PFF LA Rams@PFF_Rams
In Dante Fowler Jr.’s short time with the #Rams last season, he posted 16 total hurries in Weeks 9-17, putting him in the Top 50 among front 7 defenders during that same time span (min. 118 snaps)

Okay old issue but things to notice.

Written late December:

Gurley’s knee also was an issue after a season-opening victory over the Oakland Raiders, when Gurley rushed for 108 yards and caught three passes for 39 yards and a touchdown.

“It was a similar situation,” McVay said.

Gurley said Thursday that he, “Felt like s—” after the Monday night game in Week 1.

“It was bad,” Gurley said. “I was contemplating on giving the Rams back their money and everything. It was bad. It was real bad.”

Written after the season:

“I don’t know exactly medically when you categorize what arthritis is,” McVay said. “I do know that just from the amount of work that he’s had, there’s been a wear and tear on that knee.”

“Amount of work” does not address game 1. And as is clear here, McVay himself said in December, when sitting TG, that the flare up in September was a “similar situation.”

TG said he was fine after a couple of days in September but then he had a subpar game in week 2 against Arizona’s defense, which was ranked 32nd v. the run (in that game TG averaged 2.2 a carry). After that he was back in gear in the following weeks , until the 2-game sit in December.

When directly asked about arthritis recently, in separate venues, Demoff, Snead, and McVay all danced around it. No one could just say “no that’s not an issue, we rule that out.” Anyway. Whatever the cause of this thing is, it has the hallmarks of a condition of some kind and not an injury per se. It presumably can be managed by a combination of things like physical therapy and decreased snaps in practice and games.

…

Here’s what McVay said in his Dec. 27 press conference: https://www.turfshowtimes.com/2018/12/28/18158182/transcript-los-angeles-rams-san-francisco-49ers-week-17-preview-sean-mcvay-wade-phillips-todd-gurley

Los Angeles Rams HC Sean McVay
(On if there is any update on RB Todd Gurley II)

”Yeah, it’s the same as yesterday. Those guys are still day-to-day – he and (S) Lamarcus (Joyner) both. They will not participate in practice. So, we’re kind of right where we were yesterday.”

(On if he would play Gurley if he doesn’t practice at all this week)

”If he’s feeling good, similar to last week, if he’s feeling like he’s progressing but he’s able to just take some mental reps – things like that – then that could definitely be an option. You’d prefer for him to practice, but it wouldn’t be something that if he doesn’t practice, then there’s definitely no chance he plays. I definitely wouldn’t say that.”

…

(On if they’re still describing Gurley’s situation as inflammation to the knee)

”Yeah, that’s what it is. It really is that. It’s inflammation of the knee. I think just like anything else, when you just look at just the overall pounding that a running back takes. I think a lot of it, too, was a result of, probably wasn’t going to come back in the ‘Philly’ game. He was such a warrior that he ended up coming back in as a result to some of the things that occurred in that game and his ability to gut through and fight through that, probably made it swell up. It was a similar situation earlier in the year after we played Oakland (Raiders) as well. So, he recovers really well. He kind of gets his body back. Takes really good care of himself. But, this is something that we want to be smart about. He had never gone through where you’re really having to gut through and fight through that type of pain throughout the game, like he did against ‘Philly’. Then, with the workout, like we said last week, just talking to Todd on Saturday morning, I was fully anticipating him going. Then, we had to make the decision. It wasn’t really Todd saying, ‘I can’t go.’ It was more of us making that decision because of how much he wanted to play, but there’s an element of, we’ve got to be mindful of protecting him as well. He makes his own decisions. He’s great about being able to communicate that to us, but he also is so considerate of, ‘Okay, if I’m not going, what does this mean for the team?’ That’s the type of guy that you want. But, if it it’s a similar outlook or if he’s not feeling totally ready to go, then we’ll take the same approach that we did last week.”

(On if his knee is still inflamed or if he would say it’s just sore)

”Yeah, just sore. You’re right, I’m not a doctor, but my understanding is, it was just a result of the inflammation – that has gone down. We’re really just taking it one day at a time, like we’ve said, just from a rehab and just the overall pain management, just the way that your knee feels functionally. But yeah, the swelling is gone right now.”

"FEET BEFORE HANDS". Watch the RT. Whenever the hands reach or punch before the feet slide on an inside move … you're vulnerable. Howard Mudd once said "Pass blocking is mostly feet, the hands get in the way". https://t.co/vP7TdJENwZ pic.twitter.com/Wpp1N7hcN4

— Paul Alexander (@CoachPaulAlex) March 16, 2019

Gregg Rosenthal@greggrosenthal
More Gregg Rosenthal Retweeted Football Perspective
Tannehill is a good example not to assume development from every QB. Was promising for a rookie, only topped that QBR once in next 5 years.

