Forum Replies Created
-
AuthorPosts
-
April 20, 2026 at 12:36 pm in reply to: new Rams draft thread…April (except WR stuff which has its own thread) #163335
znModeratorThe Rams won't have a pick of the litter at No. 13. Some of the top prospects will be off the board by then.
These 8 players are LA's most realistic options in the first round: https://t.co/ZWj04VGHf5
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) April 20, 2026
znModeratorUPDATED
1st rounders
Makai Lemon
Carnell Tatelow 1st? high 2nd?
Omar Cooper Jr
Denzel Boston
Jordan Tyson
Ted Hurst
K.C. Concepcion2nd through high 3rd?
Deion Burks
Antonio Williams
Chris Brazzell
Elijah Sarratt
Caleb Douglas
Bryce Lance
Germie Bernard
De’Zhaun Stribling
Chris Bell…
znModeratorWhat’s the difference between Makai Lemon and De’Zhaun Stribling in that system? They could also get Germie Bernard or Chris Bell in the second.
Chris Bell
College: Louisville
Height: 6’1 7/8″
Weight: 222 lbs
Arm: 31 3/4″
Hand: 10″
40 time: 4.4from https://www.nfl.com/prospects/chris-bell/32004245-4c26-7684-b83a-5696fe6b8079
Overview
Possession receiver coming off of his most productive year and a late-season ACL tear. Bell’s scores frequently came as a move target across the hashes, where he was able to use impressive build-up speed to eliminate angles and outrun everyone in the secondary to the paint. He’s average at eluding press and separating from tight man underneath. Improving his catch focus and positioning when contested will be critical. Bell lacks dynamic qualities and his ACL tear could impact his draft slotting, but he’s a big, physical target with room to improve. He has a chance to become an average WR2/3 in time.
Strengths
Big, boundary target with an NFL frame.
Stair-stepped production in each season he played.
Battles back against handsy coverage at the top of the route.
Speed-builder capable of turning crossers into long gains.
Squares his numbers to quarterback on in-breaking routes.
Makes athletic adjustments to throws on his back hip.
Resilient post-catch and difficult to bring down on the move.Weaknesses
Suffered an ACL tear late in 2025 season.
Struggles to beat press cleanly with his footwork.
Route running lacks salesmanship and disguise.
Lacks short-area quickness in and out of breaks.
Will slow his feet when turning to locate the throw.
Below-average ball skills and catch focus when contested.znModeratorWhat’s the difference between Makai Lemon and De’Zhaun Stribling in that system? They could also get Germie Bernard or Chris Bell in the second.
Germie Bernard
College: Alabama
Height: 6’1 1/4″
Weight: 206 lbs
Arm: 30 3/8″
Hand: 9 7/8″
40-Yard Dash: 4.48from https://www.nfl.com/prospects/germie-bernard/32004245-5221-8265-8f08-b20e432f1f1a
Overview
Bernard is a versatile wideout with ascending production over the last three years. He has good size, accelerates to top speed quickly and is a smooth route runner with well-disguised breaks and clean footwork getting in and out. He can line up outside or in the slot and is capable of running a full route tree across all three levels. He has impressive run-after-catch ability. Bernard’s second gear as a field-stretcher is fairly ordinary, and he doesn’t always play to his size when it’s time to compete for catch space. Bernard projects as an above-average WR2/3.
Strengths
Good size, big hands and inside/outside versatility.
Tempo alterations help to bypass and separate from coverage.
Able to drop hips and quickly snap off curls/comebacks.
Smooth strider with steady turnover working through zone.
Gets through route transitions smoothly and at top speed.
Above-average focus and footwork near the sideline.
Weaponized as a utility option out of the backfield.
Plus field vision and cut quickness when the ball is in his hands.Weaknesses
Needs better physicality and hand-fighting to defeat press.
Accelerates quickly but isn’t a vertical burner.
Positioning would benefit from quicker adjustments.
Needs to become more consistently competitive for catch space.
Most drops come when working into the hashes.
Average feel for coverage positioning on zone beaters.znModeratorWhat’s the difference between Makai Lemon and De’Zhaun Stribling in that system? They could also get Germie Bernard or Chris Bell in the second.
