Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
March 29, 2016 at 11:47 pm in reply to: Ogletree's move to the middle looms as the key to Rams' defense #41227
znModeratorAlec Ogletree – LB – Rams
Rams LB Alec Ogletree said moving to the middle will be the “biggest challenge” of his career.
Ogletree played on the weak side his first three years in the league, but he will man the middle after James Laurinaitis was released prior to free agency. “It’s going to be a great challenge for me,” Ogletree said. “I’m definitely excited about it and ready to get the ball rolling.” Ogletree has 271 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 36 career games. He should be a big improvement over Laurinaitis.
Source: Los Angeles Times Mar 28 http://www.rotoworld.com/playernews/nfl/footballznModeratorI may be in the minority among Rams fans but I would rather they not take a QB in this draft. I’d rather use those picks to fill the holes of guys they’ve lost in free agency. And on offense–improve the line and receivers.
I’m fine with Case starting and Mannion developing as his back up for now. Maybe Foles has a miracle resurrection. Chasing an elite QB comes at a cost. I’m not sure it’s worth it at this point and time. As for the later rounds–I’d rather they bring in depth at other positions.
I may rethink that if that’s what happens and all the QBs melt down. But I’m sticking with it for now.
i certainly am not opposed to drafting doctson in the first round and then adding a hunter henry in the second to give keenum some more support. and even if keenum isn’t the answer maybe mannion steps up. then spend the rest of the draft finding a free safety and lbs and d linemen.
I belong to the camp in favor of taking a qb no matter what. I actually don’t think they have much in the way of major holes, compared to qb. If both Mannion and the new guy work out, that’s just fine with me.
March 29, 2016 at 7:33 pm in reply to: 2016 mocks & rankings & general draft commentaries, thread 2 #41221znModeratorBonsignore: NFL Mock Draft with one month to go has Tunsil No. 1, Rams trading up
Vincent Bonsignore, Los Angeles Daily News
With the scouting combine complete, the first phase of free agency in the books and various Pro Days come and gone, it’s time to predict how the first round of the NFL Draft unfolds.
1. TITANS
LAREMY TUNSIL, OT, Ole Miss
The Titans have spread the word they are open to trading the top pick in the draft, but are equally clear they have zeroed in on an elite group of players and it will take a significant offer for them to trade down and risk missing out on their top targets. The Titans will continue to listen to offers, but with no trade partner willing to meet their demands, the overall No. 1 pick will come down to Florida State CB Jalen Ramsey or Tunsil. The deciding factor is protecting franchise QB Marcus Mariota.
2. BROWNS
CARSON WENTZ, QB, North Dakota State
It’s tempting to think Browns head coach and noted quarterback whisperer Hue Jackson is convinced he’ll turn around Robert Griffin III, whom the Browns recently signed to a two-year deal. The Browns will turn attention to the boatload of holes with the second overall pick as a result. But that would mean Jackson walking a high wire. The danger being, if RG3 bombs and the Browns miss out on a franchise QB, the fall for Jackson will be sudden and far. Best-case scenario is RG3 re-establishing himself under Jackson, Wentz developing behind him for a year, and the Browns flipping RG3 after the 2016 season to anoint Wentz as the starter in 2017.
3. CHARGERS
JALEN RAMSEY, CB/S, Florida State
The QB-starved Browns create the perfect situation for the Chargers, who benefit by landing arguably the best overall player in the draft.
4. COWBOYS
MYLES JACK, LB, UCLA
The Cowboys are tempted to find the heir apparent to Tony Romo in Cal’s Jared Goff, but ultimately pull the trigger on the best linebacker in the draft in the versatile former Bruin.
5. JAGUARS
JOEY BOSA, DE, Ohio State
The Jaguars are poised to be aggressive in this draft, so don’t rule out a trade up to get a crack at Jack. But with the Chargers and Cowboys staying put, Jacksonville will gladly pull the trigger on the most complete defensive lineman in the draft.
6. RAMS (VIA RAVENS)
JARED GOFF, QB, Cal
The Rams believe Wentz and Goff can be immediate starters in the NFL, but while the asking price to get in position to draft Wentz is too steep, they have the nerve and ammunition to give up the 15th pick in the first round, the 43rd pick in the second and next year’s No. 1 to grab their quarterback of the future.
7. 49ERS
DEFOREST BUCKNER, DE, Oregon
The 49ers had their eye on Goff, but the Rams beat them to the punch. New San Francisco coach Chip Kelly gets the chance to fix Colin Kaepernick and add an elite defensive end in Buckner.
8. EAGLES
EZEKIEL ELLIOTT, RB, Ohio State
The Eagles take a long look at Notre Dame offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley here, but ultimately decide on Elliott, who can run, block and be a weapon in the pass game.
9. BUCCANEERS
SHAQ LAWSON, DE, Clemson
The Bucs need plenty of help defensively, and Lawson gives them an immediate shot in the arm as a playmaking defensive end.
10. GIANTS
SHELDON RANKINS, DT, Louisville
The G-Men’s defensive transformation continues with the draft’s best interior defensive lineman. And just like that, an area of weakness turns into one of strength.
