Rams expecting 30,000 fans to attend minicamp practice at SoFi Stadium https://t.co/Tw8GSr5WCU

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) June 10, 2021

Matthew Stafford can’t pass on complimenting Rams’ versatile receiving corps

Gary Klein

https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/story/2021-06-09/matthew-stafford-receivers-rams

He broadened his knowledge of coach Sean McVay’s offense. Timing with receivers and other skill players began to come together. Teammates now have a feel for their new leader.

But Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said Wednesday that when he arrived in Southern California for offseason workouts — after 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions — he did so without specific expectations about how the first phase of his transition would unfold.

“I just showed up here, tried to be myself every single day, know I was going to make mistakes, try to get better along the way,” Stafford told reporters after the team’s penultimate minicamp workout, “and then I’ll try to do that for as long as I’m in this uniform.”

Stafford, acquired in a January trade for quarterback Jared Goff and two first-round draft picks, will practice in front of Rams fans Thursday at SoFi Stadium. Stafford, 33, will use the final workout to familiarize himself with sight lines, the scoreboard and play clocks in the $5-billion Inglewood stadium.

“All that kind of stuff you’ve got to get used to at a home stadium,” he said during a videoconference.

After Thursday’s workout, the Rams will break for summer and reconvene for training camp in late July. Stafford said he would continue to work with teammates during player-organized throwing sessions.

Trying to get in sync as much as we possibly can be heading into training camp,” Stafford said. “Trying to really just dive in and make sure that when we come back, I’m ready to lead this thing and go.”

Receivers Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, DeSean Jackson, Van Jefferson and rookie Tutu Atwell will be among Stafford’s principal targets in an offense that is expected to approach or surpass production that characterized the 2017 and 2018 seasons.

After two weeks of organized-team activities and the minicamp, Stafford was impressed.

“We’ve got a lot of talented guys in that group,” he said. “Some veteran guys that know what they’re doing and some young guys that are learning quickly as well.”

Woods, a ninth-year pro, is a “proven player,” Stafford said.

“He does a great job of slash running after he catches the football,” Stafford said, “He’s really smooth in and out of his breaks.”

Kupp, entering his fifth NFL season, caught Stafford’s attention with his understanding of defenses.

“It’s something, as a quarterback, that is a lot of fun to have, a guy out there you know is thinking and seeing the game the same way that you are,” Stafford said.

Jackson, 34, shows no sign of slowing down after 13 seasons, the last two in Philadelphia marred by injuries.

“He still has the long speed that I see,” Stafford said. “He’s running great.”

Stafford said Jefferson, a second-year pro, has size to create mismatches and speed to separate from defenders. The speedy Atwell catches the ball away from his body well.

Jefferson, 24, first met Stafford in 2009. Stafford was selected No. 1 overall in the draft by the Lions, who employed his father, Shawn Jefferson, as a receivers coach.

“He remembered me from being a little kid,” Jefferson said, adding that it was “ironic” their paths crossed again.

Jefferson said Stafford and the receivers were getting more comfortable.

Rams defensive players also have welcomed the opportunity to be tested by Stafford.

“Very experienced, very seasoned, so he knows how to manipulate safeties’ eyes — all that stuff,” third-year safety Taylor Rapp said, adding that Rams defensive backs are “always trying to compete against the best.

“To be able compete against him in practice, and all of training camp, that’s something that we’re looking forward to.”

When training camp opens at UC Irvine, Stafford will begin preparing for a season that marks a new beginning. Stafford led the Lions to the playoffs three times but never won a postseason game.

Now he will lead a team that is expected to contend for a berth in the Super Bowl, which will be played at SoFi Stadium.

Stafford is looking forward to the next phase of his career.

“I know I have a big challenge in front of me, to make sure that I’m leading this team as best as I possibly can,” he said. “All they want from me is to play at a high level and do things the right way, so that’s what I’m going to try and do.”

The NFL will spend up to $1 million funding studies that will examine how to better help players ease their pain and find alternatives to opioids. Potential alternatives include marijuana and other cannabis-derived products.

by @teresamwalker
https://t.co/go6SQGvZXO

— AP NFL (@AP_NFL) June 8, 2021

from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2021/06/09/rams-rankings-pff-secondary-top-10/

Johnson and Hill are both gone after signing with the Browns in free agency, leaving the secondary a bit thinner.

