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  • May 4, 2019 at 9:56 am in reply to: Pick #5: Rams take Greg Gaines at 134 #100930
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    May 3, 2019 at 10:47 pm in reply to: A truly original and excellent book: Martin Hagglund's This Life. #100924
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    Billy_T wrote:

    For him, and for me, capitalism is all too similar. While he doesn’t say this explicitly, he implies what I have long felt: That the faith we have in capitalism is religious, not rational, and the faith we have in the “invisible hand” and “the markets” is religious, not rational. Hagglund goes deeper by showing how incompatible it is with both democracy and personal emancipation, with developing our selves to the fullest extent, because we’re means to an end (profits), not ends in themselves.

    Yeah I have always thought that, good to see it get well-articulated. I have some friends who happen to be left economists and they reinforce the point that the whole “markets” rhetoric and libertarian dedication to them has the same status as a religious view, it’s not real social science.

    May 3, 2019 at 10:43 pm in reply to: Anybody watching Game of Thones? #100923
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    Billy_T wrote:

    That makes sense, Nittany. But I thought most of them did follow her.

    ???

    Just a big bunch of warriors. There’s still some Dothraki back in Dothraki land.

    May 3, 2019 at 10:28 pm in reply to: Anybody watching Game of Thones? #100922
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    May 3, 2019 at 9:52 pm in reply to: Rams sign Josh Carraway #100919
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    http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/josh-carraway?id=2557883

    OVERVIEW

    It was a disappointing year for the Horned Frogs, barely making a bowl game with a mediocre six wins (one over FCS for South Dakota State). Carraway, however, earned his second straight first-team All-Big 12 nod by racking up 11 tackles for loss, including a team-leading eight sacks. He had similar numbers as a junior in 2015 (11.5 TFL, nine sacks, three forced fumbles) and was a part-time starter as a sophomore (33 tackles, five for loss, two sacks) as TCU went 23-3 over those two seasons. Carraway redshirted in 2013 due to depth in the team’s front seven, one year after playing in four games as a reserve.

    ANALYSIS

    STRENGTHS

    Outstanding athlete. Explosive with plenty of twitch. Has sudden, bouncy feet. Plus range as tackler. Possesses speed to win foot race down the line as a backside chaser when unblocked. Fluid hips and good acceleration to leverage wide, flowing runs to the sideline. Gets maximum arm extension when landing the early punch. Intriguing pass rusher. Has an NFL-level burst upfield. Flexibility creates ability to dip and corner the edge sharply. Has breathtaking closing burst to the quarterback as a rusher. Flashes of hand fighting provide hope for improvement. Transitioned from strong side to open side as a senior with no issues.

    WEAKNESSES

    Playing demeanor is too kind. Needs to inject some dog in his play. Lightweight at setting the edge. Gets jostled around far too easily to be trusted against the run. Needs to cut hands loose earlier in the rep and with more purpose. Content to ride on blocks rather than fight his way through them. Passive at point of attack and rarely imposes his will downhill. Technique and footwork seem random at times. Will have to learn how to take on blocks and stand his ground. Easily washed down by down blocks. Ragged, grab-and-drag tackler. Will need to find counter rush move to offset lack of play strength against redirect blocks around the arc.

    SOURCES TELL US

    “No, he’s not the toughest guy out there, but neither was Bruce Irvin when he came out. Do you remember that? I’m not saying he’s Irvin, but those players with pass-rush traits usually go higher than you expect them to. Coaches get paid to improve the technique. You can’t coach his speed.” — NFC director of personnel

    BOTTOM LINE

    Several boxes go unchecked for Carraway, but his outstanding athleticism and potential as an edge rusher will provide draft value. His instincts are a long way off and he lacks the functional strength and toughness at the point of attack that most teams require on the edge, but a big combine could heat his draft stock up. He will require patience and much more technique work, but he does possess NFL traits as a developmental prospect.

    -Lance Zierlein

    May 3, 2019 at 9:33 pm in reply to: Tyreek Hill / Dom violence #100917
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    I usually can’t listen to the Yelling Man, but, he’s just right about all of it.

    May 3, 2019 at 6:48 pm in reply to: tweets & other bits … 5/3 #100907
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    May 3, 2019 at 6:09 pm in reply to: Anybody watching Game of Thones? #100906
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    wv wrote:

    is GrayWorm dead? I kinda hope so

    Well, he’s undersized, granted, but great short area quickness.

    I don’t think he’s dead.

    May 3, 2019 at 5:28 pm in reply to: tweets & other bits … 5/3 #100904
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    Ian Rapoport@RapSheet
    The #Eagles claimed Blake Countess.

