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znModeratori don’t know. rozeboom seems to have everything you would want except he doesn’t have the fbs pedigree
I like how Hoecht looks too. The DT.
May 2, 2020 at 7:53 pm in reply to: LA Rams 2019 mid-season additions act like 2020 NFL Draft picks #114529znModeratorThey have the Space to afford him next year. They just can’t afford him and everyone else who is coming up on free agency.
IMO they can probably afford up to 3 including Ramsey as one of the 3.
May 2, 2020 at 4:21 pm in reply to: armed protestors i Michigan’s State House — & sources of lockdown protest #114527znModeratorGroups Aligned with Right-Wing Megadonors Are Promoting Coronavirus Protests
The DeVos-funded Mackinac Center promoted the Michigan protest, named “Operation Gridlock.” Another organizer of the protest, Michigan Conservatives, is led by Meshawn Maddock, an adviser to Trump’s presidential campaign.
Since the “spontaneous” anti-lockdown protests began last week, it has become more and more obvious that the movement is being coordinated and financed, at least in part, by big-money right-wing interests, including some of the same forces that sparked the Tea Party in 2009.
FreedomWorks, a group that grew out of a Charles Koch-founded organization and that helped launch the Tea Party in 2009, is organizing some of the protests, holding virtual town halls, and “igniting an activist base of thousands of supporters across the nation to back up the effort.” The FreedomWorks website features a calendar of upcoming protests, and it is polling on the protests in swing districts, reportedly sharing the data with President Donald Trump’s economic task force.
In advance of the Wisconsin protests that began on April 18, Stephen Moore said on a YouTube program that he was “working with a group in Wisconsin that wants to do a drive-in” and that one major donor had promised to pay the bail and legal fees of any protesters who were arrested. Moore, a senior economic contributor to FreedomWorks, is a Trump ally, has close ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and is a distinguished fellow on temporary leave from the conservative Heritage Foundation, both of which are partially funded by Charles Koch and Koch Industries.
Convention of States Action (COSA), another conservative group in billionaire industrialist Koch’s funding network, is also helping mobilize the protests, which have sprung up in states such as Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin and have seen many participants not wearing masks or socially distancing. COSA is a project of the right-wing nonprofit, Citizens for Self-Governance, and has a web page devoted to its new initiative, “Open the States.”
“A spontaneous citizen movement to tell the federal government, and state and local governments that We the People say it’s time to Open the States,” declares the page. Below this line is a video advertising the “Open the States” campaign.
The page provides users ways to urge Trump and state and federal officials to “re-open American for business.” It features a U.S. map that identifies the main protest organizing group in nearly every state, with links to those groups’ Facebook pages. And there’s another page with a list of additional groups, with links.
COSA argues that “only a small number of counties have experienced high rates of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths,” and, thus, statewide shutdowns should not happen. “Decisions to open the economy and return to work can largely be left with local officials,” the group states.
A bipartisan majority—72 percent of U.S. adults—however, believe that people should stay at home “until the doctors and public health officials say it is safe,” according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos online poll.
“At OpenTheStates.com, you can get plugged in to your local group dedicated to re-opening your community’s economy,” COSA says. “These groups are not affiliated with the [COSA], but we want to give all our supporters and volunteers an opportunity to get involved.”
COSA indicated in an April 21 blog post that it is building a forum and other tools into the openthestates.com site after Facebook removed “Reopen” events from its site. The group has advertised the site and asked for money, on Facebook.
In addition, an organization heavily funded by the family of Education Sec. Betsy DeVos also helped plan a protest at the Michigan state Capitol. The DeVos-funded Mackinac Center promoted the Michigan protest, named “Operation Gridlock.” Another organizer of the protest, Michigan Conservatives, is led by Meshawn Maddock, an adviser to Trump’s presidential campaign.
Ties to Koch Funding and Political Networks
Citizens for Self-Governance–a 501(c)(3) nonprofit formerly known as the John Hancock Committee for the States that does business as the Convention of States Foundation (COSF)–and its affiliates have been working for years on a plan to hold an Article V convention to amend the U.S. Constitution. A 2016 Convention of States mock convention passed amendments on the rightwing’s bucket list, such as easing the process to repeal federal regulations, requiring approval to increase the national debt, imposing congressional term limits, repealing the 16th Amendment’s authorization for an income tax, limiting the Commerce Clause, and requiring a supermajority to impose federal taxes.