Downtown Rams@DowntownRams
According PFF – Linebackers that played at least 900 snaps last year and had the fewest missed tackles:
1.Avery Williamson – 2
T-2.Mason Foster – 3
T-2.Jaylon Smith – 3
T-4.Danny Trevathan – 4
T-4.Darius Leonard – 4
6.Cory Littleton – 6
T-7.Van Noy, Warner & Alonso – 7

Michael Silver@MikeSilver
Free agent QB Blake Bortles, recently released by the Jaguars, will visit the Rams on Monday, according to a team source…

LoboRam

The Moving the Chains guys were saying that Bortles would be a good fit in LA for a few reasons:
1) Working under McVay would help Blake remake his career… clean up bad habits and rebuild confidence.
2) Blake can move in the pocket, he can roll out and under McVay, develop his play action game.
3) If he works out as a good reliable back up and remakes his career, he could be a good trade asset… (see Jimmy G.)
4) He has played well at times, played in big games and has a track record unlike Mannion.

Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
Sense early on on Blake Bortles was he’d probably be looking for a landing spot that gave him the clearest chance to start. But if you’re him, the chance to work with Sean McVay and his group isn’t a bad alternative plan. He’s expected to visit #Rams on Monday.

Ryan Kartje@Ryan_Kartje
Here’s what’s intriguing about Blake Bortles, who is reportedly visiting with the Rams. The Jaguars are paying him $16 million to not play for them. Maybe he accepts a lesser deal to chase a ring, knowing he gets that 💸💸💸, anyway

This is the specific allegation, re: Rath. pic.twitter.com/7W2xDHGeoH

— Rich Hammond (@Rich_Hammond) March 15, 2019

this is what good coaching looks like pic.twitter.com/FzNIlkhdCI

— betz (@alltwentytwo) March 15, 2019

LA Rams’ “get-back coach” on leave after arrest, charges

https://apnews.com/7c957db9eb1b4656bb3b5adb9c2d22b4

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ted Rath, the Los Angeles Rams’ director of strength training and performance, is on a leave of absence after being arrested and charged with three misdemeanor counts of sexual battery.

The Rams confirmed Rath’s leave of absence Friday.

Along with his responsibilities in strength training, Rath gained minor fame last season as the so-called “get-back coach” assigned to make sure Rams head coach Sean McVay doesn’t step too far onto the field while coaching on the sideline.

Rath was arrested and released on bail Jan. 15, five days before the Rams beat New Orleans in the NFC championship game, according to Ventura County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Eric Hatlee.

Rath didn’t travel with the team to New Orleans or to the Super Bowl. The Rams said the coach was recovering from an injury at the time.

In a team statement issued Friday, the Rams said they “are aware of the charges filed against Ted Rath. We take these allegations very seriously. Once the charges were filed, we decided Ted would take a leave of absence from the team as this matter works its way through the justice system.”

Rath’s attorney, Vicki Podberesky, pleaded not guilty on his behalf Friday morning. She says they will go to trial if necessary to prove Rath is not guilty.

“Mr. Rath takes these allegations very seriously,” Podberesky said in a statement issued to The Associated Press. “Ted is a man who has led a law-abiding life. He is a husband, a father and a dedicated family man. He has the utmost respect for women and would never intentionally act in a manner that was demeaning or otherwise inappropriate. We intend to defend this matter to the fullest extent possible in a court of law, and we believe that after there has been a full vetting of the facts of this case Mr. Rath will be shown to be not guilty of these charges.”

Hatlee didn’t immediately have any details of the misdemeanor charges against Rath.

KNX 1070 NewsRadio first reported Rath’s arrest and plea.

Rath joined the Rams in 2017 after serving as an assistant strength coach with the Dolphins and Lions. He is married with three children, according to the Rams.

J.B. Long@JB_Long
Cooper Kupp on the ACL rehab: “They have to hold me back more than they have to push me.”

Warren Sharp@SharpFootball
Teams are gaming the comp pick system. Letting FA walk & not getting greedy. Picks can be traded.

>PHI has 3 (3rd/4th/4th)
-Combined value=37th pick overall
>NE has 2 (3rd/3rd)
-Combined value=43rd pick
>SEA has 4 (3rd/4th/6th/6th)
-Combined value=54th pick

=

In Brockers case a restructure and extension actually makes perfect sense. Unless of course you think over 11 mil cap hit is good for him?

Vincent Bonsignore@VinnyBonsignore
What exactly are you expecting him to agree to?

