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September 11, 2015 at 9:52 pm in reply to: articles on Givens; Brown & Havenstein; Laurinaitis; Darrell Wms. #30254
znModeratorDarrell Williams was grappled with two opposing emotions this week.
The first came Saturday, when St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher called to inform the former Orlando Evans and USF offensive tackle that he had made the cut for the NFL Rams 2015 53-man roster.
“I got the call and I was elated … Coach Fisher just told me to take a deep breath and that I had made it,” Williams said. “I called my agent, called my parents and let them know the good news and yeah, I was really excited that I was able to stay here and get on the 53-man roster.
“After that it was a bunch of thank yous and celebrating.”
Then came the news the next day that former USF teammate Elkino Watson, one of the most likeable guys on the team during Williams’ four years in Tampa, was killed late Saturday night after being stabbed several times during a fight in Ybor City.
“Yeah man, he was a guy that came in with me in my recruiting class. It was literally the day after I found out that I made the roster, that I heard what went down with Kino,” Williams said. “It was very sad. Terrible, terrible news when I woke up. Kino, I really liked him. He was a great guy. He had one of the biggest smiles in the locker room and always was just trying to have fun.
“I never saw him fight and he wasn’t a very argumentative person. It’s still tough right now seeing stuff on Facebook and Twitter about his death.”
Certainly a tough way to enter his first week in the NFL, but Williams has always been able to overcome obstacles. He’ll remain focused with just two more days of preparation as the Rams get set to host the Seattle Seahawks at the Edwards Jones Dome on Sunday.
Through fall camp, Williams kept gaining more confidence with each practice, and he said the key has been always playing hard and studying the playbook vigorously.
“I just treated it as if I could get cut at any moment. There were a lot of talented offensive linemen when I got there, so I didn’ take the opportunity for granted,” Williams said. “I tried to master the playbook early on so that I could play faster when it came time for preseason games and every day was a grind.”
His confidence grew through camp, but it wasn’t always that way. During his first Organized Team Activities (OTAs), Williams said he was like a kid among men.
“When I first arrived for OTAs, I was nervous every single day. … but, honestly, after the first preseason game I felt much better about my ability to play at this level and also after that first game, the game really slowed down for me,” Williams said. “I was actually more calm than I thought I would be coming into [the period of team cuts].
“Going against our D-line every day in practice helped me a lot. We have one of the top D-lines in the NFL.”
The 6-foot-5, 307-pound Williams sits on the Rams depth chart as the No. 2 left tackle behind second-year player Greg Robinson out of Auburn.
Williams’ path to the NFL didn”t even start until after high school. He never thought about the NFL. Williams didn’t even begin playing football until his ninth grade year at Evans, his first school year in the United States after moving from Kingston, Jamaica.
“I thought I was going to be the next great basketball player,” Williams said after committing to USF in 2010. “But when I got [to the U.S.] I saw that all the basketball players were like 6-8 or 6-9 and so I knew I had to do something else to go to college.”
They told him he should play football, and, led by former head coach Greg Thompson, who has returned to take over the job again this season after a four-year hiatus, Evans coaches helped him hone his craft.
“When I first got there [USF], I was still pretty raw because I had only played in high school. Initially, I wasn’t thinking this far ahead. I can’t think of what I was thinking back then, but I probably didn’t believe I could make it this far,” Williams said. “I was blessed to be at South Florida and have the opportunity to play as a freshman and then have the opportunity to start as a sophomore.
“So I got a lot of experience and once I got [to the NFL] I just did what I was asked.”
His perseverance and work ethic have been the driving force. He’s gone from a person who hated football as a freshman in high school, skipping workouts, making up excuses, etc., to one of the hardest working individuals on any practice field.
“I’ve always been a very coachable athlete, so whatever is asked of me I do it to the best of my abilities,” he said. “I try not to make excuses and try to get better every day.”
Williams joins a long line of former Evans High football players who went on to the NFL, including Kenard Lang (now head coach at Wekiva), Tony McCoy (assistant coach at South Lake), Kerlin Blaise, Keith Council, Leon Searcy, Horace Copeland, Jamie Dukes, Jeff Zimmerman, Brandon Siler, Alex Haynes and Demetri Patterson.
“Alex Haynes gave me some wise words when I was getting ready for this process,” Williams said. “There were some big names that came out of Evans and I’m just very appreciative of that and hopefully I can be in that category as another one who had a long, successful career. I’m just trying to follow in their footsteps.”
Williams signed a three-year contract with the Rams as an undrafted free agent worth $1,582,500. He received a $7,500 signing bonus. After finding out he had made the team this week, he found a place to live in St. Louis in an apartment complex where several young Rams players live.
He’s a humble, well spoken individual who graduated with a communications degree last December. Don’t be surprised if you see this guy in the broadcast arena after his playing days. For now, however, he’s as focused as ever.
“I’m just taking it one day at a time. I still don’t think it’s sunken in all the way yet,” Williams said.
znModeratorI think they can win it. The Rams just play Seattle tough at home, and Seattle’s just not as tough on the road.
But there are so many unknowns it is not as easy to flat predict it.
September 11, 2015 at 5:27 pm in reply to: articles on Givens; Brown & Havenstein; Laurinaitis; Darrell Wms. #30239znModeratorJames Laurinaitis closing in on Rams’ tackles record
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — St. Louis Rams linebacker James Laurinaitis is 15 tackles away from owning a piece of franchise history.
Sitting at 901 career tackles entering this Sunday’s season opener against Seattle, Laurinaitis needs 14 stops to tie Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen and 15 to pass him. Laurinaitis already sits ahead of such Rams luminaries as Deacon Jones and Jack “Hacksaw” Reynolds.
Laurinaitis doesn’t much care for the chance to tout his own accomplishments, but defensive coordinator Gregg Williams doesn’t mind taking up for his middle linebacker. Asked Friday why he thinks Laurinaitis doesn’t get more credit, Williams offered a rebuttal for those that criticize Laurinaitis.
“Most of them that probably don’t think that [Laurinaitis is a good player] were the same guys that probably thought they should have been all-conference in high school that didn’t get a chance to play after,” Williams said. “I laugh and I smile about that. The all-time leading tackler? That says something. Here in St. Louis you guys also had a guy that was undrafted that everybody didn’t like, remember the comments about London Fletcher? He just played 17 years without missing a game and he tackled pretty well, too.”
Williams went on to describe how important Laurinaitis is to all that the Rams do defensively.
“James Laurinaitis is the epitome of a tackler,” Williams said. “I can’t think of a better person than him to be the all-time leading tackler here. I didn’t know he was that close. I’m going to wonder why he doesn’t have all those tackles in the first quarter this week.”
Laurinaitis was second on the team in tackles in 2014 and has reached 100 tackles in each of his six seasons in the NFL.
September 11, 2015 at 5:26 pm in reply to: articles on Givens; Brown & Havenstein; Laurinaitis; Darrell Wms. #30238znModeratorRams’ Jamon Brown, Rob Havenstein set to take center stage
By Nick WagonerEARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams will start two rookies on the offensive line Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. For left guard Jamon Brown and right tackle Rob Havenstein, it’s a difficult task.
