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znModeratorPete Carroll confirms Kam Chancellor won’t play against Rams
http://mynorthwest.com/292/2807896/Pete-Carroll-confirms-Kam-Chancellor-wont-play-against-Rams
Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll has confirmed that safety Kam Chancellor will not play in Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams.
“He’s not here right now and so he’s not playing, that’s it,” Carroll said in a news conference after training camp on Wednesday.
710 ESPN Seattle’s Danny O’Neil said that the implication is that Chancellor won’t be playing in Week 1 regardless of anything else that happens leading up to the game.
“I am disappointed in this … It’s disappointing it’s come to this and he’s not here,” Carroll said.
znModeratorMichael Brockers Press Conference – 9/8
Defensive lineman Michael Brockers talks about getting ready for the regular season and going against Seattle’s offense.
September 9, 2015 at 1:01 am in reply to: As of today, the UDFAs on the Rams roster & practice squad #30120znModeratorDarrell Williams wins a spot with Rams
Nate Latsch
The St. Louis Rams kept three undrafted rookies on their initial 53-man roster. One of them fought longer odds than the others.
ST. LOUIS — Darrell Williams was having breakfast with Bryce Hager and Cody Wichmann when both of his teammates got phone calls from Rams coach Jeff Fisher telling them they’d made the team.
“They both got calls from Coach Fisher and I was just waiting and waiting,” Williams said Tuesday. “They actually did a pretty good job of keeping themselves contained once they found out the good news. My phone was called and Coach Fisher picked up and he told me to take a deep breath, that I made it, and I was elated.”
Williams, an undrafted rookie from South Florida, fought longer odds than most of his teammates to make the Rams’ 53-man roster.
The Rams used four draft picks this spring to select offensive lineman. They picked Rob Havenstein in the second round, then Jamon Brown in the third and Andrew Donnal in the fourth. Then they added Wichmann in the sixth.
Williams joined those four draft picks during the Rams’ rookie orientation practices, where he lined up as the team’s left tackle, and then organized team activities soon after.
The Rams still weren’t done adding offensive linemen at that point, however. They added another, Isaiah Battle, in the fifth round of the supplemental draft early last month.
But on Saturday, it was Williams who got the call that he was one of 10 offensive linemen on the 53-man roster, joining Havenstein, Brown, Donnal and Wichmann. Battle, who cost the team a fifth-round pick in next year’s draft, was among the players cut.
“A lot of people questioned my decision to come here because obviously they drafted four o-linemen,” Williams said. “The Rams organization was in contact with me after I came back from that NFLPA Bowl that I played in in California. The entire pre-draft process they were talking to me. Coach Bou (offensive line coach Paul Boudreau) called me on draft day and told me I’d get a fair shot here and I did and I took advantage of it and I’m still here.”
The 6-foot-5, 301-pounder, who was born in Jamaica and moved to the United States in ninth grade, started 29 of his 45 career games at South Florida. He started every game at left tackle during his junior and senior seasons after starting five as a sophomore.
Williams was one of three undrafted rookies to make the Rams’ initial 53-man roster. The others were wide receiver Bradley Marquez and linebacker Cameron Lynch.
All three beat long odds to remain with the Rams, but they also have to continue to prove themselves to keep their spots on the roster.
“Honestly I think it’s just sunken in to me that I’m actually on a roster now,” Williams said. “It’s surreal and I just have to keep working so I can stay here.”
znModerator2015 St. Louis Rams game-by-game predictions
By Nick Wagonerhttp://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/20469/2015-st-louis-rams-game-by-game-predictions
Back in April, I predicted that the St. Louis Rams would finish with an 8-8 record before seeing what they did in the draft and how they finished the offseason. After seeing them in camp and the preseason, I’m sticking with that choice. While they have talent, the offense will take too long to rev up and the defense won’t be able to carry them to enough wins for a breakthrough.
Week 1: Sunday, Sept. 13, vs. Seattle, 1 p.m. ET
The Rams have been a tough out for the Seahawks at home in recent years, including a trickery-induced victory in 2014. In a game that will feature two offensive lines trying to find themselves and two defenses primed for big things, expect another NFC West slugfest with little scoring. The Rams find a way to steal one late. Rams 13, Seahawks 10. Record: 1-0
Week 2: Sunday, Sept. 20, at Washington, 1 p.m. ET
The Redskins will be in search of revenge for the Rams’ shutout victory a season ago when coach Jeff Fisher sent out the players acquired with the draft picks from the 2012 trade as team captains. Washington coach Jay Gruden might bring something extra to the table in search of a victory this time, but the Rams defense should be able to overwhelm a team still in search of answers on the offensive line and quarterback. Rams 24, Redskins 14. Record: 2-0
Week 3: Sunday, Sept. 27, vs. Pittsburgh, 1 p.m. ET
Expect plenty of Steelers faithful in the stands for this one as Pittsburgh brings its high-powered offense to town. The bad news for the Rams is that Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell will be making his debut here after having his suspension reduced to two games. The worse news is that Antonio Brown is exactly the type of receiver who can give the Rams’ secondary fits. Steelers 30, Rams 20. Record: 2-1
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 4, at Arizona, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Rams and Cardinals had a pair of close matchups in 2014, and Arizona emerged with both victories. The Cardinals will again be a tough out and with Carson Palmer under center they should find a way to yet another victory here. Cardinals 20, Rams 16. Record 2-2
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 11, at Green Bay, 1 p.m. ET
A brutal three-game stretch comes to an end against one of the league’s most dynamic offenses in one of the toughest road environments in the NFL. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is able to avoid the pass rush and take advantage of a secondary that allowed the highest completion percentage in the league last year as the Packers roll. Packers 34, Rams 17. Record: 2-3
Week 6: Bye
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 25, vs. Cleveland, 1 p.m. ET
Coming off a much-needed bye, the Rams get to host the Browns in what should be a winnable game. Cleveland has some good pieces on defense but not enough to overcome a barrage from the Rams defense. Cleveland stays close before the Rams pull away late. Rams 24, Browns 9. Record: 3-3
Week 8: Sunday, Nov. 1, vs. San Francisco, 1 p.m. ET
The Rams get their first-look at the revamped Niners and like what they see as they are able to get after Colin Kaepernick and find more success running the ball on offense than they’ve had in recent meetings with San Francisco. Rams 20, 49ers 14. Record: 4-3
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 8, at Minnesota, 1 p.m. ET
The Vikings throttled the Rams in the 2014 season opener and while the Rams hope things have changed for the better, the Vikings look like the team on the rise that many have believed the Rams to be in recent years. The Rams have had a knack for pulling off surprising wins and having disappointing losses under Fisher’s guidance. This has the makings of the latter. Vikings 31, Rams 13. Record: 4-4
Week 10: Sunday, Nov. 15, vs. Chicago, 1 p.m. ET
The storylines here will likely involve the Long brothers playing against each other and what figures to be a crowd heavy on Bears fans. But this should also be a game the Rams need to win. They will. Rams 31, Bears 21. Record: 5-4
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 22, at Baltimore, 1 p.m. ET
The Rams defense allowed too many big plays in the passing game last year, a trend they hope to reverse in 2015. But Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco offers some not-so-heartwarming flashbacks as he connects with Steve Smith and rookie Breshad Perriman for enough big plays to prevent the Rams from going two games over .500. Ravens 26, Rams 19. Record: 5-5
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 29, at Cincinnati, 1 p.m. ET