Additional right-wing groups have been working on their own Article V plans, which have been coordinated through ALEC and bankrolled by the Koch funders network as well.
More than 200 organizations, including the Center for Media and Democracy, signed onto a letter in April 2017 denouncing an Article V convention as “a dangerous threat to the U.S. Constitution, our democracy, and our civil rights and liberties.”
Since 2014, COSF has been financed by funds connected to Koch and donors in the Koch political network.
Donors Capital Fund, a conduit for charitable donations by right-wing philanthropists including Koch, gave COSF $2.5 million from 2015-16, and DonorsTrust, a sister conduit, gave nearly $100,000 in 2014. Also in 2014, the family foundation of GOP megadonor Robert Mercer donated $500,000.
The Judicial Education Project, a legal nonprofit closely tied to the conservative Federalist Society and its co-chairman, Leonard Leo, gave COSF $950,000 in 2016. DonorsTrust, Donors Capital Fund, the Charles Koch Foundation, and the Mercer Family Foundation have given the Federalist Society millions of dollars since 2014. CSG Action, another 501(c)(4) affiliate of COSF, received large donations from multiple nonprofits tied to Leo in 2016, as well as $10,000 from the Koch-founded Citizens for a Strong Economy in 2015.
Another nonprofit in the Koch donor network, the Thomas W. Smith Foundation, gave COSF $100,000 in 2017.
The biggest donor in recent years is Vanguard Charitable, a donor-advised fund sponsor that channels its clients’ money to charitable nonprofits, which has given COSF nearly $5.1 million since 2014. Another major donor is the Armrod Foundation, which contributed $600,000 from 2015-17.
It’s more difficult to identify donors to Convention of States Action (COSA), but the Deramus Foundation gave $275,000 to “Convention of the States,” according to recent tax records that specified a COSA location in Purcellville, Virginia, the same city that COSA lists on its LinkedIn page.
COSF, which is led by Mark Meckler, a co-founder of the Tea Party Patriots, has still more connections to Koch and his political network. Meckler appears to be using the coronavirus crisis as an opportunity to bring more money into COSA’s bank account by creating a paid, membership-based “online community…to keep everyone feeling sane, entertained, mentally stimulated,” according to an email sent by COSA.
Political operative and Koch associate Eric O’Keefe is board chairman at COSF and COSA and a director of CSG Action. He is also director of the Wisconsin Club for Growth, a political organization that has received funding from Koch-connected groups. As the Libertarian Party’s national field director, he helped manage the campaign of Koch’s brother, David, who ran for vice president on the Libertarian ticket in 1980.
Tim Dunn, an oil executive and a founding director of COSF, COSA, and CSG Action, is vice chairman of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a think tank that is heavily funded by the Koch Foundation and allied right-wing charities. The policy shop has been outspoken in its criticism of Texas’s lockdown, with its director penning an op-ed that cites the protests and declares, “It’s time to reopen the U.S. economy.”
Another COSA director, oil investor Kyle Stallings, is also on the board of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Stallings is a major donor to political group Empower Texans, which is tied to the policy foundation and the Koch network. Dunn founded Empower Texans.
COSF is closely tied to ALEC, a corporate bill mill linked with Koch operatives that has been funded by Koch Industries and Koch family foundations. ALEC, too, is pushing back against mandatory business closures. FreedomWorks’ Moore is a member of ALEC’s Private Enterprise Advisory Council. FreedomWorks recently registered at least two websites, reopenoureconomy.com and reopensociety.com, concerned with ending the business closures. Reopenoureconomy.com is the site of “Save Our Country,” a joint initiative of FreedomWorks, the Tea Party Patriots, and ALEC that has advised the White House on a strategy to reopen the economy.
A communications agency launched by Koch, In Pursuit Of, registered the site reopenmississippi.com on April 16.
Koch’s premier political nonprofit, Americans for Prosperity, which helped launch the Tea Party, has not publicly endorsed the coronavirus-related protests. AFP CEO Emily Seidel said the protests are “‘not the best way’ to ‘get people back to work.’” But AFP was “an early shutdown opponent,” saying, “Rather than blanket shutdowns, the government should allow businesses to continue to adapt and innovate to produce the goods and services Americans need.” State branches of Americans for Prosperity have been harshly criticizing governors’ shelter-in-place orders.
znModeratori definitely hope you’re right and i’m wrong. because if he can overcome the hands issue. and if he can become the blocker that he says he’s willing to become.
Hey! That’s no way to conduct a board war.
