Winnbrad wrote:

Keenum and Foles is not the way to start the season. We’ve seen that show. It ends at 7-9.

To be honest, I think they do better than 7-9 if Keenum played all year. He’s clearly not a franchise qb type, but, he has enough I think for them to win more often than not, provided they have a top defense and a running game.

NFLDraftScout.com

Top-50 Draft Board 2.0: Reshuffling the deck after the combine

Dane Brugler

.http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25503943/nfl-draft-top-50-draft-board-20

As the calendar changes from February to March, NFL teams switch their focus from the combine to the pro day circuit, which means an update to the top-50 draft board.

My second top-50 draft board has five new names: Appalachian State defensive end Ronald Blair, Boise State defensive end Kamalei Correa, Baylor cornerback Xavien Howard, Colorado State wide receiver Rashard Higgins and Oklahoma wide receiver Sterling Shepard.

The top seven has not changed from the first draft board with Ole Miss offensive tackle Laremy Tunsil, UCLA linebacker Myles Jack and Florida State safety Jalen Ramsey holding the top three spots. Due to multiple teams failing his physical at the combine, Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith was not included in this update.

This board will fluctuate somewhat throughout the process with two more updates (one after pro days and the medical re-checks and a final update the week before the draft).

1. Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss (6-5, 305, 5.23, Jr.)
Despite never earning SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors in his three-year Ole Miss career, Tunsil is the best prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft. He is a nimble big man with a rare athletic skill set for the position and his flaws are more nitpicking than true weaknesses.

2. Myles Jack, LB, UCLA (6-1, 245, 4.56, Jr.)
Jack is an athletic specimen with above average pursuit speed, contact balance and mental processor to know everything going on around him. He doesn’t have ideal size or power and his medicals need to be vetted (meniscus), but Jack has the athletic skill set to be a difference-maker.

3. Jalen Ramsey, S, Florida State (6-1, 202, 4.49, Jr.)
If you combined a safety, cornerback and linebacker into one prospect, the result would look something like Ramsey, who was blessed with the inherent instincts and an impressive size/athletic profile. It’s rare to see defensive backs mentioned as worthy of the top pick, but he deserves it.

4. Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State (6-5, 275, 4.82, Jr.)
Bosa is very physically gifted, but even better, he knows how to use those gifts and works his tail off to maximize his potential. He might never be a consistent double-digit sack artist in the NFL, but he is scheme versatile with the power, athleticism and instinctive traits to disrupt the pocket.

Joey Bosa could fit into an NFL defensive scheme in multiple ways. (USATSI)
Joey Bosa could fit into an NFL defensive scheme in multiple ways. (USATSI)
5. Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State (6-0, 225, 4.42, Jr.)
Elliott has the résumé of a playmaker and is extremely well-rounded, doing some of his best work away from the ball. He is outstanding at syncing his eyes with his feet to read, cut and go in a fluid motion, displaying the playmaking traits to make an impact runner from day one.

6. Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss (6-2, 210, 4.52, Jr.)
Although he’s not a sudden athlete, Treadwell plays with athletic twitch and power to be a threat before and after the catch. He has exceptional ball skills and catching radius with strong hands to pluck away from his body, drawing comparisons to a lesser-dynamic version of Dez Bryant.

7. DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon (6-7, 290, 4.87, Sr.)
Buckner plays with explosive movements and terrific body control for a man his size, flashing heavy hands and initial power to be a disruptive force. He’s still learning how to string together rush moves, but developed into more of a consistent playmaker as a senior.

8. Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville (6-1, 303, 4.92, Sr.)
A balanced athlete for his size, Rankins is a physical presence with the hand strength to press blockers off his frame, create separation and disrupt the backfield. He keeps his eyes trained on the ball and understands different hand tactics — an ascending player.

