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February 18, 2015 at 3:07 pm in reply to: Balzer, Wagoner, and others on Bradford & rumors & contract talks #18645
znModeratorWell well, very interesting. I wondered if it wasn’t lip service saying they were going with him.
None of this changes anything. That is, nothing said here changes anything.
The player may use seeking a trade as a means of testing his market choices. (If in fact that’s even true.) The TEAM didn’t say they WOULD trade him or were interested in trading him…in fact, they say the opposite.
If a team wants to trade a player, they just do it…they don’t have the player do it, as a rule.
This looks to be mostly about testing market value as part of a negotiation process as they work on an extension or re-structured deal.
February 18, 2015 at 2:48 pm in reply to: Balzer, Wagoner, and others on Bradford & rumors & contract talks #18643znModeratorJason La Canfora @JasonLaCanfora
Sam Bradford has permission to seek a trade. Finding compensation to Rams’ liking will be difficult. But his agent can speak to other teams
In the end, Rams working out a restructured contract w/Bradford still may be most likely outcome. Thought it’s been slow process thus far
I doubt there’s a team that will value Bradford more than the Rams do, and GM Les Snead told us he wants Sam back. Few QB options out there
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round The NFL @AroundTheNFL
Les Snead makes light of report of Sam Bradford being given permission to seek trade. “Deleting him is not the answer.”
Chris Burke @ChrisBurke_SI
Les Snead asked about Bradford rumors. Kinda, sorta denied them. “Wouldn’t blame a team for being interested. Deleting him not the answer.”
Dan Hanzus @DanHanzus
Sounds like the Rams are taking extremely cautious approach with Sam Bradford ACL recovery. This makes sense, given history involved.
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Rams QB Sam Bradford has permission to seek trade
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com
Wed, 18 Feb 2015 2:18 PM ET
Rams quarterback Sam Bradford has permission to request a trade, and his agent will speak with other teams this offseason, reports CBSSports.com NFL Insider Jason La Canfora. Because the Rams may have a high asking price for Bradford, the team may prefer to restructure his deal, which could be the most likely outcome, according to La Canfora.
In response to La Canfora’s report, general manager Les Snead said “deleting him (from the roster) is not the answer,” per the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.
Bradford, the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Rams in 2010, is coming off his second torn ACL in as many years, and is scheduled to make $12.98 million in base salary in 2015, the last year of his contract. Releasing Bradford would save the team $12.98 million of Bradford’s $16.6 million cap charge. Bradford has a career 58.6 completion percentage with 11,065 yards and 59 touchdowns.
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znModeratorMy ideal Rams OL?
The one they field after:
Signing Barksdale.
Getting Saffold up to speed,
Coaching Robinson some.
Signing a free agent or 2.
Drafting a player or 2.
Working on the guys they have in-house already.Putting it all in a blender.
Fielding the best 5.
I will say this. Last 2 years, the Rams had 2 different linemen in play. If Warford fell to them at 30 and Ogletree was gone, that was their pick. Last year, they were in the process of trading up for Martin when Dallas picked him.
So they had the 2 best guards of the last 2 drafts in play…which tells us a lot about their taste in guards. And btw the trade-up for Martin was in play after they took Donald. If they had pulled off the trade (it was with Baltimore) they would have had a 1st round consisting of Robinson, Donald, Martin. One for the ages.
So I will kick back with my feet up and just watch as the dust settles, pretty confident they will come away with a good line.
I know some disagree. There are less optimistic views of this than mine.
.
znModeratorWell, the promising aspect of this is that it has nothing to do with BQ’s legs.
A WR with shoulder limitations would perhaps be constrained in some ways reaching up for the ball. And, it would tend to negate his size advantage. But, a shoulder won’t impeded a WR’s ability to get open running routes. It won’t affect speed, cuts, or the other factors impeded by knee or ankle injuries.
I don’t think there will be permanent damage. From everything I’ve seen, sports medicine really knows how to handle shoulders. But it was so extensive his timeline for a return might be pretty long. It’s not necessarily catching the ball, but it’s taking hits, fighting for the ball, blocking, and weight-lifting. So he may “pull a Bailey” and be up to speed later in the season rather than right off. Meanwhile he could probably run in practices and work on his timing, and so on.
By “pull a Bailey” I was just thinking about how Stedman didn’t become a factor last year till about the halfway point or thereabouts. Different reasons, same effect.
But this is just speculation. I haven’t read anything definitive on Quick.
znModeratorTipsheet: Rams give Chargers some stadium leverage
By Jeff Gordon
The San Diego Chargers have tried and tried and tried to get a new stadium built. Now Rams owner Stan Kroenke has given the franchise the leverage it has lacked to make that happen.
Chargers attorney Mark Fabiani made that abundantly clear while meeting with San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer’s nine-member stadium advisory group this week. He claimed the Rams and/or Raiders returning to Los Angeles could cost the Chargers 25 percent of its current fan base.
