Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
znModeratorLAFB Network@LAFBNetwork
Myles Garrett added another accolade to his resume, taking home the ESPY for Best NFL Player after his historic 2025 season. Garrett also became the first defensive player to ever win the award, adding to a year that included Defensive Player of the Year honors and the NFL’s single-season sack record.znModeratorRussell S. Baxter@BaxFootballGuru
56–# of OL Doug Smith, 187 games (160 starts), 10 postseason games (8 starts), 6-time Pro Bowler in 14 seasons w/ #RamsznModerator.@RamsNFL @PoonaF_95 always a place in this league for players like Poona..Strong as an Ox; healthy as a horse; heart of a lion! #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/TdYGZXtpje
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) July 16, 2026
znModeratorThat was when the Dodgers had that Japanese guy who played WR and CB and scored 3 TDs on offense, and had 2 pick-sixes. IIRC.
Of course, that was back before the salary cap.
That was a real AAFC team.
znModeratorA look at quarterback EPA per play inside and outside the pocket.
Brock Purdy, Matthew Stafford, and Jordan Love all stood out as highly effective in both situations last year.
Inside/outside pocket designation via @FTNFantasy charting. pic.twitter.com/17zsw8L2ly
— Nutshell Sports (@NutshellSportz) July 15, 2026
znModeratorznModerator.@richeisen shares his top 5 QBs list 👀
5️⃣ Joe Burrow
4️⃣ Lamar Jackson
3️⃣ Matthew Stafford pic.twitter.com/ubTOb6HHvq— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 15, 2026
znModeratorNFL Stats@NFL_Stats
Highest scoring games in #NFL history:113 – Redskins vs. Giants (’66)
106 – Bengals vs. Browns (’04)
105 – Rams vs. Chiefs (’18)
103 – 49ers vs. Dodgers (’48)
101 – Saints vs. Giants (’15)
101 – Raiders vs. Oilers (’63)
99 – Broncos vs. Cowboys (’13)
99 – Seahawks vs. Chiefs (’83)
98 – Chargers vs. Steelers (’85)
98 – Cardinals vs. Giants (’48)
97 – Rams vs. Colts (’50)
96 – Browns vs. Bengals (’07)
96 – Jets vs. Dolphins (’86)
95 – Bucs vs. Rams (’19)
95 – Packers vs. Redskins (’83)znModerator.@RyanPaganetti on the @RossTuckerPod talked about 2 high shells & how duo runs are the best counter to it:
“3 of the last 5 years the Super Bowl winning team has played the most 2 high shells on 1st & 10. Raheem Morris in ‘21, Vic Fangio in ‘24 & Mike Macdonald in ‘25. You’re… pic.twitter.com/Ssp43Fllz4
— Houston Stressans (@TexansCommenter) July 16, 2026
znModerator"The Rams don't need him to play 60 or 70 snaps a game… What a nightmare that's going to be for offenses if he's anything close to what he was before."@colincowherd and @AlbertBreer discuss Aaron Donald potentially returning to the Rams pic.twitter.com/AosdCzg9h8
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) July 15, 2026
znModeratorMina says the number one issue with the Rams ‘f them picks approach’ is Wide Receiver depth, and OLine depth.
w
vThe honest truth is that no one right now knows about either.
They could have a 3rd receiver among the trio of Whitington, Mumpfield, and Daniels.
They could have a decent LOT sub in Quessenberry or even Trost.
It’s not impossible to cover those positions, not in theory anyway, though right now, the only fair response is to say we don’t really know yet.
In the Rams defense, however, how many people guessed in advance how guys like Nacua, McClendon, and Lake would do as starters?
The advantage of “f them picks” is you get guys like Stafford, Ramsey, and Garrett. That works if you also draft well in the lower rounds. So when it comes to the 2026 Rams, it is true that not many teams are 2 deep at LOT. But then not many teams find solid LOTs among their UDFA signings.
So, time will tell whether or not we’ll see.
…
…
znModeratorSpain has somehow emerged from its long horrifying history to become a decently proggressive place.
The current Argentinian government is under a right-wing libertarian and is hostile to human rights groups and likes to prop up positive myths about the old 70s and 80s military dictatorships.
Looked at through the lens of history, every place is bloody. If history is the only metric, then we have to root for a giant asteroid strike.
Would that lead to dystopian soccer or post-apocalyptic soccer?
w
vIt would lead to voles soccer.
znModeratorSo which nation-state has the least bloody history: Argentina or Spain?