The Rams’ habit of pulling off a surprising or mildly surprising victory or two every year comes to the forefront here as they go to Cincinnati and handle the Bengals with relative ease. Think of the Indianapolis game in 2013. Rams 27, Bengals 13. Record: 6-5
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 6, vs. Arizona, 1 p.m. ET
Expect a near replay of last year’s meeting in St. Louis, when points were hard to come by and the Cardinals found a way to get the win late. Only difference is this time the Rams finally overcome the Cardinals and make the play that gets them a victory. Rams 13, Cardinals 6. Record: 7-5
Week 14: Sunday, Dec. 13, vs. Detroit, 1 p.m. ET
The Rams have a bad habit of losing a home game or two they’re expected to win every season. In 2013 it was the Titans. Last year it was the Giants. Let’s go with Calvin Johnson and the Lions this year as the Rams’ playoff hopes take a hit. Lions 26, Rams 20. Record: 7-6
Week 15: Thursday, Dec. 17, vs. Tampa Bay, 8:25 p.m. ET
This could be the Rams’ final home game in St. Louis and in prime time to boot. But if it is, at least they go out on a high note as they give Jameis Winston fits with their pass rush and put themselves back in the mix for a wild card. Rams 22, Buccaneers 10. Record: 8-6
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 27, at Seattle, 4:25 p.m. ET
The Rams begin a two-game West Coast swing with a trip to face the Seahawks. Playing in Seattle has been difficult for everyone, especially the Rams, and those struggles continue here as Seattle puts the NFC West away and all but eliminates the Rams from the playoff picture. Seahawks 20, Rams 9. Record: 8-7
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 3, at San Francisco, 4:25 p.m. ET
Officially out of the playoff picture, the Rams don’t come away with the performance many would expect against a Niners team that is also already out of the race. Whether the Rams stay on the West Coast in the week leading up to the game or travel back and forth, they look fatigued and come up short of their first winning record since 2003. 49ers 16, Rams 13. Record: 8-8
znModeratorRamBill
101espn @101espn
“He can run by people outside, has the ability to run past people. They don’t want Tavon to get the ball.” -Fisher on WR Austin. #FisherShow
“He’s doing a better job with the short game. He’s not just a deep guy. He’s getting a better feel for it. – Fisher on WR Quick #FisherShow
“We saw the huddle presence. The natural ability to lead. The calmness. He’ll brush off mistakes and move on.” – Fisher on Foles #FisherShow
“The drawer is full. Still plenty left.” – Fisher in response to the fake punt against SEA last year. #FisherShow
“It’s probably going to be a game time situation.” – Fisher on RB Tre Mason
Discussion topic for the first show of the year: What do you think will be the Rams ending record? #FisherShow
“There’s the potential for change early on this season. Players get released and so on, we have to consider that.” – Fisher #FisherShow
“He has a chance this week to play. Just a very mature, young man; gets the game, very athletic.” – Fisher on Bradley Marquez #FisherShow
znModeratorPractice Report 9/8: Starting With Seattle
by Myles Simmons
As divisional opponents, the Rams and Seahawks are two teams who have gotten to know each other quite well over the years. And with that familiarity comes some pretty competitive matchups.
“Need I remind you that we finished with these guys? So we’re coming right back here,” head coach Jeff Fisher said on Tuesday. “And that’s okay. It’s a familiar team. It’s a great challenge for us.”
“We know them, they know us,” offensive lineman Rodger Saffold said. “And when we play, it’s an extremely physical game.”
Since Fisher took over as head coach in 2012, St. Louis is 2-1 against Seattle at the Edward Jones Dome.
Last year’s contest went down to the wire, with the Rams using some nifty special teams plays to secure a 28-26 victory. But don’t necessarily expect too much of the same when the two teams open the season on Sunday.
“We always will have something to draw upon. Whether we dial them up or not that remains to be seen,” Fisher said. “You need the perfect situation for it. I think, not only for 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.”
“We have to play good, solid football,” Fisher added. “We can’t go into a Seattle game expecting to win the game on a fake punt or a special team’s play. We’ve got to play better offense and defense against them.”
A significant part of that effort begins up front on the offensive line. With many young starters on the unit, Saffold said the onus falls on the players to prepare well.
I want to put as much stress as possible on our young linemen, because I think that when you get backed into a corner, sometimes you have your best moments,” Saffold said. “I think they’re going to really be able to study up. They’re going to really watch this team because they know how good that defense can be.”
Saffold, who has moved over to right guard, specifically pointed out how Seattle’s defense uses movement, a variety of blitzes, and its aggressiveness to be effective.
“Those three things are big because we have such a young offensive line,” Saffold said. “We’re going to have to communicate, and communicate loud and often to be able to help out the younger guys see some things.”
SOLIDIFYING THE OFFENSIVE LINE
While Fisher declined to name a starting center on Tuesday, we know the players at the other four positions. From left to right, Greg Robinson, Jamon Brown, Rodger Saffold, and Rob Havenstein will all be along the line at guards and tackles.
The coaches recently flipped guards Saffold and Brown, with Brown now on the left and Saffold on the right. The veteran said Tuesday he’s feeling more and more comfortable with the adjustment.
“It’s a quick switch but all you’ve got to do is work on that side of the ball a little bit before practice, after practice work on a couple sets,” Saffold said. “And then from then on, it’s just meshing with the people you’re next to.”
As for why the switch was made, the rookie said offensive line coach Paul T. Boudreau noticed from film that he’s left-hand dominant, and that a move could pay dividends.
“He told me that I did a lot of things instinctively or naturally on the left side, which was very encouraging for him, and it was encouraging for me,” Brown said. “So I feel like me being left-hand dominant, and being able to do a lot of things with my left will be able to help me on the left side.”
Brown said he was a bit surprised by to head over to the left late in the preseason, but he’s feeling good about playing there.
“Obviously, the type of guy that I am, it doesn’t really matter,” Brown said. “But making that switch kind of told me something. And coach told me what his mindset was going into that game, which was to find the best matchups and combinations that he could. So he was pleased with what I did on the left side and decided to make it final. So that’s what I’m gearing my mind toward, is playing left guard.”
MAKING THE SQUAD
Linebacker Cameron Lynch is one of three undrafted free agents to make the Rams’ initial 53-man roster. Along with wide receiver Bradley Marquez and offensive lineman Darrell Williams, Lynch did enough in training camp to prove he has the mettle to play in the league. And as a UDFA out of Syracuse, Lynch recognized that’s no small feat.
“It’s awesome,” Lynch said. “The stress of the NFL, the camps, the hot sun — all that hard work, it finally pays off. It’s a great feeling.”
We’ll have more on the undrafted rookies on the active roster in a feature article later this week.
September 8, 2015 at 7:34 pm in reply to: spygate redux goes audio: Andy McCollum & Tyoka Jackson on 920 #30095znModeratorFormer Rams defensive tackle Tyoka Jackson joined The Hollywood Casino Press Box on Tuesday to give his reaction to ESPN’s bombshell report on the Patriots and the Spygate scandal and the impact it had on the Rams losing Super Bowl XXXVI. The ESPN report alleges the recent Deflategate punishment levied on the Patriots was a “make-up call” of sorts after the NFL – and more specifically commissioner Roger Goodell – allegedly covered up the findings in the Spygate drama back in 2008. In one section of the report, former Rams head coach Mike Martz implies someone changed his statement following Spygate.
znModeratorFormer Rams coach Mike Martz says NFL asked him to exonerate Patriots
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Of the many interesting and deeply reported details in Seth Wickersham and Don Van Natta Jr.’s story about the New England Patriots and the NFL, there’s one section of particular interest for the St. Louis Rams and their fans.
