zn wrote:

Today the offensive coordinator, LaFleur, said: “it definitely is the deepest offensive line that we have had. There’s a lot of NFL football players there that are competing for those last spots.” – LaFleur

I don’t think a lot of Rams back-up OL candidates will make it to the practice squad.

The starting OL:

Jackson/Humphries
Avila
Shelton
Dotson
Havenstein

It remains to be seen how they handle Jackson. Is he on 6 week IR? On the 53-man roster but not starting? Starting in week 1?

Candidates for back-up positions on the 53-man roster. My bet is they keep a 9-man OL on the 53-man roster, which means at most only 4, the rest go to the PS. It could be only 3, depending on how they handle Jackson. I don’t see them cutting Humphries.

OC:
Limmer
OG:
Dedich
Bowles
Arcuri
OT/OG:
Leveston
OT:
McClendon
Quessenberry

That’s 7, out of those either 3 or 4 make the 9-man OL in the 53-man roster, depending on Jackson.

Maybe Wedig at OT is a candidate?

Lampkin is injured, and out.

Anyway it’s a deep, deep OL. Deepest we have seen for years and years.

And they often pick up someone from other teams’ cuts. In fact, basically, that’s what Shelton is.

And how did they build this starting OL?

Jackson: UDFA
Humphries: bargain vet FA
Avilla: 2nd round pick
Shelton: picked him up 2 different time when other teams cut him (SF, then Chicago)
Dotson: 4th round pick in trade
Havenstein: 2nd round pick

They only drafted 2 of them!

Has the makings to be the best OL in the McVay era, and perhaps the best since the 99 & 2000 GSOT days.

…

DISGUSTING: #Bengals icon Boomer Esiason revealed the team sent out a generic email to inviting him to the Ring of Honor event this season -!: making him pay for everything.

The team said Boomer would have to pay for his hotels & any additional tickets to the event.

(Via: WFAN) pic.twitter.com/fVz1MJEcQ1

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) August 22, 2025

"I think this is the most talented team we've had since we've been in Los Angeles"@RamsNFL President Kevin Demoff reflects on 10 years in Los Angeles 📍 pic.twitter.com/fW928KXGpj

— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) August 22, 2025

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2025/08/21/rams-tyler-davis-defense-starter-chris-shula/85754881007/?taid=68a742ad62f2f100014ce206&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

One player who’s been lurking in the shadows is Tyler Davis, the second-year pro out of Clemson. The Rams drafted Davis in the sixth round last year and while he was active for 16 games, he only played 29% of the snaps.

Heading into Year 2, the Rams view him as one of four starters on the defensive line – high praise from defensive coordinator Chris Shula.

“We really liked him and trusted him last year. Giff (Smith) always handles the rotations in games and I just think of him like a starter,” Shula said Wednesday. “If I see him out there, I never even think twice about it and I felt that way last year. I think it was more of the level of play and how he did it and how he played the run, how he was able to hit blocks and play combination blocks and understand the nuances. I think this year, what he’s done is he’s kind of upped his level of communication. Kobie Turner’s obviously the leader, the guy communicating up front. We put a lot of on those guys where with the front adjustments, we don’t have our linebackers trying to align those guys. Those guys align themselves and he’s taken a step in that direction where if he’s in and Kobie’s not in, he’s the guy that they’re all looking to communicate.”

…

ME: from “the archive”…old draft report on Davis:

from https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Tyler-Davis-DT-Clemson

Scouting Report: Strengths

Elite athletic skills — Made Bruce Feldman’s ‘Freaks List’ at number 55. He wrote: “bench-pressed 405 pounds, doing 30 reps of 225. He’s squatted 680, front-squatted 465, power-cleaned 350 and deadlifted 655. He also was timed this offseason at 4.95 in the 40”
Exceptional at utilizing natural leverage and proportional length, enabling him to effectively engage and combat larger offensive linemen.
Demonstrates high-level explosiveness off the snap, paired with the first-step quickness to disrupt offensive schemes early.
Possesses remarkable upper body strength and suddenness in movements, facilitating potent hand usage and impactful punches.
Shows a relentless motor in pursuit, complemented by impressive lateral quickness and agility to adjust and penetrate gaps efficiently.
Exhibits solid bull rush capabilities and the ability to collapse the pocket against guards, showcasing his strength and technique.
Proven effective against the run, with the ability to absorb and displace blockers, thereby freeing up teammates for playmaking opportunities.
Capable of maintaining strong leverage and leg drive against double teams, underlining his utility in disrupting run plays.
Brings versatility to the defensive line with the capacity to align in various techniques, offering strategic flexibility.

Scouting Report: Weaknesses

Faced multiple injuries throughout his college career, raising concerns about durability at the professional level.
Lacks ideal arm length, which sometimes hinders his ability to extend and disengage from blockers effectively.
At times, plays with a higher pad level than desired, diminishing his leverage against opponents.
Pass rush arsenal could benefit from further refinement and diversity, particularly in developing and executing counter moves.
While possessing a strong initial burst, needs to enhance consistency in hand-fighting and leveraging his lower body for maximum impact.

