InvaderRam wrote:

i’m excited to see this offensive line. i think it will have a bigger impact than any other offensive group. the running game. and then off that the play action. pass protection. i’m excited to see how quickly this group can get it together. that should be the identity of this offense. the line.

Here’s some more buzz that feeds into that.

Barnes is apparently stronger. Got a little manhandled last year so if he has upped his game, that’s good.

Joseph is apparently fine.

Which brings us to the crucial “3rd left OT” issue. It’s a continuing problem with teams–finding a back-up LOT. Cause if a guy is a good LOT, he ain’t gonna be a back-up for long. Most good LOTs are taken high in the draft, so maybe you can develop a lower pick there for a couple of years and he can be good depth, but honestly, this is not common.

So the Rams solution is interesting, though I am not sure they sat down and planned this out. Someone good enough to be a very effective LOT is a starting caliber lineman. If he is a vet, and good enough to start, teams will compete for him; if he’s a draft prospect, and he looks good enough, he gets snapped up. So. If a decent 3rd LOT is going to be a guy who is good enough to start, and that means it’s hard to find one as a back-up…well, then, start 3 LOTs on your line.

The Rams are now 3 deep at LOT. Obviously–Long, Saffold, Robinson. And actually observers are saying Robinson looked more comfortable at tackle last Friday than guard. I take that to mean Robinson is not far off as a left OT, apparently.

They have Joseph to fill in at guard, and it seems Barnes to fill in at center, plus 3 starting caliber LOTs.

If any of that about Barnes and Joseph holds up, then this team can lose up to 2 guys on the line before they get down to the dreaded “developmental and/or journeymen” types who populate most teams depth charts at OL.

And maybe Bond is another guard.

And if they find one more guy among the remaining young hopefuls, then, IMO that is as deep as an OL can get in the NFL.

And that’s all IF there are injuries. If Long and Wells stay healthy, you’re right, this is a team-defining kind of OL. IMO as good a line as the Rams have had since the GSOT days. Different from that line, but as good if not better in a lot of ways. (To me the differences between that line and this one is summed up by the differences between Pace and Robinson.)

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Dak wrote:

Nice updates. Thanks.

You’re welcome, and it’s easy. Anyway, I probably extended the last follow-up a couple of times since you posted that.

rfl wrote:

Wow! Incredible blast from the past. Amazing.

The times are obviously very different but you raise similar kinds of concerns about team chemistry.

Given what I tend to look for, I am not sure I will see the kind of chemistry that tells me a lot until an important regular season game. I thought they had a lot of that going in the 2012 SF game, the one that ended in a tie. But that team has since been hurt and/or inconsistent. So I wait for a future defining game. Not sure we will see that in August.

Reminds me of a post you wrote in Sept. 99 after the Detroit pre-season game. That was Warner’s first p-s game as a starter after Green went down:

THIS TEAM RALLIED, BY RAMMED FOR LIFE (Sept 3)

http://www.geocities.ws/ramsezine/preseason99/this_team_rallied_by_rfl_93.htm

Some follow-up. Ongoing. I will keep adding to it via edit.

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CoachO

[Jones]…His situation has nothing to do with attitude or ability (although some might argue that). He has an injury, and its not related to the lisfranc injury. Other than that, I can’t say how long he may be out, or what his status is.

But its no coincidence. . .that he hasn’t been at Rams Park, nor was he on the sideline at Fridays game.

The PUP list is only for players who haven’t practiced at all during the current training camp. The only option at this point will be to place him on IR, if it gets to that. Either way, it doesn’t matter, unless he is placed on IR, he would still count against the 90 man camp roster. I will add this. His injury is NOT related to the previous foot injury. But since the team has not released any info, I am not going to say more than that.

I am sure they know what is going on, and have been asked to keep it under wraps until the team announces it. I have been told by TWO independent and very reliable sources what is going on, and in both cases have been asked to keep it to myself.

The team does not to have to discuss or release any information about training camp injuries, until the rosters are being finalized. In this case, Jones cannot be placed on the PUP list, as he has already participated in training camp, therefore, unless they place him on IR, as was the case with Brodine, he is still going to count against the 90 man camp roster.