Which is why both Brown and Havenstein admitted this week there will be some butterflies before kickoff.
“There’s definitely going to be some nerves,” Havenstein said. “I think anytime you step in and play your first NFL game and the bullets count, I think there are going to be a little bit of nerves. But it’s something that if I want to be a good player, I’m going to have to get past them and just go out and trust the guys around me, trust the front five I’m going to have around me and know that I’m going to have their back and they’re going to have my back.”
Many eyes will be on the Rams’ young offensive line in 2015. It’s a group that will go a long way in determining the team’s success. The Rams enter the season as the youngest team in the league for the fourth straight year and the offensive line is no exception with the youngest projected group in the NFL. Of the five projected starters, only right guard Rodger Saffold has more than a dozen NFL starts.
Which means plenty of attention will be paid to others across the line, specifically the two rookies. Facing a dominant Seattle defense in their first game won’t make things any easier for Brown and Havenstein, but even if both have had their hiccups in the preseason, they have impressed the coaching staff with their resilience and professional approach.
“I think they’ll try to create some one-on-one matchups and step up in some gaps and try to confuse us,” coach Jeff Fisher said. “I wouldn’t have asked ‘JB’ or allowed JB or Rob for that matter, we wouldn’t have put them in a position to start if we didn’t think they were going to get the job done, and they’re only going to get better.”
The Rams don’t have much time to wait. After spending five draft picks on offensive linemen this year, they’re betting big on youth to rule the day. After plugging Brown and Havenstein in on the right side from the day they arrived in St. Louis, the Rams didn’t do themselves any favors by waiting until the day before the third preseason game to juggle the line by moving Brown to the left side with Saffold on the right.
It was a logical move considering Saffold’s success on the right in 2013, Brown’s experience playing the left side and the chance to split the rookies up but the timing was puzzling at best.
“We did it the day before the Indianapolis game so it was very surprising for me,” Brown said. “Obviously, the type of guy I am, it doesn’t really matter. As long as I play, that’s all I’m worried about. Making that switch kind of told me something. Coach gave me an idea of what his mindset was going into that game and getting the best matchups and combinations he could. He was pleased with what I did on the left side and decided to make it final.”
With Saffold on the sidelines for most of the preseason with a shoulder issue, Brown was probably the Rams’ most consistent lineman until an ankle injury slowed him in the game against Indianapolis. The Rams believe Brown’s athleticism and ability to get out and pull makes him a better fit on the left side.
As for Havenstein, he did fine as a run blocker but had some issues in pass protection, at times playing too high and, by his own admission, needs to get better at getting off the ball at the snap quicker.
But the Rams’ refusal to spend premium picks on the offensive line until the past two years puts Brown and Havenstein in position where much will be expected of them right away — even though they have yet to take an NFL regular-season snap.
For their part, Brown and Havenstein are aware that they must produce right away in order for the offense to have success in the early part of the season.
“I think we kind of keep all of our motivation kind of in-house,” Havenstein said. “We know what we need to do; we know how we need to work. If you start paying attention to what others are saying, you are going to be lost, especially in today’s world. You can be up all night reading everything and go down the rabbit hole. I think this group has done a heck of a job, especially with the older guys in the group kind of keeping us on track, knowing what we have to do and our success will be dependent on our room, not on some outside influences. If we play well, we’re most likely going to have a good game.”
znModeratorSix Points: Seahawks vs. Rams
FOX Sports
Sep 11, 2015 at 8:30a ET SHARE 4 TWEET 5
http://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/six-points-seahawks-vs-rams-091115
It’s a tale of teams at different stages heading into 2015.
The Seahawks have been perched atop the league for the last three seasons, and are seeking a third straight Super Bowl appearance. After a crushing Super Bowl XLIX loss, Seattle reloaded and acquired Jimmy Graham in the offseason to boost their offense. However, they will also be without the services of one of their best players on the defensive side in Kam Chancellor (contract holdout).
Meanwhile, the Rams are simply trying to clinch a playoff berth for the first time since 2004. St. Louis’ strength lies in a young defensive front the organization has built through the draft. It is the Rams’ offense, though, that needs some time to build chemistry with a number of new faces, including quarteback Nick Foles.
Here are three keys to the game for both the Seahawks and the Rams.SEAHAWKS
1. Focus, focus, focus
The Rams unleashed trick plays in handing the Seahawks their third loss of the season in October. Heading into 2015, Seattle is once again the favorite to win the NFC West, while St. Louis could be a team on the rise, or floundering in mediocrity based on Jeff Fisher’s track record the last three seasons. If there’s anything the Seahawks need to know, all they have to do is pull up the tape from Oct. 20, 2014, and be wary of anything the Rams will try to do to pull out a win in their home opener.
2. Protect Russell Wilson
The problems centering around the offensive line in the preseason were evident. Though coach Tom Cable said his starting unit could be the best he’s coached, the group is far from a finished product. On the other side, the Rams boast arguably the best defensive front in the league, headlined by Robert Quinn and Aaron Donald. If the Seahawks expect to get anything going on offense, protecting Wilson is paramount.
3. Pressure Foles
The Rams are working in two rookies along the offensive line, and a center with little starting experience (four games). And it will be Foles’ first career start. The Seahawks defense is known to generate a ton of pressure, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Kris Richard’s unit force Foles and the rest of the offense to make plays outside their comfort zone.RAMS
1. Keep Foles upright
The Rams’ young offensive line will be tasked with slowing down the league’s best defense for three straight seasons. Foles is no stranger to seeing pressure; he was sacked 37 times from the 2013-14 seasons while in Philadelphia. If the Rams hope to have any chance of winning Week 1, they’ll need to protect Foles and give him time in the pocket.
2. Attack Seahawks secondary
If Foles is able to buy time in the pocket, the Rams boast a number of weapons on the outside that have big-play potential, including Tavon Austin, Brian Quick and Stedman Bailey. The Seahawks will have three new faces in the secondary starting alongside Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas: Dion Bailey, rookie Tye Smith and offseason signee Cary Williams. Most notably, they’ll be without Chancellor.
3. Wreak havoc in the backfield
There’s no question the Rams’ strength lies in their defensive front. But Quinn, Donald and Co. face a tall task in trying to slow down Marshawn Lynch and making Wilson uncomfortable. The Rams defensive unit will need to try generating pressure to make life uneasy for the Seahawks offensive line, and force Lynch and Wilson work.znModeratorRams keeping eyes wide open when it comes to defending Jimmy Graham
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Perhaps in an effort to keep their newest weapon under wraps as long as possible, the Seattle Seahawks didn’t ask much of newly acquired Jimmy Graham in their preseason games.
In watching the tape this week to glean how the Seahawks might intend to use their Pro Bowl tight end, Rams coach Jeff Fisher saw, well, not much.
“We suspect they have a lot of things in for him because you didn’t really see much of him in the passing game in the preseason,” Fisher said.
But just because the Rams haven’t seen how the Seahawks plan to use Graham doesn’t mean they lack the knowledge needed to slow him down. In fact, the Rams have players and coaches who are plenty familiar with Graham. And to hear them tell it, defending the 6-foot-7, 265-pound Graham doesn’t come down to things like strength or speed.
