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znModeratorI read this as a bunch of guys advertizing for Bentley.
IMO, you don’t go in public and blast position coaches. It’s classless. And as far as what’s “true,” it’s just as possible that these guys are deflecting blame as it is that they get subpar coaching.
znModeratorRams sign 19 undrafted free agents, including Junior Seau’s nephew
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams signed 19 undrafted free agents on Thursday. Here’s a closer look at each player:
Taylor Bertolet, K, Texas A&M: The Rams are seeking competition for kicker Greg Zuerlein and coach Jeff Fisher has indicated that whoever is brought in would be more than a camp leg. Bertolet was 22-of-31 on field goals in 2015 and was once Rivals.com’s No. 1 rated high school kicker. Bertolet is known for a strong leg but accuracy has been an issue — which sounds a lot like Zuerlein.
Brandon Chubb, LB, Wake Forest: Wake Forest’s leading tackler in 2015 with 107, Chubb was on his way to a spot on the All ACC first team. He’s a cousin of Georgia running back Nick Chubb, the star runner who replaced the Rams’ Todd Gurley after his injury in 2014.
Morgan Fox, DT, Colorado State-Pueblo: The Rams have had success finding gems from smaller schools on the defensive line recently with guys likeMatt Longacre and Ethan Westbrooks. Could Fox be next? He had 17 sacks and 21.5 tackles for loss at the Division II level last year.
Rodney McLeod andJanoris Jenkins. He was a four-year starter for the Razorbacks and had 67 tackles and an interception in 2015.
Aaron Green, RB, TCU: Perhaps one of the more intriguing players on this list, Green rushed for 1,272 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2015. He joins a crowded backfield but given Tre Mason’s legal woes, there might be a chance to stick.
Nicholas Grigsby, LB, Pittsburgh: Grigsby had 66 tackles, including 9.5 for loss in 2015 and was considered a leader for Pitt’s revamped defense. There’s room for depth at linebacker on this roster but based on the numbers, there will be plenty of competition.
Darren Herring, LB, Vanderbilt: Speaking of linebacker competition, Herring brings a smart, productive piece to the mix after starting for three seasons and posting 226 tackles in his college career.
Cory Littleton, LB, Washington: Littleton showed some pass rushing chops in 2015, posting six sacks and 11 tackles for loss in his final college season. He’ll join Chubb, Grigsby and Herring in the quest for a roster spot, likely through special teams, an area he’s excelled in the past with 19 tackles there.
Michael Jordan, CB, Missouri Western: Not to be confused with the basketball legend or even the famous actor, this Jordan split time between corner and safety in his collegiate career. He flashed a nose for the ball in both spots, finishing his career with 16 interceptions.
Jordan Lomax, S, Iowa: Like Jordan and Gaines, Lomax should add more competition at safety, where jobs seem available. He had 96 tackles, including a string of three straight games in double digits in his final season for the Hawkeyes.
Paul McRoberts, WR, Southeast Missouri St.: McRoberts made plenty of plays in the Ohio Valley Conference, including 76 receptions for 940 yards and nine touchdowns last season. There’s room for help at receiver if McRoberts can have similar success in training camp.
James Murphy, OT, Northwestern Louisiana: Murphy was a starter for the better part of three seasons, twice earning All Southland Conference honors along the way.
Marquez North, WR, Tennessee: Another one of the more intriguing talents in this group, North didn’t do much last season because of injury but he’s listed at 6-foot-3, 229 pounds and ran a 4.48 second 40-yard dash at the scouting combine and was clocked by a scout at 4.39 seconds at his pro day.
Kache Palacio, DE, Washington State: The Rams are listing Palacio as a defensive end but he’s listed at 6-foot-2, 231 pounds, which means he’s more likely to compete at linebacker. He had 27 tackles for loss and 17 sacks in his time with the Cougars.
Brian Randolph, S, Tennessee: Another name to toss in the mix at safety, Randolph had some college success blocking kicks which could make him appealing from a special teams perspective. He started 47 games for the Volunteers and clocked a 4.4 in the 40 at Tennessee’s pro day according to at least one stop watch.
Winston Rose, CB, New Mexico State: Rose will be returning to Los Angeles after spending two seasons at Los Angeles Valley College and growing up in Inglewood, California.
Ian Seau, DE, Nevada-Reno: The nephew of Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau, Ian Seau led the Mountain West Conference with 10 sacks and also had 18.5 tackles for loss in 2015. He’s undersized to play defensive end but will have a chance to earn his way as a movable pass rushing piece.
Nelson Spruce, WR, Colorado: Spruce set the Pac-12 Conference record for career receptions with 294 and had 105 catches for 1,198 yards and 12 touchdowns in his best collegiate season as a junior. NFL.com compared him toformer Rams receiver Danny Amendola.
Jordan Swindle, OT, Kentucky: Swindle come to Los Angeles with no shortage of experience after starting three seasons for the Wildcats, two on the right and one on the left. According to his bio from Kentucky, Swindle can solve a Rubik’s cube in about a minute.
znModeratorI don’t want him to start week 1. There’s just no way he will be ready. I actually like Keenum and think he was the only reason we won anything last year.
Goff needs to learn the playbook, learn the offense, and get used to the NFL speed….I do NOT want him under center week 1
I feel the same way.
But after Bradford in 2010, I don’t think a rookie starting week 1 would be catastrophic.
There are all sorts of people guaranteeing they know when he will start because they have read this or that tea leaf.
I am just going to let it play out, and don’t have much stake in predicting it.
It will be in 2016 though. Maybe not until the superbowl.
znModeratorI didn’t say he didn’t face tough defenses. I said he didn’t face any other defenses that had him scoped out like that and had the personnel and scheme to BAIT him like that and be successful.
