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znModeratorRams have begun long-term contract talks with QB Nick Foles
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Although quarterback Nick Foles hasn’t played a single snap in a regular-season game for the St. Louis Rams, the team apparently already has plans to make sure that once he does, he’ll continue to do so for a long time.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher said Tuesday that the team has begun preliminary talks with Foles and his agent, David Dunn, on a long-term contract extension.
“We’ve had some discussions,” Fisher said. “I think what Nick has done early in his career, he has proven that he can get the job done on the field. He’s carried things on here so we are going to continue to talk and see if we can get something that’s good for both sides.”
The Rams acquired Foles via a trade with the Philadelphia Eagles in the opening minutes of the new league year March 10. St. Louis sent quarterback Sam Bradford to Philadelphia in exchange for Foles and draft pick compensation.
Since, Foles’ work with his new team has been limited to the offseason conditioning program and organized team activities, which are expected to end on Thursday.
For his part, Foles said that he’s felt comfortable in St. Louis almost from the moment he arrived in the city and wouldn’t mind coming to a common ground with the Rams.
“This is where I want to play,” Foles said. “As a player, you want to be somewhere you want to play the rest of your career. This is where I want to be, but that’s why we have agents. My most important thing right now is continuing to work with my teammates and continue to be the best player and person I can be.
“We’ll see what happens but I want to be here, I love Coach Fisher and the staff. I am very fortunate to be here.”
Foles is coming off an injury-plagued 2014 season in which he started eight games and threw 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, though the Eagles were 6-2 in those contests. That was considered a letdown after Foles went to the Pro Bowl on the heels of a 27-touchdown, two-interception performance in 2013.
Despite the disappointing encore in 2014 and the new start in St. Louis, Foles said he doesn’t intend to bet on himself in 2015 and push possible contract talks off while he attempts to increase his value.
“No, whatever happens with that, I’m going to be the same person no matter what it is,” Foles said. “The [money] sign is not going to change the way I play the game. I play with all my heart. It’s about my teammates and building those relationships and being a player that just helps people grow. So the money sign won’t change that. I want to be here and that’s the most important thing.”
While getting something done with Foles is on the list of the Rams’ things to do, just how pressing it is remains to be seen. There’s a bit of looking ahead that the team must do this year more so than others because they have 16 players set to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the season. As many as nine of those players project as possible starters.
With the possibility of relocation looming, the Rams could have an especially busy 2016 offseason, so they are prioritizing getting other pieces of business done sooner than later.
“We’ve already started discussions [with some players],” Fisher said. “I know they want to come back, so I feel good about it.”
znModeratorGood article. Lots of stuff in there.
Like what. Meaning, I am interested in your thoughts on this.
znModeratorRams’ Tim Barnes hoping to parlay experience into starting center job
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — After the St. Louis Rams declined to extend a restricted free agent offer sheet to center Tim Barnes in March, Barnes got his second taste of what it’s like to go searching for an NFL home.
The first had come back in 2011, when Barnes went undrafted out of Missouri. Given a chance to take control of his football fate, Barnes sought the place that provided him the greatest opportunity to stick on a roster. He eventually landed in Baltimore, where he spent training camp before the Rams took a shot on him.
This time around, the situation was similar but the stakes much higher. Barnes has been on the Rams active roster for the past three seasons, playing 45 games and even starting four in 2013. Although he previously offered valuable depth, Barnes hadn’t done enough to stake a claim to a starting spot.
But after Barnes looked around for potential options, including a visit with the Kansas City Chiefs, he came to the conclusion that the place that offered him his best chance to stick around was the same place that’s offered him all of his previous NFL playing experience.
“I have been a backup for a few years now, and I know I’m getting older and it’s time,” Barnes said. “It could be do or die, you never know. So this was a great opportunity, and that was our goal to find a place to give me an opportunity to start and play.”
Indeed, the center position represents a vast land of opportunity for Barnes, Barrett Jones and Demetrius Rhaney. That trio is competing for the job vacated by the March release of veteran Scott Wells.
Although Barnes only has four NFL starts to his name, he’s the only one of the three to have any starting experience in the NFL. Taking it further, of the offensive linemen currently on the roster, only guard Rodger Saffold has been with the team longer or appeared in more games than Barnes. It’s that experience that Barnes hopes will help give him a leg up in the competition for the job.
“This is going to be my fifth year here,” Barnes said. “So only a few other guys have been here longer, or as long. So you’re familiar with the coaches and whenever young guys come in, I am more comfortable giving them advice and more comfortable taking on that role of trying to be a leader and trying to get everyone going. Whatever it is, it’s one of those things as you get older you get accustomed to.”
It’s a role that Barnes has taken to, even with the knowledge that sharing his wisdom with his competitors could help them steal the starting job he covets.
“The great thing about the competition and playing there is if someone asks a question and I give them the right answer, it means I know what I’m doing,” Barnes said. “That helps me. Maybe they asked a question I didn’t think about but if I can figure it out, it helps us both. That makes us better as a team. The great thing about having competition is whoever wins the job, I know I’m doing my part to try to make the team better. So if I were to start, great, if someone else did, I know I pushed him and the team is going to be better for it.”
znModeratorSt. Louis Rams wide receiver Tavon Austin speaks to Palmer Alexander of The St. Louis American about the upcoming NFL season. Austin gives his insight on working with a new offensive coordinator, his role in the offense and expectations in his third season as a pro.