However, Pro Football Focus still views it as one of the 10 best in football, ranking the Rams’ secondary ninth in the NFL.

The Rams would rank higher here had they been able to bring back John Johnson III and Troy Hill from the league’s most efficient defense last season. Instead, both took their talents to Cleveland.

Jalen Ramsey and Darious Williams are still in place, though, and they formed one of the best cornerback tandems in the league last season. Of the 100 cornerbacks to record at least 250 coverage snaps in 2020, 20 players allowed fewer than one yard per coverage snap. Ramsey (0.5) and Williams (0.9) were both among that group. Los Angeles just needs younger players, such as Terrell Burgess and David Long Jr., to step up and replace the starters lost in free agency.

Matthew Stafford passes to DeSean Jackson as the #LARams kick off minicamp at their facility in Thousand Oaks. Only notable absence, albeit an excused one, is Aaron Donald. Team spokesman says he’s dealing a family issue that had been communicated in advance. pic.twitter.com/4ttC2cZtB1

— Omar Ruiz (@OmarDRuiz) June 8, 2021

You didn’t invent this in a vacuum, buddy. **Link to the story:👇 https://t.co/3SzVY0sUyc pic.twitter.com/HEo9dLISvm

— We can have a society that honors life🌲🍄🌻 (@TimOnTheTractor) June 8, 2021

most career TD passes without winning a Super Bowl

421 – Philip Rivers
420 – Dan Marino
347 – Matt Ryan
342 – Fran Tarkenton
294 – Carson Palmer
291 – Warren Moon
282 – Matthew Stafford
275 – Vinny Testaverde
261 – Dave Kreig
254 – Dan Fouts
250 – Sonny Jurgensen
248 – Tony Romo

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) June 9, 2021

10 Observations from Day 1 of Rams’ 2021 minicamp

Stu Jackson​

https://www.therams.com/news/10-observations-from-day-1-of-rams-2021-minicamp

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Rams players convened at the team’s facility Tuesday for the first day of its mandatory minicamp. Staff writer Stu Jackson shares 10 Observations from the session:

1) Words of Whits-dom: Early in the session, offensive lineman Max Pircher – who most recently played offensive tackle and arrived to the Rams via the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program – was seen getting pointers from veteran Rams left tackle Andrew Whitworth in between reps during a drill. No better way for a newcomer to get acclimated to the league than working with a 16-year veteran playing one of the most difficult positions along the offensive line.

2) Continuing what was seen during the pair of open OTA sessions, rookie wide receiver Tutu Atwell got work at punt returner.

3) Leonard Floyd mentoring Chris Garrett: Floyd said on May 24 that he makes a point to help the Rams’ defensive rookies, and that guidance was on display during outside linebacker drills Tuesday when Floyd helped Garrett with his hand technique, then continued the conversation as they transitioned to the next period of the session.

4) While watching the above scene unfold, Floyd and Garrett’s length also stood out from the drill. It’s to be expected with Floyd 6-foot-5 and Garrett 6-3, but still impressive nonetheless.

5) Defensive back Kareem Orr had a nice interception during 7-on-7 drills, making a finger-tip grab and juggling the ball to haul it in and prevent it from hitting the ground.

6) More quickness from Atwell: The Louisville product used his quick release at the line of scrimmage to get open and haul in a pass on three separate occasions during 7-on-7 drills.

7) More hands-on Raheem Morris: It’s well-established that the Rams’ new defensive coordinator likes to be heavily involved in drill work done by each of his unit’s position groups. On Tuesday, he was seen working up close with the outside linebackers.
8) Cornerback Jalen Ramsey was spotted wearing No. 5 on his jersey instead of his usual 20, but it was unclear if that represents an official change.

9) Similarly, running back Cam Akers was wearing No. 23 again, but it was also unclear if that represents an official change.

10) A’Shawn Robinson as advertised. One teammate remarked that the Rams defensive lineman showed up to OTAs “thinner” and “more explosive”, and he looked the part in both instances on Tuesday.