I dunno Mack. I;ll let time tell. But I don’t have any of the doubts about Goff you do. Or about the Rams offense. I expect him to do well. I would be very surprised if he didn’t turn out to be at least as good as Bulger or Everett in their best years (which is more than good enough on a solid team), and in fact I think he could be better than that.
znModeratorJared Goff gets off to stylish start as Rams rookies begin two-day minicamp in Oxnard
RICH HAMMOND
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/goff-715106-rams-field.html
OXNARD – On day one, Jared Goff appeared to conjugate all his quarterback verbs correctly.
“The way they say it, and it’s absolutely right, it’s almost like learning a different language,” Goff said Friday, shortly after the Rams’ recent No. 1 overall draft pick completed his first (and quite informal) pro practice. “I felt like I picked it up as I went along, and it got better.”
The Rams started their two-day rookie minicamp for 27 players who either were drafted, signed or invited on tryouts. Most of the work is off the field, with introductory and informational meetings, but players also got on the field Friday for approximately two hours to show their wares.
Major analysis would be pointless. There was no tackling, and players ran at half speed and spent much of their time working with coaches on positional drills. Coach Jeff Fisher roamed around and took a good look.
Mostly, the afternoon seemed to have symbolic significance. Players wore Rams uniforms on a field in Southern California for the first time since 1994, and the practice marked the start of the Goff era.
Goff, presumed to be the Rams’ quarterback of the future – if not the present – looked the part. A basic, meat-market evaluation indicated that Goff comes as advertised, with great footwork, a quick release, a good, accurate arm and plenty of confidence. He didn’t seem overwhelmed by the moment.
“It’s just a lot of fun to be able to get back out here with the guys and enjoy football again,” Goff said, “and get out of the whole pre-draft process and be able to actually play again.”
Goff took snaps out of the shotgun formation, as he did almost exclusively at Cal, but also spent significant time working with coaches on under-center snaps.
If there’s any question about Goff, this is it, whether his skills can translate to a pro-style system. But Goff looked fine in under-center snaps – which basically is to say he didn’t fumble or trip over his feet – and said his acclimation to the Rams’ playbook, which he has had for only a week, has been smooth.
“There is a lot that translates,” Goff said. “Most of the (shotgun) stuff translates, almost all of it. Then there’s under-center stuff that I’m picking up as I go along.”
Goff’s experience this weekend is markedly different than other mini-campers, because he’s essentially the only one guaranteed to be on the roster at the start of the season. For Goff, this is about learning and growing. For the other two dozen players, it’s about making an impression.
Fourth-round picks Tyler Higbee (tight end) and Pharoh Cooper (receiver) and sixth-round picks Temarrick Hemingway (tight end) and Mike Thomas (receiver) participated, as did a score of lesser-known prospects with dreams of being on the sideline for the Sept. 12 season opener against San Francisco.
“I thought everyone looked fine today,” Goff said. “You can’t really tell until you watch it on film, but I felt good about what I did and from what I saw on the field, it looked pretty good.”
Most of the cameras, unsurprisingly, were trained on Goff, who said he’s mindful of the scrutiny. The real competition won’t start until Goff joins incumbent quarterbacks Case Keenum, Nick Foles and Sean Mannion in full-team practices, but Goff said he wants to be seen as a leader immediately.
Next month, Goff will join full-team offseason workouts. The speed, intensity and attention will increase, but Goff said he won’t get caught up in “all this,” as he smiled and gestured toward TV cameras.
“You want to be the guy you are, the person you are, and be the leader of my rookie class, per se,” Goff said. “I’ll just work as hard as I can to make everyone buy in, and be the best player I can be.”
Goff’s debut couldn’t have been more picturesque. Sunlight gleamed through ominous-looking clouds, and nearby rain didn’t make its way through Oxnard.
As Goff and the rookies worked out on the field, wedged between a golf course and a hotel, a handful of veteran Rams lingered and worked out at the team’s makeshift weight room as music blared. None seemed to pay much mind to the field, where their quarterback of the future took his first NFL steps.
“I’ve got a bunch of texts from a bunch of (veteran) guys and it’s been really cool,” Goff said. “I’m excited to finally get to work with them eventually.”
znModeratorQuarterback Jared Goff gets plenty of work as Rams’ two-day rookie orientation and mini-camp starts
Gary Klein
http://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-rookie-camp-goff-20160507-story.html
Among more than two dozen players in blue and white Rams jerseys, the one in the red No. 16 stood out.
Jared Goff, the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, has been described as “our franchise quarterback” by Coach Jeff Fisher.
On Friday, Goff was the lone quarterback as the Rams began a two-day rookie orientation and minicamp in Oxnard. He took every snap.
“It’s nice to get all of them right now,” Goff said. “It’s nice to get as many as you can to get used to it.”
In coming weeks, during organized team activities with veterans, Goff will share reps in a quarterback group that includes Case Keenum, Nick Foles and Sean Mannion.
But Fisher’s orientation and minicamp is designed to bring rookies along slowly, to help them acclimate, individually and collectively, to pro football while avoiding injury.
Goff is part of a draft class that includes receivers Pharoh Cooper and Michael Thomas, tight ends Tyler Higbee and Temarrick Hemingway and linebacker Josh Forrest.
After a day full of meetings, the six draftees, 19 undrafted free agents and two tryout players went through an on-field workout conducted at less-than-full speed.
Goff, the former California standout, was happy to finally get back onto a field without his draft prospects hanging in the balance.
He worked with quarterback coach Chris Weinke and offensive coordinator Rob Boras, practicing footwork, handoffs, drops, rollouts and short throws to receivers.
“Just a lot of fun to get back out here with the guys and be able to kind of enjoy football again and get out of the whole predraft process,” Goff said.