June 16, 2015 at 4:26 pm in reply to: the 2015 D: articles & vids on McCleod, Ogletree, Ayers, Gaines, Hayes, Fairley #26400znModeratorRams’ E.J. Gaines looks to solidify starting cornerback job
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — After emerging as one of the steals of the 2014 NFL draft, St. Louis Rams cornerback E.J. Gaines’ rookie season came to an abrupt end when he suffered a Week 16 concussion against the New York Giants.
Gaines missed the season finale at Seattle, putting a damper on what to that point had been the most pleasant surprise of the Rams’ season. That Gaines missed a game because of an injury brought his season full circle after he’d become a starter on the heels of the team’s many cornerback injuries in the preseason.
It’s what happened in the time between injuries to the likes of Trumaine Johnson and Gaines’ concussion, though, that has the Rams looking at Gaines’ future with nothing but optimism. Despite bouncing between outside corner and the slot, Gaines was one of the defense’s most consistent performers.
In 15 games, Gaines had 70 tackles, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and eight pass breakups. There were the bumps you’d expect from a rookie sixth-round cornerback along the way, but Gaines quickly curried favor with his coaches by almost always being in the right spot at the right time.
“E.J., I can’t say enough about what he did for us last year as a starter and as an inside player in the nickel,” Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. “He can come out there and compete outside. Our expectation is that last year Lamarcus would be the inside third corner and that took a little longer and scheme was an issue. It was a good deal for our defense when you look at his production and what he did and his body of work. He made very few mistakes.”
Gaines’ football acumen has him playing a much different role in these organized team activities. While Gaines was hoping to compete for a roster spot last year as a sixth-round pick, he’s now in prime position to win a starting job outside. The Rams have worked him mostly at outside corner opposite Janoris Jenkins during OTAs and seem to like the idea of having Lamarcus Joyner handling nickel duties with Johnson as a primary backup.
There still figures to be some competition between Johnson and Gaines as training camp approaches, however.
“Our thought is that we’re going to have E.J. compete outside and even inside and it gives us depth,” Fisher said at the March owners meetings.
In order to win the job on a more permanent basis, Gaines has taken to focusing on the details this offseason. He said he’s fully recovered from the concussion and is spending extra time in the film room studying where receivers line up, route concepts and what quarterbacks check to so that he can see things before they happen.
Gaines also wants to provide defensive coordinator Gregg Williams with the flexibility to be multiple in his coverage schemes while allowing him to dial up various blitzes without having to worry about his cornerbacks.
“I feel like my all-around game can be better,” Gaines said. “I’m working a lot on my man to man coverage, press man and off-man. The concepts of routes. That’s a lot of the things the coaches and Janoris talk about. He has great instincts and able to jump routes. You see things like that and I feel like that’s where I can grow as far as the corner spot.”
Gaines believes that improving in those areas will give him a chance to lock down a cornerback spot for a long time, especially with Jenkins and Johnson scheduled for free agency after the season.
“I feel like they know I have high expectations out of myself to come out here and compete like I usually do, whether that’s at corner, nickel, special teams, whatever,” Gaines said. “I’ll come out and compete for the job but I’m definitely going for that corner spot.
June 16, 2015 at 3:58 pm in reply to: Dr. Erin Shannon, the holistic practitioner several Rams swear by #26398znModeratorr, Mike Shannon has been doing Cardinal broadcasts for DECADES….just interesting, for no good reason.
Ah see I didn’t know that.
See, to me, baseball is just this game where you throw hockey sticks through a hoop until you cross the finish line.
June 16, 2015 at 3:55 pm in reply to: "Marc Bulger one of the most under appreciated players in St.L. Rams history" #26397znModeratorI’m sure Madden meant in the game at that time.
I’m sorry, I was agreeing with you, and didn’t put it clearly. Yeah I figured Madden meant at the time; Zimmerman was doing a longer time frame. So I was just agreeing, and expanding. Having the 2nd best release to Marino is really a big deal.
znModeratorLet’s say we keep Foles and Quick for 20M. We have 15 million for 6 defensive players. We keep one of our DEs and one of our CBs. Barron is replaced by Alexander and if we can’t sign Fairly, we get a 3rd round comp pick. Or we can start cutting high salaries and restructuring.
IMO? Barron and Fairley are rentals. I agree that the key ones are Foles (if he lives up to expectations) and Quick, but then there’s room for one defender.
If Westbrooks comes through, then, that eases the pain on Sims and Hayes. It is also possible that Hayes doesn’t attract much attention as a free agent.
And then next year is a D-heavy draft.
But I don’t know because overthecap.com hasn’t updated for 2016 since the rookies signed. Before that they had about 51+ M in cap space.
June 16, 2015 at 2:46 pm in reply to: Dr. Erin Shannon, the holistic practitioner several Rams swear by #26389znModeratorAs a baseball Cardinal fan lifer, that just blew my mind.
So she has a rep among Cards fans?
znModeratorIt seems to me that cross ownership of other professional sports teams is one of those rules that is not enforced. It’s like jaywalking. There are 11 NFL owners, including Kroenke, who own other professional sports teams. Most of them are in the NBA and NHL, and it has been going on for a long time.
The cross-ownership rules only apply if your other franchise or franchises are in the same place as another NFL team.
I don’t know all of your examples, but, it seems to me that they don’t all fit that restriction.