11. BEARS
REGGIE RAGLAND, LB, Alabama
The Bears’ long history of elite middle linebackers continues with Ragland, a fierce, versatile playmaker who adds speed, toughness and instincts to the Bears defense.
12. SAINTS
VERNON HARGREAVES, CB, Florida
The Saints will give the three first-round caliber wide receivers consideration here, and Drew Brees will be in their ear asking for one of them. But the bigger need is on defense, and adding a cornerback the likes of this Florida standout is too prudent to pass up.
13. DOLPHINS
MACKENSIE ALEXANDER, CB, Clemson
The Dolphins can go a number of directions here, they failed to fill their glaring hole at cornerback through free agency and happily scoop up one of the best in the draft in Alexander.
14. RAIDERS
RONNIE STANLEY, OT, Notre Dame
The Raiders can’t believe their good fortune when Stanley, a top-five caliber player, falls to them thanks to the Ravens trading down with the Rams.
15. RAVENS
JACK CONKLIN, OT, Michigan State
The Ravens were close to their dream scenario: trading down with the Rams, picking up a second-rounder this year and a first-rounder next and having the guy they wanted all along in Stanley still on the board at 15. Alas, the Raiders throw a monkey wrench in things. But that’s OK, the Raven still end up with a coveted offensive tackle who will start on day one.
16. LIONS
NOAH SPENCE, DE/OLB, Eastern Kentucky
The Lions are rolling the dice a bit here on Spence, who has had some well-publicized off-field issues. But the man can flat-out rush the passer, and that is just too much to pass up.
17. FALCONS
DARRON LEE, LB, Ohio State
The Falcons give in-state linebacker Leonard Floyd a good look here, but Lee’s best football is ahead of him and his intelligence, instincts and playmaking making him an ideal pick for the present and the future.
18. COLTS
TAYLOR DECKER, OT, Ohio State
Decker doesn’t get the hype of Stanley and Conklin, but he’ll start from the get-go, protect Andrew Luck and provide the type of run blocking that profiles perfectly at the next level.
19. BILLS
A’SHAWN ROBINSON, DT, Alabama
Rex Ryan understands the foundation of any great defense is a great defensive line. Robinson is a beast, and Ryan is the perfect coach for him.
20. JETS
VERNON BUTLER, DT, Louisiana Tech
The Jets could go offense here — and who knows, Paxton Lynch and Connor Cook might be in play considering the lack of urgency getting Ryan Fitzpatrick re-signed. Butler has too much upside as a havoc-creating interior lineman to pass on him here.
21. REDSKINS
LAQUON TREADWELL, WR, Ole Miss
Washington has its quarterback in Kirk Cousins, now it’s time to go get him some help. Treadwell isn’t a speed burner, but he runs great routes, catches everything and is the best overall receiver in the draft.
22. TEXANS
JOSH DOCTSON, WR, TCU
The Texans were hoping Treadwell would fall to them, but Doctson isn’t a bad fall-back option by any means.
23. VIKINGS
COREY COLEMAN, WR, Baylor
The run on receivers continues with the Vikings providing Teddy Bridgewater with an elite weapon on the outside.
24. BENGALS
ANDREW BILLINGS, DT, Baylor
A converted offensive lineman, Billings has shown steady improvement on the defensive side of the ball. That growth and development will only continue in the NFL.
25. STEELERS
ELI APPLE, CB, Ohio State
The Steelers do what they do best — sit back and pluck the best player left on the board. Apple fits a big area of need on the back end of the Pittsburgh defense.
26. SEAHAWKS
EMMANUEL OGBAH, DE, Oklahoma St.
The Seahawks soften the blow of losing playmaking edge rusher Bruce Irvin by nabbing Ogbah, a defensive end with huge upside. In other words, right up Pete Carroll’s alley.
27. PACKERS
ROBERT NKEMDICHE, DT, Mississippi
With B.J. Raji retiring, the Packers have a huge need along the defensive line. Nkemdiche has some issues, but the rewards far outweigh the risk for such a promising player.
28. CHIEFS
WILL FULLER, WR, Notre Dame
Fuller is the fastest of the top-rated receivers and gives the Chiefs a perimeter weapon who can elevate their ability to put the ball in the end zone.
29. CARDINALS
WILLIAM JACKSON, CB, Houston
Jackson is moving up draft boards, and it wouldn’t be a shock if he supplanted some of the higher ranked cornerbacks come draft day, For now, the Cardinals happily bring him into the fold.
30. PANTHERS
LEONARD FLOYD, OLB, Georgia
The Panthers don’t have an obvious need at linebacker, but they remain true to their board and pick the best player available.
31. BRONCOS
PAXTON LYNCH, QB, Memphis
Connor Cook is probably the safer pick in terms of getting on the field quicker, but the marriage of Lynch and Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak is just too intriguing to let slip away. If anyone is capable of getting Lynch on the field sooner, it’s Kubiak.
znModeratorThat means they have a better chance/probability. It doesn’t eliminate chance.
Yeah, I know…true. But still, I think it’s interesting that the trend is 60% v. 27%. That tells me that the more well-rounded and appealing prospects are just going higher. Yes there’s always a strong elements of chance either way, but at the same time the rankings are not just empty—there’s something to them, even if the best they can get is 60% success.