In it, they detail the fallout of the initial Spygate incident before Super Bowl XXXVI in which it was alleged that the Patriots taped or viewed the Rams’ pre-game walkthrough before playing New England in that game. More than 13 years after the Rams lost to the Patriots in one of the biggest Super Bowl upsets of all time, former Rams coach Mike Martz revealed some intriguing details of how the NFL handled the investigation into Spygate.
According to the story, Martz said that after the league had conducted its 2008 investigation, commissioner Roger Goodell called him and encouraged him to release a statement saying he was satisfied with the investigation and its subsequent fallout. At the time, Martz was working as the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers and said he took the call while on the 49ers practice field.
Martz recalled a five-minute conversation in which he said Goodell sounded “panicked” about U.S. Senator Arlen Specter’s call for a deeper look into the situation. Martz said Goodell asked him to write a statement clearing the Patriots and asking everyone to move on.
From the story:
“He told me, ‘The league doesn’t need this. We’re asking you to come out with a couple lines exonerating us and saying we did our due diligence,'” says Martz, now 64 years old and out of coaching, during a July interview at his summer cabin in the Idaho mountains.A congressional inquiry that would put league officials under oath had to be avoided, Martz recalls Goodell telling him. “If it ever got to an investigation, it would be terrible for the league,” Goodell said.
That’s not where the story ends, though. Martz actually complied with the request and sent a statement to the league. When Wickersham and Van Natta showed him the statement that was released, Martz didn’t recognize it.
Shown a copy of his statement this past July, Martz was stunned to read several sentences about Walsh that he says he’s certain he did not write. “It shocked me,” he says. “It appears embellished quite a bit — some lines I know I didn’t write. Who changed it? I don’t know.”Within the past few years, Martz had hoped to get back into the NFL, which could offer a logical explanation on why he didn’t publicly reveal this information until now. But there’s no doubt that Martz was disturbed enough by what he thought was New England’s wrongdoing to change how he operated as coach of the Rams.
The Rams fired Martz in 2006 in part because the loss to New England still lingered amongst the decision makers in the front office. Before he left St. Louis, Martz had grown so weary of potential videotaping that he had large pillars and a screen built on a hill overlooking the practice fields at Rams Park in an effort to block would-be videotapers from checking into a hotel across the street and filming the practice. It cost the team tens of thousands of dollars.
The pillars (without the screen) still stand today as a sort of tribute to paranoia. But based on the findings in the piece and how Martz still feels about the situation, that tribute isn’t the only thing that still lingers.
znModeratorMartz drops Spygate bombshell in ESPN investigation
Ben Frederickson
It’s been a rough stretch for the NFL’s public image, and former St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz is the latest to pile on.
The 64-year-old came off the top rope from a cabin in Idaho.
Just when it seemed like Deflategate had finally gone flat, the Patriots’ latest scandal managed to find new life AND link itself to another mess born of the team’s all-around unethicalness. Deflategate, meet Spygate. Oh, boy.
ESPN on Tuesday published an exhaustive investigation that says the Patriots’ Spygate scandal — you remember, the mess that leaked out when Bill Belichick’s corner-cutting resulted in a Patriots’ video assistant getting caught illegally filming the New York Jets during a week-one game in 2007 — went deeper than we thought.
So deep, ESPN reports, that league investigators discovered the Patriots kept a library of scouting material, opponents’ play calls included. This stash reportedly held information gathered from the rogue recording of opponents’ signals between 2000-2007. That’s new information that Goodell probably didn’t want us to know. While he handed out hefty fines and docked a draft pick, he reportedly ordered that the hard evidence from the library be destroyed.
The big-picture takeaway is this: Goodell tried to hammer the Patriots for Deflategate because the NFL owners who are also his bosses believed the Patriots got off relatively easy for Spygate.
But back to Martz, whose footnote in the 18-page report is going to stick in the craw of Rams’ fans forever.
Think any of those nuked videos or shredded notes helped the Patriots beat the Rams 20-17 in Super Bowl XXXVI?
If you didn’t already, you will probably ask yourself that every time you see a replay of Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning field goal from 2002.
Sounds like Martz does the same.
“It was hard to swallow because I always felt something happened but I didn’t know what it was and I couldn’t prove it anyway,” Martz told ESPN in July, during an interview in his summer cabin in the Idaho mountains. “Even to this day, I think something happened.”
This isn’t an unnamed source hinting at foul play. This is a former coach calling out the Patriots on the record. The NFL should be terrified of guys like Martz. He has nothing to lose.
Call it sour grapes if you want. Or, call it the truth from a guy who no longer has to cater to The Shield.
If the Patriots had Rams-specific intel in their now-empty library, we’ll probably never know. But the report goes on to mention a more-concrete reason St. Louis should feel at least a little cheated.
Depending on whom you believe, the Patriots either did or did not film the Rams’ Super Bowl walk-through before the big game.
Former Patriots videographer Matt Walsh claimed he and at least three other videographers watched the Rams’ final practice, then reported back some valuable information, like the fact that Rams running back Marshall Faulk was returning kickoffs and the addition of new redzone plays. But Walsh can’t produce hard evidence, something the Patriots cling to. Maybe it didn’t make it out of the library.
But wait. There’s also the hint of a cover-up.
Martz, who coached the Rams from 2000-05, also told ESPN that Goodell called him in 2008 and asked him to provide a statement saying he was satisfied with the league’s look into Spygate. Arlen Specter, a senator from Pennsylvania, was calling for a congressional investigation. Martz, canned by the Rams in 2006, was the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.
“He (Goodell) told me, ‘The league doesn’t need this. We’re asking you to come out with a couple lines exonerating us and saying we did our due diligence,'” Martz told ESPN.
Martz agreed to release a statement through the 49ers.
“I was stunned at Matt Walsh’s allegation that he was on the sideline in New England Patriots apparel during our walk-thru,” read one part. “I find that insulting, disturbing and a slap in the face to both our team security and NFL security, who both do outstanding jobs. I promise you that if he was on the sideline, he was not in New England Patriots apparel because he would have been identified.”
Now that Martz is out of coaching, his tune has changed. He balked when ESPN reintroduced his statement from 2008.
“It shocked me,” Martz told ESPN. “It appears embellished quite a bit — some lines I know I didn’t write. Who changed it? I don’t know.”
Don’t worry.
I’m sure the NFL will get to the bottom of it.
znModeratorDefensive line could put Rams back in playoffs
AP
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The St. Louis Rams have been stockpiling defensive linemen for so long, end Chris Long has played for three head coaches.
If the franchise is able to end a drought of 11 seasons without a winning record, all of that talent assembled over the years will no doubt be the main reason.
The latest upgrade was free agent Nick Fairley, a tackle that gave the Rams (6-10) five former first-rounders up front. Long was the second pick in 2008 by Scott Linehan. Robert Quinn came during the Steve Spagnuolo/Billy Devaney era, and the Jeff Fisher/Les Snead team added Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers.
The offense has plenty of question marks, with Todd Gurley still rehabbing from left knee surgery, two rookie linemen starting, and no established go-to wide receiver for new quarterback Nick Foles.
Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has an ideal situation by comparison, beginning his second season with virtually everybody back and no new playbook to absorb. The lone casualty is cornerback E.J. Gaines, out for the year following foot surgery.
The pass rush really clicked in the final two-thirds of last season with 40 sacks in the last 11 games after none in the first five. The defense will be needed to step up right away with the Rams opening at home Sunday against the defending NFC champion Seahawks.
“I think we’re where we need to be at this point,” Long said. “We’re going to play them tough and we always do, and they always play us tough.”
Things to watch for from the Rams:
CENTER OF ATTENTION: Rookie offensive linemen Rob Havenstein and Jamon Brown played side by side at right tackle and guard the first half of the preseason before the Rams split them up and put Brown at left guard. It’s tough enough jumping into the lineup out of college without making that switch.
Coach Jeff Fisher said he’ll announce a starting center after practice Wednesday. Tim Barnes started the preseason finale and is likely to get the nod with Demetrius Rhaney serving in a utility role. Barnes has four career NFL starts, Rhaney none.
GURLEY WATCH: The Rams were so high on Gurley, they drafted him 10th overall even though he was injured. Gurley has been practicing the last few weeks but has already been ruled out for the opener and could miss the first three or four games.
Tre Mason, the starter last year, will step in if he’s recovered from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the preseason finale, with versatile Benny Cunningham and Isaiah Pead also in the mix.
FOLES FACTOR: Foles quickly impressed his new team and signed a two-year contract extension last month. He had been entering the final year of his deal and was highly productive when healthy in Philadelphia.
“I think the big thing is I just felt comfortable running the offense, being out there playing again,” Foles said. “Now it’s getting real. Season’s here. I’m excited.”
EMPTY SEATS: The Edward Jones Dome was no more than one-third full for either of the home preseason games, with fans fretting the franchise will move back to Los Angeles after the season. Season ticket sales are down. Owner Stan Kroenke’s only public sighting during training camp was in Oxnard, California, where he hobnobbed with Jerry Jones while the Rams practiced with the Cowboys.
Kroenke has been silent about his intentions since acquiring a parcel of land in Inglewood, California, where a stadium could be built. The Rams are year to year on their lease at the dome.
PUT UP TIME: Fisher made a six-win improvement for a 7-9 finish in 2012, his first season, but since then the franchise has treaded water. The Rams backslid a bit last year, struggling after QB Sam Bradford’s second consecutive season-ending knee injury.
The Rams were 0-4 in the preseason, not exactly cause for alarm, but not the greatest sign for a franchise desperate for success, either.
“Disappointed we didn’t find a way to win a preseason, but I’m also very excited to have it over now — as everybody else is,” Fisher said.
znModeratorTen questions for Rams’ season are revisted
Jim Thomas
St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles throws during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson)
As the Rams move to game-week mode for the season opener, against Seattle, we reexamine 10 questions facing the Rams as they embark on the season:
1. IS FOLES THE ANSWER?
Apparently so. The Rams felt so strongly about Foles they signed him to a $24.5 million contract extension that could keep him around through the 2017 season. And they did so before he’d thrown even a preseason pass. Foles has gotten progressively better on the field, first through the offseason practices, then camp and then the preseason. His arm looks stronger now than it did in June. In terms of leadership and presence, he seems to have made a quick connection with teammates. But even Rams coaches would concede some unknowns remain as Foles continues to learn the offense.
2. WILL YOUTH BE SERVED ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE?
More than we even anticipated at the start of camp. The Rams will indeed start rookies Jamon Brown (left guard) and Rob Havenstein (right tackle) on opening day. Brown was switched very late in camp from right guard to left. And with Barrett Jones released, it’s either Tim Barnes (four NFL starts) or Demetrius Rhaney (zero NFL games) at center. All told the Rams have five rookies among the 10 offensive linemen on the roster. Only Rodger Saffold, Garrett Reynolds, Greg Robinson and Barnes have played in an NFL regular-season game.
3. WHEN IS IT ‘TODD’S TIME?’
It won’t be noon Sunday against the Seahawks. Coach Jeff Fisher already has ruled out Todd Gurley for the season opener. He will remove his yellow no-contact beanie when the team returns to the practice field the following Tuesday, meaning he will have no restrictions as he completes the final stages of his return from knee surgery. But it figures to take the rookie running back from Georgia a few weeks to really get into football shape. If we had to hazard a guess on Gurley’s debut game, maybe Game 3 (vs. Pittsburgh) — but more likely Game 4 (on Oct. 4, at Arizona).
4. WHAT WILL CIGNETTI DO?
Hopefully more touchdowns than we saw in the preseason. The Rams scored only 48 points in exhibition play, tying Dallas for the league low. The offense scored only five TDs. In what has become typical for a Fisher team, the Rams didn’t show much under Frank Cignetti, their new offensive coordinator. Will the man known as “Cigs” stick with the run? Will he try more razzle-dazzle and trick plays than predecessor Brian Schottenheimer? Will he make a more concerted effort to get the ball to Tavon Austin? This, and much more, remains to be seen.
5. IS THERE ENOUGH AT WIDE RECEIVER?
Should be. No one’s saying the Rams have anything resembling a true No. 1 receiver. And no one’s saying they have an elite unit. But they have enough talent, and now have enough seasoning to get the job done. Now recovered and back from shoulder surgery, it looks as if Brian Quick will start slowly. He participated in only 30 preseason plays, appearing in the final two exhibition games without catching a pass. Austin flashed his big-play potential on a couple of occasions. A resurgent Chris Givens might have been the team’s offensive MVP for the preseason.
6. CAN THE DEFENSE DOMINATE?
It was a blow losing E.J. Gaines (foot injury) for the season. He was the team’s most consistent cornerback a year ago, as a rookie. Without Gaines it’s all about the 3Js at corner — Janoris Jenkins, Trumaine Johnson and Lamarcus Joyner. Joyner in particular must step up his play at nickel back. Overall, the starting defense was just so-so in the preseason, although it didn’t give up a lot of points. You have the feeling, though, that the unit will turn it up for the season opener; the players have talked a lot about getting off to a quicker start this year, particularly against the run.
7. HOW ABOUT WINNING IN SEPTEMBER FOR A CHANGE?
Although the first-team offense looked better late in the preseason, there wasn’t a lot that was seen to give hope that this unit can get out of the gate quickly. If that’s indeed the case, then it’s up to defense and special teams to reverse the trend of slow starts under Fisher. The Rams have started 3-5 in all three seasons under Fisher and started 1-3 the past two seasons. The opening schedule isn’t conducive to a fast start, either, with four of the first five contests against 2014 playoff teams. And three of those first five contests take place on the road.
8. FISHER’S FUTURE IN DOUBT?
They always say there’s two things you don’t want to do in the preseason — go 4-0 or 0-4. Well, the Rams did the latter, going winless in exhibition play for only the second time in 21 years in St. Louis. Sometimes what happens in August has no bearing whatsoever on the regular season. Sometimes it does. Although another losing regular season would be a fourth consecutive one for Fisher, the vibe at Rams Park doesn’t seem to be one of a head coach in trouble. Perhaps owner Stan Kroenke wants to tap Fisher’s experience in relocating a franchise.
