Offseason in Review: DT Alex Carrington –Wagoner
The 2015 edition of NFL free agency is set to begin on March 10 with a new batch of players set to hit the market and teams in pursuit of those players.

Some articles never get posted on the board.

Like this one.

So we avoided the Great Carrington Debate.

Rams Promote Two Offensive Assistants

By Myles Simmons Rams Insider @MylesASimmons

http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Rams-Promote-Two-Offensive-Assistants/892361b3-7077-4a64-bf1e-799e07c18e66

The Rams’ search for an offensive coordinator has come to an end, as the franchise has promoted two of its offensive assistants. Quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti will take over as the offensive coordinator, and tight ends coach Rob Boras will serve as assistant head coach/offense.

In their new roles, Cignetti will call the plays and lead the coaches through game planning and installments. While continuing to coach the tight ends, Boras will assist in overseeing the entire offense with an emphasis on the run game.

Coming off his third season leading St. Louis’ QBs, Cignetti has a coaching resumé that spans two decades of work in both the college and NFL ranks. In 2014, he helped coach Austin Davis to consecutive 300-yard, three-touchdown performances — a first for the franchise since Kurt Warner accomplished the feat in 2001. Back in his first year with the Rams, 2012, quarterback Sam Bradford set new career highs in yards passing (3,702), touchdown passes (21), and passer rating (82.5).

“Frank has been a key asset to our staff over the last three years and I’m confident that he’ll do a great job leading our offense in this new role,” head coach Jeff Fisher said in a statement. “He’s done a great job in some difficult circumstances and he brings a great body of work as a play caller at some significant college programs. Our players know and respect Frank, and I believe we’ll benefit from the continuity he’ll provide.”

Prior to his arrival in St. Louis, Cignetti spent time as the offensive coordinator at Rutgers, Pitt, and Cal. He also spent a year as the 49ers quarterbacks coach in 2007. Before that, he was the offensive coordinator at North Carolina and Fresno State.

Cignetti got his start in the NFL as a quality control assistant with the Chiefs in 1999, and served as the Saints’ quarterbacks coach from 2000-01. His father, Frank Cignetti Sr., was a longtime head coach for Indiana University of Pennsylvania — a D-II school — where he led the team to 13 postseason appearances. The junior Cignetti was on his father’s staff from 1990-98.

Boras also arrived with Fisher in 2012, coaching up key contributors like Jared Cook, Lance Kendricks, and Cory Harkey at the tight end position. Last season, Cook led the Rams with 52 receptions, and Kendricks had a team-high five receiving touchdowns.

In all, the 44-year-old Boras has spent 11 years in the NFL. Having served as an offensive assistant for DePauw, Texas, and UNLV, as well as a one-year stint as Benedictine University’s head coach, Boras got his NFL start as the tight ends coach under Lovie Smith with the Bears in 2004. During his six seasons in Chicago, Boras helped the Bears earn a trip to Super Bowl XLI. In 2009, the Bears’ tight ends led the NFL in receiving touchdowns (13), and in 2008 Greg Olsen and Desmond clark had 95 receptions — the highest total for a tight end duo in franchise history.

Following his stint with the Bears, Boras spent two years as the Jaguars’ tight ends coach, leading Marcedes Lewis to his first Pro Bowl selection in 2010. That year, Lewis had 58 receptions for 700 yards and 10 receiving touchdowns — tying a franchise record.

“Rob is a tremendous teacher and he’s done a great job with our tight ends,” Fisher said. “His expanded role is sure to make us better as an offense.”

By keeping the promotions in house, both Cignetti and Boras have an advantage of not only knowing the Rams’ personnel, but the teams and players within the division as well.

RamBill dug this up….

Phil Savage ‏@SeniorBowlPhil

Had an unbelievably impressive interview with Duke OG Laken Tomlinson @SiriusXMNFL. Double major, 323lbs and future NFL starter.

SD, mind if I move this to the combine thread?

PHil Savage starting 5 oline senior bowl

http://www.seniorbowl.com/news-highlights-detail.php?news=286

Executive Director Phil Savage spent 20 years in the National Football League as a coach, scout, executive and general manager. Prior to the Combine, he will evaluate the Reese’s Senior Bowl practice sessions, position-by-position, for both the North and South squads.

