More on or rather from Gaines.

Talking about what he does.

. http://views.washingtonpost.com/theleague/predraft/2010/03/workout-warlord-travelle-gaines-aces-the-combine.html

From the moment they arrive at the facility, where they get a full medical evaluation. So every injury they’ve ever had, we ask them to bring in their full medical history reports. We have a team of physicians, and our rehab and regeneration team takes the kids into a full movement prep and movement screening process. We put them on a grid and find out if their shoulders or hips or knees or ankles are off. We put them through a series of movements to see how their body operates. From there, we can build out a customized warm-up for every kid that’s there. So before we’re even thinking about training them, we want to put them in the proper positions to warm their bodies up properly. We’re not going to warm up the same because we have different aches and pains and alignments.

J.B. Long@JB_Long
A smart man, @MarcSessler goes with Brandin Cooks as the #LARams future first-time Pro Bowler.

I’d include John Johnson, Dante Fowler, Bobby Trees, Cooper Kupp, Rob Havenstein, and Gerald Everett as strong candidates knocking on the door in 2019 as well.

NFL Stats@NFL_Stats
Most QB Hits Since 2016

Aaron Donald – 99
Michael Bennett – 73
Calais Campbell – 73
Cameron Jordan – 73
Von Miller – 73
Chandler Jones – 72
Yannick Ngakoue – 70
Carlos Dunlap – 68
Cameron Wake – 68
Frank Clark – 66
Khalil Mack – 66
Geno Atkins – 65
Fletcher Cox – 65

==

NFL Stats@NFL_Stats
Top Players in Sacks since 2016

Chandler Jones – 41
Aaron Donald – 39.5
Von Miller – 38
Ryan Kerrigan – 37
Danielle Hunter – 34
Khalil Mack – 34
Calais Campbell – 33
Cameron Jordan – 32.5
Frank Clark – 32
Mario Addison – 29.5
Yannick Ngakoue – 29.5
Jory Bosa – 28.5

from: https://www.tmz.com/2019/06/19/domata-peko-sean-mcvay-los-angeles-rams-free-agent-d-lineman/

Sean McVay, listen up … a 325-pound beast says he wants to help the Rams win a championship — ’cause Domata Peko tells TMZ Sports he wants to sign with L.A.!!!

“I would like to be with Aaron Donald, man,” Peko says … “Hell yeah! That would be dope.”

—

The Rams have good young players at NT in Gaines and SJD, but they’re unproven. Domata Peko wouldn’t be a bad veteran addition if the price is right https://t.co/nhJ11dHUed

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) June 20, 2019

wv wrote:

He’s not done, but sometimes it seems to me, the rams act like “managing it” is some miraculous cure. And of course it isnt. It could flare up any time. There’s no way they can count on him. They can never know when its going to be a big problem.

Until Gaines spoke out no one had a very clear idea what was going on. Now we know that that his trainer–a guy well known for doing complete medical work-ups on his clients and tailoring his approach to individual clients around that medical info–says he has an arthritic knee. We also know that Gaines, Gurley, and the Rams all expect him to play at a high level, though that’s said in a context where there’s also talk of managing his practices and playing time. (Bonsignore calls it “load management.”)

I keep saying that Faulk played well in 2001 with a far worse knee, so why can’t Gurley. Plus, on top of managing his carries, Gurley is training with a guy who is known for tailoring workouts around a guy’s specific medical issues, so that would mean tailoring things to Gurley’s issues in order to maximize him as a player. (One of the several advantages of the Rams being in LA is having direct access to a guy like Gaines.)

So I think he can be produtive. I take it for granted that “being productive” does not mean being merely average–it’s still Todd Gurley.

The Faulk thing means a lot to me in this context which is why I keep mentioning it. During training camp in 2001 they sat Faulk for 3 weeks because his knee acted up. His knee at that time was far worse than Gurley’s is now. In 2001, turns out, Faulk had a good season–1300+ yards, 21 TDs running & receiving. My thing is, if Faulk with a worse knee could be productive in 2001, why not Gurley now.

