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February 20, 2016 at 11:25 am in reply to: Rams & qbs in free agency (from RG3 to possibly Fitzpatrick) #39344
znModeratorESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan discusses whether Los Angeles makes sense to be the next NFL home for Robert Griffin III.
vid link: http://www.rams-news.com/caplan-rg3-doesnt-fit-the-scheme-in-la-video/
znModeratori wonder if mcdonald maybe takes over some of that responsibility of getting the defense organized?
IMO? A safety can’t do that for a linebacker. The MLB has to do that stuff, it’s his job. Otherwise you have a safety trying to communicate with the DEs and DTs, when he has enough of a job already communicating with the other DBs.
znModeratorogletree was highly thought of as an inside linebacker coming out of college but kind of skeptical how he’ll do at middle linebacker. he’s gonna have to toughen up a little bit.
I feel the same. My worry: Wms had a great defense in Washington until in 2006, when he let MLB Pierce go because Wms thought he could do better. The defense was tops in 2004 and 2005, but in 2006 he ended up with a train wreck instead. Pierce meanwhile went to the Giants and was instrumental in their superbowl year.
I think GW is capable of outsmarting himself.
Not making predictions, just registering some little doubts.
February 20, 2016 at 11:10 am in reply to: Wagoner, JT, Clayton, & Florio on the cuts — vid, audio, & articles #39333znModeratorPROFOOTBALLTALK
WHY DID RAMS RELEASE CHRIS LONG, JAMES LAURINATIS AND JARED COOK?The St. Louis Rams have decided to release Chris Long, James Laurinatis and Jared Cook. Mike Florio and Chris Canty explain why the Rams decided to cut ties with the three veterans.
http://www.nbcsports.com/video/why-did-rams-release-chris-long-james-laurinatis-and-jared-cook
February 20, 2016 at 9:40 am in reply to: Demoff on the Beast 2-19 (including official transcript) #39321znModeratortrying harder to win?
i’d hope that’s just pr speak.
That’s what I thought. Though the poster who made that transcript admits he wants to hear the podcast when it’s up to be sure he got that right.
February 20, 2016 at 2:24 am in reply to: Wagoner, JT, Clayton, & Florio on the cuts — vid, audio, & articles #39314znModeratorJames Laurinaitis looking for chance to ‘get the trophy’ at next stop
Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-ra…ing-for-chance-to-get-the-trophy-in-next-stop
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Always one to look at the bright side of even the worst situation — something he had plenty of practice doing playing for the Rams the past seven years — linebacker James Laurinaitis was already looking ahead to his next destination just hours after the only NFL team he’d ever known released him Friday.
“I’m not done at all,” Laurinaitis told ESPN. “I feel like I have a lot of good years left. I don’t know what to expect. This is my first time being a free agent. I’m going to look at what the interest is and let my agent go and talk to teams and see kind of who is out there. I obviously want to have a chance to get in the tournament and a chance to get the trophy. It will be fun to kind of have this process play out for the first time for me.”
Laurinaitis was caught off guard when he was called into coach Jeff Fisher’s office Friday. He was at the team facility working out at the time. He immediately knew something was up.
“Coach just thanked me for what I meant to the organization,” Laurinaitis said. “He really thought that I was first class and the blueprint for what a pro should be and was just grateful for all I’d done. Basically, he wished me luck in the future and I was told they are going to go a different direction at the ‘Mike’ linebacker position.”
“I’m more just, I was surprised by it, I was shocked at first,” he said. “But I also know this is a business and when you start to move toward the front of the parking spaces and get a little older, all those people in front of you have left so you are not any different than anybody else who is getting up there. I’m going into Year 8 and I’m still 29 and I still feel like I’m playing at a productive level. I was a little shocked from that point of view but man, other than that, it’s a business.
“Once you get to Year 8, you really allow yourself to kind of sit back and be like, ‘You know what, I’m not going to be surprised by anything.’ I have seen a lot of things and seen a lot of people go. I have been grateful to have seven years with the same team. That’s rare in and of itself. I’m not bitter about that. Just a little surprised it happened this year but that’s football.”
Laurinaitis has made plenty of money in his career, but he has never been on a team that finished .500, let alone with a winning record or in the playoffs. He’s coming off a season in which he battled an elbow issue for most of the year but still played more defensive snaps than any player in the league. And he posted his seventh consecutive season of 100 or more tackles, on his way to becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in that category.
“Goodness, for me, I want to get to 10 or 11 years,” Laurinaitis said. “I think I’ve still got four years left in me, if not more. It all depends on the organization. I want to win, I want to compete, I want to get to the playoffs and experience that. I want to play in a good scheme, I loved playing for (defensive coordinator) Gregg Williams. Him and Blake (Williams) and that scheme is one of my favorites. I’m excited to see what other schemes are out there and what could be a good fit.”
Though Laurinaitis didn’t think he’d be looking for such a fit so soon, he even found a silver lining in the timing of it all, as the Rams have a voluntary players meeting set for early March in Los Angeles.