Yes, I updates my previous post with that condition. Though I don’t see how the Denver NBA and NHL franchises are in the St. Louis market.
I am edit-happy today.
Notice that Mike Ilitch’s teams are both in Detroit.And he looks like one of the walking dead. Better example – Paul Allen owns the Seahawks and the Trail Blazers, both in the northwest US.Cross ownership applies because SK’s teams are in the same area as the Broncos.
That makes SK a rival for revenues and other considerations within the domain of another NFL team.
If his other teams were in St. Louis, there would be no problem.
Anyway that, as I understand it, is what cross-ownership is about. Owning sports teams within the domain of another NFL team, not within the domain of your own NFL team.
znModeratorIt seems to me that cross ownership of other professional sports teams is one of those rules that is not enforced. It’s like jaywalking. There are 11 NFL owners, including Kroenke, who own other professional sports teams. Most of them are in the NBA and NHL, and it has been going on for a long time.
The cross-ownership rules only apply if your other franchise or franchises are in the same place as another NFL team.
I don’t know all of your examples, but, it seems to me that they don’t all fit that restriction.
znModeratorAg…like you, I was thinking/speculating/guessing that IF he gives them an “early extension discount” the numbers would be around 15 M a year avg. If however (1) he plays well enough to be considered a starting caliber qb going forward, and (2) he hits free agency without an extension, then we’re talking about the 17-19 M range.
I’m just kind of repeating what you said in different ways, but they can’t give him too much this year, so, the best bet would be to park a big cap hit in 2016, and guarantee a big part of it. That way Foles doesn’t have to worry about a scenario where he takes less for 2015, then gets hit by a a runaway grocery cart and never sees the 2016 money.
As long as it is in form of a prorated bonus, they can give him a healthy check this year.
That’s true.
.
June 16, 2015 at 10:59 am in reply to: "Marc Bulger one of the most under appreciated players in St.L. Rams history" #26367znModeratorYes, but, is he an elevator operator?
All the great ones could operator elevators.
Or elevate operators.Something.
That was some run they had there. From 98-2000 they acquire 3 qbs who rank anywhere from very good to elite, and did not spend a single draft pick on it.
I mean of course, Warner, Green, Bulger.
Green didn’t get to do that much for them on the field but according to all the great camp reports from the summer of 99, and the testimony of players, he was instrumental in helping the offense get new confidence.
Speaking of which, “which” being the Golden Age of Rams QBs, here’s an old write-up talking about Warner’s first pre-season game as the starter:
FAST EDDIE’S NOTES ON THE DETROIT GAME (Sept 3, 1999)
http://www.geocities.ws/ramsezine/preseason99/preseason99index.htm
Kurt Warner should have given everyone some hope last night. He did an excellent job of doing just what Mike Martz said he needed to do, staying within the scheme, managing the team, and taking what the defense gave him to put his playmakers in positions to make plays. He threw the ball very accurately throughout and he didn’t get rattled when his receivers dropped some balls and he showed that he does have some good scrambling ability and pocket awareness. He threw the slants right where they needed to be and with more zip than I’ve seen Trent Green put on the ball.
He is not where Trent was obviously. If you watch him closely, you do not see his eyes moving from side to side while he’s dropping back seeing the whole field the way Trent was doing. He’s going to his primary option with the ball the overwhelming majority of the time. But to his credit, the ability to do that has at least something to do with making the right reads at the line. The presnap motion is perhaps the most important part of reading the defensive schemes if you believe Mike Martz when he talks and Warner must be doing something right to find the open man such a high percentage of the time. Throw Ike Bruce in there all game long and he probably doesn’t have to look at anyone else most of the time!
Some other random thoughts…
I really liked what I saw of London Fletcher at middle linebacker in this game. I had been critical of him for not having the size and strength to fight through blocks and make tackles up near the line of scrimmage. But if you watch him closely, you realize that this is a moot criticism of this player to a large extent. What Fletcher does very well is make it very hard for a blocker to lock him up when he’s one on one—many times they don’t even get a hand on him. He has such quick feet, excellent balance and body control, that he jukes them like a running back and gets down the line to the ballcarrier. His only weakness may be when they run right at him, otherwise, he gets to the play and he gets in on the tackle. He never misses a tackle in the open field. We won’t see any embarrassing Lamar Smith like runs with him in the middle.
The Rams had a lot of success in the first half running right behind Fred Miller and Adam Timmerman. Miller has been criticized a lot by fans throughout the preseason, but I think most of it has been unfounded. You watch how often #73 gets his man pushed to the outside and then turns and hustles upfield to get a body on a linebacker as well. You put that kind of effort beside Adam Timmerman who has the strength to maul the inside guys and the quickness to pull out and lead the sweeps downfield and I think Marshall should have alot of success to the right side. Jackie Slater loves Fred Miller as well.
On the left side, Pace has stepped up his game and looks poised to be an all pro. He’s sustaining his blocks and finishing them off like we’ve never seen him before.
On the second drive, for some reason Andy McCollum was playing left guard and I do not think much of him at all. McCollum gets manhandled in pass protection and he doesn’t have any success drive blocking either. Derrick Harris is doing an excellent job picking up the linebackers when he’s first through the hole, but when a guy like McCollum doesn’t get his hole cleared to the inside, Harris has to match up with a lineman and the play is bottled up at the line. Nutten returned for the final drive and he was much better.