Cooper, a fourth-round pick, said he had spoken with Goff a few days before they arrived for the minicamp.
“Just asking, ‘You ready to go play together? Let’s get this thing here started,’ ” Cooper said.
How did Day 1 go with Goff?
“It was great playing with Jared,” Cooper said, adding, “No. 1 quarterback in the draft. You can’t go wrong with that.”
Receiver Nelson Spruce, who set the Pac-12 Conference’s career receptions record at Colorado, said he trained with Goff before the scouting combine.
“I’ve been throwing with him for a couple months,” said Spruce, an undrafted free agent who played at Westlake High. “He’s a guy that’s going to lead this entire organization, so I’m excited to see what he does.”
Goff said he was adjusting to new terminology.
“It’s like you’re going into Spanish class,” he said. “You have to become fluent in Spanish over however long the time is.”
He also has begun to establish leadership credentials away from the field.
“You want to just be the guy you are and the person you are and be the leader of my rookie class,” he said. “Work as hard as I can to make everyone buy in and just be a good teammate and be the best player I can be.”
Higbee participated in the minicamp a day after appearing in court in Kentucky and entering a plea of not guilty to charges related to an altercation that led to his arrest last month.
Higbee, who played at Western Kentucky, was arrested April 10 on suspicion of second-degree assault, evading police and public intoxication after an altercation with a man outside a bar in Bowling Green, Ky. Nawaf Alsaleh, 24, was found unconscious and bleeding from the mouth. He reportedly suffered a concussion and a brain hemorrhage.
Asked if he could discuss the situation, Higbee said, “That will all work itself out. It’s kind of a legal matter. I’m just excited to be here and focus on football.”
Higbee said he would not be distracted by off-the-field issues or the pressure of trying to make the team.
“Sometimes you have to put the blinders on and go to work,” he said. “That’s what I do.
Spruce was disappointed that he was not drafted, but he said he was happy for the opportunity with the Rams.
The drive to the minicamp was only 20 minutes from his family home.
“It’s kind of a crazy situation,” he said. “They year I’m trying to play in the NFL, that’s the year that the Rams come to L.A.”
The 6-foot, 205-pound Spruce was largely overlooked by Power Five conference programs coming out of high school, so he is accustomed to beating the odds.
“I’ve kind of always been under the radar,” he said. “So I’m kind of excited about the challenge.”
znModeratorNelson Spruce Rookie Camp Press Conference – 5/6
Undrafted free agent WR Nelson Spruce talks about competing for a roster spot and returning to his home state.
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Pharoh Cooper Rookie Camp Press Conference – 5/6
Rookie WR Pharoh Cooper discusses his thoughts on Day One of Rams Rookie Orientation.
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Tyler Higbee Rookie Camp Press Conference – 5/6
Rookie TE Tyler Higbee talks about putting on the Rams gear for the first time and working with Jared Goff at practice.
znModeratorRams QB Jared Goff – Rookie Minicamp – May 6, 2016
(On how the first day went)
“Great. Great to get back out on the field and meet all my new teammates and get a chance to get back to actually playing football. It was nice again. Kind of get that feeling back. It was good.”
(On if today was confusing at all from a terminology standpoint)
“No. I had to learn everything the last week or so. Just getting adjusted to it and I feel really good about it. I had a really good first day.”
(On the newness of the terminology and what the adjustments are like)
“The way they say it, and they’re absolutely right, it’s almost like you’re learning a different language. It’s from any system you come from in college – it doesn’t really matter. It’s like you’re going into Spanish class and you have to become fluent in Spanish over however long the time is. That’s kind of what it is. There’s a lot of stuff that translates that I understand that’s just a different word. There’s a lot of stuff that I am learning. But today, it went really well. I felt like I picked it up as the day went on and got better.”
(On how he would describe the emotion of participating in his first practice as an NFL player)
“It’s cool. It hadn’t really hit me until you said that. It’s awesome. Again, it’s just a lot of fun to get back out here with the guys and be able to kind of enjoy football again, and get out of the whole pre-draft process and be able to actually play again. It’s nice.”
(On if he considers himself fluent or conversational in the new terminology at this point)
“I’m just learning it right now. I’m just picking it up as I go. I feel like I’m picking it up pretty quickly for what I’ve done. I’m trying to pick it up as quickly as I can. The way they’re teaching it, they’re making it easy for me.”
(On what the rookie orientation has entailed thus far)
“We’ve really just had meetings all day up until now. Just had meetings and met with player development. Just learning stuff and trying to get acclimated with the professional lifestyle. But again, I think it was nice to get out here and run around, get to sweat a little bit, throw the ball around; play catch.”
(On if he feels like a lot of the stuff he was doing at Cal translates to the pros)
“Yes, there is a lot that translates. Most of the gun stuff translates – almost all of it. When there’s under center stuff, I’m picking it up as we go and it’s gone really well so far.”
(On how he knows that he’s ready for the media attention that the LA market brings and football at the same time)
“I’m just going to go out here and play. I’m not going to worry about all of this because this doesn’t really matter that much. I’m just going to get better every day and continue to try to be the best player and teammate I can be. And let all of you guys come here every day and film me, and just enjoy it.”
(On how hard it is as a player to kind of dial it back as they adjust to the pace of a professional practice)
“It was almost half speed today. It’s kind of hard for me and the receivers because we’re on different timing stuff, but it’s fine. To prevent injury, it’s worth it. I thought everybody looked pretty good today. You can’t really tell until you watch it on film, but I felt good in what I did and from what I saw on the field – it looked pretty good.”
(On how he handled getting all of the quarterback reps at practice today)
“I think it’s nice to get all of them. Right now it’s nice to kind of get as many as you can to get used to it.”