De’Zhaun Stribling
College: Mississippi
Height: 6’2 1/8″
Weight: 207 lbs
Arm: 31 5/8″
Hand: 10″
40-Yard Dash: 4.36from https://www.nfl.com/prospects/de-zhaun-stribling/32005354-5233-6088-e514-5b10403eaf1e
Overview
Long-striding, vertical-access wideout with steady play and production. Stribling has good size and early acceleration to climb over the top of coverage but lacks short-area quickness to gain separation underneath. His downfield ball skills are above average but he struggles to consistently carve out catch space and fight through contested-catch contact for tight-coverage wins. He has legit speed after the catch once he finds open grass. He’s also one of the most competitive run blockers in the WR class. Stribling projects as an immediate WR4 who could eventually work his way into a starting role.
Strengths
Good initial acceleration into his routes.
Pays attention to break routes off at crisp angles.
Smooth late adjustments to grab advantages downfield.
Able to meet throws with good hand extension.
Builds speed quickly after catch for chunk plays.
Fits into block targets and fights to stick around.Weaknesses
Linear route movements lack unpredictable elements.
Leggy with a lack of separation burst from breaks underneath.
Average hip sink getting into intermediate cuts.
Needs to play with greater fight when contested.
Inconsistent finishing his catches through contact.znModeratorTrent Williams and the #49ers reach a contract resolution, per his agents. https://t.co/GY0DDVKusT
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 20, 2026
znModeratorTodd McShay: Rams may be out on first round receivers
As of this writing, I think the Rams are more likely to draft a wide receiver in the second than in the first. What’s the difference between Makai Lemon and De’Zhaun Stribling in that system? They could also get Germie Bernard or Chris Bell in the second. That frees up the Rams to use the 13th pick on their best player available. This pick is a huge deal in the league. If it’s not a receiver and it isn’t Simpson, who is it? They don’t have a glaring need. Their selection could throw off the plans for the next handful of teams and become one of the biggest pivot points in this first round.
JB Scott (same link)
JB’s thoughts
On receivers: The value seems to be better with the second round group of receivers rather than picking one at #13. Carnell Tate and Jordyn Tyson would be first round picks in most drafts, but I’m not sure they are ordinarily top 15 talents. Makai Lemon should be a late first round pick or early second rounder, just based on where the top slot receivers are normally drafted. If the report turns out to be true, the Rams would be wise to draft the best player available instead of forcing need. This is their earliest draft pick since 2016.
znModeratorRetired US Army General Stanley McChrystal confirms Washington is completely trapped. He admits Iran's geographic advantage means they can effortlessly shut down the Strait of Hormuz. The Pentagon realizes a ground invasion is impossible, forcing Trump to beg for a settlement. pic.twitter.com/wESPRDUrAW
— Furkan Gözükara (@FurkanGozukara) April 19, 2026
znModeratorNFL Researcher@NFL_Researcher
Average yards to go on 3rd down in 2025…1. Rams – 5.7
2. Bills – 6.2
3. 49ers – 6.4
4. Packers – 6.4
5. Ravens – 6.5
6. Saints – 6.5
7. Cowboys – 6.6
8. Falcons – 6.7
9. Patriots – 6.7
10. Steelers – 6.4
11. Chargers – 6.7
12. Chiefs – 6.8
13. Panthers – 6.8
14. Broncos – 6.8
15. Buccaneers – 6.9
16. Bears – 6.9
17. Colts – 6.9
18. Bengals – 6.9
19. Seahawks – 7.0
20. Jets – 7.0
21. Lions – 7.0
22. Commanders – 7.1
23. Titans – 7.2
24. Texans – 7.2
25. Vikings – 7.2
26. Dolphins – 7.3
27. Raiders – 7.3
28. Giants – 7.4
29. Cardinals – 7.5
30. Eagles – 7.5
31. Jaguars – 7.6
32. Browns – 7.9znModeratorDonkey unable to contain his excitement when he gets a new toy. Donkeys are smarter and more sociable than people think. pic.twitter.com/X0zHfXvK7C
— Rob (@_ROB_29) April 18, 2026
April 19, 2026 at 3:40 pm in reply to: new Rams draft thread…April (except WR stuff which has its own thread) #163324znModeratorDaniel Jeremiah@MoveTheSticks
This draft is deep at Edge, WR & OL.znModerator
znModeratorVid + article
…
Old article from 2025.
***
Kevin Dotson Reveals Why He Didn’t Fit Steelers
Former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Kevin Dotson went into detail on why his tenure with the team never quite worked out.https://www.si.com/nfl/steelers/onsi/news/kevin-dotson-reveals-didnt-fit-pittsburgh-steelers
A former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman has spoken out on why he ultimately wasn’t able to find much success with the team to begin his NFL career.
