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May 20, 2015 at 2:15 am in reply to: Joe Barksdale agrees to terms on one-year deal with San Diego – INTERESTING. #24950
znModeratorIt appears that up until May 4th, 2 days after the draft, the Rams were still offering Barksdale 3-4 million/year. I wonder what happened?
The draft, I guess.
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znModerator“As a sophomore, he had two (skill) guys in Marcus Wheaton and Brandon Cooks. As a junior, he had just Brandon Cooks. As a senior, he had a group of tight ends and a not-so-good offensive line,” Snead says. “A couple of his really good offensive linemen had gotten injured and missed the season, so he was under duress.”
You know who else has a similar history? Bulger. Good junior year, he gets a damaged offense his senior year and backslides. But then (and we don’t know about this with Mannion) plays well as a pro, until….the Great OL Crash of 2007.
znModeratorMannion rises above Oregon State’s rough season to entice Rams
Elisabeth Meinecke
FOX Sports MidwestST. LOUIS — Last year, quarterback Sean Mannion got experience in an area no college senior wants: having to lead his team through a disappointing season.
The three-year captain — who served as one of four on Oregon State’s squad last year — saw the Beavers go from back-to-back bowl game appearances to a 5-7 finish that included a four-game slide.
Despite the record, Mannion, who was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the third round of the NFL Draft this spring, was proud his team refused to quit.
“Obviously, we didn’t achieve the goals that we had set for ourselves, but at the same time, I think I was really proud of the way our team kind of stuck together and was able to keep working,” he says. “To me, the best example of that is our win against Arizona State — when they were a top 10 team — late in the season. We were coming off a couple tough losses against Cal and (Washington State). To beat a ranked team at home, that was just a testament to the way we were able to stay together and just kind of stay the course and keep working hard.”
In terms of showing off for NFL scouts, Mannion was at somewhat of a disadvantage in that there wasn’t tons of talent around him last season.
“As a sophomore, he had two (skill) guys in Marcus Wheaton and Brandon Cooks. As a junior, he had just Brandon Cooks. As a senior, he had a group of tight ends and a not-so-good offensive line,” Snead says. “A couple of his really good offensive linemen had gotten injured and missed the season, so he was under duress.”
Despite the 2014 tape, the Rams liked what they saw in Mannion. He was a 6-foot-5, pro-style quarterback with undeniable toughness, the kind of guy who’d get hit in the chin and come right back on the next play to throw for a first down — “all the things you look for,” Snead says.
About two weeks before the draft, the Rams had a private workout with Mannion, who felt afterward he had turned in a solid performance.
“I thought I threw the ball really well. I had the opportunity to meet with them and kind of go over some football stuff in the classroom,” Mannion says. “I felt great about all of it. It was one of those things where at the Combine and then at my workout, I really felt like I put my best foot forward.”
For their part, the Rams were pretty much sold. When they went on the clock with the 89th pick overall, they made Mannion the fourth quarterback taken, following Jameis Winston (No. 1 overall), Marcus Mariota (second) and Garrett Grayson (75th).
“When we went and did the private (workout), I think that’s what solidified him for us,” Snead says.
In St. Louis, Mannion figures to contend with Austin Davis, who started eight games last season, and Case Keenum for the No. 2 job behind another new Rams offseason acquisition — quarterback Nick Foles, who was obtained from Philadelphia in exchange for the oft-injured Sam Bradford. Rams coach Jeff Fisher sees some similarities between Foles and Mannion: “Tall, good target, good release.”
Mannion credits preparation for how he was able to rise to the occasion throughout the pre-draft process — a skill that should serve him well as he transitions to the pro game.
“I think, more than anything at the Senior Bowl, I felt really prepared going into it,” Mannion says. “I kind of knew certain things to expect. I had worked really hard on my footwork, which is something I wanted to show I’d cleaned up. Same going into the Combine and Pro Day. I think when you’re fully prepared, there’s nothing to be nervous about.”
znModerator
Weidl: Todd Gurley a top candidate for offensive rookie of the year
By Nick WagonerSAN FRANCISCO — It’s never too early to start projecting which players will stand above the rest when the awards season rolls around after the 2015 season ends. OK, maybe it is. But that shouldn’t stop us from trying.
On Monday morning, ESPN Insider Kevin Weidl, of Scouts, Inc., revealed his top five candidates to win Insider the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award in 2015. The names are mostly familiar ones, including Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston, San Diego running back Melvin Gordon and, of course, running back Todd Gurley of the St. Louis Rams.