(On if he looks to start inserting himself as a leader on a day like today)
“Sure. You want to just be the guy you are and the person you are and be the leader of my rookie class, per se. Again, just work as hard as I can and make every buy in and be a good teammate and be the best player I can be.”
(On how the reception has been from the veteran players)
“Great. I haven’t met too many of them. We haven’t been mixed up with them yet. I met a few and it’s been great. I got a bunch of texts from a bunch guys – that’s been really cool. I’m excited to finally work with them, eventually.”
znModeratorJared Goff Rookie Camp Press Conference – 5/6
Rookie QB Jared Goff talks after his first NFL practice at the Rams Rookie Orientation.
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Jared Goff First Day Highlights
The 2016 1st overall pick, Jared Goff, takes the field for the first time as Los Angeles Ram.
znModeratorJust saw CACW.
I liked it. I thought it was well done. There are minor changes in the characters (Wanda doesn’t mindread in this one). I liked Winter Soldier better, but I liked this well enough.
znModeratorI appreciate what you’re doing Z.
But I don’t buy in. Trump would be worse.
I’ve been putting up with LePage as governor in Maine. Worse is worse.
People can do what they want, and I won’t be trying to talk anyone into anything. So just saying for the record, worse is worse, and that’s how I personally line up with this.
znModeratorRams rookies get orientation rather than minicamp
Nick Wagoner
LOS ANGELES — There was considerable attention earlier this week on the Miami Dolphins after their announcement that their version of rookie minicamp would include little to no on-field work, plenty of time spent in the classroom and a focus on generally introducing their rookie class to the way the Dolphins do things.
But for those who have followed the Rams under coach Jeff Fisher, that probably all sounded quite familiar. That’s because Fisher has eschewed the basic tenets of the minicamp in each of his first four seasons with the team. In fact, Fisher doesn’t even like the word minicamp, instead choosing to refer to his first opportunity to work with a given rookie class as an “orientation.”
Now that the Rams are back in Los Angeles, that won’t change. When Fisher and the team welcomes this year’s group of rookies, the plan will stay the same as the previous four years.
“It’s very, very similar,” Fisher said. “Some teams are going to take them on the field, get them to full speed twice a day on Friday and Saturday, and we choose not to do that. We call it an orientation.”
After a long offseason leading up to the NFL draft, Fisher believes that rookies shouldn’t be asked to step on the field for multiple practices in a day right away without even knowing what’s expected of them. Likewise, there’s a reasonable fear of injury that comes with those practices. The Jacksonville Jaguars found that out the hard way last year when No. 3 overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. suffered a season-ending knee injury on the first day of minicamp.
Instead of extended on-field work, Fisher and the Rams will limit their time on the field to walkthrough pace and a physical conditioning test. The rest of the time will be an indoctrination into NFL and Rams life, including plenty of meeting time.
Fisher believes it’s important for the rookies to know how things work before they share the field with the veterans.
“We’re going to bring them in and just introduce the National Football League to them,” Fisher said. “Just bring them along slowly over the period of a couple days, that includes walkthroughs and meetings. We’re going to find out where they are physically, from a conditioning standpoint, and then we’re going to get them caught up with our vets that have been working for a few weeks now.”
After the orientation, the rookie class will get the chance to slowly build toward the beginning of organized team activities. That’s the first chance for the entire team to go through practices together, with the Rams’ first practice set for May 31.
znModeratorI dont think they’ve had a QB who could “embrace the market”
since Joe Namath left.w
vYou need to embrace your inner market.
That way, you could be more like everyone else.
Think of all the benefits.
znModeratorJared Goff and other Rams rookies will get an NFL orientation as mini-camp arrives
By Gary Klein
http://www.latimes.com/sports/nfl/la-sp-rams-rookie-camp-goff-20160506-story.html
The moments of clarity came before and during a rainstorm.
Rams General Manager Les Snead and Coach Jeff Fisher traveled to Berkeley before the NFL draft to work out quarterback Jared Goff. Rain was in the forecast, and Snead told Goff during a meeting the night before that they could be flexible and hope for some dry periods to get the evaluation done.
“No,” Goff told him. “We’ve got a 9 a.m. appointment and we’re sticking to it.”
Then he added, “I hope it’s raining.”
Goff’s confidence about showing his talent in less than ideal conditions impressed Snead. So did Goff’s performance the next day, when drizzle turned to rain and the undeterred Goff displayed uncanny accuracy as the weather worsened.
“He was still throwing it,” Snead said, “You come away going ‘Wow.’ You kind of like that.”
See the most-read stories in Sports this hour >>
Goff, the No. 1 pick in the draft, could get his first opportunity to show his confidence and skills Friday when the Rams’ rookie orientation and mini-camp for drafted players and undrafted free agents begins in Oxnard.Fisher has described Goff as “our franchise quarterback” and did not rule out the possibility of his starting the season opener against the San Francisco 49ers on “Monday Night Football.”
Goff has said he would take an understated approach with teammates as he attempts to blend in and begin his pro career.
“At first, just kind of come in and put your head down and work hard, and just kind of stay low and gain their respect,” he said during a news conference last week. “I think you have to do that for a little while and once you do that then you can begin to lead and be the leader that you need to be, and as a quarterback you have to do that.”
Goff is one of six draftees. Receivers Pharoh Cooper and Michael Thomas, tight ends Tyler Higbee and Temarrick Hemingway and linebacker Josh Forrest are others.
The Rams signed 19 undrafted free agents. Three receivers — including Colorado’s Nelson Spruce, the Pac-12 Conference career receptions leader — four linebackers and two cornerbacks are among the hopefuls.
Fisher said the first-year players would not be subjected to intense workouts at the outset.
