wv wrote:

Terrible call against the Texans on that fourth down play,
when it was ten to zip.

Yep. That was terrible.

So… I still am not very impressed with the Rams, actually.

They have not put together a game that made me think they are a legitimate threat to win it all. And they have just passed through the easiest stretch of the schedule, against some truly deficient teams, and I wanna see the Rams do better than that. They fail to execute pretty often. And for the first half dozen games or so, you can let them slide on “new QB; new DC,” but it’s time now to throw the ball to the open guy, throw it accurately in a tight space, make some tackles, takeaway the ball, get 3 and outs, and… I dunno… quietly drop Tutu off at the adoption agency. They are putting up impressive numbers, but there it just feels like there are loose parts. This team makes too many unforced errors to win it all.

Of course, there is still plenty of time, but looking at the next 5 games –
Titans
at SF
at GB
Jax
at Ariz
and 3-2 or even 2-3 seems likely/possible.

My favorite thing about yesterday was Darryl Henderson.

I didn’t see much of the second half. Fell asleep, actually at 31-7, and while I was happy to see McVay put in the JV squad, there was no good football to be had at that point anyway.

I am looking forward to the next 3 games. I think we will really see if the Rams are contenders or pretenders now.

zn wrote:

Rich Hammond@Rich_Hammond
It’s not that the Rams made a mistake by signing a quality No. 3/4 WR. It’s about resource allocation on a cap-ceiling team. The Rams splurged on DeSean/Tutu when there seemed to be holes elsewhere, and that has borne itself out. And now a few people are unsatisfied.

Okay, but if Jackson was getting 3 or 4 receptions a game, this wouldn’t be an issue. The fact is that Josh Reynolds got used more last year than Jackson is getting used this year. So…the question is why?

What my eyeballs are telling me is that what the Rams (McVay) thought they needed most on offense this year (and many of us agreed) was the ability to stretch the defense vertically, a major deficiency of the final stage of the Goff era. Since Cooks left, Goff’s passes were concentrated around the line of scrimmage. Very long handoffs.

So they got somebody who could be a deep threat…only…turns out, that wasn’t much of a problem after all. With Stafford, the Rams offense immediately found the entire repertoire of throws, particularly the mid-range stuff that is the bread and butter of modern offenses, and suddenly the Rams were stretching the field from their base offense. Jackson became a Boom button on a speaker. Sure…it boosts the bass sound, or whatever, but it doesn’t reaaalllly make that much difference. They are fine without him.

I was hoping to see the Rams use him more because I happen to like it when the Rams score from 70-yards out, but if they could get an immediate contributor for him, I’d take it because he does seem to be expendable. I’ll be pissed if they trade him for a 7th rounder pick, but if they can get an actual return for him, I’ll take it.

Here are possible trade partners as speculated by CBS Sports’ Bryan DeArdo:

Green Bay Packers
Green Bay just suffered the loss of tight end Robert Tonyan, so the Packers may be in the market for a new receiver to help offset that loss. The Packers went out and signed Randall Cobb at Aaron Rodgers’ request this offseason, so it’s not unreasonable to think that they would do the same with Jackson if Rodgers makes a similar request.

Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have plenty of weapons, but Andy Reid may jump on the chance to reunite with Jackson, his top receiver for several seasons in Philadelphia. Jackson would also help replace Sammy Watkins as a reliable, veteran receiver for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Indianapolis Colts
With T.Y. Hilton’s injury situation, it would make sense for the Colts to try to make an upgrade at the receiver position. It would also pair Jackson with another former Eagles Pro Bowl performer in quarterback Carson Wentz.

Baltimore Ravens
Even with the offseason addition of Watkins, the Ravens could use another wideout opposite Watkins, Marquise Brown and Devin Duvernay. The trade would certainly be embraced by Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who has enjoyed a strong start to the 2021 season.

The entire article is here, if you want it:
Jackson Landing Spots

I would not trade him to the Packers. No chance.

The headline still cracks me up.

So a bunch of zillionaires are having an argument about how they are splitting the dinner check.

My heart bleeds equally for all of them.

Surely the prosecution can get around that, though, by referring to them as “fatalities” or “Killed person #1” or something.

I agree with all of that. I’ve always like Woods, going back to USC, and I was elated the Rams got him. He is not flashy, but he is just the complete package. He does everything well, and he gets after it. He is as reliable as they come. I am really glad they extended him.

I don’t know what it is about Kupp. I should love that guy more than I do. For some reason, I’ve just never been able to believe what I’m seeing with him. The guy is always open. He always catches it, and then – even though he is completely surrounded – he spins and makes an extra 6 yards to pick up the first down, or score. It’s almost like I just have trouble believing it for some reason. I think I also fear he’s going to break again, like he did in 2018. I’m afraid to fall in love with him because I fear he will break my heart. If Kupp goes, there goes the season.

I think Jefferson has improved, too, and I think he will be even better next year. Seems to me that Year Three is when WRs max out.

The OL is the best the Rams have had since I dunno when.

Praying the offense stays healthy. Give these guys another 10 games together, and I will gladly ride with this team into January. They are right up there statistically, and it’s very obvious they haven’t clicked yet. Their ceiling is much higher.

The defense is more concerning. Hopefully, they too will gel, but the secondary seems rickety to me. Rapp seems more like a box guy. Reminds me of Archuleta a bit, actually. And their unbelievable depth has eroded with all the solid players going elsewhere for better pay. I have hopes for Rochelle, but Long is “Not For,” I don’t think. And I’m concerned about holding up against Derrick Henry.

That match-up with TN is going to tell us a lot about the Rams ability to stop the run. Biggest test to date, isn’t it? That’s also a Big Reunion date: Janoris Jenkins, Roger Saffold, Josh Reynolds, Sam Ficken.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2021/10/26/mike-tomlin-response-usc-rumors-black-coaches

Sounds like a mistrial before it starts, but I don’t know anything about it.

Looks like there are 5 teams in the NFC, and the Saints, Seahawks, and 49ers, are not among them.

Looks to me like this is the Rams wanting to extend some guys, and looking to see where they can clear space, and giving away a player to create cap room to keep somebody who is harder to replace.

So this is “(Kenny Young and a 7th) for a (6th and room to keep somebody else).”

zn wrote:

Rams Brothers@RamsBrothers
Matthew Stafford officially surpassed John Elway today with his 3 TD passes, and now has the 12th most of all-time with 301.

May as well go and catch Eli, Big Ben and Matt Ryan next!

Did you see that Brady hit his 600th TD pass yesterday?

Stafford is already halfway to Brady’s total in only his 13th year.