Spain has somehow emerged from its long horrifying history to become a decently proggressive place.
The current Argentinian government is under a right-wing libertarian and is hostile to human rights groups and likes to prop up positive myths about the country’s old 70s and 80s military dictatorships.
Looked at through the lens of history, every place is bloody. If history is the only metric, then we have to root for a giant asteroid strike.
znModeratorfrom ESPN, Execs, coaches, scouts rank top NFL wide receivers for 2026: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49252915/ranking-nfl-top-10-wide-receivers-2026-execs-coaches-scouts
…
4. Puka Nacua, Los Angeles Rams
Highest ranking: 3 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 25 | Last year’s ranking: Honorable mentionLast year, Nacua was on the fringe of the top 10. He wasn’t to be denied this year, appearing on all but one ballot.
About 85% of Nacua’s votes were within the top five after he led the NFL with 129 catches in 2025, the second most in Rams history behind Kupp (2021). Nacua’s eight career games with at least 150 receiving yards tie an NFL record with Justin Jefferson for the most by a player in his first three seasons.
“Strong hands, contact balance, ability to block in the run game, run after the catch, run through the catch, can go get it, can play any spot,” an NFL coordinator said. “Complete receiver. Him and Chase are the hardest to tackle.”
Nacua’s 668 yards after catch led all receivers last season, while 80 of his catches went for first downs. He caught 77.2% of his targets, symbolizing his incredible consistency. Nacua is the classic plays-faster-than-his-time guy. He ran a 4.57-second 40-yard dash coming out of BYU, but Nacua accelerates through receptions to maximize his speed better than anyone.
Expect Nacua, a 2027 free agent, to have another huge season while he seeks a new contract. He has dealt with off-field concerns this offseason, including a stint in rehab, but he still appears to be in the Rams’ long-term plans.
…
10. Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams
Highest ranking: 6 | Lowest ranking: Unranked
Age: 33 | Last year’s ranking: Honorable mentionThe only top-10 receiver in his 30s, Adams secured the last spot on the list despite producing his lowest receiving yardage total (789) since 2015. But look what he did for Matthew Stafford. The two had an easy connection on go balls and back-shoulder throws. Stafford threw 14 touchdowns to Adams on his way to the MVP award.
“His instincts and route running are still there even as his athletic traits have declined,” an NFC exec said. “He just knows how to get open.”
Adams became the third player since 1940 to lead the league in receiving touchdowns despite missing at least three games. The last was Jerry Rice in the strike-shortened 1987 season.
znModeratorznModeratorThe weird collection of nagging injuries he had last year just made him look like he was playing underwater or somethin. He looked confused, tentative, and slow. I mean he was always the most elusive QB in the NFL and he relied on that more than any other QB. He was getting run down by DLinemen every game. That had ‘never’ happened to him before. He lost his super-power and the Ravens were left with a very ordinary, frustrated, pocket-passer.
w
vBut…PFF ranks him 5th! So…maybe you just saw him on a bad day? Or you accidently watched the Titans thinking it was the Ravens?
znModeratorI dunno what planet PFF lives on, but i watched Lamar Jackson last year.
w
vI would be interested in hearing what you saw.
..
znModeratorOn a recent episode of The Pat McAfee Show, NFL insider Peter Schrager shared crucial insights into Donald’s mindset, emphasizing that if the future Hall of Famer does return, it will not be in a limited or compromised capacity.
According to Schrager, Donald is focused on maintaining his elite standard of play rather than returning as a shell of his former self. His recent workout sessions are not just about staying active—they are a deliberate assessment of whether his body can still perform at a championship level.
“Aaron Donald is not going to come back as some 30-cents-on-the-dollar version of Aaron Donald,” Schrager explained. “He wants to be ready—that’s why that workout was going on. He wants to be fully where he was when he retired two years ago. He wants to be the best version of himself.”
znModeratorSleeperNFL@SleeperNFL
@PFF ranks their highest rated QBs in the clutch last season:1 – Dak Prescott
2 – Matthew Stafford
3 – Lamar Jackson
4 – Sam Darnold
5 – Josh AllenznModeratorGo to this site and see the chart: https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/stats-nfl/nfl-offensive-line-stats/
If you click each category, you see where the Rams OL ranked after 2025 stats.