“I am happy about that,” Laurinaitis said. “At least they told me so I don’t have to go out there with my wife and daughter and try to look at places and go through all that to be cut at a later date. I think it’s good now that teams are aware I’m a free agent and that I’ll be available. So the one thing I’m trying to look at as a positive is the timing.”
znModeratorVia his Instagram, here's former Rams LB/Buckeye All-American @JLaurinaitis55 after getting cut today … pic.twitter.com/6VSMFHT07s
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 19, 2016
February 19, 2016 at 11:42 pm in reply to: Wagoner, JT, Clayton, & Florio on the cuts — vid, audio, & articles #39309znModeratorRams cut ties with mainstays Long, Laurinaitis
• By Jim ThomasMiddle linebacker James Laurinaitis started 112 games in seven seasons. In the 21 seasons for the Rams in St. Louis, only Isaac Bruce (179), Orlando Pace (154), Torry Holt (146), and Steven Jackson (119) started more.
Because of injuries the past two seasons, defensive end Chris Long fell short of 100 starts. But in terms of overall tenure — eight seasons — only nine players were part of the team here longer — a group that includes Andy McCollum, Chris Massey, Marc Bulger, Jeff Wilkins and Leonard Little, in addition to Bruce, Pace, Holt, and Jackson.
So we’re talking two mainstays of the team in St. Louis. But as of Friday, they’re former Rams who won’t be making the trek to Los Angeles because the team announced it was releasing Long, Laurinaitis and tight end Jared Cook.
The moves save the Rams $23 million in salary cap space, broken down as follows: Long ($11.75 million), Cook ($5.7 million) and Laurinaitis ($5.25 million).
But to say the moves were totally cap-related would be incorrect. Because based on salary cap figures on file with the NFL Players Association, the Rams already had $37 million in cap space before Friday’s cuts — based on projections of a $155 million cap figure per team in 2016.
Throw in $6 million of carryover money unspent from the 2015 season, and the Rams are on track to have nearly $66 million in cap space once the free agency and trading period begins March 9.
Even before Friday’s moves, the Rams had far more cap room than they’d had available in any of the 21 offseasons for the team in St. Louis. Suffice it to say the Rams plan to make a big splash in free agency and/or trades as they return to Los Angeles.
“This is the time of year when all NFL teams are faced with difficult decisions regarding their veteran players,” coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement released by the team. “Chris and James are the epitome of what it means to be a pro in this league, and it’s been an honor to coach them both.
“They’ve been the pillars of our defense for many years and not enough can be said of their love for the game and for their teammates. Beyond the field, they took pride in mentoring the younger players and doing their part to make a real difference in the St. Louis community.”
Nice words, to be sure. But truth be told, the Rams simply think they can do better than Long, Laurinaitis and Cook at their respective positions.
“I didn’t see this one coming,” Laurinaitis told the Post-Dispatch in a phone interview Friday night.
In the weeks since league owners approved the Rams’ relocation to Los Angeles, the team had asked Laurinaitis to do a few media interviews in the LA market. And he had made himself available.
“So I was like, if they’re gonna call and ask me to do that, I must be all right,” Laurinaitis said. “I thought maybe at worst, a pay cut. I still felt like I was producing.”
Laurinaitis, 29, led the Rams in tackles in his first four seasons in St. Louis. This past season, he became the franchise’s career tackles leader. Over his seven seasons with the Rams, Laurinaitis missed only a handful of snaps, and as a team captain provided much-needed leadership to what has been perennially one of the league’s youngest teams since Fisher arrived in 2012.
Laurinaitis kept playing despite a nagging foot injury in 2014 and an elbow injury this past season that basically had him playing with one arm over the past 10 games of the season. If he were a baseball pitcher, he would’ve needed Tommy John surgery. But for football, the elbow did not require surgery.
Laurinaitis was at Rams Park working out Friday when he got called upstairs to Fisher’s office.
“He said it was one of the toughest (cuts) he’s had to do in his career — up there with (Steve) McNair and (Eddie) George,” Laurinaitis said.
All indications are that the Rams plan to move Alec Ogletree inside to fill Laurinaitis’ spot and re-sign free agent Mark Barron and have him play outside linebacker.
“That makes sense,” Laurinaitis said. “Alec will do a good job there. It’s a new chapter now. It’s the first time in my career I get to look around and see where I want to go.”
Neither Long nor Cook could be reached to comment Friday, but Long, 30, posted the following message on his Instagram account during the afternoon:
“Just heard that I’m about to be unemployed. I just want to personally thank the city of St. Louis again for all your support over eight years. . . .
“Bottom line is, this is a production business. No excuses, the last two years have been (bleep). It’s been painful to experience because I care deeply about my performance and my responsibility to my teammates. Before the last two years, I’m very proud of what I was able to accomplish in St. Louis.”
Severe injuries cost Long 14 games combined in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. But from 2010-13, Long was one of the league’s top pass rushers, registering 41½ sacks over a four-year period.
Cook joined the Rams from Tennessee via free agency in 2103, signing a five-year, $35.1 million contract.
“Jared made an immediate impact when he joined the team in 2013,” Fisher said in his statement. “It’s been a pleasure watching him grow from the time I drafted him in Tennessee to seeing him set franchise records in St. Louis.”