Weidl ranks Gurley fourth on his list, with only Philadelphia receiver Nelson Agholor coming as a surprise in front of him. Weidl ranks Agholor second.
As for Gurley, Weidl makes the salient point that just because Gurley is coming off a torn left anterior cruciate ligament doesn’t mean he won’t be able to contend for the award. In fact, Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. won the award last season despite missing the first four games of the season with an injury.
Nobody knows just yet how long Gurley will take to get back to full health and when he does, how much longer it will be before he plays. But there’s little doubt the Rams view him as the centerpiece of the offense and when the time comes, he won’t lack for touches.
Beyond the injury issue, Gurley will also have to adjust to running behind an offensive line filled with question marks. All of which makes his candidacy for the award a difficult — but not impossible — proposition.
If nothing else, there’s no denying Gurley’s raw talent. Based on his ability and his presumptive role in the offense, Gurley would be a slam dunk candidate and likely favorite for the award were it not for the injury. Whether he finds his way into the mix will depend largely on how quickly he returns to full strength.
znModeratorThey could use the extra cap space to over pay a player/s on the practice squad. Teams sometimes do that to hold onto valuable players.
Another good point. They may have a lineman or 2 they want to stash this year. Overpaying as you say makes it harder for teams to raid your practice squad.
May 19, 2015 at 11:09 pm in reply to: John Clayton: Six things we learned from 2015 free agency #24940znModeratorThe Jets revamped their secondary, signed James Carpenter at guard and traded for receiver Brandon Marshall.
Prediction (and not a bold one): the Jets defense is going to be topnotch this year. They hired Bowles, they signed Revis, they drafted Williams.
That’s going to be some defense.
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May 19, 2015 at 11:02 pm in reply to: Rams almost took La’el Collins in 7th round? Turns out, not #24937znModeratorContrary to previous reports, one of agents for La’el Collins _ Rick Smith _ says Rams were not team that planned to draft him in 7th round
Good to know that. Now tell us about Barksdale.
John Clayton
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12860304/six-things-learned-2015-nfl-free-agency-clayton-mailbag[Collins] was the bargain of the year, receiving a $21,000 bonus to sign a three-year contract at the NFL minimum. Twenty-six teams inquired about him. But Collins’ agents shortened the list pretty quickly. In the end, it came down to Miami or Dallas. Collins felt more comfortable with the Cowboys, feeling he was joining the best offensive line in football. He’ll likely play left guard. Collins had a first-round grade. Jerry Jones did a great job of selling him on coming to Dallas.
znModeratorSigning a vet FA for minimum would only cost them 200 – 300k in cap space.
Aha.
True.
Good point.
May 19, 2015 at 10:53 pm in reply to: a surprise or 2 on the new official depth chart? (granted it's early n all…) #24935znModeratorSome things I noticed. All of this comes with the ordinary qualifications about it being early, and camp could change things, etc. This is like reading tea leaves in a cup a mile away through a telescope.
But then, it’s fun to read tea leaves in a cup a mile away through a telescope.
1. They signed Barnes to be a back-up. That explains the contract.
C: Barrett Jones – Tim Barnes – Demetrius Rhaney – David Wang2. Bond is 3rd at LG! That means they are likely going with 2 rookies this year on the OL, unless they sign someone. Granted, someone could make a push in camp.
LG: Jamon Brown – Cody Wichmann – Travis Bond3. Baker is not only at LOT not ROT, he is 3rd. Apparently the whole plan of this draft was to acquire an OL and start over with it, looks like,
LT: Greg Robinson – Andrew Donnal – Steven Baker
4. Pead is ahead of Watts.
RB: Todd Gurley – Isaiah Pead – Trey Watts – Terrence Franks5. They have the undersized Mr. Trinca-Pasat at nose tackle.
DT: Michael Brockers – Doug Worthington – Louis Trinca-Pasat
6. Westbrooks is backing up RDE, not LDE. That makes him a potential replacement for Sims next year.
DE: Robert Quinn – Eugene Sims – Ethan Westbrooks
7. Roberson is ahead of McGee and equal to Gaines. They just might let both Jenkins and Johnson walk after this season.
CB: Janoris Jenkins – Marcus Roberson – Brandon McGee – Imoan Claiborne
CB: Trumaine Johnson – E.J. Gaines – Lamarcus Joyner – Montell Garner
May 19, 2015 at 10:38 pm in reply to: Joe Barksdale agrees to terms on one-year deal with San Diego – INTERESTING. #24931znModeratorThat is 745K, plus a bonus of 350k, plus some rinky-dink incentives.