“We call it an orientation,” he said. “We’re going to bring them in and just introduce the National Football League to them. Just bring them along slowly over the period of a couple days — that includes walk-throughs and meetings.
“We’re going to find out where they are physically, from a conditioning standpoint, and then we’re going to get them caught up with our vets that have been working for a few weeks now.”
Offensive lineman Rob Havenstein, a second-round draft pick last year, said his experiences during rookie orientation remained fresh. He started 13 games at right tackle in 2015, and said drafted players and free agents should approach the opportunity with this mentality:
“The first time you show up and show your face to an organization you want to work for, a good first impression is a step in the right direction,” he said.
Havenstein said the orientation experience proved valuable.
“The one thing that was conveyed to us with the coaches was they really wanted us to learn and understand what it takes to work like a Ram,” he said. “That was very helpful to us rookies.”
Safety Rodney McLeod, who signed a lucrative contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in March, and running back Benny Cunningham, who re-signed with the Rams, began their pro careers as undrafted free agents with the Rams.
Snead said the goal was to find one to four undrafted free agents each year who can contribute.
“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,” he said.
Linebacker Cameron Lynch signed with the Rams last year as an undrafted free agent from Syracuse. His philosophy going into rookie orientation mirrored Havenstein’s.
“Make a great first impression, because the window for a guy who’s gone undrafted is pretty small,” he said. “My whole thing was, ‘Squeeze through that window.’
“I took special teams very seriously. That’s a real key — taking everything you do seriously.”
Higbee in court
Higbee appeared in court Thursday and pleaded not guilty to charges related to an incident in Kentucky last month, his attorney said. Higbee’s next court date is June 17, attorney Brian Lowder said. Higbee was arrested April 10 on suspicion of second-degree assault, evading police and public intoxication after an altercation with a man outside a bar in Bowling Green. Nawaf Alsaleh, 24, was found unconscious and bleeding from the mouth. He reportedly suffered a concussion as well as a brain hemorrhage. According to a police report obtained by the Bowling Green Daily News, there were conflicting accounts from Higbee and witnesses about what occurred. Higbee told police that the incident was precipitated by a man who was bothering Higbee and his girlfriend. Lowder has disputed accounts that characterized the incident as racially motivated.
znModeratorRams rookie minicamp a time for Jared Goff, others to show their actual football skills
By RICH HAMMOND / STAFF WRITER
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-714979-time-goff.html
The abstract concept becomes a reality Friday afternoon in Oxnard, when actual Rams are on an actual field. Get out of the way, news conferences and photo shoots, because it’s time for some football.
The Rams will host a two-day rookie minicamp for as many as 27 players, those who either were drafted last week, signed as undrafted free agents or invited on tryout deals.
The headliner will be No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, who will be in action for the first time as the Rams’ presumptive quarterback of the future.
The practices are not open to the public, but media will be allowed to watch and report, so here are five items with the potential to be weekend storylines:
• 1. Goff’s time to shine: He’s a cool customer, or at least that’s what everyone has been hearing for weeks. Now it’s time to prove it. It’s just a minicamp, so no significant conclusions should be reached, but this is Goff’s first time to be on the field in a Rams jersey and start to feel some pressure.
Coaches and team management will be watching his every throw, and if Goff’s goal is to be the starting quarterback in September – in truth, that’s also the Rams’ goal – this is his initial chance to make a strong impression and set a tone heading into full-team workouts.
• 2. Who will catch on? Goff surely will not lack for targets. The minicamp group is expected to include recently drafted receivers Pharoh Cooper and Mike Thomas, plus undrafted signees Paul McRoberts, Marquez North and Nelson Spruce, plus tryout receiver Jimmy Worton.
The Rams have some depth issues at receiver, and this is a fantastic opportunity for Cooper to establish himself as a slot receiver and Thomas to establish himself as a big, possession target. These guys, and others, have a chance to develop an early rapport with Goff.
• 3. Tight-end competition: Tyler Higbee, a fourth-round pick, was arraigned Thursday and pleaded not guilty to assault charges. Higbee is expected to participate in the minicamp along with Temarrick Hemingway, whom the Rams drafted in the sixth round.
The Rams certainly need at least one field-stretching tight end. The question is whether Hemingway simply is a safety net, should things go wrong with Higbee, or whether both players have the potential to earn playing time to complement starter Lance Kendricks.
• 4. New kicker? Coach Jeff Fisher has made it known that kicker Greg Zuerlein, who struggled in 2015, isn’t going to retain his job without a training-camp battle, so there’s a great opportunity here for undrafted free agent Taylor Bertolet (Texas A&M) to make an impact and put himself into the fall competition.
The Rams are likely to add a veteran kicker or two before fall camp, and Bertolet was an interesting inclusion. A highly touted high school kicker, Bertolet didn’t win the Aggies’ job outright until his senior year, then made only 22 of 31 field-goal attempts last season. He did make 5 of 9 from 50 yards and beyond.
• 5. Those other guys: Defense? There are defensive players at the minicamp also? The Rams’ roster is more stable on that side of the ball than on offense, but they will be looking for depth players at linebacker and in the defensive backfield.
The Rams used only one of their six draft picks on a defensive player, linebacker Josh Forrest, but have an intriguing group of undrafted free agents. There are four linebackers and five defensive backs, plus a familiar name, that of Nevada defensive lineman Ian Seau, nephew of Hall of Famer Junior Seau.
znModeratorNFC West draft grades: Seahawks, Rams collect impact players
Bucky Brooks
NOTABLE SELECTIONS
BEST PICK: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
Seattle Seahawks, Round 2, No. 49 overall.It’s hard to find big-bodied defenders with non-stop motors and excellent hand skills in Round 2. Yet, the Seahawks were able to grab the standout interior defender on Day 2 to fill the void created by Brandon Mebane’s departure. Reed not only steps into the lineup as a rugged nose tackle on early downs, but he could create bigger “run-through” lanes for linebacker Bobby Wagner by occupying multiple blockers at the point of attack.
