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znModeratorExactly what I thought. Not one example of a team saying the guys dad figured into their downgrading of the guy. Not one. The best you could do was a “perhaps” and a “national source”. Again I call BS. Don’t know why you would use the term “apologize” for a team that considered the dad among the negatives for the draftee. Everything thus far merely confirms that the guy fell in the draft due to his own actions.
Teams don’t say that directly. It’s off the record buzz. You’ve followed football long enough, no doubt, to see how that works.
On the other hand, reporters don’t make up what teams say. They get called on that.
And I did not say he fell in the draft because of his toxic dad alone–in fact I said otherwise, more than once.
I said teams had negative takes on him and it was more than one thing. I provided quotes saying as much.
The issue is to explain why he fell in the draft. I never said it was solely because he dad was a jerk…and not only did I say otherwise, I provided quotations from sources that did as well…to quote it again: Did Cook’s dad have anything to do with him slipping into the fourth round? It’s possible, and there have been reports that some teams simply didn’t like the way Cook carried himself in pre-draft interviews. If any team was looking for a reason to take a chance on Cook, his dad’s strong personality probably didn’t help nudge them in that direction.
znModeratoro, all I’ve seen is what you posted and that didn’t say squat about the NFL downgrading the guy at all because of his dad.
Well that’s the word. There are several articles talking about this.
As far as teams “owning up” to red-flagging a guy for various reasons, they’re doing their jobs and have nothing to apologize for. The NFL has been doing this for years…guys get red-flagged every single year, even the Rams do it. And again: no one said that toxic dad was the only reason. In fact they all say different–it was more than one thing.
In terms of this being what teams thought about Cook and not just the work of a reporter, in the one article I posted, it is said in the very first paragraph:
…
A report about why he fell despite his obvious talent pointed to attitude problems and a bad rap from his teammates. According to the Detroit News, there wasn’t one incident that turned teams off, but rather, nobody seemed to like Cook much
…
In other words they are writing about what TEAMS in the NFL think of Cook. The issue is why he dropped in the draft. That’s the point of the whole thing.
And there’s more. As I said I only posted one article. It all comes in the context of red-flagging Cook in general over character and personality issues. So I provide samples of all of that, since that’s the context:
NFL team scouts do extensive homework on the players entering the draft to try and make sure they get a good feel for the talent and character of the prospects. For Connor Cook, what we witnessed was a borderline first round talent fall into the third day due to character concerns. Or perhaps more so the character concerns of his father and his influence on his son.
http://www.silverandblackpride.com/2016/5/6/11609274/connor-cook-fell-in-draft-due-to-parental-influences-oakland-raiders—
One of Spiro’s national sources told him that part of the reason that Cook was going to fall was because the NFL really delves into the background of potential QUARTERBACK draftees’ fathers.
Whether you think that is appropriate or not doesn’t matter. We were told that NFL executives believe there is some correlation between how a QB pans out and their sire.
link: http://detroitsportsrag.net/is-connor-cooks-dad-curt-schilling/
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But even though Cook has the talent to contribute in the NFL, sources made it clear why he slid so far in the draft. Teams view Cook as arrogant, a player whose personality flaws could be an issue in a locker room full of alpha males. In the NFL, any ego that doesn’t fit can be problematic, especially at quarterback.
While many players fall because of an isolated incident, there was no such issue with Cook, but teams questioned his behavior — off the field and toward teammates….
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Here’s the reality: The questions about Cook’s intangibles – personality, leadership, maturity, whatever – have existed for a while and they are widespread. They just got louder once Cook’s teammates didn’t elect him a team captain last fall. I know, because I heard the same thing last summer that I heard this spring.
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NFL teams dig deep specifically on the fathers of NFL quarterbacks and that there’s a direct correlation between crummy dads and bad future NFL passers. While we never will make a direct line between those two things, we will say this: Teams most certainly are aware of the actions and personalities of players’ family members, and it can have an effect — direct or otherwise — on where they end up playing or not playing in the NFL.
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Did Cook’s dad have anything to do with him slipping into the fourth round? It’s possible, and there have been reports that some teams simply didn’t like the way Cook carried himself in pre-draft interviews. If any team was looking for a reason to take a chance on Cook, his dad’s strong personality probably didn’t help nudge them in that direction.
link: http://larrybrownsports.com/football/connor-cooks-father-chris-may-have-soured-teams-on-qb/303703
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znModeratorThis is all worth looking through, IMO. (Though a couple of the vids are repeated, but that’s okay.)
There’s 3 or 4 receivers getting some strong buzz.
I bet the Rams sold their team as the place to be if you’re an undrafted rookie receiver.
I wouldn’t be at all surprised if something came of this.
znModeratorStuff on UDFA receivers was all moved to here: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/rams-rookie-receivers-draft-picks-udfas/
znModeratorI moved the receivers stuff to this thread:
This thread was UDFA thread #1, for those keeping track. UDFA thread #2 is here:
znModeratorfrom off the net
==
Florida_Ram
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE WR UDFA’s#86 WR NELSON SPRUCE 6’1 206 lbs (He only had 3 dropped catchable balls in his entire career?)[/color]
http://c.fn.fncdn.com/images/content/getty/crops/UsmATB.jpgYear……..Team……Games…Catch….Yards….YPC
2012…. Colorado…. 12………… 44…. 446…. 10.1…. TD 3
2013…. Colorado…. 12………… 55…. 650…. 11.8…. TD 4
2014…. Colorado…. 12…………106….1198…11.3…. TD 12
2015…. Colorado…. 13………….89…..1053…11.8…. TD 4http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1880803/nelson-spruce
STRENGTHS: Spruce is a polished, dependable route-runner with the soft hands to quickly become a quarterback’s favorite target. He uses deceptive quickness off of the ball to escape press coverage and incorporates body lean, varied gaits and an occasional push-off to gain separation from more athletic pass defenders.He has a lanky, athletic frame and possesses terrific ball skills, including the body control and catch radius to pull in passes far outside of his frame.
Spruce has good hand-eye coordination and soft mitts to pluck the football and secure it quickly. Effectively uses a jab-step to force opponents to commit to one direction before turning the other way, scrambling for extra yardage. He shows good vision to set up blocks and isn’t afraid to turn things upfield into traffic rather than attempting to circle around defenders.Spruce shows vision and toughness in working across the middle on drag routes, slipping through traffic and showing the focus and toughness to pull in passes with defenders closing in.