And, again, all this may be moot, because everyone notes that this year is different when it comes to qb. There’s more 2nd tier guys (ie. 2nd tier in terms of draftibility…that’s not a claim about their future success).
So maybe the percentages go up for the 2nd part of the 1st round this year.
znModeratorThis means that hitting or not hitting isn’t proof of right or wrong but it is a result of the chance of hitting or not hitting.
Well, except, there’s more than chance at play here. Players are picked higher when they have more desirable qualities that make it at least look like they have a better chance. Naturally it’s not 100%, but then it seems to me that if you want a better shot at a qb, you take the one who looks like they have the best chance of succeeding. If you don’t someone else will. There are variations on that and exceptions and so on, but, as a rule if you want Rivers or Eli or Stafford or Roethlisberger or etc, you pick higher…cause they won’t fall lower, generally speaking.
So I am not sure strict chance is the way to look at it. There is some honest comparative player evaluation at work.
To me percentages = trends across time. Trends across time favor taking the qb higher.
But then everyone says this year is an exception. There’s more solid, tier 2 qbs–developmental. So there may be more Daltons in this draft and fewer Mariottas.
…
znModeratorIf they take a QB in round 2 or 3 doesn’t that mean Mannion was a wasted pick?
You have to focus on some young guy to develop eventually and there are only so many snaps to go around.
Not to me, it doesn’t mean that (ie. wasted pick). It means they have 2 young qbs.
I don’t think the “focus” thing matters that much. Not this year. Either one is going to be the #2, at so it would be a competition to see who the #2 is.
March 29, 2016 at 10:08 am in reply to: the 10 teams who traded up for quarterbacks the last 10 years #41186znModeratorThe answer is to trade up in the first round, so I can get to the 30% range?
It depends on your measure I guess (which years? How far back? Etc.) but I found a much higher hit rate for the 1st round.
I did 2004-2014, which (with a year added) corresponds to the years for my 2nd and 3rd round qb search.
From 2004 to 2014, out of 31 1st round qbs, I got 15 hits: Rivers, Rodgers, Roethlisberger, Eli, Ryan, Cutler, Newton, Flacco, Smith, Stafford, Luck, Tannenhill, Bradford, Bridgewater, and Bortles.
Granted we really don’t know about a couple of those yet. But either way, my list brings it to 48.4%.
Ok, I can take one roll at 50% or 2 rolls at 25%, one first round pick or a pick in round 2 and a pick in round 3.
How about one roll at 50% without trading up?
I didn’t look at the pick. Let’s do the same period but divide it between picks 1-12, and then picks 13-32. Just for starters.
Okay of those 31 qbs across that period:
20 were from picks 1-12, and of those, 12 were hits. 60%.
11 were from picks 13-32, and of those, 3 were hits (Flacco, Rodgers, Bridgewater). 27%. Basically the same as rounds 2-3.
March 29, 2016 at 9:34 am in reply to: the 10 teams who traded up for quarterbacks the last 10 years #41184znModeratorThe answer is to trade up in the first round, so I can get to the 30% range?
It depends on your measure I guess (which years? How far back? Etc.) but I found a much higher hit rate for the 1st round.
I did 2004-2014, which (with a year added) corresponds to the years for my 2nd and 3rd round qb search.
From 2004 to 2014, out of 31 1st round qbs, I got 15 hits: Rivers, Rodgers, Roethlisberger, Eli, Ryan, Cutler, Newton, Flacco, Smith, Stafford, Luck, Tannenhill, Bradford, Bridgewater, and Bortles.
Granted we really don’t know about a couple of those yet. But either way, my list brings it to 48.4%.
znModeratorWhere Coty Sensabaugh, Quinton Coples fit for Rams
Nick Wagoner
Because of his team’s impending move to Los Angeles, Rams coach Jeff Fisher had not been available to discuss his team’s newest additions. That is, until last week’s NFL owners meetings.
The Rams haven’t been too active in this round of free agency, choosing to focus their efforts on re-signing their own key free agents. After the first wave of free agency came to an end, the Rams went shopping for depth on their defensive line and in their secondary. The result was the addition of cornerback Coty Sensabaugh and defensive end Quinton Coples.
Sensabaugh played for Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams when both were with the Tennessee Titans. Under Williams, Sensabaugh had success as a nickel corner, working mostly from the slot. But Sensabaugh has also played outside and after the Rams lost starting corner Janoris Jenkins to the New York Giants, there was clearly a need for help at cornerback.
Last week, Fisher clarified where Sensabaugh fits in the defense.
“Well, Coty is an instinctive, smart, I think productive player that you can plug in and play either side,” Fisher said. “He sees things well, he relates, he doesn’t have any difficulty learning defenses. I mean he just makes plays.”
With Trumaine Johnson set to start on one side, E.J. Gaines returning at one outside spot, and Lamarcus Joyner back as the nickel corner, where does Fisher envision Sensabaugh?
“Outside,” Fisher said. “We’re expecting E.J. to come back, but I think he goes outside and competes with E.J. and/or a draft choice.”
As for Coples, there was a little bit of confusion about where he’d fit after spending most of his first four years as a rush linebacker in a 3-4 defense. In the Rams’ base 4-3 defense, the 290-pound Coples wouldn’t make much sense standing up.
