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znModeratorfrom https://www.lafbnetwork.com/los-angeles-rams-darious-williams-sneed/
PFF on Darious Williams
“Williams has been one of the league’s best at preventing separation for several years now, but the grades finally caught up with him in 2023,” writes John Kosko, “His 85.3 coverage grade ranked tied for fifth among his peers, and now he returns to Los Angeles, where he posted an 81.9 grade in 2019 and an 81.5 grade in 2020.”
znModeratorznModeratorWe did it!!! We’re in Minnesota and get into our temp house tomorrow. Then the search for a new home begins! Super happy to be doing it multi-generationally and the journey up here was harrowing at times, but ultimately very fun and we all bonded really nicely.
Congrats!
When was the last time you lived through a winter?
znModeratorfrom PFF Safety Rankings: https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-safety-rankings-top-32-2024-nfl-season
21. KAMREN CURL, LOS ANGELES RAMS
Although Curl had a breakout 2022 season in which he posted a second-ranked 82.9 PFF overall grade, he couldn’t replicate that performance in 2023, as his 66.6 mark ranked just 50th. But since entering the league, Curl still ranks 17th among safeties in overall grade (78.0) and 19th in coverage grade (83.7).
znModeratorSportsCenter@SportsCenterJustin Jefferson is not only the highest-paid WR in NFL history, but the highest-paid non-QB in NFL history, sources tell @AdamSchefter.Joel Corry@corryjoelA WR as the highest paid non-QB isn’t unprecedented. It previously occurred with Larry Fitzgerald, Calvin Johnson & DeAndre Hopkins contract extensions in 2011, 2012 & 2020.znModeratorHow Will Players View An 18-Game NFL Regular-Season Schedule?
By Ross Tucker
. https://www.the33rdteam.com/how-will-players-view-an-18-game-nfl-regular-season-schedule/
The NFL is going to have an 18-game regular season. That feels inevitable at this point.
It will take some time to sort out questions such as when and how, not to mention myriad details. However, the why is pretty obvious and is the answer to most questions when it comes to business in general and the NFL in particular: money.
The big question revolves around the players’ appetite for adding another game after a close and contentious NFL Players Association (NFLPA) vote to approve the last collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in 2021. That CBA added the 17th game that has been part of the NFL schedule for the past three years.
I think the rhetoric and debate will be similar to 2021’s before the two sides reach the same conclusion of adding an “extra” game. Rather than get bogged down in the details of the inner workings of the players’ union or even the fact that it sounds like the NFL wants to implement this sooner rather than later — which would mean opening up a CBA that doesn’t expire until 2030 — I want to look at it from a player’s perspective.
There are reasons why I suspect the players will ultimately be in favor of adding a game yet again.
Unlike the professional athletes in the MLB or the NBA, the stars of the NFL don’t run the show. This is because the sport is a numbers game, and there are a lot more rank-and-file players making the minimum salary in the NFL than there are in the other sports. Those players, for the most part, are very well aware of their football mortality.
I know because I was one of them, making the league minimum for five of my seven years in the league.
The best way I can describe the extra game is that if you went into the locker room of every team that didn’t make the playoffs immediately after the last game and asked them if they were willing to play one more game (and get the game check that comes with it!) the following week, the vast majority of them would say yes.
Yes, they would be worn down and beat up at that point. And having to play another game after such a long, grueling season would not be ideal. However, the answer would be yes because the opportunity to make another $50,000-$85,000 for one more week of work is worth it for those players and their families. And that is just what the checks look like for the guys making the minimum.
This is pro football, after all, and the players are cognizant of the trade they make on a yearly, weekly and even daily basis: They are willingly suffering bodily harm in exchange for a great financial head start and a measure of financial security.
At that point in the season, the players would have put in all the time prepping for the season from the offseason program workouts in March and April to the OTAs and minicamps in May and June and training camp in July and August. That’s before even getting to the season itself. Many realize that there is no guarantee of even being on a roster the following year. But even if it was, they put in all that work to get to that point, so why not push through and play one more time?
There will be stars and long-time established veterans who will push back, but ultimately there are way more minimum-salary types than there are the other type of guy.
