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znModeratorfrom off the net
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jrry32
This is just my personal opinion but these are the guys I would pursue:
1. Clint Boling OG/RT Cincinnati (Value Estimation: $4-$6 million per year)
2. Derek Newton RT/OG Houston (Value Estimation: $4-$5 million per year)
3. Justin Blalock OG Atlanta (Value Estimation: $2-$3 million per year)
4. Rob Sims OG Detroit (Value Estimation: $2-$3 million per year)
5. Jermey Parnell OT Dallas (Value Estimation: $3-$5 million per year)Why these guys? I think all will be reasonably priced because they fall more into that mid tier of free agency. Blalock and Sims are both “bridge” players. They’re 30+ years old and would be brought on more as depth than anything but both are still solid, durable starters that are more than capable of starting if a rookie isn’t ready. Basically, they’re what Davin Joseph was supposed to be. Both are great fits for the power scheme.
Boling is still relatively young and is a steady, reliable starting OG. He can slide out to RT in a pinch but I’d be most comfortable with him at OG. If we’re signing him, he could operate as a 6th OL but he would also offer us a very steady starter at LG. Probably not the greatest scheme fit for us in that he’s not an overpowering drive blocker but more of a solid all around guy. But he played in a PBS in Cincy and was effective in it.
Jermey Parnell has been Dallas’s swing OT the past few years and thrived in that role. This year, he had to step in and start 6 games due to injuries to Free including both playoff games. He didn’t allow a sack in 6 games and the Dallas OL didn’t seem to miss a beat. I think he’s a guy who’s poised to get a starting job in FA. Really proved himself this year. Dallas runs a ZBS but Parnell has the size to play RT in a PBS. Not sure what type of contract he’ll get because he’s never been a full time starter but he’s one of those guys who could be a great value buy in FA because of that. Really good performance when he’s played the past two years.
Derek Newton is a bit of a different story from Parnell. He’s been a full time starter for the Texans but really struggled in Kubiak’s ZBS. The Texans brought in Boudreau’s assistant OL Coach from Atlanta as their new OL Coach under O’Brien and Newton thrived in his scheme. They now replaced that OL Coach with another. Newton has the size to play in a PBS and I think he fits best in a PBS. He’s a better run blocker than pass protector at RT and has some of the same issues that Barksdale has(i.e. really good run blocker but average pass protector) but I think he’ll be a bit cheaper and still has some upside because he’s an athletic kid that was quite raw coming out. Plus, Newton performed EXTREMELY well at OG this year when Houston needed him to step in. So he adds some versatility and could possibly even be considered as an OG convert.
Why not Rodney Hudson? I’ve been hearing rumors that he wants to be one of the highest paid centers in the league. That’s like $8 to $9 million a year. I’d rather get two of these guys than only one player. But if his price is more reasonable…like $7 to $7.5 million a year, I’d be good with him.
Why not Iupati? Seems like your typical signing that blows up in our face. Been getting more and more nicked up the past couple years, isn’t a good pass protector, and is about to get paid big money. These signings never work out for us. I’d stay away from him.
Why not Wisniewski? I’m not opposed to Wisniewski but I’ve been looking into him more and he seems like more of an average Center than anything. If I were to sign him, it would have to be at a reasonable price…like a similar price to what I’m estimating on Newton. That all said, I’m not as concerned about the Center position as some other Rams fans and I happen to like some of the Centers in this draft. Would rather fortify OG and OT before the draft…and improve depth.
znModeratorTop 101 NFL free agents for 2015
By Gregg Rosenthal and Chris Wesseling
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30…2015?campaign=Twitter_atn_wesseling_rosenthal
Need a pass rusher, running back or top-level wide receiver? This is a great free agency period for your team. Just don’t expect to find a quarterback, safety or offensive tackle.
Ranked below are our top 101 unrestricted free agents. Keep checking our list because salary cap casualties could be added before free agency starts. Based on who’s available, these are the players we’d want to sign:
Tier 1: Difference-makers
1. Ndamukong Suh, DT, Detroit Lions: Outside of quarterbacks and the two unanimous All-Pros (J.J. Watt, Rob Gronkowski), Suh and Odell Beckham are the two unique talents around whom we would most like to build a franchise. A double-team defeater against the run as well as the pass, Suh is on a Hall-of-Fame career path. He holds all of the leverage in contract talks, as his franchise tag number is a prohibitive $26.7 million.
2. Justin Houston, OLB, Kansas City Chiefs: Houston, 26, came within one sack of breaking Michael Strahan’s single-season record last season. He has averaged a league-best 1.2 sacks per game over the past two years. One of our favorite obscure stats: Houston has committed zero penalties over that same span compared to 20 for Jerry Hughes. The Chiefs will apply the franchise tag if necessary.
3. Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys: It’s a testament to Bryant’s NFL-best red-zone efficiency and bodacious run-after-catch ability that he has led the league with 41 touchdowns over the past three years despite a limited route tree. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport has reported the franchise tag is almost a certainty because the Cowboys still have reservations about Bryant’s off-the-field behavior.
4. Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos: For defensive backs there might not be a scarier sight than Thomas screaming off a bubble screen, all power and speed with eyes on the end zone. A model of consistency, Thomas has averaged roughly 100 receptions, 1,500 yards and 12 touchdowns per season since Peyton Manning arrived in 2012. The Broncos won’t let him reach the market.
5. Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, New York Giants: Finally free from nagging back pain, Pierre-Paul rounded into shape last year. More of a run-stuffer early in the first half of the season, he started torturing offensive tackles in November, recording nine sacks in the final five games. The Giants are fully expected to keep him via the franchise tag.
6. Devin McCourty, S, New England Patriots: The converted cornerback is not only one of the NFL’s best coverage safeties, but also a respected leader on the Super Bowl champions’ defense. McCourty, 27, considers New England home and wants to stay, by way of the franchise tag or a long-term deal.
7. Julius Thomas, TE, Denver Broncos: The two-time Pro Bowl selection isn’t much of a blocker and has struggled with ankle injuries in multiple seasons. Those concerns are trumped by a rare skill set as a mismatch creating space in the middle of the field, excelling after the catch and posting up in the red zone. Thomas is a difference-making talent in the prime of his career. There will be plenty of demand if he hits the market, as expected.
8. Randall Cobb, WR, Green Bay Packers: With Wes Welker in decline, Percy Harvin an annual enigma and Victor Cruz injured, Cobb is the NFL’s undisputed slot king entering the 2015 offseason. He’s a punt returner after the catch and has a mind meld with Aaron Rodgers on broken plays. If the Packers are serious about a Super Bowl run, Cobb must be re-signed.
9. DeMarco Murray, RB, Dallas Cowboys: Murray was a tackle-breaking monster for the first three months of the season en route to Offensive Player of the Year honors. The No. 1 concern for potential suitors isn’t the benefit of the Cowboys’ dominant offensive line. It’s that Murray was saddled up for a back-breaking 497 touches. He wasn’t as elusive in December and January. If Dallas applies the tag to Bryant, Murray could be set free.
Tier 2: Impact Starters
10. Jerry Hughes, DE, Buffalo Bills: Hughes has averaged 10.0 sacks and 40 quarterback hurries over the past two years — numbers that place him just below Pro Bowl level. How much of that production is the result of feasting on easier matchups provided by the presence of dominant talents such as Marcell Dareus, Kyle Williams and Mario Williams?