In fact, Fisher believes that giving Coples the chance to play a more natural defensive end spot in the Rams’ base defense could help him reach his immense potential after a disappointing start to his career.
“Coples, we think, is probably better suited with his hand down and rushing in and even front type of thing,” Fisher said. “Now we’ll do some variation stuff with him, but it was just kind of a little out of place. Between his willingness, his lack of production and his ability to spend time with [defensive line coach Mike Waufle], I think that will translate into some good things for him. I think it will translate into some solid production for us as a backup end.”
znModerator
So according to that, ie. the cancellation chart, Rams get a 3 and a 4.
Though since there are 32 comp picks, the 4 is more like a 5, really.
But, I ain’t gonna scoff at it.
znModeratorThis was one of my favorite articles from last season.
It shows, once and for all, that “The Coordinator” is not the be-all and end-all of game-planning.
I have seen some out there argue that having a passing game coordinator (or a running game coordinator) is somehow strange. Actually it’s common.
.
Another example.
===
Zach Azzanni describes the role of a passing game coordinator
March 04, 2015
http://coachingsearch.com/article?a=Zach-Azzanni-describes-the-role-of-a-passing-game-coordinator
With the addition of Mike DeBord to the Tennessee staff, wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni added the title of passing game coordinator, but what exactly does that mean?
Titles like pass- or run-game coordinator, assistant head coach and others are being added more and more, but how do the duties for that coach change?
Azzanni participated in a YouTube Q&A with fans on Wednesday, and he explained what his new role entails.
“Every place is a little bit different,” Azzanni said. “From Coach Jones’ expectations, Coach DeBord’s expectations, I’m in charge of making sure I game plan the passing game. Our third down, our red zone. We do a lot of things as a staff, but ultimately, I’m the one at the forefront of breaking it down, giving suggestions. In practice, I’ll set up routes on air, script 7-on-7, those kinds of things that relate to the passing game. Most of my guys are involved in the passing game.
“Sometimes, Coach DeBord, as the offensive coordinator, might want to go down to inside drill while we have one-on-ones going on. I will make sure one-on-ones against the DB’s in practice are going well, because I’m in charge of those guys. We work as a staff together, but the passing game part is taking control of the offseason projects and how to get better in the passing game.”
Azzanni previously served as a passing game coordinator / wide receivers coach at Florida in 2010. After one year at Western Kentucky and one year at Wisconsin, he joined Butch Jones’ first Tennessee staff in 2013. He previously coached under Jones at Central Michigan from 2007-09.
As for working with DeBord, Azzanni described the growing relationship with Tennessee’s new offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach as beneficial.
“It has been all positive,” Azzanni said. “He’s a great resource. He’s been in the NFL. He’s won a national title. He’s coached at the highest level. To bounce ideas off him, he’s been through every scenario, every problem with a kid, every problem with a play. He’s done it. He’s been a head coach. He’s been a coordinator. He’s been a position coach. He’s coached a multitude of positions. Not only that, but I know Coach Jones has said a lot there were a lot of great coaches that wanted this job, but not everybody might be the right fit. He was the perfect fit for us. We’re happy we have him.”
znModeratorThis was one of my favorite articles from last season.
It shows, once and for all, that “The Coordinator” is not the be-all and end-all of game-planning.
I have seen some out there argue that having a passing game coordinator (or a running game coordinator) is somehow strange. Actually it’s common.
.
March 28, 2016 at 5:51 pm in reply to: guide to the draft threads (expanded 4-5 times already) #41171znModeratorToday, up-bloody-dated.
.
znModeratorCook, Fairley find new homes in free agency
Jim Thomas
Tight end Jared Cook and defensive tackle Nick Fairley became the sixth and seventh Rams from the 2015 squad to sign elsewhere in free agency.
Cook has agreed to terms with the Green Bay Packers; Fairley has signed with New Orleans where he’ll be reunited with another ex-Ram, middle linebacker James Laurinaitis.
Cook was released Feb. 19, three years into a five-year, $35.1 million deal with the Rams. Although he never played up to that contract in St. Louis, he was either first or second in receptions and reception yards on the team all three seasons.
But after catching 50-plus passes in each of his first two seasons, Cook caught only 39 passes (in 75 targets) in 2015. Inconsistent play and so-so hands characterized his time in St. Louis. Despite his release, the Rams gave Green Bay a good report on Cook earlier this offseason according to league sources.
In his only season with the Rams, Fairley served as the team’s third defensive tackle in a rotation behind starters Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers. After playing sparingly over the first month of the 2015 season, Fairley’s playing time increased to where he was on the field for about half of the team’s defensive reps over a 10-game stretch from the Green Bay game Oct. 11 through the Tampa Bay contest Dec. 17.
He suffered a concussion early against Seattle in Game 15 and was placed on the injured reserve list prior to the season finale against San Francisco. The Rams had been interested in re-signing Fairley, but only at the right price.
The deals for Cook and Fairley are both for one year. According to NFL Network, Cook’s deal is worth $3.6 million although it’s not known if that figure is inflated by incentives.