9. Jared Goff, QB, California (6-4, 210, 4.82, Jr.)
Goff has good, but not great, physical traits and arm strength, but his best qualities are his intelligence, pocket mechanics and ability to self-evaluate. He undoubtedly faces a learning curve in the NFL, but he has the passing traits and mental process to find success early in his pro career.

10. Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State (6-5, 231, 4.84, RSr.)
Although his internal clock and eye use need maturing, Wentz boasts a NFL-style skill set with his size, athleticism and arm talent. He lacks ideal experience against top competition, but his tape shows the anticipation and field vision to work through reads and make sound decisions.

11. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame (6-6, 315, 5.17, RJr.)
A dancing bear, Stanley was blessed with the athleticism, long arms and above-average feet to handle speed and mirror rushers in space. He needs to fine tune his mechanics before he’s ready for NFL snaps, but his upside and athletic skill set should land him in the top 10.

12. Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State (6-1, 235, 4.48, RSo.)
A high school quarterback, Lee is still young in linebacker years, but he is a fantastic athlete with long arms, aggressive hands and the striking ability to finish through his target. He is a versatile run-and-hit defender with an attacking mindset that fits today’s NFL. Lee’s combine performance coupled with Jack’s injury concerns could make him the first linebacker drafted.

13. Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson (5-10, 195, 4.43, RSo.)
Alexander didn’t record an interception in college, but he wasn’t consistently targeted, not allowing a touchdown the final 24 games of his career. While his route anticipation and technique need work, he is able to smother receivers with his lower body fluidity and quick reflexes.

14. Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson (6-3, 270, 4.67, RJr.)
Despite losing eight defensive starters from 2014, Clemson’s defense ranked top 10 nationally in 2015 and Lawson was a substantial reason for that, leading the nation in tackles for loss (25.5). He isn’t a long-armed, twitchy athlete, but his efficient pass-rush process makes him productive.

15. Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida (5-11, 199, 4.48, Jr.)
Although he has only ordinary size, Hargreaves is above average in three main areas for the position: play speed, instincts and competitive toughness. He needs to improve his timing and spacing in coverage but has a coachable attitude and decisive reactor.

16. Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky (6-3, 261, 4.68, RJr.)
An Ohio State transfer, Spence is one of the top wild cards in the 2016 class due to his immense talent, but heavy baggage off the field. He is a slippery rusher with the initial burst, lateral quicks and natural leverage to threaten the pocket on a regular basis.

17. Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama (6-2, 252, 4.72, Sr.)
An excellent point of attack defender, Ragland has terrific play speed, and it’s no coincidence that he’s always around the ball with his diagnose skills. He can be overaggressive at times, but he’s a punishing tackler and flashes violence in his hands to detach himself from blocks.

18. Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama (6-3, 313, 5.14, Sr.)
Although not a rangy player, Reed is a smooth athlete for his size, scraping down the line of scrimmage and pushing the pocket (led all Alabama defensive linemen in tackles each of the last two seasons). He is the draft’s top nose tackle due to his stout anchor and balance.

19. Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis (6-6, 230, 4.95, RJr.)
A late bloomer, Lynch needs mechanical work and on-field reps, but he checks boxes for his size, athleticism, arm talent and appetite for football. Although his pro transition requires time, the ingredients are there for Lynch to develop into a NFL starter.

20. Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State (6-6, 318, 5.43, RJr.)
Conklin will struggle with speed at times, but no one is going through him due to his wide base and contact balance, always ready for action, which compensates for his elite quickness in pass protection. He is well-coached, physical and a natural competitor.

21. Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State (6-1, 200, 4.52, RSo.)
Apple isn’t afraid to be physical and contest at the top of routes, but he’s still learning what he can get away with and what will draw flags. He has several traits for the position that translate well to the next level with his size, length and athleticism to stay in phase with receivers.

22. Cody Whitehair, G, Kansas State (6-4, 309, 5.08, RSr.)
Whitehair left an indelible mark at KSU with his leadership, work ethic and high level of play the last four years at both tackle and guard. He doesn’t have the length to hold up consistently on the edges in the NFL, but Whitehair has the base strength and instincts to start at guard right now.

23. Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss (6-3, 296, 4.86, Jr.)
A boom-or-bust type of prospect, Nkemdiche has above-average athleticism for his size, with the movement skills to skirt blockers and win with power. He is one of the top 10 talents in this draft class, but not one of the top 10 football players at this point in his development.

24. A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama (6-3, 312, 5.18, Jr.)
Nicknamed the “man child” growing up, Robinson has the look and power of a full grown man. His flashes are very good, but they don’t happen consistently, mostly because he was asked to two-gap, clog things up and occupy blockers, which doesn’t show up in the box score.

25. Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor (5-10, 190, 4.42, RJr.)
Baylor’s wide-open offense is mostly half-field reads and unchallenged routes, making it difficult to compare Coleman’s college film to what he’ll see in the NFL. However, he has the athletic traits and competitive temperament that suggest it’s only a matter of time before he finds success.

26. William Jackson, CB, Houston (6-1, 195, 4.52, Sr.)
Jackson, who leaves Houston with a school-record 48 passes defended, was a wide receiver in high school and does a lot of receiver-like things at the catch point with his tracking ability, length and ball skills. He can struggle in zone, but he plays sticky coverage in press-man.

27. Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State (6-7, 315, 5.21, Sr.)
Although he can struggle at times with speed off the edge, especially flexible rushers who can bend underneath him, Decker has the frame, balance and forceful hands to neutralize quickness and control the point of attack. He doesn’t have a high NFL ceiling, but he’s a day one starter.

28. Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor (6-1, 310, 5.04, Jr.)
Billings, who was a record-setting weight-lifter in high school, flashes dominant qualities when he keeps his pad level low, rolls his hips and pushes his momentum into the pocket. As the technique and discipline catch up, Billings should continue to get better.

29. Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech (6-3, 309, 5.06, Sr.)
Butler’s flashes are impressive due to his lower body athleticism and upper body power to stack blockers and make stops at or behind the line of scrimmage. He needs to develop his pass rush technique, but his relentless playing temperament fits every scheme.

30. Jonathan Bullard, DL, Florida (6-3, 283, 4.86, Sr.)
A player who benefited by returning for his senior season, Bullard is a wrecking ball at the line of scrimmage due to his anticipation off the snap and quick reflexes to find the ball. He is limited as a pass rusher, but scheme diverse due to his play recognition at the point of attack.

31. Kenny Clark, DT, UCLA (6-2, 310, 5.14, Jr.)
A former high school wrestling champ, Clark translates several of those techniques from the mat to the football field. He is powerful at the point of attack and flashes the violence, agility and motor to twist and drive blockers backwards, projecting in an even or odd front.

32. Josh Doctson, WR, TCU (6-2, 195, 4.49, RSr.)
Although his experience is in a spread offense that didn’t ask him to run a full route tree, Doctson shows outstanding effort on throws in his zip code, expanding his catch radius, contorting his body and finding ways to finish catches — often bailing out his quarterback.

33. Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson (6-4, 275, 4.84, RJr.)
Although he didn’t start until this past season, Dodd made it count with 23.5 tackles for loss and a dozen sacks, numbers that fell just shy of Lawson’s for the team lead. Dodd is still raw in areas, but with his size and quickness off the ball, he has been steadily rising.

34. Ryan Kelly, C, Alabama (6-4, 297, 5.23, RSr.)
The glue of the Crimson Tide offensive line, Kelly was a three-year starter in Tuscaloosa and a model of consistency. He tends to get overaggressive and fall off blocks, but he is quick in his movements and works hard to maintain leverage, projecting as the draft’s top center.

35. Michael Thomas, WR, Ohio State (6-3, 210, 4.54, RJr.)
Although not the fastest or most explosive, Thomas is a good-sized athlete and detailed route runner with little wasted movements to create spacing at the stem. He will need time to adapt to a NFL playbook, but his savvy footwork, body control and ball skills are starter quality.