So he is getting 1.095 M.
I would imagine the Rams woulda given him twice that.
May 19, 2015 at 10:26 pm in reply to: Brady to be suspended…which will happen…when? a May-July saga #24929znModeratorLeigh Steinberg joined Kevin Wheeler to talk about Deflategate, Tom Brady getting defensive, Robert Kraft’s role, and more.
znModeratormakes me even more annoyed that they couldn’t sign barksdale to a 1 year deal.
I think it’s time for you to toughen up. Real teams don’t have to block people. That’s just this media idea and a luxury.
znModeratorWhat to do with the extra cap space?
Well I think they’re like only 4 or 5 deep at safety.
Maybe they can trade for someone.
May 19, 2015 at 7:12 pm in reply to: Joe Barksdale agrees to terms on one-year deal with San Diego – INTERESTING. #24913znModeratorAnd Barksdale could still be a Ram were it not for an apparent miscalculation by his side on his worth on the free-agent market.
That’s Wagoner’s take on all this.
May 19, 2015 at 4:33 pm in reply to: Rams almost took La’el Collins in 7th round? Turns out, not #24893znModeratorJim Thomas @jthom1
Contrary to previous reports, one of agents for La’el Collins _ Rick Smith _ says Rams were not team that planned to draft him in 7th round
May 19, 2015 at 4:25 pm in reply to: Brady to be suspended…which will happen…when? a May-July saga #24892znModeratorfrom off the net
==
cydekikk
Kraft and Pats to accept NFL/Goodell’s Punishment
Just heard on ESPN’s blogcast… Kraft has decided to leave the Deflatgate santions alone… I think Goodell told him, “look man, this ain’t all we got on your team, Okay?”…
May 19, 2015 at 4:02 pm in reply to: Joe Barksdale agrees to terms on one-year deal with San Diego – INTERESTING. #24890znModeratorHe signed the same basic contract that Reynolds signed to be a backup, except Reynolds contract is for 2 years.
I just have this suspicion that Barksdale got his feelings hurt when the Rams didn’t value him as much as he thought they should,
I’m guessing the Rams “interest” in Barksdale post-draft was of the “come-down-to-earth” variety, and whatever they may have offered before was probably withdrawn.
Yeah it looks to me like JB got his feelings hurt, and the Rams got less interested after the draft.
The Rams are not real big on keeping their “ronin” pick-up types. They have let a long list of guys who played for them walk. Turner, Richardson, Hunter, Smith, Williams, Person, and now JB.
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znModeratorAnd while running the ball may very well mean more plays to score, Gurley doesn’t fumble. And running with Gurley is a lower risk than throwing to anybody. I just don’t agree that the Gurley addition will make a drive more likely to make a mistake. On the contrary. I think he immediately becomes the guy on the Rams that defenses have to gameplan for.
Yeah, I mean, since when did people start assuming that a ball control offense with play action strikes built in means magnifying mistakes.
First off, the idea that they will become as run heavy as Seattle or Dallas does not strike me as realistic.
Second off, even those teams throw around 48% of the time.
Third off, ball control and power running means controlling the clock and wearing down the opposing defense while keeping your defense fresher. The object is to win in the 4th quarter.
I thought all of this stuff was universally appreciated.
Moreover, as my numbers above show, superbowl winning teams tend more toward being balanced offensively, not pass heavy.
Pass heavy = teams like New Orleans, Atlanta, and Indy. They passed the ball (respectively) 61.8%, 62.9%, & 61.4% of the time. As a group they are not dominating the league. Dallas, in contrast, ran the ball 51.6% of the time.
znModeratorRanked for attempts:
New England 2014: 7th passing, 13th running
Seattle 2013: 31st passing, 2nd running
Baltimore 2012: 15th passing, 12th running
NY Giants 2011: 6th passing, 7th rushing
Green Bay 2010: 10th passing, 16th runningSeattle, 31st in passing, remarkable…….
That was 2013. Last year they were 32nd.
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Wow. It must keep Carroll up at nights.
No it’s by design.
There’s more than one way to skin a cat, and there’s more than one kind of successful offensive philosophy in the NFL.
znModeratorRanked for attempts:
New England 2014: 7th passing, 13th running
Seattle 2013: 31st passing, 2nd running
Baltimore 2012: 15th passing, 12th running
NY Giants 2011: 6th passing, 7th rushing
Green Bay 2010: 10th passing, 16th runningSeattle, 31st in passing, remarkable…….