“You have to be very good with your eyes,” linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “A lot of times, when they do play action stuff, those guys are in the flat. But with a guy like Jimmy Graham, if you are a few steps behind, it’s hard to catch him. A lot of times even when you are in coverage, his jump radius, his ability to go up for it is challenging, but I really like our guys we have. [He’s] just another piece of ammunition for them and a great challenge.”
Since Graham entered the league in 2010, he has played the Rams three times. In those three games, Graham has been held to seven catches for 85 yards with no touchdowns. In those meetings, the Rams have mixed and matched ways to defend Graham, even using cornerback Janoris Jenkins on him in a 2013 victory.
With Graham now in the NFC West and on the schedule twice per year, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams figures to throw multiple looks at Graham. Williams knows Graham well from their time together in New Orleans and has another player who is plenty familiar with Graham.
That would be safety Mark Barron, who spent his first 2½ seasons in Tampa Bay, one of the Saints’ division rivals. Former Buccaneers special assistant Butch Davis once said the Bucs used the seventh overall choice on Barron in 2012 as a direct response to Graham’s emergence in New Orleans.
Although Graham had a 10-catch, 179-yard performance against Tampa Bay in Week 2 of the 2013 season, safety Dashon Goldson covered Graham in the first half when Graham had eight catches for 156 yards and a touchdown. In the second half, with Barron covering him, Graham managed two catches for 23 yards and Barron finished with 10 tackles.
The key to slowing Graham? Barron echoed Laurinaitis.
“As long as we keep our eyes right and don’t make mistakes, we’ll be fine,” Barron said. “In my opinion, that’s the key. A lot of his plays, he is tricky with his routes. So a lot of times, guys have bad eyes and guess the wrong thing. So I think we have to make sure we are smart with our eyes and we’ll be fine.”
Most tight ends are pretty straightforward with their routes because they aren’t athletic enough to change direction like receivers. But Graham is a different beast. Whether it’s Jenkins, a linebacker like Alec Ogletree or a safety like Barron or T.J. McDonald drawing the assignment, one false step and Graham can run right by for a big play.
“He’s just a really good football player,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “He came to us well-equipped. We’re thrilled about the kind of player that he is, but even more so about the person that he is. He’s just jumped in with our team and fit right in and has been accepted. Now it’s just a process of getting to utilize the things he can do and developing and building the chemistry between the quarterback and receiver and all of that kind of cool stuff. That will improve for some time I think, but he looks like everything you’ve seen. He’s legit. He can make big plays and be a factor, so we’re hoping to fit him in the offense and make him a regular part of it.”
And the Rams are hoping that process take at least an extra week for Graham to fit in. To make that happen, it’s all about the eyes.
znModeratorRams banking on revamped run game to get in the zone
Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff WriterEARTH CITY, Mo. — After Frank Cignetti took over as the St. Louis Rams new offensive coordinator early this offseason, he promised that there’d be some changes coming.
With former tight ends coach Rob Boras promoted to assistant head coach/offense with a focus on the run game, the Rams offered a clear glimpse at who they are hoping to become offensively. The emphasis and devotion to creating a run game that can move the chains, control the clock and offer quarterback Nick Foles opportunities to make plays down the field became more clear in the NFL draft when the Rams selected running back Todd Gurley No. 10 overall and followed with four offensive linemen.
On Sunday, the Rams will lift the curtain on their new-look offense against the daunting Seattle Seahawks defense after a preseason in which they once again took a vanilla approach to play calling.
“We went into the preseason with thoughts about what we wanted to get done before we even played a game,” Cignetti said. “We looked at it and said, ‘Hey we get four preseason games, what do we want to do in each game?’ from a standpoint of a run plan, a protection plan and a pass game plan.”
While Cignetti has installed some tweaks all over the offense, it’s the changes made to the run game that will perhaps be the biggest factor in whether the Rams can have more success offensively in the first season with Cignetti at the helm.
“It’s important for everything we do as an offense,” rookie guard Jamon Brown said. “Establishing the run early allows us once we get to the pass downs to be able to do what we’re trying to do and that’s convert those pass downs, those third downs. If we have positive yards on first and second down, it makes it easier for us on third downs. So establishing the run early is going to be very important for us and I think we’ve got the guys up front that are ready to get down and get dirty a little bit and open some holes for our backs to do our thing.”
To be sure, the Rams aren’t completely overhauling the offense or the run game. In addition to some of the power man-blocking concepts they’ve used in recent years, they intend to add more outside zone plays to the mix.
For the offensive line, outside zone concepts ask them to move laterally and push defenders to the side to open cutback lanes. That means they have to be diligent about moving fast to make things happen, especially as they adjust to lining up in a three-point stance on a consistent basis.
“If you are coming from a team that runs the read option and all those things in a two-point stance, it is a major adjustment,” offensive line coach Paul Boudreau said. “That’s a big adjustment for these guys. Even from high school, some of these guys have never put their hand in the dirt.”
For the running back, his task is fairly simple on the surface. His job is to find a hole, make one cut and go. It has been a staple of the Seahawks over the past few years and comes with one important prerequisite: patience.
“I feel like with this scheme, it’s more patience,” running back Benny Cunningham said. “You have got to be real patient and trust everybody. It’s not a lot of difference but the outside zone we are doing now, I feel like it’s just about being patient.”
From the Rams’ perspective, the adjustment shouldn’t be anything they can’t handle though they are also charged with the task of getting off to a fast start despite some moving personnel pieces. With Tre Mason (hamstring) and Gurley (knee) recovering from injuries, the Rams will likely look to Cunningham to jumpstart the offense.
Cunningham said he played in a scheme with a lot of outside zone at Middle Tennessee State and though he had to relearn it this offseason, it has come back fairly easily. According to Cunningham, the mantra for all Rams runners this offseason has been “slow to, fast through” the hole as a way of reminding themselves to be patient.
In two years with the Rams, Cunningham has not started a game and had double-digit carries in a game only once. But if his opportunity arises against a Seattle defense that held the Rams to just 3.13 yards per carry in two meetings last year, Cunningham knows it won’t be easy but that he must take advantage of the chance.
“Anytime you get the opportunity to kind of remind the team how valuable you can be, you try to look forward to those opportunities,” Cunningham said.
As for the offensive linemen, Rob Havenstein said Wisconsin did a little bit of outside zone when he was in college but the Badgers were more inside zone and power. Those will still be part of the Rams’ attack in 2015, but Havenstein said he’s adjusted well to new concepts.
Brown said he did a lot of zone in college at Louisville so it hasn’t been much of a change.
“It helped me make that transition to this level being able to do that in college and how often we did it helped me,” Brown said. “So really, I’m just trying to use the tools I learned in college, maybe tweak them a little bit to make it so I can do it at the NFL level and then go.”
If the line and the backs can make it work early, it would go a long way toward helping the Rams’ offense become what they envisioned when the offseason began.
znModerator
Gregg Williams Has Rams Thinking “DMSU”http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2015/09/10/gregg-williams-has-rams-thinking-dmstf/
ST. LOUIS (AP) — After practice Wednesday, St. Louis Rams outside linebacker Alec Ogletree was wearing a T-shirt with the initials “DMSU” on the front.