WEAKNESSES: While his production is undeniable, Spruce does not possess ideal athletic traits. Has just average straight-line speed and relies on sharp route-running (rather than true explosiveness) to generate separation. He’ll struggle to get free against NFL cornerbacks on the perimeter and doesn’t possess the size, leaping ability or strength to consistently win 50-50 balls.
IN OUR VIEW: Spruce is a classic possession receiver who wins with savvy route-running and soft hands. He production will get him a shot but he’s not surefire NFL prospect his numbers would indicate.
Rob Rang (1/18/16)YOUTUBE: Highlights of Milestones Spruce reached
YOUTUBE: Interview talks about setting PAC12 records
#3 WR MARQUEZ NORTH 6’2 223 lbs (Injury history only played in 13 games last 2 seasons)[/color]
http://www.utfootballinsider.com/uploads/2/6/6/6/26661169/201472.jpg?307Year…. Team…….Games….Catch…Yards…YPC
2013…. Tennessee……. 11…..38…..496…. 13.1…. TD 1
2014…. Tennessee……. 8…… 30…. 320…. 10.7…. TD 4
2015…. Tennessee……. 5…… 6…… 58………9.7…..TD 0http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2071852/marquez-north
STRENGTHS: Built like a running back with a muscular, filled-out frame. Long arms to track and extend his catch radius, making tough grabs look easy away from his body. Above average body control and strong hands to adjust and stab.Accelerates well off the line of scrimmage and quickly gets into his routes. Enough speed to stack receivers vertically. Nifty to catch the ball in stride. Body power to trample defensive backs and shrug off tacklers. Uses physicality to separate.
Balanced blocker to engage and control his target, keeping busy. Blocks with violence and not shy about delivering blows.
WEAKNESSES: Better timed than play speed and more of a one-note runner. Tips his routes and doesn’t set up cornerbacks, lacking nuance or tempo. Allows his feet to get tied up at stem. Doesn’t have the start/stop burst to quickly redirect or be efficient at the top of patterns – ran a lot of comeback and rudimentary routes to keep things simple. Average leaper.
Not elusive after the catch and not a consistent YAC threat. Overaggressive tendencies as a blocker leads to the occasional whiff. Poor career production. Struggled to stay healthy, missing several games each of his three seasons in Knoxville (10 total games).
IN OUR VIEW: North is rocked up with the size/athleticism profile that is highly intriguing, showing strong hands and the body control to contort his body mid-air. North is also one of the most physical blocking receivers in this class, but is a below average route-runner and his athleticism doesn’t consistently translate to football production.
A player who will be drafted higher than his resume suggests due to his raw traits and upside, North can be a better pro than college player if he stays healthy and focuses on the details of the position – he projects as a developmental receiver worth the gamble in the mid-rounds to be a snatch-and-secure wideout.
Dane Brugler (4/13/16)YOUTUBE: Quality highlights
#8 WR PAUL MCROBERTS 6’1 202 lbs (Small school scrappy WR gets his chance)[/color]
http://www.semissourian.com/photos/25/14/27/2514275-M.jpgYear…Games..Catch…..Yards…..YPC
2012….. 9…… 11………..138……..12.5…..TD 2
2013….. 12…. 44…………646….. 14.7….. TD 9
2014….. 7…… 44………… 711….. 16.2….. TD 9
2015….. 11…. 76…………940……12.4….. TD 9http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1998595/paul-mcroberts
McRoberts received the call-up from the Shrine Game to the Senior Bowl as a replacement for injured TCU receiver Josh Doctson and was the first SEMO player to participate in Mobile.
The St. Louis native was a first team All-Ohio Valley Conference player by the media after catching 76 passes for 940 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 12.4 yards per catch in 2015. McRoberts broke Southeast’s all-time career record in receiving touchdowns (29) and had four 100-yard receiving games.He also compiled 162 yards on 14 punt returns, including a 69-yard return for a touchdown. McRoberts finished his Southeast career with 2,435 receiving yards, third-most in school history.
STRENGTHS: Good-sized athlete with long-striding acceleration. Not explosive, but nifty.
Quick hands and long arms to pluck and secure, swallowing the ball with his large mitts. Tracks well with the body control and catch radius that gives him a chance. Will aggressively attack and fight for the rebound.Won’t break many tackles, but runs tough and physical to finish. Nice job working for body position, paying attention to his feet along the sideline. Two-time team captain and reliable (SEMO HC Tom Matukewicz: “When your best player is your hardest worker it makes your job pretty easy.”).
Special teams experience, averaging 11.5 yards on punt returns (14/162/1) and 19.5 yards on kick returns (4/78/0). Highly productive and holds the school-record for career receiving touchdowns (29).
WEAKNESSES: Doesn’t consistently play up to his size. Average-at-best play speed with only one gear in his routes, struggling to create separation. Upright runner and doesn’t set up defenders in his patterns, lacking tempo. Allows cornerbacks to slow or re-route him.
Limited after the catch and won’t create on his own as a ballcarrier. Too many almost catches and needs to better time his leaps. Needs to improve his recognition of coverages and concepts. Good pop, but little sustain as a blocker and needs refinement in this area.
Missed five games in 2014 due to a Lisfranc fracture in his right foot (Sept. 2014). Most of his experience has come vs. lower competition.
IN OUR VIEW: Although he doesn’t do it consistently, it’s a thing of beauty when McRoberts can get his hands free and highpoint to attack the ball and use his basketball background (walked on the SEMO basketball team in 2013-14 and averaged 5.9 points per game). McRoberts wasn’t a consistent deep threat on film, but did his best work in the red zone and on in-breaking routes like slants and tunnel-screens, using his snatch-and-secure receiving skills.
He will have a very tough time separating vs. NFL cornerbacks due to average speed and dull routes, but his raw traits and large catch radius makes him an enticing developmental project in the later rounds.
