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znModeratorthe tight end battle is something i’ll be watching for in training camp. i don’t think it’s a given that parkinson is the starter. and with this oline who knows. if they both prove capable maybe we some more two tight end sets. try to bully some defenses.
I expect a rotation during the season, but one that probably heavily features Parkinson. IMO, in Parkinson they got what they primarily wanted from a TE replacement for Higbee–a blocker. At this point, neither Allen nor Long is the blocker Parkinson is, or at least it looks that way from here.
After primarily being a glorified receiver at the tight end position in college, Parkinson made his greatest growth as a run blocker, finishing 10th out of 91 qualified tight ends in run blocking grade (64.1). He also did a fine job in limited pass blocking reps, yielding three pressures, no quarterback hits, and no sacks on 41 pass protection snaps.
znModeratorIn Monday's takeaways (https://t.co/pJyA828aQk), we detailed the @Chargers' cap problem. Charges hit the cap at 4 p.m.
Also, roster bonuses are due this week—Joey Bosa's ($7M), Khalil Mack's ($5.5M) and Mike Williams' ($3M) are due Friday, Keenan Allen's ($5M) is due Sunday.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 13, 2024
znModeratorfrom https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2024/3/9/24095360/rams-alaric-jackson-depth-chart-ol-draft
Jackson struggled to start 2023
Below are the left tackle’s Pro Football Focus (PFF) offensive and pass blocking grades before the Rams’ Week 10 bye week:
Week 1 at Seahawks: 62.9, 88.5; 1 pressure allowed
Week 2 vs 49ers: 48.5, 24.2; 6 pressures
Week 3 at Bengals: 52.0, 43.1; 3 pressures
Week 5 vs Eagles: 49.8, 66..5; 2 pressures
Week 6 vs Cardinals: 62.4, 75.8; 3 pressures
Week 7 vs Steelers: 42.2, 29.1; 6 pressures
Week 8 at Cowboys: 68.5, 75.2; 2 pressures
Week 9 at Packers: 54.5, 74.3; 1 pressureJackson’s pass blocking started to turn a corner in Week 8 against the Cowboys and he pretty much maintained that standard over the remainder of the season, save for a few tougher matchups.
He finished strong and may be an ascending player
Jackson’s PFF offensive and pass blocking grades over the final stretch of the season are as follows:
Week 11 vs Seahawks: 61.9, 80.4; 2 pressures allowed
Week 12 at Cardinals: 78.0, 54.7; 3 pressures
Week 13 vs Browns: 70.4, 63.8; 2 pressures
Week 14 at Ravens: 66.5, 79.4; 4 pressures
Week 15 vs Commanders: 82.0, 89.3; 0 pressures
Week 16 vs Saints: 75.8, 80.0; 1 pressure
Week 18 at 49ers: 65.9, 62.2; 3 pressures
Wildcard at Lions: 65.8, 74.5; 2 pressuresznModeratorYep. I posted info on that just now, in the March 12, 2024 at 10:09 pm post at the end of this thread:
So that must mean I’m living at least 20 minutes in the future.
I already said that.
😎
znModeratorread somewhere today that AJ was tied for 1st in pass protection among OTs who played 500+ snaps. Apparently, AJ yielded one sack all year. I also read they were tendering him at 2nd round which means they will have him for $5M or so this year.
Yep. I posted info on that just now, in the March 12, 2024 at 10:09 pm post at the end of this thread: https://theramshuddle.com/topic/its-own-thread-ol-developments-this-off-season/#post-149834
So you’re living 20 minutes in the future. 😎
znModeratorTom Pelissero@TomPelisseroThe #Rams placed a second-round restricted tender on LT Alaric Jackson. It’s worth $4.89 million. Jackson is still free to negotiate with any team; if the Rams do not match a contract offer from another team, they are entitled to a second-round pick from his new team.***.If Jackson doesn’t sign an offer sheet from another team, he will receive $4.89 million from the Rams for the 2024 season and become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.***Free Agency Frosty@FrostyTalksFBAlaric Jackson is back in LA.Jackson, 25, 6-7, 285lbs is a LT entering his 4th season after being a UDFA.Jackson started 15 games at LT and helped the Rams OL allow the 7th-lowest sack rate (5.5%)..He only allowed 1 sack all season, the best among OTs who played 500+ snaps***Me:he did, however, allow 39 pressures. Though it looked to me that he improved after the bye.znModeratorMy 22 cents.