No, it’s not some obscure institution of higher learning or the latest nutritional concoction. The initials stand for “Don’t Make Stuff Up.”
All the linebackers have them, as reminders not to be freelancing on the field, but to stick to defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’s system. That reminder figures to come in handy for the opener when all-field threat Russell Wilson and the NFC champion Seattle Seahawks come to town.
“Coach is always joking around that if you did something that he didn’t coach, he’d say DMSU,” Ogletree said. “It’s kind of our little motto.”
Wilson blankets the top 10 in franchise history for rushing yards by a quarterback, including 106 yards on seven carries last year in St. Louis. He’s thrown 72 touchdown passes, sixth most in NFL history, and has produced 15 game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime, most in the league since he broke in as a third-round pick in 2012.
Plus, he’s got a new tight end in Jimmy Graham, who leads his position in receptions the last four years and is fourth overall in that stretch.
The Rams (6-10) have high hopes for their defense, which has five former first-rounders on the front line. For the franchise to end a string of 11 consecutive seasons without a winning record, the defense must step up.
“Who better else to start with than the NFC champions?” tackle Michael Brockers said.
But they can’t afford to get carried away, and must respect Wilson.
“Russell’s very, very difficult to defend,” coach Jeff Fisher said.
What to watch for:
SUPER BOWL HANGOVER
Beyond the potential mind games lingering from Wilson’s lamentable last-minute end zone interception against the Patriots, the Seahawks open minus star holdout safety Kam Chancellor. Dion Bailey will make his NFL debut in place of Chancellor, who faces potential team fines in excess of $1 million.
“I mean, everybody’s disappointed,” cornerback Richard Sherman said. “You’ve got to treat it like he’s not going to be here, because he isn’t.”
Two offensive linemen will be starting for the first time. Garry Gilliam is the new right tackle and unknown Drew Nowak won the center spot.
Because of Nowak’s inexperience, the Seahawks are asking more from Wilson in pre-snap reads and calling protections. Seattle has used the same five on the line for the last three weeks since inserting Gilliam at a tackle and shifting Justin Britt to left guard.
ROOKIE RESPONSIBILITY: The Rams have no advantage on the offensive line, breaking in rookie tackle Rob Havenstein and guard Jamon Brown. They finally settled the center competition won by veteran backup Tim Barnes just four days before kickoff.
“There’s going to be a big learning curve for our guys, and I’m sure their guys as well,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.
LEGION OF WHOM: What’s long been a strength for Seattle is now a bit of a question.
Other than missing Chancellor and breaking in Bailey, Thomas is coming off left shoulder surgery and did not play in the preseason. Sherman and Earl Thomas still patrol the back end, but the secondary may not be as imposing as the past two years when the Seahawks had the best pass defense in the NFL.
HOME FIELD: Seattle has won five of six in the series, but the Rams have taken two of the last three at home. All three games have been decided by six or fewer points.
There might not be a crowd advantage in the Edward Jones Dome, given general resignation that owner Stan Kroenke intends to move the franchise back to Los Angeles after the season. For both of the home preseason games, the 66,000-seat dome was probably about one-fourth full.
FOLES DEBUT: Nick Foles got a two-year contract extension before taking a single preseason snap. He’s perceived as a better injury risk than Sam Bradford and comes cheaper, too. Foles will have to get the ball out fast given the inexperience up front, and the Rams must develop a go-to wide receiver. Brian Quick, coming off potential career-ending shoulder surgery, could be the one to step up.
znModeratorbtw, This is a good video. Rams Report: 53-Man Roster Breakdown
Join reporter Dani Klupenger and insider Myles Simmons as they take an inside look at the Rams’ 53-Man Roster http://www.stlouisrams.com/videos/videos/Rams-Report-53-Man-Roster-Breakdown/6bae10e5-0c17-4d33-85a9-b04d9520cc93znModeratorRams’ special teams trickery has Seattle’s attention
Jim Thomas
Last year it was the infamous “Mountaineer” play, and then a fake punt. Three years ago, it was a fake field goal and an onside kick. The result was a pair of upset victories by the Rams over Seattle.
You think the Seahawks are working overtime this week on stopping every special teams trick play known to man?
“Oh yeah,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “You can tell them that. We are.”
On Sept. 30, 2012 at the Edward Jones Dome, in just the fourth game for coach Jeff Fisher with the Rams, his team lined up for a chip-shot field goal attempt late in the first half. But punter Johnny Hekker, who doubles as the team’s holder, took the snap, stood up, and fired a two-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola to give St. Louis a 10-7 lead.
“A bit of a hideout situation,” Hekker recalled. “Danny was in the play before, so he didn’t have to go inside the numbers to declare (he was in the game).”
After a third-down play, Amendola lingered near the sideline, never left the field, and his presence went undetected by the Seahawks. It’s the kind of play you might see in a high school game … but in the NFL?
As a topper, the Rams successfully executed an onside kick and turned that into a franchise-record 60-yard field goal by Greg Zuerlein. The Rams ended up winning 19-3.
Not even that 2012 trickery can match what took place last Oct. 13. In a 28-26 Rams victory at the Dome, Stedman Bailey scored a 90-yard touchdown on a bit of punt return trickery known as the Mountaineer.
With some great acting by return man Tavon Austin and most of the Rams’ punt return team, basically the entire Seattle coverage unit headed that way, thinking the ball had been kicked to Austin. Alas, the ball had been punted to the other side of the field, where Bailey fielded it and raced to the end zone against token resistance.
Bailey still sees the play pop up once in a while on social media, and his reaction is usually the same.
“Wow. We really did pull that off,” Bailey said. “A pretty spectacular play and I love it.”
It wouldn’t have been possible without the acting job by Austin, and because of that, Austin says he and Bailey long ago reached agreement on how the TD should be credited.
“Half and half,” Austin said. “He told me half his touchdown goes to me.”
If the fake field goal and its design three years ago was rare, how do you categorize the Mountaineer, so named because Bailey and Austin played college ball for the West Virginia Mountaineers?
“It’s probably a good chance it won’t happen again,” Austin said.
Maybe so, but the Seahawks undoubtedly will be on high alert for anything funky from the Rams in Sunday’s season opener, a noon kickoff at the Dome.
“They should be preparing for that 13-man punt formation,” Hekker joked. “We’ve been running that one a lot. Nine-man field goals — all this crazy stuff.”
Because of what happened in those past games, the odds say nothing of the sort happens Sunday, and if it does, it’s unsuccessful.
Rest assured, however, that Fisher and special teams coordinator John Fassel have some unused goodies left in their bag of tricks.
“We always will have something to draw upon,” Fisher said. “Whether we dial ’em up or not, that remains to be seen. You need the perfect situation for it.
“I think not only Seattle, but the rest of the league, understands that we’re one of those teams that’s going to — not take chances — but try to steal possessions with our special teams.”
But Fisher added: “We can’t go into a Seattle game expecting to win the game on a fake punt or a special teams play. We’ve got to play better offense and defense against them.”
