A note on this. The value of VB’s comments is that he saw the Rams practice in OTAs. Yes it’s practice in pajamas, but still it’s nice to hear from someone who saw them in action, even at this early stage.

==

Rams Q&A: Vinny Bonsignore
https://theathletic.com/1060038/2019/07/05/live-qa-with-rams-writer-vinny-bonsignore-on-friday-from-noon-to-1-p-m-pt-3/

I still think they’ll be primarily 11 personnel, but not as much as in the past. I think there will be some diversity and different packaging. And yes, I think there will be an earnest effort to get Henderson and Everett more involved

[Woods, Kupp, Cooks] I think if they stay healthy they all reach 1000. And absolutely when that group is intact, Jared’s stats reflect their importance. He is simpy a better QB, statistically, when that group is together

[Kupp] Everything is on target. I think he’ll be on a definite program in camp. Not necessarily because he isn’t healthy, but just as a protective measure to ward off any setbacks. They want him full go to open the season, and feel they have a plan in place that achieves that objective
He was on the field, and a partial participant even in some reduced-speed 11 on 11 periods during OTA’s, so that’s an excellent sign. And everyone I’ve talked to anticipates he’ll be ready to roll for the season opener.

really liked what I saw when the ball was in Henderson’s hands, just in terms of a burst/speed perspective. He’s a different kind of athlete, man. And it shows

[Gurley] I think the talk of him being dramatically damaged goods is exaggerated. But the Rams will absolutely slow down his workload during the course of the season to put him in a better position to be effective late in the season.
We will see. My instincts say yes, he will be healthy, but be used a bit differently in terms of load management. The goal is to make sure he’s good to go late in the season and in the playoffs. From what I hear, the combination of heavy usage and a couple of nasty hits in the Philly game led to a situation where the knee was slower to respond. They hope to minimize that risk by keeping him, and the knee, more fresh with a modified useage rate.

it sure looked to me like the Rams were operating against a lot more zone coverage looks during 11 on 11 in this years OTA’s compared to in the past, which would lead me to believe they will have a better answer for that kind of coverage when they face it.

[Ranking Goff?] Top seven with his arrow pointing up.

[who looks like they bulked up this off-season?] For me: Austin Blythe, Micah Kiser and Sebastian Joseph-Day. Gerald Everett looks in ridiculous shape, too.

Barring a surprise in camp, I believe Kiser wins the ILB spot opposite Littleton in base defense. I think he will initially be utilized in more run situations, but the Rams will be aggressive in utilizing more nickel and dime packages where he comes off the field in favor of an extra safety or cornerback. I think you’ll also see some Clay Matthews lined up at ILB

[Brockers] . Definitely worth watching. Did his play slip, or was he playing responsibility football that sometimes isn’t reflected in raw stats? Hard to say. But I will say this, based on everyone I spoke to there was zero, and I mean zero thought about him being a salary cap cut or being asked to re-do his contract. That tells me there is respect for him and his level of play from his coaches and the front office.

I’m not a member of PFF Elite & you have to be a member to find out which 4 Rams are named. I will hazard a wild guess and say Donald is one of them.

==

#Ramily, @PFF_Linsey breaks down players on each team that should be in the HOF if they retired today, who's on pace, & players considered but aren't HOF-worthy as of right now

Find out the 4 #Rams that were named & where they landed over on the #PFF sitehttps://t.co/ivtRcVOcM7

— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) July 5, 2019

https://t.co/dmtSoODmgr

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) July 5, 2019

joemad wrote:

The one HBO series that never got much attention was Rome. I recommend watching that series… Great series….

Yeah I liked “Rome.” I 2nd your recommendation. Lots to like about it. For example, how Augustus becomes creepier and more sociopathic as he grows up–it’s well handled. That’s just one detail among many.

A favorite quotation:

Marc Antony: I’m glad you’re so confident. Some would call it hubris.
Caesar: It’s only hubris if I fail.

from The NFL’s balanced offensive linemen by PFF Grade from 2018

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-the-nfls-balanced-offensive-linemen-by-pff-grade-from-2018

…let’s look at the league’s most balanced offensive lineman across every position by using their PFF grades from the 2018 season. For this, we combined grades across all three positions (center, guard, tackle) and compared the two facets that make the composite overall grade — run-blocking and pass-blocking grade.

…

Honorable Mention: Andrew Whitworth, Los Angeles Rams

Andrew Whitworth earned a 78.4 run-blocking grade and an 86.1 pass-blocking grade with Los Angeles in 2018, both fifth among offensive tackles. He’s been nothing short of outstanding throughout his career, earning 70.8 or higher overall grades in all but one season in the PFF era (2006-18), including an 83.1 overall grade last season.