    Downtown Rams [DTR]@DowntownRams
    Philly drafted Countess originally. One of the #Rams great value pickups after nfl preseason cut day back in 2016.

    May 3, 2019 at 5:22 pm in reply to: tweets & other bits … 5/3 #100903
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    May 3, 2019 at 5:00 pm in reply to: OL talk #100900
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    Agamemnon wrote:

    Yeah, I think Edwards might have the best chance to play LT, assuming he is better than Noteboom.

    Assuming Edwards develops, that could be 6 of one half a dozen of the other. Just in terms of sheer physical traits, all other things being equal, I would prefer Edwards at tackle and Noteboom at guard. But we don’t know how equal things are. Either way if they both develop, as I said before, nice problem to have.

    Imagined possible future conversation:

    A sez: “Hey the Rams have 2 viable left tackle candidates, one taken in round 3 and one taken in round 5.”
    B sez: “Is that a good thing?”

    May 3, 2019 at 3:42 pm in reply to: Rams 3rd pick, David Long, CB #100897
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    zn wrote:

    alyoshamucci

    Long has 18 catches allowed, career. And passes defensed = 17 + 3 INTs is 20 and that is two more than “completions allowed”

    More plays on the ball than completions allowed?

    That’s a crazy stat.

    There’s even more.

    …

    XXXIVwin

    Long gave up 130 yards and a TD over his ENTIRE Michigan career

    …

    jjab360

    The longest pass Long gave up all season was 12 yards
    Never allowed more than two catches in a game

    ==

    from off the net, no source given

    – Michigan CB David Long is the definition of what it means to be a shutdown corner. According to Pro Football Focus, he was one of the best defensive players all of last year. While you won’t see the number of picks or pass break ups you’d might like to see on the statsheet, there’s a reason for that. Not many opposing offenses choose to target him. He only allowed 9 receptions all season & ranked 2nd with a 32.3% forced incompletion percentage. While he is ranked among the top corners in the draft, he rarely gets talked about enough.

    ==

    May 3, 2019 at 2:47 pm in reply to: reactions to the Rams 2019 draft #100894
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    wv wrote:

    Well, if it was a deep draft that also means other teams got good players. So, I dont know why you want other teams to get good players. Sounds like you hate the rams, to me.

    w
    v

    Well, I;m sure it’s certainly possible that some of those non-Rams teams, while stumbling around blindly in the draft, lucked into a player or 2. Happens.

    May 3, 2019 at 2:42 pm in reply to: OL talk #100893
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    That article assumes that Evans can play left OT and Edwards is for right OT.

    I think it’s exactly the other way around. Evans does not have left OT skills, Edwards does. And although Edwards played the right side in college, his qb was left-handed which means Edwards was playing on his blind side, and that of course is the role of a left OT with a right-handed qb.

    May 2, 2019 at 11:42 pm in reply to: Anybody watching Game of Thones? #100884
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    May 2, 2019 at 10:38 pm in reply to: tweets … 5/1 – 5/2 #100881
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    Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
    (#Rams release of safety Blake Countess)

    Opens a big door for 2nd pick Taylor Rapp, who figures to get into safety rotation/packages early. But also 7th round S Nick Scott, a special teams ace

    ProFootballTalk@ProFootballTalk
    Later this month, the NFL may guarantee a possession for the team that kicks to start overtime in postseason games, even if the first drive ends in a TD

    Geoff Schwartz@geoffschwartz
    NO! You know you’re allowed to play defense in overtime? The Rams did it.

    May 2, 2019 at 10:19 pm in reply to: UDFAS: videos & write-ups + (continually) updated list of Rams udfas #100878
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    May 2, 2019 at 10:10 pm in reply to: Pick #5: Rams take Greg Gaines at 134 #100877
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    May 2, 2019 at 10:01 pm in reply to: Myles Simmons 3 parter…inside the draft room, days 1-3 #100876
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    Inside the draft room: One last trade to pick up Greg Gaines

    Myles Simmons

    https://www.therams.com/news/inside-the-draft-room-one-last-trade-to-pick-up-greg-gaines

    After a flurry of trades to pick four players on Friday night, there’s not much time before the Rams get back at it in the draft room on Saturday morning.

    There are positives to living in pacific time during the draft. The first two nights start at 5 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively — so you’re not picking players late into the night. But the drawback is that Saturday’s fourth-round proceedings begin at 9 a.m. It’s an early morning.

    As the day begins, Los Angeles has four picks — No. 162, No. 167, No. 169, and No. 251. The first three are in the fifth round, and the final in the seventh.

