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  • in reply to: around the league – including the conference games #127181
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    in reply to: around the league – including the conference games #127180
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    Matt Bowen@MattBowen41
    Saw the impact of Spags’ defense tonight…

    Late movement & disguise. Pressure. Aggressive, competitive. DBs who challenge WRs in coverage.

    Make the QB work post-snap — and throw into contested windows.

    Vincent Verhei@FO_VVerhei
    Josh Allen lost 69 yards against Kansas City on sacks/intentional groundings, most by any QB in any game this year.

    Patriots 7th Ring@Patriots7thRing
    Tom Brady has now beaten 5 #1 seeds on the road including:

    ‘01 Steelers (13-3)
    ‘04 Steelers (15-1)
    ‘06 Chargers (14-2)
    ‘18 Chiefs (12-4)
    ‘20 Packers (13-3)

    Joe Montana did this once.
    ‘88 Bears (12-4)

    Peyton Manning did this never.

    Around The NFL@AroundTheNFL
    After losing in the NFC title game for the second straight year, Aaron Rodgers’ postgame comments were aimed at Packers decision-makers. The message? Change the mentality or it could be time for the generational QB to move on

    …

    in reply to: Jared Goff & his future with the Rams #127179
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    aeneas1

    POSTSEASON QBS

    interestingly, after setting an nfl record in offensive scoring in 2020, offenses have averaged just 21.4 offensive points per game so far this postseason, down from a 23.3 postseason average last season.

    in reply to: Conference games! who you got? + game time discussion #127177
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    I would have preferred Green Bay.

    Oh well.

    Rams beat Tampa.

    in reply to: the “more on the police” thread #127169
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    in reply to: the new virus news & virus dark humor thread #127168
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    in reply to: tweets (Rams) … 1/21 thru 1/25 #127167
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    in reply to: around the league – including the conference games #127165
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    in reply to: Jared Goff & his future with the Rams #127164
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    i would agree with that. but we don’t know what mcvay is frustrated by

    Or IF he should be frustrated. Maybe he should just be a hard-working, head-down, steady coach. He’s never had to be patient as a head coach, he arrived and took over a talent-stocked team. He never had to build or rebuild. My dark side is wondering how much McVay has to mature and get over some entitlement.

    in reply to: Jared Goff & his future with the Rams #127159
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    McVay’s recent comments about Goff make me more concerned about McVay than Goff.

    I’ve been thinking along the same lines.

    in reply to: around the league – including the conference games #127153
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    in reply to: tweets (Rams) … 1/21 thru 1/25 #127152
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    Kurt Warner@kurt13warner
    I LOVE Championship Sunday – always felt the most pressure on this day whether my 1st one, when favored or when I was the underdog, bc no one, no matter what they tell you, wants to be left on the doorstep w/o a CHANCE to play in & win the BIG GAME… Let’s Go People, Let’s Go!

    in reply to: Trumpie behaviors (examples of that, plus comments on that) #127148
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    in reply to: Jared Goff & his future with the Rams #127141
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    PARAM

    a mini transcript of “Between the Horns” on the QB:

    Farr: It was entirely appropriate (McVay calling out Goff). The ups and downs. Any other position would be put up for competition. Got to be honest. Can’t put your support behind a guy who’s been up and down. I hope he works hard. Not just to keep his job but to get back to the Superbowl.

    MJD: The turnovers were a very big problem. Not understanding your reads in protection. Too many guys running free. Interceptions were concerning. Explosiveness will come once you get your speed guys out there. I’ll say this, “you have to match your pay or it can ruin a locker room. To their credit they kept that locker room together. He’s got to perform better if they want to keep it together next year. It’s important for him to go into this off season and be the better version of himself next year.”

    Farr: I would take the guy we saw in Green Bay! You win 10 games with him.

    MJD: And that was a guy with 9 fingers! When you get singled out the way Goff was you have to respond. I’m curious to see how he does.

    in reply to: Jared Goff & his future with the Rams #127135
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    Bucky Brooks from https://www.nfl.com/news/jared-goff-sean-mcvay-relationship-on-the-rocks-who-ll-replace-philip-rivers-on-

    While I understand the need or desire to promote competition within the locker room, it is rare for the head coach to include the quarterback position in the conversation, particularly when it is a veteran with a strong résumé that includes a Super Bowl appearance. Keep in mind, this is the same signal-caller the Rams signed to a four-year, $134 million extension with a then-record $110 million in guarantees back in September of 2019. McVay almost certainly had to sign off on that deal, as the architect and primary play-designer of an offense that once took the league by storm under Goff’s direction. This is also the same head coach who helped the fifth-year pro shake the “bust” label affixed to his name after a rocky rookie season and elevated the young quarterback into a two-time Pro Bowler.