Kevin Dotson, who Pittsburgh selected in the fifth round of the 2020 draft, recently appeared on the “Inside Coverage” podcast and went into detail on why the organization ultimately never felt like a good fit for him.
“It’s one of those things where, I wasn’t used to being cold all the time, to start off,” Dotson said, per Steelers Depot’s Troy Montgomery. “There wasn’t a lot of sun there. Not a lot of stuff to do. It was like a culture shock, and it really wasn’t in too positive of a way.
“I love the team overall, but there was definitely some stuff behind the scenes that you’re like, ‘Oh, man.’ It kind of ruined the experience for me. But I still loved being down there, the time I was down there.”
Dotson’s Tenure in Pittsburgh
Dotson was born in Mississippi and grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana before attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, so it doesn’t come as a huge surprise that living and playing in Pittsburgh was a huge adjustment for him.
He appeared in 13 games for the Steelers as a rookie, starting four of them while essentially splitting his time between left and right guard.
Dotson later started the first nine contests of the 2021 campaign at left guard before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. He was healthy in time for the beginning of the 2022 season and started all 17 games at left guard, but he never truly put it all together with the Steelers.
His time with the team concluded upon being traded to the Los Angeles Rams around the time of final roster cuts in August 2023, as Pittsburgh acquired a 2024 fourth-round pick and 2025 fifth-rounder for Dotson, a 2024 fifth-round selection and 2025 sixth-rounder.
Dotson didn’t fit in Pittsburgh primarily due to a mismatch with the Steelers’ offensive scheme, a forced move to his less-preferred left side of the line, and a lack of coaching alignment. He thrived only after moving to his natural right guard spot with the Rams, highlighting a misalignment between his strengths and Pittsburgh’s
Dotson did not fit the specific style of offensive line play the Steelers were looking for during his time there, despite showing promise as a run-blocking “masher”.
How Dotson Trade Has Worked Out
The Steelers signed left guard Isaac Seumalo to a three-year deal in free agency ahead of the 2023 campaign while also having James Daniels at right guard, which made Dotson expendable.
He’s gone on to become a key piece of the Rams’ offense over the past three years, though, starting 38 games while moving to right guard full-time. Dotson was rewarded with a three-year extension worth $48 million in March 2024, and it appears that he’s fully in his element now that he’s residing in California as opposed to Pittsburgh.
For as much as the Steelers may be kicking themselves about parting ways with Dotson amidst his turnaround, a change of scenery was likely necessary for him to truly develop into the player he’s become today.
znModeratorSam Block@theblockspot
Dexter Lawrence is better than Pick 10.
Sauce Gardner is better than Pick 16.
Micah Parsons is better than Pick 20.
Travis Hunter is better than Pick 24.
Trent McDuffie is better than Pick 29.
Jaylen Waddle is better than Pick 30.Stop criticizing NFL teams who go for it.
April 18, 2026 at 9:41 pm in reply to: the draft heating up (thread on the NFL not Rams exclusive) #163320znModeratorWow.
I hope people realize losing Hendrickson, losing the No. 10 pick, and gaining Dexter Lawrence is still a net negative for the Cincinnati defense.
Giants could end up drafting Styles and Downs though for Harbaugh's new defense. 5 and 10 https://t.co/w7yLYrDMsl
— Scott Kacsmar (@ScottKacsmar) April 19, 2026
April 18, 2026 at 3:58 pm in reply to: Rams schemes & coaches — including big changes in 2026 #163319znModeratorryan anderson@RLAndersonLAFB
The Rams offense is deeper than you think 👀We sat down with Bobby Peters @b_peters12 to break down his 400 page book on McVay’s scheme—from 13 personnel to play-action bombs—and what it means heading into the draft.
If you want to really understand why this offense works… this is the episode.
znModeratorThank you @gmfb for having me on earlier this week. Talked about my experience mentoring the running backs at the Combine. Excited to see where these great young RBs land in the #NFLDraft next week! pic.twitter.com/9PQ0EV63yR
— Steven Jackson (@sj39) April 17, 2026
April 17, 2026 at 8:24 pm in reply to: new Rams draft thread…April (except WR stuff which has its own thread) #163317znModeratorThe most common mock draft selections for the Rams at pick 13 in the NFL Draft:
– Makai Lemon
– Jermod McCoy
– Spencer Fano
– Jordyn Tyson pic.twitter.com/7tf6VmIec4— LAFB Network (@LAFBNetwork) April 17, 2026
znModeratorI aspire to have the self-confidence it takes to lose 11 out of 12 starts and then sit out the following offseason because I want more security. https://t.co/ToiEypYUvw
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) April 17, 2026
znModeratorReceivers discussed in this thread.