Best free agent signing in Rams history https://t.co/CB2rtVpRPj

— World B. Flat (@Carl_noWinslow) June 7, 2021

Inside Rams’ scouting of Robert Rochell: Matching ‘eye-popping’ data with film, projections with Jalen Ramsey

Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/2610706/2021/06/07/inside-rams-scouting-of-robert-rochell-matching-eye-popping-data-with-film-projections-with-jalen-ramsey/

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams drafted cornerback Robert Rochell at No. 130 this spring, 611 days and 30 completed evaluation reports after they first began scouting him at Central Arkansas.

“We were doing some summer work, especially on guys from FCS schools — small schools. Usually, there is going to be some word of mouth and he came on my radar,” said area scout Cedric Jones, who was a lead on Rochell for the last two years.

“We turned on the film, and (first up) was Western Kentucky. Right away, you could see those physical traits.” Jones said. “And then you start seeing his ball skills.”

Rochell used to play quarterback and receiver in high school, at Fair Park in Shreveport, La., and Jones said it was pretty clear that Rochell is “used to having the ball in his hands.” The Rams, under general manager Les Snead, love drafting former quarterbacks who switched positions (Cooper Kupp, Cam Akers, Tutu Atwell among others). Jones was hooked. He dug deeper.

On one play, Western Kentucky tried to draw Rochell across the field via a dragging receiver. Jones planted, flipped and adjusted to the intended receiver, then closed on the ball and hit the receiver so hard the ball came loose. Excitedly, Jones scribbled something down in his notes for later — something that would come up in meetings about Rochell, as the scouting personnel and data analysts began to match and cross-reference their notes on 2021 prospects in collaborative meetings the following year.

In fact, behind the scenes, the Rams were about to draw up a pretty huge comparison for Rochell, specifically where his athletic traits and how they match them in their system were concerned — a comparison reserved for only a few players over their last five years of analysis. That comparison would, in the month or so leading up to the draft, get defensive coordinator Raheem Morris so excited about Rochell as a prospect that he deemed the rookie corner as one of his “pool party” picks (and one of the few non-front-7 guys on his personal list) — or, a pick who, should the Rams draft him, prompt Morris to dive into the pool at the Malibu draft house.

“Since 2015 — that’s when we started our internal scouting system, called ‘JARS’, we have 5,000 different defensive backs that we have (measurables) on,” said Jake Temme, who is a data and analytics manager for the Rams. “And within our internal mechanism for doing weight-adjusted/athleticism (measurements) — called RSDI (Rams Standard Deviation Index) — he was in the top 10 percent for the cornerback position.”

In that five-year data span, the Rams, said Temme, found there were just four players who satisfied all of the following conditions they use to evaluate defensive backs within their database (which Temme discovered by programming a query of these conditions into the system): The player was drafted, the player was 5-foot-10 or taller, the player was equal to or heavier than 180 pounds, the player jumped 40-plus inches vertically in testing and the player broad-jumped 10 feet or more and the player ran a 4.40-second-or-less 40-yard-dash when averaged between six different times collected between official and unofficial recordings.

“Those four players are Jalen Ramsey, Obi Melifonwu, Derwin James and Robert Rochell,” Temme said. “Pretty rare guy, athletically, to get that late in the draft … I think, in particular, when you’re talking about a guy who we had a ton of scouting on, who then satisfies the physical conditions that we’re talking about — he was really exciting to be a Day 3 guy, a guy who we had basically circled after taking Ernest (Jones) at No. 103, saying, ‘This is a guy we’re going to target tomorrow.’”

Before we get carried away at the comparison to Ramsey, remember: The Rams’ data process combines specific measurables, some of which are pulled from athletic traits, some from testing numbers and some from other variables to basically build a numerical model of a player, then they collaborate with scouts to match those data points to what is on tape and in a player’s background (including Snead’s favorite “intangibles”). They aren’t at all saying Rochell is “the next Jalen Ramsey” but …

“Jalen is elite,” Jones said. “And when you put (the numbers) side by side, Robert has some of those similar physical traits that Jalen has.”

One interesting detail, though, was a similarity they saw between how Rochell, who is 6-foot-2, and Ramsey, who is 6-foot-1, use their frames to add length when playing either a receiver or the ball.

