Billy_T wrote:

Hope you’re right about this next offseason, and I’m guessing you are. The Rams very likely learned a lot about process, team-building, and gained a sense of . . . well, humility . . . from the down year/bounce-back

I really suspect that’s true about what you call the year of humility, and that they learned from it.

If that’s not just wishful thinking on my part, then, good times ahead.

wv wrote:

zn wrote:

Looking at this stat–excluding quarterbacks, where does KW rank on “rushing yards before contact per attempt” ? He’s tied for 1st (with McAffrey) at 3.2. And no other Ram is even close. The next on the list is Rivers and Freeman at 2.5, which is tied for 18th. So with KW it’s both the OL blocking well and KW reading/using his blocks really well. KW actually isn’t that impressive after contact. He doesn’t rank very high there (he ranks just about the middle of the league on that stat, 20th of 47). His major damage is done before contact–reading and using the blocking while reading the defenders who are attacking the LOS. 726 of his total 1144 yards rushing come before contact.

— Yeah, this matches up with the eyeball conclusion. He’s a genius at quickly deciding on/creating the best hole. What Cooper Kupp has been to Stafford, K. Williams has been with his Offensive Linemen. There’s a ‘synergy’ or a sharing-of-one-brain, or ‘somethin.’ And it ‘has’ to involve coaching, as well. Some OLine coach is ‘in on this’. I cant remember ‘enjoying’ watching ‘the way’ a RB runs this much since Faulk. And since Faulk had more talent, its almost ‘more’ fun to watch KW because he’s doing it with less raw-measurable-talent. Its often a subtle nuanced talent. And it took me a while to ‘see it.’ But once you see it, you just have to smile on almost every run. Whether its a one yard gain or a fifteen yard gain he’s ‘do’in shit’ out there. AND, despite him not being Earl Campbell after-contact, he does have a fun ‘pop’ when he’s pass blocking. And he blocks cleanly, efficiently. Some backs just look like they are gonna hurt themselves pass-blocking. He knows how to hurt the other guy with one shot. Fun team. Really fun team. Stafford’s out-of-this-world accuracy and boldness. Kupp’s brilliant-shifty-ness. Pakua’s competitive professionalism and enthusiasm. KW. Aaron Donald. The Conductor. Swiss-army knife Higby. The big bad Guards. Just a few players and a kicker shy of being Ring worthy. w v

Ich bin agree with every word of that.

There ya go Zooey. The “to start career” detail helps.

InvaderRam wrote:

zn wrote:

Los Angeles Rams PR@TheLARamsPR DT Aaron Donald was selected to his 10th career Pro Bowl and is the only defensive lineman since 1970 to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons. He joins Pro Football Hall of Famers Reggie White (13) and Bruce Smith (11) as the only defensive linemen since 1970 with 10 Pro Bowl selections

ok. my question still stands though. who was the last player before donald to make the pro bowl in each of their first ten seasons?

I don’t know the last player who did but the last 2 DL who did were White and Smith (last year for both was 98).

zn wrote:

InvaderRam wrote:

zn wrote:

NFL Rumors@nflrums

Los Angeles Rams Aaron Donald is the only DL since 1970 to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first 10 seasons.

i’m gonna venture a guess and say the last one was merlin olsen?

Olsen was in 14 consecutive pro bowls, from 1962 to 1975. Joe Greene was in 11, 1969-1970.

Keep thinking back to this draft room video

Les Snead wanted Kobie Turner over and above anyone else

McVay was the one to talk him through the decision and pushed him to stick to his convictions rather than hoping he’d fall to them later.

Defensive coaches all in on Kobie too https://t.co/knhDoRsCxa

— JT Pearson (@JTPearsonNFL) January 4, 2024

Looking at this stat–excluding quarterbacks, where does KW rank on “rushing yards before contact per attempt” ? He’s tied for 1st (with McAffrey) at 3.2.

And no other Ram is even close. The next on the list is Rivers and Freeman at 2.5, which is tied for 18th.

So with KW it’s both the OL blocking well and KW reading/using his blocks really well.

KW actually isn’t that impressive after contact. He doesn’t rank very high there (he ranks just about the middle of the league on that stat, 20th of 47). His major damage is done before contact–reading and using the blocking while reading the defenders who are attacking the LOS. 726 of his total 1144 yards rushing come before contact.

Big play machines 🤖 pic.twitter.com/2gbV30tE2y

— PFF (@PFF) January 5, 2024

InvaderRam wrote:

whoa. is that kyren williams in the picture with steven jackson? very cool.

Yes. For those who don’t know, Wms grew up in St. Louis as a Rams fan and his favorite player was Jackson.

More on Rams plan to rest some starters, start Carson Wentz on Sunday https://t.co/8WnuKsaM0E

— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) January 3, 2024

..

[see link above]

..

Carson Wentz will start for the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Sean McVay said on Wednesday, giving Matthew Stafford an extra week of rest before the wild-card round.

“Excited about Carson’s opportunity,” said McVay, “but when you look at the totality of balancing what you think is best, there’s not a perfect solution especially when you’re talking about 53 guys, 48 active, able to flex two up (but) we do have a couple injuries … This was just what we felt like was the best thing.”

“When you look at it, what we just felt like was this approach was the best one for our team,” said McVay, also indicating that the Rams did not consider variables such as playoff seeding in the decision.

Going into Sunday’s matchup,  The 49ers will also start a backup QB in Sam Darnold as they rest Brock Purdy.

Receiver Puka Nacua, who is just 29 yards away from the all-time rookie receiving record, appears to be getting at least a shot at breaking it.

“I think you’d like to see him get an opportunity to do something special,” said McVay. “And then be smart with him.”

Wentz was signed as a free agent by the Rams during their Week 10 bye. Sunday will mark the first significant minutes he has played this season, minus a few handoffs in garbage time wins.

But Wentz has gotten plenty of work in practice while running the scout team, minus a third quarterback on the roster. He’s also very active on the sidelines during games, something McVay lightheartedly noticed after the Rams beat the Washington Commanders in Week 15.

“He was buzzing back and forth in front of me like running wind sprints. I actually noticed that yesterday,” McVay said. “I don’t know what the hell was going on. He was staying loose though. I do know that much. … He wanted to get some extra cardio in during the game. He was double dipping … I actually did notice that a couple times as this big creature was buzzing back and forth in front of me on the sidelines.”

Now, Wentz will get his opportunity to play actual football in 2024.

The Rams are Wentz’s fourth team in as many seasons, since he was the Philadelphia Eagles’ No. 2 draft pick in 2016 (Eagles from 2016 to 2020, Indianapolis Colts in 2021 and Commanders in 2022).

Wentz started seven games for the Commanders last season, throwing for 1,755 yards with 11 touchdowns, nine interceptions and an 80.2 passer rating.

Dresser Winn, who was with the team in training camp, was signed to the practice squad this week and will be the backup to Wentz.