Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
September 3, 2021 at 11:33 am in reply to: McVay, Johnny Hekker, Ramsey, & Fuller – Press conferences (+ Snead) #131935
znModeratorTop takeaways from Les Snead’s press conference on initial 53-man roster
Stu Jackson
* https://www.therams.com/news/top-takeaways-les-snead-s-press-conference-initial-53-man-roster
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Rams general manager Les Snead met with local media Wednesday to discuss the team’s initial 53-man roster, covering the decision to carry three quarterbacks, the approach to the punter position, and more.
Here are some of the highlights and key takeaways from that conversation:
Perkins fit the prototype of the ideal backup
The Rams kept a third quarterback on their initial 53-man roster for the first time since 2018 with the decision carry Bryce Perkins on the 53-man roster.
A big reason why: Perkins fit the mold of the ideal backup who has the mobility to make plays out of structure, or in the chaos of when a play breaks down, according to Snead.
“We’ve seen, bringing John Wolford on the roster, having that element, that tool in the toolbox,” Snead said. “One of the reasons we signed Bryce Perkins as an (undrafted) free agent last year was that.”
Perkins earned it, and they also wanted to protect him being claimed by another team on waivers and avoid the risk of losing a player like him and the last year-plus invested into developing him.
Bojorquez presented a rare opportunity worth exploring
It’s not often that the NFL’s top punter in average yards per punt from the previous season becomes available, but it happened this spring when Corey Bojorquez – a pending restricted free agent – became an unrestricted free agent after the Bills (his former team) decided not to tender him.
“That’s kind of staring at you like a sore thumb,” Snead said. “That’s an opportunity we should explore.”
It also worked out in Bojorquez’s favor because, given that the Rams traditionally haven’t player their starters in the preseason in the McVay era, he knew he would have a chance to punt during that time.
With Bojorquez making the most of those opportunities, Snead said they realized, “wait a minute, there’s an element of choice here” between two punters. They weren’t going to keep two, so Bojorquez was traded with a 2023 seventh-round draft pick from the Lions to the Packers for a 2023 sixth-round pick before Tuesday’s 53-man deadline.
Confidence in the roster
Heading into the season, Snead feels confident about where the roster stands.
“Here’s what we do feel like, we definitely are confident and believe we can contend for our division, and if we accomplish that, we might have a chance to have a few home playoff games,” Snead said. “But at that point in time, it’s heavy-weight fights and we’re confident we’ll be ready to step into the ring and play those fourth quarters. We’re definitely going to start climbing. That’s the top of the mountain, but we’re at base camp and we’re ready to start climbing.”
znModeratorJourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
Jacob Harris is over with the receivers in individuals with QBs (WRs, RBs the participants in these particular drills) as opposed to TE group which is also drilling in another part of the field. Would imagine he moves back and forth quite a bit now; stayed w TEs usually in camp.…
CROMWELL21
From Rodrigue’s podcast. Which I would suggest you listen to. Skowronek and A’Shawn could be placed on the short term IR if the Rams find players they want to sign especially a RB. Or they want to bring Lawler up.
Jonah Williams (DL 6) and Juju Hughes or JR Reed (Safety 6) may be riding the practice squad shuttle a lot depending on roster need
…from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/03/rams-robert-woods-matthew-stafford-chemistry-offense/
[Robert Woods] can see Stafford gaining confidence in the offense, too, adding that the QB has the keys to the car and he’s seeing what it can do now.
“Him coming in, I think we reacted right away really, really well,” Woods said on the Jim Rome Show. “We crossed paths a little bit on my rookie visit in Detroit, seeing him there. But now that we’re on the same team, it’s just picked up off of that. Chemistry was strong right away, coming out here throwing. His work ethic was on point. But really, I’ll just say his leadership and grasp of the offense – I was just telling somebody, he has the keys to the car and he’s really testing it out and seeing what this car can do, making adjustments and seeing what he can do with it.”
znModeratorfrom https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2021/09/02/rams-sony-michel-practice-impression-kevin-oconnell/
Michel is expected to shoulder a backup role behind Henderson, but Kevin O’Connell has been dazzled by what he’s seen from the newly acquired running back thus far.