Here is his analysis of the offensive linemen based on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday practices.

‘STARTING FIVE’

With 20 total linemen on both squads, these are the five who had the best weeks at their respective positions and would deserve All-Senior Bowl recognition.

DONOVAN SMITH PENN STATE 6056 341 34 1/4 10 1/2
This 4th year junior graduate elevated his game in Mobile after having a subpar campaign in 2014. Although he could stand to drop 10lbs or so, he has size, athletic ability and the skillset needed to play left tackle in the NFL. With his long arms and re-direct agility, if he will truly get serious about his craft, Donovan could have a long pro career.

1-on-1 Pass Pro: Wins: 7 Losses: 3
Senior Bowl Scoop: Since 2013, 4th year juniors who graduate before December 31 have been allowed to participate in the game. Donovan and teammate Deion Barnes both met the criteria and joined a list of six total players that have taken advantage of this exemption. Donovan hails from Owings Mills, MD, the practice facility home of the Baltimore Ravens.

TRE JACKSON FLORIDA STATE 6037 323 32 1/8 11 1/8
Of the five FSU Seminoles invited to the RSB, Tre was the only one who actually made it to Mobile. He was “king” of the 1-on-1’s by winning all nine of his individual battles against zero defeats. Although he aligned as a RG at Florida State and for most of the week here, his athleticism may warrant a move to LG because of his pulling ability.
1-on-1 Pass Pro: Wins: 9 Losses: 0Senior Bowl Scoop: Tre was selected as the South team’s Most Outstanding Player in the Saturday game after successfully going toe-to-toe with Washington’s Danny Shelton and Iowa’s Carl Davis.

MAX GARCIA FLORIDA 6044 305 32 3/4 10 1/4
In a rare occurrence, Max was part of the North team even though he played collegiately for the Gators after transferring from Maryland. He provides length in the pivot and plays with surprising base and balance for a taller center. With his position versatility of having starting experience at both left tackle and left guard, expect Max to be a valuable mid-to-late round selection.

1-on-1 Pass Pro: Wins: 6 Losses: 2

Senior Bowl Scoop: Max sat out the 2012 season due to NCAA transfer rules before starting 25 straight games for the Gators as a junior and senior.

LAKEN TOMLINSON DUKE 6032 323 33 1/2 10 1/4
This 5th year senior was a picture of consistency all week because of his knee flexion and upper body strength. He fits the profile of a “power” right guard and appears to be a plug-in and play starter as a rookie. His confrontations with Washington’s Danny Shelton (6016/343) were highlight worthy.

1-on-1 Pass Pro: Wins: 9 Losses: 3

Senior Bowl Scoop: The winner of the Alabama Power Practice Award for offensive linemen, Laken is also a standout in the classroom where he graduated as a double major in evolutionary anthropology and psychology.

LA’EL COLLINS LSU 6045 308 33 1/4 10 3/4
A consensus All-SEC and All-American choice in 2014, La’el has all the traits needed to be a blue-chip pro. He has height, long enough arms, a powerful punch and the ability to snap his hips. He went back and forth between LT and LG and didn’t look flawless as a RT, however, he has too much going for him from a talent standpoint not to play early and often for a team in need of a young offensive lineman.

1-on-1 Pass Pro- Wins: 4 Losses: 7

Senior Bowl Scoop: Highly recruited five-star prospect from Baton Rouge, he was considered by many to be the best high school offensive lineman to ever come out of the state of Louisiana. La’el won the Jacobs Award for the SEC, spotlighting him as the league’s top blocker.

POTENTIAL ‘STARTER’ UPSIDE

OT #68 T.J. Clemmings/Pittsburgh 6045/307 34 7/8” Arm-10 3/8” Hand

A favorite of the NFL scouts during the regular season, T.J. entered the week with much fanfare as a potential 1st round pick. He only played two years of high school football and did not move to the offensive line until his redshirt junior (2013) season. Still, he has all the physical traits necessary to become a starter in the future. With his long arms, natural athletic skill and positive demeanor, despite looking uncomfortable on certain reps, T.J. flashed more than enough ability for teams to believe they can coach him up as a possible answer at left tackle.