“It would not be fair to the Chargers — a team that has worked for 14 years to find a stadium solution in San Diego County — to allow other teams that themselves abandoned the L.A. market to now return and gut the Chargers’ local revenue stream,” Fabiani said, according to a statement released to media members.
Qualcomm Stadium is 48 years old. A new stadium will be expensive — perhaps more than the $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion projected by city officials.
Gaining approval for public support of this project would be very difficult. Any proposal requiring two-thirds approval would have little hope of passing.
Like St. Louis, San Diego needs to find an answer that doesn’t rely on a successful vote.
Fabiani called on the panel to devise a real stadium solution, not a doomed proposal that would merely alleviate political pressure on those involved.
“The Chargers do not intend to waste years of time and millions of dollars on a proposal that city leaders simply do not have the capacity to actually implement,” he said. “In short, a proposal that looks good on paper should not be sufficient. What we all need is a proposal that our city government has the capacity to actually implement.”
Fabiani said the Chargers “have no intention of quietly participating in any effort to provide political cover for elected officials . . . Simply put, we have no intention of allowing the Chargers franchise to be manipulated for political cover — and we will call out any elected official who tries to do so.”
So the fun has begun. As long as St. Louis can devise a workable plan while San Diego and Oakland fail to do the same, this market has at a chance to remain in the NFL.
February 18, 2015 at 9:51 am in reply to: Grayson, Hundley, Petty, Carden etc. … the qbs this year #18622znModeratorfrom off the net
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2ninr
It’s impossible to tell whether Hundley will succeed at the next level but I saw an interviewn with him. I know nothing of him or his character but in this interview I was extremely impressed with the person, he was confident without being cocky, repeated over and over how much he loved football and how all he ever wanted to do was I play qb. Sounded like a natural leader. That counts a lot for me. Somebody else will have to evaluate whether he actually has potential to play the pro game.
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Pee Pee
Are the knocks on him undeserved? He has trouble reading defenses, he hasn’t progressed like they thought he would, and has poor pocket presence. The knocks on him are certainly deserved.
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BumRap
Miller and Kirwin see Hundley sneaking into 1st
Or not sneaking. Kirwin states that he would not pay any attention to the negativity clouding this years QB class. He says don’t believe it for a minute. This is a QB driven league, The law of supply and demand and the talent of the QB also the cost is not prohibitive anymore. He states could be like TB slot or Manziel but a team could trade up into the 1st. You do not want to be the team that could and didn’t and some other QB starved team gets in front of you. Miller follows that Hundley has just too high a skill set and ability to ignore. So there is that.
I am not disappointed in the least to hear that. We could pick up some picks and trade back perhaps to get him but I am only suggesting that because I know there are those who think that is the way to go. I just feel that you have to have a few options and a plan. I think the best plan has us getting a lot more talented on offense and if that means Hundley and we have done our houndwork then so be it.
Again my take on Hundley as a talent he compares favorably to some of the top talent available this year and the previous year. He can be a bust for sure as can all but if you are going to draft a QB he ought to check off more boxes than just a guy.
znModeratorBUT also (Tavon aside) a lot of people, me included, like what they saw in Quick last year.
I also like the fact that Britt wore his jersey in all practices once he went out.
Quick could be something. Though it was a bad, bad injury…it may take him a while to come back.
znModerator
My gawd that’s ugly.
znModeratorzn note added via edit–there’s another fat active draft thread here: http://theramshuddle.com/topic/mock-draft-roundup-third-edition-posted-14-hours-ago-myles-simmons/
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Countdown to Combine: St. Louis Rams OG/C
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16175/countdown-to-combine-st-louis-rams-3
A closer look at the areas the St. Louis Rams could address in the draft. We’ll wrap it up today with a look at the interior offensive linemen, which are scheduled to work out Thursday in Indianapolis.
Position of need: Interior offensive line. At minimum, the Rams are going to need at least one new starter on the interior of the line with veteran Davin Joseph set to hit free agency after another rough season. They could also look to replace veteran Scott Wells, who struggled mightily in 2014. And some depth wouldn’t hurt either given the injury history of the only player on the interior with a settled situation moving forward, Rodger Saffold. The Rams gave up a sack on 8.7 percent of drop backs against four or fewer pass-rushers last season, the highest percentage in the NFL. They also allowed pressure (sack or duress) on 33 percent of their drop backs last season, third highest in the NFL.
Three players the Rams could target in the draft:
Cameron Erving, Florida State: One of the most intriguing prospects in the entire class, Erving will remind Rams fans of Barrett Jones in terms of his extensive history of versatility. Erving actually started his career as a defensive tackle before moving to left tackle in 2012 and 2013. He moved to center in 2014 and looked his most comfortable in the middle. At a shade over 6-foot-5, 298 pounds, Erving probably projects best as a center or guard in the NFL but figuring out his fit will be a mission for any team, including the Rams this week. Likewise, they’ll need to do some further medical research on Erving, who sat out in 2010 because of a back injury.