In 2013, Cook caught 51 passes for 671 yards, a franchise record for receiving yards by a tight end. He posted similar numbers in 2014, but was called upon to block more in 2015 and his production dropped to 39 catches for 481 yards.
znModeratorWell, Hayes aint gonna last 16 games if
he has to play a lot. So, maybe they
are gonna draft or sign a DE ?Yeah, either that or they like Longacre and/or Westbrooks a lot.
Or…both: they will both acquire a guy and they like their developmental guys.
.
February 19, 2016 at 10:52 pm in reply to: NFL salary cap expected to be at least $155M…and how the Rams look #39305znModeratorJoel Corry @corryjoel
Rams become a leader in 2016 salary cap space by cutting Chris Long, James Laurinaitis & Jared Cook. Now approaching $60M in cap room.February 19, 2016 at 10:13 pm in reply to: Wagoner, JT, Clayton, & Florio on the cuts — vid, audio, & articles #39302znModeratorRams cleared cap space in order to keep their own
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — For the Los Angeles Rams to keep many of their key pieces, they had to let three go.
Ultimately, that’s what Friday’s release of veteran leaders Chris Long, James Laurinaitis and Jared Cook boiled down to. It wasn’t easy to say goodbye to the locker room staples, especially Long and Laurinaitis. That much was evident in coach Jeff Fisher’s lengthy statement about the moves. It also wasn’t a surprise.
Simply put, Long, Laurinaitis and Cook made too much money relative to their production, and the Rams have younger, ascending players that they can’t afford to lose.
Such is the cycle in the NFL. It wasn’t so long ago that Long and Laurinaitis were those young, ascending players the Rams signed to lucrative long-term contracts. Long signed a four-year extension worth $48.2 million and Laurinaitis inked a five-year, $41.5 million deal just before the 2012 season. In the time since, Long and Laurinaitis became the team’s longest-tenured players. They won over teammates and coaches with their leadership skills and professional approach, and fans with their personalities.
“I’m just disappointed we didn’t accomplish more,” Laurinaitis said. “I thought we’d be a playoff contending team by now, especially since [Fisher] came over. I really thought after that first year, I thought that next year might be it. I was really hoping on getting over that hump and being able to be a part of the turnaround. That’s probably the most disappointing thing.
“I love that group of guys that’s in the locker room. I’m going to miss those guys. Knowing that Chris got released today as well and there’s [only a few] guys that were there before Fish now, so I’m going to miss the guys in the locker room. I had relationships with a bunch of them and friendships. It’s just really one of those moments where you’re like, ‘Man, it’s going to stink not playing with those guys again.’ ”
Ultimately, the big picture always will take center stage, and that’s exactly what happened.
In parting with Long, Laurinaitis and Cook, the Rams saved about $24 million in salary cap space, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Although the final cap number isn’t set yet, the Rams figure to have approximately $60 million in cap room available this offseason.
While that probably will lead to a big spending spree, it will be focused on players the team already has in house. Namely, cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson as well as safety Rodney McLeod and safety/linebacker Mark Barron. The Rams have invested four years in the first three and found a fit for Barron when he filled in for an injured Alec Ogletree for most of the 2015 season.
The Rams would like to retain all four of those players, and though they already had their share of money to spend, they now have enough flexibility to make deals with all of them without having to wonder where they’d fit under the cap. Of course, that doesn’t mean such deals are imminent. Yes, the Rams are well-positioned to strike a deal with that secondary quartet, but it would be unusual for players to re-sign this close to the start of free agency.
That doesn’t mean the Rams won’t try. Next week’s scouting combine will yield meetings with the representatives for all four of those players and talks probably will gain more traction then. Those talks could lead to deals early in the “legal tampering” window, which starts on March 7. Being only a couple of weeks from the new league year, it probably would take an offer too good to pass up to keep a player from at least exploring what the market could bring.
The additional cap space also should give the Rams a chance to lock up other important pieces such as ends William Hayes and Eugene Sims. It also could mean progress can be made on a long-term deal for defensive tackle Michael Brockers, who is under team control for 2016 but still could be in line for an extension.
As for replacing the trio of Long, Cook and Laurinaitis, the Rams believe they have in-house options in place. One likely scenario would see Ogletree moving to middle linebacker with Barron taking over at weak side linebacker should he re-sign. Hayes also could step into the starting role he filled for Long, again assuming the team is able to retain him. And while the Rams signed Lance Kendricks to a long-term contract last offseason, they will be in the market for another tight end this offseason.
Long, Cook and Laurinaitis, meanwhile, can begin seeking other opportunities, perhaps even one that will result in a chance to win a championship. Days like Friday aren’t much fun for players, teams or fans. But as the NFL constantly reminds us, they’re always going to be necessary.
znModeratorI found it long and dull.
I can’t argue with that. I personally didn’t feel that but I am not going to try and talk someone else out of it.
I did find more of the skits interesting than you did.
I liked the editor scene and the sailor bar scene too. But I also liked Clooney’s character blowing his lines while addressing Christ on the cross, and I liked the dinner with the cowboy and the dancer, and I liked the fantasy of the deadly serious commie disciples awestruck by the soviet submarine.