Dane Brugler (2/3/16)YOUTUBE: HIGHLIGHTS
WR’s IN FOR TRY OUTS
WR D’HAQUILLE “DUKE” WILLIAMS 6’2 229 lbs (A troubled talent changing his ways?)[/color]
http://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/oanow.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/8/47/8477cfa2-30ad-11e4-9963-001a4bcf6878/5402793dc26b6.image.jpg?resize=300%2C2712014…. Catches…. 45…. Yards…. 730…. YPC…. 16.2…. Long…. 62…. TD 5
2015…. Catches…. 12…. Yards…. 147…. YPC…. 12.3…. Long…. 19…. TD 1http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2131681/dhaquille-williams
A JUCO transfer, Williams arrived at Auburn in 2014 and led the Tigers in catches (45) and receiving scores (5) despite missing three games due to injury. However, he routinely rubbed coaches the wrong way and his inconsistent effort on and off the field led to his dismissal in October.STRENGTHS: Natural tools are encouraging. Lining up mostly inside in Auburn’s offense, Williams is a good-sized target with long-striding speed to accelerate quickly into his routes, displaying hesitation with his footwork at the top of his patterns. He is best on stick and stop routes.
WEAKNESSES: Like Sammie Coates, he is raw in several areas. He doesn’t consistently play up to his size and often misjudges his highpointing jumps when attacking the ball.
Williams found himself in the dog house during preseason practices and his lackadaisical route-running has NFL scouts worried about his passion and commitment, failing to lift up the offense while his teammates struggled prior to his dismissal from the program.
IN OUR VIEW: Williams didn’t look like a first round pick on 2014 tape, but many scouts graded him as the top senior receiver over the summer. However, he might find himself undrafted or a late rounder at best unless he makes some changes.
Dane Brugler (11/1/15)YOUTUBE: HIGHLIGHTS (career)
WR KENNETH SCOTT 6’2 209 lbs (Longshot with little production)[/color]
http://imgix.scout.com/111/1115230.jpgYear.Team Games..Catch.Yards…YPC
2011…. Utah…. 10…… 8…. 141…. 17.6…. TD 0
2012…. Utah…. 12…. 32…. 360…. 11.3…. TD 3
2014…. Utah…. 12…. 48…. 506…. 10.5…. TD 4
2015…. Utah ….13…. 39…. 457…. 11.7…. TD 4….http://www.rotoworld.com/recent/cfb/130839/kenneth-scott
TFY Draft Insider’s Tony Pauline wrote that Utah WR Kenneth Scott “caught the ball extremely well” during Thursday’s Pro Day.
Among Scott’s Pro Day testing numbers, a nice 38-inch vertical jump, an estimated (less nice) 40-yard dash time of 4.64 seconds and 17 reps on the bench press.Last season, the 6-foot-3, 208-pound wideout caught 39 passes for 457 yards and four touchdowns.
TFY Draft Insider’s Tony Pauline harped on consistency issues over the summer. Without huge athletic upside, Scott probably stands as an UDFA once the draft dust has settled.YOUTUBE: HIGHLIGHTS
Jimmy JJ Worton, WR (LA/NE)
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-uauC3dghDRg/Um0Y5-a5nrI/AAAAAAAAHrw/1cCyFx_61oU/s288/218%252520%252528575×515%252529.jpgYear……… Team…Games…Catch..Yards..YPC
2011……… CentFL… 12….. 41…. 531….. 13.0… TD 4
2012…….. CentFL… 14….. 44…. 594….. 13.5… TD 5
2013…….. CentFL… 13….. 47…. 721….. 15.3… TD 7
2014…….. CentFL… 10….. 36…. 514….. 14.3… TD 5Spent the final month of the 2015 regular season on the St. Louis Rams practice squad after being signed on Dec. 11 as a rookie free agent from University of Central Florida.
The 6-foot-2, 211-pounder, finished his college career with 168 receptions for 2,360 receiving yards and 21 touchdowns. He had 36 receptions for 514 yards and five touchdowns as a senior in 2014.NFL DRAFT GEEKS: WR POWER RANKINGS (FULL LIST 1-65)[/color][/b]
Link.. http://nfldraftgeek.com/widereceiverrankings-2016nfldraft.html
znModeratorST. LOUIS TO LA
Two St. Louis high school products have agreed to terms with the Rams as undrafted free agents: wide receiver Paul McRoberts of Southeast Missouri State and Soldan High, and defensive back Michael Jordan of Missouri Western and Hazelwood Central High.
Several teams pursued McRoberts as a free agent after he went undrafted. The Rams reportedly paid him a signing bonus of $10,000 to help land him. McRoberts made a pre-draft visit to the Rams in mid April.
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http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/paul-mcroberts?id=2555290
OVERVIEW
McRoberts was a first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference pick in 2014 and 2015.
PRO DAY RESULTS
40-yard dash: 4.6 seconds
Vertical: 35 1/2 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet, 5 inches
Short shuttle: 4.42 seconds
3-cone: 7.28 seconds
Bench: 8 reps of 225 poundsANALYSIS
STRENGTHS
Tall with the frame to carry more weight. Played a year of college basketball and has ability to high point throws with the timing of a rebounder. Beats press coverage with basketball feet. Sinks hips into his breaks and can break routes off sharply when he wants. Gifted with extremely long arms and large hands for an elite catch radius. Can make difficult, one-handed catches. Pluck and tuck ball-catcher in traffic with natural, soft hands.
WEAKNESSES
Doesn’t have cushion-eating speed off the line of scrimmage to back cornerbacks off. Needs to do a better job of helping his quarterback out by working back to the ball. Shows inconsistent effort and play speed in his routes. Looks focused and hungry at times and lackadaisical at others. Can be slowed by contact along his routes. Can go get the high balls, but not as effective adjusting to low throws.
DRAFT PROJECTION
Round 7 or priority free agent
BOTTOM LINE
McRoberts dwarfs cornerbacks with his long frame and upright gait and his ability to stretch and high point the high throws makes him seem even taller. His routes are raw and sometimes uninspired, but he has the feet and athleticism to become much better with more work and coaching. McRoberts appears to lack deep speed. Will be intriguing on the third day.
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WR Paul McRoberts with the one-handed catch of the day! 👀
A photo posted by Los Angeles Rams (@rams) on
znModeratorRams WR Nelson Spruce hoping to make impact as an undrafted free agent
Jack Wang, Los Angeles Daily News
Nelson Spruce is still chasing his NFL dream. Somehow, it’s brought him back within a short drive of his hometown.