[Could they IR Jones now as a player to bring back later?]…that designation has to be made at the time of placing that player on IR. If they burn that prematurely, and say Laurinaitis is re-injured, but not seriously enough to IR him for the season, they would be screwed.

[That is,]…if they designate someone, and then another player gets injured, who is more valued, or won’t be out for the entire season, they lose the opportunity to choose which player they designate.

If his injury is NOT serious enough to place him on injured reserve, what could they possibly have to gain by announcing his status? Which in this case may be one of the reasons no announcement has been made. They are not required to disclose injuries until the rosters are announced. Not saying this is the case, because I have no idea one way or another, if it applies to Jones or not.

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In the past two days, both Long and Scott Wells have taken virtually all of the 1st unit reps. This includes extended work in the run blocking drill yesterday. [Long]…looks no worse for wear. There is still some timing issues in his sets, but the knee doesn’t look to be an issue at all. I expect that he and Wells both will play some this weekend.

The other thing that needs to be pointed out, Scott Wells wasn’t experiencing any lingering effects from his previous leg injuries. He contracted an illness before training camp, and needed time to get physically stronger. I only point this out, because I know most people think he is just one more injury waiting to happen.

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Laurinaitis most likely will miss at least the next 2 PS games, with a possible return in the final game in Miami. While not considered to have a “serious” ankle sprain, you don’t spend a week in a walking boot for a minor sprain either. As others have said, if this were a regular season game, as he has shown for EVERY game of his career, he would be out there. But there is zero reason to push it with him, or Brockers, for that matter and risk further injury.

Bates is still getting all of his reps with the second unit, Dunbar has assumed the role with the 1st unit @ MLB. with Armstrong filling in at WLB. The guy who seems to be benefiting the most , moving up to 2nd unit reps at this point, is Lawrence Wilson. He is now taking Armstrong place @ WLB with the “2’s”

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McGee has missed the majority of practices the past week, didn’t play in the game Friday, and is just now returning to the practice field. So to really try to gauge a true depth chart is virtually impossible.

That being said, Joyner is getting the majority of his reps at the Nickel spot. . . .there are instances where he stays on the field with McDonald coming off, if the offensive personnel dictates it. For example an extra TE is lined up in the slot. Again, I am not reading a whole lot into this, except to work on Joyner’s cover skills against bigger receivers.

Now that McGee is practicing [with Jenkins out], he took the 1st team reps opposite Johnson, at CB. With Joyner coming in at Nickel.

Gaines is lined up outside in the “regular” sets with the 2nd unit, and slides inside to Nickel when needed. These are the ONLY TWO guys at this point working at the Nickel position, and I don’t see that changing. That includes McLeod NOT taking a single rep at Nickel.

If I were to put a true Depth Chart together, assuming EVERYONE is back and healthy, it would be Jenkins and Johnson, at CB, with Joyner as the Nickel.
2nd Unit would be McGee and Gaines at the CB, with Gaines sliding to the Nickel and at this point, Woodard coming in as the next CB.

[Woodard]…At this point, I would say Gaines has passed him up. I think they [like]..Woodard enough that he will prevent guys like Roberson and Reid from any serious consideration. He has his moments on coverage, at least in practice, but then as was the case last year, and again last week, he seems to make a play come game time.

The thing that concerns me with him, is the same thing that pops out at me regarding the “other guys” below him on the depth chart. They just don’t show up on Special Teams.

[Roberson:]…Of all the UDFA DBs he probably has the best cover skills. But I just don’t think they are in a position to keep a 6th CB if he doesn’t want to tackle, which has prevented him from showing up on ST. And maybe I am wrong in how I look at it, but if you aren’t running with the 1st or 2nd unit on any of the ST, you aren’t in the mix.

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Some follow-up.

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CoachO

[Progress back from injuries]…Its so hard to gauge that sort of thing. Yesterday Jenkins and Saffold were doing side work with Reggie, today they weren’t. Today Jenkins took part in some of the unit drills, then shut it down.