9. WHO STAYS? WHO GOES?
With about a dozen players scheduled for unrestricted free agency after this season, including several starters, the Rams have talked to many about new contracts. But so far only Foles has been signed to a new deal. Even so, it wouldn’t be surprising to see another player or two re-signed either before Sunday’s opener or early in the season. The Rams have salary cap room. They were $4.6 million under the cap after the Foles deal and gained more room with the release of quarterback Austin Davis ($1.55 million cap count) and linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar ($1.35 million).
10. CALIFORNIA DREAMING?
For “St. Louis” Rams fans — including Joe Buck — Kroenke’s two-day pep rally in Oxnard, Calif., was difficult to watch. During a nationally televised training camp practice at Rams Park, the team tightened its sign policy for fans. The same thing appears to be taking place in the Edward Jones Dome. Attendance was down sharply for exhibition games, and if the trend continues in the regular season it could mute any home-field advantage for the Rams and in the process aid Silent Stan’s plan to move the team to Los Angeles after this season.
znModeratorBrowns intrigued by new QB Austin Davis
Kevin Jones
Inside one wing of the Cleveland Browns building, scouts watch, analyze and discuss thousands of hours of film from every game across the NFL. Meetings are held, some on a daily basis, to kick around names that could potentially fit on the roster.
Cleveland’s new quarterback was one of those names.
“Austin (Davis) is a guy – his name has come up often,” coach Mike Pettine said Monday.
The intrigue on the Browns part comes from several angles.
Thrown into the fire last season because of Sam Bradford’s ACL injury, Davis started eight games for the St. Louis Rams, tossing 12 touchdowns to nine interceptions and posted a 85.1 QB rating. Davis produced three wins and threw six combined touchdowns in shootout losses to the Cowboys and Eagles. During the whirlwind, the 26-year-old proved to himself he can make plays in the NFL.
“Until you get out there and play, put the ball in the end zone, lead the team, win games – until you do that, you don’t really know,” Davis said. “It was a good learning experience and I’m looking to build on it.”
A walk-on at Southern Mississippi, Davis has always had to be a prove-it player and he did so to a degree with the Rams. The 6-foot-2 height, 221-pound frame and 4.76 40-yard dash time were never the question with Davis. It was more, “can this guy handle the NFL?”
With a banged-up offensive line and some struggling skill players alongside him in St. Louis, there were moments when Davis looked like he could be a starter for years in the league and others when he still had miles to improve.
It’s worth noting the Browns did not carry three quarterbacks on the active roster until the final week of 2014 – even with Brian Hoyer’s three career starts and Johnny Manziel being a rookie. Pettine has said the stability in the room is unprecedented with McCown’s presence. This move truly shows how much this team thinks of Davis.
“Austin’s been a guy that there’s been some intrigue with that his name has come up before,” Pettine said. “The opportunity presented itself to bring him here, so we took advantage of it.”
Signing Davis to the active roster is a calling card move by the Browns. They improved the roster with a player who has shown playmaking ability at a critical position. They want to continue to grow Manziel in a competitive practice environment.
In the meantime, Davis will spend his evenings in the downstairs wing of the Browns’ building in Berea, learning the offense late into the evenings long after his teammates have left. A third-string quarterback at the start of last season, Davis knows how quickly he can be pressed into action.
znModeratorStrengths and Weaknesses of the Rams’ Intriguing 53-Man Roster
Randy Karraker
http://www.101sports.com/2015/09/07/strengths-and-weaknesses-of-the-rams-intriguing-53-man-roster/
The Rams’ initial 53 man roster as they get ready for their opener against Seattle on Sunday at the Edward Jones Dome has a type of intrigue that we’ve never seen in St. Louis.
The level of stability on defense is pleasantly notable, and the amount of change and inexperience on offense could be the 2015 Rams’ best chance for success if they grow up quickly.
In a nearly unprecedented occurrence in the NFL in this day and age, there’s only one change among the defensive starters. Jo Lonn Dunbar was released in the final cutdown, and Akeem Ayers will start at strong side linebacker.
Otherwise, the defensive line is the same last year at the end of the season, with a line of Robert Quinn and Chris Long at the ends and Aaron Donald and Michael Brockers at the ends.
James Laurinaitis returns at middle linebacker and Alex Ogletree on the weak side. And in the secondary, Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson man the corners while Rodney McLeod and T.J. McDonald are the safeties.
With the same defensive coordinator in Gregg Williams, there’s no reason for this group to not be great.
Also notable about the defense is the fact that ten of the eleven starters are home grown. Ayers is the only starter on defense who didn’t get his NFL start with the Rams. Along the lines, the Rams are unusually home grown.
Last year, Kendall Langford started the season at defensive tackle and was replaced by Donald. The group of Long, Donald, Brockers and Quinn is the second home grown defensive line for the Rams in St. Louis, following the 2005 group of Leonard Little, Jimmy Kennedy, Ryan Pickett and Anthony Hargrove.
This will be the first time that the entire starting offensive line has been home grown since the Rams moved to St. Louis.
There has always been a free agent or trade acquisition in the group, from Dwayne White to John Gerak to John Flannery to Adam Timmerman, to the Jason Browns, Jacob Bells and Harvey Dahls of the world. The group of Greg Robinson, Jamon Brown, either Tim Barnes or Demetrious Rhaney, Rodger Saffold and Rob Havenstein comprise the first group of Rams starters up front that were either drafted by or originally signed by the St. Louis Rams.
That continuity and those roots are a good thing, if the players can play. Now they must by coached and nurtured.
By the way, the only Rams offensive lineman on the roster not originally given his start by the organization is Garrett Reynolds, so credit must be given to the scouting and drafting departments.
That being said, it’s highly unusual to have the amount of inexperience the Rams do up front. It’s going to be difficult for this group, outside of Saffold, to stand up to what they face early on.
In week one, the Seahawks have one of the top defenses in the league, as we know. In week three, the Rams host Pittsburgh. Then they face the great Arizona defense and the Packers, where Dom Capers will provide some looks and stunts they haven’t seen yet.
To succeed this year, the Rams are going to have to overcome that inexperience up front.
To be effective, they’re going to have to provide the group a simple game plan with easily understandable zone schemes. Quarterback Nick Foles is going to need to be given the opportunity to get the ball out quickly on passing plays, and receivers are going to have to get separation and win one-on-one battles with defensive backs.
This would be a great time for tight end Jared Cook to become the impact player the Rams are paying him to be.
In the running game, it’ll be more of the same. Simplicity will be a key, especially once Todd Gurley is ready to go.
While communication, technique and knowledge are keys to pass blocking, great run blocking can be achieved by being aggressive and mauling the competition. If the Rams can drive the opposing defensive line off the ball and open a hole for Gurley or Tre Mason, they can achieve quality in the run game.
If Gurley is given the opportunity to beat a linebacker or safety one-on-one, he has the size and strength to run him over, and the speed and moves to get around and run away.
Of course, if the run game starts clicking, all bets are off for the passing game because play action passes are what head coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti want, and what Foles does best. If, as the season goes along, the running game starts clicking, this will be an offense capable of putting up points.
And with their young veteran defense, everything else being equal, eventually they should be able to score more than they allow. Of course, that “everything else being equal” includes avoiding costly penalties and not turning the ball over.
As the Rams get ready to roll against Seattle, they’ll need some quick growing up and some luck. But the home grown talent should evolve and be enough to give them a chance to win on many Sundays.
