.@RamsNFL have to replace their offensive line coach this year, #KROM. #AaronKrommer. It’s not going to be easy. A masterful teacher. Let’s see if the O-Line plays with the same technique #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/lq9CWwHcCl

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) July 11, 2021

from Bucky Brooks, TOP FIVE: Most underrated players in 2021: https://www.nfl.com/news/what-nfl-can-learn-from-tampa-bay-lightning-s-back-to-back-titles-five-most-unde?campaign=Twitter_atn

If you have not listened to the most recent “Flying Coach” podcast with Peter Schrager and Sean McVay, you are missing out on a great conversation between a couple of quarterback gurus, as Kyle Shanahan joined his NFC West counterpart’s show to discuss all things football.

One of the most interesting discussions centered on Matthew Stafford, who, of course, just relocated from the Lions to McVay’s Rams this offseason. Although the former No. 1 overall pick is regularly lauded for his arm talent, Shanahan and McVay both believe the veteran deserves more credit for his overall ability and accomplishments as a player.

“Stafford’s the man,” Shanahan said on the pod. “I studied him hard coming out of college, and you always play against him, so you know how good he is. But to know he might be available and to spend two weeks really watching him, Sean, yeah, he’s better than I realized. He was the man. He’s actually underrated to me. I know how good of a guy you got. I know how good he is at play-action. I know how smart he is. Not only does he just have a big arm, but he’s got touch, he knows where to go with the ball.”

Wow! You rarely hear a coach rave about an opposing player like that unless there is a tremendous amount of respect. The effusive praise coming from Shanahan not only prompted me to re-examine Stafford’s game, but it sent me on a mission to find other players who deserve more recognition for their play between the lines.

Given some time to survey the league and poll a few folks on which players are really underrated in our game, I’ve come up with a list of the five most underrated players in the league today:

Rank 1

Matthew Stafford
Los Angeles Rams · QB

The veteran quarterback has always been regarded as one of the most naturally talented passers in the league, but few observers rank Stafford as a top-five quarterback. Despite posting impressive numbers for a downtrodden franchise — including 38 game-winning drives and 31 fourth-quarterback comebacks during his Detroit tenure — No. 9 has not received much recognition as a premier player at the position. That should change with Stafford teaming up with Sean McVay to direct an offense with explosive scoring potential due to the structure and personnel. Given more weapons and a creative play-caller, the one-time Pro Bowler could finally earn MVP talk from the football world.

– 1973
– hadl to jackson
– both made first-team all-pro
– both made the pro bowl
– no other rams qb / wr duo has combined for more tds in a season (13).https://t.co/87zpxdiWcn

— roberto clemente (@rclemente2121) July 11, 2021

Agamemnon wrote:

I forget which one it was. It to two shots, a week? apart. OK, it is Pfizer-BioNTech, 2 shots, 21 days apart. People i know think it is the better one. By the way, I had no reaction to either of the shots.
.
Before I got old and broke down, I didn’t see the need for vaccinations. Since my health went downhill, well, I can’t afford to get sick. So I take my chances with the vaccinations.

Good to hear. Hey btw I put my email addy in the chat message box…shoot me an email sometime.

I had both shots, and no reaction. Same as you.

I’m getting beat up by age too. I am a diabetic with an arthritic spine.

Stay well!

Others–any health stories?

Ted@trom771
Everyone at Fox had to get vaccinated before they were allowed back into the studio. They ain’t working from home anymore, so yeah, all those people on air, telling their viewers that the vaccine is dangerous, have definitely been vaccinated.

For the last 3 seasons, Robert Woods 427 rushing yards (and 4 TDs) is the most of any WR in the league. Versatility is what makes Robert Woods so valuable to the Rams offense pic.twitter.com/Ual6wpwiJK

— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) July 11, 2021

Rams will open 10 training camp practices in Irvine to the public https://t.co/kWYxuovImd

— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) July 10, 2021

Matthew Stafford Is Overrated
The Los Angeles Rams will be disappointed with the results with Matthew Stafford under center.

https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/matthew-stafford-is-overrated

It is not an uncommon phenomenon.

Sports fans tend to romanticize and overhype professional athletes, and Detroit is no different.

In the case of former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, supporters fell in love with the traits he possessed that they could identify with — playing through pain, being a great teammate, not bashing the organization publicly and his big arm.

But, in the world of professional sports, the bottom line is results.

The narrative that Stafford did not have enough talent around him is laughable.

The organization surrounded him with talented wideouts, and it built a defense that was among the best in the National Football League in 2014.

No football team is built perfectly, and the organization needed Stafford to do more to help get the Lions over the hump in the playoffs. It never occurred.

While many choose to focus on the bad calls during the Cowboys playoff game, many forget the offense went cold the final three quarters of the game. With an opportunity late in the game to seal the victory, Stafford and the offense came up short.

Too many times, in the biggest of moments, Stafford turned the ball over or threw a pick-six that altered the momentum in the opponents’ favor.

Max Kellerman of ESPN drew a lot of criticism when he called Stafford overrated on an episode of “First Take.”

“Stafford’s a good quarterback, but he’s overrated … you’re the No. 1 overall pick. What have you done? How many times have you won the division? Zero. Okay, how many times have you won a playoff game? Zero … Have you ever been to a Pro Bowl? One as an alternate. Now, how are you paid? As though you’re maybe the best quarterback in football.”

This is just info. To some it might mean something, to some it might not.

It defines itself as an American Christian biography. It is made by the Kingdom Story Company which specializes in the production of Christian films. It is directed by Andrew and Jon Erwin who make faith-based films.

Andrew Erwin says that in their films, the “focus is still firmly rooted within the church, but it’s focused out[.] … And so our goal is to reach out beyond the church walls to engage a generation that’s walking away from the church – as an introduction to Christianity.”

The #Lions will move on from the best QB in the NFL at bouncing back after getting hit

QB Jared Goff will have some big shoes to fill but will have the luxury of playing behind one of the best OL's in the NFL next seasonhttps://t.co/KKbAYpzMrs

— PFF DET Lions (@PFF_Lions) July 7, 2021

from https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2021/07/07/anthony-lynn-its-been-an-absolute-pleasure-to-work-with-jared-goff/

Since he was traded from Los Angeles to Detroit, Jared Goff has said he feels “empowered” to help craft the offense around what he feels he’s best at. During an appearance on the Compas on the Beat podcast this week, Lions offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn told Gilbert Manzano and Fernando Ramirez how much he’s enjoyed Goff.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure to work with Jared,” Lynn said. “Just giving him some input and watching him grow as a leader on our football team, that’s been really cool to see. But he’s had some really good practices and hopefully that carries over to training camp and the regular season. But I’m very pleased with what I’ve seen so far.”

The Rams ranked 22nd in red zone TD percentage last season, which played a major role in the offense’s regression. https://t.co/YoU0d7ZuXs

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) July 7, 2021

—

[from the link above]

Whitworth says that’s one area where the Rams have to get better after failing to capitalize on scoring opportunities the last two years.

He was on the PFF NFL Podcast and explained that the Rams must get better in scoring situations.

“You really look at the last couple of years, I don’t know if slowing down is the word that I look for when I try to describe it as much as I don’t think we’ve been as successful in the red zone and maybe in scoring opportunities as we were the first couple years,” Whitworth said. “We’ve seemed to move the ball well on people, we’ve seemed to have good drives and then for whatever reason, we haven’t really put it in the way we did.”