    Given his personal investment in Goff’s development, I would expect McVay to exhibit more patience and consideration with his starting quarterback. Sure, he can express his disappointment in his QB1’s play based on the turnovers (17) and inconsistency throughout a campaign in which Goff passed for 3,962 yards with 20 touchdowns and a 90.0 passer rating. But McVay should also acknowledge his role in the offense’s sputtering, with defensive coordinators catching up with his scheme and the Rams’ B-level pass catchers and offensive line unable to consistently win against top defenses.

    I’m surprised McVay has decided to play the silent blame game and seemingly pin all of the offensive woes on his quarterback. Honestly, the Rams coach should take a long, hard look in the mirror to determine whether the person with the joystick also deserves some criticism. Goff possesses a whopping dead-cap hit of $65.5 million if he’s jettisoned this coming offseason, so the Rams need to find a way to get their head coach and quarterback on the same page.

    Earlier this week, NFL Network’s Steve Wyche reported McVay and Goff have some serious work to do this offseason.

    “The people I’ve spoken to said basically, at this moment, the relationship with Goff and McVay: not great,” Wyche said on NFL Network. “They need marriage counseling, is what one person said to me. I think this is something that they’re going to be able to work through, but there’s got to be some healing and that’s not just with Jared Goff’s injured thumb.”

    The Rams must figure this out because divorce isn’t a viable option at this time.

    in reply to: Jared Goff & his future with the Rams #127134
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    This is a good vid, but, to cut to the chase, they get to the Rams at about 6:12 in.

    …

    in reply to: Trumpie behaviors (examples of that, plus comments on that) #127131
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    Republican congresswoman under fire for ‘spreading Florida school shooting conspiracy theories’

    https://news.yahoo.com/republican-congresswoman-under-fire-spreading-200423382.html

    Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene wearing a “Trump Won” face mask on January 3 – Erin Scott /Pool Reuters
    A Republican congresswoman is facing calls to resign over reports that she helped to spread falsehoods about the Parkland school shooting.

    Marjorie Taylor Greene reportedly agreed with a conspiracy theory about the 2018 shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in which 17 people were killed.

    Facebook screenshots showed a discussion about why a police officer had not rushed into the building, and someone claimed that the mass shooting was a “false flag planned shooting.” Greene replied: “Exactly!”

    The social media giant later removed the posts after they were reported to them.

    Cameron Kasky, a former Parkland pupil who co-founded the group Never Again MSD, said: “She should resign. She can apologise. I don’t think anybody will accept it.”

    The congresswoman was elected in Georgia in November, backed Donald Trump’s claims of election fraud, and has previously expressed support for the QAnon conspiracy theory.

    Fred Guttenberg, who’s 14-year-old daughter Jaime died in the Parkland shooting, said: “Your feelings on gun laws are irrelevant to your claim that Parkland never happened. You are a fraud who must resign. Be prepared to meet me directly in person to explain your conspiracy theory, and soon.”

    The comments by the politician were first reported by Media Matters for America.

    In a statement Ms Greene accused Media Matters for America of being “communists’ and “fake news”.

    Meanwhile, US Capitol Police were investigating an incident in which a Republican congressman was found carrying a concealed gun while trying to enter the floor of the House of Representatives.

    Andy Harris, a staunch gun-rights advocate, set off a metal detector going through security on his way to the House floor .

    Metal detectors were installed outside the chamber to beef up security in the aftermath of the Capitol riots on Jan 6.

    in reply to: tweets (Rams) … 1/21 thru 1/25 #127129
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    jrry32

    Goff posted a 100+ passer rating in the two playoff games with a busted thumb on his throwing hand. Didn’t turn the ball over. Played smart, conservative football. Simply put, we begged Goff to be exactly the type of QB he was in the playoffs. The defense wasn’t the dominant unit we needed against Green Bay to make a Super Bowl run. I am strongly in favor of running it back with Goff next year. I’m fine with bringing in somebody who can start if Goff implodes. But I think it would be a mistake to move on from Goff, unless we can get Watson.