September 7, 2015 at 7:15 pm in reply to: As of today, the UDFAs on the Rams roster & practice squad #30056znModeratorSeptember 7, 2015 at 4:47 pm in reply to: As of today, the UDFAs on the Rams roster & practice squad #30048znModeratorCameron Lynch Press Conference – 9/6
Watch rookie undrafted linebacker Cameron Lynch talk about making the St. Louis Rams 53-man roster.
September 7, 2015 at 4:23 pm in reply to: As of today, the UDFAs on the Rams roster & practice squad #30045znModerator===
OLB Cameron Lynch (5-11 | 226 | 4.75 | #38)
Another experienced linebacker with 38 appearances and 16 starts on the outside, Lynch’s instincts and toughness are impressive, but his lack of size and top-end athleticism may hamper his changes of being drafted. Athletic Director’s Honor Roll recipient (Spring 2013, Fall 2013 and Spring 2014).
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Syracuse senior LB Cameron Lynch’s “lack of size and top-end athleticism may hamper his chances of being drafted,” according to CBS Sports’ Derek Stephens.
Stephen’s notes that Lynch’s “instincts and toughness are impressive.” Although he does not possess the ideal size for the next level, Lynch has been one of the hardest workers at Syracuse, and also happens to be one of its strongest (435-pound bench press, 620-pound squat). The Syracuse prospect finished with 69 tackles (12 TFLs) and four sacks in 2013.September 7, 2015 at 4:01 pm in reply to: As of today, the UDFAs on the Rams roster & practice squad #30044znModeratorfrom off the net
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Contrarian
Oh, okay…#50. Out west (and up north) we don’t get to see much of anything Rams. Between the Seahawks and the 49ers, its hard to find any news on the Rams, let alone broadcasts.
However, in a half hour of ‘game’ I did see, the backups were in and I was focusing on our new LB, Bryce Hager. I watched him a bit in college, and liked what I saw, so I wanted to watch him in a pre-season game. But this #50 kept flashing in front of Hager! I remember thinking, “I’ve not seen this kind of instantaneous recognition skills since I watched Ahmad Brooks at UVA.
Lynch was always the first guy moving at the snap of the ball. You cannot teach this stuff. Some guys just have it. Now, I know why he made the 53…
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Syracuse football’s Cameron Lynch named the No. 4 ‘freak’ athlete in nation
http://www.syracuse.com/orangefootball/index.ssf/2014/05/cameron_lynch_freak_linebacker_athlete.html
Syracuse, N.Y. — Cameron Lynch was named the nation’s No. 4 most freakish athlete by NFL.com college football writer Mike Huguenin on Thursday. . . . While Feldman has yet to reveal his 2014 honorees, the rising senior Lynch brings a strong case as a returning starting outside linebacker.
Here’s the “buzz” that led Huguenin to place Lynch ahead of others including Mississippi State outside linebacker Benardrick McKinney, Georgia running back Todd Gurley and UCLA running back/linebacker Myles Jack, who was left off the list.
He lacks ideal size, but has been an important player since he first stepped on campus and will start for the second season in a row this fall. He is both strong and fast. He has been clocked at 4.7 seconds in the 40 and can squat 620 pounds, clean 374 pounds and bench press 435 pounds. He also can do 36 reps in the bench press at 225 pounds. He also can do a standing back flip, and his vertical jump has been measured at 36 inches.
Lynch is the next in a line of Syracuse players to thrive in the weight room, following Spruill and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Shamarko Thomas. At last year’s training camp, former SU defensive tackle Jay Bromley called Lynch “like a bowling ball of just speed.”
But Lynch may be the first of the group to bring freakish brains as well. He chose Syracuse over Harvard after graduating from Brookwood (Snellville, Ga.) High School with a 3.7 GPA and 1435 SAT score, according to Scout. At Syracuse, he is majoring in economics and was named to the athletic director’s honor roll last semester.
znModeratorFormer Rams QB Davis signs with Cleveland
Jim Thomas
Two of the three “biggest” names cut by the Rams on Saturday now have jobs elsewhere in the NFL.
Quarterback Austin Davis was signed to the Cleveland Brown’s 53-man roster on Monday. Meanwhile, center Barrett Jones was signed to Pittsburgh’s practice squad.
Davis could get more of a chance to start for the Browns than he got to make the Rams’ roster. His competition there is Josh McCown and Johnny Manziel. With all due respect, we’re not talking about Johnny Unitas and Bart Starr there.
And Manziel’s status for the Browns’ season opener at the New York Jets is in question because of tendinitis in his throwing elbow. Davis undoubtedly made a good impression on the Browns last preaseason, when he completed 14 of 22 passes for 198 and two touchdowns against them. His passer rating was 104.0 in what was the third game of the 2014 exhibition season, and the game in which Sam Bradford suffered a season-ending knee injury for the Rams.
Davis started eight games for the Rams last season, winning three, and throwing for 300-plus yards in back-to-back games against Dallas and Philadelphia. But he lost out to Case Keenum and rookie Sean Mannion for a backup job with the Rams.
Davis threw only five passes in exhibition play, and played only four series during the preseason _ one in each game. In the finale against Kansas City, he was in for eight plays _ all handoffs to Rams running backs.
Meanwhile, Jones not only lost out on a three-way battle for the starting center position in St. Louis with Tim Barnes and Demetrius Rhaney, he lost out on a job. In Pittsburgh, center Reese Dismukes was originally signed to the Steelers’ practice squad. But Dismukes, an all-American at Auburn, was released from the practice squad when Jones _ an all-American at rival Alabama _ became available.
Among those “big three” of Rams cuts, linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar is still looking for a job. Teams may be waiting until after Week 1 to take a look at Dunbar. As a vested veteran, any contract he signs now is guaranteed. But after the opening week of games, it’s not guaranteed.
In fact, it’s possible the Rams could consider re-signing him after their opener against Seattle.
Elsewhere, former Rams safety Craig Dahl _ who started 40 games in St. Louis from 2009-2012 _ is reunited again with former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo.
Dahl, most recently with San Francisco, has signed with the New York Giants, where “Spags” is defensive coordinator. Besides the stint with Spagnuolo in St. Louis, this marks the second time Dahl has played for Spagnuolo with the Giants.
Also, former Missouri tight end Chase Coffman, who looked like Kellen Winslow a couple of weeks ago against the Rams, has been re-signed to Tennessee’s 53-man roster. The spot became available after running back Davis Cobb was placed on the injured reserve/designated for return list.
znModeratorChiefs’ Eric Fisher loses left tackle job
Marc Sessler
As expected, the Chiefs offensive tackle is shifting from the bookend spot back over to the right side, coach Andy Reid told reporters, per Terez A. Paylor of The Kansas City Star.
Donald Stephenson will assume left tackle duties after thriving at the position over 94 snaps during the preseason.
It’s another depressing notch in the belt of Fisher, the former top overall pick who battled a high-ankle sprain during the preseason after finishing last year as the NFL’s 72nd-ranked tackle among 84 eligible players at his position, per Pro Football Focus.
Kansas City is still waiting for Fisher to make good on his insane draft pedigree. He was regarded by many as the best blocker of the bunch in 2013, topping a selection process that saw three tackles taken with the top four picks. Entering the third year of a four-year, $22.19 million deal, Fisher remains one of the league’s most overpaid “stars.”
September 7, 2015 at 2:18 pm in reply to: Getting to the 53 man roster…. more cuts listed 9/5 #30041znModeratorRams’ roster brings continuity everywhere except QB, offensive line
Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff Writer
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Here’s a player-by-player look at the St. Louis Rams’ 53-man roster:
Quarterback (3)
Nick Foles: The Rams are banking on Foles to stay healthy, take care of the ball and connect on the occasional deep ball as they hope he can help them take the next step back to a winning record and the postseason.