On Friday, the Los Angeles Rams completed their first day of rookie minicamp in Oxnard, less than 30 miles away from Westlake High. That’s where Spruce once pulled in 37 touchdowns and nearly 3,000 receiving yards, the bulk of which came over the course of two seasons. That was enough to earn him a scholarship at Colorado, where he became the Pac-12’s all-time leader in receptions.
Now, he’s back in Southern California, trying to earn a spot with a franchise that left town before he turned three.
“It’s kind of a crazy situation,” Spruce said.
Despite his college production, the 22-year-old had been left waiting after the NFL draft. Though he had prepared for the worst — his 4.69-second 40-yard dash didn’t turn any heads at the NFL combine — going undrafted was still disappointing. Thirty-three times over the course of three days, teams had decided to take a receiver. It was never him.
The Rams, however, had continuously showed the most interest. He kept in close touch with both offensive coordinator Rob Boras and receivers coach Mike Groh, and didn’t visit any other team for a private workout. And, as luck would have it, he had trained with top overall pick Jared Goff in advance of the combine.
“Any little advantage I can get, I’m going to take,” Spruce said. “I think that little chemistry we have is going to definitely pay off, especially to begin with.”
Of course, Goff has plenty of other rookie receivers to choose from too. There are the two draft picks, South Carolina’s Pharoh Cooper (No. 117) and Southern Mississippi’s Michael Thomas (No. 206). There are the two other signees, Southeast Missouri State’s Paul McRoberts and Tennessee’s Marquez North.
To earn himself a spot, Spruce will have to adjust to playing in the slot, after spending most of his career lining up out wide. He’ll also have to learn how to become a contributor on special teams, particularly in kick and punt return coverage.
He’s looking forward to the challenge: “I’m glad I ended up here.”
PENDING LEGAL TROUBLES
A day after pleading not guilty to second-degree assault, Tyler Higbee finished his first practice as a Ram.
He talked about how appreciative he was about his opportunity to chase his lifelong dream. He expressed enthusiasm for building chemistry with his teammates. He said he was happy to be able to put a helmet on again.
As for his pending legal case, the former Western Kentucky star was a little less loquacious.
“That’ll all work itself out,” he said. “It’s kind of a legal matter. I’m just excited to be here and focus on football.”
The rookie tight end was drafted in the fourth round last week, his stock likely depressed by his April 10 arrest on charges of assault, fleeing the police and public intoxication. He is accused of knocking a man unconscious outside a bar in Bowling Green, Ky. The man was hospitalized for more than a week for a concussion and a brain hemorrhage, but Higbee claims to have acted in self-defense to protect himself and his girlfriend.
Not due in court again until June 17 for a status hearing, Higbee is expected to participate in the rest of the Rams’ offseason workouts.
znModeratorWyche: Rams will put their rookies through ‘rookie school’
NFL Media’s Steve Wyche talks about the opening day of the Los Angeles Rams three-day rookie minicamp and how the team is handing the transition to Los Angeles.
znModeratorRookie Camp Wrap-Up
Rams Insider Myles Simmons wraps up QB Jared Goff’s Rookie Camp.
http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/Rookie-Camp-Wrap-Up/e7c5e699-e2e9-4bee-91ab-d2fb3c828746
znModeratorRemember, it’s not the reporters who are saying this stuff. It’s the teams. The reporters are just picking things up from teams.
The teams are the ones who dropped him to round 4.
And according to the reporter, NFL PERSONNEL PEOPLE felt his twitter-active dad was one of the detractions. This isn’t the first time teams have dropped players in their rankings because they come with family baggage.
None of this is the reporter. It’s the reporter reporting things NFL personnel people were considering.
And of course there were other things too, not just dad (who among other things knocked a fan unconscious in the stands during a game).
…
It is the reporters since the Detroit sports rag posited it about the NFL teams.
“Detroit Sports Rag posits that teams look at quarterbacks’ fathers when they evaluate their draft-worthiness, and what they found when they dug into Connor’s father Chris soured enough of them for Cook to fall to the fourth.”
The guy dropped in the draft due to his actions, not his dad’s.
No you are completely misreading. First, that was not the only article on this–it’s just the one I posted. There are several, including ones from Oakland. This is a widespread story. In every case it is made clear that the dad-on-twitter issue is ONE of the things that NFL personnel people considered a red flag. The issue the articles all raised is why NFL personnel people dropped Cook in their rankings. Loud dad was one of them. It’s just one of them.
It is actually quite normal for NFL personnel people to look into the family. It is also normal for them to red flag a guy with family distractions in his history. And it is equally normal for some teams then to leak issues like that to various reporters.
Remember—the actual issue being covered is this: why did Cook drop in the draft. The answer came from NFL people. Among other things, having a loud toxic social media dad was one of the things that NFL PEOPLE SAID dropped Cook in their assessments.
You’re just blaming the messanger.
..
znModeratorReady or not, King Goff is off to Hollywood
Paul Ladewski
http://www.sfexaminer.com/ready-not-king-goff-off-hollywood/
It’s far too early to say how this Jared Goff thing will turn out, but know this much — the beginning is straight out of Hollywood.
When Goff showed up for his first days of practice as Los Angeles Rams quarterback this weekend, crowds grew and eyes widened. Flashbulbs popped. Headlines proclaimed him the “New King of L.A.” and “Goff Angeles.” And the social world was all aTwitter.
“From one #1 Pick to another, @JaredGoff16 I know you will turn the @RamsNFL around and lead us to the Super Bowl!”
Yep, none other than Los Angeles Lakers legend Magic Johnson tweeted that Super-sized request.
Is Goff ready for Southern California? More to the point, is SoCal ready for a nice, 21-year-old Catholic kid who just wants to play football and do it well?
“Do you have a girlfriend? Can we get you a Kardashian or something like that?” Jimmy Kimmel made the kid QB an offer on national television the other night.
Sorry, the only Gurley on Goff’s mind is named Todd, the feature back that he hopes to hand the ball to a bunch of times in the future.
As vanilla as he may seem, Goff does have some California cool in him even if it’s more noticeable on the field. He’s unflappable in the face of adversity, and Lord knows he faced enough of it at Cal the last three years.