Can it flare up? Sure. But in 2018 it flared up twice (Sept. and December) and he was still productive after those episodes. And that was before they has a specific training regimen in place that accounts for the knee.

I like Farr on this. Farr played with Faulk and works with the current Rams and so is a reporter informed about Gurley. He said, Faulk could play with that knee for a while. Gurley can still play. I stole my whole Faulk analogy thing from Farr.

….

#Ramily, @PFF_Chichester takes a look at the Top 5 best offensive tackle duos in the NFL headed into 2019, & #Rams combo of Rob Havenstein & Andrew Whitworth made the cut!

Find out where they rank & who make up the other 4 tandems over on the #PFF site:https://t.co/hvfaJXhmCr pic.twitter.com/vWXp1bQzwK

— PFF LA Rams (@PFF_Rams) June 20, 2019

Jeff Darlington@JeffDarlington
Congratulations to @JaredGoff16, who just moments ago sunk his first hole-in-one while golfing at Lakeside Golf Club in LA! No better offseason accomplishment, in my opinion!

Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
System golfer

==

Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
#Rams Aaron Donald and Todd Gurley are 2019 ESPYS nominees for Best #NFL Player. Rams #Chiefs Monday night game also nominated in the Best Game category.

—

"I love Pittsburgh. This is a great university. This is where I'm comfortable at. This is home." – @AaronDonald97

The great AD spoke to the media in front of Pitt's newly named Aaron Donald Football Performance Center.#H2P pic.twitter.com/GsErOxjnT7

— Pitt Football (@Pitt_FB) June 20, 2019

Position-by-position predictions for the Rams’ season-opening 53-man roster

Vincent Bonsignore Jun 19, 2019

https://theathletic.com/1035166/2019/06/19/position-by-position-predictions-for-the-rams-season-opening-53-man-roster/

The offseason is in the books and training camp awaits in the final week of July. The Rams have a deep, experienced roster, and while they face very few questions in terms of starting jobs, fitting all that talent into a 53-man roster will be a challenge.

There will be difficult cuts, to be sure.

With the start of camp five weeks away, I’m taking a stab at the 53-man roster for the start of the regular season.

Quarterback
In the mix: Jared Goff, Blake Bortles, Brandon Allen, John Wolford (rookie)

The Rams could keep three quarterbacks, which likely would mean Allen remaining on the roster, but the experience and durability of Bortles as the backup to Goff could open a roster spot at a more pressing position.

Who makes the cut: Goff, Bortles

Running back
In the mix: Todd Gurley, Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson (rookie), Justin Davis, John Kelly, Matthew Colburn (rookie)

With so much focus on the status of Gurley’s left knee, expect the Rams to approach his usage plan quite a bit differently than they did in the first four years of his career. That means more work for Brown and, likely, a major role right out of the gate for Henderson, who could play enough to push himself into consideration for Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The drafting of Henderson likely will result in a difficult cut of either Davis or second-year back Kelly. And with Henderson assuming a role as a change-of-pace back, Kelly might be the odd man out.

Who makes the cut: Gurley, Brown, Henderson, Davis

Receiver
In the mix: Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Cooper Kupp, Josh Reynolds, KhaDarel Hodge, Mike Thomas, JoJo Natson, Austin Proehl, Alex Bachman (rookie), Nsimba Webster (rookie), Jonathan Lloyd (rookie), Nsimba Webster (rookie)

The top four receivers are set, and it’s as good a foursome as you’ll find in the NFL. It gets a bit tricky beyond that — albeit for good reasons — and it will be interesting to see who steps up to claim the final spots. The battle between Thomas and Hodge is worth monitoring. Thomas landed on injured reserve last season with a groin injury in Week 1 and never made it back to the active roster due to a numbers crunch. Now in his fourth season, Thomas still has untapped potential as a long-ball threat, but it’s time to for him to finally put it all together. If not, the Rams are more than comfortable with Hodge, who appeared in 14 games last year as a rookie, mostly on special teams. Natson’s proficiency as a punt returner increases his chances of making the team, although he doesn’t offer much as an actual receiver. If someone else emerges as a punt returner, the Rams could opt for a backup who offers more value in the pass game.