As far as Laurinaitis, I have heard, (unofficially), that he may not play at all the rest of the Preseason, but should be ready for Sept 7th.

Brockers hasn’t done anything since the scrimmage, so I have no idea. He seems to be walking fine, but my guess is they are gonna take it slow and easy with him. Don’t need a repeat of his rookie year, starting off with an ankle sprain and all but ineffective the first half of the season.

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McDonald and Alexander have NEVER been on the field at the same time, they are definitely playing the same position. He just is still catching up from missing all of the OTAs, and its obvious he isn’t there yet. I wouldn’t hold out much hope for him and McD ever playing together.

Davis is clearly the FS in this scheme as is McLeod. So…Davis and Alexander do NOT switch it up. Depending on the specific call, Williams may send Davis on a blitz or rotate him up in coverage, but they are playing two distinctly different positions.

If [anyone is]…hoping to hear that Alexander may challenge for the starting job along side McDonald, you can put that idea to rest. I isn’t happening this year….Alexander will be this years version of Ray Ray on Special Teams. If he is lining up at Safety after Sept 1st, it will be scary. The athleticism is there, but his read and reactions aren’t at this point.

[Person at center]…He looked comfortable. I have been expecting this actually. He has experience doing it. And actually if you pay any attention to these things (which I obviously do), in the pregame warmups, he was snapping to Hill, while Rhaney snapped to Davis. Wells was with Bradford, and Barnes with Gilbert.

Barnes …is much improved, both physically stronger, and much more comfortable. Barnes is a non issue right now, and Rhaney doesn’t look ready.

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[Quick]…I get it. He hasn’t lived up to the expectations of the MEDIA and MOST of the fans. But that doesn’t change what I see. Which is the most talented WR on the roster.

“They want to run it more than they passed it, so that means there will be less opportunities for (the receivers). Where can (Austin) help the ball club if he’s not getting a lot of opportunities on the offense?”

I’m not sure that’s necessarily true. I think they will pass it plenty. I have less of a handle on this part of it but I also think they will rotate WRs, so it’s not certain he will be crowded out in a numbers game. I do think they fully intend to set up a fair number of big strikes, and Austin can do that, as we know. I don’t think this will be Seattle. In 2012, Bradford was tied for 7th in the league with Manning for the number of passing plays of 20 yards or more. I expect that to continue…in principle, a play action offense with Stacy should not be that different from a play action offense with Jackson.

.,..

Maybe that’s not who the Rams want to be at all.

When would that be most effective? With a lead.

I’m starting to rethink Fishers building of this team. I couldn’t figure out what he was doing. Austin, Cook and a run game didn’t seem to fit for me.

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Great minds.

Me:

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I don’t think Fisher wants a ball control offense/top defense type team. Where they keep the ball, keep scores down, and dominate that way. Well he wants that, partly, but IMO he wants more than that. I think what he actually wants is an offense that scores so the defense plays with a lead. I think he wants to unleash the beast. I don’t think he wants to control games, I think he wants to break games open. So that goes along with the “yes run but strike with big plays” approach to offense. Get that defense on the field with a lead, in full throttle demolish mode.

In principle, the offense with Stacy and Bradford is just not different from the offense with Jackson and Bradford. Same thing, same coordinator–power running, ball control passing, play action + big passing plays. All those things combined, with the run/ball control going hand in hand with the downfield shots–each aspect is an important part of the total equation.

He has 9 OL and 5 safeties.

It really could go the other way — 10 OL and 4 safeties. (Actually last year they carried 11 OL).

OR it could go, 10 DL and 4 safeties.

Of those 3 units, my guess is that young safeties and young O-linemen are more likely to make it to the PS without being claimed than any of their more visible young DL.

But then it’s hard to say because at some point the last 4-5 roster decisions are based on the concept of “the best 53.” Do they rank Daniels higher than Westbrooks when it comes to that? Or vice versa?

On Reynolds over Pead. Different reports from different people have Pead looking like he’s on shakey ground, even though he’s injured (ie. normally you would think he’s not visible because he’s injured, but there’s hints that there’s more to it than that.) I doubt they keep 5 RBs so yeah it could work out like that.