11. Mike Iupati, G, San Francisco 49ers: He has been among the best maulers in the run game at guard in the entire league throughout his career. But Iupati is not great in pass protection and isn’t coming off his best season.
12. Greg Hardy, DE, Carolina Panthers: Hardy is not available to be signed until he comes off the Commissioner’s Exempt List, and he could be facing further suspension. But his talent, production and age are worth ranking in the top five here. Someone will give him a chance.
13. Byron Maxwell, CB, Seattle Seahawks: He’s the best option in a relatively thin cornerback crop. That makes him a candidate to be overpaid, but he’d fit well with former Seahawks assistants Gus Bradley or Dan Quinn.
14. Torrey Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens: Speed kills. Smith has averaged nearly 17 yards per catch for his career and regularly draws long pass interference penalties. Just don’t expect him to be a true No. 1 receiver.
15. Jason Worilds, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers: He doesn’t always finish plays with sacks, but Worilds consistently pressures the quarterback. He will get paid.
16. Pernell McPhee, OLB/DE, Baltimore Ravens: He can rush standing up from the outside or play defensive tackle. But plenty of Ravens defenders have struggled away from Baltimore.
17. Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles: He might not be as productive away from Chip Kelly’s system. We suspect Kelly won’t let him get away.
18. Nick Fairley, DT, Detroit Lions: A boom-or-bust pickup, Fairley can be one of the best at his position when motivated.
19. Bryan Bulaga, T, Green Bay Packers: In a tackle-thin market, Bulaga offers rock solid starter status on the right side.
20. Jared Odrick, DT, Miami Dolphins: Quality, versatile defensive line starters are not easy to find in free agency.
21. Terrance Knighton, DT, Denver Broncos: One of the NFL’s premier run-stuffers, Knighton has played for new Raiders coach Jack Del Rio in every one of his six seasons. He’s a better scheme fit in Oakland than Denver.
22. Rodney Hudson, C, Kansas City Chiefs: There are whispers that Hudson’s goal is to become the NFL’s highest-paid center. We aren’t quite as high on him as we were on Alex Mack last year.
Tier 3: Starters with questions
23. Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Philadelphia Eagles: Best suited as a defensive end in a 4-3 defense, Graham has been a highly effective rotational pass rusher as an outside linebacker in Philly’s 3-4 scheme. Wesseling prefers him to Worilds.
24. Derrick Morgan, DE, Tennessee Titans: Much like Graham, Morgan gets more pressures than sacks. He’s also best utilized as a defensive end in a 4-3 scheme. He went to college in Atlanta. It’s no secret that the Falcons’ top need is pass rusher.
25. Brandon Flowers, CB, San Diego Chargers: Flowers is looking down the barrel of age 30, is too often nicked up and has size limitations that will scare off some teams. On the flip side, he played at a high level in bounce-back season last year.
26. Brian Orakpo, OLB, Washington Redskins: Prior to getting hit with the franchise tag early last March, Orakpo held down a top-10 spot on our list — only to go down with his third career torn pectoral injury. The Falcons were reportedly hot on his trail at this time in 2014.
27. Kareem Jackson, CB, Houston Texans: After struggling early in his career, Jackson has developed into a solid starter capable of playing inside and outside. He’s tight with Vance Joseph, the Bengals’ esteemed defensive backs coach.
28. Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints: Still just 25 years old with little tread on his tires, Ingram should attract plenty of interest on the heels of a breakout 2014 season. The cap-strapped Saints can’t afford a back of his caliber.
29. Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers: Crabtree denied playing through a foot injury last season, but the game film suggests otherwise. Any team signing him will be to hope he can recover the impressive pre-Achilles tear form that helped propel the 49ers into Super Bowl XLVII.
30. Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers: While injury prone, Mathews is one of the hardest-running early-down backs in the league. He’s a perfect player to pair with a pass-catching back in the draft.
31. C.J. Spiller, RB, Buffalo Bills: Chris Wesseling wanted to rank Spiller much higher, but “peak Spiller” has only come out once in five seasons. He’s a great complementary part, not a foundation to build around.
32. Charles Clay, TE, Miami Dolphins: More of a versatile H-back than a big-bodied tight end, Clay is reportedly seeking $6 million annually. The Dolphins want to keep him, but they’ll have competition from the Bills and others.
33. Jabaal Sheard, DE, Cleveland Browns: Often overlooked and overrated, Sheard can provide solid starter snaps at a reasonable price.
34. Orlando Franklin, G/T, Denver Broncos: He excelled as a guard last season, and Franklin’s versatility to help out at right tackle will earn him money in a thin offensive line market.
35. Chris Culliver, CB, San Francisco 49ers: He hasn’t been the most consistent player throughout his career and he previously suffered a torn ACL, but Culliver has loads of talent. He’s coming off a strong season and has a high ceiling.
36. Rahim Moore, S, Denver Broncos: Forget that play against Baltimore. Moore has developed into a quality starting safety, and he’s only 25 years old.
37. Dan Williams, NT, Arizona Cardinals: Williams has improved every season since getting taken in the first round during the Whisenhunt/Graves era. There are way more 3-4 defenses in the NFL than there are true nose tackles like Williams.
38. Jordan Cameron, TE, Cleveland Browns: If this list came out a year ago, Cameron would have ranked in the top 15 because he’s a matchup nightmare. Concussion woes now jeopardize Cameron’s future.
39. Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers: The Inconvenient Truth can still block, catch and turn a 1-yard stuff into a 4-yard gain like a boss. He’s a nice veteran short-term pickup for a team seeking a title.
40. B.J. Raji, DT, Green Bay Packers: 2013 was an off year. 2014 was an injury year. The talent is there, but it’s been a while since we’ve seen it.
41. David Harris, LB, New York Jets: Harris is on the wrong side of 30, but he’s reportedly drawing interest from the Bills, Dolphins, Bears and Falcons, in addition to the Jets.
42. Stefen Wisniewski, C, Oakland Raiders: Wisniewski is a solid starter in his prime. So why are the Raiders being linked to Hudson as his replacement?43. Davon House, CB, Green Bay Packers: House is seeking a starting job after four years as a sub-package corner in Green Bay. Don’t be surprised if the Packers re-sign him and allow Tramon Williams to walk.
44. Tramon Williams, CB, Green Bay Packers: Williams was an above-average starter last season, but he turns 32 years old next month. He will have to settle for a short-term contract.
45. Stephen Paea, DT, Chicago Bears: The Bears have struggled up front against the run, but Paea did emerge as a disruptive pocket pusher last season.
46. Henry Melton, DT, Dallas Cowboys: A Rosenthal favorite, Melton was effective for the majority of last season as an interior pass rusher.
47. Brandon Spikes, LB, Buffalo Bills: Spikes has a niche skill-set as a premier two-down run-stuffer.
48. Antonio Cromartie, CB, Arizona Cardinals: Still a quality starter, Cromartie seems likely to follow Todd Bowles to New York for a reunion with the Jets.
49. Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Atlanta Falcons: Weatherspoon was the Falcons’ top defender before Lisfranc, knee and Achilles injuries limited him to 20 of a possible 48 games over the last three seasons.
50. Cecil Shorts, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars: Similar to Miles Austin a few years back, Shorts is a strong after-the-catch threat whose explosiveness has been sapped by lingering soft-tissue injuries. Word around the campfire is that he is interested in a Cleveland homecoming.