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    in reply to: tweets (Rams) … 1/21 thru 1/25 #127123
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    in reply to: tweets (Rams) … 1/21 thru 1/25 #127119
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    from https://www.lafbnetwork.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-raheem-morris/

    As good as Brandon Staley’s defense was, it had an exploitable flaw. The signature lightboxes dared teams to run and for the most part, they didn’t dare to run on them. But a few teams did. Green Bay specifically. They ran the ball for 188 yards on that defense. The most yards all season. They forced the safeties to play closer to the line, which opened up windows for Aaron Rodgers to win downfield. This is basically how the 49ers beat Green Bay last season.

    Of course, the tie that binds this is Kyle Shanahan. The 49ers upset the Rams in both meetings this season. Raheem Morris knows Shanahan, they go way back! He helped him build this offense in Atlanta. The 2019 Falcons held the 49ers to their third-lowest point total that season. With more and more Shanahan-ians calling plays in the league, having a guy that knows how to slow them down will be gold.

    in reply to: How news SHOULD be written #127118
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    ‘This is the guy:’ How analytics, intangibles sold the Detroit Lions on GM Brad Holmes

    https://www.espn.com/blog/detroit-lions/post/_/id/37419/this-is-the-guy-how-analytics-intangibles-sold-the-detroit-lions-on-gm-brad-holmes?device=featurephone

    ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Mike Disner was watching videos the National Football League puts together of potential candidates, generic questions trying to introduce different personnel people around the league to front offices making general manager hires.

    He popped in another video. The man he was watching, Brad Holmes, immediately stood out. Holmes had not been on the Detroit Lions’ list of candidates at the time, but Holmes caught the eye of the Lions’ Vice President of Football Administration.

    He went to team president Rod Wood. Had him watch the video, too. Together, they decided they needed to talk with Holmes, the Los Angeles Rams’ director of college scouting.

    “Then, when we did, he just really, literally, blew us all away,” Lions owner Sheila Ford Hamp said. “We had some terrific other people that we could have gotten and probably said they were very good.

    “Brad just struck us as head-and-shoulders above.”

    In meeting with candidates, Hamp and Wood acknowledged they did value experience in one or both of the head coaching and general manager positions. But Wood also said part of what they were trying to do is also project what these candidates might become once they had experience.

    That, Wood said, is where Holmes was the candidate that stood out the most. Wood said within minutes of Holmes’ first interview — he’s always been big on first impressions — he wrote down a note of what his first thought was.

    Wood’s message was simple.

    “This is the guy,” Wood said.

    By the end of the first interview, it felt less like a Zoom session and more like a conversation between potential future colleagues. Holmes didn’t know what to expect going into the interview. This was his first cycle of interviews — and the only other team he met with was Atlanta. So he was still new at this.

    Nerves were high at the start.

    “The nerves quickly went away,” Holmes said. “It really was Mrs. Hamp. She had such an immediate, positive impact on me so early on that I got off that interview and I told my wife, ‘I wasn’t expecting that.’

    “The reason why I say that is, it literally started off as a virtual Zoom process but by the end it felt like we were sitting by a fireplace or a campfire just getting to know each other. Sometimes you just get that feeling that when you know something is right, it just feels right. Well, Mrs. Hamp just had an incredible soul that I was able to connect with and just the whole process was A-1, first class, couldn’t be more excited.”

    Holmes pitched himself. Pitched his vision and his plan. After each interview, Hamp, Wood, Disner and special assistant Chris Spielman graded each candidate on predetermined criteria: Culture building; being open, inclusive, supportive, engaging and an exceptional listener and communicator; being able to lead a diverse team, many of whom work on the road and outside of the building on a regular basis; someone with excellent self-awareness, acknowledging what they don’t know and building a team around them to cover their weaknesses; working with our head coach in a positive and productive relationship and most importantly the ability to balance the team needs of today and the team needs of the future.

    Wood, Holmes said, “blew away the competition and stood out,” in those criteria. His ability to potentially take the Lions into the future when it comes to their now-shared vision for where they wanted the organization to head.

    Holmes’ vision was, Hamp said, “everything we were looking for.” They liked how he communicated and his approach to building a team. They appreciated his approach to forward-thinking analytics and scouting.

    That’s what they are expecting him to be able to do early to help reconfigure a Lions roster that finished in last place the last three seasons.