It is very important I think that Ray Agnew comes back quickly. He may be the most underrated player on this Rams defense. Ray gets off the blocks and he gets down the line to make plays against the run all over the field and ends up in places where you would not expect him. He showed some flashes of quickness at the line as well and got into the backfield, especially on the play in which he was injured when he leveled Batch. I thought Sears and Hyder played decently in that first half, but they are not Ray Agnews.
The Rams got good pass rush in the two minute drill when they knew the pass was coming and the linemen and backers got the opportunity to pin their ears back. I think we’re going to see some imaginative line stunts and blitz packages from Giunta once the regular season starts and our pass rush will be more than adequate. I like the way they use Charlie Clemons as a situational pass rusher. Having him free to terrorize the QB is another benefit of Fletcher starting at MLB. Finally… the Rams corner play is just excellent. Dexter was out this game and Taje Allen left some big cushions that we’re not used to seeing since McNeil left, but he did not get beat. On the other side, Lyght did not see a single ball come his way all half by my count until the very end and he made a great play to break that one up in the endzone. Dre Bly had a similar play and showed off his great ball awareness on the play just before that in the corner of the endzone. We will not see these corners give up 29 TD passes this year:-)
znModeratorAg…like you, I was thinking/speculating/guessing that IF he gives them an “early extension discount” the numbers would be around 15 M a year avg. If however (1) he plays well enough to be considered a starting caliber qb going forward, and (2) he hits free agency without an extension, then we’re talking about the 17-19 M range.
I’m just kind of repeating what you said in different ways, but they can’t give him too much this year, so, the best bet would be to park a big cap hit in 2016, and guarantee a big part of it. That way Foles doesn’t have to worry about a scenario where he takes less for 2015, then gets hit by a a runaway grocery cart and never sees the 2016 money.
June 16, 2015 at 9:06 am in reply to: "Marc Bulger one of the most under appreciated players in St.L. Rams history" #26362znModeratorNote the quick release. …back when the rams actually
threw over the middle…Good point. According to John Madden Bulger had the quickest release in the NFL.
Paul Zimmerman, or I think it was him, clocked him and some other qbs. He came in just under Marino in terms of his release.
znModeratort retiring when you do not have a job and cannot get a job?
He got some interest. He just didnt reciprocate it. Blalock spent the early part of the market letting it be known he was in no hurry to hook up with a team…then he retired. Rams among others did have interest though.
znModeratorOk, a deal with incentives then. That seems to be the new twist in Demoff’s contracts.
Could be. If so, then, there’s also a good chance that the normal market avg.s don’t apply.
znModeratorThe tweet might just mean that they want to check the thinking of Foles and his agent.
Yeah that’s what I was thinking too.
And….maybe not.
===============
Rams want to sign Nick Foles to long-term extension
By Dan Hanzus
Nick Foles has yet to take a snap for the Rams, but the team is ready to do business with their new quarterback.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Monday’s edition of NFL Total Access that the Rams have made it an offseason priority to lock up Foles to a long-term deal before the start of the season. The team has reached out to Foles’ camp and the two sides have had some initial discussions, according to Rapoport.
Foles, who was acquired from the Eagles in the Sam Bradford trade this offseason, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He is due to make $1.5 million in 2015.
According to Rapoport, the Rams would like to avoid Foles playing out the final year of his deal, which they believe would put them in a financially difficult position if Foles’ performance increases his market value. The Rams would also like to avoid having to use the franchise tag.
This can be seen as wishful thinking for a team clearly looking for some stability at quarterback after two years of Sam Bradford knee injuries. Foles enjoyed a breakout season under Chip Kelly in 2013, but his 2014 performance was uneven at best before he sustained a season-ending clavicle injury.
Foles strikes us as one of the league’s starting quarterbacks with the most to prove in 2015. The Rams, surprisingly, appear willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
June 15, 2015 at 7:58 pm in reply to: the 2015 D: articles & vids on McCleod, Ogletree, Ayers, Gaines, Hayes, Fairley #26339znModeratorAyers Brings Championship Mentality to Defense
Myles Simmons
The Rams made a few significant roster moves at the start of the free agency period, headlined by the additions of quarterback Nick Foles and defensive lineman Nick Fairley. So while the signing of Akeem Ayers may appear to be an undercard, the linebacker has the potential to help a strong defense reach new heights.
Ayers is headed into his fifth pro season, having been drafted by the Titans in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft out of UCLA. Tennessee traded him to New England in October of last year, and Ayers went on to play a key role for the eventual Super Bowl XLIX Champions.
“I learned a lot just from my short time there,” Ayers said after an OTA session last week. “They are a team that prepares very well. That’s the way they coach the players.”
Ayers tallied 4.0 sacks for the Patriots in nine games, the most he’d registered since 2012 when he had 6.0.
“Once I got to New England I hit the ground running and haven’t looked back since,” Ayers said.
The linebacker recounted that he had preliminary discussions with Patriots head coach Bill Belichick about returning, but wanted to see his options on the open market. And once he visited the Rams, he knew St. Louis was the right team for him.
One reason why was his familiarity with defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and linebackers coach Frank Bush, both of whom Ayers had worked with in Tennessee. Williams was a Titans senior defensive assistant in 2013, and Bush was Ayers’ position coach from 2011-2012.
“When Gregg put in some of his wrinkles, I remember I really liked it and I felt at the time that’s what I was comfortable doing,” Ayers said. “Bush really helped me make that jump from my first year to second year. My second year, I feel, was one of the best years I’ve had and that’s really because his coaching style helped me learn a lot, helped me understand, and helped me play at a high level.”