MOST SURPRISING PICK: Joshua Garnett, OG, Stanford
San Francisco 49ers, Round 1, No. 28 overall.The 49ers shocked the football world when they moved up several spots to grab Garnett at the bottom of Round 1. Although the mauler/brawler was considered one of the top offensive guards in the class, it is hard to quantify the value of a road grader in Chip Kelly’s zone-based system. Sure, the 49ers will likely execute some “down and around” schemes in the running game, but Garnett’s physical style appears better suited to a power-based system that allows him to mash defenders at the point of attack. Time will tell if the 49ers employ a running scheme that allows him to play up to the lofty expectations that will accompany his arrival as a top pick.
BIGGEST SLEEPER: Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina
Los Angeles Rams, Round 4, No. 117 overall.Cooper is the kind of “catch and run” specialist who shines in a spread offense that gets the ball to playmakers on the move. He flashes exceptional quickness and wiggle in the open field, but he also possesses the strength and power to run through arm tackles in tight quarters. With the Rams poised to incorporate more bubble screens and RPOs designed to make young quarterback Jared Goff comfortable, Cooper could play a big role opposite Tavon Austin in Los Angeles’ revamped offense.
TEAM GRADES
NOTE: Draft classes are ranked from best to worst within the division.1) Seattle Seahawks
» Round 1: (No. 31 overall) Germain Ifedi, OG.
» Round 2: (49) Jarran Reed, DT.
» Round 3: (90) C.J. Prosise, RB; (94) Nick Vannett, TE; (97) Rees Odhiambo, OG.
» Round 5: (147) Quinton Jefferson, DT; (171) Alex Collins, RB.
» Round 6: (215) Joey Hunt, C.
» Round 7: (243) Kenny Lawler, WR; (247) Zac Brooks, RB.The Seahawks have assembled one of the most talented rosters in football through shrewd draft-day moves and superb player development. The team has traditionally knocked it out of the park in the later rounds, but the Seahawks also scored well on their early-round selections in 2016. Germain Ifedi and Rees Odhiambo will anchor a revamped offensive line with their collective size, strength and athleticism. Position coach Tom Cable should quickly whip them into shape and insert the young duo into the lineup. Nick Vannett could make key contributions as a TE3 behind Luke Willson and Jimmy Graham. At running back, the Seahawks grabbed three players (C.J. Prosise, Alex Collins and Zac Brooks) to fill the void created by Marshawn Lynch’s retirement. Prosise and Collins should push Thomas Rawls for playing time as role players in a deep and talented backfield. Keep an eye on receiver Kenny Lawler as a red-zone playmaker with excellent potential. The 6-foot-2, 203-pounder is a terrific jump-ball specialist with outstanding hands and ball skills. And, as documented above, Jarran Reed was an absolute steal in Round 2. GRADE: B
2) Los Angeles Rams
» Round 1: (No. 1 overall) Jared Goff, QB.
» Round 4: (110) Tyler Higbee, TE; (117) Pharoh Cooper, WR.
» Round 6: (177) Temarrick Hemingway, TE; (190) Josh Forrest, ILB; (206) Mike Thomas, WR.The grade on the Rams’ 2016 class will hinge on the performance of Jared Goff as the team’s new franchise quarterback. Los Angeles essentially mortgaged the farm to jump up to the top overall spot for the Cal product, so the pressure will be on him to help the Rams become perennial contenders in the NFC. Some observers question whether Goff can transition effectively into a pro quarterback after honing his skills in the “Bear Raid” system, but the pinpoint passer is deadly accurate, and his distribution skills could make the Rams’ offense more dangerous with a cast of “catch and run” specialists on the perimeter. To that point, the Rams deserve credit for snagging Tyler Higbee, Temarrick Hemingway, Pharoh Cooper and Mike Thomas to provide their young passer with athletic weapons to target on quick-rhythm passes. With coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead surrounding Goff with a host of young, athletic playmakers on the perimeter, the top pick could make an immediate impact as a Day 1 starter. GRADE: B-
3) Arizona Cardinals
» Round 1: (No. 29 overall) Robert Nkemdiche, DT.
» Round 3: (92) Brandon Williams, CB.
» Round 4: (128) Evan Boehm, C.
» Round 5: (167) Marqui Christian, SS; (170) Cole Toner, OT.
» Round 6: (205) Harlan Miller, CB.The Cardinals certainly aren’t risk-averse under GM Steve Keim and coach Bruce Arians. The team’s ultra-confident leaders have a knack for getting maximum production from enigmatic prospects, which is why the Robert Nkemdiche pick didn’t come as a surprise to the scouting community. The freakishly athletic defender flashes a rare combination of size, strength and explosiveness for a 6-3, 294-pounder. Yes, his pedestrian numbers and potential character concerns made him a tough evaluation for some observers, but the Cardinals snagged a Darnell Dockett clone with tremendous upside as an interior disruptor. Brandon Williams is an intriguing prospect as a converted cornerback with limited experience. The former running back possesses the speed and athleticism to run with receivers down the field, but he must refine his fundamentals and footwork to become more effective on underneath coverage. Cornerback Harlan Miller could surprise as a late pick. The Southeastern Louisiana product has the length and aggressive temperament to thrive in the Cardinals’ aggressive scheme. GRADE: C+
4) San Francisco 49ers
» Round 1: (No. 7 overall) DeForest Buckner, DE; (28) Joshua Garnett, OG.
» Round 3: (68) Will Redmond, CB.