51. Shane Vereen, RB, New England Patriots: The Gronk generation’s answer to Kevin Faulk in New England, Vereen is basically a younger version of Reggie Bush at this point.
52. Antrel Rolle, S, New York Giants: The weekly hot takes on his radio appearances are more consistent than his pass coverage.
53. Doug Free, T, Dallas Cowboys: Notice how there are only right tackles available in free agency?
54. Rolando McClain, LB, Dallas Cowboys: Does any team want to bet on lightning striking twice without any more drama? McClain probably has more value to the Cowboys than any other team.
55. Perrish Cox, CB, San Francisco 49ers: Something is in the water in San Francisco, where the 49ers have coached up a lot of cornerbacks to career years. Cox played like a Pro Bowl pick for much of last season.
56. Clint Boling, G, Cincinnati Bengals: True starting guards like Boling usually get paid big money on the open market.57. Jake Locker, QB, Tennessee Titans: Accuracy and durability are issues, but Locker has a higher ceiling than any of the other quarterback options in free agency. At best, he should compete to start.
58. Justin Forsett, RB, Baltimore Ravens: Don’t expect a big contract after Forsett’s big season, but he’s a nice fit for any team running zone blocking.
59. Da’Norris Searcy, S, Buffalo Bills: With few quality safeties out there, Searcy looks like a smart value pickup.
60. Joe Barksdale, T, St. Louis Rams: You can plug him in to start at right tackle.
61. Kenny Britt, WR, St. Louis Rams: The good: Britt established a career-high with 48 receptions last season. The bad: He topped 70 yards in just two games.
62. James Carpenter, OG, Seattle Seahawks: Too often a liability in pass protection, Carpenter hasn’t lived up to his first-round draft pedigree.
63. Stephen Gostkowski, K, New England Patriots: Gostkowski has led the NFL in field goals over the past two seasons, converting an impressive 93.6 percent.
Tier 4: Needs the right role
64. Ryan Mallett, QB, Houston Texans: Here’s what we know about Mallett: He has an impressive whip; the Patriots gave him away for a sixth-round draft pick; it took him three months to unseat Ryan Fitzpatrick; coach Bill O’Brien protected him with an outstanding game plan in his first start; he went down with a season-ending injury in his second start.
65. Justin Blalock, G, Atlanta Falcons: He has been a solid starter throughout his career, but is on the wrong side of the 30. He’ll have suitors.
66. Walter Thurmond, CB, New York Giants: Thurmond was a highly effective slot corner in 2013, but that is the only season in which he has stayed healthy.
67. Josh McCown, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Is McCown the quarterback who nearly carried the Bears to the playoffs two years ago or the quarterback who face-planted behind a turnstile offensive line in Tampa last season? Yes.
68. Buster Skrine, CB, Cleveland Browns: Playing opposite Joe Haden, Skrine has been targeted more than any cornerback in the league over the past two years. At 5-foot-9 and 185 pounds, he might be viewed as an inside corner on the open market.
69. Mark Sanchez, QB, Philadelphia Eagles: At one point last season, Sanchez had joined Andrew Luck, Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning as the only quarterback overseeing an offense that averaged more than 30 points and 400 yards per game. Then he reverted into one of the game’s most mistake-prone signal-callers with the season on the line.
70. Kendrick Lewis, S, Houston Texans: Lewis salvaged his value by emerging as one of the most consistent defensive backs in Houston after a subpar showing with the Chiefs in 2013.
71. Brian Hoyer, QB, Cleveland Browns: If the goal is to hold the fort for a raw rookie, teams could do a lot worse than Hoyer. If the goal is to contend for the playoffs with Hoyer under center, his limitations will be exposed — just as they were down the stretch last season.
72. Mason Foster, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Foster didn’t fit Lovie Smith’s defense, but looked like a decent young starter in 2013. Perhaps he could join old friend Raheem Morris in Atlanta.
73. Dwight Freeney, LB/DE, San Diego Chargers: Freeney is strictly a situational pass rusher now, although he can still be effective.
74. Reggie Bush, RB, Detroit Lions: For the right price (one-year, $3.5 million), Bush can still help teams as a passing-down threat.
75. Bruce Carter, LB, Dallas Cowboys: Carter makes plenty of big plays, but he gives them up as well.
76. Cory Redding, DE, Indianapolis Colts: Aside from Vontae Davis, Redding was outplaying anyone on the Colts’ defense in the playoffs last season.
77. Brooks Reed, LB, Houston Texans: Peter King once predicted Reed would win Defensive Player of the Year. That should be worth something.
78. Kendall Langford, DT, St. Louis Rams: Quality rotation defensive linemen are not easy to find. Langford was only cut because he was paid big money and was backing up Aaron Donald.
79. Jermaine Gresham, TE, Cincinnati Bengals: He’s a below average starter and an above average backup.
80. Rey Maualuga, LB, Cincinnati Bengals: Marvin Lewis’ defense struggled without Maualuga and instincts last year. He’s a decent bet to return.
81. Jarvis Jenkins, DE, Washington Redskins: Jenkins never made the leap as a second-round draft pick billed as the prototype 3-4 defensive end.
82. Mike Adams, S, Indianapolis Colts: Adams exceeded expectations as a late-period free-agent signing, solidifying the back end of the Colts’ defense. Will there be much interest in a 34-year-old safety?
83. Akeem Ayers, LB, New England Patriots: Ayers played a key role for the Super Bowl champions after the 2-14 Titans couldn’t find a spot for him.
84. Hakeem Nicks, WR, Indianapolis Colts: Nicks regained a semblance of his playmaking form down the stretch last season, but the Colts didn’t think highly enough of him to bench an obviously struggling Reggie Wayne.
85. Karl Klug, DE, Tennessee Titans We see Klug as a situational pass rusher who could surprise with six to eight sacks in a 4-3 defense like Seattle’s.
86. Barry Cofield, DT, Washington Redskins: He’s coming off an injury-plagued season, but run stuffing nose tackles are very hard to find.
86. Stevan Ridley, RB, New England Patriots: Ridley is an interesting power back, albeit one coming off ACL surgery.
87. Roy Helu, RB, Washington Redskins: Helu might have overtaken Pierre Thomas as the best screen-pass specialist in the league last year.
88. Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Indianapolis Colts: Bradshaw is effective whenever he plays. Unfortunately, that seems to be roughly a half-dozen times per year. One of the most hard-charging backs in the league has been betrayed by his lower legs.
89. Darnell Dockett, DT, Arizona Cardinals: Anyone signing Dockett will get a great Twitter account, but he’s going to be a part-time player coming off ACL surgery.
90. Ahtyba Rubin, DT, Cleveland Browns: Rubin once had a reputation as a premier run-plugger. The Browns had the league’s worst run defense in 2014.
91. Adrian Clayborn, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The No. 20 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft ended up playing just 36 games in four years with the Bucs. Even when healthy, Clayborn hasn’t been disruptive as a pass rusher.
92. Charles Tillman, CB, Chicago Bears: Former coach Marc Trestman believed that Tillman was playing at a Pro Bowl level early last season. On the other hand, Tillman is a 34-year-old cornerback coming off a second torn triceps injury.
93. Lance Briggs, LB, Chicago Bears: The seven-time Pro Bowl selection isn’t going to hang with tight ends in coverage in his mid-thirties, but he can still provide solid run defense with a move inside if the Bears opt to bring him back for a 13th season.