“I’m just going to come out here and play,” Goff promised reporters. “I’m not gonna worry about all this. This really doesn’t matter that much. I’m just gonna get better every day and be the best player and teammate I can be and let all you guys come here and film me and enjoy it.”
Problem is, Southern California wants more than a good try. Everyone likes a winner, but L.A. craves one like nowhere else. The Rams may be a team on the come, but they’re not close yet. The turnaround will require time and patience, and the truth is, El-Ey doesn’t offer much of either one.
But if the kid is given something to work with and allowed to be himself, this is one Hollywood marriage that may actually work
znModeratorRemember, it’s not the reporters who are saying this stuff. It’s the teams. The reporters are just picking things up from teams.
The teams are the ones who dropped him to round 4.
And according to the reporter, NFL PERSONNEL PEOPLE felt his twitter-active dad was one of the detractions. This isn’t the first time teams have dropped players in their rankings because they come with family baggage.
None of this is the reporter. It’s the reporter reporting things NFL personnel people were considering.
And of course there were other things too, not just dad (who among other things knocked a fan unconscious in the stands during a game).
…
May 8, 2016 at 6:20 pm in reply to: economist interrogated for doing math on American Airlines #43647znModeratorAnd that he’s best known for his relatively technical work on search theory, which helped earn … stints at … Stanford’s Hoover Institution.
Well I would have reported him for that alone.
.
znModeratorGood stuff.
Ultimate mystery stuff.
I still think its accurate to say
everything in the Universe is made of the
“same stuff”. Yes? No?I mean it all ‘came’ from the ‘stuff’
in the teeny-tiny ‘thing’ that ‘inflated’ itself.w
vUnless what came from that was DIFFERENT stuff.
…
————-
Well, we know YOU are made of
Different stuff.w
v
znModeratorI call BS on the column. The ” teams questioned his behavior — off the field and toward teammates” is what made him drop and if he pans out in the NFL he may consider giving back with an eye towards what that sniping gossip cost him in cash lost.
It’s not sniping gossip if in fact, as was widely reported, he was basically an arrogant dick who offended his own teammates and was a prowling nightlifer on top of it. It’s the Jeff George profile.
znModeratorWell, I’d say that Connor Cook’s dad is not a rare bread among fathers of football players. Or among fathers of non-football players, for that matter.
Yes he is, in this sense.
He’s stupid enough to do this kind of thing regularly online.
And…that does not bode well.
znModeratorThe 6-3, 255-pound Forrest said he was working at the strong-side spot during the mini-camp. Competing against tight ends, he said, will offer a change of pace.
I thought this might be possible. That he would be working on the outside. I saw him as the future replacement for Ayers (and depth for the middle too). If he does replace Ayers, it would give the Rams 3 LBs in base set who have been at safety before.
znModeratorSlow and heady is a winning pace for Rams rookies
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-rookie-camp-fisher-20160508-story.html
There were no long passes. No sensational moves. No outstanding pursuits or tackles.
And that suited Rams Coach Jeff Fisher just fine.
After two days of watching the Rams’ drafted players and free agents go through a rookie orientation and mini-camp in Oxnard, Fisher was pleased that players observed the half-speed mandate and came away informed and uninjured.
“You want a healthy roster when you start training camp,” Fisher said Saturday.
“You’re looking at the mental thing,” he said. “Are they doing the right thing?”
With two days of meetings and workouts behind them, the players will have Sunday off before a week of immersion and observation in preparation for getting onto the field with veteran players.
“The objective of what we’re doing is so that it’s not a shock,” Fisher said.
Most of the new players will introduce themselves to veterans during a team meeting Monday — “That’s always amusing,” Fisher said — but some, including quarterback Jared Goff, will return to their college campuses for final exams.
Goff, the top pick in the draft, was not allowed to cut loose during the mini-camp or show many of the skills he demonstrated during predraft workouts.
But Fisher said the former California standout was given much more information to process.
“He handled it without any problem, and that’s the impressive thing,” Fisher said. “I passed [Friday] night . . . and he was leaving the meeting room at 10 o’clock. He’s that kind of guy. He’s spending the time.”
Tight end Temarrick Hemingway, a sixth-round draft pick from South Carolina State, said Goff worked to make a connection even before mini-camp.
“After I got drafted, he texted me immediately after, ‘I can’t wait to work with you,'” Hemingway said. “That just showed me what kind of guy he is.
“He comes in early to work. He’s always ready to work.”
Fisher said the Rams will continue to give Goff information during his absence so he won’t be behind when he returns from Berkeley.
Big impression
Hemingway is listed at 6 feet 5 and said he weighs 245 pounds.
That’s much heavier than the player who began his college career as a 170-pound receiver before switching to tight end.
“I started gaining weight pretty fast” in college, he said, laughing. “I gained more than ‘the Freshman 30’ or ‘the Freshman 20,’ whatever you want to call it.
“I had like ‘the Freshman 50.'”
Hemingway was one of two tight ends drafted by the Rams. Tyler Higbee of Western Kentucky was a fourth-round pick.
Hemingway is adapting to new terminology and said he was enjoying the demands of being a pro.
“It’s a lot of work — a lot of hard work,” he said. “In college you can do it if you want to, but here you need to go ahead and do it to get ahead. . . . It’s more competitive here in the NFL.
“I’m loving it because it makes you better.”
Catching on
Receiver Michael Thomas is accustomed to going full-speed on long routes, but he welcomed the slowed-down approach of the mini-camp.
“By walking us through everything, it’s great because I get to learn the depth of routes and the concepts of routes and plays,” he said.
Les Snead said after the draft that Thomas was particularly adept at making catches in the air in contested situations with defenders.
Thomas is looking forward to showing those skills.
“I go up strong for the ball and make dynamic plays and stretch the field vertically,” he said. “That’s something I’m very good at and something I can bring to the table on this young team.”
Defending his ground
Linebacker Josh Forrest was the only defensive player among the Rams’ draftees. The sixth-round pick began his college career at Kentucky as a receiver, but then switched to safety, outside linebacker and then middle linebacker.
The 6-3, 255-pound Forrest said he was working at the strong-side spot during the mini-camp. Competing against tight ends, he said, will offer a change of pace.