Another advantage the linebacker has with the Rams is the team’s many returning players. Ayers said one of his goals at OTAs has been to prove to his teammates that he’s worthy to be a part of what evolved into an excellent unit last year.
“Everyone around me has been in this defense,” Ayers said. “They are comfortable and good at communicating with each other, so it really allows me to come in and focus on what I need to focus on — getting the scheme right, my technique, and the little things to help me get on track.”
The Patriots primarily featured Ayers as a pass rusher in 2014, so he’ll have to adjust to being out in coverage once again. But the linebacker said he actually thinks getting after the quarterback is not his biggest strength on the field.
“Covering, playing zone, and catching is something that I’m natural with and comfortable with,” Ayers said. “All I did was rush last year, so it is on me to get back and get into the groove of it.”
Even though Ayers has to recalibrate a bit coming to the Rams, he gained invaluable experience as a member of a championship team. He said that gives him some perspective on what leads to success in the NFL, especially because he’s also been on a team that won only two games in a season.
“I think I really have a good view on how a team that does it right — how it looks, how they prepare, and how they work — and what teams who don’t make the playoffs look like,” Ayers said.
“I went to New England and I saw how they did it,” he continued. “There were times when we were down by 14 and no one panicked. They had been there before. They had the confidence that they were going to come back, put it together, and win a game. I think that’s the biggest thing — just knowing what you’re doing and really being a smart team.”
Ayers was in attendance to receive his Super Bowl ring in Massachusetts over the weekend, and said he might bring it to Rams Park as a motivational tool. But these players may not even need it. Ayers said while the Rams are young, they appear to be on the right road to success.
“This team has all the ability, and all the talent, and everything you need,” he said. “But it can’t just be the offense, and it can’t just be the defense — it has to be us as a team having that confidence and that mindset that you’re going to win.”
znModeratorThe tweet might just mean that they want to check the thinking of Foles and his agent.
Yeah that’s what I was thinking too.
znModerator“Right now I feel like I’m ready,” he said. “Not saying I wasn’t ready the other two years, but I feel I’m a little more confident. I’m just taking it day by day and getting better.”
Not saying he wasn’t as ready before, but, he wasn’t as ready before.
Actually I don’t know that. It’s my theory. And it’s more of wasn’t “as” ready. I think TA had a long learning curve.
Even now though, if he does step up, I don’t expect a true fulltime receiver. I just expect more receiving yards as part of his “combined yards” package.
.
znModeratorAustin looking to make impact with Rams
By Nate Latsch
http://www.scout.com/nfl/rams/story/1555292-austin-looking-to-make-impact-with-rams
ST. LOUIS — Tavon Austin has heard that people think he is a bust.
The Rams’ diminutive speedster, the No. 8 overall pick of the 2013 Draft, is determined to write a different story in his third NFL season.“Just because of how all the media say I’m a bust and all that stuff,” Austin said during a Rams’ OTA session last week. “I really don’t pay too much attention, but for the most part I know one thing about it — when I’m focused, I’m focused. It’s going to be a different story this year.”
The 24-year-old said it used to bug him a lot when he heard the negative commentary regarding his play, but now he tries not to pay attention to it. He did offer that it serves as a source of motivation.
“For the most part I let my family motivate me,” he said. “I don’t pay much (attention) to the outside world. They don’t really know what’s going on. They’ve got something to say about everything, but at the end of the day the Rams know what’s going on and I know what’s going on so that’s all that matters.”
Austin established himself as one of the most dynamic players in college football during his senior season at West Virginia in 2012 when he caught 114 passes and racked up 1,932 yards from scrimmage (1,289 receiving, 643 rushing) and 17 total touchdowns (12 receiving, three rushing and two on kick and punt returns).
The Rams, seeking to add a playmaker to the offense for quarterback Sam Bradford, made a draft day deal with the Buffalo Bills to move up to pick Austin. St. Louis traded its picks in the first, second, third and seventh rounds to Buffalo for the Bills’ first and third rounders.
The Rams took Austin at No. 8 overall and then safety T.J. McDonald with the third-round pick. The Bills selected quarterback E.J. Manuel in the first, linebacker Kiko Alonso in the second, wide receiver Marquise Goodwin in the third and then tight end Chris Gragg in the seventh.
Austin has flashed his playmaking potential in his first two seasons but failed to find a role as a consistent contributor in a Rams offense still searching for success. Which has led onlookers to wonder and theorize why he hasn’t made more of an impact.
Is it because of the scheme and play-calling of former offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer led to fewer opportunities? Is it because of the unsettled situation at quarterback, where Bradford’s devastating knee injuries led to Kellen Clemens, Shaun Hill and Austin Davis leading the offense? Or is it that Austin just isn’t good enough?
In 13 games as a rookie, Austin had 569 yards from scrimmage and six total touchdowns — he caught 40 passes for 418 yards and four touchdowns, ran nine times for 151 yards and a touchdown and added a 98-yard punt return touchdown.
In his second season, in 15 games, Austin accumulated 466 yards from scrimmage and three total touchdowns — he had 31 receptions for 242 yards, ran 36 times for 224 yards and two scores and returned a punt 78 yards for another score.
Now, the Rams have a new quarterback in Nick Foles and a new offensive coordinator in Frank Cignetti. Austin is hoping that he’ll have more chances to make more plays.