94. Rob Housler, TE, Arizona Cardinals: Housler is one of the NFL’s speediest tight ends, but Bruce Arians doesn’t have any use for that species if they don’t block. He needs a change of scenery.
95. Denarius Moore, WR, Oakland Raiders: A perennial tease.
96. C.J. Mosley, DT, Detroit Lions: A late bloomer, Mosley is coming off the most effective season of his 10-year career.
97. Patrick Robinson, CB, New Orleans Saints: An oft-burned first-round draft bust through four seasons, Robinson was noticeably stingier in coverage last year.
98. Ron Parker, S, Kansas City Chiefs: A career special teamer, Parker started 15 games last season, splitting his time between cornerback and safety. That versatility has value.
99. Anthony Spencer, DE, Dallas Cowboys: Returning from microfracture surgery, Spencer struggled to make an impact before coming on in late December.
100. Brian Hartline, WR, Miami Dolphins: He had two recent 1,000-yard seasons and he’s not yet 30, but Hartline is best used as a third receiver.
101. Michael Vick, QB, New York Jets: We still believed Vick could help a team last offseason, but his heart didn’t seem to be in the one-year Jets stint.
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znModeratorNick Dimengo writes for Bleacher Report, Scout, Maxim, Esquire, BroBible, Ranker, CelebToob and Worthly, and is Consulting Senior Content Strategist at Crown Social Agency
Other articles by Nick Dimengo:
* 15 of the Highest Earning CEOs in 2015
Being a CEO is what we, in the biz, like to call, “being a boss.”* 15 of the Richest Actors Who Starred in Horrible Movies
When it comes to acting, it’s one of those things where you just need to take what you can get.* 15 of the Richest Celebrities Who Have No Fashion Sense
You would think that some of our favorite celebrities, with all of their money and connections, would learn how to dress.Apparently Mr. Dimengo specializes in the number 15.
I’m particularly impressed by the fact he writes for BroBible, which as a publication features things like this:
znModeratorhe was due $4.75 million this year, and might not have been a perfect fit as they transition to more of a zone blocking scheme under new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
–Long-time starting left guard Justin Blalock was released by the Falcons on Friday.http://atlantafalcons.blog.ajc.com/2015/02/27/falcons-cut-veteran-wide-receiver-harry-douglas/
Blalock, 6-foot-4, 326 pounds, was selected by the Falcons in the second-round (39th overall) of the 2007 NFL draft out of Texas. He started all 125 games in which he played, including 102 consecutive games between 2007 and 2014. Blalock started 15 games in 2014.
Blalock did not test well in the 20-yard shuttle and three-cone agility drills at the 2007 combine. Blalock, 31, also sat out with a back issue last season after previously never missing a game because of injury.
The staff concluded that he doesn’t fit the new blocking scheme. Also, Blalock, who had two years left on his contract, was due a base salary of $4.75 million next season and had a cap figure of $7.91 million (third highest on the team). The team will take a significant cap hit for his release because he received an $11 million signing bonus in 2011 that was prorated over the life of the contract.
“The main thing when get these linemen in here, is we are going to get them to run,” offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan said. “They are going to run more than they ever have before. We are going to challenge the defense sideline to sideline, not just between the tackles. It’s a challenge to get guys to run and still be as physical as anybody.”
The system was popularized in the 1990s by the Broncos with assistant coach Alex Gibbs and head coach Mike Shanahan, Kyle’s father. Gibbs later coached with the Falcons under Jim L. Mora.
“You need to be able to run,” Shanahan said. “It’s not necessarily always the 40. You need quickness. I had some bigger guys in Cleveland that I did in Washington and there were some pluses to it and some minuses. Everyone wants a huge player who can run faster than everyone else. Until they allow me to spend top pick on linemen five years in a row that’s not going to happen. You have to find other ways to get by.”
znModeratorfrom off the net
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Madam Goldberg
The more vets hit the market the cheaper they become. Also a lot of young Guards coming out in the draft.
znModeratorBA should pay attention to his own team.
Hey, bnw, give us a bit of an intro to yourself! Whatever would be fun to share.
znModerator<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>zn wrote:</div>
Nittany, have you read The Omnivore’s Dilemma?No I haven’t. It was written by Pollan, right?
And it’s good. The first section is about corn, and demystifies a lot of things. For example, those seeds that were developed to allow high yields of corn were (1) patented, and (2) designed so the corn that grows from them cannot produce viable seeds capable of growth. They also require massive amounts of fertilizer, which washes down the Mississippi and produces a huge dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. Plus of course, being so cheap (because it’s subsidized), corn gets fed to mass-produced cattle, which can’t digest corn properly…and the result is, corn-fed cattle is constantly on anti-biotics.
It’s all one big mess.
znModerator) Is he too brittle, too fragile to be
counted on for 16 games, etc.I don’t think so. I think he had 2 freak hyper-extensions of the same knee. Hyperextensions come from planting your foot wrong and having the leg move the wrong way. There’s nothing “fragile” about them–and they don’t have to come from contact. It’s not about being hit. I’ve had 4 bad ones that I remember, and none of them came from any kind of “contact” (thankfully, in my case there was never an ACL tear.) Same thing happened to Palmer when he went down…no one “hit” him, he just planted his leg wrong.
The question is, can someone with 2 ACLs still play?
In terms of “yes Bradford is a 90 rating qb when he has a relatively healthy OL and a running threat”…actually I have seen people reject that. They claim the stats are just cherry-picked; or that good qbs elevate damaged lines, even ones as problematic as the Rams line was in early 2012 (I keep asking for examples of that.) (So far the only credible example was Seattle in 2013, but I claim if you look at the details, the Seattle injury line of 2013 was far better off than the Rams injury OL of 2012. Meanwhile, I point to examples like Flacco and Eli in 2013, who both suffered from extensive OL issues.)
znModeratorThis is just part of an article…namely, quotes from Weinke that did not appear in the Thomas or Wagoner pieces.
from Weinke Ready for New NFL Challenge
…
“I think he’s a natural passer of the football, which you can’t say that about everybody,” Weinke said. “I think his athleticism is better than most guys I saw coming out of college. I think his football IQ is really high. There’s a competitive greatness about the kid. So I think when you couple all those things together, that’s a pretty good product.”
“He wants to be great,” Weinke added. “He’s doing all the little things right. He’s got a plan, which I love, and I think, to me, again, we all understand the game of football, and it’s unfortunate that we have to have injuries, but we do. The more important piece to me is how are you dealing with it. And I think his mindset is great right now.”
As Fisher put it, Weinke has taken a leap of faith in leaving a good situation at IMG to come coach with the Rams. But the QBs coach did his due diligence, and said he’s very excited about the process going forward.
“I think what I found in terms of going through the process here, is that from top to bottom, it’s a solid organization,” Weinke said. “There were some opportunities to go to college and the NFL the last couple years, and I just didn’t feel like it was the right time. And I felt like, for me, it’s really about being in the right place in the right environment with the right people, and this was a perfect fit for me.”
znModeratorfrom off the net
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Flipper336
[Before the 2012 draft I thought] Cox was the better one gap DT but I preferred Brockers. Why is that? Because I didn’t see that as the best way to develop him. The Rams are probably the only team that would’ve had him slim down and make him a penetrating DT. They only saw his length and their coach was quoted saying he would make Brockers a pass rusher. I’ll never forget it because I thought it was dumb the second I heard it.