“Going from middle linebacker and having to deal with bigger guys, and now going back to tight ends is a little easier,” he said. “I definitely think that playing all the positions helped me.”
znModeratorExploring reasons Rams doubled down on tight ends in draft
Nick Wagoner
LOS ANGELES — The NFL draft is over. Free agency is over. We are now in the clear with nothing really big planned until, you know, football actually begins. For the Los Angeles Rams, it’s a chance to finally come up for air after one of the most eventful offseasons for any franchise in league history.
Still, there are plenty of questions facing this team as we trudge toward the summer and the wait for training camp to start. That’s what we’re here for in the weekly Twitter mailbag. As always, you can find me on Twitter @nwagoner and shoot me questions at any time using #Ramsmail.
Let’s get to your questions:
Flipper Anderson @dcfilmninja
@nwagoner was the Hemingway pick the #Rams getting insurance on Higbee?@nwagoner: I actually received multiple questions from fans wondering why the Rams drafted multiple tight ends. Obviously, they needed at least one after letting Jared Cook go before free agency. But to me, doubling up at tight end actually made plenty of sense. First, Lance Kendricks is the only true, proven commodity at the position on the roster. Yes, the Rams re-signed Cory Harkey, but he has evolved into a guy who plays fullback more than he lines up as a tight end. Justice Cunningham is still around, but he’s more of a blocking type and isn’t a sure thing to land on the active roster. That would seem to leave enough space for both fourth-round pick Tyler Higbee and sixth-round pick Temarrick Hemingway to make the roster if they show enough during training camp. And yes, with Higbee’s legal situation still unresolved, it doesn’t hurt to have Hemingway around just in case. But I think the Rams ultimately wanted to add a couple of pass-catching types at that position. It’s also worth remembering we are talking about later picks here. There’s no guarantee either will be ready to contribute so by drafting two, you’ve increased the chances that at least one will work out.
black lemon @lemonjii
@nwagoner rams went from thin to crowded in wr camp depth, safe to assume there will be legitimate competition or things set?@nwagoner: The problem here is the same that it has been for a long time: There’s plenty of “camp depth” but not enough true difference-makers at the position. I haven’t seen any of the undrafted rookies play yet and only small amounts of film of the two players they drafted there so it’s hard to project how they will factor into the mix. But I look at the receiving group as only having two or three true locks to make the roster. Kenny Britt and Tavon Austin are definitely going to be around in 2016, and Pharoh Cooper is probably in good position to land a roster spot as well. After that, I think you’ll see competition for Brian Quick on the outside with Michael Thomas and potentially some of the undrafted guys they bring in. Bradley Marquez is probably still in a good spot because of his special teams ability, but he’ll have to compete as well. With Stedman Bailey’s future still uncertain, that could make it easier to keep both Marquez and Cooper, both of whom project as slot receivers. If they keep six, you’d have to think that Britt, Austin, Quick, Cooper, Thomas and Marquez are the early favorites but if they have any hidden gems coming in as rookie free agents, that’s not an impossible group to crack with a strong training camp.
znModeratorRams Head Coach Jeff Fisher – May 7, 2016
(Opening Remarks)
“We just finished our second practice with the rookies. They’ve done a really good job, just really impressed with the whole group. We’ve got a lot accomplished. As we have referred to this in the past as an orientation, as opposed to a minicamp, and in essence that’s what it is. We’re monitoring their speed and explosive movements and things like that, particularly because they are a little bit behind the veterans. They adjusted, they did a nice job. We got a lot of offense and defense in; we got some special teams work going. Their schedule right now, they are going to go in and have their first lift. They were introduced to our weight room philosophy yesterday, and then they are going to have their lift. Then we’ll have some more meetings tonight. Then, they get a day off tomorrow. As we continue to move in to our offseason program, we’re going to kind of keep them separate from the veterans for about a week or so. Work them in the afternoon and just let them observe, just to ensure that we get them caught up to that conditioning level where our vets are. As far as Jared (Goff) is concerned, I thought he did a really good job. A little frustrated at times for him because he’s setting the back foot and getting ready to go and we’re running half-speed routes, so the timing stuff doesn’t work out. So, if you see balls hit the ground or things like that, it’s all because we’re encouraging the skill players not to run full speed. He’s doing a great job of picking up our offense. I know he’s looking forward to coming back. We have a number of players that have to leave tomorrow because their exams aren’t over – Jared being one of them. But, most of everybody will be back next weekend. Those that do leave, we have about a half dozen or so that are leaving, but the rest of the guys will be here and participate throughout the offseason program.”
(On how the receivers and tight ends have looked so far)
“Basically, what we’ve evaluated are their hands and their mental capacity on offense. We just haven’t gotten full speed. Competitive, very skilled. (WR) Pharoh (Cooper) is what we thought he was, based on a couple days, but he’s not full speed yet. Impressed when the tight ends walked off the bus, it’s good to see them. Good tight ends that are long that can catch. We have a lot of work to do, but by and large, the coaching staff is very excited.”
(On how impressive RB Aaron Green has to be to make the team)
“He’s going to be competing with Malcolm Brown – who’s also out here. Yes, it will probably come down to the end, but he’s a very productive college player. Had a lot of yards and a lot of big plays, he can catch and he’s picking things up. It will be one of those situations that comes down to the end, in all likelihood.”
(On if there is anything about Goff that they have noticed in the past couple of days that they didn’t see before)
“We’ve given him a lot more information than we did at the private workout and in our meeting and he’s handled it without any problem. That’s the type of player that he is. I passed him last night walking to the room and he was leaving the meeting room at 10 o’clock. He’s that kind of guy. He’s spending the time.”
(On how much of a shock it will be for the rookies when they mix with the veterans)
“Well, that’s the objective of what we’re doing so it’s not a shock. We want them to go out and condition and be prepared to go into the drills. Our offseason program is this, we can’t come together until June, until the OTAs. So that’s when the offense and defense come together and compete, so we’re separate, so they’ll just be drilling. That’s an excellent opportunity to get them up. Once they come together in the OTAs in June, then they’ll be able to compete. I think what we’re going to see on Monday, when the vets come on the field for their 90-minute session and the rookie class is observing, you’re going to see a little of this (pounds chest) out of the vets because they are going to show off a little bit. So it works out good – you get more out of the vets, the ‘rooks’ get to see it. Once we get to OTAs everything will be good.”