Who makes the cut: Cooks, Woods, Kupp, Reynolds, Thomas, Natson

Tight End
In the mix: Tyler Higbee, Gerald Everett, Johnny Mundt, Romello Brooker (rookie), Keenan Brown (rookie), Kendall Blanton (rookie)

The Rams are high on the Higbee-Everett tandem and believe there is still room to grow for both of them. Everett, in particular, appears poised for a breakout year. Mundt is a valuable special-teams player and he’s a proficient blocker. He hasn’t gotten much of an opportunity to showcase his pass-game skills, but the Rams have seen enough to know he’d offer stability if called upon, so his spot appears secure. Nevertheless, the Rams added undrafted rookie free agents Brooker, Brown and Blanton to provide camp competition.

Who makes the cut: Higbee, Everett, Mundt

Offensive line
In the mix: Andrew Whitworth, Rob Havenstein, Joseph Noteboom, Brian Allen, Austin Blythe, Bobby Evans (rookie), Jamil Demby, Kyle Murphy, Jeremiah Kolone, Brandon Hitner (rookie), Vitas Hrynkiewicz (rookie) Aaron Neary, Chandler Brewer (rookie), David Edwards (rookie), Matt Kaskey (rookie)

After featuring one of the most experienced, stable lines in the NFL the last two years, the Rams now have a group in transition, as new starters are needed at center and left guard and nearly an entirely new reserve unit needs to be built. The good news is, Whitworth and Havenstein are back at left and right tackle, respectively, and Blythe is a player on the rise entering his second year at right guard. Noteboom and Allen are likely to get the nods at left guard and center, respectively, leaving backup holes to be filled. The Rams addressed the issue during the draft with the selections of tackles Edwards and Evans, and both should earn roster spots because of potential. Ideally, they’ll both spend their rookie years as development players. Demby cross-trained at guard and tackle last year as a rookie, and that versatility should benefit him come cut-down day. At this point, he’s the most likely candidate to replace Noteboom and Blythe in an injury situation, or if Noteboom has to swing to one of the tackle spots in case Havenstein or Whitworth gets hurt.

Who makes the cut: Whitworth (T), Havenstein (T), Noteboom (G/T), Blythe (G/C), Allen (C/G), Demby (G/T), Edwards (T), Evans (T)

Defensive Line
In the mix: Aaron Donald, Sebastian Joseph-Day, Marquise Copeland (rookie), Tyrell Thompson (rookie), Greg Gaines (rookie), Tanzel Smart, Michael Brockers, John Franklin-Myers, Morgan Fox, Bryant Jones (rookie) Boogie Roberts (rookie)

The odd man out here is third-year defensive tackle Tanzel Smart, who dressed for just two games last year after being on the active game-day roster for all 16 games as a rookie. Smart’s roster spot, essentially, is being taken by Gaines, a rookie nose tackle from Washington who could earn a starting job in the Rams’ base 3-4 defense, and the return of Fox, who missed all of last year with a knee injury. The Rams are also high on Joseph-Day, who could push for an interior rotation role, and Franklin-Myers, who flashed last year as a pass rusher. Also, keep in mind outside linebackers Samson Ebukam, Clay Matthews III and Justin Lawler can also drop down as defensive ends when the Rams shift out of their base defense on pass downs.

Who makes the cut: Donald, Brockers, Gaines, Franklin-Myers, Fox, Joseph-Day

Outside linebacker
In the mix: Dante Fowler Jr., Samson Ebukam, Clay Matthews III, Ogbonnia Okoronkwo, Justin Lawler, Trevon Young, Landis Durham (rookie)

The intrigue here centers on how much Matthews has left in the tank, whether Fowler can finally reach his full potential, what kind of improvements Ebukam can make as a second-year starter and whether Okoronkwo can push for a role as an edge pass rusher. In terms of camp battles, the final roster spots figure to come down to Okoronkwo, Lawler and Young.