Did I think he could eventually be a one gap guy? Sure, but I certainly never thought that was the best way to use him. As a pass rusher in any scheme I of course thought he could develop but I didn’t anticipate asking him to lose weight and be quicker, [what I liked about Brockers] was based on making him stronger and more powerful.
This staff has had no clue what they wanted from him and he has played fine, imagine if they let him do what he does best, like they did with Donald, from day one?
znModeratorAdding Chris Weinke important for Rams’ QB pursuits
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — One way or another, the St. Louis Rams are going to add a young quarterback at some point this offseason. With that in mind, coach Jeff Fisher wanted to talk to former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke.
“There’s going to be a time whether its here in two months or three months or whenever that we’re going to have a young quarterback,” Fisher said at last week’s combine. “I don’t think there is anybody better qualified to coach a young quarterback than him.”
So it was that Weinke arrived in Indianapolis as the director of the football program at IMG Academy and left as the Rams quarterbacks coach. In some ways, it’s entirely possible that adding Weinke to the mix might be one of the best moves the Rams will make this offseason.
Although this is Weinke’s first foray into coaching at the NFL level, the type of experience he does have might be more beneficial than if he had been working in the league for the past five years. Working at IMG afforded Weinke the chance to come to St. Louis with perhaps the most diversified portfolio of any quarterbacks coach in the league.
“At the end of the day, I’ve been able to touch a lot of different guys with a lot of different skill sets coming from a lot of different backgrounds,” Weinke said. “You have to adapt and you’ve got to be able to understand the importance of every quarterback as an individual. You may be able to understand something visually or you may have to write it down. I need to know what my quarterbacks can handle. So I will coach every quarterback with certain fundamentals, let them have some flexibility within that but then understand how they learn because that’s the most important thing.”
Along the way, Weinke worked with Carolina’s Cam Newton, who came from a system that asked very little in terms of regurgitation and playing under center. For eight weeks in 2011, while the NFL was in a lockout, Weinke spent his mornings teaching Newton the finer points of taking snaps and basics like how to take a play call and spit it out in a huddle rather than look to the sideline for a number or a signal.
When those sessions were done, Weinke would turn his attention to working with another incoming rookie, Christian Ponder. He helped both essentially install their new offenses while their pro coaches weren’t allowed to even have contact with their rookie quarterbacks.
The list of quarterbacks to work with Weinke also includes Seattle’s Russell Wilson, Minnesota’s Teddy Bridgewater and Miami’s Ryan Tannehill, among others. The detailed Weinke draws on his many years as a quarterback — he’s kept every note and game plan he’s ever taken from Pop Warner to now — to adapt to whatever style of quarterback he’s working with.
The key, according to Weinke, isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel so much as tweak it to become more efficient.
“I think when you look at all the different styles I’ve seen, what i do is not try to create a robot,” Weinke said. “That’s not what I’m trying to do. I want these guys to be able to play with confidence. I’m not going to try to change somebody’s throwing motion. That’s not what I’m in the business of doing. I’m going to take it and maybe tweak it a little so we can maximize whatever the good Lord gave him. So at the end of the day, I always said when you were a kid and picked up a rock and threw it in the lake, that’s your natural throwing motion and you’ve been doing that your whole life. So who am I to think now at 20, 21, 22 years old that I’m going to change that? That’s not a very smart move.”
Instead, Weinke’s focus is on fundamentals, starting with footwork and building from there up.
“It’s hard for a one-legged man to be in a kickboxing fight, right?” Weinke said. “So understand you have got to have balance. How do we throw the football with maximum power from a good platform and be consistent and throw with accuracy? At the end of the day, we all understand that you must throw the football with anticipation in the National Football League.”
In St. Louis, most signs point to Weinke working with Sam Bradford. Bradford is the only quarterback under contract and though his agent Tom Condon is in a serious game of chicken with the Rams at the moment, it still seems likely he’ll be in St. Louis when all is said and done. Weinke and Bradford had dinner before Weinke was hired and Weinke has nothing but good things to say about Bradford.
“Love him,” Weinke said. “I look back and every guy that I’ve evaluated coming out of college, a few years ago when Andrew Luck came out, they said who would you compare him to? And the closest I would see is Sam Bradford.”
But even if Bradford is on board, the likelihood remains that the Rams will spend a relatively high pick on a new quarterback. Before Weinke, it was fair to wonder whether they had the coaching staff in place to take on a project from a spread system like UCLA’s Brett Hundley or Baylor’s Bryce Petty and develop him into a functional NFL quarterback.
With Weinke in place, you’d be hard-pressed to find a quarterback bringing something to the table he hasn’t already seen.
znModeratorReleasing Kendall Langford makes sense, but Rams need depth
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — The St. Louis Rams’ decision Thursday afternoon to part ways with defensive tackle Kendall Langford came as no surprise.
The Rams needed salary-cap space, and releasing Langford afforded them an extra $6 million in that regard. And though Langford was a solid and probably underrated player in his time in St. Louis, he had lost his job to dynamic rookie Aaron Donald. There aren’t many teams willing to eat a $7 million cap charge for a backup at any position.
Even from Langford’s standpoint, it was probably for the best because it allows him a chance to go seek a starting job elsewhere. Having played well in both a 3-4 (in Miami) and 4-3 (in St. Louis) defense, Langford should have no problem finding work. At 28, he figures to have plenty of good football in front of him and the Rams did the right thing to let him go now so he can seek a job before the free-agent market opens on March 10.
So for both sides, it’s a move that was not only logical but handled as well as a breakup can be. But while the Rams understandably didn’t want to pay such a premium for depth at defensive tackle, Langford’s release does leave them shorthanded on the interior of the defensive line.
As it stands, only starters Michael Brockers and Donald are signed for 2015. The Rams also have William Hayes, Eugene Sims and Ethan Westbrooks, all of whom are ends by trade but have the ability to shift inside situationally. Absent Langford and considering they’re unlikely to re-sign Alex Carrington, who disappointed after signing a one-year deal last year, the Rams now again could find themselves in the market for help at defensive tackle.
That doesn’t even take into account that Brockers is scheduled to be a free agent after next season. The Rams under coach Jeff Fisher have valued the ability to have a rotation among defensive lineman, though that has been tempered a bit by Donald’s ability to play at a high level for most of the game.
The free-agent market at defensive tackle looks intriguing at the moment but the Rams will almost certainly be shopping in the bargain bin if they look to add a veteran. This year’s NFL draft also doesn’t look to be flush with talent at the position but again, the Rams probably won’t need to spend serious draft capital to find a capable body.
Some were surprised a year ago when the Rams drafted Donald because they already had Brockers, Langford and Carrington in place. With only Brockers and Donald in place this time around, another addition or two at the position shouldn’t take anybody by surprise.
znModeratorHow John Oliver Transformed the Net Neutrality Debate Once and for All
It started with a case of coyote urine.
Before June 1, 2014, just four episodes of Last Week Tonight With John Oliver had aired. The weekly, half-hour HBO show took on current affairs from comedic angle. Conceptually in debt to Oliver’s alma mater, The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight nonetheless aimed for deeper dives on abstruse subjects, hardly a tried-and-true recipe for TV success. But as the fifth show began at 11 pm that Sunday, the British comedian introduced his latest explainer, joking that the Internet had vastly increased access to everything from cat pictures to “a case of coyote urine.”