It’s supposed to be acrimonious, stubborn, and contentious, with no quarter asked or given. Lots of dark accusations and bitter recriminations, mixed in with derisive disrespect.
Having said that…good point. I hope he becomes what you hope he does, too.
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znModeratorCooper Kupp putting DBs on ice without their skates! The equivalent of an NBA crossover in the NFL. Kupps footwork may very well be second to none in the league
2018 home opener pic.twitter.com/0TNALEK4by
— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) May 2, 2020
znModeratorMatt Waldman@MattWaldman
#Rams get an H-Back with excellent quickness and growth potential in the mold of Gerald Everett/Dustin Keller. The Rookie Scouting Portfolio (RSP)Matt Waldman’s RSP Boiler Room TE Brycen Hopkins (Purdue): Awareness, Body Control, and Toughness https://buff.ly/35vt08uToughness. It’s a prerequisite for consistent tight end performance in the NFL. Brycen Hopkins has demonstrated this toughness at the catch point as a shallow-zone receiver. If he can produce this way in the NFL, he’ll at least earn an H-Back role in two-tight end sets.
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znModeratori wanted the rams to draft a tight end. but i don’t know about hopkins. i don’t like what i read about him.
I like what I read about him.
People have looked into the hands thing. He has natural hands. The drops look like concentration drops, and IMO that’s coachable.
znModeratorIf memory serves — and it often doesn’t these days — back in the day the Rams generally had several Pro Bowl linemen at the same time. I can’t remember a season in the late 60s, 70s or 80s when they didn’t have at least one . . . and it seemed like the norm was three or four.
As it happens I looked that up once, long ago.
Here;s the details. All I had to do was search, cut, and paste.
***
There is at least one Ram lineman in the pro bowl every single season from 1967 until 1990. In fact the 68 line had 4 pro bowlers, as did the 78 line and the 85 line.
That’s 12 different pro-bowl lineman across 24 consecutive years.
Doug Smith went to 6 pro bowls starting in 84, continuing through 89. Dennis Harrah went to pro bowls in 78-80 and 85-87. Jackie Slater went to pro bowls in 83 & 85-90. After the 79 superbowl, John Madden said Slater’s performance in that game was the finest he had ever seen from a right tackle. Kent Hill went to pro bowls in 80 and 82-85. Newberry had 2 pro bowls–88 & 89. Irv Pankey never went to a pro bowl. Doug France went to pro bowls from 77-78. Rich Saul went to pro bowls from 76-81. Charlie Cowan went to pro bowls from 68-70. Tom Mack went to pro bowls from 67-75 and 77-78. Tom Carollo went to 1 pro bowl (68). Same with Joe Scibelli (68). Bob Brown had 2 pro bowls as a Ram (69-70).
znModeratorEric Dickerson was an elite talent and had a nose for the end zone! But it doesn’t hurt playing behind an elite offensive line as well. The Rams teams of the 80s had one of the best units. Here you see 5x pro bowl Guard Kent Hill clear the way for ED for the redzone score
1985 pic.twitter.com/U0tWsIY8IX
— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) May 2, 2020
znModeratorhammer
who’s going to cover Rams #3 receiver
Which teams have a secondary that can cover three receivers who are great rout runners, have burst and get separation? If I’m a defensive coordinator I’m trying to figure out how my third CB isn’t going to not get beat over and over. I can use my #1 one on one of them and double another but who can cover the 3rd receiver one on one. Good route runners will eat up a zone, especially if play action is working because of an improved running threat. Any of the three and Reynolds can go deep depending on the match, double moves by route running technicians can really open up a deep game. Having a burner is nice, an accomplished one is a luxury, but not a necessity, I’ve seen too many burners as one trick ponies. This group of receivers will be excellent no matter the scheme needed to attack. Route running ability allows this team so much flexibility to attack in so many ways. Add in the tight ends with a couple who can get down field and a running back combination who can catch out of the backfield, pick up a blitz and are threats on every run and you have an offense who can stretch and stress a defense without frequently sending a burner deep. A defense can only take away so many threats. I’m excited about where this offense is going.
znModeratorAkers and Jefferson offer another interesting aspect/advantage/difference, etc. . . . at least to me:
All things being equal, it’s better to draft younger players (IMO) — and 21 is pretty much as young as they get. Akers will be 21 (like Gurley) as a rook. Jefferson will be 24 (like Kupp).