Laken Tomlinson, Duke: Tomlinson was one of the brightest spots of the Senior Bowl and has inched his way toward being one of the better true guards in the draft. A team captain who is a sturdy 6-3, 323 pounds, Tomlinson started all 52 games in his career and comes with no questions about his durability or injury history. Looks to have all the tools to be a dominant run-blocker but scouts wonder why he wasn’t more consistent in that area. That’s a question he’ll have to answer in Indy but if he does that and performs well in the workouts, he could solidify his spot as one of the top guards in the draft and be a potentially appealing option for the Rams.
A.J. Cann, South Carolina: Depending on which position you peg for LSU’s La’el Collins, Cann is generally regarded as the best true guard in the draft. He’s 6’3, 315 pounds and comes with a nearly impeccable record of production and intangibles. Not a mauler, per se, but proved a solid run-blocker with his footwork and understanding of angles. Keep an eye on how he measures and how he fares in the bench press because teams have some questions about his power and size.
znModeratorfrom off the net
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leafnose
talking about Josh and the Bears
talking about Josh’s agent not hearing from the Rams……as of yet.Lauds the fact that Hoyer is the top of the FA list.
sentiment to have a QB coach along for the ride at the combine. would help to have another set of eyes on the prospects.
some chatter about the cap, and free agents, along with issues the club will face in 2016 and a number of guys up for contracts.
truly get the feel here that Pead is a easy cut. too many others being productive ahead of him.
February 18, 2015 at 9:18 am in reply to: Teams with most, and least number of assist coaches #18613znModeratorSeahawks 23
Rams 22
So. The Rams have had this one subtle disadvantage against the Hawkz. That one little Decider has been the fraction of difference.
Yet still, the Rams somehow went 1-1 against them last year with Davis n Hill at qb.
znModeratorSome Football News stuff, highlights from the chat.
A lot of stadium stuff in there but buried in it all…these football nuggets:
No, what I said was at a minimum _ a MINIMUM _ the Rams need a guard. I go back and forth on the center position. I get the feeling the front office isn’t sure what to do on Wells either.
Based on what you heard from Fisher last Friday would their commitment to Bradford preclude them from taking Winston or Mariotta at #10 if they slipped?
The odds of that, I think we’d both agree, are very, very small. But no, I don’t think that would preclude the Rams from taking Winston or Mariota at No. 10.
I know this: Fisher had planned on having Schotty back.
Hey jim. More press coverage this year?
by chuck 2:41 PMThat would be nice wouldn’t it? But you have to have faith in the corners doing it, and I don’t think that’s quite there yet with the Rams’ corners.
Don’t have any updates on Britt or Bradford. I’m sure things will start moving at the Combine this week.
I’m sure the scouts and coaches are in the Combine mode. But Kevin Demoff and Tony Pastoors are in the let’s meet with an agent mode.
znModeratorDeflate-gate Up-date
w
vA locker room attendant for the New England Patriots tried to introduce an unapproved special teams football into last month’s AFC Championship Game, the same game at the center of the “Deflategate” allegations, four sources familiar with the investigation told “Outside the Lines.”
One source said that the attendant assigned to the officials’ locker room, identified as 48-year-old Jim McNally, has been interviewed by investigators for Ted Wells, the attorney the NFL hired last month to lead an investigation into allegations the Patriots intentionally used underinflated footballs on offensive plays in the first half of that game against the Indianapolis Colts, which New England won 45-7.
Three sources said that McNally has worked Patriots games for a decade, and has been in charge of the officials’ locker room at Gillette Stadium since at least 2008. In the first half of the AFC Championship Game, the sources said, McNally tried to give the unapproved football to an alternate official who was in charge of the special-teams footballs. Those footballs are known as “kicking balls” or “K balls.”
Before every NFL game, footballs are inspected and measured by NFL officials in their locker room before they can be approved for in-game use. The “K balls” are used for special teams, and not by the offenses of either team.
[+] EnlargeMcNally
Outside The LinesJim McNally, highlighted in upper left, attempted to give an unapproved football to an alternate official who was in charge of the special-teams footballs for the AFC Championship Game.NFL officials put a special mark or stamp on each ball approved for use on offensive possessions, as well as the “K balls” used on special teams, to ensure only properly inspected and approved footballs are used in that game. Walt Anderson, the referee for the AFC title game, had personally inspected and marked each of the footballs that were approved for use in that game.
The alternate official, Greg Yette, became suspicious when he noticed that the football McNally handed him did not have the proper markings on it, three sources said. One of those sources added that Yette found it surprising that the officials’ locker room attendant was on the field, trying to hand him a ball, because officials’ locker room attendants don’t typically have ballhandling responsibilities during NFL games. Once McNally tried to introduce the unapproved football into the game, the source said, Yette notified the NFL’s vice president of game operations, Mike Kensil, who was at the game in the press box.
Sources said they are not sure at what point during the first half McNally tried to introduce the impermissible football to Yette. They didn’t know his motivation for doing so, either. Yette, when reached by “Outside the Lines,” declined to comment.
