Mackeyser wrote:

Part of the reason I’m hopeful is that Fisher has that Cheshire cat grin about this season that he hasn’t had before. He KNOWS that his defense under Gregg Williams is about to be unleashed and they haven’t shown the league anything, yet.

With Bradford down, the league is counting the Rams out.

Frankly, I think the Rams defense is going to come out breathing fire. Moreover, I think Shaun Hill is a more emotional leader and that guys respond to him and he’ll lead this team with aplomb.

I agree with JT on this (see his recent chat). They were a younger team, with less on both sides of the ball last year, and yet won 4 out of 9 with Clemens at qb. Now they’re more mature and deeper, guys are stepping up who no one expected to, Wms. is better than Walton and HIll is better than Clemens.

So I think they need one “confidence booster” win to propel them and they are good to go this year.

Inside the Roster

• By Jim Thomas

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/football/professional/inside-the-roster/article_2c275d51-a4aa-5220-9efc-4a2289595433.html

QUARTERBACKS

Does NFL life begin at 34 for Shaun Hill? The avid fisherman who calls the Lake of the Ozarks home has a chance to start throughout an entire 16-game schedule for the first time in his career. He has opened a season as the starter only once in his previous 12 NFL seasons, and does so Sunday against a Minnesota team that he entered the league with in 2002. Sam Bradford’s replacement needs to pose enough of a threat in the passing game, especially by completing a deep ball every now and then, to keep opposing defenses from stacking the box against the run. Coming off an impressive preseason, Austin Davis enters 2014 as the No. 2 quarterback. But he remains pretty much an unknown since he has yet to play in a regular-season game. It will take weeks for No. 3 Case Keenum, claimed off waivers from Houston, to be a factor as he learns the offense.

RUNNING BACKS

What can Zac Stacy do for an encore? He helped salvage the 2013 season, coming off the bench in Game 5 and gaining 969 yards rushing over the final 12 contests. Stacy looked a little leg-weary as the preseason progressed, and his rushing totals were underwhelming (15 carries, 39 yards). Stacy’s strength is inside running, and he has a knack for burrowing into a group of defenders and moving the pile. It will be interesting to see how much playing time Benny Cunningham gets behind Stacy. Cunningham was the most impressive RB in exhibition play. He has a little more wiggle and a little more speed than Stacy. Third-round draft pick Tre Mason had issues with pass protection in the preseason, so he may see very limited playing time early in the season. Undrafted Trey Watts was a preseason surprise; now he’ll try to carve out a role in the regular season.

WIDE RECEIVERS

There is cause for optimism based on the play of Kenny Britt, Brian Quick and Stedman Bailey during the June OTAs, training camp and the preseason. Unfortunately for the Rams, Bailey will miss the first four games for violating NFL policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He has looked very much like a go-to receiver, so his presence will be missed. Britt has been a pleasant surprise, emerging as the veteran leader of the unit. He and Quick are a pair of big targets with big-play potential. Quick looks like a different player this year; he’s more confident and is doing a better job coming down with contested balls. But seeing will be believing in the regular season. If the Rams get Quick and Britt going, that will make Tavon Austin much more effective working underneath. Chris Givens brings speed; Austin Pettis is a red zone threat.

TIGHT ENDS/FULLBACKS

Back for his second season here, Jared Cook has big-play potential and has shown good run-after-catch ability. But drops remain a concern, so maintaining focus and consistency in that area is a must. Lance Kendricks continues to grow as an all-around tight end who can block on the line or in the backfield and catch passes. He doesn’t have Cook’s speed but can get down the seam. Cory Harkey is a blocking specialist who does most of his work lined up in the backfield in a fullback role. He has improved as a pass-catcher in his time with the Rams and can’t be overlooked coming out of the backfield occasionally. Undrafted rookie Alex Bayer made the roster based on his pass-catching. He’s a willing blocker but still needs to polish up there. The Rams used plenty of two- and three-tight end sets a year ago, and that doesn’t figure to change.

OFFENSIVE LINE

Once again, there is a feast-or-famine nature to this unit. If left tackle Jake Long, left guard Rodger Saffold and center Scott Wells can stay healthy, this could be one of the league’s better units. But recent history shows that’s probably wishful thinking. We’ll see. Wells is smart, tough, and gets off the line and into the second level quickly. Saffold was a revelation last year after switching to guard, showing power and athleticism pulling on running plays. Underrated as a run blocker, Long could be rusty early coming off knee surgery. At right guard, former Tampa Bay Pro Bowler Davin Joseph is a crafty veteran who plays with a mean streak. Joe Barksdale has developed into Mr. Reliable at right tackle and is kind of an unsung hero. No. 2 overall draft pick Greg Robinson begins the year on the bench and needs work on his pass blocking.