Of the 21 Rams who were either unrestricted free agents, restricted free agents, or released players this offseason, only three remain unsigned (or without tenders): kicker Greg Zuerlein, wide receiver Wes Welker, and running back/special teamer Chase Reynolds.
znModeratorHey ag. Maybe as the draft approaches now, we can start new qb threads. 1 for Cook, 1 for Lynch, 1 for Goff/Wentz, 1 for “others.” Or keep up with this one.
What-choo think?
znModeratorOr maybe they think they can ‘fix’ him. Even though this is a pattern established over 7 seasons so I doubt it’s fixable.
Yeah coaches are big “fixers.” They believe they can do it. And maybe being in the spotlight in GB, where JC would be a down the rung role player and not a presumed leader (as he was in ST.L) might set things up for him to do better.
March 28, 2016 at 2:59 pm in reply to: different Cosell podcasts on this years prospects, including qb & WR #41155znModeratorRoss & Greg breakdown WRs in the upcoming draft.
Plus, some RG3, some Keenum. He talks about fit. He likes Treadwell.
Thanks for adding the more recent WR one though.
znModeratorfrom off the net
—
alyoshamucci
Treadwell 4.63 40 at Pro Day.
I’m torn for a number of reasons … Looking at Doctson, Coleman, and Treadwell
1) I want a blocker, someone who can run a full route tree. (That’s Treadwell)
2) I want a size/height speed combo … (That’s Doctson)
3) I want a POA winner. (Treadwell AND Doctson)
4) I love speed and agility. (Coleman)
5) I love separation abilities. (Coleman and Doctson)
6) I love guys that we don’t have to coach up. (Treadwell)
Given that list I would rather draft Michael Thomas or Tyler Boyd in round two than not have my wants met by any one player.
That said I have really liked Treadwell’s attitude and would choose him of the three.
March 28, 2016 at 1:52 pm in reply to: question: do you support the idea of the NFL expanding overseas? #41146znModeratorPeter King
from MMQB
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/03/26/robert-griffin-rg3-cleveland-browns-nfl-new-york-times-concussion
9. I think I believe the Rams will play in China—a regular-season game—in 2018, as was leaked last week. And I think there are 31 other coaches who would find it a nightmare to make that trip … and maybe 20 or so owners who would be intrigued by it. There’s a first-team-in sense about China that intrigues lots of owners, who view their teams as sports franchises/profit centers. Imagine if the foe is Seattle. Imagine how many Chinese might buy Russell Wilson jerseys, or join Seahawks fan groups and spend money on Seahawks stuff. Or Rams stuff. What I’m saying is that on the surface you’d never think teams would want to play in China. But a bunch of owners do. And owners control this leagu
znModeratorI guess Coples doesn’t count. He was probably cut by his former team?
Yeah Coples was a cut.
.
znModeratorSaints sign ex-Rams DT Nick Fairley
Former Rams defensive tackle Nick Fairley has signed a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints.
Nick Fairley had several suitors after his 2015 stint with the Rams, and now the Saints have signed him to another one-year “prove it” deal. By landing Fairley, upgrading the defensive tackle position goes from a “must” to a want for New Orleans.
The deal is for $3 million and includes incentives that could raise its value to $5 million, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Fairley came to the Rams on a one-year deal in 2015 in hopes that he would play well enough to land a big-money, long-term contract.
The 28-year-old Fairley is a disruptive 3-technique tackle, one of two positions that Saints coach Sean Payton listed as a “must” last week during the NFL owners meetings. The Saints used veteran Kevin Williams as their starter at the 3-technique last year, but he remains unsigned this offseason.
The New Orleans defense ranked last in the NFL last season in points allowed and 31st in yards allowed. It set NFL records for most touchdown passes allowed in a season and highest opponents’ passer rating. The Saints have added former Rams middle linebacker James Laurinaitis in free agency to become the “quarterback” of their defense.
Nick Fairley finished with 29 tackles, a half-sack and a fumble recovery in 15 games for the Rams last season. AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
They will have to clear out salary-cap space to fit in Fairley’s new deal, since the franchise had under $300,000 in cap room to start the week.Fairley drew interest from a handful of teams, including the New England Patriots.
Last year, Fairley worked as the primary backup to Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers, getting most of his opportunities on third down. He finished with 29 tackles, a half-sack and a fumble recovery in 15 games.
Fairley was a first-round pick of the Detroit Lions in the 2011 NFL draft. He had 13.5 sacks in four seasons in Detroit.
znModeratorJared Cook opts for Green Bay over Carolina, Atlanta, Chicago
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/15082273/jared-cook-sign-contract-green-bay-packers
Jared Cook could be the pass-catching threat Mike McCarthy wants down the middle of the field, and the Packers’ interest in Cook dates back to last year when they tried to acquire him before the trade deadline, Rob Demovsky writes.
Cook agreed to a one-year, $3.6 million contract, sources told ESPN. He signed the deal after passing a physical Monday, a source told ESPN Packers reporter Rob Demovsky.
The Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and Chicago Bears also had interest in the 28-year-old, sources told ESPN, but he opted to join Green Bay and its offense led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
The Packers made an offer to Cook during his visit March 14, a source told Demovsky. Green Bay also pursued Cook last season before the trade deadline.