When doing the math, the extra game will generate so much more revenue that those game checks would be a decent amount bigger than the numbers above that represent the current paychecks.
Should there be an additional bye week like Cincinnati Bengals QB Joe Burrow talked about recently? That makes sense, but unless the NFL starts the season earlier, the Super Bowl would not land on the three-day weekend Roger Goodell referenced in an interview with Pat McAfee.
Multiple people have told me — and I’ve never understood this — the television networks don’t want an additional bye week, even though that would give them another week of the best program inventory going.
Another concern is that increased exposure means a greater potential of season-ending injuries for star players. However, both anecdotally and based on the league’s data, it doesn’t appear that has been a major factor to this point over the three seasons since the addition of the 17th game.
There’s also a thought that these longer seasons could lead to shorter NFL careers, which seems like a reasonable conclusion. But is that a big negative if the economics are so much better? In other words, isn’t it ultimately better for a player’s body to make $5 million in five seasons and retire at 27 then to make that same money over seven seasons and play until you are 29?
I’d sign up for five longer seasons if that meant two fewer training camps and full seasons … if that’s how the math worked out.
The devil, as they say, is in the details, and we’ll see what the NFL is willing to give up to get the extra game. Can the players go from 48.5 percent of the revenue to 50 percent or close to it? How much do the minimum salaries increase? Will there be more roster spots, perhaps?
Whatever the solutions are, my guess is the players will eventually agree to adding an 18th game because, right or wrong, it’s worth it.
znModeratorHouston Stressans@TexansCommenterCJ Stroud was raving about Matthew Stafford & says “I’m a fan of his” onznModerator4 of these 15 guys were not 1st rounders and I wish the Ram had picked one to pair with Donald. Instead they had to pay for rentals from Fowler and Von Miller and then signed Floyd.
znModeratorPelissero@TomPelissero
End of OTAs? The NFL Players Association is working to finalize a proposal to overhaul the offseason starting as soon as 2025, eliminating voluntary on-field work in the spring in favor of a longer training camp ramp-up, with players reporting in mid-June to early July, perJourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
This would have a significant impact, in my opinion, on how medical staffs currently “load” a season and manage offseason with the spring being an important time for them to get with players, not to mention spring install periods, summer’s total break with families, etcznModeratorLes Snead earns PFWA’s 2024 Jack Horrigan Award
Stu Jackson
https://www.therams.com/news/les-snead-earns-pfwa-s-2024-jack-horrigan-award
Les Snead’s professionalism off the field has earned him recognition from the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).
The PFWA on Friday announced the Rams general manager earned its Jack Horrigan Award, which is awarded to a league, club or person for his or her qualities and professional style in helping the pro football writers do their job.
“Les believes that football is an endless source of curiosity. He is also in a position of power to where, should he want to seek and find the answers to a million questions about the evolution and dynamics of the sport, he could very well keep that gate shut for himself and his staff, and keep those answers for himself and everyone else out. Instead, when Les comes across journalists who are ALSO curious, who want to learn, and who are on the outside of buildings looking in — he opens that gate,” PFWA Los Angeles Rams chapter vice president Jourdan Rodrigue, who covers the Rams for The Athletic, said in the PFWA’s release. “When I arrived in Los Angeles — a young, female beat reporter hungry to learn — Les’ open-door policy about all things football changed my life. A two-dimensional world became three and four-dimensional. By explaining things and answering endless questions and saying ‘yes’ to endless ideas, Les empowered curiosity, and he helped preserve in history some of the key stories that are shaping this league.
“When people in power open the door of access to those who are seeking knowledge, particularly underrepresented voices who have something to contribute to the fabric, the sport we love progresses. When ideas are shared, they challenge everybody to push forward. Les embodies this and is so deserving of this award.”
The 52nd Horrigan Award winner, Snead is the second member of the Rams franchise to receive the award, joining head coach John Robinson (1992). According to the PFWA, he is the first general manager to win the award since the Bills’ Brandon Beane in 2021, and the third general manager in the last five years to be recognized with the award by its membership.
In that same release, the PFWA said Snead “has maintained an open-door policy with the media, who have relied on him to discuss and analyze his decisions.”