Case Keenum: After a full offseason with the team, Keenum is up to speed on the offense and will get the first opportunity should something happen to Foles.
Sean Mannion: This will essentially be a redshirt year for Mannion, who has some work to do to be ready to contribute at the NFL level.
Running back (5)
Todd Gurley: When Gurley returns from a knee injury, he’ll need some time to get acclimated to contact before taking on the larger workload that will be expected of the No. 10 overall pick.
Tre Mason: Until Gurley gets back, it’s Mason’s job to carry the load and keep the offense moving.
Benny Cunningham: Still the team’s best pass protecting back, Cunningham is also an underrated option in short-yardage and goal-line situations as well as a solid pass-catcher.
Isaiah Pead: Still here after three lost seasons because he can contribute on special teams and Trey Watts is suspended.
Chase Reynolds: Special-teams leader will continue in that role.
Tight end (3)
Jared Cook: The Rams are hoping for more from Cook now that Foles is in place, and Foles seemed to look for him in the red zone during camp quite a bit.
Lance Kendricks: Both the team and Kendricks have discussed an expanded role in the passing game for him, but either way, his versatility will have him on the field more often than not.
Cory Harkey: Like Kendricks, Harkey brings positional versatility and will be on the field a lot. As a de facto fullback, Harkey will be integral to the team’s efforts to bolster the running game.
Wide receiver (6)
Kenny Britt: The most experienced receiver in the group had an up-and-down camp and preseason but will be one of Foles’ top targets, especially when it comes to going deep.
Brian Quick: An impressive recovery from a devastating shoulder injury has Quick poised to reclaim his role as the team’s top pass-catcher after he showed signs of a breakthrough in the first half of 2014.
Tavon Austin: Once again, the Rams have touted Austin as a unique weapon they will exploit in the offense, but whether they have the creativity to do it consistently remains to be seen.
Stedman Bailey: The steady Bailey could find himself playing in the slot on a more consistent basis this year and should push for more snaps as the season wears on and he develops rapport with Foles.
Chris Givens: Still the team’s best deep threat because of his speed, Givens looks like he could enjoy a renaissance in 2015.
Bradley Marquez: Made the roster primarily for special-teams purposes, a role he’ll maintain barring injuries in front of him.
Offensive line (10)
Greg Robinson: One of the most important players on the roster, Robinson must take a step forward this year so the Rams can protect the three inexperienced starters on the line.
Jamon Brown: Of the unknowns on the line, Brown looks like the player best poised to find his footing early in the season.
Tim Barnes: Coach Jeff Fisher said a decision on a starting center will be made this week but Barnes appears to be the front-runner, if for no other reason than he’s the only one on the roster with any starting experience (four games).
Rodger Saffold: Upon his return from a shoulder ailment, Saffold is expected to move to right guard where he played his best ball at the end of 2013.
Rob Havenstein: The rookie right tackle should be fine in the run game, but the Rams will need him to improve his footwork and bend in pass protection and/or send plenty of help his way.
Garrett Reynolds: The primary backup on the line, Reynolds can fill in anywhere but center.
Demetrius Rhaney: The other contender for the starting center job, Rhaney impressed at guard in the preseason and is right there with Reynolds as primary backups on the line.
Cody Wichmann: A calf injury kept Wichmann out of most of the preseason and camp, but he earned high marks when he returned as a pure guard.
Darrell Williams: As the fourth tackle on the roster, Williams won’t be expected to play much right away, but he won a roster spot with a solid camp.
Andrew Donnal: Donnal showed the versatility to play inside and out, making him a sort of understudy to Reynolds in the meantime.
Defensive line (8)
Chris Long: The leader of the defensive line, Long enters an important season as he bounces back from an injury and carries a big cap number in 2016.
Robert Quinn: Unsatisfied with the 10.5 sacks and Pro Bowl trip he had last year, Quinn is expecting bigger numbers this time around.
Aaron Donald: Already one of the best at his position, Donald’s encore season could be better than his award-winning rookie year if for no other reason than he’ll be starting from Day 1.
Michael Brockers: After dealing with a shoulder issue in camp, Brockers is the man the Rams are counting on to do the dirty work, taking on multiple blockers and stopping the run.
Nick Fairley: A quiet preseason means Fairley must get untracked early, as he plays on just a one-year deal.
Ethan Westbrooks: In the team’s efforts to develop at this position for the future, Westbrooks figures to get more chances at end and tackle this year.
William Hayes: Still a solid backup to Long, Hayes is a top run defender and still offers a little push as a pass-rusher.
Eugene Sims: Like Hayes, Sims is entering a contract year but brings similar versatility and skills to the table.
Linebacker (6)
James Laurinaitis: The smart, steady leader of the defense, Laurinaitis is the one who makes it all go.
Alec Ogletree: Expectations for a breakout season surround Ogletree, as he’s 10 pounds lighter and focused on the details more than simply relying on his athleticism as he has in the past.
Akeem Ayers: The free-agent acquisition will start at strongside linebacker and find himself used in a variety of ways by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
Daren Bates: The heart and soul of the special-teams units, Bates will have to overcome a knee injury before he contributes this year.
Cameron Lynch: Will be expected to help on special teams right away.
Bryce Hager: Also will be a core special-teams player but also could be first option off the bench in the event of injury to a starter.
Cornerback (4)
Janoris Jenkins: A contract year for Jenkins has him poised for bigger and better things if he can cut down on the mental mistakes that have plagued him in the past.
Trumaine Johnson: Without E.J. Gaines, Johnson won the starting job opposite Jenkins by default. Now he has to be more consistent as he, too, enters a contract year.
Lamarcus Joyner: The Rams still have high hopes that Joyner can be their nickel corner, but he remains a work in progress as he works on his ability to handle the mental side of the position.
Marcus Roberson: Will be first up should any injuries to the first three appear, but the Rams believe his potential could turn into production if need be.
Safety (5)
T.J. McDonald: Much like Ogletree, the Rams are expecting big things from McDonald in 2015 after he closed last year with a flourish.
Rodney McLeod: Yet another member of the secondary entering a contract year, McLeod also must limit the mistakes he made a year ago that led to big plays for the other side.
Mark Barron: The Rams will use Barron in a variety of ways, including as a de facto linebacker in the dime, and he could even be the first to step in should an injury hit at outside linebacker.
Cody Davis: Special teams remains Davis’ primary function, but he had a good enough preseason that he could play if McLeod has injury issues.
Maurice Alexander: An up-and-down preseason that closed with an up but Alexander’s role will likely be limited to special teams for now.
Specialists (3)
Greg Zuerlein: The kicker seeks more consistency in 2015, particularly on grass surfaces.
Johnny Hekker: Still one of the best punters in the game.
Jake McQuaide: See Hekker and plug in “long-snapper’ for the word ‘punter.’
znModeratorSt. Louis Rams: The Rams actually began game-planning for Seattle a couple of weeks ago, but those efforts have doubled since the end of the preseason. One thing Rams middle linebacker James Laurinaitis believes will be helpful for the Rams is their familiarity with the Seahawks. But with that in mind, the Rams will spend a little extra time this week preparing for Seattle’s prized addition, tight end Jimmy Graham. — Nick Wagoner
znModeratorfrom off the net
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Ancient Rams Fan
Been commuting up here [to Seattle] from LA for 3 years, finally moved up here early this year. Had Rams season tickets in LA for 10 years before they moved, will be a fan no matter where they play, however long they play, however badly they play. I wanted to share my thoughts on Seattle with my fellow Ram buds.