February 19, 2016 at 9:37 pm in reply to: Wagoner, JT, Clayton, & Florio on the cuts — vid, audio, & articles #39299znModeratorJohn Clayton says that the media was more shocked by the release of Cook than Long and Laurinaitis
February 19, 2016 at 9:03 pm in reply to: NFL salary cap expected to be at least $155M…and how the Rams look #39297znModeratorRams save close to $24M after cutting three veterans
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The Rams are not only moving to Los Angeles, they’re also moving on from three veteran mainstays in the process.
The team announced the release of defensive end Chris Long, middle linebacker James Laurinaitis and tight end Jared Cook on Friday.
In releasing the trio, the Rams will save about $24 million in salary-cap space. That could set them up to re-sign some of their own key free agents, like cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, and safeties such as Rodney McLeod and Mark Barron.
“This is the time of year when all NFL teams are faced with difficult decisions regarding their veteran players,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement. “Chris and James are the epitome of what it means to be a pro in this league and it’s been an honor to coach them both.
“They’ve been the pillars of our defense for many years and not enough can be said of their love for the game and for their teammates. Beyond the field, they took pride in mentoring the younger players and doing their part to make a real difference in the St. Louis community. We will always be grateful for James and Chris’ unselfish commitment to the Rams and wish them the best moving forward.”
Long took to Instagram to offer an honest assessment of his performance the past two years and to thank fans for rooting for him in his time with the team. Between the 2010 and 2013 seasons, Long posted 41.5 sacks, which ranks fifth among defensive linemen. But over the last two seasons, Long has posted a total of 4.0 sacks, which ranks tied for 101st among players at his position.
ESPN Stats & Info @ESPNStatsInfo
Long’s sacks:
2012 11.5
2013 8.5
2014 1.0
2015 3.0His salary-cap hit was among top 7 DEs each season, 2012-15
Laurinaitis was actually at the team facility working out when Fisher called him into his office and broke the news.
“I was surprised by it, I was shocked at first,” Laurinaitis told ESPN.com. “But I also know this is a business and when you start to move toward the front of the parking spaces and get a little older, all those people in front of you have left so you are not any different than anybody else who is getting up there. I’m going into Year 8, and I’m still 29 and I still feel like I’m playing at a productive level. I was a little shocked from that point of view but man other than that, it’s a business.
“I have seen a lot of things and seen a lot of people go. I have been grateful to have seven years with the same team. That’s rare in and of itself. I’m not bitter about that. Just a little surprised it happened this year, but that’s football.”
With Laurinaitis out of the picture, the Rams’ early plan is to move linebacker Alec Ogletree inside and re-sign Barron to step into Ogletree’s spot as the weakside linebacker. Barron filled in for Ogletree for the season’s final 12 games in 2015, after Ogletree suffered a season-ending knee injury.
Before their release, Long and Laurinaitis were the team’s two longest-tenured players. Long, the son of Hall of Famer Howie Long, was the second overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft and started 95 games, with 54.5 sacks, in his time with the team.
Laurinaitis came to the Rams as a second-round pick in 2009 and became the franchise’s all-time leading tackler in 2015.
Cook signed a five-year, $35 million deal with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2013. He posted 142 receptions for 1,786 yards and eight touchdowns in three seasons with the team. The Rams would have taken a cap hit of $8.3 million had he remained on the roster.
“Jared made an immediate impact when he joined the team in 2013. It’s been a pleasure watching him grow from the time I drafted him in Tennessee to seeing him set franchise records in St. Louis,” Fisher said in the statement. “Like Chris and James, he’s been a mainstay in the community and his contributions are commendable. We hope for the best for Jared and his family as he embarks on the next steps of his career.”
Information from ESPN Stats & Info was included in this report.
znModeratorI dunno how many of you keep up on
important super-hero newz, but
somehow i missed this.A while back, Thor,
became a Woman.http://marvel.com/news/comics/22875/marvel_proudly_presents_thor
w
v
That is, the new god of thunder is a woman.
Not that the old god of thunder changed sexes.
In the aftermath of the “Original Sin” storyline, Thor takes up the battle axe Jarnbjorn as a substitute for Mjolnir and subsequently loses his left arm in combat against Malekith the Accursed. Meanwhile, an unidentified woman, later revealed as Jane Foster, lifts Mjolnir; taking possession of Thor’s power. Although Thor initially attempts to reclaim the hammer, he relinquishes the name and role of Thor after witnessing the woman wield its power. Thor Odinson continues his work as a superhero under the name “Odinson”, using Jarnbjorn and a prosthetic arm made of black uru.
znModeratorI guess there is no Jared Cook tribute vid.
znModeratorLet the offseason begin.
Thought they might try to restructure Chris Long –
They could still do that. Bring him back for less.
February 19, 2016 at 10:42 am in reply to: Wagoner, JT, Clayton, & Florio on the cuts — vid, audio, & articles #39258znModeratorAn article NW published, ironically, just before the cuts.