(On the NFL hosting a collective rookie orientation and if the Rams are doing anything different)
“The NFL’s going to come in and address and make a presentation to the ‘rooks.’ We’re going to continue and do the same things that we’ve always done. We’ll have meetings starting next week with respect to financial planning, life skills and decision making and all those things that we cover. Social media, media relations and the list goes on and on and on. They’ll be educated once we’re done with (rookie) camp. The draft classes are always used to going to the symposium for three days. This has a chance to be a little bit more intimate. I think it has a chance, from the standpoint of the guys being able to absorb more information, I think it may work out better. Plus, we can also participate in them.”
(On how the rookies are adjusting to the playbook and the terminology which can seem like learning a foreign language)
“Well, they’re coming on. We had a walk-thru earlier today. We’ve had meetings today and last night, so it’s coming on and they have to stay up on it. What it is, it’s a matter of them relating what we’re teaching them, the terminology, to that in which they’ve learned in the past. The coaches do a good job of asking them, ‘Well what did you call this?’ ‘Well, we called this that.’ ‘OK, well this is what we call it.’ ‘So you got the concept?’ ‘Yeah.’ And then they go on to the next concept.”
(On his initial impressions of LB Josh Forrest)
“Big, long, athletic and can move really well right now at half speed. I haven’t seen him at full speed. He’s a good-looking physical specimen. He looks good. He’s got a lot of work to do, like the rest of them do catching up before we cut them loose. But he’s got some movement skills.”
(On what kind evaluating he’s able to do when the players are moving at half speed)
“You’re looking at the mental things. Are they doing the right things? Is the footwork appropriate? Are the steps appropriate? Are you dropping your hips? Those kinds of things. Then of course you’re looking at every once in a while someone goes a little more than half speed and so how well do they pay attention to the details? It’s hard to evaluate the explosiveness and things like that. It’s hard to evaluate when you’re not competing against an opponent, an offensive or defensive opponent. This is the way you have to do it. We’re convinced this is how you have to do it. It’s really unfair for them to come out and ask them to get to full speed and then you have a soft tissue injury and then he misses OTAs then he’s behind at camp. We’ve been doing this for a long time and it’s worked out for us because ideally what you want to have is you want to have a healthy roster when you start training camp.”
(On if the rookies are separate from the veterans for the next week or if there will be any mingling)
“They’ll be meetings together and things like that. As a matter of fact and they’re looking forward to it, they get to introduce themselves to the veterans on Monday morning at the team meeting. That’s always amusing.”
(On how impressed with how QB Jared Goff has handled everything so far)
“He’s a guy that understands priorities. He knows how to budget his time and where to spend his time. It’ll change a little bit. We’ll get him some information this week so he can stay up as we continue to install. He’s handled everything. As I’ve mentioned before, he’s got that internal, competitive drive that you don’t see. He doesn’t wear it on his sleeve. He’s going to make sure that everything’s right.”
(On how much contact can he have with Goff when he’s not here)
“It’s very, very limited so we’re going to send him stuff back. It’s going to be a week is all so he’ll be fine.”
znModeratorFisher Impressed with Goff, Rookies at Orientation
By Myles Simmons
Each season, teams all over the league stage a rookie minicamp the weekend after the NFL Draft. But for the Rams under head coach Jeff Fisher, the event is not necessarily your average fare.
With his many years of experience as a head coach, Fisher has developed a program he terms “rookie orientation.” The purpose is to teach the first-year players about the organization from top to bottom, and introduce them to concepts both on and off the field.
Because of this, while it was the first time Los Angeles’ players put on their uniforms and practice, they were not going at full speed over the past two days.
“We’re monitoring their speed, explosive movements and things like that, particularly because they’re a little bit behind the veterans,” Fisher said on Saturday. “So they adjusted. They did a nice job.”
“We’re convinced this is the way you have to do it,” Fisher added. “It’s really unfair for them to come out and ask them to get to full speed, and then you have a soft-tissue injury and he misses the OTAs, and he’s behind at camp. We’ve been doing this for a long time. And it’s worked out for us because, ideally, what you want to have is a healthy roster when you start training camp.”
It’s not necessarily about evaluating the players’ performance, either. It’s more about learning the new playbook, and then seeing how well the rookies can pick it up on the field.
“You’re looking at the mental things — are they doing the right things, is the footwork appropriate, are the steps appropriate, are you dropping your hips — those kinds of things,” Fisher said. “And then, of course, you’re looking at every once in a while, someone goes a little more than half speed, so how well do they pay attention to the details? So it’s hard to evaluate explosiveness and things like that. And it’s hard to evaluate when you’re not competing against an offensive or defensive opponent.
Because there were only rookies, coaches can spend more time with players at their positions. For instance, the Rams have only two rookie offensive linemen, which means they received plenty of individualized instruction over the past few days.
That kind of learning is important, as the process of learning a new playbook is often equated to learning a foreign language. Fisher’s designed the orientation period to help the rookies pick the plays up.
“We had a walk-thru earlier today, we’ve had meetings today and last night, so it’s coming on. And they have to stay up on it,” Fisher said. “It’s a matter of them relating what we’re teaching them — the terminology — to that which they’ve learned in the past. And you know, the coaches do a good job of asking, ‘What did you call this?’”
Size, however, is easily apparent in these new rookies, especially for one position group.
“Impressed when the tight ends walk off the bus,” Fisher said of fourth-round pick Tyler Higbee and sixth-round pick Temarrick Hemingway. “It’s nice to see big tight ends that are long and can catch.”
As for the rookie throwing to those targets, Fisher said he’s been impressed with the club’s No. 1 pick, quarterback Jared Goff.
“He’s doing a great job picking up our offense,” Fisher said. “We’ve given him a lot more information than we did at the private workout and then that we did here at our meeting, and he’s handled it without any problem. And that’s the impressive thing.
“I passed him last night walking to the room and he was leaving the meeting room at 10 o’clock,” Fisher continued. “He’s that kind of guy. He’ll spend the time. It’s important to him.”
Because of the players going at only half speed, Fisher acknowledged that some of the timing likely isn’t quite right between Goff and his receivers. And that’s to be expected.
“A little frustrating at times for him because he’s setting the back foot and getting ready to go, and we’re running half-speed routes,” Fisher said of Goff. “So if you see balls hit the ground or things like that, it’s all because we’re encouraging the skill players not to run full speed.”