Pressure rate allowed: Rams ranked 4th (32.2%)
No blitz pressure rate allowed: Rams ranked 3rd (29.5%)
Time to throw: Rams ranked 5th (2.7)
Yards before contact per RB rush: Rams tied for 1st (2.0)
Rush stuffed rate: Rams ranked 5th (13.2%)
znModeratorfrom https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/rams-guard-kevin-dotson-continues-170609860.html
Dotson’s Run Blocking Makes the Rams Offense Better
…his dominance in the run game is what separates him from others. For a guard, he completely changes the Rams offense when he’s on the field, showing his value. Without Dotson on the field last season, the Rams averaged 4.0 yards per carry. By comparison, with Dotson, the Rams averaged 4.8 yards per carry.
The Rams’ offensive line as a collective unit is one of the best in the NFL. Most would have them ranked inside the top seven offensive lines heading into 2026.
znModeratorRT Warren McClendon Jr.
McClendon’s 86.7 run-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus was the fifth-best of any offensive tackle in the NFL last season. He was a force in the run game, using his power to seal off edges and clear space for his running backs to the outside.
McClendon will help deal with some of the best pass rushers in football this season, including Nick Bosa, Brian Burns, Nik Bonitto, Maxx Crosby and Micah Parsons. The Rams need him to play at a high level so that the pocket doesn’t collapse on their MVP quarterback because Stafford isn’t exactly the type of scrambler who can evade pressure.
znModeratorfrom https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/kyren-williams-efficient-ever-despite-123101338.html
In order for the Rams’ offense to work, they need a hard-nosed runner to make the defense respect the immediate threat of a quick inside run, a job Williams does well.
Williams’ work as a pass catcher and pass protector also helps disguise what the Rams are running, meaning that unless their entire operation changes, Williams should see the proper amount of targets
***
from AI
Tackles for Loss (TFLs)
Both backs thrived running behind a strong scheme that limited negative plays; however, specific yardage lost specifically due to TFLs typically skews closely to overall carry distribution. Williams had a 87.6% positive run rate, while Corum had an 86.9% positive run rate, leaving both players near the top of the league in avoiding stalled drives.
znModeratorPeople forget how good Marshall Faulk was…
More career games with 250+ scrimmage yards than Jim Brown & Julio Jones 🤯
One of the most untouchable records in NFL history? pic.twitter.com/14VT6S0Rhw
— LAFB Network (@LAFBNetwork) July 13, 2026
znModeratorfrom ESPN, Execs, coaches, scouts rank top NFL quarterbacks for 2026: https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49315416/ranking-nfl-top-10-quarterbacks-2026-execs-coaches-scouts
their top 2 are Allen and Mahomes
#3.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams
Highest ranking: 1 | Lowest ranking: 5
Age: 38 | Last year’s ranking: 6Stafford’s MVP campaign vaulted him into the top three in convincing fashion. Stafford earned an impressive 17% of the first-place votes. He has not been a fixture in the top half of the voting since the inception of our top 10 lists in 2020, but Stafford produced the fourth season in NFL history with at least 45 touchdown passes (46) and fewer than 10 interceptions (eight). The others were executed by Aaron Rodgers (2020, 2021) and Brady (2007).
“Nobody played better than him last year, and it wasn’t even close,” an NFL head coach said.
Coaches saw a quarterback playing in rhythm, trusting his receivers and throwing to spots with elite anticipation and arm strength. And the addition of Davante Adams alongside Puka Nacua gave Los Angeles two No. 1-caliber receivers. Defenses couldn’t double-team both consistently, allowing them to win in a variety of ways. Adams capitalized on back-shoulder throws and go balls, coaches noted.
An NFL coach who studied the Rams’ film from 2025 noted coach Sean McVay’s brilliance in protecting Stafford with under-center, three-TE sets. “And then you realize, ‘Oh crap, they are actually throwing out of those sets,'” the coach said. That wrinkle kept defenses guessing all season — and kept Stafford healthy.
“Stafford and McVay is now the best quarterback-coach duo in the league,” an AFC offensive coach said.