“Basically it depends on opportunities,” he said. “Last year I didn’t have too many opportunities out there. Different offensive coordinator. Different quarterback. I’m just thankful. Things are working out in my favor right now. Hopefully everything just keeps going my way and I’ll make some good plays.”
Austin said Cignetti, who was previously the Rams’ quarterbacks coach, has been talking to him about what the speedy wide receiver sees out on the practice field and what he likes.
“He’s trying to get me a little more involved in the offense, so I’m definitely happy with that,” Austin said. “Hopefully we just keep rolling over into camp and keep going from there.”
Austin was asked if he wasn’t as involved with the offense in the past.
“I wouldn’t say that,” he explained. “When it’s your time, it’s your time. I just felt like it wasn’t my time back then, but I feel like now might be my time, so I have to step up to the plate and take advantage of it.”
Austin then described his first two seasons as a learning experience.
“Right now I feel like I’m ready,” he said. “Not saying I wasn’t ready the other two years, but I feel I’m a little more confident. I’m just taking it day by day and getting better.”
znModeratorExcept I didn’t make X the issue.
Oh you’re not dumb. You’ve checked yourself out of following the erosion of personal liberties as have many people.
Ideas not persons. And I was talking to everyone, not to you singled out. It was a reminder: ideas not persons. We got rules and as a mod I have to make sure they’re meaningful.
For example, discussing ideas: in Switzerland, every male adult of a certain age is a member of the national militia. This is a tradition that goes back centuries.
A convenient wiki on that:
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Under the country’s militia system, professional soldiers constitute about 5 percent of the military and the rest are conscripts or volunteers aged 19 to 34 (in some cases up to 50).
The structure of the Swiss militia system stipulates that the soldiers keep their own personal equipment, including all personally assigned weapons, at home (until 2007 this also included ammunition). Compulsory military service concerns all male Swiss citizens, with women serving voluntarily. Males usually receive initial orders at the age of 18 for military conscription eligibility screening. About two-thirds of young Swiss men are found suitable for service, while alternative service exists for those found unsuitable. Annually, approximately 20,000 persons are trained in basic training for a duration from 18 to 21 weeks (increased from 15 weeks, in 2003).
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And there’s more:
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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/03/01/1190586/-Some-Truth-About-Switzerland-and-Guns
•Nearly every male in Switzerland goes through firearm training at the age of 20.
•Swiss males are allowed to keep their firearms after the end of their military service at age 30. The fully automatic weapons must be converted to semi automatic before they can keep them as civilians.
•Switzerland has universal gun registration on gun ownership.
•Switzerland has universal background checks on all gun purchases.
•Switzerland requires universal reporting of firearm transactions, whether commercial or private transfer of ownership.
•Switzerland’s carry laws are highly regulated and very restricted. Other than militia members transporting their firearms on their way to militia training, very few people are allowed to actually carry firearms. And they cannot be loaded.
•Despite the militia requirement in Switzerland, the rate of gun ownership (by percentage) in the United States is much higher than in Switzerland.
•The vast majority of militia members are not even allowed to store ammo at home. And for the 2000 or so–that’s right only 2000–militia members who do have ammo, it is sealed and inspected regularly.
•Switzerland’s gun violence rate is fourth highest in the world.***
Conscripts are also weeded out for psychological unfitness.
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http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/army-recruitment-gets-personal/977914
To get a better idea of the subject’s mental health, cognitive abilities, motivation and suitability to work in a team, participants spend several hours at a computer. Their capacity to understand a text and general intelligence is tested, while a psychological and psychiatric questionnaire is also filled out.
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If they raise doubts about their psychological fitness they do not become armed members of the milita.
But see, again, this is a policy discussion. The facts about Switzerland will not change anyone’s mind. The real issues involve philosophical differences. Do we trust a government, should weapons even be regulated, if so why, do we believe all people are fit to own these kinds weapons, what kind of society are we in or do we want to have, and so on. (That’s actually a mediocre list. Others could do a better list, I bet.)
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znModeratorjones is a favorite of mine. i think if he’s healthy he should be the starting center. that’s a huge if though.
More thoughts on this.
Wagoner:
1) Rotating centersThe Rams have been cycling through three players at center along the offensive line at OTAs: Barrett Jones, Tim Barnes, and Demetreus Rhaney. Fisher said on Tuesday that the team will be patient in making the decision for who will start.
“They’re all getting opportunities to work with Nick, so he’s familiar, not only with the exchanges, but also the communication,” Fisher said. “We’ll make that decision when somebody shows us he’s earned the job.”
This reminds me of the 99 off-season competition at MLB.
They may or may not have a favorite at this point, but they watch film of practices, not just of pre-season games.
Plus of course, they are probably wary of injuries so in a sense all 3 have to be ready. I mean, last year they had 4 injured centers. So I imagine they are wary of that snake biting again.
As Fisher says, since it’s a competition, Foles at this point has to know all of them. They don’t know who they will end up with.
Fisher makes all big decisions patiently. 3 weeks into training camp things could be much clearer than they are now.
Incidentally, they also have to find out if David Wang has anything, though he is obviously relegated to the low rung—a 3rd if he makes it, or the practice squad. DW has interesting write-ups.