36. Vonn Bell, S, Ohio State (5-11, 205, 4.52, Jr.)
Although his tackling mechanics need some refinement, Bell plays with the requisite mental and physical toughness and can hold his own in man coverage. His athleticism, timing and savvy at the position translate well to the next level, along with his decisive reactor.

37. Pharoh Cooper, WR, South Carolina (5-11, 208, 4.52, Jr.)
A playmaker with the ball in his hands, Cooper displays the play speed, elusive cuts and start/stop movements to create on his own, before and after the catch. Similar to Randall Cobb when he came out of Kentucky, Cooper is a jack-of-all-trades weapon on offense.

38. Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame (6-0, 184, 4.42, RJr.)
A dynamic deep threat, Fuller has the uncanny ability to create separation late in his route, using an extra gear when the ball is in the air, a burst that most cornerbacks can’t match. His dropped passes are frustrating, but he is a big-time playmaker due to his ability to stretch the field.

39. Su’a Cravens, S/LB, Southern California (6-1, 225, 4.58, Jr.)
Cravens was asked to do a little bit of everything for the Trojans in a hybrid safety/linebacker role. His take-on strength and physical nature as a tackler are both below average, but he’s a fluid athlete with excellent reaction skills and instincts to cover on an island.

40. Ronald Blair, DE, Appalachian State (6-2, 284, 5.15, RSr.)
Although his combine numbers don’t accurately reflect his impressive tape, Blair belongs in the second-round discussion. He plays with violent hands and aggressive pass rush moves to rip through blockers, showing the effort to finish in the pocket.

41. Kendall Fuller, CB, Virginia Tech (6-0, 197, 4.48, Jr.)
Fuller looked like a future high-round pick his first two years in Blacksburg, but 2015 was a lost season for him due to a torn meniscus. Nonetheless, he has the short-area quickness, controlled footwork and natural feel in coverage to be a reliable NFL starter.

42. Kamalei Correa, DE/LB, Boise State (6-3, 243, 4.69, Jr.)
Correa lacks much variety with his pass rush at this point in his development and his production is based more on effort and raw athleticism than technique and discipline. But he has the movement skills and competitive toughness worth grooming in a 3-4 scheme.

43. Xavien Howard, CB, Baylor (6-0, 201, 4.58, RJr.)
Howard won’t be featured as the prototype for fundamentals in coverage, but his ability to find the ball in flight and use his ball skills to disrupt the catch point is above average. Although his long-speed isn’t ideal, he mixes things up and does a lot of receiver-like things in coverage.

44. Emmanuel Ogbah, DE, Oklahoma State (6-3, 275, 4.76, RJr.)
A native of Nigeria, Ogbah is a “coach’s dream” according to Mike Gundy due to his strong work ethic, intelligence and discipline. He is still learning the complexities of the position and lacks elite burst, but he’s a balanced athlete with a coachable mentality that can be molded.

45. Leonard Floyd, LB, Georgia (6-3, 232, 4.73, RJr.)
Floyd will likely be drafted higher than this ranking, especially after he blew up the combine. He has impressive rush skills to dip and flatten around the edge, but his lack of functional strength is a glaring concern — once blockers make contact, he’s too easily shut down.

46. Artie Burns, CB, Miami (6-0, 193, 4.53, Jr.)
Although undisciplined as a tackler and with his hands in coverage, Burns has the requisite play speed, lower body explosion and hip fluidity to play in both man and zone coverage in the NFL. He will be a special teams stand-out while his route anticipation and hand tactics improve.

47. Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State (6-1, 196, 4.64, Jr.)
Higgins doesn’t have elite size or speed for the position, but he might be the best receiver in this class at finding open zones and giving his quarterback a clean target. He is a natural catcher of the football with the production that matches the tape.

48. Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma (5-10, 194, 4.48, Sr.)
Although his lack of size and strength will limit him in some areas, Shepard has above average body control and route savvy, using tempo and multiple gears to get open. Despite his limitations, Shepard is a very natural pass-catcher with the skills to be a YAC monster.

49. Derrick Henry, RB, Alabama (6-2, 242, 4.54, Jr.)
Since 2011, Alabama has had four running backs drafted in the first two rounds (with mixed results) and Henry should be the fifth. He is a powerful, yet graceful north-south athlete who can fit through tight spaces, using patience and instincts to gash defenses.

50. Austin Johnson, DT, Penn State (6-3, 325, 5.27, RJr.)
A prospect whose production matches his tape, Johnson is built well to take on multiple blockers and clog the middle of the field. His motor is always revving and he moves well in small areas, showing the strong hands to stack and create movement in even and odd fronts

What we learned: Rams re-establishing L.A. foothold

Marc Sessler

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000641429/article/what-we-learned-rams-reestablishing-la-foothold

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. — It’s starting to sink in now. The Rams have come home.

Around the NFL was on hand Friday as players and coaches gathered at the Manhattan Beach Marriott for a two-hour orientation meeting to unpack the task at hand: Shipping an NFL franchise — and its hundreds of employees — from St. Louis to Los Angeles.

“There’s a lot of people in our organization working very, very hard to make this come true,” coach Jeff Fisher told reporters. “Our focus when the deal was done was to take care of the players. That’s priority No. 1, to make sure they can get set up.”

Fisher said roughly 80 percent of the roster attended Friday’s gathering, which was less about Xs and Os and more about finding living arrangements with a manageable drive to work through L.A.’s infamous auto sprawl.

“One of the things we discussed with the players was the commute,” Fisher said. “Very, very important consideration. We have guys that are going to come to work early, especially once the season starts.”

The team still isn’t certain where they’ll set up shop, but Fisher said the Rams are scouting UC-Irvine for training camp and eyeing the Thousand Oaks area for a temporary in-season facility.

With all of this in mind, it wasn’t surprising to see an additional element on hand as we poured from the news conference into the hotel’s plush lobby: Real estate agents.

It’s going to be a fascinating offseason for Fisher and his gaggle of Rams.

Here’s what else we learned:

1. The Rams are selling their new West Coast faithful on a roster built around a pounding ground game and a smothering defense led by quarterback-nightmare Aaron Donald. His teammate, newly anointed middle linebacker Alec Ogletree, says the Rams have run out of reasons to fall short in the battle-tested NFC West.

“There’s nothing missing,” Ogletree said. “It’s just more that everybody has to have the mind-set to go and do it. We don’t have an excuse to be under .500 any more. We’ve lost enough games and I feel like it’s time for us to step up to the plate here and be a top team in the league … and be a team over .500. Anything less than that is unacceptable.”

2. We remain suspicious of the Rams touting Case Keenum as a clear-cut NFL starter, but the young quarterback exuded confidence during Friday’s meeting with the media. “It’s the first time that I’ve had a coach believe in me through the offseason like this,” Keenum told Around the NFL. “So, I’m excited about the position that I’m in and the position the team is in. I think we’re poised to make that next step and be a playoff contender.”

The undrafted Keenum also made it clear he plans to keep the job, saying: “I want to be the leader this team needs me to be and the leader that I know how to be … and I hope the guys look at me like that.”

3. Coolest encounter of the day: Watching Hall of Fame runner Eric Dickerson talk shop with backfield sensation Todd Gurley. Fellow Canton entry and Rams great Jackie Slater was also on hand to counsel the players about life in Los Angeles.

For Slater, watching the Rams return home is special: “It means that the team I played on is going to be playing in Southern California and I’ll get to watch them and pull for them again,” he told us. “I played quite a bit of football wearing those colors and it’s hard not to be loyal and supportive and all of that. Now that they’re back, it’s going to be easier.”