An “Outside the Lines” reporter approached McNally at his home in Amherst, New Hampshire, earlier this month, but he said, “I can’t talk to you,” waving the reporter away as he walked up his driveway.
McNally is a part-time employee who was hired by The Kraft Group, a company owned by Patriots owner Robert Kraft. Kelly Way, the director of operations for TeamOps at Gillette Stadium, said NFL game-day employees are paid by The Kraft Group. McNally is not listed in the Patriots’ main switchboard directory.
It is not known whether McNally is the same locker room attendant who reportedly ducked into a bathroom with a bag of footballs for 90 seconds before taking them out to the field before the start of the AFC Championship Game. On Jan. 26, FoxSports.com’s Jay Glazer reported that a locker-room attendant from the Patriots allegedly took footballs “from the officials locker room to another area” on the way to the field, and that Wells’ investigators have video of that. Pro Football Talk later reported that the attendant stopped in a restroom with the game balls for 90 seconds. That locker room attendant, according to Foxsports.com, is a “strong person of interest.”
The Patriots, who won the Super Bowl over the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 1, came under scrutiny prior to the AFC Championship Game, when the Colts reportedly alerted the NFL during the regular season that the Patriots may be using underinflated footballs after the teams met Nov. 16.
A source told “Outside the Lines” that Kensil decided to personally go down to the officials’ locker room at halftime of the Patriots-Colts game to check the game balls, in part because of the suspicions McNally’s actions raised. Kensil did not respond to requests for comment.
It has also been reported that the Colts noticed an underinflated football after an interception by linebacker D’Qwell Jackson in the AFC Championship Game. Jackson said at the Pro Bowl that he didn’t notice that the football was underinflated. Also, Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, told “60 Minutes Sports” that Colts general manager Ryan Grigson told league officials in the second quarter of the AFC Championship Game that the Patriots might be tampering with footballs.
One source said Kensil personally checked the PSI (pounds per square inch) levels of all 12 footballs the Patriots had for use on offense and found that 11 of those 12 were underinflated by “one to two pounds.” They were reinflated to the league-required level and were returned for use in the second half.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick has attributed the 11 underinflated game balls to atmospheric conditions and has said the Patriots “try to do everything right; we err on the side of caution.” Kraft, in a strong defense of his head coach and quarterback Tom Brady, said: “I want to make it clear that I believe unconditionally that the New England Patriots have done nothing inappropriate in this process or are in violation of NFL rules.”
He added, “I would expect and hope that the league would apologize to our entire team” if the Wells investigation “is unable to definitively determine that our organization tampered with the air pressure in the footballs.”
In a statement released late last month, Wells said he expected his investigation to go on for “at least several more weeks” and asked that “everyone involved or potentially involved in this matter avoids public comment concerning the matter until the investigation is concluded. The results will be shared publicly.”
Dean Blandino, the NFL’s head of officiating, said at a Super Bowl news conference: “There was an issue that was brought up during the first half, a football came into question, and then the decision was made to test them at halftime. There’s an investigation going on. I can’t really get into specifics.”
When asked for comment by OTL, Blandino texted, “I can’t elaborate with the investigation still ongoing.”
The NFL, through a spokesman, told OTL: “We’re not commenting on the details of the ongoing investigation.”
This story was updated to fix an attribution on the Patriots’ locker room attendant stopping in a restroom for 90 seconds.
znModeratorWe still have Barnes don’t we? Why can’t he play center…. I thought he did a solid job a couple of years ago.
I don’t think he did do a solid job, H. I don’t think he’s starting caliber.
znModeratorAssumption 1) the reason why Tavonn has struggled is that Schottenheimer misused him.
Assumption 2) Tavonn can and WILL explode with a new OC.
Agreed. It’s silly. Though the argument is unwinnable. If Tavon improves in 2015 and runs routes he wasn’t as effective at running before, it will be impossible to prove to doubters that he improved, not that the prior coordinator misused him. As little sense as that makes.
1. Coach Fisher: hey Brian I notice that Tavon can run all the routes Amendola once did, and with equal effectiveness.
2. Coach Brian: True, but, can’t have him doing that in games though.
1. Coach Fisher: why not?
2. Coach Brian: too creative.
1. Coach Fisher: oh, yeah, right…true.-
This reply was modified 11 years, 3 months ago by
zn.
znModeratorWell the trick with that is, first just list the top 12 centers in the league, and see where they came from.
Using PFF rankings. Why? Cause they’re there.
1 Nick Mangold NYJ … 1st round
2 Travis Frederick Dal …1st round
3 Rodney Hudson KC … 2nd round
4 Max Unger SEA … 2nd round
5 Corey Linsley GB … 5th round
6 Maurkice Pouncey PIT … 1st round
7 Brian De La Puente CHI …FA
8 Jason Kelce PHI … 6th round
9 Kory Lichtensteiger WAS … ronin, cut by Denver, developed by Wash
10 Alex Mack CLV … 1st round
11 Ryan Kalil CAR … 2nd round
12 John Sullivan Minn … 6th roundSo.
1 FA.
1 cut/ronin/ie. budget pick-up
4 1st rounders
3 2nd rounders
3 5th & 6th roundersznModeratorWell I’d still like to know what round
those seven Free Agents were drafted in.But hey if you wanna be
all lazy about it thats fine with me.