Scouting Report: Summary

Tyler Davis enters the NFL Draft as a battle-tested interior defensive lineman. His Clemson game tape shows a player with the ability to anchor the defensive line, disrupt running lanes, and pressure the quarterback. His explosive first step, combined with the natural leverage and raw power, enable him to penetrate gaps and challenge offensive lines consistently. His agility and hand usage make him equally able defending the run and pass rushing from the inside.

However, concerns about his durability cannot be overlooked. His history of injuries may raise red flags for teams looking for reliability. Additionally, Davis’ lack of ideal arm length and occasional high pad level could limit his effectiveness against the larger, more powerful offensive linemen at the next level. While his motor and pursuit are decent, there is a need for a more diversified pass-rush arsenal.

.@RamsNFL @ShaunDolac @UBFootball his instincts are the same as when he was playing college. 2weeks in a row. stacking up tackles #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/DjRcJNuZoH

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) August 18, 2025

From the Podium: OC Mike LaFleur and DC Chris Shula discuss Matthew Stafford, offensive line depth and defensive cohesion

Wyatt Miller

https://www.therams.com/news/from-the-podium-oc-mike-lafleur-and-dc-chris-shula-discuss-matthew-stafford-offensive-line-depth-and-defensive-cohesion

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – The Rams’ jog through on Wednesday served as the third-straight practice for quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is returning from a back injury that held him out of training camp.

Afterward, offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur and defensive coordinator Chris Shula spoke with local media about Stafford, offensive line depth and defensive cohesion. Here are the most significant quotes and talking points from those press conferences.

“In my three years here, I can’t speak before that, but it definitely is the deepest offensive line that we have had. There’s lot of NFL football players there that are competing for those last spots.” – LaFleur

For a Rams team that endured injuries and/or turnover at four of the five starting offensive line positions last season, depth up front is extremely important. L.A. signed veteran tackles David Quessenberry and D.J. Humphries this offseason, and brought back center Coleman Shelton after he spent a year in Chicago. However, that will leave some difficult decisions for head coach Sean McVay, general manager Les Snead and company when roster cuts are made next week.

“There will be some difficult decisions, and that’s what you want,” LaFleur said.

He added that, while those choices are above his pay grade, having to make tough personnel calls at premium positions is a good thing, because it means they have depth. If those three offseason additions make the 53-man roster alongside all five of last year’s starters who returned (Alaric Jackson, Steve Avila, Beaux Limmer, Kevin Dotson and Rob Havenstein), that may leave just one more roster spot in the position group, as McVay said earlier this offseason that they would probably end up with nine offensive linemen.

LaFleur praised Warren McClendon Jr.’s progress on Wednesday, saying he’s “pleased with where (McClendon’s) at” and “he knows he belongs.” McClendon, Justin Dedich and A.J. Arcuri all saw regular season playing time last season, while undrafted free agent signing Willie Lampkin IV (who is currently injured) has impressed in the preseason. There will be a very competitive battle to make the roster at offensive line.

“He looks like Matthew Stafford to me. The coolest part is, he’s just back out there with the guys, doing stuff he loves, operating at a world-class level.” – LaFleur
He may not know exactly how Stafford’s back feels, but LaFleur said Stafford looks like himself. He added that Stafford’s reintegration into practice and the offensive structure is “much harder than riding a bike, but it sure looks like riding a bike for him.”

In terms of how the offense may evolve in 2025, LaFleur said it will happen “organically.”

“Obviously, you’ve got your foundation set, there’s a few different pieces, whether it be rookies, obviously bringing in (wide receiver) Davante (Adams) right there, but from the naked eye, there’s going to be a lot of similarities, but then there’s little nuances and little differences that we’ll sprinkle in there.”

“We feel really comfortable with those guys (in the defensive backfield). We feel like we have a really cohesive unit and you kind of add (cornerback Emmanuel) Forbes (Jr.) into the mix, and we were fortunate enough that those guys stayed healthy the whole back half of (last) year, those guys really started to get better… Those guys really started to gel. So we really want to continue to build on the cohesiveness of those guys.” – Shula

When asked about the decision not to add to the defensive backfield this offseason, Shula expressed confidence in the group as a unit. The Rams allowed the 13th most passing yards per game in the regular season (223.1), but that number dropped by nearly 50% (114.0) in two playoff games, the lowest of any team in the postseason. Shula is banking on the continuity created throughout last season to carry over and increase in 2025.

Shula’s own approach as a second-year defensive coordinator is “night and day” compared to this time last season. He said the coaching staff is more connected and his confidence in the players and system have increased with experience. Shula isn’t just learning what works as a coach and play-caller, he and his staff are fine-tuning things and game-planning to their players’ strengths.

“Those guys rush as a unit. So we talk about, you’re not rushing as four isolated guys just trying to beat your guy. When you’re in a four-man rush, there’s certain guys that are going to have the tough down. There’s certain guys that are going to have the opportunity to go win, and those guys understand when it’s their opportunity, when it’s their turn to win.” – Shula

At the beginning of last season, the Rams were getting lots of pressure but often failed to finish plays. By the end of the year, they were communicating with subtle head nods in order to play off each other’s rushing attacks. A year of experience playing together has brought a young Rams front to another level, where they are rushing with their teammates, not just alongside each other.