What followed was an acclaimed segment on net neutrality, that not only created significant buzz for his show but gave a bump to a political movement that will score its biggest victory to date on Thursday when the Federal Communications Commission is expected to buck cable companies, the GOP, and its own previous stance, to ensure protections for Oliver’s beloved open-access Internet for millions of Americans.
“Turn on caps lock, and fly, my pretties!”
John OliverDuring his 13-minute segment, Oliver name-checked Netflix, Google, Usain Bolt, Superman, the game Monopoly, and Mein Kampf, and compared the FCC hiring former cable company lobbyists to “needing a babysitter and hiring a dingo.”
“Our government looks set to end net neutrality,” Oliver warned, but there was a way to save it: The FCC was taking comments on rules. “Seize your moment, my lovely trolls,” Oliver implored at the segment’s climax as music swelled. “Turn on caps lock, and fly, my pretties!”
And it worked. “By Monday, the FCC’s commenting system had stopped working, thanks to more than 45,000 new comments on net neutrality likely sparked by Oliver,” the Washington Post’s Soraya Nadia McDonald reported on June 4. Oliver “may be just the firebrand activist we’re looking for.”
Net neutrality can be a mind-numbing concept. Oliver called it “even boring by C-SPAN standards.” At heart, it’s the policy that Internet providers (like a cable company) can’t charge content providers (like Netflix) to speed up delivery of their goods. Net neutrality advocates, like President Obama and now FCC Chair Tom Wheeler, say it’s what makes the Internet the relatively democratic place it is. Opponents like Senators Ted Cruz and John Thune say it will eliminate rewards for successful innovation.
Oliver wrangled a whole lot of advocates on June 1.
The Verge printed emails supposedly from actual FCC officials calling the segment “classic” and “Priceless!!!!!!” and saying, “We had a good laugh about it. The cable companies… not so much.”
In November, just days after Obama endorsed net neutrality, the late New York Times media critic David Carr quoted a Twitter policy spokesman as saying that “a meeting of lobbyists and policy types… thought Mr. Oliver’s piece trumped many other efforts.”
“We all agreed that John Oliver’s brilliant net neutrality segment explained a very complex policy issue in a simple, compelling way that had a wider reach than many expensive advocacy campaigns,” the spokesman, Nu Wexler, said.
Today, a video of the segment that was posted to the show’s YouTube account has received more than 8 million views.
Oliver gave us a great moment to rally around, and a hilarious video to share,” Tim Karr, senior director of strategy for Free Press, an advocacy group that has been fighting for net neutrality for more than a decade, wrote in an email to Bloomberg on Wednesday.
To be sure, the fight was far bigger than Oliver’s segment. Karr pointed to “dozens of advocacy organizations with email lists that numbered in the tens of millions.” Politico called the fight “a lobbying bonanza” on par with health care reform. Nor are the gains sure to hold, as Republicans have vowed to come up with an alternative to the rules.
John Oliver hasn’t said much about the segment’s impact, but the FCC’s Wheeler did.
“I think that it represents the high level of interest that exists in the topic in the country, and that’s good,” he said, choosing his words carefully at a hearing on June 13 when asked what he thought of the segment. “You know… I would like to state for the record that I’m not a dingo.”
znModerator
Rams release DT Kendall LangfordBy Jim Thomas
In the first of what figures to be several salary cap-related moves, the Rams have released defensive tackle Kendall Langford.
The move saves the Rams $6 million in cap space for 2015. Langford lost his starting job to rookie Aaron Donald this past season and saw his playing time greatly reduced. The Rams made the move now to give Langford a little extra time to find another job before the start of the free agency period March 10, by which time the market will be flooded with released players.
Langford, 29, signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Rams in 2012, as part of the first free agency class for coach Jeff Fisher and general manger Les Snead. Langford had spent his first four NFL seasons with Miami, who drafted him in the third round of the 2008 draft out of Hampton.
He was due $6 million in base salary and was scheduled to count $7 million against the cap in 2015, the last year of his Rams contract. He now will count only $1 million against the cap, in the form of “dead” money from un-amortized signing bonus money.
Making the transition from 3-4 end to 4-3 tackle once he joined the Rams, Langford started all 16 games in both the 2012 and 2013 seasons. He recorded 69 tackles and five sacks in ’13, both career highs.
His numbers fell off to 51 tackles and one sack last season.
Donald, en route to NFL defensive rookie of the year honors, took over the starting job from Langford in Game 5 of the 2014 season _ the Rams’ Oct. 13 Monday night game against San Francisco.
The Rams return both Donald and Michael Brockers as starters, but Thursday’s release of Langford could leave the Rams searching for depth on the interior of the defensive line.
znModeratorThe future is Britt.
And the future will be here Quick.
znModeratorRamBill
Nick Wagoner @nwagoner
Will have more later but just spent some time with new Rams QB coach Chris Weinke. Extremely impressive, full of energy.
Weinke a big fan of Sam Bradford. Said other than Andrew Luck, Bradford is best QB he’s evaluated coming out of college.
Weinke said he’s always wanted to move up, had set a goal of 5 years at IMG before advancing. Five years would’ve been 2 months from now.[/quote]
znModeratorTo me every bit of that could be written with a positive spin and therefore with different conclusions.
I for one never thought of Brockers as a “penetrator.”
And I don’t see the problem with him being a 4/3 nose.
I also don’t do the “where he was picked” game. The Rams needed a DT, when Donald came aboard they needed a 4/3 nose, those are not easy to find, I am okay with the pick.
February 25, 2015 at 6:44 pm in reply to: NFL will 'sweeten the pot' to keep the Rams in St. Louis #19086znModeratorI was just griping to someone today
about California. It seems like yall
get to vote on things out there.
Referendums on this and that.
We dont get to have ref-erendums in WV.I’d like to start a referendum about
giving us the right to have referendums.w
vReally?
Be careful what you wish for.
We started ballot propositions in California in the late 70s, so that we could pass bills that them damn politicians won’t or can’t. Great idea.
Now we get Safe Drinking Water initiatives that are backed by astroturf “citizens groups” that get their money from Monsanto, and propositions to reform education financing, only there will suddenly be 3 propositions on the same ballot that all claim to do great things for education reform, all with poison pills that will have to be litigated, and backed by carefully concealed interests, and to be honest, I don’t think most California voters actually read the complete text of each proposition before making their voting decisions.
And if the stadium goes to a vote in Inglewood, it will all be about traffic congestion, and crime, and drunkenness, and business revenue, and taxes in versus taxes out, with all kinds of tv commercials claiming completely different things with no way of knowing if anybody is even trying to tell the truth, and even if they are, if what they are saying is actually accurate because who the hell can figure any of this out?
So the real vote will be on “Do you want the NFL, specifically the Rams, right here in Inglewood, or not?” because that’s all most of the voters will care about, and all the other issues are just going to be market tested to find out where it is worthwhile to invest advertising dollars to bang a drum long enough to chip off a percentage of undecided voters.
If you want that kind of democracy in West Virginia, you are welcome to take California’s version of it, as far as I’m concerned.
What we’ve ended up with here is a lot of voters thinking they know more than the legislators, and that they can budget better than the state government can (cuz gov’t misappropriates all the $), and a lot of good causes got voted intractable amounts of the general budget to the point that our state government can’t actually govern anything anymore, and the voters have gone and misspent the money worse than the government ever did, and there’s nothing that can be done about it.