It’s part of the reason why some voters are hesitant to elevate Stafford: His surroundings are clean. “The system helps him,” an NFL coordinator said. “He has an elite offensive coach and elite weapons. He’s great, don’t get me wrong. He has advantages that some of the other quarterbacks don’t have.”
znModeratorBlake Corum is HUNGRY… 🔥 pic.twitter.com/YAdswjuxDf
— Rams Tapes 🇵🇷 (@RamsTapes) July 13, 2026
znModerator"Aaron Donald told the [Rams] he wanted to go [to the facility], work out see how he felt, see how he reacted."@AdamSchefter on Aaron Donald working out at the Rams' facility 👀
(via @PatMcAfeeShow) pic.twitter.com/qSxSY5oa1i
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) July 13, 2026
znModeratorfrom Matthew Stafford’s season could have been even better if not for drops
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford put together one of the most efficient seasons of his career in 2025, one that ended with league-leading stats and an MVP trophy. But those numbers could have been even better if not for a litany of drops this past season.
Stafford lost 42.15 expected points added to drops, the fifth-highest total in the league, according to nflfastR and FTN Charting data (via Nutshell Sports).
A look at how much EPA quarterbacks lost because of drops during the 2025 NFL season.
Dak Prescott and Trevor Lawrence lost the most EPA to drops.
Drop data via @FTNFantasy charting pic.twitter.com/UyeMZQn0kW
— Nutshell Sports (@NutshellSportz) July 10, 2026
…In other words, Stafford was already playing at an elite level, and his receivers left a significant chunk of production on the field.
The drops were spread across L.A.’s pass-catching corps. Davante Adams led the way with five drops on the season, tied for the 23rd-most in the league among qualifying receivers, despite still posting a robust 110.7 passer rating on his targets and finishing with a league-high 14 touchdowns. Puka Nacua added four drops of his own, while tight ends Colby Parkinson, Tyler Higbee and Davis Allen each had three. Running back Blake Corum chipped in three drops as well, on just 14 targets — a 21.4% drop rate that stands out even in a small sample.
Nacua’s drop rate (2.4%) was still low relative to his target volume, but Corum’s number underscores how even marginal usage in the passing game came with inefficiency attached. Parkinson’s 5.4% drop rate and Mumpfield’s 8.7% also chipped away at possessions that could have extended drives or turned into scores.
Adams still finished as one of Stafford’s most reliable options by rate stats, and Nacua’s monster season (129 catches, 1,715 yards) speaks for itself. But the cumulative effect of two dozen drops on a quarterback who was already producing at a top-five clip in the league is notable. Had even half of those drops been secured, Stafford’s counting numbers — and his case in any MVP or Pro Bowl conversation — would look even more dominant.
For a 37-year-old quarterback often discussed in terms of what he has left, the 2025 drop data suggests he’s still playing at a level that outpaces the stats his teammates helped shape. The hope is that the disconnect that plagued Adams and Stafford early in the year doesn’t carry over into 2026, and the same goes for the young and inexperienced receivers who also dropped passes.
znModeratorRC deWinter@RCdeWinter
* A dangling participle walks into a bar. Enjoying a cocktail and chatting with the bartender, the evening passes pleasantly.
* A bar was walked into by the passive voice.
* An oxymoron walked into a bar, and the silence was deafening.
* A malapropism walks into a bar, looking for all intents and purposes like a wolf in cheap clothing, muttering epitaphs and casting dispersions on his magnificent other, who takes him for granite.
* Papyrus and Comic Sans walk into a bar. The bartender says, “Get out — we don’t serve your type.”
* A mixed metaphor walks into a bar, seeing the handwriting on the wall but hoping to nip it in the bud.
* A synonym strolls into a tavern.
* At the end of the day, a cliché walks into a bar — fresh as a daisy, cute as a button, and sharp as a tack.
* Falling slowly, softly falling, the chiasmus collapses to the bar floor.
* A figure of speech literally walks into a bar and ends up getting figuratively hammered.
* An allusion walks into a bar, despite the fact that alcohol is its Achilles heel.
* A misplaced modifier walks into a bar owned by a man with a glass eye named Ralph.
* The past, present, and future walked into a bar. It was tense.
* A dyslexic walks into a bra.
* A verb walks into a bar, sees a beautiful noun, and suggests they conjugate. The noun declines.
* A simile walks into a bar, as parched as a desert.
* A gerund and an infinitive walk into a bar, drinking to forget.
– Jill Thomas Doyle
znModeratorScott Kacsmar@ScottKacsmar
What the longest TD pass streaks look like when you include the playoffs:1. Brees – 60
2. Peyton – 56
3. Unitas – 49
4. Brees – 47
5. Favre – 39
5. Cousins – 39
7. Romo – 38
8. Brady – 35
8. Mahomes – 35Brees and Mahomes are the only QBs with multiple streaks of 30+ games.
-
AuthorPosts