Have a White Russian and sit in your
bathrobe and post on.Btw, to state the obvious just “getting a center”
doesnt mean the team got a “good one.”
I mean, maybe only the ones drafted in the
first and second rounds were “good”w
vWell the trick with that is, first just list the top 12 centers in the league, and see where they came from. Another way, which takes some waiting, would be to find who is replacing their centers. We already know the Giants are looking to do that.
I defend the “when you look for how a team acquired a player, FA is FA” approach, because otherwise, what you do is erase free agency as a category. The point is how teams acquire a player. So when the Rams signed Timmerman, they got a player through free agency, not by spending a draft pick. That;s a significant distinction.
The way I see the 1st round thing btw, is that all of the 1st round centers are good (Frederick, Pouncey, Mack, Mangold). But not all the good centers are first rounders. Either way I don’t think there’s a real 1st round center this year.
…
February 17, 2015 at 5:41 pm in reply to: Grayson, Hundley, Petty, Carden etc. … the qbs this year #18576znModeratorI think i read Russell Wilson went to
Wisconsin or wherever in part cause
it would help prep him for the Pros.w
vYep, it’s true, Wilson did that.
Also, that was one of the reasons Georgia pursued Schott. Recruiting device. Hey look, pro offense.
znModeratorThank God for the internet in February…
Mayor urges knucklehead Bostonians not to jump out of windows and into the snow
Washington Post – Washington PostAfter four significant snow storms since the beginning of the year, Bostonians are getting more than a little stir crazy— and no one can really blame them.
Things have gotten so bad that Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was forced to deliver some real talk to the citizenry — specifically warning the knuckleheads who have been jumping out of their windows and into the snow to cut it out.
What he said:
“I’m asking people to stop their nonsense right now. These are adults jumping out windows,” Walsh said on Monday, according to the Boston Herald. “It’s a foolish thing to do and you could kill yourself.”
February 17, 2015 at 4:43 pm in reply to: Grayson, Hundley, Petty, Carden etc. … the qbs this year #18572znModeratorDoubtful Rams Draft Brett Hundley as QB Insurance
by Anthony Stalter
http://www.101sports.com/2015/02/17/doubtful-rams-draft-brett-hundley-qb-insurance/
One look at the size, arm strength, and dual-threat capabilities of Brett Hundley, and immediately one considers his potential and upside. But, as excited as some fans are about the possibility that the UCLA quarterback could become a Ram in a few months, I just don’t see how he’s a fit.
Hundley has ideal size for the position at 6’3″ and 227 pounds. He’s also athletic, can make all throws (including the pivotal 20-yard out), and showed improvement in key areas from his sophomore to junior seasons. But get beyond the surface traits and that’s where the concerns lie.
The system that he ran at UCLA allowed him to make one read and then get the ball out of his hand quickly. Too many times he would lock onto his primary receiver and if the pressure forced him to take his eyes down, they never came back up to look for open targets.
Much like Seattle’s Russell Wilson, Hundley uses his athleticism to extend plays and often wound up on highlight reels this past fall. But unlike Wilson, Hundley will use that athleticism as a runner instead of buying himself more time to find open receivers. Wilson is constantly looking to make a play with his arm and uses his legs as a last-ditch effort to gain yardage. Hundley is the opposite.
Pro quarterbacks have a lot to compute during a given play: Will my protection hold up based on the look I’m receiving from the defense? Where is my “hot” receiver? What type of adjustment will my primary and secondary receivers need to make based on the coverage? Is the middle of the field closed (Cover 3 or Cover 1), or is it open (Cover 2 or Cover 4)? What coverage did they show me post-snap? What is my progression based on the coverage?
It’s not Hundley’s fault that he wasn’t asked to run a pro-style offense with the Bruins. But his limited experience reading defenses could hinder his ability to play right away in the NFL. His learning curve will be steeper than that of former Louisville signal-caller Teddy Bridgewater, who the Vikings selected in the first round of last year’s draft and who ran a pro-style offense in college. This isn’t unlike Johnny Manziel, Bryce Petty or any other young signal-caller trying to make the leap from college to the NFL.
Think about what it was like for you the first few months at a new job: You’re lost, you’re confused, you’re overwhelmed and everyone is moving at top speed compared to you. But over time you have a better understanding of your responsibilities and you become more efficient in accomplishing day-to-day tasks. Your confidence also grows and you start acting instead of thinking through every move.
Hundley has the raw tools in order to succeed but it may take him a few years to get comfortable running a pro-style offense. If he winds up in Philadelphia running Chip Kelly’s system, his learning curve lessens because of Kelly’s use of “packaged plays” and “college” concepts. But if Hundley is drafted into a pro-style system, it’s going to take him time to adjust. And the fact that he ran a “college” system at UCLA, it makes it difficult to evaluate how he’ll transition to the pro game.