Slater, though, knows that L.A. sports fans can be a fickle beast, saying: “There are going to be a lot of people coming to watch them — expecting a lot out of them. And they’ve got some work to do to get that done. … I just hope and pray that the enthusiasm that we’re experiencing now is still there three years from now when they go into that new stadium.”

4. Fisher also announced that cornerback Trumaine Johnson has signed his franchise tender, sealing up the talented cover man for 2016.

5. Will the Rams — like the Lakers — draw their own pool of celebrity superfans? Too early to tell, but Donald was quick to choose which icon he hoped to see in the stands at September’s home opener: “I would say Kobe (Bryant). Just because he’s one of the best ever to play … and it would be cool to see him at a game.”

One-On-One with Aaron Donald from LA Meetings

Rams reporter Dani Klupenger gets the one-on-one interview with defensive tackle Aaron Donald after the team’s first meeting in Los Angeles.

http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/OneOnOne_with_Aaron_Donald_from_LA_Meetings/09d5ef52-8fee-4e73-a48e-bc69cb120e2e

One-On-One with Rob Havenstein from LA Meetings

Rams reporter Dani Klupenger gets the one-on-one interview with offensive tackle Rob Havenstein after the team’s first meeting in Los Angeles.

http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/OneOnOne_with_Rob_Havenstein_from_LA_Meetings/e1c4a1b0-ef84-4449-8c8e-ed28dbdeb42b

Ian Rapoport ‏@RapSheet
#Rams coach Jeff Fisher said he’s looking at the UC-Irvine facility for training camp.

Myles Simmons ‏@MylesASimmons
Fisher says team had about 80 percent of roster here for today’s meeting.

Fisher, Aaron Donald, Johnny Hekker at the table for the Rams presser to start. Fisher begins by explaining the process, reasons for meeting

Vincent Bonsignore ‏@DailyNewsVinny
#Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said 80 percent of the #Rams roster was in at attendance

Marc Sessler ‏@MarcSesslerNFL
Fisher: Rams are looking at regular season facilities in, among other places, Thousand Oaks.

Hekker: There’s 31 other teams that aren’t going through this, but Rams players and families are excited about move to LA.

Fisher: We’ve had a lot of extra things to do, but we feel prepared for draft and ‘ahead of schedule.’ #Rams

Case Keenum Press Conference – 3/4

Rams quarterback Case Keenum speaks at the Manhattan Beach press conference about stepping up and being the team leader.

http://www.therams.com/videos/videos/Case-Keenum-Press-Conference—34/5470469e-5f3f-4835-9659-064e5f0c02cd

mmqb.si.com

Five Things I Think

Robert Mays

http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/03/04/nfl-draft-joey-bosa-kevin-dodd-jalen-ramsey

1. Drafting for need continues to be a moving target. General managers can usually be found shouting “Best player available!” at clouds, but in the case of the Panthers, the importance of looking past need is readily on display right now. Carolina’s release of Charles Johnson means that its two starting defensive ends from the Super Bowl—Johnson and Jared Allen—are gone. That comes a year after the Panthers let Greg Hardy walk. When the Panthers drafted Kony Ealy in the second round with both Johnson and Hardy already in the fold, it left some people scratching their heads. Less than two years later, Ealy, coming off a breakout game in the Super Bowl, stands atop the depth chart.

2. The Cowboys and the siren song of a quarterback. Earlier this week, personnel legend Gil Brandt wrote about the Cowboys’ need for a long-term answer at quarterback and the pull of possibly finding that player with the fourth overall pick. Brandt wrote that Jerry Jones told him he will “unequivocally not” take a quarterback at No. 4, which leads to yet another conversation about the prudency of reaching for a quarterback. Johnny Manziel’s career to date makes it easy to champion the Cowboys’ decision to pass on him in favor of Zack Martin two years ago, but even less disastrous quarterback outcomes still speak to the consequences of pulling the trigger on a signal caller. Jacksonville went after Blake Bortles two seasons ago, and although Bortles started to come on in his second season, Oakland’s one-two punch of Khalil Mack and Derek Carr—a combination Jacksonville also could have had—looks a lot better to this point. The pressure for a solution at quarterback is real, but succumbing to it sometimes means leaving valuable talent on the table.