    Rams assistant director of college scouting Ted Monago enters the draft room at about 8:58, saying that this is the day where it’s time to find gold.

    “You can always find gold,” he says.

    In this case, that starts with the Rams finding a way to move up for defensive tackle Greg Gaines. General manager Les Snead would say later that afternoon at the post-draft press conference that acquiring Gaines was the team’s “first priority” for Saturday. According to Snead, he and McVay had met that morning, and came to the conclusion that Gaines would be the right fit to compete for the nose tackle spot vacated by the departed Ndamukong Suh in Los Angeles’ base 3-4 defense.

    But because the Rams opened the day with selections toward the end of the fifth round, there was work to be done in order to make the priority reality.

    Knowing this was the plan in retrospect fills in a few blanks as the fourth round plays out. Snead and McVay enter the draft room after ostensibly meeting about Gaines and stand in front of the defensive draft-board screen at the front of the room. After a while, it becomes clear that McVay has a player in mind who he believes can fill a specific role to help complete the makeup of Los Angeles’ defense. It also becomes clear that McVay feels like L.A. will have to trade up in order to get him.

    Executive vice president of football operations Kevin Demoff and vice president of football and business administration Tony Pastoors are working the phones, and they discuss with Snead and McVay the potential trade options. Much like it happened on Friday night, some teams are willing to deal if a player they want to select comes off the board. But for a while, none of those deals come to fruition. Those in the room also discuss which teams they know Gaines has met with, just to make sure they’re ahead of any other club that might want him.

    At one point, a team Snead had called about a potential swap calls the Rams’ GM back when that team is on the clock. But it’s a courtesy call, as that club’s time to make a selection is winding down — not a call to trade.

    “I appreciate the call. I was just expecting you to pick and not call us,” Snead says — since that’s the way most of these non-trades have gone. “I’ll remember that.”

    With the group of Snead, McVay, Demoff, and Pastoors in and out of the room, all working together to find a suitable partner, one proposal emerges that will clearly work around pick No. 132. As it turns out, it’s with the Patriots, who have back-to-back picks at No. 133 and 134. After both sides confirmed that New England didn’t plan on picking the player Los Angeles wanted at No. 134, McVay, who’s on the phone with the Pats, spells out the terms of the deal: L.A. gets No. 134 and No. 243 in exchange for No. 162 and No. 167.

    Pastoors phones the league to officially execute the trade, and Los Angeles selects Gaines at No. 134.

    The Rams have their nose tackle.

    Following Snead, McVay, and defensive line coach Eric Henderson, defensive coordinator Wade Phillips gets on the phone with Gaines to welcome him to the team and says it outright — the Washington product has a chance to make an impact right away.

    “It’s going great now, we’ve got you on our team!” Phillips says. “We’ve got a place for you — you konw, Ndamukong Suh left, so you’ve got a spot. We’re looking for you to get after it, OK?”

    “Big shoes to fill — I’m up for it,” Gaines replies.

    “Hey, you can do it,” Phillips says. “That’s why we got you now.”

    As the pick is announced on NFL Network, the room applauds. Then there are a few hoots and hollers when a graphic displays the Rams’ defensive front: Clay Matthews, Michael Brockers, Greg Gaines, Aaron Donald, and Dante Fowler.

    After selecting Gaines, the Rams now have a long time to wait for their next pick at No. 169. And, finally, it appears Los Angeles isn’t going to make a trade.

    As the selections turn to the 160s, the discussion on who the Rams should pick centers around building depth at certain spots versus picking players who can definitely make the gameday roster. Both are important, and the Rams come up with a plan to select players who can, hopefully, check off both boxes.

    In addition to the usual personnel staff, there are a few coaches in the room as the Rams come on the clock at No. 169.

    “Anybody feel different than that?” McVay asks, as the group comes to a consensus on who to pick. No one does, and L.A. turns in the card for Wisconsin offensive tackle David Edwards.

    When the sixth round becomes the seventh, scouts and assistant coaches essentially have to become recruiters. At one point, assistant head coach/linebackers coach Joe Barry jokes that it’s taking him back to his days as a coach for USC.

    Coaches and the personnel staff go back and forth, in and out of the draft room throughout the final round of the draft. But in the lead up to No. 243, the Rams discuss a player special teams coordinator John “Bones” Fassel is particularly fond of. Penn State safety Nick Scott was apparently Fassel’s favorite special teams player in this draft, so he’s understandably quite happy when L.A. turns in the card for Scott at No. 243.