It’s true that the referendum process in California has been a nightmare.
znModeratorNittany, have you read The Omnivore’s Dilemma?
znModeratorThe true path is unknown to you?
Are you not of the body?
February 25, 2015 at 1:59 pm in reply to: NFL will 'sweeten the pot' to keep the Rams in St. Louis #19058znModeratorperpetual motion machine. why does that sound familiar?
February 25, 2015 at 1:55 pm in reply to: Balzer, Wagoner, and others on Bradford & rumors & contract talks #19056znModeratorAbout those daily Sam Bradford rumors
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16535/about-those-daily-sam-bradford-rumors
EARTH CITY, Mo. — In the latest churn of the Sam Bradford rumor mill, reports surfaced Tuesday that the Buffalo Bills are considering making a trade offer for the St. Louis Rams quarterback.
As is becoming increasingly common in this age of social media, those reports were summarily shot down with reports that no team has actually really pursued a trade for Bradford. The Buffalo rumors came on the heels of rumors that the Cleveland Browns had similar interest in Bradford. And those rumors followed speculation that Bradford had been given permission to seek a trade.
In addition to all of that, there have been other reports that Bradford does not want to take a pay cut and instead of being traded would prefer to be outright released.
For what it’s worth, Rams coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead have dismissed most of those rumors. Fisher went so far as to call the trade permission rumor as “inaccurate” at last week’s NFL scouting combine.
“When we’ve had him, he’s 5-2-1 in our division,” Fisher said. “And we weren’t very good when we got here, so we’re counting on him. I’m betting on him and if that doesn’t happen, then we’ll win games with somebody else.”
So what do we make of all this? It’s not unusual at this time of year and in these situations for these types of rumors to run rampant.
We do know the Rams would like to bring Bradford back at a cap number below his projected $16.58 million and a base salary less than his expected $12.985 million. We also know that there isn’t an agent in the league — especially one representing a high-priced quarterback — that would like to take a pay cut for a client.
That means it’s in the best interest of Tom Condon, Bradford’s agent, to do all he can to get the best deal possible out of the Rams. Rumors of other teams willing to trade or sign Bradford to big-money deals theoretically only drives the price up. It also doesn’t mean that any of those possibilities are real or that an agreement won’t eventually be reached.
If, indeed, some of those rumors materialized into legitimate offers then perhaps the Rams could consider it. While the Rams have repeatedly made it clear they are committed to having Bradford in 2015, it doesn’t mean that a big offer wouldn’t change their mind. Any player can be had for the right price, especially one coming off two consecutive torn ACLs.
But it’s also worth noting that if these teams were legitimately interested in Bradford, it stands to reason the Rams would have similar interest in keeping him. It’s not like the Rams have a better option waiting in the wings and the list of available quarterbacks in free agency or ones they could realistically get in the draft don’t offer a clear upgrade, either.
Simply put, Bradford is every bit as valuable to the Rams, probably more so, than he would be to other teams. It’s Condon’s job to figure out what that happy medium is. So even if at this very moment Condon would prefer not to take a pay cut for his client, it doesn’t mean he won’t after he gets a chance to gauge what Bradford might get if he were to come available.
And from a Rams’ perspective, there’s not necessarily a pressing need to get something done with Bradford. They need cap space but have other ways to obtain it by releasing players like tackle Jake Long, center Scott Wells and/or defensive tackle Kendall Langford or converting some of end Robert Quinn’s base salary to signing bonus.
People close to Bradford insist he wants to stay in St. Louis in 2015. The Rams insist they want to keep him. What shape that takes will reveal itself in time but in the meantime, don’t be surprised if the rumors persist.
February 25, 2015 at 1:41 pm in reply to: NFL will 'sweeten the pot' to keep the Rams in St. Louis #19055znModeratori was thinking the same thing. how can you just bypass all those regulations?
how long does it take to build a stadium anyway? i bet kroenke makes one in record time.
Plus it will run on a perpetual motion engine.
That’s a sly movie reference……..
znModeratorNFL sends survey to 185,000 fans in St. Louis area
Posted by Mike Florio on February 24, 2015, 7:27 PM EST
Survey
Getty Images
As the stadium dance continues in L.A., there’s some unfinished business in Missouri. St. Louis hopes to keep the Rams via the construction of a new venue, and the NFL seems to be interested in fully exploring the possibility.Via David Hunn of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, the NFL has sent a survey to 185,000 St. Louis-area residents via email. NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Hunn that the survey has two goals. Initially, the survey is aimed at assessing the viability of a new stadium in St. Louis. Secondarily, the survey seeks information about the location, seating, and amenities St. Louis fans would prefer. (It sounds a lot like the survey sent earlier this year to fans in L.A.)
“Our role is to assess the viability of a stadium and inform how a stadium would be best built in a particular market,” McCarthy told Hunn.
A new stadium in St. Louis won’t necessarily house the Rams. There’s a chance that the Rams would move to L.A., and that another team (perhaps the Raiders) would relocate to St. Louis.
Have to post links with articles, b.
I am doing that for this one, here:
http://m.nbcsports.com/content/nfl-sends-survey-185000-fans-st-louis-area
February 24, 2015 at 9:07 pm in reply to: NFL teams are most reluctant to take advantage of analytics #19008znModeratorRams ‘skeptics’ when it comes to analytics
By Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16512/rams-skeptics-when-it-comes-to-analytics
EARTH CITY, Mo. — In an extensive project appearing both on ESPN.com and ESPN the Magazine on Monday afternoon, 122 teams from all four of the major professional sports leagues were rated on “the strength of each franchise’s analytics staff, its buy-in from execs and coaches, its investment in biometric data and how much its approach is predicated on analytics.”
The project ranked a top 10 and a bottom 10 overall and put teams in five tiers in each sport. As you’d expect, not a single NFL team landed in the top 10. That’s understandable considering that the NFL is well behind the other sports in the overall use of analytics.
Likewise, football is harder to come up with metrics because it’s harder to evaluate the responsibility of all players from down to down. But even within the tiers of each sport, the St. Louis Rams were one of 12 teams rated as “skeptics” when it comes to analytics.
For context, no teams were rated as “all in,” nine received “believers” status, seven were considered “one foot in” and four teams were tabbed as “non believers.”
But skeptical doesn’t mean the Rams don’t use some sort of analytics. Kevin Demoff, the team’s chief operating officer, has said in the past he finds value in some of the numbers that are out there and has been a regular participant at the annual MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference. Coach Jeff Fisher has also been known to be willing to think outside the box a little bit.
The part on the Rams cites that general manager Les Snead is probably the most skeptical of the Rams’ top decision makers:
“It’s like if someone asks you to pick someone as a graduation speaker,” Snead said in the piece. “Do you just go on his nice résumé or how well he can write and put words together on a sheet of paper? Well, those may be the metrics of the situation. But for me, before you pick that speaker, I want actually go hear him and feel him speak. You want to go to that room and get the feeling of how that room reacts when he talks. Does he move the crowd? If you’re in the room, you can feel it, and then you can say, ‘Yeah, now he’s that guy!'”
It should also be noted, however, that the Rams do some behind-the-scenes work on the analytics front but prefer not to advertise it as much. They employ a “Director of Football Systems” by the name of Brian Wright. They prefer to speak in vague generalities about what his job is but in a piece on their website, there’s at least some clues that he’s helping compile information and numbers that go into acquiring players.
znModeratorIMO…here are the non-relocation highlights of JT’s chat.