    “The one thing that Brad brought from what the Rams do is the use of analytics to really hone in on the players that you can predict will fit your roster,” Wood said. “And make an impact on your team. Obviously there’s the scouting of the players, watching them in person and then watching them on tape.

    “And then taking all this data that is out there and figuring out if somebody runs a 40 at X speed and has arm length of this and a 3-cone of that, they are likely to be a good player or they are likely not to be a good player and they’ve taken it to a whole new level.”

    Wood said it was something the Lions had not heard before — “cutting-edge,” — and Hamp said “it is definitely different, pretty much, from what we’ve been doing here.”

    Holmes said his approach won’t be complicated. It will be collaborative. He made sure to say “there will be no ego in this process. There will be no ego in the culture.” He said they will continue to evolve as the times go and that he’ll be utilizing technology as much as possible.

    Holmes views tech “as an accelerator.”

    “There’s so many different avenues and so many different areas in scouting and personnel where the use and acceleration of technology can be utilized in a very critical way,” Holmes said. “It can be even down to just making sure that everybody has connected that are even outside of the building that are on the road.

    “Make sure that this technology is being utilized properly and efficiently and in the right way to make sure that’s all connected. It goes from the college side to the pro side, using analytics. The use of the evaluation process. How you communicate, that’s probably one of the biggest in the use of technology. But there’s a lot of different avenues.”

    So one of his first tasks will be to modernize what the Lions are doing in scouting by basing much of it off of what Holmes used with the Rams under their general manager Les Snead. He plans to blend his staff with a mixture of pro and college experience.

    Beyond the obvious — finding good players who fit well together — he’s also being brought in because of his focus on the intangibles. That means uncovering what isn’t necessarily seen from the raw talent but can be figured out through the numbers and technology Holmes favors using.

    “Very important to me,” Holmes said. “I think the intangibles are the separators of success. And I think it’s very important from my background and my experience up to this point with the Rams, we always made an emphasis on investing in high-intangible football players.

    “[Passion] is one intangible piece that I don’t have any room, don’t have any margin for error. Passion for football is extremely important. Probably the utmost importance when it comes to intangibles so that’s something that I actually explained to Rod and Sheila during the interview process. That’s something I won’t budge on, when it comes to passion for football.”

    Holmes found it often with players on the Rams. Holmes has it in abundance in himself. And in part of bringing him to the Lions, it’s something the Lions ownership is hoping he’s able to identify and bring to Detroit as he tries to create the team’s first consistent winner in six decades.

    in reply to: tweets (Rams) … 1/21 thru 1/25 #127115
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    Jourdan Rodrigue, from https://theathletic.com/2337737/2021/01/21/rams-raheem-morris-defense-joe-decamillis/?source=emp_shared_article

    under Bonamego, the Rams’ special teams unit ranked No. 30 this season in special teams DVOA and had veritable whack-a-mole consistency issues. They included Bonamego’s inclination toward rookie kicker Samuel Sloman, whom the team released in October, to the juggling of punt and kickoff returners, to issues with the coverage units even after they solidified their kicking with Matt Gay (who was identified and scouted by punter Johnny Hekker and long snapper Jake McQuaide).

    McVay deferred last week when I asked directly about Bonamego’s future, remarking that the team was still in the evaluation process.

    “When you look at what a unique year it’s been,” McVay said, “I mean, this has been so different than anything I’ve been a part of coaching wise, especially when you think about guys coming in the first year and some of the changes or the different things that (they) had to navigate through.”

    DeCamillis, 55, first worked as an NFL special teams coordinator in 1988 with Denver, before moving on to the New York Giants, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Dallas and Chicago, followed by second stints in Denver and Jacksonville, where he spent the last four seasons. A source confirmed Thursday that Bonamego will shift into a senior advisory/assistant role.

    Why not an outright release? It’s possible this has something to do with contract terms. Bonamego was hired last February, and assistant coaching deals often are for two-plus years. (If a coach is hired for a head coaching position, like Staley, the contract can be bought out.) Or, the Rams may feel it will be an advantage to have a veteran coach in a consulting role.

    Like Morris, DeCamillis will face immediate personnel decisions.