    And to close out the Rams’ selections, Barry advocates for taking Texas Tech linebacker at No. 251, touting his quick-twitch movement and football instincts. And yes, he’s most known to the public as one of the stars of the Netflix show Last Chance U. But inside the draft room, the talk is more about his ability as a player and what he’s overcome to put himself in position to play in the NFL.

    “Love the way you handled adversity,” McVay tells Allen when the Rams call him to tell him the good news.

    That completes the Rams 2019 draft — six trades to net eight players. And while the selection process is done, each player’s NFL story is only beginning.

    May 2, 2019 at 10:11 am in reply to: Rams 3rd pick, David Long, CB #100856
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    May 2, 2019 at 1:36 am in reply to: UDFAS: videos & write-ups + (continually) updated list of Rams udfas #100853
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    Rams UDFAs so far…UPDATED 5/1
    Alex Bachman – WR/KR, Wake Forest, 5-11 195
    Kendall Blanton – TE, Missouri, 6’6″ 262
    Chandler Brewer – OG, Middle Tennessee, 6’5 311
    Romello Brooker – TE, Houston, 6’3 250
    Keenen Brown – TE, Texas State, 6’2 250
    Matt Colburn – RB, Wake Forest, 5’10 200
    Marquise Copeland – DL, Cincinnati, 6’2 287
    Landis Durham – LB, Texas A&M, 6’3 255
    Brandon Hitner – C/OG, Villanova, 6’6 305
    Vitas Hrynkiewicz – C/OG, Youngstown State, 6’3 303
    Matt Kaskey – OT, Dartmouth, 6’7 325
    Jonathan Lloyd – WR, Duke, 6’0 190
    Natrez Patrick – LB, Georgia, 6’2 245
    Justice Powers – OL, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 6’3 300
    Troy Reeder – ILB, Delaware, 6’1 238
    Owen Roberts – DT, San Jose State, 6’2 289
    Justin Sumpter – WR, Kennesaw State, 6’1 221
    Tyrell Thompson – DT/DE, Tarleton State, 6’3 300
    Nsimba Webster – WR/KR, Eastern Washington, 5’9 176

    Okay for those keeping score at home, that’s:

    5 OL
    4 WRs
    3 TEs
    1 RB

    3 DL
    3 LBs

    Notice no corners. My guess is that that’s cause they added a bunch to the practice squad last year. So I s’pose they thought they had enough prospects there. They will probably keep 5, and 4 of those are already set with AT, MP, R-C, and Long. That leaves 5 more competing for one remaining CB spot on the 53.

    …

    May 2, 2019 at 1:34 am in reply to: reactions to the Rams 2019 draft #100852
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    Any more ideas/thoughts/”informal votes”? etc?

    I think a lot is going on with this draft. I think it was a deep overall general draft and that means the Rams had a lot of things fall their way.

    May 2, 2019 at 12:03 am in reply to: UDFAS: videos & write-ups + (continually) updated list of Rams udfas #100850
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    Agamemnon wrote:

    from Rams UDFAs so far…UPDATED 5/1

    Justin Sumpter – WR, Kennesaw State, 6’1 221

    Out of the 19 UDFAs this is one of the few with an NFL.com write-up:

    —

    JUSTIN SUMPTER: https://www.nfl.com/prospects/justin-sumpter?id=32195355-4d78-1435-8af3-5171ad84fb89

    Player Bio

    While Sumpter was an All-County pick at Sandy Creek High School in Georgia, he fell through the recruiting cracks. KSU was starting a football program in 2015, so they took a chance on each other. As a freshman, Sumpter started all 11 games, leading the team in receiving and ranking sixth in the FCS with 20.2 yards per reception (26-525, four TDs). He missed three games due to injury in 2016, starting 7 of 8 games played (31-538-17.4, Big South Conference-high eight TDs). Sumpter started all 14 games in 2017 (33-610-18.5, five TDs) to earn first-team all-conference honors. He missed two games with injury again as a senior, but still was a first-team all-big South receiver after leading his squad with 21 receptions for 316 yards (15.0) and four scores in 10 games (nine starts).

    ANALYSIS

    By Lance Zierlein

    Overview

    Developmental wideout from option-based attack with very average speed (4.66 40) and quickness but intriguing ball skills and body control. He plays like a big target with the frame and strength to garner a majority of the catch space and his explosive leaping ability to makes that talent more pronounced. However, Sumpter needs early enrollment in route-running 101 as his fundamentals and knowledge are below NFL standards. He’s a late-rounder to priority free agent, but has the traits and potential that warrant cultivating.