Who makes the cut: Fowler, Ebukam, Matthews, Okoronkwo, Lawler

Inside linebacker
In the mix: Cory Littleton, Micah Kiser, Bryce Hager, Josh Carraway, Dakota Allen (rookie), Natrez Patrick (rookie), Travin Howard, Troy Reeder (rookie), Ketner Kupp (rookie)

Kiser is in line to replace Mark Barron alongside Littleton in the starting lineup, although Howard has a chance to play his way into a role. His roster spot — and that of Allen — will come down to a camp battle that will also include undrafted rookies Patrick and Reeder and Carraway, a free-agent pickup from Washington. Hager’s experience and special-teams proficiency creates job security.

Who makes the cut: Littleton, Kiser, Howard, Carraway, Hager

Cornerback
In the mix: Marcus Peters, Troy Hill, Darious Williams, Aqib Talib, David Long, Nickell Robey-Coleman, Kevin Peterson, Dont’e Deayon, Dominique Hatfield, Ramon Richards

No real surprises here as Long, a rookie from Michigan, earns a spot and role and Peterson, who missed all of last year with a knee injury, holds off Deayon and Williams for the last spot.

Who makes the cut: Peters, Talib, Robey-Coleman, Hill, Long, Peterson

Safety
In the mix: Eric Weddle, John Johnson, Taylor Rapp (rookie), Blake Countess, Marqui Christian, Nick Scott, Steven Prater, Jake Gervase (rookie)

The Rams might opt to keep only four safeties, but Christian and Scott both offer a ton of special-teams value and should win jobs as a result. Rapp, a rookie from Washington, could forge a rotational role out of training camp.

Who makes the cut: Weddle, Johnson, Rapp, Christian, Scott

Special teams
In the mix: Johnny Hekker (punter), Greg Zuerlein (kicker), Jake McQuaide (long snapper)

Barring injury, there won’t be any competition here.

from The surprise offseason standout for all 32 teams

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26943229/the-surprise-offseason-standout-all-32-teams

Los Angeles Rams
TE Gerald Everett

A second-round pick in 2017, Everett has had a few standout moments in his young career, including a 39-yard catch in the NFC Championship Game, but he has not been consistently called upon in coach Sean McVay’s offense. Through the offseason program, Everett was a clear standout as a target for quarterback Jared Goff. “The game is slowing down for him,” McVay said. “He’s just continuing to progress and take steps.” Everett will compete in a group that also includes fourth-year tight end Tyler Higbee. — Lindsey Thiry

Joel Corry@corryjoel
Most teams don’t pay 1st round picks after 3 seasons. Todd Gurley was only 2015 1st round pick to get a new deal after 3 seasons. None from 2014 1st round did.

Rams Talk@TalkRams
At some point, I hope @sj39 will come on one of our shows to talk about his career. He deserves far more credit for his accomplishments than he’s given. Great man, Great player.

Will have a piece on Goff on the website later today, but this was too good not to share. Ummmm WHAT?! #SystemQB pic.twitter.com/MFG1nSrc0V

— Downtown Rams [DTR] (@DowntownRams) June 18, 2019

Brett Kollmann@BrettKollmann
Rewatching that Eagles-Patriots Super Bowl from two seasons ago as part of this Jason Kelce video.

Literally every big play Philly made in that game (other than the Philly special) would not have been possible without Kelce being a fucking STUD. He wrecked NE’s front seven.

Great post-OTA & minicamp chat on the @RTFPodccast with @ProFootballDoc:

-Wentz's back & chance of recurrence

-Former Georgia backs (Gurley & Michel) arthritic knees & what it means for touches & management

-Durant being cleared to play by Warriorshttps://t.co/5SczFN2CSO pic.twitter.com/swgX7BleIt

— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) June 17, 2019

One key issue Matt LaFleur, Aaron Rodgers must navigate in their new partnership (via @MikeSilver)https://t.co/rTunhhRLq3 pic.twitter.com/wiGwkK4FuR

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) June 17, 2019