Cook, who signed a five-year, $35 million deal with the Rams as a free agent in 2013, was a casualty of Los Angeles’ purge on Feb. 19, when the team cut him along with veterans James Laurinaitis and Chris Long. Keeping Cook would have carried an $8.3 million cap hit.
He posted 142 receptions for 1,786 yards and eight touchdowns while playing with multiple quarterbacks in his three seasons with the Rams, including 39 catches for 481 yards in 2015.
Prior to arriving in St. Louis, the 6-foot-5 Cook played four seasons with the Tennessee Titans after being selected in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft. Cook, who will turn 29 next month, has 273 receptions for 3,503 yards and 16 touchdowns in 107 career games.
znModeratorThis projects to a 3rd round pick for Jenkins.
This projects to a 4th round pick for Mcleod.
Minus a 5th round pick for Sensabaugh. Minus a 7th round pick for Coples
Plus something for Fairley ? a 6th?A 3rd and a 6th?
Thank you sir. You are a Rams fan and a gentleman.
znModeratorIan Rapoport @RapSheet
Nick Fairley chose the #Saints over offers from the #Patriots and #Texans. With a 1-year deal, no question he’ll be motivated. Solid move.March 28, 2016 at 8:38 am in reply to: How Baltimore Ravens Drafted Joe Flacco Rather Than Trading Up For Matt Ryan #41125znModeratorSo whats the lesson in the Flacco story?
w
vFor me?
If you have to draft a qb in the 1st round, better to do it if you are an established team adding a qb instead of a “building team” hoping to build around a qb.
Flacco joined a Ravens team that already had
* a defense that was ranked 6th the year before, 2nd in 2008, and included Ngata, Suggs, Reed, and a still pretty viable Ray Lewis
* a decent enough OL
* at least one veteran weapon in Derrick Mason
So then Flacco gets to be in the playoffs 5 consecutive years starting in 2008. Cause of HIM? No though he was a part of it. Because they were already a playoff team, just short a qb.
Hey that sounds familiar.
Well except for the receiver.
..
March 28, 2016 at 12:48 am in reply to: different Cosell podcasts on this years prospects, including qb & WR #41120znModeratorYeah the qb one I started the thread out with is old.
znModeratorWhich Rams are next up for a contract extension?
By Nick WagonerThe offseason is here for the Los Angeles Rams and now that we know where they’ll be playing their home games for the long term, things have settled down enough to spend our weekends answering a few of your Twitter questions.
As always, you can find me on Twitter @nwagoner and fire away with any Rams-related questions you might have. Please use hashtag #RamsMail so I can see them.
On to your questions.
john Palmieri III @JPalmieri30
Q: Are the Rams currently working to get Tru, Brockers, Ogletree and Austin extended? Can’t lose those guys@nwagoner: Earlier this offseason, I wrote that just because the Rams have a lot of salary-cap space doesn’t mean they’re likely to go out and spend big on outside players. Some of that was because they wanted to re-sign their own current free agents. But the other piece of the equation was that they wanted to sign guys who could be free agents soon and they don’t want to again find themselves in position where all of those players will test the market first before potentially re-signing. That includes all four of the players you mentioned there.
As it stands, defensive tackle Michael Brockers and cornerback Trumaine Johnson would be free agents after next season, while the Rams have fifth-year options on linebacker Alec Ogletree and receiver Tavon Austin. Johnson is playing under the franchise tag and Brockers is playing under his fifth-year option. The Rams are hoping to get deals done with both, and coach Jeff Fisher said at last week’s owners meetings that they’re aiming to get something done with Johnson long-term before the July deadline for franchise players to sign extensions. Fisher also said the Rams want to keep Ogletree and Austin, though it’s a bit more complicated in their cases. Fisher acknowledged it’s all but certain the team will use the fifth-year option on Ogletree, but that seems more unlikely with Austin given his draft position and what that would cost. In a more ideal world, they could sign Austin to a deal more commensurate with his production.
Also, keep in mind that at some point relatively soon, they’re going to have to backup the Brinks truck for Aaron Donald. One way or another, I’m sure the Rams would like to avoid a repeat of this year, where they are unable to sign any of their pending free agents in advance then have to sit through some nerve-wracking moments hoping they don’t get outbid.
Joe Abraham @joeyjoea
Q: do you think any of the games will be televised in St. Louis?@nwagoner: To my understanding, that is up to the local television affiliates. In the Rams’ case, that would mean Fox affiliate KTVI-TV Channel 2 in St. Louis for the majority of their games. I suppose the stations will try to get a gauge on how interested local fans are in the team then act accordingly, though it’s probably a safe bet that there will be fans of teams such as Chicago and Green Bay who will be lobbying to see those games as well. Still, I’d think there’s enough fans following the team combined with those who might want to see them struggle to broadcast at least a handful of the games early in the season, see how they do ratings-wise and adjust from there.
znModeratorThis MMQB article by Robert Klemko is good.
The Coaching Perspective of the Draft’s Top Quarterbacks
The Coaching Perspective of the Draft’s Top Quarterbacks
There’s only so much to be learned watching a player on tape. To better understand Jared Goff, Carson Wentz and Paxton Lynch, NFL personnel men and scouts are asking their college coaches how much responsibility each QB had in the offense. Here’s what they’re hearing, plus more notes
Robert Klemko
http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/03/23/nfl-draft-carson-wentz-jared-goff-paxton-lynch
BERKELEY, Calif. — It was the funniest scene of the pro day circuit.