Is Brian Quick recovering well? Looks that way. Been told he’s at the facility a lot during rehab.
I have my doubts that J. Long will be around for 2015.
Don’t thing anyone regards Hundley as the next Vince Young. Petty I think is a good option. Maybe Garrett Grayson?
I think Hundley and Petty go in the second round. Mannion and Grayson at least a round later.
I guess it’s possible Hundley goes in late first. But I think second round is more likely. There are a lot of QB needed teams, so I can’t give you a specific team.
Hundley gives you more on the mobility scale although Petty is no statue. I think the both have leadership potential, although I give a slight edge to Petty based on what I’ve read and observed first-hand. I think Petty’s probably a little bit more accurate.
I see Petty as accurate, smart, highly competitive, and high on the intangibles. He doesn’t have a cannon, but I think he’s got more than enough arm strength to make the throws. There will be a learning curve, however, to the pro-style offense. Not sure how much help he could be to a team as a rookie.
The Rams are at the stage now, where they don’t really need a lot of bodies. They need quality players at need positions.
The Rams have invested heavily in the draft in WRs: Tavon Austin went high in the 1st round; Brian Quick was the first pick of the 2nd round; Stedman Bailey Round 3; and Chris Givens Round 4. This has all come in the first three drafts of Fisher-Snead. So it’s not like they’ve ignored the position. And with the possible exception of Givens, I don’t think the Rams are ready to give up on any of those guys. They don’t feel like they need a bona fide No. 1, and will point to the Patriots’ and Seahawks’ WR corps to prove their point. I’m not necessarily saying they’re right, or that I agree with them. But that’s their approach.
I know for a fact that Bradford’s agent doesn’t want to take a pay cut at this point. As much as the Rams want to keep Bradford, and are almost boxed in to do so, I do wonder what will happen down the road if this stalemate continues. I’m not sure at this point if the Rams keep him if they can’t negotiate a decrease.
Let’s just say the Rams get a third-rounder for Bradford. How does that help your QB situation?
I’m sure several teams will kick the tires on Bradford. Tom Condon is among the best in the business. Still time to work this out.
In terms of the workout and drills, Mizzou’s Mitch Morse had one of the best workouts of any O-lineman at the Combine. Among the 52 O-linemen invited to the combine, he was among the top 8 performers, or better in just about every category. He’s not a first round, but could go second or third round. And his predecessor at Mizzou, Justin Britt, had a very successful year starting at RT for Seattle. Iowa’s Brandon Scherff, generally considered the best O-linemen in the draft only lifted and ran the 40 before suffering a hamstring injury that ended his combine. The small college guy from Hobart, Ali Marpet, worked out well. As did Va. Tech’s Laurence Gibson. Those two aren’t really considered top guys. But from what I can tell, none of the top guys (T.J. Clemmings, La’el Collins, etc.) hurt themselves.
February 24, 2015 at 7:51 pm in reply to: Balzer, Wagoner, and others on Bradford & rumors & contract talks #19002znModeratorNo team has contacted Rams regarding Sam Bradford
By Chris Wesseling
Around the NFL WriterDespite recent reports of interest from the Buffalo Bills or Cleveland Browns, a Sam Bradford trade remains highly unlikely.
As of Tuesday, no team has contacted the St. Louis Rams about trading for their enigmatic quarterback, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported, via sources informed of situation.
Because Bradford has missed the majority of the past two seasons and will have to compete to keep his starting job, the Rams have pressured him to accept a reduction in his $13 million salary that counts $16.6 million against the salary cap in the contract’s final year.
After balking at that request, Bradford’s agent was allowed to contact other teams to gauge the quarterback’s value. To this point, that has not sparked movement.
While a trade is theoretically possible, Bradford’s perceived value is diminished by an outsized salary no longer befitting an underperforming player coming off a twice-torn ACL.
Per Rapoport, it would take an extraordinarily desperate team to satisfy the Rams’ demand for compensation (second-round draft pick?) while also taking on Bradford’s bloated contract on a one-year rental.
While he’s certainly a more attractive option than EJ Manuel or Johnny Manziel, Bradford has never lived up to the regard in which he’s held by NFL scouts. He has too often been skittish in the pocket and scattershot with his accuracy, stifling the offense.
Bradford’s agent can’t be blamed for seeking a team willing to shell out the full salary, but the Rams believe the best-case scenario for both sides is a pay cut to finally rebuild his value as St. Louis’ franchise quarterback.
Are the Rams underestimating the level of Bills’ desperation in a bleak quarterback market? That’s what Bradford’s camp is selling.
znModeratorfrom off the net
—
alyoshamucci
Combine O linemen
The main thing I wanted to cover was the Interior Linemen, as it is the deepest draft I have ever seen for starter and quality backup players inside. So much so that I believe they could have invited another 30 players. My guess is that the guys with the best agents fought it out for the final ten spots. I think there will be at LEAST one guy to make our team from UDFA it is such a strong class.
Im going to do a top 10 thing . . .
1) The best OT is an OG. Scherff was the smoothest athlete, and he’s an OG.
2) Jake Fisher from ORE and Morse from Mizzou are the best OTs beyond that. It was hilarious trying to listen to Mayock creating a class of players from this really dreadful field. Clemmings is no where near ready, Peat is soft.
3) The OG from Louisville followed up a strong EW performance with a ridiculous set of field drills. He may have moved in to the mid or top of round 2.
4) I still like Gallik the best at OC because of his heavy hands, low hips, and intelligence. He’s also really fiesty and moves at a really high speed. But I think Ali Marpet has the perfect body and movement skills for a Center, and in the 5th I’d grab either one. Dismukes was okay, and smooth and smart, but I like those other two guys better.
5) Grasu has been a no show, and I’m bummed. I can barely remember his tape. I remember I liked it. He’ll either be there in the 5th or push one of those two guys down.
6) Best ever shadow drill for the OGs. They are usually sloppy and blubbery. Not this year. This year it was the OTs.
7) Tre Jackson, Matias, Erving, Cann, Tomlinson, Kuandjio, Miller, Marpet, Shaq Mason, and Harrison. Thats 10 IMO plug n play OGs (besides Scherff and Collins, and disregarding Grasu). Feliciano and the Poole kid from SDst. are just on the outside of that list. I like the aggression of Miami OGs.
8) Not invited top 7
G Tech Shaq Mason 6-1 312 Sr.
PITT 74 ORT (OG n-l?) Rotheram 6-6 335
WISC 73 OLG Lewallen 6-6 322
USC 70 ORG/OT Walker 6-6 300
Ms St. 63 OC Day 6-3 310
WVA 67 OLT Spain 6-5 335
AUB 62 OLG Slade 6-5 325
NEB 68 OLG Cotton 6-6 310 =
Guess we’re waiting on Pro day results?9) I don’t know that I have a first round OT.
10) I definitely don’t have a #10 for this list, but have to finish it anyway.
znModeratorPlus he already got his “Rams lineman get injured” injury out of the way.
That’s a great point. Thank god Rams linemen only get injured once in their careers….
Hey I didn’t say it was his LAST injury. He could very well have several more this year alone. So no need to dismiss him that cynically. He will have plenty of more chances to get more injuries. Sky’s the limit, in fact.
znModeratori have a good feeling about robinson. last year was a big learning experience, but i bet this guy works his ass off and comes into 2015 a totally different player.
Plus he already got his “Rams lineman get injured” injury out of the way.
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