Unreal 🤯

(via @Wade_Bright18) pic.twitter.com/0ZfgLvldxI

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 5, 2019

from 2019 NFL schedule rankings, NFC West: Rams in position to repeat as champs, Seahawks facing nightmare schedule

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2019-nfl-schedule-rankings-nfc-west-rams-in-position-to-repeat-as-champs-seahawks-facing-nightmare-schedule/

…

Los Angeles Rams
Overall NFL schedule difficulty ranking: 20th

Easiest stretch: Sean McVay was probably the happiest guy in the room when he found out who the Rams would be playing over the final two weeks of the season, and that’s because it’s two games the Rams should win. First, the Rams will travel to San Francisco in Week 16 before hosting the Cardinalsin Week 17. The reason McVay is probably thrilled with the fact that his team is closing the season with the 49ers and Cards is because L.A. went 4-0 combined against those two teams last season (McVay is also 7-1 overall against those two teams with his only loss coming to the 49ers in the 2017 season finale when the Rams’ rested all their starters).

Roughest stretch: The Rams better get some serious rest during their bye week, and that’s because their roughest stretch starts as soon as their bye week ends. Coming out of their Week 9 bye, the Rams schedule looks like this: At Steelers (Week 10), Bears (Week 11), Ravens (Week 12), at Cardinals (Week 13), Seahawks (Week 14). Not only will the Rams be playing against three teams that made the playoffs last season, but all three of those games will be played in primetime. The upside for the Rams is that all three of those games will be at home and they should also be getting a breather in Week 13 when they play the Cardinals.

Weird scheduling note: Thanks in large part to their trip to London, the Rams will be traveling more miles than any other team in the NFC this year and the second most miles in the NFL. The Rams will be traveling 29,974 miles in 2019, which ranks second in the league, behind only the Raiders (32,023).

Aaron Donald named most indispensable defender in the NFL https://t.co/56K66ga64e

— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) July 4, 2019

Just fwiw. Non-Rams related but interesting IMO. No Ram in this top 10.

==

from: The NFL’s Top 10 Offensive Linemen for 2019 |

https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/07/02/top-offensive-linemen-tackles-centers-guards-ot-ol-zack-martin-david-bakhtiari-podcast?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=themmqb

1. Zack Martin, G, Dallas, 78 points (2 first-place votes)
2. David Bakhtiari, OT, Green Bay, 75 (1)
3. Jason Kelce, C, Philadelphia, 69
4. Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas, 58
5. Travis Frederick, C, Dallas, 56
6. Quenton Nelson, G, Indianapolis, 52
7. David DeCastro, G, Pittsburgh, 51
8. Mitchell Schwartz, OT, Kansas City, 48
9. Maurkice Pouncey, C, Pittsburgh, 47
10. Trent Williams, OT, Washington, 44

Breaking down the Rams’ primary linebacker situation heading into camp

Vincent Bonsignore

https://theathletic.com/1061937/2019/07/03/breaking-down-the-rams-primary-linebacker-situation-heading-into-camp/

On one hand, a defense that helped push the Rams to the Super Bowl returns in 2019 with eight of 11 starters in place. Given the fluid turnover rate in the NFL these days, that represents tremendous stability. Factor in the signing of veteran safety Eric Weddle to replace Lamarcus Joyner — very likely an upgrade opposite budding star John Johnson – and the Rams are in great shape defensively.

On the other hand, you can’t simply assume whoever emerges as starter replacements for defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and inside linebacker Mark Barron offer replacement-level production, so there is some uncertainty.

Add in the fact that there is some unknown at outside linebacker, in terms of what second-year starter Samson Ebukam will offer and whether Dante Fowler Jr. will finally reach his potential as a former third overall draft pick — or at least come close — and some uneasiness is warranted.

In fact, if any position on defense creates pause for the Rams, it’s linebacker, where only second-year starter Cory Littleton provides a level of certainty.

There is potential for this group to offer dependability, and that’s a level the Rams will gladly take alongside the dominance of Aaron Donald, the emerging stardom of Johnson, the steady reliability of Weddle and capable production from cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib.

Anything more is certainly possible, but at this point would represent a pleasant surprise. What the Rams can’t afford is anything less than that.

Here is a breakdown of where the Rams stand with their primary linebackers three weeks before training camp opens.

Known factor

MLB Cory Littleton

It’s hard to recall the uncertainty that Littleton represented this time last year as the heir apparent to Alec Ogletree. Going into his third year, Littleton was a known factor as a special-teams ace and flashed at various points in 2017 as a reserve inside linebacker. In fact, he was playing so well that defensive coordinator Wade Phillips started devising packages specifically designed to get Littleton on the field.

The question was, could he do it as a full-time starter?

Littleton resoundingly answered that question with a team-leading 125 tackles to go along with four sacks and three interceptions. He proved capable against the run and in pass coverage while establishing himself as an every-down backer. It was everything the Rams could have hoped for, and then some.