===
Examining where James Laurinaitis fits in Rams’ 2016 plans
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — We’re moving closer to the start of the new league year and, along with it, the start of free agency. Which means over the next few weeks, the Los Angeles Rams will be taking a long look at the players already on the roster and determining whether they’re worth their projected salary-cap numbers.
Some teams have already begun the process of releasing high-priced veterans to create salary-cap room. So this week, we’ll take a look at some players who will come under the microscope for the Rams.
Player: LB James Laurinaitis
Contract status: Signed through 2017.
2016 cap hit: $6,425,000
Potential savings: $5,525,000
Why he could go: Laurinaitis will turn 30 during the 2016 NFL season and though that’s not all that old, he has a lot of mileage on his NFL odometer. He played the highest percentage of snaps among defenders in 2015 and he’s played more than 99 percent of defensive snaps in each of his seven seasons. That durability is a plus but it also means he’s been through a lot physically. Along with that, his production has dipped with his total tackles dropping in each of the past three years. The emergence of linebackers Alec Ogletree and Mark Barron has contributed to that and so, too, have some injury issues that Laurinaitis has played through. In addition, Laurinaitis is due to count almost $6.5 million against the salary cap while the Rams would like to re-sign Barron and find a spot to keep him on the field on a regular basis. That means one potential solution could include bumping Ogletree inside and allowing Barron to stay in Ogletree’s spot outside. The time will come soon, even if it’s not this year, when the Rams will have to begin planning for life after Laurinaitis.
Why he could stay: Laurinaitis is the guy that makes it all go for the Rams on defense. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams considers Laurinaitis an extension of himself on the field, the player who gets everybody lined up right and puts them in position to make plays. His knowledge of the defense as well as opposing offenses is a valuable asset to a young defense with many players still trying to find their way in the league. Even if the Rams wanted to move Ogletree to the middle, there’s no guarantee he’d be ready for such responsibilities. Laurinaitis also remains a sure tackler (despite a serious elbow injury in 2015) and one of the team’s primary leaders in the locker room. Since Laurinaitis entered the league in 2009, he is the only player in the NFL with 15 or more sacks and 10 or more interceptions. His durability also makes him someone who can be counted on, as he’s started 112 straight games and is the franchise’s all-time leading tackler. If the Rams find themselves in need of cap space, Laurinaitis would likely be open to a pay cut that would decrease his cap number this year and spread out his guaranteed money over a couple of years. On a team that has plenty of key defensive free agents and still must fix its offense, parting with Laurinaitis would just create another hole to be filled.
znModeratorWell…there WERE communists. I don’t know about ties to the USSR, but many of the people called out as communists were actually communists. Abraham Polonsky is one, for example. He wrote “Guilty by Suspicion,” a film with Robert DeNiro, that I kinda liked though it didn’t get great reviews. I show it to my classes whenever I teach The Crucible which isn’t very often. But, anyway, Polonsky had his name pulled from the credits because Irwin Winkler changed the main character from an actual communist to someone falsely accused, and Polonsky said he thought Hollywood had enough of the “falsely accused” stories, and wanted to tell it like it was. So he pulled his name from the credits.
Point is. Being a communist was not, and is not, against the law, nor is it unpatriotic.
So. The McCarthyite fears were not without foundation.
He had no right to pursue those fears the way he did, and he and his crew undoubtedly ruined a lot of lives of totally innocent people. But. Some of those totally innocent people actually were communists.
I promise you, this is played as high spoof. The commies in this film actually connect with a soviet sub to assist a defecting movie star. The entire scene is a hoot, because even if let’s say a movie star defected to the Soviet Union, he would not need to secretly meet a Soviet sub (with its big red star on the conning tower ostentatiously dominating much of the scene). The “defector” would only need to take vacation in Greece and then cross a couple of borders. Nor would the movie star in question have a lapdog named “Engels.”
The Coen Brothers wrote “Bridge of Spies”–a film in which the hero (Tom Hanks) is tormented by the public for being a Soviet spy’s defense attorney. So I trust they know their period stuff. In this case, unlike “Bridge,” this was all deliberately over the top, even campy.
It has the feel of Goodman’s Walter Sobchak character in The Big Lebowski. The character of Walter is based on Red Dawn’s writer and director, John Milius. So when Goodman’s Walter is cautioned by a waitress in a diner because his language is too vulger for a family restaurant, he angrily reminds her that “For your information, the Supreme Court has roundly rejected prior restraint.” It has that tone–it’s too over the top to be an authentic expression of anything, but instead works as spoof.
Anyway I take your point that there were commie Hollywood writers in that era. But they also make fun of those fears.
The commies, btw, come across as hopelessly out of touch, and as irksomely reverent of their Soviet “masters.” But at the same time, the Soviet sub scene undermines McCarthyite fears by giving them a laughably over-earnest (fake) reality.
.
February 18, 2016 at 11:19 pm in reply to: Skip Peete is the new RB coach for the Los Angeles Rams #39249znModeratorThree Takeaways: Running Backs Coach Skip Peete
Myles Simmons
Between Todd Gurley, Benny Cunningham, Tre Mason, and Malcolm Brown, the Rams have a talented young crop of running backs. And that group will have a new voice to lead them in running backs coach Skip Peete.