The 2023 season marked Snead’s 12th as general manager of the Rams. While Los Angeles entered last season with second-youngest active roster in the NFL, the collection of talent assembled by its scouting department and guided by its coaching staff finished 10-7 and earned the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff picture.
In 2021, Snead and Los Angeles’ scouting department – in partnership with head coach Sean McVay and his staff – helped build a team that won Super Bowl LVI that season.
znModeratorfrom https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2024/6/1/24169413/rams-offense-12-personnel-packages-sean-mcvay
With wide receivers like Nacua and Kupp who can block as effectively as they do, they are almost used as de-facto tight ends in the run game. This allows the Rams to stay primarily in 11 personnel looks. Everything looks the same and the defense can’t get a grasp on a play-call based on the personnel that is on the field at any given moment. The Rams are technically in 11 personnel, but with how their wide receivers block, it’s almost 11.5 personnel. That versatility that the Rams utilize with their players isn’t usually available from 12 personnel. The changeup of just sticking a tight end in the slot no longer stresses a defense.
znModerator..
znModeratorAri Meirov@MySportsUpdateThe #Chiefs have considered not using Harrison Butker for all kickoffs and instead using a player like safety Justin Reid. Special teams coordinator Dave Toub said the new kickoff rule has kickers more involved in tackles, and they don’t want that for Butker. The new NFL kickoff rule is such a huge change…...May 31, 2024 at 8:21 pm in reply to: Rams off-season assessments & rankings & early previews #151088znModeratorznModeratorBobby Brown III looking forward to having bigger role in 2024
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – For most of his time with the Rams, nose tackle Bobby Brown III‘s primary role has been that of a run-stopper.
Just like with the rest of the defensive line, though, more will be asked of each member of the position group as it attempts to fill the void created by Aaron Donald’s retirement. And for Brown, that means having a bigger role.
“Just being hard on myself, being more detailed,” Brown told theRams.com about his preparation for the upcoming season. “But as far as I how feel, I don’t feel no type of way. Pressure makes diamonds.”
Brown’s production took a step forward in 2023. Despite missing four games with a Grade 3 MCL sprain, he produced a career-high 31 total tackles (four for loss) while starting the other 13 games he played in. He also started in the Rams’ wild card playoff game against the Lions, making four total tackles.
Having more chances to rush the passer is something Brown said he hasn’t had since high school.
“I’ve been more of a run-stuff guy since I got to college, even though I had five sacks my last year,” Brown said. “Once I got here, I haven’t played a third down to rush the passer. So now it’s just a whole different world, being able to play my game going to a different world I haven’t played in awhile, but it’s fun.”
Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Brown said he’s looking forward to showing he can play anywhere, and also simply be on the field.
“I love playing football,” he said.….Overview
Interior defender with the size and pad level to handle reps at nose or three-technique in an even front. Brown shed weight in 2020 and played at a fairly high level inside an SEC-only schedule. His footwork and body control are inconsistent, leading to clear wins and clear losses, but he has the strength and potential to take firmer control at the point of attack with more technique work. He can read-and-react as a two-gapper or play on the move with adequate effectiveness. His rush tends to be a little uninspiring, which could push him off the field on passing downs. He won’t be 21 until August and should come in as a quality backup early on before working into a starting role in the future.
Strengths
- Size and traits to play both tackle spots in even front.
- Consistent to stay low off the ball.
- Doesn’t linger on the block for very long.
- When feet are set under him, his anchor versus double teams can be sturdy.
- Reads zone and gets skinny to slink between blockers.
- Leverage helps him escape previously centered blocks.
- Adequate close-out down the line of scrimmage.
- Violent hands improve ability to soften edges as rusher.
- Fires a long-arm stab and runs behind it to push pocket as bull rusher.
- Recognizes screen development and makes quick double back.
Weaknesses
- Pass rush is typically lumbering.
- Would like to see more energy and spirit in his rush approach.
- Not enough edge-hunting to open door to the pocket.
- Doesn’t get to rush counters to rid himself of mirroring pass protection.
- Rarely gets early arm extension at point of attack.