1-on-1 Pass Pro- Wins: 5 Losses: 7

Senior Bowl Scoop: First team All-ACC selection in 2014 after starting 26 consecutive games at right tackle.

OG #50 Ali Marpet/Hobart College 6036/307 32 7/8” Arm-10 1/8” Hand

The only D-III prospect in the RSB, Ali started for three seasons at left tackle before making the conversion inside to guard in Mobile. He has light feet, plays with balance and did not back down at all against the bigger school competition. Arguably the most intriguing player in the game, he is certain to be thoroughly evaluated by all 32 teams because of his position flexibility (he took reps as a center in the QB exchange period) and high ceiling to improve.

1-on-1 Pass Pro- Wins: 5 Losses: 5
Senior Bowl Scoop: Ali was named Liberty League Co-Offensive Player of the Year, the first time in conference history an offensive lineman received that distinction.

BLUE COLLAR/LUNCH PAIL PROSPECTS

OT #78 Rob Havenstein/Wisconsin 6073/332 33 5/8” Arm-10” Hand

A card-carrying giant, Rob is a classic right tackle who uses his height and girth to absorb and control defenders. He really understands how to play and wins “ugly” most of the time.

1-on-1 Pass Pro- Wins: 6 Losses: 4

Senior Bowl Scoop: Rob opened 41 consecutive games for the Badgers and played in a school-record matching 54 contests. He blocked for three 1000-yard rushers during his career: Montee Ball, James White and Melvin Gordon.

OG #70 Shaq Mason/Georgia Tech 6015/310 31 1/8” Arm-9 ½” Hand

Maybe the most improved player of the week, Shaq came to Mobile from GT’s option-oriented offense, but adjusted quite well by Thursday and showed the willingness to compete on every snap.

1-on-1 Pass Pro- Wins: 6 Losses: 3

Senior Bowl Scoop: Even though Shaq stands a little over 6’1, his given full name is “Shaquille Olajuwon Mason”. The Yellow Jackets led the nation in rushing yardage per game (342.1) and Shaq was named to several All-ACC and All-American teams.

Agamemnon wrote:

There are 4 of 5 tackles good enough to play left tackle. They just aren’t good enough to be much more than a top 10 pick. Some of them are being projected to other positions or playing their first year at a different position, especially if you already have a LT.

1 Brandon Scherff 6-5 320 5.15 Iowa X/OG
2 *Andrus Peat 6-6 315 5.25 Stanford
3 La’el Collins 6-5 315 5.15 LSU OG
4 *Ereck Flowers 6-5 325 5.3 Miami
5 T.J. Clemmings 6-5 305 5.15 Pittsburgh

All of these could be gone between about pick 8 to pick 20 something, Different teams will rate them in different orders. If the kid from ND had come out, he would have been a top 5. imo

How would you rate the year overall for OL in general?

PA Ram wrote:

I hope the show can somehow maintain the standard he set. No easy task.

If not for the Rams games, I would have already set the tv out for trash pick-up.

from off the net

===

twilson2000

Jason La Canfora: “Kroenke doesn’t need a handout from the NFL.”

CBS Sports NFL insider Jason La Canfora joined The Home Team this morning, after the NFL formed a committee and drafted a memo to help plan the future of the league in Los Angeles, to talk about what that move means and how it will affect Stan Kroenke’s plan to build a stadium in Inglewood and move the Rams back to L.A.

In the end, Stan Kroenke doesn’t need the NFL’s money, he doesn’t need their land, he doesn’t need public money. He doesn’t really need a handout from anyone, he doesn’t need a G4 loan, and I think, in the end, that will carry the day here regardless of memos, and reminders, and protocol [from the NFL].

Click here to listen…… http://kfwbam.com/2015/02/10/jason-la-canfora-kroenke-doesnt-need-a-handout-from-the-nfl/

The Home Team is L.A.’s only local morning sports show, and can be heard weekdays from 5:30am-9am on your new home for sports, The Beast 980.