In the first 4 picks I want to see:
* a trade down making it 5 in rounds 1-3 (ie. they can get another 3 with a modest trade down)
* spend 4 of those 5 picks in rounds 1-3 on LB/edge, DL, and CB. If the players are there I would make it 2 CBs. 1st rounder is the best player at one of those 3 positions.
* spend 1 of those 5 picks (likely a 3) on RB. Why RB? They went 9/4 with WMs playing and 1/3 without. I don’t think any of the backs currently have on the roster after Wms is capable of carrying them if Wms misses time (and he was dinged up twice last year, including against the Lions). So another back, one with the potential to be a 1000 yarder. Wms is a rare find and they won’t find another Qms but they can find someone better than the other options they have right now.
After the first 5 picks, they need more OL, a qb, a K, and another WR. Maybe another DB.
I don’t want them taking an OT high. We already know AJ is solid. He came through in the 2nd half of the season last year. And with a strong IOL (which they now absolutely have), you can start a solid as opposed to elite LOT and have a great OL.
znModeratorI’ve alluded to this but unless something dramatic changes they were never looking at “big names” at OLB but instead cost/age as a sliding scale, and yes I agree huge huge need and hole there (and corner). I smell another defensive heavy draft en route (plus later waves of FA).znModeratorThe exterior is protected by two sequoia trees, if sequoia trees could punch you in the mouth.
Rodrigue on the Rams 2 starting tackles.
znModeratorRodrigue: In O-line moves, the Rams recommitted to their wall and the maul
Jourdan Rodrigue
Nothing like a little “proof of concept” to encourage total buy-in, eh?
Monday, the Los Angeles Rams agreed to a three-year deal with left guard Jonah Jackson, worth up to $51 million with $34 million guaranteed, multiple league sources said. The move came just days after the Rams extended starting right guard Kevin Dotson on a three-year deal, worth up to $48 million with $32 million guaranteed. Jackson’s deal can become official at the start of the new league year March 13.
In 2023, the Rams made a conscious effort — between the decisions of the front office and the scheme deployed by coach Sean McVay — to overhaul and reinvest in their protection of quarterback Matthew Stafford and their run game.
That couldn’t just be a one-year commitment, and it had to start up front.
Alaric Jackson, who is 6 feet 7 and 330 pounds, took over full time at left tackle after an injury-addled failed experiment with previous starter Joe Noteboom. They drafted 6-foot-3, 332-pound Steve Avila at pick No. 36 last spring, and he played 100 percent of the offensive snaps there. Alaric Jackson is expecting to be tendered, a league source said, though the team has yet to decide which value of tender he will receive (a range between $3 million and $6.8 million for one year).
Jonah Jackson is 6 feet 4 and 311 pounds. Dotson is 6 feet 4 and 321 pounds.
To borrow a phrase from a controversial general manager I once covered, those are bona fide hog mollies.
But what the Rams are now doing schematically with their pass protection and run game matters as much as the overall size of their offensive line; in fact, the two are interconnected.
Since he took over as the Rams’ coach in 2017, McVay deployed a mid- and outside-zone run scheme that aimed to stretch defenses horizontally. In marriage with sound play action, quarterbacks in his system (and others who shared the same philosophy) could attack downfield as a defense worked to account for that horizontal space off of those run fakes. Because guards and centers were also asked to move horizontally, linemen outside of the typical prototypes could be identified with less investment — so, with lower-priced deals and with non-first-round draft picks — because they were often smaller and faster.