- Loose with feet, causing some inconsistency with his base.
- Movement isn’t as controlled and efficient as it needs to be.
- Can improve with technique to improve hand control in read and react.
znModeratorWell it looks like Convict has been trumped.
znModeratorWith the rookies all signed, Rams have $8,581,034 in cap space this year.
As of today, in 2025 they have $34,228,974 in cap space.
In 2026 it’s $86,857,043.
That’s before they do anything with Stafford’s contract.
znModeratorfrom https://news.yahoo.com/news/us-state-department-official-resigns-210626006.html
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – A U.S. State Department official who quit this week said on Thursday her resignation was precipitated by an administration report to Congress that she said falsely stated Israel was not blocking humanitarian aid to Gaza, prompting her to resign in protest of President Joe Biden’s Israel policy.
znModeratorAnother Los Angeles Rams Steal? New Study Names Rookie Among Best 2024 Draft Route Runners
Ryan Anderson
Another Los Angeles Rams Steal? New Study Names Rookie Among Best 2024 Draft Route Runners
If you were to ask any football fan to name the best wide receivers from the 2024 NFL Draft, they would likely have a long list before they arrived at the Los Angeles Rams 6th-round wide receiver Jordan Whittington.
But according to a new study by Eric Eager at Sumer Sports, Whittington has one of the most unpredictable and versatile route trees among all wide receivers draft, not just in 2024, but since 2020.
Sumer recently conducted an in-depth study of FBS wide receivers from the 2018 to 2023 season on every route run to determine route-running versatility using Shannon Entropy, which aims to provide a singular value on the predictability of the receiver’s next route. Unpredictable route running versatility leads to a higher target rate at the collegiate level. Those with a higher target rate here are also more likely to be drafted (as shown in the gold-shaded bubbles below).
According to their findings, Whittington’s route tree versatility grade is a 3.2. This is the 8th best among receivers drafted since 2020 and 4th best in the 2024 class. While most of the names on this list aren’t the whose-who of recently drafted WRs, most are important role players on thier respective teams.
Screen Shot 2024 05 30 at 11.58.18 AMAnother Los Angeles Rams Steal? New Study Names Rookie Among Best 2024 Draft Route Runners 6
Jordan Whittington’s Route Versatility With Texas and The Los Angeles Rams
Eager points out in his article that “A WR with experience running many different routes at a high level gives defenses issues in coverage and can provide a signal on the level of trust the offensive coordinators have on their route running ability.” and “that the trust of collegiate offensive coordinators in their route running ability may be used in various different ways to get the player targets in the passing game.”
Despite having a versatile route tree, Whittington never became a go-to option that others in this cohort became in college. Whittington received one of the lowest targets per route run while at Texas. Even in his best season, he didn’t lead his team in any traditional statistic.
This could have actually been a symptom of other players around him NOT having as complete route trees. Whittington had one of the shortest average depth of targets among Texas pass catchers last season, 7.2 yards, while Adonai Mitchell was 16.1 yards and Xavier Worthy was 10 yards.
That left Whittington to do a lot of the dirty work at the line of scrimmage and in the intermediate area of the field, which is where a lot of this cohort earned their stripes, including another Rams 2024 rookie, Drake Stoops. Whittington earned the 6th highest PFF grade when catching passes in this area of the field.
This is exactly where the Los Angeles Rams like to operate and it is the reason that they bring on pass catchers like Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.
Jordan Whittington will have to crack into a tough top three in Los Angeles, but having a versatile route tree will give him a good chance to get in first-team reps in his rookie season
znModerator
from PFF Interior Defender Rankings: https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-interior-defender-rankings-top-32-2024-nfl-season
16. KOBIE TURNER, LOS ANGELES RAMS
From Week 11 onward in 2023, Turner posted an 89.5 PFF overall grade, which ranked fifth in the league. His PFF pass-rushing grade came out to 90.3, the best in the NFL and just ahead of his teammate Aaron Donald.
Losing Donald to retirement changes the picture the entire Rams defense will see every snap, but Turner looked like a star in the making as a rookie.
znModeratorOffensive coordinator Mike LaFleur discussed how quickly Whittington is picking things up, which isn’t necessarily easy with all of the nuances to McVay’s offense.