A longtime coach not only in the NFL, but also in college, Peete has plenty of experience and should be able to greatly aid in the Rams’ RBs development. Our Dani Klupenger sat down with Peete to get to know a little more about him and his coaching style. Here are a few takeaways from their conversation.
1) Coaching philosophy feels like a fit
When coaches are introduced, they often talk about instilling discipline and physicality. Peete was no exception, mentioning both in his interview with Dani. But perhaps a more important indicator of his style was what he said about the attitude he takes towards players.
“I think the one thing that I’ve always stressed to the running back position is discipline and physical play. Those things, I think, go hand-in-hand with the position,” Peete said. “My style has not been a real mean, yell, get-after-you type coach — unless I need to do that.
“My father was a coach, so the way he explained it to me was, ‘I’m going to explain exactly what your role is, explain exactly what you have to get done in order to perform and have success at the position. And if we see eye-to-eye on that, then we shouldn’t see a problem,” Peete added.
Peete’s philosophy in that regard appears to mesh well with that of head coach Jeff Fisher, who carries a reputation for the way he’s able to manage players. Multiple Rams have said in the locker room over the past few years that one of the best aspects about Fisher is that he treats players like men. Parsing Peete’s words, that seems to be the way he intends to coach the running backs room.
2) Using the “s” word for Gurley
If there was one ward continuously and universally used to describe Todd Gurley in 2015, it was “special.” And it didn’t take long for Peete to use the term in describing Los Angeles’ star running back.
“Very, very talented running back — someone who’s very special,” Peete said. “I think he has all the qualities that you look at when you’re looking for a very elite running back, where he has ability to, obviously, run inside, run outside. Very good, physical pass protector and can catch the ball well out of the backfield.”
“Elite” is often used to talk about quarterbacks, but in this particular case, Peete’s use of it makes a lot of sense. Gurley finished No. 3 in yards rushing in 2015 with 1,106 in just 12 starts. He set plenty of marks along the way, including becoming the first rookie in NFL history to rush for at least 125 yards in four consecutive games.
Given Gurley’s considerable skillset, Peete has plenty to build upon for the running back’s sophomore campaign.
3) The importance of pass protection
Perhaps the most striking aspect of Peete’s conversation was the emphasis he put on protecting the passer as an essential element of a running back’s job.
“The one thing I think a lot of running backs — whether it’s college or professional football — don’t really understand is the importance of protecting the quarterback,” Peete said. “Your ability to be a pass protector is something that I think is very, very important. We’ve got to keep that guy upright, and as long as we keep him upright, then we have a chance to win. And so that pass protection part of your game has got to be something that’s very, very important.”
Heading into draft season with the NFL Combine next week, Peete said pass protection is one of the more difficult skills to evaluate on a player entering the NFL for a number of reasons.
“It’s something I think you do look at when you watch guys in college. But some teams and some teams don’t necessarily ask the running backs to do that quite a bit in college,” Peete said. “They either were in a pro-style offense in college and had opportunities to do that. Or it’s something that you’ve got to teach them from scratch once you get them.
“I think everyone wants to run the ball and wants to have the ball in their hand. That’s part of being a running back,” Peete continued. “But the other part is the dirty work where you have to do the physical blocking.”
Once the Rams get the offseason program going in the spring, it seems appropriate to anticipate pass protection will be a strong point of emphasis in the RBs room.
znModeratorNick Foles was worse than his conventional stats looked
Michael David Smith
Nick Foles was worse than his conventional stats looked
Rams quarterback Nick Foles had a bad season last year, which is why he went from being anointed as the franchise quarterback to getting benched for Case Keenum. But Foles’ season was even worse than his stats suggest.
Foles completed 190 of 337 passes for 2,052 yards, a completion rate of 56.4 percent and an average of 6.1 yards per pass. Those numbers aren’t particularly good on their own, but those bad stats are dwarfed by another stat that shows just how terrible Foles really was: Failed completions.
As explained by Scott Kacsmar of FootballOutsiders.com, failed completions are complete passes that fail to gain 45 percent of needed yards on first down, 60 percent on second down or 100 percent on third or fourth down. An eight-yard completion on third-and-10, for instance, would pad a quarterback’s conventional stats, but it would be counted as a failed completion.
And Foles has elevated failed completions to an art form: A whopping 41.1 percent of Foles’ completions were failed completions. That’s by far the worst rate in the NFL this season, and it’s the worst rate in the NFL since at least 1989, which is as far back as Football Outsiders’ stats go.
In other words, for as bad as Foles’ stats look, he actually padded his stats with a lot of four-yard completions on second-and-10, or nine-yard completions on third-and-12. Foles had an ugly 69.0 passer rating in 2015, but he was even worse than his stats suggest.
znModeratorThe Rams horns are the only man-made object visible from outer space.