DEFENSIVE LINE

The glamour unit of this roster, the D-line needs to live up to the hype. Right end Robert Quinn emerged last season as one of the game’s elite pass rushers. Undoubtedly he will get more attention, so the sacks may not come as easily. Chris Long is more than just an effort player. He looked a little quicker off the ball in camp this summer and should be right in his prime at age 29. Tackles Michael Brockers and Kendall Langford were slowed by ankle issues during the preseason but should be at or close to full strength. Both are lighter this year, which in theory means they’ll be quicker. Talented backups at end, William Hayes and Eugene Sims have been slowed by injuries. It’s uncertain how much they can contribute early. The D-tackle rotation features rookie Aaron Donald, a pass-rush threat, and free-agent pickup Alex Carrington.

LINEBACKERS

After missing all of the preseason with an ankle injury, highly-productive middle ’backer James Laurinaitis is ready to go. He has quickly gained new coordinator Gregg Williams’ trust as someone who understands the scheme and can serve as a quarterback of the defense. Laurinaitis has developed into a “glue” player who holds things together on this side of the ball. On the weakside, Alec Ogletree needs to pick up where he left off in his strong rookie season. Quiet in camp, Ogletree can run sideline to sideline and has big-play potential. Look for a bit of a resurgence from Jo-Lonn Dunbar, who’s a collision defender, especially against the run. He played in Williams’ system in New Orleans, so he’s very comfortable with the scheme. Ray Ray Armstrong and Daren Bates are the only backups. Look for Armstrong to be used in some defensive packages.

SECONDARY

This is easily the most questionable unit on defense, in large part because of its inexperience. Look for teams to go right at the Rams’ corners in the passing game, particularly with Trumaine Johnson out at least a month with a knee injury. The other “veteran,” Janoris Jenkins, needs to cut down on penalties and do a better job tracking deep balls. He has the tools to be a very good corner. Rookie nickel back Lamarcus Joyner is smart, instinctive and hard-nosed. But he had some coverage issues during the preseason, so there may be an adjustment period. Rookie E.J. Gaines from Mizzou and/or Brandon McGee will man the corner spot opposite Jenkins until Johnson returns. Gaines doesn’t looked overwhelmed in any way so far by the NFL. At safety, T.J. McDonald and Rodney McLeod had good preseasons and have been quick studies in the scheme.

SPECIAL TEAMS

The kicking chores are in good hands — make that legs — in punter Johnny Hekker and place-kicker Greg Zuerlein. Hekker is coming off a Pro Bowl 2013 season in which, with the help of the coverage unit, he set an NFL record for net punting. When it comes to field goals, Zuerlein’s kicks haven’t had the “wow” factor of his rookie season — when for a while he was kicking one bomb after another. But he has become more consistent and remains a threat from 50-plus. Long snapper Jake McQuaide is very dependable. It’s a safe bet Tavon Austin will make something happen returning punts, assuming the return team minimizes penalties. Either Benny Cunningham or Chris Givens will handle kickoff returns. Givens has the long-distance speed. Perhaps because of his big-back frame, Cunningham looks unorthodox. But he usually puts together a good return.

RamBill

Greg Cosell joins Frank Cusumano to talk NFL and Rams. Cosell says that the fact that Robinson isn’t starting in Week 1 is irrelevant. He compares Shaun Hill and Clemons and says Hill will push the ball down the field much more than Clemons did. He talks about Ogletree and Tavon Austin, comparing Austin to Harvin in how they should use him. Harvin is stronger than Austin though. Cosell likes Gregg Williams as a D-Coordinator. He talks about the match up with the Vikings and the Rams prospects for the season. Good Stuff from Cosell

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Speed_Kills

he went into a ton of details…he was familiar with them [the Rams}

===

me: this is Cosell on Robinson. It’s my transcript–he talks about Robinson at about 2:50 in:

First of all he was not going to play left tackle as a rookie…that was not going to happen. So now the question is does he play guard. And I watched him quite a bit [ie. in the preseason] and he played left tackle and left guard … he has significant issues right now in pass protection because he wasn’t asked to do that in college in an NFL type pass game. So he has a learning curve. Now there’s many who believe just on the basis of his sheer physical tools that he has a chance to be an all-timer. But just because he’s not starting week 1 in his rookie season, that’s ultimately irrelevant. [Now comparing him to Matthews]. Greg Robinson is 6’6″ 335 with superior athletic skill for a man that size. There are very few people with that kind of size and movement. But he was incredibly raw and unrefined other then as a mauling run blocker….Matthews is a more advanced player but the feeling was that the upside for a guy like Robinson was much greater. The feeling was that Matthews would be a nice player, he would probably be ready to play week 1, but down the road, Matthews would plateau whereas Robinson would have a chance to be potentially in the conversation of the top tackles to ever play.