All kinds of other factors kick in, obviously. Injuries, playing time, maturity, ability to pick up plays, schemes, etc. etc. But, on balance, if I’m a coach/scout/trainer, I’d rather have a younger player to work with, coach up, build up, etc. Akers is young enough that he hasn’t even fully grown into his body. He’s a likely candidate for “natural” weight gain. Jefferson? Not so much. He’s likely where he’s supposed to be, sans additional weight training. Akers also likely has more years of peak physical performance ahead of him than Jefferson. But the latter’s age may well be seen (by the Rams) as a major advantage. I think they drafted Kupp in large part because they saw him as already mature, NFL-ready, and their passing game needs that. They may not think the same thing is as necessary for their running game.
Thoughts?
I agree with all that.
Jefferson guarantees them to have a Woods/Kupp -like factor no matter what. He’s like a somewhat taller Isaac.
Akers is just physically so dynamic. Crazy feet. Very good contact balance. Aggressive.
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znModeratorI thought this was interesting even if picky. The things he criticizes are coachable.
znModeratorCameron DaSilva, from https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2020/05/02/nfl-draft-rams-les-snead-hotseat-mailbag/
Is Snead gone after this season if the Rams have a losing record?
I highly doubt it. He’s been instrumental in the Rams’ rebuild, and has done well remaking this roster in recent years. You could argue that he’s been too aggressive at times with the trades for Brandin Cooks and Aqib Talib, and bailing on Marcus Peters last year, but Snead has had far more hits than misses during his time with the Rams.
It would take a disastrous season for Los Angeles to move on from him, and even if the team went 3-13 in 2020, it’d be hard to imagine Snead getting fired. Let’s not forget the Rams extended him through 2023 last offseason, too.
Any word on the uniform drop date?
None. According to Andrew Siciliano of NFL Network, who also calls Rams preseason games, the team hasn’t set a date yet. The Rams originally wanted to do a big reveal with fans at SoFi Stadium, but that’s not possible in the current climate.
Considering every other team has already revealed its redesigned uniforms for the upcoming season, I would think the Rams will unveil theirs soon, too. It should be sometime this month.
Why did we draft another TE?
Because Gerald Everett will be a free agent in 2021 and Brycen Hopkins was too good a value for the team to pass up in the fourth round. He’s a good receiver with great athleticism for the position, much like Everett.
With Hopkins on the roster and Tyler Higbee already extended, it’s highly unlikely the Rams keep Everett past this season.
znModeratorznModeratorholy shit pic.twitter.com/rVw24plXTp
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) May 1, 2020
May 1, 2020 at 8:46 pm in reply to: 234 – Clay Johnston LB, 248 – Sam Sloman K, and 250 – Tremayne Anchrum G #114490znModeratorTremayne Anchrum bringing versatility, winning mentality to Rams
Stu Jackson
https://www.therams.com/news/tremayne-anchrum-clemson-versatility-winning-mentality
Tremayne Anchrum was preparing to find the best opportunity for himself as an undrafted free agent during the final round of the NFL Draft when he received a surprising phone call from Rams head coach Sean McVay.
“Honestly, we didn’t really know where our future kind of lied,” Anchrum said on a video conference Saturday. “I knew I was going to be a day three kind of guy. Getting to those later rounds, we started getting calls about, ‘Hey, we’d love to have you as a free agent.’ I got a couple of head coaches that called me talking about, ‘Hey, we want you now.’ Me and my father were kind of making arrangements for that. But, then Coach McVay called and said, ‘Hey, are you ready to be a Ram?’ At that moment, we all kind of figured I was going to be a free agent, but with the news, we were all really excited.”
Both his skillset and college background will fit well into the Rams’ culture.
Anchrum was Clemson’s full-time starting right tackle in 2018 and 2019, with the Tigers compiling a 29-1 record across each of those two seasons. They also appeared in each of the last two college football playoff national championships, winning it all in 2018.
Though he was primarily a right tackle, he would spend time at guard during the practices leading into the playoff games and championship games in order to give teammates rest and also work on his technique at other positions. That cross-training is an approach run game coordinator and offensive line coach Aaron Kromer takes with young players in his position group.
“I’m comfortable on the right side of the line, mostly, right tackle, right guard,” Anchrum said. “But again, I am open to playing any spot on the line.”
Including this year’s selections, Anchrum played alongside 30 future NFL draft picks at Clemson, according to Pro-Football-Reference.com. He said being around and competing with that talent helped prepare him for the next level.