They look good up close too.
znModeratorInvaderRam
Moderator
all things being equal i’d go for the qb.Did you mean to say you would go for the WR at 15? Because your next sentence sounds like it’s speaking against taking a qb at that spot.
znModeratorRams take WR Laquon Treadwell in Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — If you’ve already grown tired of seeing Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch sent to the Rams in various mock drafts, you’re in luck.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. unveiled his his second mock draft Thursday, and he changed things up this time around. After sending Lynch to the Rams in his first mock draft, Kiper now has the team picking Mississippi wide receiver Laquon Treadwell with the No. 15 pick. In this scenario, Kiper has Treadwell as the first wideout chosen.
Landing the best receiver in the draft is certainly a fine idea for a team that has been trying to solve its wideout puzzle since Torry Holt departed. The Rams haven’t had a wide receiver reach even 800 yards, let alone 1,000, since Holt did so in 2007. Last year Rams receivers combined for less yardage, only one more catch, and the same number of touchdown receptions the Falcons’ Julio Jones.
Treadwell isn’t a speedster, and his performance in the 40-yard dash will be watched closely at next week’s NFL combine. But his size and ability to make contested catches make him an intriguing option. As a bonus, Treadwell is a solid and willing blocker, which is important for an offense that wants to first and foremost run the ball effectively.
So would Treadwell be a better option than Lynch (or any other quarterback)? I suppose that’s in the eye of the beholder. It’s worth noting that Kiper has dropped Lynch out of the first round altogether, which lines up with something I’ve written in reaction to the many mocks sending Lynch to the Rams. Most quarterbacks worthy of the 15th pick generally go in the top 10 or higher because of the nature of the position. Lynch being available to the Rams at No. 15 would beg the question of whether he was worthy of that spot or if the Rams were taking the next best quarterback just to get their hands on one.
Would the Rams then be better off taking a top-flight receiver, hoping he he can help whoever is at quarterback? It’s an internal debate the Rams would probably be happy to have.
February 18, 2016 at 3:36 pm in reply to: UC Irvine for Rams training camp? or (update) Cal Lutheran? #39230znModeratorThe Rams are also talking to Cal Lutheran about training camp. They want a site to accommodate big crowds as practices will be open to fans.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) February 18, 2016
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February 18, 2016 at 3:15 pm in reply to: NFL salary cap expected to be at least $155M…and how the Rams look #39229znModeratorBig jump in salary cap would come at good time for Rams
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The NFL hasn’t officially announced what the 2016 NFL salary cap will look like, but there have been reports during the past couple of weeks that it will ultimately land in the range of $155 million per team.
That would represent an increase of about $12 million over the 2015 season’s $143 million cap. The exact figure won’t be revealed until a few days before the start of the new league year on March 9, but it’s fair to assume that such a leap is reasonable, considering the continued rise of league revenue.
If the $155 million figure (or close to it) proves accurate, it would be good news for every NFL team, including the Los Angeles Rams. In fact, it would help the Rams in multiple ways entering an offseason with a lot of difficult decisions on the docket.
Keep in mind that the Rams could carry over some cap space from last year to have even more room, so as it stands before they make any roster moves, this team could have more than $40 million to spend.
Here’s a look at four ways the rising cap could benefit the Rams this year:
1. Re-signing their own players — Obviously. The Rams have about a dozen players set to become unrestricted free agents, including key pieces such as cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, safeties Rodney McLeod and Mark Barron and ends William Hayes and Eugene Sims, among others. It also allows them a little more flexibility with restricted free agents they definitely want to keep, such as quarterback Case Keenum. In most offseasons, that would mean coming to grips with the fact that some of those free agents will not return. But the Rams should have enough money to keep the majority of the players they want, as long as they’re willing to pay the freight. They could even use the franchise or transition tags if they want. The downside of the cap jump, though, is that every team gets the same money, so they can come with big money to drive up prices on the Rams, too.
2. Not cutting their own players — In recent years, the Rams have found themselves parting ways with high-priced veterans before free agency begins. Players such as cornerback Cortland Finnegan, tackle Jake Long and center Scott Wells are among the names they’ve let go to carve out more cap space. The Rams will likely make a move or two before free agency, but those would be as much a result of cutting ties with players who aren’t worth the price tag, as it would be just trying to create more cap space. The flip side of that is if there are players whom they aren’t sure about keeping or letting go — players such as receiver Kenny Britt and linebacker Akeem Ayers come to mind — they could be easier to keep because of the additional cap space.
3. Taking a hit — There isn’t a team in the league that enjoys letting players go and adding dead money to their salary cap. It’s also a reality of the league that you’re eventually going to have to have money count against your cap for players that aren’t on your team. While it’s never ideal, it’s a lot more palatable when you have a salary cap reaching a record high and a lot of room to spend already. The Rams are going to be looking for quarterbacks this offseason and if they find one, it means they have to delete one. Because keeping Keenum is a priority and Sean Mannion is only entering his second season, that makes Nick Foles the most likely candidate. If the Rams choose to go that way, they would have to eat quite a bit of salary unless they can trade him. It would be a bitter pill to swallow after trading for and signing him last year, but it’s a little easier to take with the extra space available.