    The Rams must decide whether to bring back McQuaide, a pending free agent (which is likely), but they have their punter and kicker locked in. Another offseason key will be solidifying the kickoff and punt returner spots, whether that means developing Nsimba Webster (who had his share of inconsistent moments) or finding someone new in free agency or the draft. If the Rams turn to the draft, look for a return specialist who has top-end straight-line speed, a tool also missing from the Rams’ offense this season.

    McVay said he would like to have that deep-threat element back in his offense, but because it’s so dependent on other factors — such as quarterback play/progression ability and pass protection — it’s not clear how often a player with such a skill set would be utilized. A logical option would be to add a No. 4 receiver with that kind of speed who, while his usage may vary within the offense, could prove his value in a return specialist role.

    McVay also emphasized the return game in his comments about DeCamillis in the Rams’ press release, which also emphasized DeCamillis’ success in identifying kickoff and punt returners.

    “Joe brings a track record of efficient special teams and player development,” McVay said in the statement. “What Joe has been able to do consistently with the punter and kicker positions speaks for itself, and his return teams have been excellent in gaining great field position and explosive runs.”

    DeCamillis’ special teams units have ranked No. 24, No. 4, No. 6 and No. 18 in DVOA since 2017, when he began his most-recent tenure in Jacksonville.

    in reply to: on the Rams 2020 offense #127111
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    ramsman34

    Here’s how I watch a lot of the games: I focus on line play. Simply put, our zone scheme helps our OL perform better than their skill set, or lack thereof. The interior of our OL is (a) Not physically strong at the point of attack, and (b) not athletically gifted. That combination makes their combined/in-concert technique critical in the run game. Thankfully we have a couple shifty and instinctive runners in Hendo and Akers to offset deficiencies.

    However, in pass pro the problems surface. None of our interior OL can anchor and stone or redirect quality inside rushers. That leaves JG no way to climb the pocket bc the pocket is gettin shoved down his throat. When your most athletic and strongest OL is a 41 year old big whit, ya might have some issues. A gap pressure coupled with DL who can set the edge create real problems for ANY QB, let alone a slow footed, pocket passer.

    I personally think Goff can excel if the blocking and play calling are married up nicely. MCV has done what he thinks he can. I KNOW he thinks Goff is limited. And I KNOW he wants better interior OL players.

    All the talk about a deep threat is fine. However, on a 7 step drop, it is critical that the rush be pushed out and around the pocket allowing the QB to “climb” and launch deeper throws. We simply did not have that last season or this season. Defenses compressed the field vertically forcing MCV to work horizontally. We all saw it, game after game. That was all he could call and hope to execute.

    Goff may not be the long term answer. But, give him much better interior OL play and then judge him.

    I will be shocked if the interior OL is not heavily addressed this off season, regardless of QB.

    Even with a more mobile QB, creating a clean pocket is critical to creating more explosives in the passing game. Sure you can roll a guy out, run RPOs but that cuts your field in half or down to 2/3. Ya can’t live like that and expect to score a lot of points.

    Next season will be a giant litmus test. IF JG has a clean pocket more often than not, will he be able to create deeper plays, secondary and tertiary reads that he can execute? If so, we will be better than fine. If not, expect more of the same slightly above average offensive play. And, not getting deep in the playoffs.

    Ask AD about the importance of strong interior OL play. He knows what that does against the rush and for a QB.

    in reply to: Morris hired as new DC #127107
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    If I have the LDE and RDE rolls reversed, I can blame it all on lack of coffee. And, well, age.

    ;>)

    You do but it’s okay obviously! You do the defense from their own right to left. Quinn was the RDE, same spot as Wistrom. Long was the LDE, same spot as Carter.

    I personally think they have several candidates for DT and LDE–Brockers, Ramsey, Joseph-Day, Gaines, Fox. If they kept Floyd I would put him at RDE.

    in reply to: Morris hired as new DC #127106
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    Bad vibes

    ?

    Explain.

    in reply to: tweets (Rams) … 1/21 thru 1/25 #127101
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    aeneas1

    the notion that a mobile qb would have often eluded the pressure that goff faced strikes me as a bit of wishful thinking, for example his 4 sacks @ green bay:

    in reply to: Our reactions to the GB game #127098
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    Got tested Monday got the results Weds. I got the COVID. Pretty mild symptoms so far. I think seeing Staley and now Barry leave makes me feel worse than the virus has.

    Best wishes ER, and keep us informed.

Viewing 30 posts - 16,951 through 16,980 (of 47,993 total)