Sam BradfordThe Rams have expressed commitment to have Sam Bradford under center in 2015.
Quarterbacks like Hundley that operated mostly out of the shotgun in college struggle taking snaps from under center in the pros. It’s not the physical act of taking the snap but rather getting out from under center with urgency, having a proper drop, and timing footwork and throwing mechanics to hit receivers on time. Hundley already struggles with ball placement in the intermediate game and that’s not something that will improve until he has a firm grasp of the mechanics of taking a snap from center. Again, this isn’t something he’ll never be good at, but it could take time.
This is where the Rams come in. They don’t have time to groom a quarterback. They should have selected a QB in the middle rounds last year because that player would have likely had an opportunity to gain experience once Sam Bradford was injured again in preseason. Now they have a defense built to win and the pressure to end a decade’s worth of losing, but they have questions at the most impactful position in all of sports.
The Rams have never wavered from their desire to bring Bradford back in 2015.
After Jeff Fisher met with Bradford to discuss hiring Frank Cignetti as offensive coordinator, it’s clear that the team is committed to running a pro-style offense. If Bradford were to be injured again, it would be nice to see the Rams have the option to turn to a youngster that has a mix of both upside and at least an understanding of pro-style passing concepts. That’s not Hundley.
Unfortunately for the Rams and other quarterback-starved teams, this is a weak class for signal-callers. Hundley might be an attractive option based on his raw skill set, but he isn’t going to be ready to play right away. Over the next few months I’ll discuss other options for the Rams at quarterback, but their margin for error will still be miniscule.
znModeratorHow/where did teams get their centers? Here I look at last year’s starters. Because of injury replacements, I will have more than 32 starters. In fact I have 37. Some teams were just a bloody mess at center…for example, SD played 5 different centers last year. In each case, though, I restrict it to 2–the intended original starter and the major replacement who played most games among the back-ups. Just a few replacement games doesn’t get you on this list.
I break each one down according to how the present team acquired the player. So it doesn’t matter where he was taken in the draft originally–if the present team signed him as a FA, he counts as a FA.
Whenever someone is a rookie, I note that.
High 1st round (15 and above): 0
Free agent: 7
Lower 1st round: 4
2nd round: 6 including 1 rookie starter
3rd round: 3 including 2 rookie starters
4th round: 6
5th round: 2 including 1 rookie starter
6th round: 4
7th round: 0
UDFA: 3 including 1 rookie starter
Cuts/waiver pick-ups etc.: 1
Trade: 1Notice btw that 5 rookies started last year
In terms of percentages that breaks down like this:
rounds 2-4 40.5%
Free agent: 19%
rounds 5-7: 16%
1st round: 11&
UDFAs: 8%
Trades/cuts: 5.5%znModeratorjust fwiw and fyi, there’s another fat active draft thread here:
http://theramshuddle.com/topic/mock-draft-roundup-third-edition-posted-14-hours-ago-myles-simmons/
February 17, 2015 at 1:32 pm in reply to: around the net this part of Fisher/Cigs interview is especially controversial #18562znModeratorYeah. I dunno why those quotes would
bother anybody.w
vPeople took it as Bradford having a say in coaching hires, in general.
I took it as Fisher saying you ask the qb when you promote the qb coach, AND it’s good if the qb buys in (cause it wouldn’t be if the didn’t).
That doesn;t mean Bradford even met Hackett when Hackett came in.
znModeratorI think a good QB, staying healthy all year, solves nearly all of the Rams problems, including Tavon.
Yes, they need someone who sees him and hits him on that deep perimeter stuff, if nothing else.
February 17, 2015 at 1:29 pm in reply to: NFc West teams's sack percentage against the Rams, 2012-14 #18560znModeratorand this is in a division not known for their high volume passing attacks.
Yeah it’s genuinely amazing ain’t it.
znModeratorIt’s considered a very good draft class at running back, and Fisher has drafted one in each of his three previous drafts. Does Fisher go there again, and perhaps cut ties with Isaiah Pead or even Zac Stacy?
This is a thought. I have grown to have doubts about Stacy, and I don’t think Mason + Cunningham-on-3rd-downs is enough. I want to see that combo plus another solid, move the chains back.
znModeratorI doubt anyone would disagree that our main needs are QB and OL.
But you know I was looking at one of the pundit posts here surveying the draft by position. The guy listed some MLBs and said that was a fairly strong position in the draft.
Tell you what. I’d love to grab a good, young MLB who can push JL. Our MLB is a solid field general who isn’t really distinguished at many things and is less than impressive as a run stuffer. He’s played a lot of snaps and remained healthy, which is a virtue. He’s not old, but he ain’t young any more.
This would be a great time to bring in a young gun to learn the ropes beneath his solid running of the defense. Pretty much like what you want from a young QB to develop under a vet. And perhaps with an upside beyond JL’s, particularly in the arena of run stopping?