Interesting idea.

Picking a more developmental qb later in round 1 (or round 2) sounds about right.

Here’s what they would have around or after the draft:

1. Either they re-sign Hill or they acquire a vet in another way–free agency, low-cost trade.

2. Either they draft a guy like Cook or add another young qb either though free agency or a trade. If they already have taken care of #1, then, this has to be a more developmental guy. Not talking about signing Wilson away from Seattle or anything like that.

3. Bradford works on coming back, and is part of the mix. If he can go he’s potentially the starter, or maybe it takes more time and he sits for a while, or maybe they determine he can’t go.

4. They sort out who they have among the following 3: Davis, Kennum, Gilbert. As I said before, the Rams have never carried 4 (total) qbs before. They are clearly stocking up.

This team is reaching the point Seattle was when they drafted Wilson or SF was when they drafted CK. They are a developed team that can either add a qb to a solid mix–which ALWAYS makes it easier on the qb–or they are “there” already and Bradford is back (again on a much more solid team than he’s ever been on).

I have no interest in the “trade up for a big-name phenom or hope for a bad record to draft same” approach to this. For one thing, I see them picking between 14 and 20. Around there, in that area.

Given that, when asked, which options should the Rams explore to take care of the qb spot? I answer “all of them at once…except trying to draft Luck in a year when there is no Andrew Luck.”

Greg Cosell
Friday, September 05, 2014

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Dick Stockton on the Rams penalty issues: “it’s the not the number of penalties, but the timing.” Stockton joined Kevin Wheeler to help preview the game Sunday vs. the Vikings, two teams that mirror each other, the lack of an elite QB put emphasis on mistakes, Shaun Hill as a backup, AP and how the Rams can take him out of it, and penalties that plagued the Rams.

https://soundcloud.com/101sports/dick-stockton-on-the-rams#t=0:00

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Strauss: Rams critics stand tall as Robinson takes a seat
• Joe Strauss

Sure, it looks bad. But that doesn’t necessarily mean it is bad.

I don’t even think it LOOKS bad.

I suppose that’s a matter of opinion.

.

GreatRamNTheSky wrote:

1. a Win
2. Tavon Austin with some big plays
3. Shaun Hill with an efficient game and a good day passing the ball.
4. Productive running game.
5. Good run defense
6. Great Pass rush from Quinn and Company.
7. Defense get some turn overs.
8. Brian Quick have some big plays.
9. Kenny Britt have a productive day with some big plays.
10. etc., etc., etc.

Grits

Pretty good list.

I would take 5 out of 10 as long as #1 (a win) occurs.

One thing, I will be watching for how long it takes the OL to cohere. If Fisher has one big flaw, IMO, he overestimates some players. I think he thinks that with Boudreau, and with a line full of vets (Barksdale is the youngest), they can just manufacture it coming out the gate. I don’t know about that, but, they WILL cohere sooner or later. Boudreau has done okay with far worse than what he has now. So I will be keeping an eye out for that.

GreatRamNTheSky wrote:

I hope Schottenheimer was taking notes last night on all the Harvin plays.

Grits

Except Harvin is a vet and Austin was a head-swimming rookie last year who then got injured when he was finally getting into the swing of things. Austin was limited in what he could do at the start of the season and said so himself. So they limited what he did. The drops were another sign of that. Rookies with swimming heads get cases of the drops.

Execution issues are especially heavy with young receivers in this offense because it’s heavy on sight adjustments. That means the receiver–or in Austin’s case, the multi-purpose weapon type — has to read defenses both pre-snap and at the snap. Someone like Austin has never read defenses before in his life. It’s a big step up and a heavy adjustment.

So again, you either make him run around with his head swimming making mistakes (the way McDaniels did with the rookies in 2011) or you cut back what you let him do, until he gets it. Personally I don’t like the McD way and prefer the Schott way.

But as I said, the season progressed they were using him in all kinds of ways. And they will start out like that this year.

wv wrote:

Obviously they would not extend his contract,
and i assume they will simply pay him
the fifteen million (or whatever it is) next year — yes? no?

w
v

We’ve been discussing that. The “big 2nd contract” extension probably wouldn’t be there–you have to figure, they can’t take that chance. But they could work out a “prove you’re back” extension full of incentives, that would be shorter than the usual 2nd contract type extention. That way they could decrease the 15 M hit for 2015 while also exploring whether he could play.