That was 2013. Last year they were 32nd.
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znModeratorDon’t be so hard on the kid. This is the spellcheck not definition generation.
It means the kid can’t spell.
Kids not being able to spell is a problem for a teacher.
znModeratorYou know, technically, Warner was not a Rams UDFA. He was a UDFA with Green Bay in 1994. Technically, maybe he could be considered a free agent, though a low-market FA. I don’t know what the rules were regarding all that in the 90s. The name I use for that category of player acquisition is “ronin.” Guys who are cut, in between teams, etc. but not veteran FAs. Like Barksdale, or Shelley Smith.
If you count “ronin” and UDFAs together, the 99 Rams must have had one of the biggest collections of that type for any team that ever went to a superbowl.
It includes
Jenkins
Fletcher
Farr
Gruttadauria
Nutten
Warner
Horne.
znModeratorfrom off the net
==
Memphis Ram said:
It’s easier to get him that matchup/coverage playing him outside vs. in the slot. Even in Philly, Jackson did most (if not all) of his damage at or outside. Looking for a football fix, I’ve watched a few games on NFL Rewind the past few days and while I still believe the outside WR Desean Jackson model is the way to go………Austin did seem open on several plays where he didn’t get the football.
-X-
That’s what I saw too. He was on the outside quite a few times, and sometimes not even directly. He would motion out of the slot on crossing patterns (with the flanker) that turned into out-n-ups on the perimeter. I don’t think just ‘sticking him on the outside’ is going to be the answer. While fast, he’s not going to win jump battles, and it’s incredibly difficult to drop a ball in the bucket between the safety and corner to a receiver of his stature.
znModerator“The constitution guarantees Americans the right to bare arms.”
But….Zooey, that’s true.
znModeratorReport: Joe Barksdale visiting Chargers
By Nick Wagoner
SAN FRANCISCO — The curious case of offensive tackle Joe Barksdale added another interesting development Monday afternoon.
According to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune, Barksdale is spending his day visiting the San Diego Chargers. Barksdale, of course, is the St. Louis Rams’ erstwhile free-agent right tackle.
Once thought to be one of the more coveted free-agent tackles on the market, Barksdale has remained available until now in large part because of a miscalculation of his value on the open market. Rams coach Jeff Fisher indicated at March’s owners meetings that Barksdale’s price had probably kept him from being signed and has since said on multiple occasions that the Rams still have interest in bringing Barksdale back.
San Diego’s interest stems from its flirtation with moving right tackle D.J. Fluker inside to guard. The Chargers haven’t made any definitive choice on that, though, and Fluker is still making first-round money. The team signed Chris Hairston to be its swing tackle on April 20 but Barksdale would presumably be seen as a possible starter.
Over the past two seasons, Barksdale has started 29 games at right tackle for the Rams. But St. Louis picked Wisconsin tackle Rob Havenstein in the second-round of this year’s draft and there’s a good chance he’ll plug in as the starter right away.
Although Fisher has publicly expressed interest in retaining Barksdale, it seems the chances of that happening have grown less and less likely. The Rams spent four draft picks on offensive linemen this year and signed swing tackle Garrett Reynolds as a free agent.
Barksdale’s market hasn’t been all that brisk, with various levels of interest from Tennessee and Atlanta in addition to San Diego and St. Louis.
znModeratorWho were the rb’s for the last 5 SB winners? Quick name them??
Well, Blount/Vereen, Lynch, Rice, Bradshaw/Jacobs, and Starks.
Either way my bet is that they continue to be a balanced team that still throws. They’re not going to be a run-heavy Seattle style team.
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Blount – 14 carries 40 yards
Vereen 4 carries 13 yards
Lynch 15 carries 39 yards
Rice – 20 carries 59 yardsWhat was your point? MY response to the Op had nothing to do with whether they would be balanced or not, and by listing the rb’s you support MY point. They had little to do with the outcomes.
In those games.
You don’t measure an entire league-wide trend by doing stats from one game.
For example, in their superbowl year, Baltimore ran in the playoffs more than they passed. But that’s several games. And that’s also after a season where they were 12th in rushing attempts and 15th in passing attempts.
Even the reasoning is sound. You don’t throw to score more quickly because then you’re setting your own defense up to experience the same thing in reverse. They get on the field more quickly and more often.
If the last 5 superbowl teams, in terms of just attempts during the season, most were balanced.