3. Jalen Ramsey gets more enticing by the day. It’s been a foregone conclusion that Laremy Tunsil is the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 pick, but with his monster showing at the combine, it feels like Jalen Ramsey is starting to make a very serious bid as the best player in the draft. If Tennessee thinks Ramsey has the chance to be the cornerback/safety/condor that many analysts do, the appeal of keeping Marcus Mariota clean shouldn’t be enough to scare them off from the Florida State star. Tennessee finished 24th in pass defense DVOA a season ago, has a need at both cornerback and safety, and could be well served by a player like Ramsey.

4. What, exactly, is wrong with Josh Doctson? Less than a month out from the Super Bowl, I’m still in the early stages of really getting to know all this year’s top prospects. But from what I’ve seen with Josh Doctson, I’m running out of reasons this guy shouldn’t go in the top half of the first round. The former TCU receiver had 79 catches for 1,327 yards and 14(!) touchdowns in 11 games this season, he was the most physically gifted receiver at this year’s combine, and his tape is full of catches that just shouldn’t happen. He comes down with everything, contested or not, and many of those plays required last-second reactions and adjustments that few receivers can even imagine making. Flexibility is a trait I’ve increasingly come to value in receivers. On top of otherworldly tools, it’s what makes Martavis Bryant terrifying. And along with possibly being Spider Man, it’s what has sent DeAndre Hopkins into the upper echelon of NFL stars. Doctson has it in bulk, and I have a feeling a team near the back end of the first round is going to reap the benefits.

5. What if the Chargers—not Dallas—are the team that picks a quarterback of the future? Philip Rivers is still an excellent quarterback, and was just handed a new deal that runs through 2019, has $13.5 million in dead money after this season and includes a no-trade clause throughout. But there’s still a way to piece together an argument for why San Diego should consider its future at No. 3:
a) Rivers is 34 years old and has expressed his trepidation about a move to Los Angeles, which still may be in the Chargers’ future.
b) Much like the Cowboys and Romo, a healthy Rivers is usually enough to keep San Diego from the top of the draft. A rash of injuries and a set of terrible breaks (see Bell, Le’Veon) gave San Diego the third pick in the draft. As long as Rivers is playing, they may not be there again.
c) On the chance the Chargers do move to Los Angeles, a shiny new quarterback would be a selling point in a new market where they’d be fighting for attention with a team that employs Todd Gurley.
d) If I remember correctly, the Chargers already had a quarterback when they drafted Rivers and sat him on the bench for his first two seasons in San Diego. The situations were very different—Drew Brees was set to be a free agent in two years and was yet to become a star in the way that Rivers has been and still is—but the history does exist.
Not giving Rivers more protection or giving their defense more bite would be a hard sell in the short term. But many of the same arguments are being made for the Cowboys securing their post-Romo future could apply to San Diego. Shocking as it would be, the logic isn’t impossible to follow.

Cowboys’ training palace will set stage for Rams to build same

Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/27402/dallas-training-palace-will-set-the-stage-for-rams-to-do-the-same

When the NFL announced in January that the Rams are moving back to Los Angeles, commissioner Roger Goodell pointed to owner Stan Kroenke’s ability to build a world-class venue in Inglewood as the driving force behind the decision.

It’s believed that when all is said and done, Kroenke’s football palace will surpass even that of the Cowboys’ AT&T stadium and become one of the preeminent sporting venues in the world.

But what about the place where the Rams will spend more than just 10 days (or so) a year? Well, if you’re wondering what the Rams’ training facility could look like, look no further than what Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is putting together in Frisco, Texas.