“You’re looking on film and sometimes it’s kind of hard to tell — you’re looking, and (suddenly) you’re like, ‘Damn, that kid looks long,” Jones said. “He measured in at right about that 6-foot-range. But looking on tape, he looks every bit of 6-foot-3-ish. You see those long arms. … He uses every bit of his length.

“He’s able to disrupt releases on the line of scrimmage from receivers. You see those arms there. All of the sudden, you see the fluidity he moves with up in space. So you’re like, ‘Whoa.’ Then, when the ball is in the air, you see that vertical leap — and he elevates the play above the rim to pluck the ball out of the air. That’s when it’s eye-poppin’, and those traits really start playing.”

To describe how Rochell can operate in a vertical space, national scout Marty Barrett borrowed a phrase from his wife and daughters, who all either coach or play competitive volleyball: “Touch point” or the highest point a person can reach when height, jump, arm, fingertip and spatial awareness are all taken into consideration.

“I think you saw the measures play out, with Robert,” Temme said. “Whenever you watched him play, if you watched him go up for, like, a 50/50 ball — and he won a ton of those, got his hands on a ton of footballs — I think you start to … (believe) that this guy is a special athlete because of what you saw on film, because of how you saw him go sideline to sideline and be able to reach stuff that you didn’t necessarily feel like other corners could.

“He’s really good at isolating the boundary, raising up and getting his hands on the football.”

As the analysts, scouts and various cross-checkers and personnel people held prospect meetings, Temme got a kick out of the fact that Rochell and Ramsey were “comped” via many of their measurables and had some fun with the presentation of those findings.

“We were (meeting) over Zoom, and so I can just throw a picture in the chat,” he laughed. “So I could just throw a picture of those measurables — put Jalen next to Robert and stack them together. Someone will end up seeing it in the chat and pulling it up, having it resonate — maybe somebody’s all jacked-up because of the Jalen comp.”

Rochell was invited to the Senior Bowl but did not draw glowing reviews from analysts when matched up against a few of the top receivers there. Jones says that Rochell was dealing with an injury during that time and believes that Rochell would have been drafted a lot higher if he were healthy/competitive during that all-star event. Being a small-school prospect also likely limited his reach within draft rooms. Only nine non-FBS players were selected in the 2021 NFL Draft; the Rams picked up two of them.

So, as the third day of the draft unfolded, Rochell was still on the board. Jones and Temme were off-site (as was Snead), while head coach Sean McVay and Morris were at the draft house.

The scout and the data analyst anxiously watched the Rams’ draft board materialize as the fourth round continued. After picking defensive tackle Bobby Brown III at No. 117, Snead traded back with the Jaguars from No. 121 to No. 130.

Temme chewed on his nails. Finally, the Rams sent in Rochell’s card at about 10:10 a.m.

“We were hopeful that he would last those nine extra picks that we moved back (via Jacksonville) to No. 130,” Temme said. “That’s brutal. There’s a lot of energy, a lot of feeling — it’s palpable … you’re kind of feeling that energy between people.”

The Rams believe that Rochell will quietly grow into one of the leaders in this draft class. Jones, who spent a great deal of time digging into Rochell’s background, says that he’s “a mature kid” whose family leaned on him at a young age after his father passed away, and believes others will similarly gravitate toward him.

But Rochell also needs to adjust to the NFL, a jump that can sometimes be difficult for smaller-school players because of the juxtaposed size, speed and all-around talent of their opponents. Jones believes that putting Rochell in a room with Ramsey will be one of the best things that could happen for him as he develops. Ramsey’s attention to detail is what the Rams will also need from Rochell, who must grow his technique to match his promising traits if he wants to work into the starting rotation at some point.

“He’s going to have some good player models to see how to play the game at a high level,” Jones said. “When you have a guy like (Jalen) … you see day in and day out what it takes to be able to play that position at a high level. He can get the verbal (advice) from Jalen, but he’s going to get real, live examples.”

Rochell demonstrated coverage versatility on tape but did not play a ton of nickel in college — now, he may be asked to learn that position as well as shoulder duties on the perimeter because, within the Rams’ system, all players in the secondary do scheme to unlock Ramsey in some way.

“In particular, we say we have the best in the business with Jalen,” Jones said. “Well, we want to move him around the field for matchups. When you do that, you gotta have other guys back there also who are able to move and interchange.