Littleton is still scratching the surface, and there is every reason to believe he won’t just replicate his performance last year but maybe even exceed it. If so, he’ll rightfully emerge as a star alongside Donald and Johnson.

Cautious optimism

OLB Samson Ebukam

The Rams knew there would be a learning curve with Ebukam, who was drafted in the fourth round in 2017 and inserted into the starting lineup last season. The former Eastern Washington standout possessed all the pertinent qualities required for an NFL outside linebacker in terms of size, speed and athletic ability, but there were some raw assets that needed smoothing out, and really only consistent playing time would address it. In that sense, there was some genuine learning on the job for Ebukam, and that showed in a season in which he finished with 40 tackles, three sacks and an interception.

The question now is, has Ebukam made the necessary improvements to take a decisive step forward as a second-year starter? That’s specifically as a pass rusher, where he struggled at times last year merging his physical gifts with the technical aspects of winning one-on-one battles against blockers. It’s those subtle aspects of pass rushing that Ebukam needs to harness and hone in order to be more of a force off the edge. The Rams brought in help by trading for Fowler at the trade deadline last year and signing free agent Clay Matthews last March, so the pressure isn’t on Ebukham to take a huge step forward. But the Rams do need improvement and more consistency from him. The talent is there. He just needs to put it all together.

Unknown factor

ILB Micah Kiser

Kiser is the odds-on favorite to replace Barron alongside Littleton, and for now the plan is to mitigate his learning curve by using him mostly on run downs. The versatility they have at safety – where Johnson and rookie Taylor Rapp can drop down to linebacker on pass downs – gives them a ton of flexibility in how they utilize their linebackers, and it means taking advantage of Kiser’s skill set in the run game.

Kiser was a tackling machine at Virginia as a downhill run-stuffer filling gaps and stonewalling running backs. But his surprising showing last year as a special-teams standout showed the Rams he has the athletic ability to potentially be a sideline-to-sideline run stopper as well. The concern is how he’ll hold up when opposing offenses single him out in pass coverage and all of a sudden he has to deal with a running back or slot receiver or tight end in one-on-one matchups.

It’s an area of the game that Barron provided adequate proficiency. He wasn’t great, by any means. But he more than held his own. The Rams need Kiser to provide the same, at the very least.

Intrigue

OLB Dante Fowler Jr.

In many ways, Fowler is the wild card here, as he has a chance to completely change the dynamic of the Rams’ defense if his potential is finally realized.

There is no guarantee of that happening, obviously. There is a reason, after all, that Fowler was available to the Rams last year at the trade deadline. He never lived up to the hype with the Jacksonville Jaguars as the third overall pick in the 2015 draft and became expendable. Now in his fifth NFL season, why should we expect him to suddenly put it all together?

Chances are he’s never going to be the dominant star many predicted he’d be coming out of college. But the comfortability he found after joining the Rams in early November translated onto the field, where Fowler provided some much-needed juice off the edge, and the prospect of a full training camp and an entire season in Phillips’ defense could be enough to nudge him closer to reaching his potential.

The Rams will take consistency and dependability from Fowler, who is fully capable of reaching double-digit sacks and, just as importantly, getting consistent pressure on the quarterback. Remember, by closing a wall on quarterbacks from the outside, it pushes them inside into Donald. Vice-versa, the push Donald gets from the interior sends them outside, where Fowler is talented enough to take advantage.

It’s imperative, though, that he gives the Rams a consistent presence off the edge. Anything less than that, and it’s a problem.

Catching lightning in a bottle?

OLB Clay Matthews

The Rams will be ecstatic if Matthews magically turns back the clock upon returning home to Southern California and delivers a throwback performance to his dominant Green Bay Packers days.

But that obviously isn’t likely.

Nevertheless, Matthews can absolutely be a big factor defensively simply in the versatility he brings and the concern he creates for opposing offenses while being deployed at various launch points.

The seed the Rams hope Matthews plants is that he has to be accounted for as a pass rusher, and given how they’ll line him up at outside linebacker, inside linebacker, defensive end and as a standup rusher all along the line of scrimmage, he’ll demand focus. And maybe create some confusion. That should lead to favorable matchups for his fellow pass rushers or, in the case of opposing linemen, doubling up blocking assets on Donald and free up lanes for Matthews to exploit.

Given the talent Matthews is playing alongside, the scheme he’s operating in and the creative ways Phillips will use him, it’s fair to assume Matthews will get plenty of opportunities to shine.

And if he has enough left in the gas tank, he could be a surprise factor.

Wildflecken

Everett’s having his breakout season in 2019 would go a long way towards Rams quest to return to SB, especially with Kupp coming off knee surgery. It very well could be 2020 until we see Kupp returning to former self? Edelman struggled with Pats last season but came alive in playoffs as he recovered from knee surgery in 2018. Think best we can hope is Kupp is former self by midpoint of season?