There was Cal quarterback Jared Goff, tossing a few extra passes at the end of his much ballyhooed workout, and there was Browns quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton spraying water on Goff’s 9 and 1/8-inch hands, doing his best to simulate November conditions in Cleveland on a sunny day in NorCal.
Goff did fine with wet hands, but did it matter? Did he prove anything? The real evaluation happens behind closed doors, in interviews with Cal coach Sonny Dykes and his staff, and phone calls to coaches who worked with Goff and have since departed.Tony Franklin, the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Middle Tennessee State, has fielded inquiries from four teams digging into Goff’s history. The former Cal coordinator for all of Goff’s time at Berkeley says not one NFL scout, coach or team executive has asked him about Goff’s ability to secure the football with his hands, which are below-average in size for an NFL quarterback. They wanted to know how he studied, how he led and how he practiced.
But mainly, they want to talk football. Specifically, teams interested in quarterbacks want to know from college coaches exactly how much responsibility a prospect was afforded in an offense. It’s an underrated predictor of success for quarterbacks asked to start on Day 1. Experience in a pro-style offense is one thing; mastery of that offense is another.
Below you’ll hear from three coaches who worked closely with the top three quarterbacks available in the 2016 draft—Jared Goff, Carson Wentz and Paxton Lynch (in no particular order). Each have been interviewed at length by NFL scouts, whose inquiries often reveal their team’s biggest concerns about each passer as he enters the league.THE QB: Jared Goff, Cal
THE COACH: Tony Franklin, offensive coordinator, Middle Tennessee
OFFENSE: Bear RaidFranklin, 58, ran a perennial Top 10 offense at Cal for three seasons under Dykes before returning to Middle Tennessee, where he was the offensive coordinator in 2009. Franklin says the biggest misconception he’s had to address is the complexity of the Bear Raid offense, a branch off the Air Raid offense developed in the late 80’s by Hal Mumme and Mike Leach, which many football types believe affords the quarterback little opportunity to make pre-snap judgment calls. They couldn’t be more wrong, Franklin says.
“People think because we’re in this Air Raid family that there’s one or two progressions for the quarterback, which is really an insult because it’s nowhere near the truth,” Franklin says. “We give the quarterback an incredible amount of responsibility and (Goff) got more than any quarterback since I’ve been coaching.“He probably had more on his shoulders before the snap than any quarterback in the NFL.”
Under Franklin, Goff had the ability to choose between the called run play and an alternate pass play, and vice versa, based on the alignment of the defense. Goff had the ability to audible individual routes on pass plays, and Franklin estimates he adjusted the protection scheme on about 10% of passing plays.
“He probably had more on his shoulders before the snap than any quarterback in the NFL,” a former Cal coach says of Goff.
Says Franklin: “The longer last season went on he started doing it more because I think he was tired of getting hit in the mouth.”
And while coaches declined to press Franklin on Goff’s 23 career fumbles (he had just four in 2015), they did want to know about the quarterback’s frame and ability to take hits (despite the fact he started 37 of 37 games). At 6-4 and 205 pounds, Goff is the leanest of the draft’s top five quarterbacks by about 15 pounds. Franklin says there’s a good reason for that: During his time at Cal, the coach put little emphasis on weight training for quarterbacks.
“You have to look at where he was and where he is,” Franklin says. “He probably weighed about 178 when he walked in the door. He was a pencil.
“I had a very limited quarterback workout; we called it the Drew Brees workout after learning about his shoulder surgery rehab. There was very little upper body weight training. I think that’s something he’ll get more into. Two years from now he’ll be 230 pounds.”Aside from the physical and mental traits, scouts pressed Franklin on Goff’s leadership ability. Do his teammates like him? Goff came to Cal in 2013 as a four-star recruit out of nearby Kentfield, Calif., and was promptly handed the reins to the offense. “He was the golden boy, and he got more press than anybody from the beginning. He very easily could’ve been disliked by his teammates, but they voted him captain sophomore year.”
THE QB: Carson Wentz, North Dakota State
THE COACH: Tim Polasek, offensive coordinator, NDSU
OFFENSE: Multi-spreadPolasek, 36, returned to North Dakota State to lead the offense in 2014 after a short stint at Northern Illinois. Carson Wentz passed for 3,111 yards and 25 touchdowns with 10 interceptions in his first season as a starter in 2014, utilizing vertical passing concepts popular in pro football and foreign to many college spread offenses.
During the pre-draft process, Polasek was quizzed on Wentz’s mastery of the offense and his pre-snap responsibilities. Like Goff, Wentz had the ability in an injury-shortened 2015 season to check to a prescribed run or pass play with an additional check the coaches simply called “Carson.” If Wentz recognized a trouble situation, he could spout any play in the book. Additionally, Wentz was required to call out the protection on every pass play, a job for most NFL centers.