1st rounders
Makai Lemon
Carnell Tatelow 1st? high 2nd?
Omar Cooper Jr
Denzel Boston
Jordan Tyson
Ted Hurst
K.C. Concepcion2nd through high 3rd?
Deion Burks
Antonio Williams
Chris Brazzell
Elijah Sarratt
Caleb Douglas
Bryce Lance
Germie BernardznModeratorAntonio Williams, Clemson Tigers
Height: 5′ 11 1/2″
Weight: 187
ARM: 30 3/4″
HAND: 9 1/4″
40-Yard Dash: 4.41One of my favorite Day Two wide receivers is Antonio Williams. The Clemson Tiger is the latest in the history of top pass-catchers under the Dabo Swinney regime, with at least more on the way in 2027.
When you throw the ball in Williams’ direction, he tends to come down with it nine times out of 10. He has a brilliant understanding of shell coverages and where to attack them while winning as a nuanced route runner and plenty of explosiveness to generate big plays after the catch and downfield. Williams feels like a perfect fit in Sean McVay’s offense.
“He’s got tremendous natural quickness as a route runner.”@gregcosell on WR Antonio Williams pic.twitter.com/ZoGFdm149g
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) April 17, 2026
April 17, 2026 at 9:20 am in reply to: new Rams draft thread…April (except WR stuff which has its own thread) #163310znModeratorCC and JM just dont think this draft class is strong, in general.
It’s not strong at the top, but said to be deep at some key positions. Not deep all the way into day 3, but deep into day 2.
As we know, next year’s is supposed to be stronger overall.
znModeratorDeion Burks, Oklahoma Sooners
When Rams fans saw Burks’ size (5-foot-9, 180 pounds), they may think of Tutu Atwell once more. However, Burks is slightly bigger, and it makes a world of difference. Burks is an exciting vertical playmaker with the explosiveness and second-level burst to split the difference and run away from defenders with 4.30-second 40-yard dash speed, while also showcasing the ability to stack defenders with play with good body control at the catch point.
Next up on @gregcosell’s Draft Spotlight: WR Deion Burks ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/aC7vmOhL41
— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) April 16, 2026
znModeratorznModeratorRob Havenstein reveals the #1 trait an LA Rams OL MUST have… 👀 (via @erincoscarelli) pic.twitter.com/mABKOrDzdF
— Rams Tapes 🇵🇷 (@RamsTapes) April 15, 2026
znModeratorSperm whales’ communication closely parallels human language, study finds
Analysis shows whales’ coda vocalizations are ‘highly complex’ and remarkably similar to our ownWe may appear to have little in common with sperm whales – enormous, ocean-dwelling animals that last shared a common ancestor with humans more than 90 million years ago. But the whales’ vocalized communications are remarkably similar to our own, researchers have discovered.
Not only do sperm whale have a form of “alphabet” and form vowels within their vocalizations but the structure of these vowels behaves in the same way as human speech, the new study has found.
Sperm whales communicate in a series of short clicks called codas. Analysis of these clicks shows that the whales can differentiate vowels through the short or elongated clicks or through rising or falling tones, using patterns similar to languages such as Mandarin, Latin and Slovenian.
The structure of the whales’ communication has “close parallels in the phonetics and phonology of human languages, suggesting independent evolution”, the paper, published in the Proceedings B journal, states. Sperm whale coda vocalizations are “highly complex and represent one of the closest parallels to human phonology of any analyzed animal communication system”, it added.
The findings are the latest discovery about the lives of sperm whales by Project Ceti (standing for Cetacean Translation Initiative), an organization that has studied whales off the coast of Dominica in an attempt to find out what they are saying. Last month, the project released video of a sperm whale giving birth while other whales supported it.
Until the 1950s, it was not clear to scientists that sperm whales even vocalized but modern technology, including artificial intelligence, is helping unlock the language of these creatures – with unexpected similarities to our own speech.
“I think it’s another humbling moment that we’re not the only species with rich, communicative, communal and cultural lives,” said David Gruber, founder and president of Project CETI.