“First of all, all those rookies, we’re throwing them in a lot of different spots in a lot of different situations,” LaFleur said Tuesday. “Maybe some a little bit more than others, but he’s doing a great job. You can tell he’s really taking what he’s learning in the classroom to the field. I said it last year about Puka, but how beneficial for a young receiver to be in that room with a guy like (WRs coach Eric Yarber) ‘Yarbs’ and then obviously guys like Cooper Kupp and now Puka going into Year 2. What a blessing it is for those guys to be around people like them.”
znModeratorznModeratorDoug Farrar@NFL_DougFarrarRams rookie DL Kobie Turner had 17 pressures and six sacks on plays in which the quarterback took three or fewer drops. All from 0- to 3-tech. In an era when there’s more quick game than ever, inside disruptors are crucial to defensive success.May 29, 2024 at 8:16 pm in reply to: Rams off-season assessments & rankings & early previews #151073znModeratorfrom PFF, 2024 NFL roster rankings: Strengths, weaknesses and X factors for every starting lineup: https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-roster-rankings-all-32-teams-2024-strengths-weaknesses-x-factors#LAR
14. LOS ANGELES RAMS
Biggest strength in 2023: Offensive Balance
The Rams ranked inside the top 10 in every aspect of offensive grading except pass protection last season. Matthew Stafford had a big bounce-back year. Kyren Williams proved himself to be a workhorse. Puka Nacua set the rookie receiving record. With an improved offensive line heading into 2024, the Rams’ offense will be dangerous as long as Stafford continues to produce at a high level.
Biggest weakness in 2023: Coverage
Los Angeles ranked dead last in team coverage grade last season (46.2). They were extremely young and did not have a single defensive back finish with at least a 70.0 coverage grade. They’ve done significant work this offseason to improve their secondary, though, and if that work pays off, they could be a dark-horse NFC contender.
X-factor for 2024: DI Kobie Turner
Aaron Donald’s retirement forces Kobie Turner into a marquee role on the Rams’ defensive line. Turner finished his rookie season with an excellent 83.2 overall grade and led the team with 12 sacks. Obviously, he won’t be asked to fill the void left by Donald by himself, but he will need to continue his excellent play to mitigate the loss.
Rookie to watch: EDGE Jared Verse
Another player tasked with replacing Aaron Donald’s production is first-round pick Jared Verse. He had a spectacular two-year run at Florida State and produced a 90.8 pass-rush grade in 2023. Meanwhile, the Rams’ edge group finished 30th in the NFL in overall grade last season. Verse will have every opportunity to star for this defense.
Over/Under 8.5 win total: Over
Aaron Donald is a huge loss for the Rams, but a team with Matthew Stafford, Kyren Williams, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua should still have a winning season. Their postseason success will be dictated by their defensive development. As long as Stafford continues to produce, the Rams will at least be in the playoff mix.
Projected starting lineup for 2024
OFFENSE DEFENSE QB Matthew Stafford (88.2) DI Kobie Turner (83.2) RB Blake Corum (84.0*) DI Braden Fiske (73.9*) RB Kyren Williams (80.4) Edge Michael Hoecht (58.2) WR Cooper Kupp (71.5) Edge Jared Verse (84.4*) WR Puka Nacua (90.2) Edge Byron Young (64.1) WR Demarcus Robinson (70.0) LB Ernest Jones (78.8) TE Tyler Higbee (57.6) LB Christian Rozeboom (47.9) LT Alaric Jackson (66.6) CB Darious Williams (79.5) LG Jonah Jackson (61.0) CB Tre’Davious White (68.0) C Steve Avila (60.5) CB Quentin Lake (70.0) RG Kevin Dotson (84.4) S Kamren Curl (66.6) RT Rob Havenstein (79.8) S Russ Yeast (57.0) znModeratorRams OTAs observations: Reserve OL and ILBs get snaps, coaching updates, active D-line
JR does more with a dull OTA no pads practice than some writers for the Rams have ever done with entire actual games.
znModeratorRams OTAs observations: Reserve OL and ILBs get snaps, coaching updates, active D-line
By Jourdan Rodrigue
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5525610/2024/05/29/los-angeles-rams-practice-offensive-line/
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams held their second day of media access to organized team activities (OTAs) on Tuesday, an energetic practice that featured several depth players getting snaps because the first-teamers ahead of them weren’t practicing.