June 15, 2015 at 11:45 am in reply to: Rich Californians: You’ll have to pry the hoses from our cold, dead hands #26305znModeratorStupid bastards.
znModeratorOf course this little side-debate was already over once the word “you” was introduced into it. And it wasn’t *me* who did that.
Yes it’s not about posters. Bnw & I kind of went into that when I went all meta about one part of this, but that moment is a unique understandable hiccup, and hopefully bracketed off and tucked away. To mix metaphors. (Do mixed metaphors violate the rules? The garden of my brain explodes discordantly at the thought.)
So yeah discuss ideas but you’re right the poster is not supposed to be the topic.
znModeratorIs he a mauler? A good guard but I am not sure his style of play will fit this tean.
Apparently not a mauler. Some think him leaving Phil was good for them.
Here are a couple of different views. Sorry, the Tra Thomas one is annoyingly repetitive.
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Tra Thomas: Eagles Are Better On Left Side Without Evan Mathishttp://gcobb.com/2015/06/13/tra-thomas-eagles-are-better-on-left-side-without-evan-mathis/
Former Eagles Pro Bowl left offensive tackle Tra Thomas was on 97.5 The Fannatic yesterday talking about the departure of Pro Bowl left guard Evan Mathis and he has some very interesting things to say. He doesn’t think the sky is falling when it comes to the departure of Mathis. In fact, Thomas believes the Eagles are better without Mathis.
“I know Evan is a two-time Pro Bowler, but he and Jason Peters play a different style of game” Thomas said. “Evan Mathis is a guy who likes to jump set and likes to take everything at the line of scrimmage. Jason Peters is a guy who likes to set back and let his guy come to him. He came up in the same school of thought as Juan (Castillo). He likes to count his steps and everything is timing and about punching the guy (rusher) to take him past the quarterback.”
Thomas says there have been fundamental problems on the left side of the Eagles offensive line because of the different ways the two Pro Bowlers chose to block the pass rushers. Maybe this explains why Peters was supportive of Mathis when asked about his teammate. In fact, Peters said he won’t miss him.
“Evan is taking his guy right on the line and Jason Peters is about three yards behind him. He’s setting back and that puts them on two different levels which creates issues and problems when the rushers run games against them. Lot of times if you saw the film, you saw issues. They were on different levels.”
Thomas believes there will be noticeable improvement with the insertion of Barbre into the lineup.
“When you bring in Allen Barbre on that left side, Big Al and Jason. They kind of move the same. I think you will see a better rapport and better chemistry. These two will play better together. Just because Allen sets more at a 45 degree angle and he punches his guy.”
“When you go back and review the film and and look at how he has been playing I know he made the Pro Bowl, but when you look at his style of play. He doesn’t the play the way I would want my guards to play. I know it’s going to fit somewhere. But when you look at what was going on back out there on the field you could see Jason didn’t trust him. He creates a problem when it comes to protection. Evan Mathis likes to jump his guy on the line so if you have a guy that’s setting. It’s one thing if you have both the tackle and guard jumping at the line. When you’re on different levels so it creates problems.”
“You know exactly what they’re going to get out of Allen Barbre. They already know what they’re going to get out of Allen Barbre. He’s exactly what you want out of a guard. He’s got the right mentality for a guard. You’re going to see. The left side is going to be a little more firmer up especially when it comes to games. He likes to set a 45 and it makes a true U form. — It makes switching off the game a lot easier.”
“I think Coach Kelly is going back and watching the film. There were issues when it comes to protection. Now, I think the left side is good.”
At the end of the conversation Thomas mentioned Matt Tobin and Dennis Kelly. He spoke highly of Tobin, which was music to my ears.
“I think the left side is good. But I think you look at what’s going to be happen at right guard. I like Matt Tobin and what he brings to the game. Dennis Kelly is a little tall for the guard position. Taller guards kind of struggle in the league.”
So that’s two former NFL offensive linemen, who have vouched for Tobin. Brian Baldinger of NFL Network had good things to say about Tobin, who is probably going to be the starter at right guard for the regular season.
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Evan Mathis a good fit for Rams but are they for him?
By Nick WagonerEARTH CITY, Mo. — Given the youth the St. Louis Rams are projected to start on their offensive line in 2015, there’s not an available solid, veteran option that hasn’t been mentioned as a possibility to sign with the team.
So within minutes of the Philadelphia Eagles releasing two-time Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis Rams fans everywhere began wondering if the team would pursue him. The Rams were rumored to have interest in Mathis via trade back in March, but those rumors were overblown. Now, they aren’t likely to make a real run at Mathis unless his price drops.
Considering that the Rams are currently using third-round rookie Jamon Brown at right guard, Mathis would be a logical fit from a purely football perspective.
Mathis has long been considered one of the league’s best interior linemen. Even though he’s 33, Mathis has gotten better with age. He’s been to each of the past two Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro in 2013. For what it’s worth, Mathis was Pro Football Focus’ second highest-rated guard in 2014 and third-highest rated guard when it comes to run blocking.
From a scheme standpoint, Mathis has proved capable of handling man and zone blocking schemes and would have no trouble fitting in with the Rams in that regard, either.
All of that said, while Mathis might be a good fit for the Rams when it comes to football, there are a number of reasons this isn’t a likely match.
First and foremost, the Rams aren’t exactly flush with cap space, and Mathis looks to be seeking a payday bigger than what the Rams can likely afford. According to the salary tracker site Spotrac, after signing their remaining eight draft picks, the Rams have about $7 million in cap space. That includes only the top 51 contracts, so the Rams will still have to add two more before the season begins and still need to leave some space to sign a practice squad and for emergencies.