    Strengths

    Above-average size
    Explosive tester with 39.5-inch vertical and 10-foot, 5-inch broad jump
    Play strength and foot quickness to improve against press
    Quick to locate and adjust on deep throws
    Bangs and out-muscles cornerbacks for catch positioning
    Very good body control near the boundary
    Hands are good enough
    Able to catch through contact
    Adequate extension to catch away from frame
    Wide, welcoming target on possession throws short

    Weaknesses
    Level of competition offered much smaller challengers
    Below-average speed for his size
    Unimpressive acceleration into his routes
    Relies on size and strength over savvy patterns
    Very simple route asks
    Can’t keep route intentions secret from corners
    Speed variances are random and unfocused
    Slows himself when turning to find the football rather than maintaining speed

    May 1, 2019 at 11:57 pm in reply to: UDFAS: videos & write-ups + (continually) updated list of Rams udfas #100849
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    Rams UDFAs so far…UPDATED 5/1

    Alex Bachman – WR/KR, Wake Forest, 5-11 195

    Kendall Blanton – TE, Missouri, 6’6″ 262

    Chandler Brewer – OG, Middle Tennessee, 6’5 311

    Romello Brooker – TE, Houston, 6’3 250

    Keenen Brown – TE, Texas State, 6’2 250

    Matt Colburn – RB, Wake Forest, 5’10 200

    Marquise Copeland – DL, Cincinnati, 6’2 287

    Landis Durham – LB, Texas A&M, 6’3 255

    Brandon Hitner – C/OG, Villanova, 6’6 305

    Vitas Hrynkiewicz – C/OG, Youngstown State, 6’3 303

    Matt Kaskey – OT, Dartmouth, 6’7 325

    Jonathan Lloyd – WR, Duke, 6’0 190

    Natrez Patrick – LB, Georgia, 6’2 245

    Justice Powers – OL, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 6’3 300

    Troy Reeder – ILB, Delaware, 6’1 238

    Owen Roberts – DT, San Jose State, 6’2 289

    Justin Sumpter – WR, Kennesaw State, 6’1 221

    Tyrell Thompson – DT/DE, Tarleton State, 6’3 300

    Nsimba Webster – WR/KR, Eastern Washington, 5’9 176

    Tryouts:

    James Davis – OG, U of Alabama at Birmingham, 6’3 305

    Lance Dunn Jr – RB, North Dakota St., 5’9 208

    Chris Gaynor – OG/C, TCU, 6’5, 290

    Layton Rabb – QB, MSU, 6’4 215

    May 1, 2019 at 10:17 pm in reply to: Rams vs Chiefs #100845
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    That was one of the Great Games. One of the best Rams games ever.

    And afterward, Goff wasn’t the same, Gurley wasn’t the same, and teams started realizing you had better do even more about Donald than people had been doing to that point.

    …

    May 1, 2019 at 10:11 pm in reply to: Rams 3rd pick, David Long, CB #100844
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    zn wrote:

    Long allowed all of 18 catches on 595 coverage snaps in his entire college career

    Holey moley.

    ..

    Wait. It gets even freakier.

    ..

    alyoshamucci

    In 29 games, Long recorded 38 tackles, two tackles for loss, 17 passes defensed, and three interceptions.

    Long has 18 catches allowed, career. And passes defensed = 17 + 3 INTs is 20 and that is two more than “completions allowed”

    More plays on the ball than completions allowed?

    That’s a crazy stat.

    Like, I knew he was tough from watching, and then I knew he was fast from Indy … but that stat is like throwing more TDs than incompletions in a game, but stretched over your entire career.

    …

    May 1, 2019 at 9:46 pm in reply to: tweets … 5/1 – 5/2 #100842
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    Cameron DaSilva@camdasilva
    The Rams’ biggest weakness in 2018 was their run defense. They upgraded it with cheaper players, which is often difficult to do

    May 1, 2019 at 7:41 pm in reply to: the evil wv-ewe's new thing #100837
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    The plants in your article, they’re all good plants. I have a few of them myself.

    Milkweed? I had it once, it didn’t take to our climate.

    May 1, 2019 at 7:27 pm in reply to: Rams 3rd pick, David Long, CB #100834
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    from Steals of the 2019 NFL Draft

    https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-steals-of-the-2019-nfl-draft

    PICK 79 – DAVID LONG, LOS ANGELES RAMS
    Big Board Rank: 33rd
    Instead of plugging needs, the Rams had the luxury of taking some backups who will be future starters on Day 2. Long allowed only 18 catches his entire college career although he’ll have to get up to speed with any sort of off-coverage in the NFL.

    May 1, 2019 at 7:14 pm in reply to: Rams 1st pick, Taylor Rapp, safety #100833
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    That vid, the PFF guys. They call him a box safety. I don’t agree with that.

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