As a reminder, the practices are not padded and the Rams prohibit credentialed media from reporting on specifics such as scheme, formations, snap counts or anything they could deem as competitive information. If a coach addresses a position hierarchy directly in a news conference when asked, that information is then able to be reported.
Here are several notes and observations from the day:
• Veteran right tackle Rob Havenstein did not participate in the voluntary workouts, but was on site. As head coach Sean McVay noted last week, left guard Jonah Jackson is escalating on-field activity while recovering from a knee injury suffered in the playoffs last year, so he is not participating in 11-on-11s. That meant more opportunities for reserve players Joe Noteboom (guard) and Warren McClendon (tackle). Second-year lineman Steve Avila, who moved to center this spring after playing every snap of his rookie season at left guard, has continued full-time there with praise from offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur. Left tackle Alaric Jackson used the lengthy special teams period at the end of the practice to work on his pass sets and hand moves against air, and picked up several helmets for his teammates as the day’s work began.
• Renowned offensive line coach Mike Munchak, who consulted for the Rams last season alongside first-time position coach Ryan Wendell, was back out at OTAs this week. McVay said the team would like to retain Munchak in that capacity if he were amenable.
• Inside linebacker Ernest Jones was on the field with a black leg sleeve, but was not in uniform nor was he practicing (he did not practice last week, either). Backups Christian Rozeboom and Troy Reeder got time opposite Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ offense. Reeder defended rookie running back Blake Corum on a long-developing route downfield, and Corum dropped the pass which drew some chatter from the defensive sideline. Reeder jokingly slapped both of his own hamstrings after the play, in what seemed like commentary over the rare long sprint (he should not be covering players that far downfield).
• Cornerbacks Tre’Davious White and Cam McCutcheon worked to the side with athletic trainers during practice, as did running back Kyren Williams. Williams’ own session was up-tempo.
• With White not available just yet (he is recovering from Achilles surgery), Darious Williams and Cobie Durant are testing their compatibility at cornerback. Williams covered speedy receiver Tutu Atwell well on a late-progression route (meaning he had to cover for a while, if Stafford were to decide to get through the progressions to Atwell), but gave up a tricky play to Puka Nacua later in practice. It’s hard to know whether any defender could have stopped this particular concept, as the start of it got the entire defense to flow in one direction before Nacua ripped back outside and Stafford dropped the pass to him right at the sideline.
• Durant broke up a deep pass down the defensive sideline from Stafford, intended for Nacua, that prompted McVay to run all the way across the field from the offensive sideline to praise Durant for the play.
• The Rams are exploring their options at Star/big nickel, a position that could feature a safety or cornerback. Defensive coordinator Chris Shula confirmed they are even considering a position change for third-year cornerback Derion Kendrick, who previously only played on the outside where obviously the Star/big nickel is an interior defensive back.
“Russ (Yeast) and DK have been doing a great job switching in at that spot,” Shula said, “you know, it’s always a spot that there are a lot of nuances to it. That guy (has) to be smart, he (has) to know the defense. A lot of stuff goes through that guy. He’s got to be able to tackle, he’s got to be able to hit blocks. But that’s all 11 on defense. We’re just looking for the best mix of guys and those guys have been doing a great job so far.”
• Rookies Jared Verse (outside linebacker) and Braden Fiske (defensive lineman), in tandem with second-year defensive lineman Kobie Turner and outside linebacker Byron Young, among others, were extremely active along the defensive line despite no real contact allowed.
“I definitely felt (the energy) today,” said Shula, grinning. “It’s always that fine line of practicing the right way but also having that edge and that energy. Aubrey Pleasant said it in his defensive backs meeting the other day and it’s true: It’s hard to have a bad defensive practice when you have great energy.”