» Round 4: (133) Rashard Robinson, CB.
» Round 5: (142) Ronald Blair, DE; (145) John Theus, OT; (174) Fahn Cooper, OT.
» Round 6: (207) Jeff Driskel, QB; (211) Kelvin Taylor, RB; (213) Aaron Burbridge, WR.
» Round 7: (249) Prince Charles Iworah, CB.The Chip Kelly era begins with a host of rookies poised to play pivotal roles on both sides of the ball. DeForest Buckner will join former Oregon teammate Arik Armstead on the front line to give the 49ers a long, rangy set of defenders to build around. Will Redmond and Rashard Robinson will compete for playing time on the perimeter as sub-package corners. Each corner is a bump-and-run specialist with the agility and quickness to challenge shifty receivers at the line. Ronald Blair is a productive pass rusher with a non-stop motor. He could crack the rotation as a situational rusher on passing downs. On offense, the 49ers pulled off a head-scratcher with the selection of Joshua Garnett at the bottom of Round 1, as I mentioned earlier. Yes, he is a powerful run blocker, but the 49ers might’ve expended more capital than needed in trading up to acquire an interior blocker with a game that doesn’t appear to suit the athletic blocking scheme Kelly used in his previous stops. GRADE: C+
May 6, 2016 at 7:42 am in reply to: from "away" – draftniks & reporters on the draft as a whole #43498znModeratorfrom NFC West draft grades: Seahawks, Rams collect impact players
Bucky Brooks
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BIGGEST SLEEPER: Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina
Los Angeles Rams, Round 4, No. 117 overall.Cooper is the kind of “catch and run” specialist who shines in a spread offense that gets the ball to playmakers on the move. He flashes exceptional quickness and wiggle in the open field, but he also possesses the strength and power to run through arm tackles in tight quarters. With the Rams poised to incorporate more bubble screens and RPOs designed to make young quarterback Jared Goff comfortable, Cooper could play a big role opposite Tavon Austin in Los Angeles’ revamped offense.
TEAM GRADES
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2) Los Angeles Rams
» Round 1: (No. 1 overall) Jared Goff, QB.
» Round 4: (110) Tyler Higbee, TE; (117) Pharoh Cooper, WR.
» Round 6: (177) Temarrick Hemingway, TE; (190) Josh Forrest, ILB; (206) Mike Thomas, WR.The grade on the Rams’ 2016 class will hinge on the performance of Jared Goff as the team’s new franchise quarterback. Los Angeles essentially mortgaged the farm to jump up to the top overall spot for the Cal product, so the pressure will be on him to help the Rams become perennial contenders in the NFC. Some observers question whether Goff can transition effectively into a pro quarterback after honing his skills in the “Bear Raid” system, but the pinpoint passer is deadly accurate, and his distribution skills could make the Rams’ offense more dangerous with a cast of “catch and run” specialists on the perimeter. To that point, the Rams deserve credit for snagging Tyler Higbee, Temarrick Hemingway, Pharoh Cooper and Mike Thomas to provide their young passer with athletic weapons to target on quick-rhythm passes. With coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead surrounding Goff with a host of young, athletic playmakers on the perimeter, the top pick could make an immediate impact as a Day 1 starter. GRADE: B-
znModeratorHe just didn’t face any other defenses that could either match up like that or defend like that.
I dunno Mack. He didn’t face any other tough defenses in 3 years at Cal? And I’ll tell you what he won’t repeat. Facing a tough defense with one of the worst OLs in college football combined with one of the worst defenses (if not THE worst) in college football.
May 5, 2016 at 10:40 pm in reply to: Rams of this moment have 3 Air Raid qbs…can Goff transition? #43487znModeratorYou mean like Fisher’s adapted the offense to all the other QBs when Bradford went down?
Hmmmm.
I have a doubt.
He did though. It was visible. Or rather, as any good head coach would if he’s not basically running the offense because he’s the real coordinator (as with Arians), his coaches did it. It was as simple as featuring strengths and minimizing weaknesses, but it was there.
znModeratorznModeratorThey just cut one first round pick and traded away another.
May 5, 2016 at 12:18 am in reply to: from "away" – draftniks & reporters on the draft as a whole #43456znModeratorfrom: Ranking NFL teams’ offseasons 1-32 (USA Today)
Nate Davis, USA TODAY Sports
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2016/05/03/ranking-nfl-teams-offseason-grades/83833336/
4. Los Angeles Rams: It’s already been a year of big moves for this team, literally and figuratively. But it’s understandable why coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead would part with so much draft capital to get Cal QB Jared Goff at No. 1 overall considering one Rams passer in the past nine seasons has managed to throw for at least 20 TDs. Despite cutting aging defensive mainstays Chris Long and James Laurinaitis and failing to re-sign CB Janoris Jenkins, this club got better this offseason.
znModeratorznModeratorGeneral Grant expelled the Jews in his war zone. I never knew that.
Yeah.
I just found that out this year, myself.
Though as b. points out he made an effort later to redeem himself.
A famous Grant story:
SHILOH: The evening of April 6 was a dispiriting end to the first day of one of the bloodiest battles in U.S. history. The desperate screams of soldiers dying on the fields between the armies could be heard in the Union and Confederate camps throughout the night. A thunderstorm passed through the area and rhythmic shelling from the Union gunboats made the night a miserable experience for all. A famous anecdote encapsulates Grant’s attitude on on his near defeat and his tendency for offensive action. Sherman encountered Grant under a tree, sheltering himself from the pouring rain, smoking one of his cigars, considering his losses and planning for the next day. Sherman remarked, “Well, Grant, we’ve had the devil’s own day, haven’t we?” Grant looked up. “Yes,” he replied, followed by a puff. “Yes. Lick ’em tomorrow, though.”
znModeratorWell, it could take a while for the Rams OLine injuries to pile up. Ya know.They have more depth and experience on the OLine this year. So, they could be good for the first month or so.