“Obviously, as advertised from a standpoint of his balance and you can just see his contact balance and he’s got a very powerful presence when he’s got the ball in his hands. We’re still trying to – he’s still learning. It’s completely different. In a roundabout way, I’ve been in that offense before, so I know how much different that verbiage is,” O’Connell said, referring to the Patriots’ offense. “He’s going to be working through it. He’s out there right now, right over your shoulder with Thomas Brown working on some things and it’ll just be incrementally better every day for him. And just talking to him, once things start to slow down mentally, I think we’re really going to start to see him get comfortable and take off.
znModeratorJordan Fuller wasted no time going from a sixth-round pick to one of the Rams’ most important players in just two seasons. https://t.co/oLQsREg8Go
— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) September 3, 2021
znModerator"Matthew Stafford has the same arm talent as Patrick Mahomes & Aaron Rodgers" –@89JonesNTAF
Is he the missing piece for the #Rams? pic.twitter.com/66wWeNqvdj
— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) September 2, 2021
znModerator"Matthew Stafford has the same arm talent as Patrick Mahomes & Aaron Rodgers" –@89JonesNTAF
Is he the missing piece for the #Rams? pic.twitter.com/66wWeNqvdj
— NFL Total Access (@NFLTotalAccess) September 2, 2021
znModeratorRams practice squad (so far)
WR Landen Akers
RB Otis Anderson
TE Kendall Blanton
T Chandler Brewer
DE Earnest Brown IV
DT Marquise Copeland
DB Dont'e Deayon
G Jeremiah Kolone
WR J.J. Koski
DB Kareem Orr
DB Tyler Hall
LB Micah Kiser
LB Justin Lawler
T Max Pircher (exempt)— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) September 1, 2021
znModeratorRams Brothers@RamsBrothers
McVay is 13-3 the last four years in his first four games of the season. Credit to him and his ability to prepare his starters.The major difference is: Andy Reid plays starters in the preseason. McVay gets them prepared via live practices (and everything else in between).
znModeratorJourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
RB Xavier Jones was classified as a waived/injured transaction. He suffered an ankle injury on Saturday against Denver.McVay says Xavier Jones will need surgery on what he lets slip is an Achilles injury. Says the Rams really want to work with Jones in the future following his waive/injured designation
McVay confirmed that the Rams are indeed keeping TreMayne Anchrum on the active roster but he might have to go on short term injured reserve so was not out here today (knee). Coleman Shelton is on COVID/reserve but Rams also keeping him once he clears.
Obo Okoronkwo will go on short-term IR this week, per McVay. A’Shawn Robinson actually won’t have to.
znModeratorThe Rams are building their practice squad, which can be finalized at 4 p.m. ET today. Track all of their moves here. https://t.co/zIJRxYBN3S
— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) September 1, 2021
September 1, 2021 at 12:03 pm in reply to: Nurses fired for not getting COVID-19 vaccine explain their rationale #131881znModerator24-year-old Chloe Mrozak from Illinois was arrested after allegedly using this fake #COVID19 vaccine card to enter Hawaii and avoid travel restrictions — it says “Maderna” instead of “Moderna” @KITV4 pic.twitter.com/1EWp3eG3OR
— Tom George (@TheTomGeorge) September 1, 2021
znModeratorI wonder why 6 safeties?
znModeratorWhy might the @RamsNFL really be the team to beat? pic.twitter.com/DVgCclEDNI
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) August 31, 2021
znModeratorBTHRams@BTH_Rams
This is the contract year for Noteboom, Allen, Okoronkwo, Joseph-Day and Howard (the first four on their original rookie deals, Howard on a new one).Will any of them get an extension?
znModeratorJourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigue
OL I saw practicing this morning were: Andrew Whitworth, David Edwards, Brian Allen, Austin Corbett, Rob Havenstein, Joe Noteboom, Alaric Jackson, Bobby Evans and Max Pircher. Pircher can be exempt from a practice squad roster spot as an IPP player, FWIW.Jones hurt his ankle in last week’s preseason game and while McVay said he felt like he was OK, we have not received an update there yet so bears monitoring. Jones, to me, would be a surprise cut.
