’t do.”
znModeratorOn a field in Orange County, Calif., about an hour north of Martz’s home in San Diego, the former Rams coach put Goff and Wentz through the paces.
“I spent about two hours working them out, and spent about an hour with them in the classroom,” Martz said.
That’s a good article.
znModeratorMartz compares Goff, Wentz to Rams legend Warner
Jim Thomas
During the predraft process, longtime college and NFL coach Ted Tollner helped quarterbacks Jared Goff and Carson Wentz get ready for the pro game. His son, Ryan Tollner, is their agent.
One day, long before the NFL Scouting Combine, Ted wasn’t available to guide the highly-touted prospects through their workout. So the Tollners called an old friend to take over for that day: Mike Martz.
On a field in Orange County, Calif., about an hour north of Martz’s home in San Diego, the former Rams coach put Goff and Wentz through the paces.
“I spent about two hours working them out, and spent about an hour with them in the classroom,” Martz said.
He came away highly impressed with the quarterbacks, who ended up going first and second overall in the NFL draft last month.
“Carson Wentz, I’ve never seen anybody throw the ball like that,” Martz said. “Ever. I’ve never seen that kind of arm strength on anybody, and still be able to throw a touch ball and all those things. And he was just a sponge to everything you said.”
Wentz, who went No. 2 overall to Philadelphia out of North Dakota State, had some problems dropping back from center according to Martz. Martz recalled making one correction with Wentz, and Wentz picked it up right away.
“Which shocked me,” Martz said. “It was like talking to Kurt (Warner) when Kurt first came in. He just wanted to get better.”
As for Goff, Martz said the California-Berkeley product “was a little bit more stoic and quiet. But he was really good on the deep ball, I remember that part.”
After the workout and classroom session, Martz looked at tape of Goff and Wentz on his own. What impressed Martz about Goff was his ability to stand firm in the pocket under pressure, absorb a hit, and keep firing away.
“He’s pretty special,” Martz said. “He has what Kurt had, and I hadn’t seen anybody like that necessarily for a long time. He will stand in there and make throws under duress like I haven’t seen anybody else do since Kurt, really.”
When Martz returned to St. Louis as offensive coordinator prior to the ‘99 season following a two-year stint in Washington, then Rams head coach Dick Vermeil asked him to take a look at Warner’s NFL Europe tape with the Amsterdam Admirals.
Martz came away amazed at how Warner took a beating, but unfazed, continued to stand tall in the pocket.
Martz said Goff showed enough mobility to extend plays as well.
“Now he made some bad plays, but the (good) plays that he made are plays that only an elite player can make,” Martz said. “I think he could be just ‘stupid’ good. He gets rid of the ball so quick.”
Looking at tape of Wentz, Martz said the speed of the game in the NFL will be an adjustment after playing in college at the FCS (or Div. I-AA) level. Martz also thinks Wentz showed a tendency to leave the pocket too soon.
“He’s gonna have to stand in there and make throws,” Martz said. “(The Eagles) have to really put their thumb on him about that. He can win with his legs on some plays, like a Russell Wilson kind of deal. But he can’t turn down throws in order to run it.”
Martz’s work with quarterbacks in the NFL basically is beyond reproach. Warner came from nowhere to league MVP, Super Bowl MVP, and Pro Football Hall of Fame candidate. Marc Bulger, who entered the league as a sixth-round draft pick by New Orleans in 2000, blossomed into a two-time Pro Bowler in St. Louis.
Martz even squeezed back-to-back 4,000-yard passing seasons out of Jon Kitna as Detroit’s offensive coordinator in 2006 and ‘07.
With that track record in mind, his assessment of Goff and Wentz carries some weight.
“I think they’re both franchise quarterbacks,” Martz said. “I’d be amazed if these two guys don’t have terrific careers. They’re of the quality where you can build a whole franchise around them.”
As for the Rams trading six picks to Tennessee as part of the trade up to No. 1 overall from No. 15, Martz said, “They did the right thing to move up to get Goff, I can tell you that.”
Conversely, Martz was surprised that Cleveland traded out of the No. 2 spot (with Philadelphia), thus backing away from Wentz. While realizing the Browns are building and picked up a bunch of extra draft picks, Martz said you just can’t pass on a chance at a franchise QB.
“Because they do not come along very often,” Martz said. “These two guys are very special, and for Cleveland to hop out of it — I don’t care how many good players they have if they don’t have a quarterback. When’s the last good quarterback they’ve had?”
The Browns did draft Southern California quarterback Cody Kessler in the third round, and Martz thinks Kessler has starter’s potential. But he doesn’t think he’s in the class of Goff or Wentz.
znModeratorI’m with you zn. When I saw the headlines for the trade for #1, I thought QB right away. I did waiver between Goff and Wentz for a couple of days, but when I thought about the limited experience Wentz had, I knew it was Goff and was really excited when the commish made the announcement draft night.
I, for one, am ready for 15 years of superior QB play.Good to see you chiming in, NMR. Yes our experiences of this were quite similar. Though I have to say, it’s fun to see a range of views on this. Makes it lively.
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