“Playing for a high-level team like Clemson is a way, way advantage that you can never really underestimate,” Anchrum said. “When you have a competition level that high where you play with the Clemsons, the Alabamas, the Ohio States of the world, you know what an authentic mindset looks like. You know what a championship effort looks like from a backend, on the front end, what it feels like, and the day-in day-out commitment that it takes to win. Knowing that, playing with a lot of great players, which I don’t think there’s a negative to, but it really holds you accountable, staying at that level of competition, staying on your A-game every single day, taking that into the next level is going to be invaluable.”
He’ll take that mindset with him, no longer worried about having to prepare for free agency.
“It’s a little relief, I guess. It takes the hard part out, which is the decision making,” Anchrum said. “Now the only decision right now is just to go out and play, and dominate.”
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znModeratorWith Brandin Cooks' exit, #LARams receiver Josh Reynolds will likely embrace a larger role in the offense in 2020
In 2019, Reynolds led the #LA offense in yards per reception and yards after catch per reception pic.twitter.com/lxo2T0YMjJ
— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) May 1, 2020
znModeratorThe #Rams are one of the few organizations in sports that seem to always find a way to piss off their alumni. Especially the hall of fame alumni. Remember Eric Dickerson
Orlando Pace calls out Rams for letting a rookie wear his number https://t.co/kqbJvVWDIF via @theramswire
— Palmer Alexander III (@thelegendkil) April 30, 2020
znModeratorRams “Legend” @Jim_Everett 🐏 #11 gave us many memorable 👏 seasons with the LA Rams !! ☝️ https://t.co/l3BAkynnQD
— Luis #2#8#24 Kobe&GiGi 💜💛 (@Luis06494843) May 1, 2020
znModeratorcbs sports
2020 NFL Draft: Ranking every team’s draft class
8. Rams
This might have been one of our favorite drafts. Cam Akers is a cheaper upgrade over Todd Gurley; Van Jefferson is one of the best route runners in this class. Terrell Lewis is a first-round talent if he can stay healthy and Terrell Burgess is a versatile defensive back. And Brycen Hopkins is another athletic tight end who’ll likely find success in Sean McVay’s offense. Grade: A-znModeratorWho is Jonah Williams? Weber State defender an All-American, NFL-caliber edge rusher
Jonah Williams is one of the best defensive players in the history of Weber State football.
A native of Meridian, Idaho, Williams committed to Weber State in 2013 after the Wildcats offered him a scholarship. After serving a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Williams played four seasons in Ogden and etched his name in the program record book.
In 54 career games played, Williams recorded 194 total tackles, 15 sacks — the ninth-most in school history — and 28 career tackles for loss. He also had three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and three career blocked kicks.
As a senior in 2019, Williams racked up 62 tackles, 7½ sacks and 11 tackles for loss, along with five quarterback hurries. He earned All-America honors and was named the Big Sky Defensive MVP, just the fifth Wildcat in school history to win the award. He was also part of the winningest senior class in program history, a group that won three Big Sky titles and made four playoff appearances.
Areas of concern for Williams are somewhat athleticism-centered, specifically his flexibility, though most of his measurements are enviable.
According to Dave Stroshine, founder and director of Stroformance, Williams is 6-5, 280 pounds with a “six-pack (physique).” He ran a 4.65 and 4.67 with a 35-inch vertical jump, and he also put up 30 reps on 225.
“He’s a guy that going in people were saying is a draftable guy, but he had the lack of visibility in a pro day, so we’ve done a lot of video stuff to go with his game film and scouts can see a series of situations with his movement,” Stroshine told the Deseret News. “His shuttle was in the 4.2s, three cones in the 6.8s, just phenomenal for a dude that big. It will be interesting to see what happens.”
znModeratorThis is what Andrew siciliano had to say when I asked him about the rams uniforms pic.twitter.com/F5n1LKD3IH
— HoldenCantor (@HoldenCantor) April 30, 2020
znModeratorRich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
I thought Bobby Evans did a solid job at right tackle in the second half of last season and he absolutely exceeded my expectations. He held his own against some solid pass-rushers, but he also got a little help with the Rams in some bigger packages. Perhaps Evans would take an even bigger step forward in 2020.I also wouldn’t write off Havenstein, who was great in 2017 and 2018. He slipped in the early part of 2019, but so did every player on that Rams line. I can’t stress that enough.