The Rams have decided to keep three QBs on their initial roster, according to multiple sources with knowledge. That means former UDFA Bryce Perkins, who played and impresses nearly the entire preseason, will be on the initial 53-man roster along with QB2 Wolford and QB1 Stafford.
The real question here was: Is your QB3 a better advantage (including if a trade presented itself or position catastrophe) than an extra DL or OL or ILB.
Lindsey Thiry@LindseyThiry
No further Rams cuts announced yet today, but here’s a look at who was at practice:
QB: Stafford, Wolford Perkins
RB: Henderson, Michel, Funk
WR: Woods, Kupp, Jackson, Jefferson, Atwell, Skowronek
TE: Higbee, Mundt, Hopkins, HarrisOL: Whitworth, Edwards, Allen, Corbett, Havenstein, Noteboom, Evans, Jackson, Pircher (international player)
Johnny Hekker remains on the Rams reserve/COVID list, according to a team official. But he was allowed to be AT practice, though not participating in practice.
znModeratorTutu Atwell won’t have to ask Matthew Stafford to throw it quicker. This is a first down if the ball gets there earlier. pic.twitter.com/TAKe2EAzuA
— 𝕋𝕠𝕞 – 𝕃𝔸 ℝ𝕒𝕞𝕤 (@TL_LARams) August 31, 2021
znModeratorA couple of Gravy Seals from Meal Team 6 showing us how it’s done…if you’re both out of shape ammosexuals who feel like accidentally shooting each other. pic.twitter.com/5w5DZf77if
— Sgt Joker (@TheSGTJoker) August 30, 2021
znModeratorTutu Atwell may be small but he already knows how to protect himself from big hits pic.twitter.com/mgPrTl7p6d
— 𝕋𝕠𝕞 – 𝕃𝔸 ℝ𝕒𝕞𝕤 (@TL_LARams) August 31, 2021
znModeratorAside from some funny moments, there's also a couple neat teaching moments between Cooper Kupp and Tutu in here. https://t.co/qTdmVjeiLO
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) August 31, 2021
znModeratorMy favorite Charlie Watts story.
One night in a hotel Jagger phones him drunk and says hey, where’s my drummer.
Watts gets out of bed, puts on a suit, cleans and shines his shoes, and goes to Jagger’s room and knocks. Jagger opens the door and Watts slugs him in the face. Then says “don’t ever call me your fucking drummer again! YOU are MY fucking singer!”
…
znModeratorThis 100% needed to be said out loud. Please share this far and wide. pic.twitter.com/APMpDGEac4
— SCPO’s Combination Cover Speaks (@dire_distress) August 30, 2021
znModeratoralyoshamucci
PS Game 3
How many of our cut players won’t clear waivers? The cuts this year were going to be stupid.
It’s less about who deserves to be on the team and more about who we believe will clear waivers.
Also, gotta note, feel bad for Broncos fans/coaches … that was our 3rd team D that gave them fits. 3rd team offense that drove on them. That said, they really just looked great.
1) I’ll start with Terell Lewis. I’m glad he’s healthy … and I’d likely keep him over Obo anyway … but he’s behind Garrett on the depth chart in my book.
2) Bobby Brown 3 … if it was just PS performance based he wouldn’t make the orster, but as Hoecht and Jonah W and Banks have shown, the jump from year 1 to year 2 is serious with our strength coach and D line coaches. He flashed a couple times but also got bullied a bit. He’s a likely healthy scratch for the first 8 games.