What do you guys think?
Things certainly could fall that way. I wouldn’t be surprised. And your reasoning for it is solid. (Though you forgot to carry the 2, plus your allusions to Melville were, I thought, a little distracting, but those are minor complaints.)
I think the exact same thing applies to left DE btw. They might want to have someone behind Long who is a potential future starter, and I have read more than once now that this draft is crazy deep at DE.
znModerator― Dan Simmons, Hyperion
Background (from wikid pedia)
In the 28th century, humanity has spread across the galaxy, first aboard “Hawking drive” ships and then through “farcasters”, which permit nearly instantaneous travel between them regardless of the distances. The farcaster network (the “WorldWeb”) is the infrastructural and economical basis of the Hegemony of Man and thus determines the whole culture and society. Also flowing across these portals are the structures of the datasphere (a network reminiscent of the Internet in design, but far more advanced). Inseparable from mankind’s technologies is the powerful, knowledgeable, and utterly inscrutable TechnoCore — the vast agglomeration of millions of AIs who run almost every piece of high technology of mankind. The unthinking hubris of man resulted in the death of the home-world (Earth) – which was consumed by an artificial black hole running out of control – and this arrogant philosophy was carried forth to the stars, for centuries.
The Hegemony itself is a largely decadent society, relying on its military to incorporate into the WorldWeb the colony planets, even unwillingly, and to defend the Hegemony from attacks by the Ousters, “interstellar barbarians” who dwell free of and beyond the bounds of the Hegemony and shun all the works of the TechnoCore (especially farcasters). The political head of the Hegemony is an executive advised by the TechnoCore advisory council.
All the ‘Core’s advice and predictions are confounded by the mysterious structures of the so-called Time Tombs and a time traveling aggressor called the Shrike on the remote colony world Hyperion (named after the moon of Saturn). Even worse, the Ousters have long been obsessed with Hyperion, and their invasion there is imminent.
Into this evolving crisis come seven pilgrims to make the journey to the Time Tombs and the Shrike, that seems to guard the Time Tombs, there to ask one wish of it. The Shrike is the object of a cult, the Church of the Final Atonement. Occasionally the church sends a prime number of pilgrims to the Time Tombs; there is a legend that all but one are slaughtered and the remaining pilgrim gets his request granted. Aboard a treeship the pilgrims finally meet after being revived out of their cryogenic storage state; they decide they each will tell their tale to enliven the long trip to the Tombs and to get to know each other. Simmons uses this device to unfold the panorama of this universe, its history and conflicts. The story opens in medias res.
znModeratorfrom off the net
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alyoshamucci
As for interior linemen this is an excellent draft. Not as much high end talent, no Warmacks or coopers, but from the next tier down all the way through undrafted free agency there are soooooo many players.
It’s a draft where I plan to have 4 new players with a legit shot at the roster and at least 3 making the team.
Also, everyone seems to have a different favorite that will go in round 2 or 3. That means there will be favorites lasting till round 5.
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========Countdown to Combine: St. Louis Rams OTs
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16173/countdown-to-combine-st-louis-rams-2
A closer look at the areas the St. Louis Rams could address in the draft. We continue today with a look at the offensive tackles, which are scheduled to work out Thursday in Indianapolis.
Position of need: Offensive tackle. Left tackle Jake Long is coming off his second consecutive major ACL injury and is a likely cap casualty or at least a candidate to come back at a much cheaper rate. Even if he does, the Rams are already committed to Greg Robinson as their left tackle. Right tackle Joe Barksdale is a free agent and unless his market proves to come in lower than expected, he too could be gone. Either way, the Rams would be wise to look for help at tackle. In 2014, they allowed sacks on 8.7 percent of dropbacks against four or fewer pass-rushers, highest in the NFL. Overall the Rams allowed pressure (a sack or duress) on 33 percent of their dropbacks last season, third highest in the NFL.
Three players the Rams could target in the draft:
Brandon Scherff (OT), Iowa: Early returns from the pundits indicate that Scherff is the best offensive lineman in this year’s draft class. Although pundit opinions and team opinions can often differ, Scherff seems to be a logical fit for a team like the Rams should he last to their pick at No. 10. At 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, Scherff has drawn comparisons to Zack Martin as a player who could plug in at tackle or guard right away and make an impact. The big thing for the Rams and Scherff this week will be getting a full look at his medical history. The combine is best for getting medical information and Scherff has had some issues, including a reported broken fibula and dislocated right ankle in 2012.
La’el Collins (OT), LSU: Collins could be considered a guard as well and played guard and tackle in college but we’ll put him here because, like Scherff, he could be appealing for the Rams because of that versatility. Collins is 6-foot-4 and 308 pounds, which makes him something of a ‘tweener. He’s a little on the short side for tackle but not as heavy as a guard. It shouldn’t be a problem for him but keep an eye on his measurements and his bench press in Indy.