Theoretically, the Rams could probably make signing Mathis work, but even if they wanted to pursue him, they’d probably struggle to come up with the money and the opportunity to win that Mathis will want in a new team.
Mathis counted $5.5 million against the cap in 2014 and was said to be seeking more on a new deal. It’s also believed he’s going to want a chance to win a championship wherever he lands. Considering that there are many teams — Seattle, Indianapolis, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Minnesota — with more cap space, a better chance to win or a combination of the two, it seems unlikely that Mathis will land in St. Louis.
znModeratorEvan Mathis won’t “necessarily rush” into new deal
Josh Alper
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/14/evan-mathis-wont-necessarily-rush-into-new-deal/
The Eagles released guard Evan Mathis last week after more than a year of the veteran pushing for a new contract with the organization, leaving the Eagles to find a new starting job and Mathis to find a new team.
His agent Drew Rosenhaus said that Mathis might not sign with that team in the immediate future. While appearing on The Joe Rose Show on WQAM in Miami, Rosenhaus said that “at least half a dozen” teams have already reached out to him about Mathis’s services and that they would take their time weighing their options.
“It’s wide open and there’s a lot of interest in Evan,” Rosenhaus said. “Between now and the start of training camp, I definitely expect him to have a new home. I think we’ll be methodical, we won’t necessarily rush into signing immediately.”
Rosenhaus wouldn’t name any of the teams, saying only that he’s heard from “the usual suspects” when asked about interest from the Dolphins, and wouldn’t say what would be the most significant factor in Mathis’s ultimate decision. Given his desire for a contract that would pay him more than the $5.5 million he was set to make with the Eagles this year, however, it seems likely that he’ll be trying for more and that may be part of the reason for an extended timeline to find his next home.
znModeratorYou were the one that interjected the word ‘debate’ into this thread. You did so twice. You also did so early in the thread while I was responding to TSRF. A few months ago a gunman killed a canadian soldier then ran into the Canadian parliament right past the room in which the prime minister was in attendance. So much for saner canadian gun control.
I know the canadian situation, and I know the percentages too. I’m not getting into that, except to say that yeah shit happens everywhere, but percentages matter. We can go back and forth on that, but remember–in the end, it;s a policy discussion, not a scientific facts decide it all discussion. I find that whether or not people know the facts, what will always trump that in the end is their principles, core beliefs, and ideas…because, as I have found out many times in many different areas, policy discussions are about policies not facts.
“Debate” as a term came much earlier. Then in the specific post I am referring to, TSRF bowed out, because it’s too painful for him to discuss. So at that point, he was no longer debating. That’s all I meant.
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znModeratori’ll be interested to see how much better this guy can get.
You know I had my doubts about Farr until he got a similar kind of martial arts training. Remember that?
We don’t know if it will work yet with Brockers but it could.
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Earnest Hart, Jr.
Instructor of the Month
WorldBlackBelt Founding Memberhttp://www.worldblackbelt.com/pages/iom_hart.asp
No-one who knows WorldBlackBelt Founding Member Earnest Hart Jr., a former kickboxing champion, has ever described him as being a shy person, but Hart admits that he even surprised himself when he handed his business card to NFL All-Pro D’Marco Farr of the St. Louis Rams a few years ago and boldly told him to give a call when he got serious about winning. At the time, the Rams were coming off one more losing season, and a year later, following yet another losing season, Farr got serious and placed the call to Hart right after their last game and simply said “I’m ready.” Two years later, the St. Louis Rams were sitting on top of the NFL world as Super Bowl Champions and Earnest Hart, Jr. was being featured on ESPN and the Fox Sports Network.
Farr took Hart, who was not even a football fan at the time, in to meet with the then Head Coach of the Rams Dick Vermeil. “Coach Vermeil had previously hired a Cardio Kickboxing Instructor and did not get very good results, so I had to sell him on myself,” recalled Hart. “I sold him on speed, I told him that I could make his guys quicker and faster, and although I don’t think he was entirely convinced, Coach Vermeil decided to give me a chance.”
Next, Hart had to prove himself to the players and earn their respect. Farr, already a believer, started offering $1,000 to any player who could block one of Hart’s still lightning quick kicks…he never had to pay up. “I used to do the Kung Fu thing by snatching pennies from their hands, because even though I was older I was faster,” said Hart.
As for the coaches, Hart soon realized how important it was to not alienate himself from the strength and conditioning coaches so that they would see him as a threat. Hart made sure not to exclude them and wisely offered them free private lessons so that they could understand what he was teaching. The coaches soon became believers too.
“Basically, I taught the players quickness through explosive drills and told them to always stay relaxed, be ready but don’t be tense,” explained Hart, who put on four classes a day three times a week for the Rams, as well as giving private lessons. “The guys really responded well and the year before they won the Super Bowl I could see it coming because they were hungry,” said Hart.
During their Super Bowl run in 1999, Hart became a national celebrity. “All of the TV announcers wanted to talk to me, guys like James Brown from CBS and John Madden and Howie Long from Fox. The only TV personality Hart would not talk to was Dennis Miller from ABC’s Monday Night Football. “There was no way I was going to talk to him (Miller), if things didn’t go well with the team that night I knew he would rim me, and then I would have had to kick his butt because I’m from the old school,” joked Hart.
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