But McVay’s run game became increasingly one-dimensional after the departure of Todd Gurley in 2019. The Rams went from the top of the NFL in production there to near the bottom. In 2021, he pivoted to Stafford, a quarterback who was less dependent on play action and able to supplement dimension in the pass game with shotgun and pure dropback concepts. Still, the Rams’ offense had the reputation around the league of a “finesse” group — a stellar pass game, but lacking the teeth that usually come from a gut-busting ground attack.
In 2022, Stafford was hit more times through nine active games than any other quarterback in the McVay era. Those 63 hits (29 of them sacks), and the hits to the ground, sent Stafford to the concussion protocol twice and resulted in a bruised spinal cord that ended his season. The offense went three-and-out at nearly a 40 percent rate, the worst in McVay’s tenure. The offensive line, minus right tackle Rob Havenstein (6 foot 8, 330 pounds), was decimated with injuries, but even a healthy group would have raised questions.
So in spring and summer 2023, McVay committed to adjusting his scheme to feature more gap- and man-blocking concepts — a favorite run became “duo” — with plenty of motion and sifting from tight ends and receivers (they still ran mid- and outside-zone as well, mixing horizontal stretch with downhill power), and GM Les Snead committed to the type of personnel up front it would take to run the more physical plays.
Enter Avila, who was the top second-day prospect on the Rams’ draft board last spring. The Rams also fast-tracked second-year running back Kyren Williams into the lead role and traded previous starter Cam Akers, then added reserve back Ronnie Rivers — both Rivers and Williams excelled in the early iterations of the gap runs McVay installed in training camp.
The Rams also invested in their coaching of the offensive line, hiring former longtime Patriots center Ryan Wendell as the new position coach, promoting assistants Zak Kromer and Nick Jones and adding famed coach Mike Munchak in a consulting role. Though Jones joined former Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris in Atlanta as the latter took over as head coach, Los Angeles remains hopeful Munchak will return to consult another year.
Then the Rams corrected previous errors. Noteboom received a contract extension after left tackle Andrew Whitworth retired in 2022, but instead of taking that spot over full time, Noteboom had horrible injury luck in 2022 and 2023. Eventually, he was beaten out at left tackle by Alaric Jackson in 2023. The Rams could have forced a player on a contract such as Noteboom’s into the right guard spot (and almost did), but instead traded for Dotson. Noteboom became a “sixth man” swing player. Noteboom’s $15 million cap number is now far too high for a backup. Sources briefed on the matter say he will either take a restructure, or be cut and test his market in free agency. Center Brian Allen, who was also extended alongside Noteboom but who also had terrible injury luck and was eventually surpassed as a starter, was released before free agency.
Stafford got leaner entering 2023. The Rams moved his pocket more frequently than they had in 2021-22 and Stafford even ran the ball a little himself. The offense returned to top-10 status and lifted a gutted defensive roster that needed time and support to develop on the cheap. The Rams won 10 games, finished eighth in the NFL in Expected Points Added per Rush, tied for fourth in EPA/play and tied for sixth in EPA/pass attempt (according to TruMedia). Stafford was sacked 34 times, tied for sixth lowest in 2023.
To reiterate: The Rams’ functional, financial and schematic offensive line overhaul couldn’t just be a one-year promise after the rock bottom that was 2022. Alaric Jackson’s tender will extend him for a year, and he is extension-eligible if he plays well for a consecutive season. Avila, Jonah Jackson and Dotson are all contractually aligned for at least the next three seasons, and because Avila is on his rookie deal, the Rams will essentially pay their three interior offensive linemen about $35 million per year. Havenstein has two years left on his current contract with a $14.7 million cap hit in 2024, ranking No. 12 among right tackles ahead of the start of free agency.
Jonah Jackson’s signing, according to team sources, indicates a shift for Avila inside to center. The Rams were in communication with previous starting center Coleman Shelton’s representation before and as free agency’s legal tampering window began, they said publicly, after Shelton decided to void the final year on his contract to test his market. Shelton’s market did begin to develop as the Rams kept a close eye on it, and though they were open about wanting to keep him, they also weren’t going to delay on moving with urgency to sign a player of Jackson’s caliber especially if all it meant was moving Avila to center.
