wv wrote:

I dunno. I watch Puka make play after play after play — and i cant quite figure out how he’s doing it. With a guy like Isaac Bruce, i am able to see the sheer obvious quick-twitch talent.

Like you say, Puka just seems like a little Tight End. Or a Deebo, of some sort.

I’m not saying Puka is ‘less valuable’ I’m just saying i cant quite categorize him.

w
v

It seemed to me against the oilers last week that Puka was more open than Adams was (generally). It seemed like – especially in the first half – that Adams had Creed inside his shirt most of the time. Puka always seemed a yard away from his guy.

And it’s a mystery. But imo I think Puka is faster than he looks. He doesn’t have catlike speed, but he’s… you know… he’s an Ostrich. You wouldn’t think it to look at them, but they can run 43 mph. Puka doesn’t have that sleek-looking agility. But he’s very fast, and he gets open, and he catches the damn ball, even if the judges don’t give him a 10. Or a 5. Or whatever judges give.

Okay. I’m done mixing metaphors. I’m going to go mix some paint, and tackle the bathroom like a sausage in a refinery fire.

zn wrote:

Los Angeles Rams PR@TheLARamsPR
According to @PFF, the Rams are one of two teams in the NFL that have two EDGE defenders who rank in the top-10 in pass rush grade – Byron Young (90.1) and Jared Verse (80.2) (min 50% snaps played).

That’s BS. Verse has zero sacks. Wasted draft pick, imo.

JoeMad is gonna be mad. Again.

McVay’s ability to run down the sideline after a Rams’ TD may be impeded against the Eagles.

zn wrote:

So we’ll see what’s what with both teams.

Yeah, this is going to be a revealing game.

It’s obviously a tough environment to play in, and the Eagles are the Champs for good reason. They’re fearless, and they are physically dominant.

We’re going to see if the retooled defense specifically designed to slow down Saquon is going to work, but that is a tall order. The Eagles just wear people down. It’s going to be a tough game.

I just hope the Rams escape Philly injury-free, and with a comfortable victory by 15 points or more.

wv wrote:

Never had a duo like Nacua and Adams?

I dunno. Kupp and OBJ were pretty good. Kupp and Robert Woods were pretty good.

w
v

Pretty sure Bruce and Holt surpass them as well.

GG.

The Rams looked like they were on their way to a cakewalk in the first quarter, then Jeff Fisher gave his famous “They’re celebrating!” speech, and it took a turn for the worse. I thought the Rams were in for unnecessary fight when they just came out and took over all second half.

And, yeah, they could have tallied a 40-spot. It was kind of amusing watching McVay trip all over himself trying to avoid that. And the Titans tipped the old cap to that by running off ten seconds at the end.

Anyway… Byron Young came to play this year. And Landman. Jeeze. That guy is going to lead the team in jersey sales if he keeps this up. Reminds me of Kurt Rambis. Hard hat guy who just gets it done.

That throw by Ward for the only TD the Rams have given up all year…wow. I see that from my rookie QB, and I respond with gladness. That was something.

The Rams just overmatched them in the trenches, though. That DL is going to matter in a lot of games. I hope they all stay healthy.

Looked like Stafford was forcing it to Adams in the first half. Maybe Adams drew the tougher CB; I dunno. But that wasn’t working. Glad to see it work in the 2nd half.

Blake Corum sighting! Who didn’t love seeing him reel off a few roundhouses? Good to see.

I assume Ferguson is not yet “there” on blocking because he seems to be alright in every other aspect of the game. If he surpasses Allen eventually, though, that will be alright with me.

I somehow missed the Witherspoon injury. Must’ve been one of those moments when I was distracted because I watched the entire game. Clavicle sounds like a couple of months, at least. That’s no bueno.

So far, no gaping holes in the Rams’ game. They looked good in both games so far. I’d like to see more from Williams, but everything else looks pretty good. The LB play has certainly stepped up, so I would like to make a Motion that we keep playing out the rest of the season.