“Robert is one of those special guys … with both length and those physical traits … we see him being able to move around and be one of those pieces that you can plug in all over the field. Be versatile and show that flexibility that we have.”

Added Temme, “We bet on people, not players. And Robert the person is a guy worth betting on. … The big picture on Robert was that he’s a person worth investing in. When you take that into consideration with the physical traits, he’s a really exciting bet relative to the acquisition cost …

“We have a high belief in our coaching staff, a high belief in our player development infrastructure that the right people are going to translate time and time again. That’s what we put our stock in.”
a State, she’s on a neve

zn wrote:

Brian Allen returns as the starting center.

Somebody didn’t do their homework.

This article is dated June 7. But it ain’t up to date.

Analyst’s Take: Matthew Stafford’s Postseason Play Still a Question Mark
Former Detroit QB an upgrade, but has to prove it in the playoffs

https://www.si.com/nfl/rams/news/la-rams-matthew-stafford-out-to-prove-he-is-ready-for-postseason

Brian Baldinger, an analyst for the NFL Network, believes Matthew Stafford is an upgrade over Jared Goff at the quarterback position for the Los Angeles Rams.

Stafford’s strong arm and downfield accuracy allows him to create more explosive plays in head coach Sean McVay’s offense.

“These guys with strong arms, it’s not like they are out there to show it off, but they feel they can thread the ball through the eye of a needle from 30 yards away,” Baldinger said. “They are just wired that way.”

While Stafford will assuredly make his plays and post big numbers during the regular season, there’s still a question about his postseason success, having gone 0-3 and never winning a playoff game during his 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions.

And for a team with Super Bowl aspirations, Baldinger says that’s something to watch for in the upcoming year.

“We don’t know what Matt’s going to be like if they get to the postseason,” Baldinger said. “Does he have big-game genes? You don’t know until they’re there. It’s a different level. I live in Philly and Donovan McNabb was a great regular-season quarterback, but not particularly great in the postseason and in the Super Bowl he was awful.

“So, you don’t know how these guys are going to play — if they are going to play tight, or if they are going to play loose. You just don’t really know, and they’ve got to go through it.”

While how Stafford plays in the postseason remains to be season, he likely will take the easy check downs, unlike Goff failed to do at times as Baldinger points out in the video below.

While busy preparing for the upcoming NFL season, Baldinger also is working with CoachTube.com, a portal that provides coaching courses for a variety of sports.

Baldinger has several football coaching and evaluation videos on CoachTube, including an offensive line series with legendary coach Bob Wylie as well as several positional breakdowns as part of his football coaching course.

While his postseason play is a concern, Baldinger said Stafford has two things in Los Angeles he did not have in Detroit — a top-ranked defense and a running game.

The ascension of Cam Akers with the Rams should help Stafford’s transition.

“They got back to running the football last year,” Baldinger said. “I think they found their back in Cam Akers. That’s a big part of it because the last thing Sean wants to do is throw the football every down, that’s for sure.

“It’s one thing that Stafford’s never really had. I don’t know how many 1,000-yard rushers he had in Detroit, maybe one or two? They’ve never really had a ground game. Nobody has gone through as many running backs in this league than Detroit has. They couldn’t keep them healthy, and when they did, they couldn’t keep them productive. So, I think that would be nice for Stafford to be able to hand the ball off, and then all the things they can do in play-action.”

With players like Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Donald, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp and Stafford, Baldinger says the Rams need frontline players to play at a high level for L.A. achieve Super Bowl aspirations and wind up in the big game at SoFi Stadium.

“They’re a star-studded team,” Baldinger said. “And Stafford is the newest star. And when you’re built like that, your stars must play big — they have to have great seasons. Aaron Donald goes down in the playoff game early and they just fall apart. Your stars must show up in big games and all season long. That’s how your built.

“They went to the Super Bowl three years ago with a team with less talent than this. The division is tough. Everybody is going to kind of beat up on each other. We’ll see who comes out unscathed. But I think you might look at a division where nobody is under .500. It’s going to be a tough division. You get to the postseason, you’re going to see how these teams survive a 17-game schedule.

“Look, if they finish 11-6 or 12-5 — something like that — full speed ahead to SoFi Stadium and the Super Bowl.”