Avila played center at a high level while at TCU and is an excellent communicator. His move, and the addition of Jackson, means the interior of Stafford’s pocket will now be protected by nearly 1,000 pounds. The exterior is protected by two sequoia trees, if sequoia trees could punch you in the mouth.
After 2022, the Rams talked a big game about reinvesting in their offensive line, protecting their veteran quarterback, overhauling their run game and getting more physical. They backed that up with sound scheme and big people — committing to a wall, and a run game that can maul.
znModeratorBREAKING: RB Derrick Henry is signing a two-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens, sources tell ESPN 😳 pic.twitter.com/xutd3GTJp8
— ESPN BET (@ESPNBet) March 12, 2024
znModeratorHe said: I want a gold jacket. https://t.co/rxkQWcMbkP
— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) March 11, 2024
znModeratorIan Rapoport@RapSheetDarious Williams gets a 3-year deal worth $22.5M, source said, up to $30M..PFF LA Rams@PFF_RamsDarious Williams: 2nd most valuable CB in the NFL last season (per PFF WAR)znModeratorIn fact this IOL is looking downright diabolical.
Yeah, if the Rams could throw in a Slater or a Pace, that would be swell. But A. Jack is underrated and comparatively cheap. For this year, anyway. And I can’t help but think of Stephen Jackson in an offense like this.
I have a theory about that.
You can have a great line starting Nutten and McCollum on the inside if you have Pace at LOT.
But you can also have a great line with a solid as opposed to elite LOT if you have a diabolical IOL.
Some teams have used the “build from the inside-out” approach to great success before. I’m thinking for example of the 2009 superbowl winning Saints, who had Jahri Evans at OG and Jermon Bushrod at LOT. Bushrod was pretty good but Evans was one of the best guards to ever play the game (and at 6’4 320 was in the “Rams at guard in 2024” mold).
Meanwhile, nothing stops them from drafting a couple of developmental OTs in the lower rounds of an OL rich draft.
And mentioning Steven Jackson is interesting because of course Jackson was Kyren Wms’s favorite player growing up. He was a St. Louis Rams fan. I think Wms has Jackson’s spirit in him even if he doesn’t have SJ’s body.
znModeratorDarious Williams expected to rejoin Rams, bring secondary help with 3-year deal
Jourdan Rodrigue
The Rams and cornerback Darious Williams are expected to reunite on a three-year deal, two league sources confirmed Tuesday morning.
Williams, 30, played for the Rams from 2018-2021 and was a starter on their Super Bowl-winning team. He also helped install the first version of their current defense as a starter alongside Jalen Ramsey in 2020. Williams most recently played for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2022-23, and last season had four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), 19 pass breakups, two forced fumbles and 53 tackles. He was a cap and scheme cut in Jacksonville in early March.
The deal cannot be official until the start of the new league year on March 13.
The financial terms of the deal are still being finalized, but a source familiar with the process believed Williams would meet around the market value for some cornerbacks who agreed to deals Monday, in the $8 million to $12 million annual range.
The Rams have very little depth at cornerback without Williams, as previous starter Ahkello Witherspoon is currently testing free agency (the Rams have discussed his options with his representation). They will also have a new defensive coordinator in 2024 in Chris Shula, who has been a defensive position coach with the team since 2017. Shula’s familiarity with Williams as a player and locker room presence is an added fit.
How he fits: Williams excelled in the Rams’ zone-heavy defensive scheme, particularly when they played more match-zone concepts in 2020-21 (they had the personnel to do this). He can start on the outside or play their coverage-rangy “star” position, should Shula choose to deploy it. Williams is coverage versatile and has a knack for making plays on the ball but particularly shines in a match zone.
2024 impact: Williams joins a room of young drafted players who have had good moments, but have not demonstrated consistency. Derion Kendrick had a tumultuous 2023 season at outside cornerback and Cobie Durant has dealt with soft-tissue injuries at various points when playing inside and outside. Tre Tomlinson, who will begin his second NFL season in 2024, didn’t get much playing time and had some penalty issues. No cornerback (Williams included) currently projected into a starting or rotational role with the Rams is over six feet tall.