=

Cooper Kupp on the ACL rehab: "They have to hold me back more than they have to push me." #LARams #BehindTheGrind https://t.co/vRDBuBljFZ

— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) March 15, 2019

RamsNewsNow@RamsNewsNow
John Johnson on Weddle’s game, personality fitting in with the Rams: “He can do it all.”

LMU93

Sometimes you have to have faith in your OL coach and scouting. Rams are far from the only team asking young OL to step up in 2019. The Patriots let Trent Brown go and will be counting on Isaiah Wynn to protect Brady. And he not only did not start last year he was not active for a single game and is coming off a torn Achilles. And based on the amount of practice reps they had with the 1st team offense all last season Noteboom and Allen are ahead of many.

LoboRam

Jim Miller and Pat Kirwin on Moving the Chains the other day were fine with Allen taking over at Center and with the Rams moving on from Sully…Jim was raving about Allen and his versatility and tough play at MSU.

Snead, McVay dodge questions about whether Todd Gurley has arthritis

Cameron DaSilva

Snead, McVay dodge questions about whether Todd Gurley has arthritis

Most of the headlines coming out of Thousand Oaks for the Los Angeles Rams have been about the team’s offseason moves thus far. they’ve moved on from John Sullivan and Mark Barron, signed Eric Weddle and Dante Fowler Jr. and lost Rodger Saffold to the Tennessee Titans.

As big as all of those transactions are, there’s still a cloud hanging over the Rams’ heads: Todd Gurley’s knee. Everywhere he goes, from Ric Flair’s birthday party to an event at a local school where he gave kids backpacks and books, Gurley gets asked about his knee.
After reports surfaced that the Rams will consider stem cell treatment and that he has arthritis in his knee, there’s no lack of concern in L.A. when it comes to the team’s star running back. It doesn’t help that Les Snead and Sean McVay have remained tight-lipped on the situation, saying it’s merely wear and tear.

They hadn’t spoken to the media since the arthritis report … until Tuesday. After Weddle’s introductory press conference, Snead fielded questions from reporters, predictably ones about Gurley’s knee. Rather than setting the record straight, Snead danced around those questions and wouldn’t give a solid answer.

“What we said is he’s had a lot of carries over the last few years,” Snead said, via Lindsey Thiry of ESPN. “And so anything you hear us say, any plan is basically hey — and I would say this not just with Todd Gurley, right, it might be with our wide receivers because they’ve played a lot of snaps over the last few years — is hey, what can we do to help those guys be as fresh as possible at the end of the season.”

When Snead was asked specifically about the validity of the report suggesting Gurley has arthritis, he continued his two-step and dodged the question with a coy response. He jokingly said it would be a plus if Gurley had arthritis because that’s nothing a little Aleve can’t fix.
“That would be good then, because all you got to do is take Aleve. Right?” he replied.

After tiptoeing around the first two questions, Snead was asked to give a yes or no answer as to whether Gurley is dealing with arthritis. And again, he deflected, neither denying nor confirming the report.

“With all NFL players when it comes to trying to be fresh at the end of the year, there is an element of probably shades of gray of how fresh you are and what that reason is,” Snead said. “So I would counter your, ‘It’s either a yes or a no.’ I’m not sure you’ve ever gone through a 16-game NFL season, but if you have you probably would understand that shade of gray.”
It’s hard to blame Snead for avoiding the questions because of the additional concerns that would come if he admitted Gurley has arthritis. That diagnosis wouldn’t be a career-ender, but it would potentially change the Rams’ plans at running back moving forward.

Arthritis isn’t something that just goes away with Aleve like Snead jokingly said it would. It doesn’t get better with time. Just the opposite, actually. One doctor even said Gurley’s best years are likely behind him as a result of this potential condition.

By saying “wear and tear,” perhaps McVay and Snead are suggesting it is arthritis without actually saying it. They’re not afraid to admit something was hindering Gurley, they just won’t say exactly what it was besides him having a heavy workload and not feeling as fresh as usual.

That’s what McVay indicated again on Tuesday when he was asked about Gurley’s knee.

“I don’t know exactly medically when you categorize what arthritis is,” McVay said. “I do know that just from the amount of work that he’s had, there’s been a wear and tear on that knee.”

We may never know what’s wrong with Gurley’s knee. The Rams may never come out and say he has arthritis. Players deal with that condition every season, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be reported or announced to the public. It’s especially common in players with surgically repaired knees, and given Gurley’s contract situation and usage late in the season, it makes the entire thing more precarious.

If Gurley plays as if nothing is wrong next season, very little will be made about the injury. But if he only gets 15 carries per game in 2019, those difficult questions will come up again