On Thursday ESPN’s Jean-Jacques Taylor took a closer look at the massive development and practice facility the Cowboys are building. As you’d expect, Jones’ project is every bit as extravagant and over the top as everything else he does.

It’s also a blueprint for what the Rams are likely to build once they get settled in Los Angeles. As Taylor mentions:

“Now, the Rams are planning on creating a similar concept with their training facility after they resettle in California,” Taylor writes.

Indeed they are. For now the Rams are setting up shop in temporary venues north of Los Angeles, and when they do build their permanent training facility it’s fair to expect Kroenke to follow Jones’ lead and attempt to create a facility that also generates revenue. Don’t be surprised if Kroenke tries to involve the Olympic committee as a way to help offset costs and potentially share a larger venue as well.

It’s unlikely the Rams will have that training facility complete before 2018, and it could potentially carry into 2019 when they open the Inglewood stadium depending on its scope. They’re still seeking the land, but it’s a good bet it will be somewhere in the Calabasas/Westlake Village area or thereabouts.

Before Jones’ latest venture, the most common way to make money off a practice facility was to sell the naming rights. But now that Jones is expanding that model, look for others to follow suit, with Kroenke at the head of the line.

#Rams players will meet with the L.A. media for the first time this Friday.

— Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) March 2, 2016

nittany ram wrote:

Fisher is like the James Laurinaitis of coaches in that he’s either great or terrible depending on who you talk to.

I don;t know if I see any defenders who call him “great.” You know? I think people who defend him think of him as good, and as building something that can and will work. Just an opinion, but, he doesn’t seem to attract diehard loyalty.

And many of the critics seem to just base it on the record, but the record unexamined. It’s like, okay, that’s a losing record, so….

It’s the Debate Impasse.

* “see look at the record”
* “the record is a result of losing 2 qbs”

etc.

Ron Jaworski slams Jeff Fisher, blasts contract extension talk

link: http://profootballfanzone.com/2016/03/ron-jaworski-slams-jeff-fisher-blasts-contract-extension-talk/

Someone isn’t happy about the possibility of Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher getting an extension, and his name is Ron Jaworski.

The longtime ESPN NFL analyst and former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback didn’t mince words to Mighty 1090 AM on March 1 when asked about his thoughts on Fisher:

“Did you say great coach?” Jaworski started off when being interviewed by Dan Sileo. “You’ve got to be kidding me. He’s an awful coach. He’s a terrible coach. He’s been fired by 30 teams years ago and is struggling to get back into this league. If you can’t develop a quarterback in the National Football League, you can’t be a consistent winning coach. Jeff Fisher went to one Super Bowl, he’s never developed into a consistent winning coach and he’s never developed a quarterback outside of Steve McNair. And Steve came in with a lot of ability and certainly, I did not think he was the guy.

“When you look at what that Rams offense was a year ago, it was disgusting,” Jaworski continued. “It was terrible. They were firing coaches. They were firing players. It was terrible.”

Jaworski then criticized Fisher’s decision to trade away the No. 2 overall pick to the Washington Redskins in exchange for three first round picks and a second round pick back in 2012. The move allowed Washington to draft Robert Griffin III. Jaworski pointed out that Fisher has “done nothing with it” and that “nothing positive has happened.”

Fisher has endured four consecutive losing seasons with the Rams, but has reportedly been in contract negotiations with L.A. since Feb. 29 . Fisher is 27-36-1 overall with the Rams and 169-156-1 overall in his 21 seasons as head coach.

from off the net

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jrry32

I’m not so sure Osweiler is superior to Keenum. He didn’t perform much better than Austin Davis did last year despite having far better talent around him. Keenum beat Austin Davis out for the job and looked more competent than Davis in his limited time.

And I’m not a Keenum fan at all. I just think Osweiler is getting overrated.(Same with McCarron) Neither of them impressed me.

He doesn’t really have a big arm.

Frankly, I’m not the type to look for certain skill-sets. I just want a guy that wows me. Osweiler didn’t do that.