Cap update: The terms of this deal are still being finalized, so specifics on salary cap aren’t yet available. In general, the Rams entered Tuesday with between $6 million and $12 million in space and had yet to open up offensive lineman Joe Noteboom’s contract (they can save $5 million with a cut, but would incur $15 million in dead money, or they can open up $9.25 million with a restructure and keep Noteboom as depth). I would estimate somewhere around $10 million in remaining space, inclusive to the result of Noteboom’s choice.
Outlook: Williams is a savvy player with plenty of game left, and was one of the league’s best zone cornerbacks last year (although he is scheme-versatile). In a familiar scheme — one he actually helped install, back in 2020 — he should pick up right where he left off. The Rams still need to add cornerbacks with a little more length whether it is via the draft or in the later rounds of free agency.
March 12, 2024 at 11:59 am in reply to: Canada Ram! & others: a board quirk on posting tweets #149807znModeratorI remembered something about this with my post and I posted it without any comment to start and it only came up as a link. As you can see, I edited afterwards adding the comment and nothing changed. However, on my first post I may have hit return a few times moving the link downward on the page. Could that have caused it to come up as a link only ?
That may be an issue with the url. To get the right url on a tweet, hit the time stamp whatever it is (it could be an hour or it could be a date). That gets you to the right url.
If problems persist, do what I did with your post. Don’t post the tweet’s url, just copy the post and post as “print” basically (go look at what I did with your Darious Wms post).
Rookie wide receivers to gain 70+ receiving yards per game since Randy Moss was drafted pic.twitter.com/iKFkt2VKuL
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) May 20, 2025
znModeratorWell, if Avila is as good at C as he is at G, then there is a good chance that I will be happy about this OL.
He was actually a starting OC in college longer than he was at guard.
According to Stu Jackson, his versatility was one of the reasons the Rams took him as their 1st pick in 2023. Plus their new (and IMO great) OL coach, Wendell, played center for the Patriots. So you reckon he knows what his doing coaching that position.
IMO this may be the best Rams IOL…since maybe 1978 (that was the last year for this combo: Mack Saul Harrah).
Avilla probably has a head on his shoulders like Doug Smith, the last really great Rams center, but Avilla is both bigger and more athletic than Smith was.
They have never had 2 OGs with both size and athleticism like Jackson and Dotson.
In fact this IOL is looking downright diabolical.
znModeratorRams finalizing three-year deal to sign CB Darious Williams
https://www.nfl.com/news/rams-finalizing-three-year-deal-to-sign-cb-darious-williams
Williams is finalizing a three-year deal to join the Rams, where he played four seasons and earned a Super Bowl victory, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Tuesday, per sources informed of the situation.
Williams spent the past two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 30-year-old authored a solid 2023 campaign, generating a career-high four interceptions, 19 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and 53 tackles. Williams was one of seven players to earn four-plus INTs and two-plus forced fumbles in 2023.
Despite being their top corner, the Jags released Williams this offseason in a cost-cutting move. The 5-foot-9 defensive back is excellent in zone coverage but doesn’t fit as well with new coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s scheme.
Williams should slide back into a starting role in L.A. as Chris Shula replaces Raheem Morris as the Rams DC. Since 2020, Williams has allowed a 78.4 passer rating in primary coverage, per PFF, second-best in the NFL over that span (min. 200 targets).