This town is NUTS!
On Fridays before Hawk games (they call it Blue Friday), they wear their Seahawk jerseys. But it’s not just that, it’s that EVERYONE WEARS THEM. We have over 50 people at our location, and the only 3 not in Seahawk garb are myself and 2 other transplants from Texas. Yes, out of about 50.
This is not unusual. It is the norm up here.
Although I respect the dedication, it sickens me at the same time. You guys can imagine that the crap I take with my Rams license plate and assorted fan gear will reach fever pitch this week as I stroll in with my Rams jersey this Friday (hey, it’s BLUE, right?)…
Anyway, you all need to cheer like there is no tomorrow! From the stadium, your local bar, your living room or your car, BELT IT OUT!
We need this game. I need this game. With all the side bets, I’ll be wearing Lynch and Wilson jerseys every Friday until we play them again late December!
Bring it! Go Rams!
znModeratorGR is becoming a rorschach test. Here is a quick sampling of a few regular posters (names withheld) on GR in the KC game:
* robinson had a solid outing against kc
* G Rob is much better in Pass Protection … his weak link actually seems to be in the running game
* Greg Robinson looked good, with a pancake block and also a strip of Sorenson on the INT return
My prediction? Inconsistent for a while then will even out. Good pick long term.
znModeratorI didn’t see anything but mediocrity and ill discipline. What I saw fit very well with a 3+ year track record he has coaching my team. It always looks the same, game after game, season after season. And it is losing, undisciplined, uncompetitive football. That’s what he coaches, at least in StL.
Okay. That’s just not the picture I get when I look though. I see the things you don’t like, but I don’t see exclusively that in this pre-season or across the last 3 years. I saw them get it more together this summer, playing the Colts and Chiefs better in spite of a young line, and in terms of the previous seasons, my feeling last year was that if they just had a starting qb they would have won more games and be thought of as having turned the corner. Well, I don’t think Foles is as good as an upright Bradford can be, but he is good enough—a starting caliber qb and much better than Clemens, Davis, and Hill.
So I am eager for the season and I see them as having a winning record this year in spite of a line that as green as a seasick schoolgirl. I think they will be up and down on offense but I like where they’re going. My “buy in” with this team started with the 2 games against SF in 2012. Nobody gave them a chance in those games but they banged out an unlikely overtime tie and an unlikely overtime win against the NFC champion that year. Since then, the only thing, to me, which has kept them from turning the corner is injuries to Bradford and the OL.
It’s just honestly how I see it.
A lot of things you don’t like, I don’t like either, but then, there were a lot of things I didn’t like about the 2000/2001 Martz Rams either.
I just look forward to the season. Even in losses I keep my eyes on the things that tell me (and maybe it’s just me) that they have the ingredients to become a contender. I see that stuff, it’s there. So I am just a “glass half full plus a centimeter more than half” kinda guy.
And it does come from watching, and in my mind, from being realistic. It’s honest. Doesn’t mean it’s going to be wholly right, but still.
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znModeratorhttp://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/stl/st.-louis-rams%5B/quote%5D
Nick Wagoner
ESPN Staff WriterWith Todd Gurley ruled out this week and Tre Mason’s status up in the air, Benny Cunningham says he’s preparing as though he’s going to get a lot of work. Cunningham said outside zone running scheme similar to what he did in college but took some time to re-adjust to being patient enough to run it.
znModeratorRangerRam
here are 6 that have decent shot at ps
S Christian Bryant,
CB Montell Garner,—–or Imoan Claiborne CB
DE Martin Ifedi,——–likely weakest candidate
FB Zach Laskey,
DE Matt Longacre,
DT Louis Trinca-Pasat
OT Isaiah BattleWell he got 5 of them right. Pretty good.
znModeratorRams name practice squad, including offensive tackle Isaiah Battle
Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Everything worked out for the St. Louis Rams and offensive tackle Isaiah Battle after all.
Less than a day after the Rams released their supplemental draft choice in a mild surprise, the Rams re-signed Battle to their 10-man practice squad announced Sunday afternoon.
In keeping Battle, who clearly has a long way to go before he’s ready to contribute, the Rams can continue to develop him without having him use a spot on the active roster. So while it was a bit of a gamble to expose him to waivers, it paid off.
The rest of the practice squad includes running back Malcolm Brown, safety Christian Bryant, tight end Justice Cunningham, safety Jacob Hagen, fullback Zach Laskey, end Matt Longacre, cornerback Trovon Reed, defensive tackle Louis Trinca-Pasat and defensive tackle Doug Worthington.
All of those players spent the preseason with the Rams, which is somewhat rare for practice squads in today’s NFL. But the Rams were particularly high on Longacre, Brown, Trinca-Pasat and Hagen as undrafted free agents this year and likely feel fortunate to keep them all. Cunningham spent time on the active roster last year and is a logical addition and possible replacement should injuries arise.
Worthington and Bryant spent time on the practice squad in 2014. Among notable cuts, receiver Daniel Rodriguez and offensive lineman Barrett Jones did not land spots on the practice squad
znModeratorT Isaiah Battle, RB Malcolm Brown, S Christian Bryant, TE Justice Cunningham, S Jacob Hagen, FB Zach Laskey, DE Matt Longacre, CB Trovon Reed, DT Louis Trinca-Pasat and DT Doug Worthington.
In the end, this all turned out quite well. imo
Big plusses on Battle, Brown, Bryant, Longacre, Trinca-Pasat. I really don’t know much about Reed or Worthingon. Interesting on Hagen and Laskey. Cunningham’s okay IMO.
All told this is probably the best practice squad the Rams have had since the league invented practice squads.
Which is why they don’t need a 5th round pick in 2016. The practice squad already has 5-6 guys who have a strong chance of challenging to make the team next year.
And…they’re probably not done. They could grab a stray guy or 2 and either add them straight to the PS, or add them straight to the 53 and then possibly put the 53-roster guy he replaces on the PS.
znModeratorfrom off the net
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BonifayRam
Did Battle do anything while with the Rams? Yes Battle let himself get beat out of his reserve OLT spot by a more prepared, more mature & more NFL ready 6-5 307 pound UDFA from tropical south Fl. Who had 29 starts @ OLT in college & awards. Who came from another country, becoming an American & learning to live in the greatest country in the world where dreams yet can come true with hard work. I am glad Darrell Williams is a Ram.
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Darrell Williams working as the Rams’ second-team left tackle on Friday. Williams, a 6-foot-5, 300-pounder, delivered a pretty impressive performance and actually seemed more comfortable than guys like Havenstein and Battle. It should be interesting to see if Williams can make himself a practice squad candidate, or perhaps even make a good enough impression to push a player like Reynolds or fourth-rounder Andrew Donnal out of the mix when the Rams cut to 53.
znModeratorone thing that gives me hope. seattle’s oline situation supposedly isn’t the best right now and they’ll be missing some key personnel on defense. so hopefully the rams are catching them at the right time.
Rams played them tough at home three years in a row. They won in 2012, then came close to beating them in 2013 even with Clemens at qb, and then won in 2014 even with Davis at qb. Rams just match up with Seattle.
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