4. Planning for the future — The Rams have spent the past four years building the team, mostly through the draft, and they’ve finally hit on some players worth keeping around for a second contract. That’s the good news. The bad news is that many of those players are going to be coming up on free agency soon and the Rams are going to have to pay dearly to keep them. Defensive tackle Michael Brockers is under team control via the fifth-year option, but will need an extension sooner than later and the Rams could theoretically get a big chunk of any guaranteed money out of the way in 2016 by getting something done sooner rather than later. Others, such as Tavon Austin and Alec Ogletree, are heading into the final year of their rookie contracts and the Rams will have to make decisions on their fifth-year options this summer as well.
znModeratorHe can be a steady “win ugly” type who a few times a game finds a way to rescue a play.
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from off the net, just a post I agree with
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Rams43
In fairness to Keenum, an upgrade at WR and TE would likely be a big assist for him.
So would Boras with an entire offseason to put in his own O wrinkles. Both Keenum and Boras had to jump into this trainwreck of an O on the fly. Hardly a fair test.
A maturing OL should also be a big bonus.
And a healthy Gurley for 16 games can’t be overstated.
Keenum is no Brady, but he might just pleasantly surprise when put into a better situation than he had late last year.
znModeratorFive Scouting Combine questions
Daniel Jeremiah
The popularity of the NFL Scouting Combine annoys some folks in the media. They refer to it as “The Underwear Olympics” and often cite the misguided rise of players such as Mike Mamula, Vernon Gholston and Matt Jones. However, while it’s not the most important piece of the evaluation puzzle (the game tape will always carry this distinction), the combine is very valuable to all 32 NFL clubs.
More than anything else, the combine is about collecting information and answering questions. With that in mind, I’ve come up with five key questions that should be answered at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis (watch the workouts live on NFL Network, Feb. 26-29). Here they are:
1. What is the health status of Myles Jack and Jaylon Smith?
Both of these players are studs. They are three down linebackers with ideal speed, explosiveness and versatility. Unfortunately, both players suffered knee injuries during the 2015 season and won’t be 100 percent for the NFL Scouting Combine. All 32 teams will have the opportunity to evaluate their progress as they continue to recover. What is the timetable for a full recovery? We should have a better understanding following the week in Indianapolis.
2. How fast is Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell?
Treadwell is an outstanding player. He has excellent size, ball skills and toughness. However, the major question about him is the lack of top-end speed. He excels at winning 50/50 balls (contested catches), but he doesn’t create much separation from defenders. Scouts that have gone through Ole Miss during the fall were told Treadwell was likely to run the 40-yard dash in the mid 4.6s. If he could lower that time into the mid to low 4.5s, it would be a huge boost to his draft stock.
3. How big is Baylor WR Corey Coleman?
Coleman is one of my favorite players to watch on tape. He is a dynamic athlete and he generates a lot of big plays. His blend of speed, toughness and instincts reminds me a lot of Steve Smith. However, having not seen him play live, I’m very curious to see his official height/weight. He’s listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, but I’ve been told he’s actually closer to 5-9 than 5-11. I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised.
4. How will the QBs look taking snaps from under center?
Due to the rise of the spread offense, very few college quarterbacks spend much time taking snaps from under center. During the throwing drills in Indy, they will take snaps from under center and take full three-, five- and seven-step drops. Last year, Marcus Mariota impressed evaluators with his polished footwork at the combine. That was a concern coming into the week, but it was quickly alleviated following his performance. While most folks at home will focus on where the ball ends up, trained evaluators will focus more on footwork and mechanics.
5. Will Connor Cook start to build some momentum?
As it stands right now, there appears to be three top shelf quarterback prospects in this draft class: Carson Wentz, Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch. While the order of those three players varies by club, most agree those are the top signal-callers. However, there isn’t much consensus on the 4th quarterback. Cook took a lot of criticism, warranted in my opinion, for not showing up to participate in the Senior Bowl. However, this is his opportunity to start building some momentum. If he interviews well and has a good workout, the buzz will start to build.
znModeratorActually it looks like the Rams have changed uniforms more often than most franchises.
Even when the basic colors remain the same (blue/white, blue/yellow, navy/gold) the design changes within that basic scheme.
znModeratorScalia’s Son Calls Conspiracy Theories About Father’s Death ‘Hurtful Distraction’
Justice Scalia’s eldest son, Eugene, called the conspiracy theories surrounding the circumstances of his father’s sudden death a “hurtful distraction,” in an interview with conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham that was posted today.
“It’s, I think a distraction from a great man and his legacy at a time when there’s so much to be said about that and to help people even more fully appreciate that. And, on a personal level, I think it’s a bit of a hurtful distraction for a family that’s mourning,” Eugene Scalia said.
Though Scalia said he hasn’t followed the details of the swirling conspiracies, he sought to put those theories to rest.
“Our family just has no doubt he died of natural causes. And we accept that. We’re praying for him. We ask others to accept that and pray for him,” he said.
Scalia also said that his father, a month shy of his 80th birthday, was “at a place in life where he could be taken from this world at any time” and “would have been the first to tell you … we’re from dust, we return to dust, your life could be taken from you at any instant.”
Asked about how his mother is dealing with the loss, Scalia said she’s a strong woman of great faith with a stellar support system but acknowledged that this is a very difficult time for her.
“What I think about and worry about most right now is my mom, not my dad,” he said.
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