I read that as quietly understated dark irony.
“I say with dignified enthusiasm that because they are deeper now, it could be at least a month before the Rams typical massive OL injuries pile up to the point of destroying them. … So, go Rams!”
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Samuel Beckett, from Endgame:
Hamm: And the horizon? Nothing on the horizon?
Clov: (Lowering the telescope, turning towards Hamm, exasperated): What in God’s name would there be on the horizon? (Pause.)
Hamm: The waves, how are the waves?
Clov: The waves? (He turns the telescope on the waves.) Lead.
Hamm: And the sun?
Clove: (Looking) Zero.
Hamm: But it should be sinking. Look again.
Clov: (Looking) Damn the sun.
Hamm: Is it night already then?
Clov: (Looking) No.
Hamm: Then what is it?
Clov: (Looking) Gray.May 4, 2016 at 8:39 pm in reply to: Rams of this moment have 3 Air Raid qbs…can Goff transition? #43441znModeratorBut into the vestiges of Shotty’s Coryell/WCO hybrid which is now more of a quasi-WCO?
Well, to put this in “informal poll” terms, my own personal view is that a mobile pocket passer with good pocket presence will thrive in the Rams offense. I basically see traits in Goff that remind me of Montana, Brady, Warner, and Manning. I am not predicting he will be their equal but I do think that’s his general territory, and I think he has a lot of the football virtues of those who belong in that territory. In fact one of the big things in this offense is setting up big plays (sometimes play action but not always play action and sometimes not even passes) and I expect that to continue. To me the only way all this doesn’t happen is if Goff just doesn’t turn out to be what he appears he is.
znModeratoryeah foles wasn’t able to adjust at all. keenum did with relatively better success. hope goff does better.
Well when it comes to Goff adapting, I like what the articles say in this thread:
link: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/rams-of-this-moment-have-3-air-raid-qbs-can-goff-transition/
More than typical Air Raid quarterbacks, Goff was trusted with making pre-snap reads, which, to Leach’s point, should prove valuable for his transition to the NFL. Depending on the defense’s alignment, Goff said he was firmly “in control,” with the responsibility to shift protections, audible to a run or alternate pass play and call individual hot routes for his receivers.
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Vision/reads progression 9. This is an area where Goff shines. He showed a consistent ability to scan the field and find the correct receiver. As I will note more than once, the argument that many talking heads make that he did not make “pro” reads because he played in the “Bear Raid” offense is lazy, tired, and stale. Anyone who watched and understood the film would know that the offense often incorporated full field reads, and Goff showed great aptitude for making them.
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System translation (aka how easy to compare to a pro system) 7. Cal’s offense is not as “college systemy” as many of the talking heads like to say without watching. As mentioned above, Goff made plenty of full field reads. Was he under center? No, and that does lower his score. But the NFL game is increasingly being run from shotgun. Nobody criticized Tom Brady for beating the Seahawks in the Super Bowl in what was almost as “spread” as any college offense. It is true that Cal’s offense relied on screens and run option passes more than most NFL teams do, but Goff was not a single read or half field read quarterback. Goff had the ability to change protections and plays at the line and shouldered the responsibilities of a pro quarterback. There will be some adjustment to being under center more than he is used to, but there was plenty of film available of Goff “doing NFL things.”
May 4, 2016 at 7:03 pm in reply to: Rams of this moment have 3 Air Raid qbs…can Goff transition? #43427znModerator
znModeratordoes fisher adjust a little bit to goff? maybe he should.
I think that’s one of the reasons Foles got benched–he not only wasn’t taking to the (to him) new approach, he was actually asking for more hurry up, spread, shotgun stuff.
Meanwhile, Keenum adjusted.
Yes there will be some stuff for Goff, but, all signs are, they want him to learn a play action pro style offense, not to change the offense for him.
znModeratorRams draft pick Tyler Higbee to be arraigned on assault charge
A.J. Perez
Los Angeles Rams draft pick Tyler Higbee will be arraigned in a Kentucky courtroom Thursday on charges that stem from an altercation outside a club on April 10.
Higbee, who played tight end at Western Kentucky University, will plead not guilty to second-degree assault, second-degree evading police and public intoxication charges, his lawyer, Brian Lowder, told USA TODAY Sports. The Rams selected Higbee in the fourth round at last week’s draft.
“He’s in good spirits and is excited about the opportunity to play with the Rams,” Lowder said.
Messages left with Christopher Cohron, the commonwealth attorney for the Eighth Judicial Circuit, were not returned this week.
The man Higbee allegedly assaulted, Nawaf Alsaleh, outside a Bowling Green music club lay unconscious for at least 20 minutes, according to the police report obtained by USA TODAY Sports. Alsaleh was transported to TriStar Skyline Medical Center in Nashville in serious condition, where he was diagnosed with a concussion and brain hemorrhage. He was eventually upgraded to good condition and released days later, according to WBKO-TV.
Higbee denied using racial slurs leading up to hitting Alsaleh, which witnesses told police preceded the altercation. Higbee did tell police he said “Watch out, Haji” after he struck Alsaleh.
“Higbee stated that the victim had been getting close to his girlfriend and getting close to him and stuck his head in Higbee’s face,” one of the Bowling Breen police officers wrote in the report. “Higbee stated that he hit the victim once and knocked him out and then left the area.”
Higbee initially fled the scene when officers arrived before he was eventually caught as he tried to hide behind some small trees near a church, according to the report. It also said Higbee “was heavily intoxicated” and had “heavily slurred speech.
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