Ereck Flowers (OT), Miami: Flowers figures to stand out as the prototype for what teams are looking for in a tackle. He’s listed at 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds with long arms and good agility. Flowers is a big, tough tackle who looks on tape like the type of player who would fit in well with the Rams. There are a few questions about his quickness and some think he’s a bit raw but the Rams haven’t shied away from players who need some fine tuning in the past. They’ll need to figure out where those tune-ups might be needed before moving forward on him as a prospect.
znModeratorRams focused on quality, not quantity
By Jim Thomas
The Rams head to their fourth NFL Scouting Combine under coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead with just a handful of draft picks and the realization that quality is more important than quantity this time around.
The bounty of picks that materialized from the “RGIII Trade” in 2012 all have been used. After trading fourth- and sixth-round selections to Tampa Bay for safety Mark Barron last October, the Rams have only five draft picks in 2015.
They are expected to receive another compensatory pick or two when those get awarded at the NFL owners’ meetings next month. Even so, the Rams have to make each pick count in 2015.
“Sometimes I think, especially with a young team, the first couple years you’re feeling it out,” Snead said.
That no longer is the case as Snead and Fisher prepare for their fourth season with the club.
“You’ve got a good feel now for who they are,” Snead said. “What our strengths are. What our weaknesses are. What players’ roles are. So it gets a little, probably, clearer to go, ‘Hey, we’ve got specific needs, let’s go address that.’”
Along those lines, the Rams will pay particular attention to the 15 quarterbacks and 52 offensive linemen scheduled to attend the Combine, which begins Tuesday and concludes Monday in Indianapolis.
Whether you view another quarterback as “competition” or having “options” — as Fisher framed it at different times over the past month-and-a-half — the Rams need some kind of counterpart to Sam Bradford.
On the offensive line, the Rams at a minimum need a guard. But depending on what the Rams decide to do with Scott Wells, and what happens with pending free agent Joe Barksdale, a center and an offensive tackle could be part of the wish list.
On his annual pre-Combine conference call, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock offered some thoughts on both positions.
Mayock, as do many others, feel that Iowa’s Brandon Scherff is the best offensive lineman in the draft. Although Scherff played tackle in college, Mayock thinks his best position in the pros will be guard, likening him to this year’s version of Zack Martin.
Martin went from left tackle at Notre Dame to an All-Pro at right guard as a rookie for Dallas.
“When I look at Brandon Scherff, I see a similar example,” Mayock said. “Now, I see a bigger kid with longer arms, so that lends you to believe he could play outside more easily.
“And I believe he can play outside. However, I think his best position because of his power, his toughness, and his football sense is inside. I think he’s an All-Pro guard.”
That would be ideal for the Rams, who need an upgrade at right guard — at which Davin Joseph started most of last season. Scherff, 6 feet 5, 320 pounds, generally is considered a top 10 prospect, so it’s already debatable if he will be available when the Rams pick at No. 10.
In his first 18 full seasons as a head coach, Fisher didn’t take a single offensive lineman in the first round. It would be two in a row if they took one there this year after picking Auburn’s Greg Robinson No. 2 overall in 2014.
At quarterback, Mayock advises against trading up for the top two quarterbacks — Oregon’s Marcus Mariota and Florida State’s Jameis Winston.
“My gut tells me that trying to move up and take one of those quarterbacks is very risky,” Mayock said.
That’s because of questions about Mariota’s ability to adjust to a pro-style offense and Winston’s off-field issues.
That leaves about four other QBs worth considering in what by all accounts is a very thin quarterback class.
“You get to Bryce Petty (Baylor) and Brett Hundley (UCLA), both of whom probably have second-round talent,” Mayock said. “They both have good size, good arm strength.
“Hundley’s a good athlete; Petty’s a pretty good athlete. So there’s a lot to like about both of those kids.”
But by playing in spread offenses in college, they haven’t had to show the qualities needed to thrive as a pocket passer in the NFL.
“They don’t throw with anticipation,” Mayock said. “If the first look isn’t there, both of them are hesitant and indecisive, which leads to sacks and other problems. So you want to say they’re gonna need at least a redshirt year. … But what they really need are live snaps. Not seven-on-seven snaps in practice.”
After those two, there’s Garrett Grayson of Colorado State, Sean Mannion of Oregon State, and really not much else.
At wide receiver, it shapes up as a pretty good class, but not as spectacular as the stellar Class of 2014, of which even Snead said, “I think there’ll be a “30 for 30” (ESPN program) on last year’s class of wide receivers.”
If Kenny Britt goes elsewhere in free agency, the Rams could be in the hunt at wide receiver. Similarly, if Lance Kendricks departs via free agency, the welcome mat could be out at tight end.
It’s considered a very good draft class at running back, and Fisher has drafted one in each of his three previous drafts. Does Fisher go there again, and perhaps cut ties with Isaiah Pead or even Zac Stacy?
So there will be a lot to look at for the Rams in Indianapolis, even with the relatively limited number of picks.
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