Doing so obviously is easier said than done. Even with the special teams trickery that led to those victories over Seattle, the Rams are a mere 3-17 against their NFC West rivals since 2005. Over the past decade, the only team that has a worse record against a division foe is Buffalo at 2-18 against New England in the AFC East.
The headliners for Seattle are well-known by now: quarterback Russell Wilson and running back Marshawn Lynch on offense, cornerback Richard Sherman and free safety Earl Thomas heading up the Legion of Boom on defense.
Hard-hitting safety Kam Chancellor, in the midst of a contract holdout, won’t play. But the Seahawks added another marquee player in the offseason, acquiring all-world tight end Jimmy Graham from New Orleans.
“They utilized the tight ends quite a bit last year, especially in our games, and they made some plays,” Fisher said. “Then you add somebody like Jim that’s got great ability, and catch radius, and run-after-catch. It’s gonna be a concern.”
The mere presence of Graham means that ganging up on Lynch and the Seattle running game becomes that much more difficult.
On the other side of the ball, the Rams’ new starting quarterback (Nick Foles) and new offensive coordinator (Frank Cignetti) are up against the NFL’s top-ranked defense from a year ago. Foles faces Seattle for the first time, and does so behind the league’s most inexperienced offensive line, one that will start rookies Rob Havenstein and Jamon Brown.
“I think they’ll try to create some one-on-one matchups and step up in some gaps and try to confuse us,” Fisher said of the Seahawks. “But we’ve got a smart group up front. We wouldn’t have put (Brown and Havenstein) in a position to start if we didn’t think they were gonna get the job done. And they’re only going to get better.”
znModeratorbtw, This is a good video. Rams Report: 53-Man Roster Breakdown
Join reporter Dani Klupenger and insider Myles Simmons as they take an inside look at the Rams’ 53-Man Roster http://www.stlouisrams.com/videos/videos/Rams-Report-53-Man-Roster-Breakdown/6bae10e5-0c17-4d33-85a9-b04d9520cc93Thanks for the heads up.
I copied that to another thread too.
znModeratorTomlin angry with communications problems at Gillette Stadium
Michael David Smith
An angry Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after tonight’s loss in New England that he and his coaching staff were having problems getting their headsets to work properly, and that communications problems are commonplace at Gillette Stadium.
“We were listening to the Patriots radio broadcast for the majority of the first half on our headsets, coach to coach,” Tomlin said.
Tomlin also said that it’s “always the case” that the Steelers have trouble with their in-stadium communications when they play in New England. He said that eventually the problem got fixed.
“We let the league officials on site handle it,” Tomlin said.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick said after the game that his team also had problems with the headsets.
Tonight’s issue with the Steelers’ communications comes after an offseason that was dominated by Deflategate, and comes in a week when both ESPN and Sports Illustrated published lengthy stories suggesting that the Patriots frequently break NFL rules. There have been previous reports that some teams thought the Patriots were tampering with communications devices, although those suspicions have never resulted in league discipline.
The league spent most of the offseason dealing with the Deflategate investigation. Now there may be calls for the league to embark on another investigation of what happened with the Steelers’ headsets.
znModeratorWell lots of different views on the Oline in general.
Those two guys sound fairly optimistic.I like the optimism, but notice it’s not total. They don’t say the entire OL as put together now will excel anytime soon or anything like that. So for example they don’t comment on Havenstein or Robinson, or how well Barnes will do (though they think he will be at least okay). You get the sense they like the longterm prospects, but these posters are not promising early greatness, by any means.
I posted them not because of their optimism, though, but because of their insight. There’s just stuff there no one else has said or noticed.
1. the unit has a whole looked better with Barnes starting, which means at least a little something anyway.
2. Saffold was always the ROG. He was at LOG through OTAs to be a kind of veteran resource on the field for Robinson.
3. The coaches like Wichman so much they didn’t want to risk losing him, which means that in essence it is keeping Wichman that cost them Jones. They had to choose between those 2.
4. Williams actually earned that spot and it was obvious (and I think it’s obvious that defies expectations). I want to add here (they didn’t say this I am) that that is such a coup. (Potentially) finding 2 left OT prospects in one year? Wow. Never seen it before. If both Battle and Wms come through next year, that’s just crazy depth. I promise you no one can name the last time the Rams were 3 deep at LOT (again that’s assuming all 3, including Robinson, come through, but that’s a real possibility).
5. A lot of people are down on Barnes because they remember how Mebane played him tough in 2013. But here, we learn that Barnes dedicated himself to a lot of film study and weight work over the last couple of years, in spite of his various injuries in 2014. Saying that’s not the same as claiming he will be a top center, but it DOES say he worked on the one real key weakness Rams fans know about (stemming from the losing battle with Mebane in 2013). The poster (who played OL) claims that watching Barnes this summer, you could tell the difference that working on lower body strength made in his play. Again that’s not a guarantee of anything, but it is worth noting.
6. Interestingly, the Rams CUT centers others noticed. There’s a web narrative out there that says Barnes was just the best of a bad lot. Well, the Rams didn’t re-sign a guy (Person) who is now the starting center in Atlanta. Jones was immediately picked up when he was cut. If as they say Barnes was the lead to start all along, then, he didn’t just measure up against Rhaney and Jones, they didn’t keep a guy who got signed away and then became a starter. That implies a lot of team confidence in Barnes. More than you would expect given the dominant narrative out there.
7. If these reports are right (and there’s reason to think they are…CoachO hears reliable stuff and GH gets his “inside” stuff from CoachO) then the Rams really scored at guard. Rhaney has promise as an inside swingman, Brown we know has promise (and btw he’s the 5th rated guard according to PFF pre-season grades, tied interestingly enough with L’al Collins), but what we didn’t know is that they are really high on Wichman too.
If true, and it’s at least plausible, that’s an amazing amount of positive OL scoring in one draft year. They got 2 LOT candidates and 2 guards they’re high on. You know, teams just don’t do that.
.
znModeratorSorry, zack. I PM’d ya, but I wanted to post it prior to the kickoff.
The red, white and blue balls were the ABA… think Dr. J.
I do hope this lives on a bit and can be a reference point for conversations…
I know, ABA. I was playing goofy there.
znModeratorThat was thoughtful.
Though I notice you didn’t lobby for the return of the old AFL red white and blue footballs. Or was that the NBA? (I get confused.)
znModeratorThis thread is a goldmine of insight IMO.
znModeratorfrom off the net.
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GabesHorn
It was Barnes’s job to lose for those who don’t know that inside info Coach let me in on many months ago. I KNOW he is gonna continue his film study and proper weight training all year round and eating right too. I’m excited for the guy. I think he has not reached his ceiling at 27 with only 4 games played and may be another late bloomer like Warner was.
Tim is still a work in progress. Roger Saffolds comments on Tims hard work in the weightroom and elsewhere are to credit his improvement. I’m so glad to hear about how even last year when Tim had his neck,ribs and one other ailment he was still getting his legs ready for a future shot at leading this team. He is doing now what he was unable to do last season with 3 injuries and he is totally healthy and has busted his ass to everyones awareness ,so its paid off for him. HARD ASS WORK on lower body (something Jones & Rhaney still lack). A person watching at practice or at game is’nt gonna be able to see those gains with the eye except we will notice that Barnes will be able to hold his ground much better as one real big addition.