3) Bojorquez may have had 2 of the prettiest punts I’ve ever seen. How does Buffalo cut him? Can we trade Hekker? Would the boys give up a 6th or 7th to reunite him with Bones?
4) Xavier Jones should clear waivers, I’d take the chance cutting him. Mainly because so much RB talent is getting cut tomorrow. It’s not like DBs.
5) I can’t see how we cut Reed or Juju. We’ll lose either one.
6) Alaric Jackson had the quietest preseason for a rookie left tackle I’ve seen, and the dude was undrafted. He held his own against Bradley Chubb for Pete’s sake (after handling Clelin Farrel the week before)
7) Otis Anderon on KO duties?
8) I like Tutu returning punts.
9) I hope we trade a couple of guys. Seriously.
10) Hoecht has to be kept on the 53. I’d chance Williams and Banks and figure we lose one.
11) Do we need Kiser? Odd man out?
12) Flip a coin on Hopkin and Blanton, but I think they’re safe to the PS because teams are deep at TE right now.
znModeratorRockRam
The NE Pats local analyst that was also an NFL player (Matt Chattham), was saying that Sony Michel was having a great camp, fully healthy, really knows what he’s doing, a complete Pro. Felt like Sony was primed to have his best year ever, and thought the Rams picked up a super player.
Have heard a few others say it about the same. This is a complete RB. Starter quality. Only 26. Has played and done well in the biggest of games. I’m not sure the Rams could have done better.
And we have to keep something in mind. Don’t assume he’ll be gone after this year. An Achilles injury is big time. Very questionable that Akers will be the same guy. 50/50 at best. Depending on how things go, the Rams may have to pay Michel to stay.
znModeratorBryce Perkins’ play has made the Rams’ decision to keep two or three quarterbacks a tough one. https://t.co/6Zn55mYZHO
— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) August 29, 2021
znModeratorAaron Donald is once again viewed as one of the best players in the NFL, according to his peers. Donald came in at No. 2 on the league’s Top 100 Players list for the 2021 season, the fourth time in a row he’s been voted in the top 10. It’s also the third straight year he’s landed in the top three.
The list, which is voted on by players, had Patrick Mahomes in the top spot, with Aaron Rodgers third, Derrick Henry fourth and Travis Kelce rounding out the top five.
…
Jalen Ramsey was the only other Rams player to make the list, coming in at No. 13.
znModeratorSean McVay provided an encouraging update on Bobby Brown and Xavier Jones after the game. https://t.co/8dbjeMLPWu
— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) August 29, 2021
znModeratorWith Corey Bojorquez shining against the Broncos, the Rams might be ready to move on from Johnny Hekker. https://t.co/dEergRN5dG
— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) August 29, 2021
znModeratorLindsey Thiry@LindseyThiry
a 70-yard punt for Rams P Corey Bojorquez as it bounces out on the one-year line… what a night for him.Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
yeah so Corey Bojorquez is going to be the Rams’ punter.Rams Brothers@RamsBrothers
TLew and Chris Garrett rushing off opposite edges is a fun combination. Hoping to see them collect strip sacks and batted passes for years to come.J.B. Long@JB_Long
Last thought of the night: Pretty cool for Jake Funk to go from 2 ACLs, 3 surgeries, and waiting until pick 233 (7th Rd) to be drafted……to being held out of Preseason 3 because he’s earned his spot on special teams and the Rams RB depth chart.
znModeratorThey blitzed six men against five blockers on 3rd & 7… https://t.co/5JrwrRrMKV
— BTHRams (@BTH_Rams) August 29, 2021
znModeratorNo. 13 in the NFL Top 100 and the highest-rated corner on the list.
Correct ranking for @jalenramsey?
📺: #NFLTop100 No. 10-1 — TOMORROW at 4PM ET on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/tfAIQp64nn
— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2021
-
AuthorPosts