Ranked for attempts:
New England 2014: 7th passing, 13th running
Seattle 2013: 31st passing, 2nd running
Baltimore 2012: 15th passing, 12th running
NY Giants 2011: 6th passing, 7th rushing
Green Bay 2010: 10th passing, 16th runningznModeratorWho were the rb’s for the last 5 SB winners? Quick name them??
Well, Blount/Vereen, Lynch, Rice, Bradshaw/Jacobs, and Starks.
Either way my bet is that they continue to be a balanced team that still throws. They’re not going to be a run-heavy Seattle style team.
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znModeratorJustin Smith is retiring
Oh no!
(
)znModeratorMost freakish athletes in college football
http://www.nfl.com/photoessays/0ap20000003542978. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Particulars: 6-1, 232, junior
Buzz: Gurley isn’t necessarily an elite sprinter — though he has been clocked as fast as 4.43 seconds in the 40 — but he is fast for a 230-pounder. And get this: He was one of the best prep hurdlers in the nation. He ran for Team USA in Europe during the spring and summer of 2011; he advanced to the semifinals of the 110-meter hurdles at the 2011 IAAF World Youth Championships in France and won the 2011 World Youth Trials in the 110 hurdles with a personal-best time of 13.88 seconds in Myrtle Beach, S.C. He ran for Georgia’s track team during the 2013 indoor season and turned in the seventh-fastest time in school history in the 60-meter hurdles (8.12 seconds).=================
Freaks Week: Ranking the Top 20 ‘Freaks’ in college football for ’14
7. Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia Bulldogs
The Bulldog star has the talent to make a run at the Heisman. At 6-1, 232, he is huge, but this is also a guy who competed for the Dawgs’ track team as a hurdler earlier on in his career. He also won the 2011 World Youth Trials in the 110 hurdles with a personal best 13.88 and was fifth in the 100.
This fall, Gurley is going to get some competition in the running back room in the Freaks category from UGA newcomer Nick Chubb, another huge, fast back with track cred.
znModeratorSt. Louis Rams Cheating History
• the RAMS are WELL BELOW AVERAGE NFL cheaters!
• they have a CheatScore of 14?
• they’ve executed 3 real cheats! ?
INDEX OF RECORDED RAMS CHEATS:
RAMS-ONLY: PEDSgate (6x since 1989) • Cheapsgate (0x since 2010)
SUMMARY: Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are used by players to illegally improve athletic performance above what legal training and preparation can do.
Players who illegally improve their performance unfairly penalize players who follow the rules. They not only put those players at risk for physical injury, but they also affect their economic livelihood by impacting their perceived value and their ability to secure appropriately-valued playing contracts.
SEVERITY = 0.5 video cameras per punished incident. Includes all documented infractions from 1960 to present with this Wikipedia page as the primary source.
TE Vernon Kirk (1989)
LB Scott Shanle (2003)
WR Austin Pettis (2011)
TE Brody Eldridge (2012)
LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar (2013)
WR Stedman Bailey (2014)VICTIM: The entire league
PUNISHED? Yes
PUNISHMENT: Each player was suspended for four games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Bailey’s penalty was overturned by the NFL’s new 2014 drug policy.
AWARDS EARNED: Everyone Was Doing It!
CHEATPOINTS EARNED:+ 6.0
Cheapsgate (0x since 2010) flag
TEAM: The St. Louis Rams
SUMMARY: Players who freely use illegal hits as part of their game give themselves an unfair advantage versus those who play by the rules. A team’s cheap shots fined below $25K are not counted at all. Individual cheap shots are penalized very lightly (0.25 cameras per $25K fine). It’s only when a team puts together a string of cheap shots that the overall severity rises to a significant level. I’m looking at your Detroit.
SEVERITY = 0.25 video cameras per NFL punished incident with a fine over $25K. Tallied from 2010 until today. Treble-severity (0.75 cameras per game) is assessed for game suspensions, as they punish particularly malicious hits.
Example 1: $35K fine with no suspension = 0.35 cameras. Example 2: $55K fine and one game suspension = 0.55 + 0.75 = 1.3 cameras. Example 3: $125K fine and two game suspension = 1.25 + 0.75 + 0.75 = 2.75 cameras. A team’s cheap shot points are summed and rounded to the nearest whole or half camera rating.
The St. Louis Rams are one of the few NFL teams who this decade have not had a player suspended or penalized more than $25,000 for a cheap shot or dirty tactics.VICTIM: The entire league
PUNISHED? No
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