“These whales could be passing information along generation to generation to generation for over 20 million years. Humans now are just having the right tools and desire to be able to look at whale voices in this way to see the complexity that has been there all along.”
Studying sperm whales can be challenging – they dive deep underwater for up to 50 minutes in search of squid to eat, only surfacing for 10 minutes at a time. But it’s near the surface where the animals “chit-chat”, as Gruber put it, with their heads close together.
“If you watch sperm whales, they put their heads right together and click into each other’s heads,” he said. “It’s like if you wanted to talk to someone about a Chaucer novel or something – you wouldn’t want to do that from opposite ends of a football stadium. You would want to get real close to have a real sophisticated conversation.”
That sperm whale conversation sounds, to our ears, little more than a staccato morse code. But by removing the gaps between the clicks, researchers were able to find patterns strikingly similar to human speech. Much like how we alter our vocal folds to change an “A” sound into an “E” sound, whales can manipulate vowel sounds into different meanings.
Gašper Beguš, a linguist at University of California, Berkeley who led the new paper, said that this level of complexity in sperm whale speech was beyond anything he had studied in other creatures, such as parrots and elephants, and highlights the parallels between our lives and those of the whales.
“They have very different lives to us – they’re not stuck to the ground all the time, they float in the water, they sleep vertically,” said Beguš.
“Yet you realize that there’s a lot that unifies us. They have grandmas, they babysit each other’s calves, they give collaborative births, they’re very loud during a birth and so on. It’s such a distant intelligence, but in many ways very relatable.”
The new study shows that “sperm whale communication isn’t just about patterns of clicks – it involves multiple interacting layers of structure,” said Mauricio Cantor, a behavioral ecologist at the Marine Mammal Institute who was not involved in the research. “With this study, we’re starting to see that these signals are organized in ways we didn’t fully appreciate before.”
The latest discovery around sperm whale speech has inched forward the possibility of someday fully understanding the creatures and even communicating with them. Project Ceti has set a goal of being able to comprehend 20 different vocalized expressions, relating to actions such as diving and sleeping, within the next five years.
Actually being able to fully grasp what the whales are saying, or being able to converse with them, is still a longer-term proposition, Gruber said, but not an outlandish one.
“It’s totally within our grasp,” he said. “We’ve already got a lot further than I thought we could. But it will take time, and funding. At the moment we are like a two-year-old, just saying a few words. In a few years’ time, maybe we will be more like a five-year-old.”
April 15, 2026 at 5:51 pm in reply to: new Rams draft thread…April (except WR stuff which has its own thread) #163297znModeratorThe Rams met with Caleb Douglas.
See today’s entry in this thread: WR draft 2026… gets its own thread , https://theramshuddle.com/topic/wr-draft-2026-gets-its-own-thread/page/2/#post-163296
znModeratorThe Rams met with Caleb Douglas.
6’4. 205 Lbs. 4.39 speed.
Projected going tween 4th and 6th rounds.Footballguys: “Douglas is a towering receiver with good movement skills for his size. He has the versatility teams crave when rounding out a receiver room, playing both outside and in the slot, and impacting the passing game at all three depths. Vertically, he can outplay defensive backs in the air, translating as a red-zone threat. He transitions quickly and is comfortable after the catch. Douglas is worth watching throughout the draft process and is a legitimate threat to land on Day 2.”
w
vThis on Douglas above, in this thread:
Douglas is a long, slender outside target with good production but uneven tape. He has enticing moments, showcasing his catch radius/ball skills on fades and deep throws. Douglas’ focus drops and an inability to win contested catches at a high enough rate can’t be overlooked, though. He shows quick acceleration for a tall receiver, but his top-end speed is relatively non-threatening to defenses. Douglas can expect to be crowded by NFL cornerbacks and forced to prove he can uncover. There are flashes to build on, but he’ll have to battle to make a roster as a backup.
April 15, 2026 at 1:03 am in reply to: new Rams draft thread…April (except WR stuff which has its own thread) #163289znModeratorMe: with this tweet I intervene editorially and underline teams with winning records in 2025.
…
NFL Researcher@NFL_Researcher
1st round picks to appear in a game in 2025…Most
1. Chargers – 14
1. Ravens – 14
3. Cowboys – 13
4. Eagles – 12
4. Vikings – 12
4. Dolphins – 12
4. Falcons – 12Fewest
27. Titans – 7
27. Panthers – 7
27. Broncos – 7
27. Seahawks – 7
31. Patriots – 5
32. Rams – 4 -
AuthorPosts