I feel very good with Brown,Saffold,Reynolds and Wichmann on either side of Tim Barnes as he sets our OL and reads the “D” pre-snap . That communication is key.
Tim’s came from very hard work and so glad he earned it. Now how much time it takes for this group to gel is another story. Staying healthy across the line is a rare occurance in the NFL. Its definately our year to escape the carnage after many,many years of insane injuries.
Barnes was’nt getting steamrolled as both Jones and Rhaney were. Have no clue what some people were watching. I was an OL for 8 years and I saw some good from Jones when he played against 2-3’s . Love the guy but just hate it for his limitations from surgeries. Barnes lower body strength was KEY in this decision. Hope he even gets stronger and gets stronger upstairs too. He is bigger than Mebane and I’m not worried about the middle rush they will try with Wagner. Hope Saffold has one game he does’nt leave the field nicked. NO INJURIES!!!
What kept B. Jones from putting in extra weightroom work? Probably pain limitation from back and previous serious foot injuries and surgeries (loved the guy) just too soft for the pro’s right now and yet the desperate steelers may still give him a shot to start. We did’nt sign Wisneiski when we had him in and he signed a 1 year prove it deal with Jags and is thier starter for game one recovering from double shoulder surgery. We cut Mr. Person who many thot less of than Barnes and he’s starting for Falcons game. Shegals had a center competition this offseason too. They had a rotation system too. Steelers lost their starter and brought in two UDFA centers Dismukes and Finney and cut them both in final cuts and picked up B. Jones after we let him go. Both the Steelers and Dolphins have a Pouncey brother starting as center. The steelers’ is on IR now with 13 other players.
I’ll take Tim Barnes and his story and I know he is still on his way up. He studies film like a center should and reads pre=snap reads that only Coach Paul is privy to.
I predict Brown and Wichmann as next years scary good starting OG’s unless G. Rob. proves he must be moved inside after a year trying OLT. I think he finally gets it and with more fire under his ass from coaches, fellow teammates and lots of film study he had’nt been doing. Plus Our UDFA is coming very fast behind his ass now. Thats not even considering what Battle can be if he gets his head right and starts to bust ass in weightroom. He has size but you can’t get away with counting on just that in the Pro’s. Who knows if Andrew Donnal with weightroom can challenge Havenstein. This shotgun drafting OL approach may actually pay off
znModeratorGrantland labels Rams a team on the rise
Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/21198/grantland-labels-rams-a-team-on-the-rise
EARTH CITY, Mo. — In the on-going NFL season preview over at sister site Grantland.com, NFL writer Bill Barnwell has been putting teams into four categories. Earlier this week, he unveiled the “cellar dwellers” and the “falling stars.”
On Wednesday, Barnwell revealed the next group, which is called “the rising.” http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nfl-2015-season-predictions-part-3-the-rising/ In other words, the teams Barnwell views as on the way up. It’s also the category where you can find the St. Louis Rams.
In his best-case scenario for the Rams, Barnwell writes that running back Todd Gurley goes off when he becomes the starter, the defense does what’s expected of it and the Rams take advantage of the 49ers (his NFC West choice for cellar dweller) and the Cardinals (his choice for falling star).
In the worst case, Barnwell says injuries hit Gurley and quarterback Nick Foles, the defensive line can’t cover up for inconsistent cornerbacks and the fans jump ship before the Rams move west.
===================
from NFL 2015 Season Predictions, Part 3: The Rising
http://grantland.com/the-triangle/nfl-2015-season-predictions-part-3-the-rising/
These previews sure are easy when you write them weeks in advance! After the season-ending injury to cornerback E.J. Gaines, just about everything else has gone largely as expected for the Rams. Todd Gurley’s on schedule, Nick Foles looks overwhelmed, and the defensive line is going to be terrifying.
One fun thing about the Rams that I missed: They’re going to have an entire side of the offensive line dedicated to rookie linemen. Both the Rams and Bucs will be starting two rookie linemen in Week 1, but Tampa Bay has one (Donovan Smith) at left tackle and the other (Ali Marpet) at right guard; the Rams look likely to start third-rounder Jamon Brown at right guard and second-rounder Rob Havenstein at right tackle. That can’t happen very frequently. If it goes well, the Rams have players who will start for the next four years quickly becoming accustomed to playing alongside one another. If it doesn’t — and the Rams don’t exactly have a great history of developing offensive linemen — Foles is going to hear about it and quick.
Best-Case Scenario: Gurley wins offensive rookie of the year when he runs for 1,400 yards across 13 games, the pass rush destroys opposing quarterbacks, and the Rams benefit from the declining Cardinals and 49ers to go 10-6 and claim a wild-card berth.
Worst-Case Scenario: Both Foles and Gurley get injured, the pass rush fails to cover up the weaknesses at cornerback, and the Rams are abandoned by their fans in advance of a move out west.
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znModeratorThe rams are in big trouble with Barnes as the starter. I really wish they had done more in the free agency period when it comes to center.
Personally I think Barnes will be fine. I would be surprised if he wasn’t at least okay. Which means IMO he’s already better than an injury-depleted Wells.
znModeratorKIRK: You’re a man of integrity in both universes, Mister Spock.
SPOCK: You must return to your universe. I must have my captain back. I shall operate the transporter. You have two minutes and ten seconds.
KIRK: In that time I have something to say. How long before the Halkan prediction of galactic revolt is realised?
SPOCK: Approximately two hundred and forty years.
KIRK: The inevitable outcome?
SPOCK: The Empire shall be overthrown, of course.
KIRK: The illogic of waste, Mister Spock. The waste of lives, potential, resources, time. I submit to you that your Empire is illogical because it cannot endure. I submit that you are illogical to be a willing part of it.
SPOCK: You have one minute and twenty three seconds.
KIRK: If change is inevitable, predictable, beneficial, doesn’t logic demand that you be a part of it?
SPOCK: One man cannot summon the future.
KIRK: But one man can change the present. Be the captain of this Enterprise, Mister Spock. Find a logical reason for sparing the Halkans and make it stick. Push till it gives. You can defend yourself better than any man in the fleet.
SCOTT: Captain, get in the chamber!
KIRK: What about it, Spock?
SPOCK: A man must also have the power.
KIRK: In my cabin is a device that will make you invincible.
SPOCK: Indeed?
KIRK: What will it be? Past or future? Tyranny or freedom? It’s up to you.
SPOCK: It is time.
KIRK: In every revolution, there’s one man with a vision.
SPOCK: Captain Kirk, I shall consider it.
(He beams them away.)znModeratorRam notes: Rookies Havenstein, Brown rarin’ to go
Joe Lyons
Jamon Brown is ready to play some football.
“This is what you dream of when you grow up playing ball,’’ Brown, a rookie guard, said following practice Wednesday at Rams Park. “Sunday for me … I’m beyond grateful. I feel like we’ve done a good body of work to this point, from OTAs, in camp and through the preseason. Going up against our D-line in practice every day has definitely prepared us.
“I can’t wait.’’
The Rams open the season Sunday, hosting two-time defending NFC champion Seattle at noon.