• The amount of work the Rams are able to get done in practice behind two veteran quarterbacks, the starter Stafford and the backup Jimmy Garoppolo, is apparent (and one reason the team signed the latter player). That Garoppolo knows this offense, or at least a couple different versions of it, from previous stops helped him start his OTAs workload later in the playbook. That means second-team players can still get similar conceptual work as the first-team players, instead of purely developmental work. However, that doesn’t mean it was an easy day for Garoppolo, who had a couple of passes tipped or batted by an excited defense.
znModeratorExperience in Texas’ offense helping Jordan Whittington’s transition to NFL
Stu Jackson
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Like all of the current Rams’ rookies, wide receiver Jordan Whittington is consuming a ton of information in a condensed period of time.
Fortunately for him, the way he and his college teammates learned their offense at Texas is making it a little bit easier to process that information, and ultimately transition into the NFL as he learns Los Angeles’ playbook.
“One thing that I can say I took from Texas, and I know that other receivers in my room (there) did, we learned concept-based, and I think that directly translates to this offense,” Whittington told theRams.com. “So just learning it as a concept, the words change, but most of the concepts are somewhat similar. So I think we did a good job at Texas by learning concept-based.”
Whittington compared that acclimation to the first day of freshman year, in terms of “being back to square one” with learning the playbook.
Beyond that concept-based learning carryover, Whittington has also benefitted from joining a wide receiver room led by eight-year veteran Cooper Kupp, who willingly helps ensure each player is set up for success.
“That’s exciting for me,” Whittington said of that ‘square one’ feeling. “Just being able to learn the process again and go through everything these guys are going through. It’s a lot of information in a short amount of time, so just trying to figure out how to be a professional, and I have like one of the best ones in my room. He’s a really good guy, and he’s not selfish with how he learns things. So him just teaching me how to learn and me just watching, I’ve been able to like learn different ways to learn throughout this process.”
Whittington’s special teams experience and ability to play all three receiver positions were the two biggest reasons both general manager Les Snead and head coach Sean McVay identified as what made the former Texas standout an appealing prospect.
His role is still to be determined, which is understandable having been with the team for less than a month. His main focus during this time anyway is on continuing to learn and improve daily.
“This is a new process,” Whittington said. “Like I said, there’s gonna be growing pains, there’s always adjustments and being able to adjust when you’re just starting something. So I’m going through that phase right now of learning, being able to learn, and then at some point, I’ll get that down, move on to the next thing. You just keep on just keep on stacking these days. So that’s what I’ve been focused on.”
znModeratorCameron DaSilva@camdasilvaPFF ranked the 32 best RBs in the NFL heading into the 2024 season and Kyren Williams didn’t even make the top 15 despite leading the league in rushing yards per game last season.Williams was ranked 16th, a disrespectful spot to put the Rams running back after the season he just had.
After a quiet rookie season in which he received just 35 touches, Kyren Williams exploded in his second season in the NFL, earning an 80.3 grade across 12 games. In those outings, Williams rushed for 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns at 5.0 yards per carry, and he also led the league in rushing yards per game.
He forced the 10th-most missed tackles, averaged 3.34 yards after contact and racked up 26 explosive runs of 10-plus yards. He’ll continue to feature in the Rams’ offense moving forward.
znModeratorfrom Ranking the NFL’s Backup QBs of 2024: https://www.si.com/nfl/ranking-nfl-backup-qbs-2024
14. Jimmy Garoppolo, Los Angeles Rams
Garoppolo’s days as a starter are likely over after one season with the Raiders. He’ll get a fresh start under the guidance of Sean McVay, who helped reignite Baker Mayfield’s career a few years back. Garoppolo, 32, went from standing in the Rams’ way as the starter for the 49ers to becoming the backup to Matthew Stafford. He has played in 81 career games with 63 starts during 10 NFL seasons.
znModeratorAndrew Siciliano@AndrewSicilianoObservation from Rams OTA yesterday: New kickoffs are going to look VERY odd at first. 32 teams may have 32 different ways of handling. I wouldn’t be surprised if there are 5 TD in Week 1, nor would I be stunned if there weren’t any at all in September. Nobody knows. -
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