Originally an undrafted free agent in 2018, Williams signed with Baltimore but played just three games with the Ravens before being waived. L.A. claimed him, and he spent the next three seasons with the Rams. Williams had a memorable playoff interception against Seattle in the 2020 playoffs and helped L.A. hoist a Lombardi the following season.znModerator#Rams Jonah Jackson three years, $51M, $34M gtd, $4.25M signing bonus, salaries $8M (ghtd), $9M (gtd for inj at signing, skill, cap if on roster 3rd day 2025, $8M; $4.25M roster bonus 3rd day 2025, $8.5M roster bonus 3rd day 2025 gtd for inj at signing, skill cap if on roster 3rd…
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 12, 2024
March 12, 2024 at 11:36 am in reply to: Canada Ram! & others: a board quirk on posting tweets #149799znModeratorbump
znModeratorA little brush up for Rams fans here from Doug – Darious Williams is versatile but a particularly solid zone CB and aggressive in a matchier zone (when the Rams have had the personnel they’ve played that way). A signing plus a clue as to Chris Shula’s schematic plan at DC. https://t.co/tXupiMp6q7
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) March 12, 2024
znModeratorParkinson offers a giant 6-foot-7 frame he uses to pluck footballs out of the air at their highest point and box out defenders as if he was a power forward in the NBA. What the Rams need that they will be missing with Higbee out early on is an inline tight end who can block but also be counted on in big spots to haul in the big throw. Allen can do that from time to time but Parkinson with four years of experience is built for it. What is the best thing about his game is the fact he seemingly runs by tacklers, he’s really good with the ball in his hands in space. Yards after the catch is a premium for most tight ends who normally go down on first contact but Parkinson isn’t one of those guys and he’s going to offer the ability to threaten any defense in the red zone.
znModeratorIan Rapoport@RapSheet
Former #Jaguars CB Darious Williams is finalizing a deal to play for the #Rams, sources say, the place where he won a Super Bowl. It’s expected to be a three-year.
Rams Talk@realLARamsTalk@PFF had Darious Willams ranked 14th among all CBs last year saying: “he was phenomenal in coverage all season (85.3). He allowed just two touchdown passes, forced 16 incompletions and logged 14 pass stops while preventing separation at an elite level.”.JAKE ELLENBOGEN@JKBOGENDarious Williams only averages 1.83 penalties per year. Very disciplined corner who has everything needed to play in this scheme, is well-liked, fits the culture and can be a veteran leader in a young CB room..znModeratorThere are some great edge rushers in the draft but I hope they can sign a proven vet DE/edge rusher.
They don’t have the money for that now. They signed Wms, a TE, and FA guard, and Dotson. They need some cap space to handle the draft plus a normal cap cushion to carry into the season. Other than that they’re done.
znModeratorThis became very relevant today…
When Rams drafted Avila, it was his versatility that sold him during the pre-draft process, especially at the Senior Bowl.
This may have always been the plan. Now with Jonah Jackson signing, he likely moves over to center. https://t.co/i7cViXy4CJ
— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) March 11, 2024
znModerator* The #49ers haven't had an edge rusher besides Nick Bosa have more than 8.5 sacks in a season since Aldon Smith in 2012.
* Leonard Floyd has had nine-plus sacks in each of the past four seasons.https://t.co/Awo1vrBCRQ pic.twitter.com/Ck3TFMJKkP
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) March 11, 2024
znModeratorI have Jonah Jackson as the top OG available this free agency period, but it’s a good time to need solid starters across the interior.
Full top 38 OL FA rankings: https://t.co/fIF962fr5s pic.twitter.com/h4IaccojdW
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) March 10, 2024
znModeratorWild day for NFL RBs …
Agreed to terms: Saquon Barkley (PHI), Josh Jacobs (GB), Tony Pollard (TEN), D'Andre Swift (CHI), Austin Ekeler (WAS), Antonio Gibson (NE), Gus Edwards (LAC), Devin Singletary (NYG), Zack Moss (CIN)
Cut: Aaron Jones, Joe Mixon
Unsigned: Derrick Henry
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2024
znModeratorJonah Jackson snatching DL x 4 + torquing another off his feet pic.twitter.com/8SBDYtv3Fr
— Brandon Thorn (@BrandonThornNFL) December 6, 2022
znModerator"He has tremendous value in Atlanta."
— @ColinCowherd reacts to Kirk Cousins signing 4-year, $180 million deal with Falcons pic.twitter.com/L84JZZ5eot
— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) March 12, 2024
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