Brown, a third-round draft pick from Louisville, sat out the exhibition finale because of a sprained ankle and is the probable starter at left guard. The starter at right tackle, Rob Havenstein, also is set to make his NFL debut. Havenstein, from Wisconsin, was drafted in the second round.
“I’m very excited and looking forward to getting out there for the first time,’’ Havenstein said. “I just want play with confidence and try to build on the positives so far.
“You’re always going to have things to work on, to clean up, but overall I feel pretty good. At the end of the day, it’s football, only now the guys we’re up against are bigger, stronger and faster than they were in college.’’
Havenstein continued: “I don’t want to say it’s just another game — that doesn’t do the Seahawks justice. But for my purposes, being a rookie, my approach is to try and slow things down and really focus on what I need to do to make each play work.’’
Brown has had to make two key transitions in the NFL — moving from tackle to guard and then from the right to the left.
“You go from playing on an island to a phone booth,’’ he said of the tackle-to-guard move. “Everything happens a little quicker inside, so you just have to be more precise as far as your technique.’’
The challenge of moving from right to left, he said, is more mental than physical.
“You have to find a way to flip things in your head,’’ he said. “You hear a play and your first thought is that you’re on the front side of the play and then you realize that, no, you’re on the backside. Just a matter of making sure you’re focused.’’
SAFFOLD PROGRESSING
After undergoing surgery on his left shoulder in the offseason, right guard Rodger Saffold hurt his right shoulder in the first series of the team’s exhibition opener at Oakland and did not play against Tennessee, Indianapolis and Kansas City.But he says he is “absolutely’’ playing on Sunday.“It felt really good today,’’ he said Wednesday. “It felt good punching. I’m still working on it heavy because I’ve got to make sure I get this thing feeling as comfortable as possible for Sunday.’’
INJURY REPORT
The initial injury report of the season for the Rams includes just three players. Running back Tre Mason (hamstring) and linebacker Daren Bates (knee) did not practice. Running back Todd Gurley (knee) was limited.For the Seahawks, linebacker Mike Morgan (hamstring) has been ruled out, with running back Marshawn Lynch (not injury related), tight end Cooper Helfet (knee) and backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (ankle) being limited.And strong safety Kam Chancellor, who remains a holdout, won’t play. Dion Bailey is to start in Chancellor’s absence.
CAPTAINS NAMED
Voted on by the players, the Rams named their captains for the season — quarterback Nick Foles on offense, middle linebacker James Laurinaitis and defensive end Robert Quinn on defense and punter Johnny Hekker and linebacker Daren Bates on special teams.Coach Jeff Fisher said the voting on defense and special teams was tight and that he elected to go for two captains instead going to another vote.It’s the fourth season as captain for Laurinaitis, a seventh-year pro from Ohio State.
RAM-BLINGS
Fisher is considering changing the team’s league-mandatory weekly day off from Tuesday to Thursday this season. But it won’t start until next week.Thursday “we’re going to do some things, but we’re not going to have a full-speed practice,’’ the coach said. “All the research is showing us that it might make more sense to take some time off and rest and recover closer to the game as opposed to Monday (or) Tuesday.’’
• Brandon Dixon, a defensive back from Northwest Missouri State, has been signed to Seattle’s practice squad. Originally drafted by the Jets in 2014, Dixon played in 14 games with Tampa Bay last year, finishing with nine tackles, two pass defenses and an interception.
• According to the latest NFL Players Association figures, the Rams have $6.7 million in salary-cap room following the cut to 53 players.
• Former Rams defensive end Gerald Rivers, who played in two games and recorded one tackle here in 2013 and has also been with Jacksonville, Miami and Denver, was signed to the New York Giants practice squad.
znModeratorI’m SOOO excited for this game!!!
Going to be a good one.
znModeratorKam Chancellor replacement Dion Bailey on the Rams: “I hope they plan to come at me.”
Curtis Crabtree
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/category/rumor-mill/
Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll ruled out any possibility of starting strong safety Kam Chancellor playing in Sunday’s season opener against the St. Louis Rams as Chancellor’s holdout continues.
In Chancellor’s place, Dion Bailey will make the start for Seattle in the first regular season game of his NFL career.
So instead of getting a three-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time second-team All-Pro, the Rams will get a former undrafted rookie playing in his first real game.
Bailey knows as well as anyone that the Rams will likely come after him Sunday. He hopes they do.
“I hope they plan to come at me,” Bailey said. “It’ll make my coming out party a lot more exciting. The more opportunities to make plays, the more plays I’ll make.”
Bailey made a strong impression in training camp last year after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of USC. However, an injury led to his release before returning on the practice squad. He started this year’s camp on the Physically Unable to Perform list, but quickly ascended toward the top of the depth chart once he was able to practice. He started the last three preseason games at strong safety for Seattle.
“Dion Bailey has had a great offseason and camp for us,” Carroll said. “He’s been in that position for quite a while with us. We feel very comfortable that he understands the principles and the fits and all the things he has to do. He’s a playmaker and he’s a very aggressive tackler, so we’re going to count on him to do the things he does well, and hopefully fit him in with this group. We’re moving, we’re ready to go. We’ve had a long time getting ready with him, so we feel comfortable with that.”
Bailey knows he isn’t Chancellor and can’t play the game the same way his absent counterpart can. However, Bailey’s confidence clearly came through in speaking about his hopes for Sunday’s debut.
“For the first time in my life going into a big game, I don’t feel any pressure,” Bailey said. “I’m not here to fill Kam’s shoes. I’m here to be the best Dion Bailey I can, and the best Dion Bailey has done me well so far for the first 23 years of my life, so I like my chances on Sunday.”
znModeratorTim Barnes Press Conference – 9/9
Offensive lineman Tim Barnes talks about being named starting center and answers questions about the season opener.
znModeratorNo matter how much SMARTER, ARTICULATE, BETTER LOOKING, and MORE LIKELY TO GO TO HEAVEN I am compared to all of YOU – I’ll be Hellen sausage-stealing Keller and will stay mum in regards to all of your STUPID FUCKING GODDAMN BRAINLESS FUCKTARDED OPINIONS…
You would hate heaven.
It’s dull, believe me.
znModeratorPotential upset between Seahawks vs. Rams
The NFL Live crew discusses who will win between the Seattle Seahawks and the St. Louis Rams.
znModeratorfrom 2011, scouting reports
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Tim Barnes
OC, Missouri
6-foot-4, 300 pounds
Scouting ReportsFrom draftinsider.net:
Bio: Full-time starter the past three seasons and awarded all-Conference honors as a senior.
Positive: Tough, strong, small-area blocker who’s been productive and durable on the college level. Blocks with good lean, keeps his feet moving, and immediately gets his hands into defenders. Anchors in pass protection, stays square, and turns defenders off the line as a run blocker. Blocks with a nasty attitude, keeps his head on a swivel, and does a terrific job leading the offensive line. Displays better-than-average footwork in space and bends his knees.
Negative: Lacks agility, overall blocking balance and struggles in motion. Stiff as a blocker, which hurts his ability to finish blocks.