“The NFL people have been blown away with what he’s had to handle protection wise,” Polasek says. “The quarterbacks he’s being compared to are not necessarily allowed to make checks or the right protection call. There’s going to be multiple times in a game where he checks from run to pass. He’s got situations that he has to get us out of otherwise I look really bad as a play-caller.”
However, the most popular questions Polasek faced concerned the level of competition: How good is the FCS, really? What has this kid really been exposed to?
NDSU has won the last five FCS titles and has never had a losing season, and they currently boast five active NFL players, including Jets cornerback Marcus Williams, who picked off six passes in 2015. The same cannot be said for conference opponents like Missouri State and Southern Illinois. NDSU coaches have been using variations of the same anecdote to defend the level of play: Wentz schooled the best defense in the FCS on a daily basis in practice.
“He torched our defense in practice since he walked on campus,” Polasek says. “The corner he picked on when he was a redshirt freshman was Marcus Williams.”
From a physical standpoint, at 6-5, 237, Wentz checks all the boxes, but scouts have wondered about his mechanics. Several have noted Wentz’s tendency to hold the ball longer than necessary or hold the ball for a split-second too long when the open man appears.
Says Polasek: “Can he play faster? Yes. And I think he’s ready for that. There are so many times when he was like, can we make that five steps instead of seven?”
The truly thorough NFL teams, including one whose entire offensive staff has already worked out Wentz privately in Fargo in advance of his pro day today, have quizzed Polasek on Wentz’s character. Can he really be the consummate leader he’s being described as?
“They say, guys, there’s got to be something with his character. This guy can’t be perfect. But those questions have gone away,” Polasek says. “Carson does his best work while we’re not watching, and he’s not a nightlife guy. This is a kid who would be in his truck by 4 p.m. on Saturday and go hunt geese all weekend, and be in the office by 7 a.m. Monday morning and still get a 4.0 GPA.”
* * *THE QB: Paxton Lynch, Memphis
THE COACH: Darrell Dickey, assistant head coach, Memphis
OFFENSE: SpreadDickey, 56, accompanied Justin Fuente to Memphis in 2012, adopting the head coach’s TCU spread offense which fueled much of Andy Dalton’s success there. Lynch, a three-star recruit out of Deltona, Fla., in 2012, earned the starting job in 2013, displacing a popular senior quarterback.
Lynch struggled in his first season, passing for 2,056 yards in 12 games with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions. But scouts particularly have been interested in how Lynch handled the transition off the field, with media and fans questioning Fuente’s decision and Lynch’s bonafides.“There was a QB controversy, not so much on the team but with media and fans,” Dickey says. “And he just kept his head up and worked. When he had bad games, he responded like any other freshman. He got a little down in the dumps, but he would bounce right back. He handled it really well.”
“After Wentz and Goff,” says one NFL scout, “this is a great backup quarterback draft.”Physically, the 6-7 Lynch has had his athleticism questioned. In addition to rushing for 687 yards and 17 touchdowns in three seasons, he ran a 4.86 40-yard dash and jumped 36 inches at the combine.
“When you have a 6-7 quarterback I think a lot of people go into the scouting process assuming the guy is a stiff, un-athletic, awkward, clumsy, pocket quarterback, but the opposite is true with Paxton,” Dickey says. “He was an excellent high school basketball player. I think what teams are finding out is that he’s a great athlete.”
One of the biggest reasons Lynch is considered in the second-tier of available quarterbacks—below Goff and Wentz, but above Christian Hackenberg and Connor Cook—is his limited experience with pro-style concepts and a lack of responsibility in the Memphis offense. Said one scout: “After Wentz and Goff, this is a great backup quarterback draft.”
Of the top three QBs, Lynch had by far the least responsibility in his offense, where plays are called in from the sideline without much room for interpretation.
“We didn’t do a whole lot of checking at the line of scrimmage, no reading blitzes and making protection adjustments, but he’s very capable of doing that,” Dickey says. “He could give a receiver a different route, but he didn’t have the freedom to do whatever he wanted.”
Paxton Lynch’s passer rating vs. ranked teams in 2015 was better than Michigan State’s Connor Cook (107.23), Penn State’s Hackenberg (106.18) and even Cal’s Jared Goff (104.24). Lynch’s 66.9 completion percentage against the three ranked opponents Memphis met this season also dwarfs the previously mentioned passers.
znModeratorGood stuff.
znModeratorfrom off the net
==
Rams Junkie
I saw a bit about Lynch. on Path to the Draft. From my perspective he came across as a sort of a goofy but likable character. He made me think of Marino’s personality when he was drafted. Lynch was asked about his first football memory and he said it was when he shaved the #20 in his head because that was his number. So maybe he is not your prototypical leader but I would guess he would be a guy teammates would like. With Gruden he talked about players being his brothers and that he loved the guys. Lynch mentioned his size (6’6.5 245lbs) and athleticism as his strengths. He mentioned watching Cam Newton as he is a QB with a large frame and athleticism.
Casserly was asked about what he thought about where Lynch would be drafted. Casserly said it would be to the Rams at 15 which was the high point and the lowest would be Denver. He said KC at pick number 28 has interest. Casserly said Denver might want to trade up to prevent someone else from jumping in front of them. Casserly said he could easily see a team trading back into the first round to get Lynch.
-
AuthorPosts