znModeratorI’m weakkkkkk 😫😂 pic.twitter.com/Fy6VOyPAMs
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) April 30, 2020
znModeratorTaylor Rapp really impressed during his rookie year with his gritty play in the secondary
The #LARams safety ranked T-6th among all DBs in defensive stops pic.twitter.com/fw1ync4txV
— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) April 30, 2020
znModeratorAfter the Rams picked Jordan Fuller in Round 6, other NFL coaches and GMs were texting Snead and McVay saying “nice pick.” https://t.co/oSuunVa1mR
— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) April 30, 2020
znModeratorESPN's Louis Riddick says Cam Newton and Rams would be 'perfect fit' https://t.co/ANN5OT5ybv
— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) April 30, 2020
April 30, 2020 at 11:08 am in reply to: 234 – Clay Johnston LB, 248 – Sam Sloman K, and 250 – Tremayne Anchrum G #114419znModeratorThe LA Rams added 9 new rookies at the 2020 NFL Draft. What is the floor/ceiling of new rookie kicker Sam Sloman?
link https://ramblinfan.com/2020/04/28/la-rams-rookie-floor-ceiling-sam-sloman/
With the 248th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the LA Rams selected Sam Sloman, Kicker, out of Miami of Ohio. By looking at his statistics we can project to see what he can become. First, let’s look at his basic attributes. Then looking at we know we can use it to project a comp for both their floor and ceiling.
Sloman is the third kicker added to the LA Rams’ roster, and the only rookie signed to the team from college. Despite adding two non-NFL kickers prior to the draft, the plan all along seemed to be adding a college kicker as well. As soon as his name was called, the Rams immediately set a three-way heated competition for the one kicker spot vacated by former veteran kicker Greg Zuerlein. Newly hired Special Teams coordinator John Bonamego’s influence surely played a part in this competition, as he most likely wants to have an option to go with the kicker who has the best accuracy, the longest range, and the most consistent number of touchbacks at kickoff. Bonamego must have liked what he saw in Sloman.
Basic Attributes
-Accurate in short to mid-range kicks
-Under average leg strength
-Struggles in kickoffs in bounds
-Keeps improving every year
-Makes extra points on a consistent basis
Ceiling-Stephen Gostowski
What stood out to me about Sloman was the fact that he was such a high percentage kicker with a limited range like a Stephen Gostowski. Gostowski has one kick made over 60 yards. Only 14.96 percent of his kicks that he made were longer than 50 yards while 66.84 of kicks made were in the 20-39 yard range. That’s a lot of kicks for the short to medium range. Comparing them to Sloman’s senior year stats, Sloman made 19.23 percent of his kicks made at 50+ yards, his highest being 53. He also made 57.96 percent of his kicks from 20-39 yards out. While their average for 20-39 yards is a bit off, I’m only comparing his senior season to Gostowski’s entire career.
Floor-No Roster Spot
While I would like to compare a floor and a ceiling to a player, Sloman’s floor ends up in just one place, simply not making the roster is a real possibility. The LA Rams signed two kickers in Lirim Hajrullahu and Austin MacGinnis this offseason and there is no guarantee that Sloman will win in any competition to land a roster spot. The lack of leg strength could be an issue as the Rams were expecting 60+ yard kicks on a consistent basis before the departure of kicker Greg Zuerlein. And the fact that Zuerlein fell below .500 at the 40-49 yard range was something the team stated as a goal this offseason.
Final Projection
If, and I mean if, Sam Sloman cracks the roster and beats out one of the most clutch kickers in CFL history in Hajrullahu, he should be a tier or two under Gostowski. He will make a good percentage of his kicks every year and be reliable up to a point. That is, he won’t be placed into situations requiring significant his leg strength. His range will likely restrict the Rams to field goal attempts of under 60 yards. However, Sloman did demonstrate a significant improvement in his range during his senior year and may develop that long-range kick under Bonamego’s watchful eye.
As always let me know in the comments section your thoughts about the likelihood of Sloman making the Rams 55-man roster. New ST coordinator John Bonamego, despite having two solid kickers on the roster, persuaded the Rams to select 5-foot-8 205-pound Miami of Ohio kicker Sam Sloman in the seventh round. Does he know something we don’t? That’s likely the case. But Sam Sloman has a very uphill battle ahead of him to make the Rams’ roster.
znModeratorHi. I don’t get your post title. Can you suggest an edit?
znModeratorCROMWELL21
Rams sign UDFA
Bryan London II. LB. Texas State. Cut Jeff HollandRams sign 22nd UDFA.
LB Daniel Bituli. Tennessee. Pretty highly rated udfa. -
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