Analysis: Barnes is one of the most underrated centers in April’s draft and possesses the football skills to play and eventually start at the next level. He should only improve as a physically matures and irons out the rough edges of his game.From the National Football Post:
Snaps and steps quickly off the line and has the type of initial burst to comfortably get into defenders off his frame, get his feet around and seal inside. But, isn’t real powerful on contact and has a tendency to rock his arms/hands back and forth in order to stay on blocks through the play. However, exhibits good lower body coordination and footwork, moves well through contact and has the lateral agility to seal defenders from the ball in the run game. Looks natural pulling in space and displays the body control to reach the second level and blow up an opposing target. Nevertheless, he does struggle moving defenders off the ball in the run game and isn’t built for an in-line scheme at the next level.
Looks natural in pass protection. Isn’t overly physical initially at the point of attack when a defender lines up over his face. But exhibits the type of flexibility to sit into his stance, extend his arms and pick up stunting/slanting defenders inside. Looks natural keeping his base down, sliding his feet and can mirror in space. Possesses above average lateral range, can redirect cleanly and anchor with some consistency through the play.
Impression: He’s an above-average athlete who can bend and redirect. Looks like a potential draftabale center to me who should have a good shot at making an NFL roster and possibly contributing down the line.
From SB Nation’s Mocking The Draft:
Agility: While at Missouri, Barnes was asked to pull, and get to the second level quite often. He has no trouble using his quickness and good feet to do these things.
Movement: As mentioned in the agility section, Barnes has a great tool in his ability to move his feet and get were he is going quickly.
Pass Blocking: When in pass protection, he has a solid base and shows the ability to anchor. He is very good at absorbing contact, but can be over powered into the backfield by stronger competition. Needs to do a better job of sitting into his stance.
Run Blocking: Unlike his pass blocking, Barnes sits into his stance and fires out when run blocking. He makes good contact after the snap and gets in a solid punch on the defender. He needs to work on staying low and using leverage when driving his opponent. He has no problem staying engaged with the defender, even if he is getting driven back.
Strength: I was impressed with Barnes’ upper body strength on film. He would usher defenders around with one arm with ease. He needs to work on his anchor strength though, as he occasionally struggled to stop a bull rush. Overall though, I feel Barnes is strong enough to last in the NFL.
Final Word: I’m a big fan of Barnes. He does have a lot to work on to be successful at the next level, but everything is correctable in my opinion. He does need to show at the Combine that the past four years in the spread offense, snapping in shotgun, won’t be an issue. He is the prototypical size for an interior lineman in the NFL, with the barrel chest, good strength and technique. I could see Barnes as the second center prospect off the board come draft day.
From Sideline Scouting:
Positives: Athletic… Intelligent… Versatile, might move to Guard at the next level… Very solid pass protector… Good quickness… Sets up quickly… Very solid footwork and agility… Plays with solid knee bend… Does a nice job sliding and mirroring defender… Can redirect reasonably well, solid awareness, okay at picking up stunts… Can explode out of his stance when run blocking but gets a little too upright, … Plays with leverage and generally drives his feet on contact… Maintains reasonably good pad level… Gets and maintains good position, seals off the action well… Can pull… Can get to the second level and does a nice job blocking on the move… Keeps his head on a swivel… Good flexibility and body control… Good motor… Good fit in ZBS.
Negatives: Not real strong at POA, needs to improve anchoring strength… Not a pile mover.
znModeratorTim Barnes rises from undrafted rookie to Rams’ starting center
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Upon entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2011, St. Louis Rams center Tim Barnes had moments where he wondered if he’d ever be more than a guy constantly fighting for a roster spot.
Barnes spent most of the past four years in that constant state of flux. On Wednesday, after playing coy for a bit, Rams coach Jeff Fisher offered Barnes one hefty dose of validation for all his hard work.
“Tim Barnes is starting at center,” Fisher announced after the team’s practice. “I’m happy for Tim.”
For the Rams, a decision on a starting center had been roughly six months in the making. For Barnes, becoming one has been four-plus years in the making.
After a solid career at Missouri, Barnes wasn’t selected in the 2011 NFL draft. He signed with Baltimore in July that year but was released before the season. The Rams signed Barnes to their practice squad a little more than a week later and he stayed there for the rest of the season. The Rams thought enough of Barnes to keep him on a futures contract and he again started the season on the practice squad before finally earning a promotion to the roster early in the 2012 season.
Barnes stayed on the roster for 15 games but never got many opportunities. Finally, in 2013, he earned his first NFL start, making four in place of injured starter Scott Wells at the end of the season. While he established himself as part of the team’s depth, he never did much more than help on special teams or serve as an extra lineman in goal line and short yardage situations in 2014.
During the offseason, the Rams declined to tender Barnes a restricted free agent offer. Just when it appeared he might move on after visiting Kansas City, the Rams re-signed him on March 31. Barnes jumped into a three-way competition with Demetrius Rhaney and Barrett Jones for the starting center job. As Jones proved, being in the competition put all three players in a sort of NFL no-man’s land where the winner would be a starter but those who didn’t win the spot might be out of a job.
Barnes not only survived the cut but won the job, a victory that proved a bit emotional for him Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s a huge step, obviously, in my career,” Barnes said. “You guys know what I have been through coming in as an undrafted guy and having to work my way up. It’s huge for me and my family. I’m looking forward to it, I’m excited, I’m happy.”
In what was a close battle at the position, Barnes ultimately won out for a few reasons.
First, while it’s not a huge sample size, Barnes was the only one of the three contenders to come with any starting experience in the NFL. His four starts in 2013 included the season finale at Seattle, a game that should help Barnes handle just about anything thrown his way early in the season.
Fisher and offensive line coach Paul Boudreau have also praised Barnes’ intelligence and comfort in the scheme. He was clearly the most diligent of the three starters when it came to calling out adjustments at the line of scrimmage during the preseason.
Finally, Barnes has made it a point to add strength and become more stout at the line. Fisher and guard Rodger Saffold said Barnes has pushed hard in the weight room to make that happen, particularly in his lower body.
“With him, what it really came down to is his knowledge and the way he’s been attacking everything on and off the field,” Saffold said. “He does a good job of knowing what he’s doing, getting better at technique and in the weight room, doing very well in the weight room. He’s taken so many strides over the past four years.”
Those strides have finally landed Barnes the starting job he’s coveted since he came into the league. A league that, at the time, was dealing with a lockout and had Barnes wondering about his long term future in the NFL.
“It was a very different year because we didn’t have OTAs, we didn’t have minicamp, we had training camp and that was it,” Barnes said. “As I got older, stayed around, obviously, (and when I) played I was like ‘Yeah, I can do this.'”
znModeratorfrom off the net
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Drexl
FWIW, Cortana picks Rams over Seahawks
The Microsoft prediction engine thinks the Rams will win. Mostly it aligned with the favorites, but this game was one of the exceptions.
It had a 67% rate last season.
Article at: http://sports.yahoo.com/news/microsoft-engine-predicts-nfl-games-141521168.html
znModeratorNick Wagoner
ESPN Staff Writerhttp://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/stl/st.-louis-rams
New Rams starting C Tim Barnes, who came in as undrafted free agent and has battled for roster spot for past four year, says he once thought this day would never come. But said the longer he held on, the more realistic it became.
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