Defensive end Tyler Davis is one of the young players who benefitted from increasing cohesion throughout his rookie year and a full NFL offseason. He was praised by teammates and coaches consistently throughout training camp, and Shula did so again on Wednesday.

“We really liked him and trusted him last year,” Shula said. “… I just think of him like a starter. If I see him out there, I never think twice about it, and I felt that way last year… And I think this year what he’s done is he’s kind of upped his level of communication.”

From Doug Farrar, The NFL’s 101 best players for the 2025 season: 80-71: https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/1075393/the-nfls-101-best-players-for-the-2025-season-80-71

74. Kobie Turner, DI, Los Angeles Rams

Los Angeles Rams general manager Les Snead became famous for his “F Them Picks” philosophy in recent years when it was time to exchange draft capital for what the franchise thought would be better ways to win with established stars. That said, when the Rams rolled without a first-round pick every year from 2017-2023, they were very good at plucking future franchise cornerstones from the later rounds.

One such cornerstone is Kobie Turner, who the Rams stole with the 90th pick in the third round of the 2023 draft out of Wake Forest. Turner was a credible enough quarterback disruptor in college, with three sacks and 34 total pressures for the Demon Deacons in 2022 after four years at Richmond, but it’s safe to say that few expected what Turner would do in his rookie season and beyond.

In 2023, Turner amassed 12 sacks and 50 total pressures. That wasn’t just the most sacks for any rookie interior defensive lineman – it was more than any rookie edge-rusher had. Not that we’re comparing Turner or anybody else to Aaron Donald, Destroyer of Worlds, but with Donald’s retirement following the 2023 season, it was Turner who took the crown as the undersized (6’3, 288-pound) guy on that line who could blow things up from every gap on a play-to-play basis. I am fortunate to have an AP All-Pro/MVP vote, and Turner was my Defensive Rookie of the Year in a landslide.

Turner proved that 2023 was no fluke with a 10-sack, 62-pressure season in 2024; he also added 44 solo tackles, 47 stops, 14 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and three pass breakups. Like Donald, Turner is primarily an explosive three-tech player determined to crash through guards, but he’s just as conversant with pressure everywhere from nose tackle to the edge.

The only people saying “F That Pick” when it comes to Kobie Turner now are the opposing quarterbacks and running backs who have to deal with him.

Kobie Turner is an undersized interior defensive lineman who can kill an offense from any gap, but specializes as a three-tech bomber with a power/quickness combination that is a real pain in the ass.

It's almost like the Rams know how to get those types of players. pic.twitter.com/tSuNPazh7r

— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) August 4, 2025

Stu Jackson@StuJRams
Willie Lampkin IV to miss ‘a few weeks’ after injuring knee and spraining ankle vs. Chargers

zn wrote:

L.A. hasn’t played any starting offensive linemen and the Rams still rank No. 1 in Pro Football Focus’ pass blocking grade with 81.7 this preseason.

Tellin ya. This is the golden era of Rams OL coaching. Ryan is a great OL coach, and at the same time the Rams are finding OL at a rate we’ve never seen before.

Recently added guys getting good buzz right now include Humphries (vet FA), Bowles and Dedich (both UDFAs), Leveston (2024 7th round). Even Arcuri seems to be stepping up some now that he’s at guard (2022 7th round).

Lampkin gets a lot of press but while he made a splash at center against Dallas, I have been getting some doubts about him.

Zooey wrote:

I saw some doctor online state that there is “no such thing” as an “aggravated disc.”

The 3 qbs who have dealt with roughly similar issues were Rivers, Romo, and Hasselbeck. Their stories are different, and range from Rivers playing while getting epidurals to Romo needing surgery which basically ended his career. This thread has a couple of articles on that: https://theramshuddle.com/topic/stafford-close-to-being-cleared-2/

2 articles in that thread cover the history of other qbs with similar issues. One posted on August 11, 2025 at 9:58pm and the other on August 13, 2025 at 12:22 pm

LAFB Network@LAFBNetwork
Davante Adams sits 3rd among active players in career TDs with 103.

good instincts by Shaun Dolac pic.twitter.com/KnfUZyH9zp

— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) August 18, 2025

Sarah Barshop@sarahbarshop
Sean McVay said LT Alaric Jackson (blood clots) is “on track” in his rehab and the team looks forward “to getting him out on the field sooner than later.” Jackson is still restricted in terms of what he can do in team drills.

“He is in great shape right now,” McVay said.

…

from https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/los-angeles-sean-mcvay-matthew-stafford-alaric-jackson-terrance-ferguson

Alaric Jackson

I asked McVay about where Alaric Jackson was in his recovery.

McVay stated Jackson was doing great and that he remains on track to return. He’s physically active but there’s restrictions pertaining to his return to team activity.

McVay stated Jackson was in great mental and physical shape, taking his recovery seriously. He remains week to week.