With Cal’s exams ongoing for the next week, Goff will have to be away from the team, per NFL rules. But Fisher said the Rams will be able to get all the information the quarterback needs to him so that he’ll be ready to come back and compete.
“He’s a guy who understands priorities. He knows how to budget his time and where to spend his time,” Fisher said. “We’ll get him some information this week so he can stay up as we continue to install. But he’s handled everything. As I mentioned before, he’s got that internal competitive drive that you don’t see. He doesn’t wear it on his sleeve, [but] he’s going to make sure everything’s right.”
Goff is one of a few L.A. rookies in that situation. But the rest will be around in Oxnard getting caught up with the veterans. Fisher said the two groups will be kept separate on the field for the next week.
The rookies “get a day off tomorrow and then we’re going to — as we continue to move in the offseason program — we’re going to kind of keep them separate from the veterans for about a week or so and work them in the afternoon,” Fisher said. “Just let them observe, just to ensure we get them caught up to that conditioning level where our vets are.”
“There will be meetings together,” Fisher added. “As a matter of fact, they’re looking forward to it, they get to introduce themselves to the veterans on Monday morning in a team meeting. That’s always amusing.”
znModeratorfrom off the net
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Florida_Ram
The WR LINK below from NFL draft geek Rated their top 1-64 WR’s before the draft.
I was surprised how many the Rams got via the draft and UDFA. Very bunched up after Pharoh Cooper. Reminds me of last years OLine haul.
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NFL DRAFT GEEK Rankings http://nfldraftgeek.com/widereceiverrankings-2016nfldraft.html
#8.. Pharoh Cooper
#19 Paul McRoberts
#21 Marquez North
#22 Mike Thomas
#27 Nelson Spruce#35 Kenneth Scott
#46 Duke WilliamsznModeratorGood stuff.
Ultimate mystery stuff.
I still think its accurate to say
everything in the Universe is made of the
“same stuff”. Yes? No?I mean it all ‘came’ from the ‘stuff’
in the teeny-tiny ‘thing’ that ‘inflated’ itself.w
vUnless what came from that was DIFFERENT stuff.
…
znModerator
HERE’S THE STORY ‘BOUT MINNIE THE MOOCHER
SHE WAS A LOWDOWN HOOCHIE COOCHERznModeratorfrom off the net
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Florida_Ram
A CLOSER LOOK AT sleeper[/color] SCAT BACK (RB Aarron Green.)
#36 AARON GREEN 5’11 203 lbs (This scat back has Amazing FEET!)[/color]
http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/kansan.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/1/63/163e717e-613c-11e5-b6ff-f7d60594db29/56016f810e036.image.jpg?resize=300%2C231Year..Team… Games..Att…Yards..AVG……..Catch… Yards….
2011…. NEB…. 12…. 24…. 105… 4.4… TD 2…..1…….25… TD 1
2013…. TCU…. 10…. 72…. 232… 3.2… TD 0 …..4…….24.. TD 1
2014…. TCU…. 13…. 129.. 922… 7.1… TD 9…..19….166… TD 2
2015…. TCU…. 13… 244…1272.. 5.2… TD 11…16…. 117… TD 1http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1824316/aaron-green
Green arrived at Nebraska in 2011 as a top high school recruit, but with a crowded running back depth chart led by Rex Burkhead and Ameer Abdullah, He elected to transfer.
Green chose TCU over Baylor, Oklahoma and Texas Tech, sitting out the 2012 season due to transfer rules. He stepped into the starter role as a junior with a team-high 922 yards and nine scores, earning second team All-Big 12 honors. Green had his bests season in 2015 as a senior (10 starts) with a career-high 1,272 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, earning All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors.STRENGTHS: Balanced athlete and light on his feet to make sharp lateral cuts, creating with ankle-breaking jukes. Shifty movements and open-field wiggle to explode north-south. Easy acceleration to burst away from defenders in space. Natural run instincts to read blocks and usually has a plan at the line of scrimmage. Runs tough and keep his legs churning, fighting for every yard.
Focused receiver with reliable hands, often lining up in the slot. Has the chops to at least make an effort in pass protection. Only three fumbles in his career. Driven individual and well-respected by people around the program “phenomenal young man.”
WEAKNESSES: Lacks an ideal build for the position and his frame doesn’t have the growth potential to get much bigger. Runs with minimal power and is limited as an inside runner. Tunnel vision at times and gets bounce happy, dancing and taking too many steps in the backfield.
Needs to take what is blocked for him instead of trying to create on his own. Bad habit of stopping his feet and won’t pick up yards after initial contact, too easily taken down by finger-tip tackles. Doesn’t have elite downfield speed and can be caught from behind.
Route-running and field sense need improved. Steps up as a blocker, but too easily knocked off his feet. Ball security needs improved, holding the ball too loose.
IN OUR VIEW: Green has video game-like cuts, making quick reads and reacting with his feet to keep defenders off-balance, but he needs space to be effective. He isn’t a strong between-the-tackles runner and struggles with congestion, not consistently trusting his vision or allowing blocks to develop. Green is quicker than fast with the athleticism to create on his own as a runner or receiver, but his lack of run power will limit his role in the NFL.
Dane Brugler (2/8/16)YOUTUBE: Highlights watch his feet[/color][/color][/u][/u] (I believe he’s related to the former HOF CB Darrell Green)
znModeratorI can’t make a call on this one. Could be these players are right
and they discovered all kinds of insights at this camp that they
were never taught by their OLine coaches. Or it could be
they are whining and/or pimping for the Bentley camp. I dunno.Boudreau himself complains that the new CBA does not allow him enough time to coach linemen.
So there’s that, too.
The other aspect for me is that you don’t publicly complain about position coaches. It is not of the “that which is done.”
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znModeratorAnd Jim Hanifan now flips hamburgers.
Yeah I bet in his retirement he’s an avid grill-meister.
Bet he even has a Weber.
znModeratorApparently Capn A has been around a long time, I guess. I heard a snippet about him on npr and they said he was written in a propaganda context
back in the Nazi days around WW II.w
vWhich has nothing to do with the Marvel films, I might add. They took the character down an entirely new path. Winter Soldier is a good film. It’s the opposite of what you would expect if you relied on the older history to guide you.
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