Land Man.

wv wrote:

Dunno if you saw the game-winning touch-down pass by Purdy but i think it was the most pathetic game winning TD pass i have ever seen in my life. Should have been picked. He should have had three INTs in that game including the game-losing-pass.

I did not. I didn’t see anything apart from the Rams game. I will go find that later today.

zn wrote:

Ahkello Witherspoon locked down Nico Collins, only allowing one catch for 4 yards on two targets. He only gave up two catches for 5 yards in the entire game, showing he’s the Rams’ CB1 on the outside. Emmanuel Forbes Jr. played well, too, giving up just one catch for 1 yard.

2 catches for 5 yards?

That’s what the starting corners gave up?

Holy shit.

nittany ram wrote:

So good on you Zooey, for not buying into the playoff opponent hype.

Would you like to borrow a handkerchief? You’ve got a little venom dripping down your chin, sir.

zn wrote:

Rams fans aren’t prepared for what this team rolls out on Sunday.

How can I get ready? Should I watch more Baldinger?

I am seeing a lot of “The Rams’ ceiling is winning it all, but I’m placing them at 10-7 (or even 9-8), apparently solely on the basis that Stafford’s back hurts.”

I’m always concerned about injuries. We have seen injuries kill seasons for the Rams. All teams are susceptible to it. Last year, it was the 49ers turn. (As it happens, they are pretty banged up right now, too). So while I’m concerned about Stafford and Jackson, I don’t think our worry has much substance to it right now. By that I mean that this (i.e. what we got from the Rams’ handling of Stafford and Jackson in camp) is consistent with McVay’s conservative approach to the pre-season. He doesn’t play his starters because…why? There simply was no reason to practice those guys when there were risks associated with it, and little benefit. Three weeks of practice is plenty for MS to get ready, and one week is fine for Jackson. So that’s just what this was always going to look like, and without a decent Rams reporter, we’re in an information vacuum.

But I’m assuming we get Classic Stafford basically all year. So I’m very optimistic about this season, more optimistic than I’ve been in several seasons.

Stafford is still an elite QB. Garrappolloo is a very good #2. I don’t want to see him play, but if he does, I won’t dive under the table and shut my eyes. He can win games.

The RBs look improved. Kyren is a quality RB. Red chip, maybe. I guess he’s a good blocker, and he’s decent in the passing game. He fumbles, and he doesn’t ever pick up more than a dozen yards, but he gets you 3-7 yards pretty consistently, and that’s valuable. Don’t know what to make of Corum. He showed nothing last year, and Hunter seems like one of those Darryl Henderson, Barry Redden type guys who are valuable change of pace backs, but can also keep the ball rolling if they have to cover a couple of games while Kyren recovers from something. I dunno, though. I didn’t see any preseason games, so this is mostly from reading, plus what I saw last year.

WRs appear to be upgraded. I think Adams is an improvement over Kupp. Love Kupp, but seems to me that he and Puka are the same guy, basically, except Puka is younger and bigger. Adams brings a different dimension, and McVay was drooling over that dimension. I’m not big on Atwell, but I get that his speed helps. He’s better than Tavon Austin, but he’s no Az-Zahir. I liked what I saw of Whittington last year, and Mumpfield – again, what I’ve read – strikes me as a Brandin Cooks guy, but not as fast. Bummer that they lost Robinson, but I think Whittington can replace his production. Overall, I think the depth is better here as well as the diversity.

It would be hard for the Rams not to improve at TE. Ferguson makes them better, and Higbee had a full camp.

The OL looks to be a very strong unit this year which is good for the running game, and good for the passing game, turns out. It also means that Stafford’s annoyed disc should take a below average beating.

This offense is just good everywhere.

The DL is the most exciting aspect of the upcoming season for me. I am just stoked about watching these young guys get after it in their second year together. This looks to me like as good a DL as the Rams have had in decades.

For the first time in a few years, I am entering the season NOT thinking, “Well…I guess the Rams really don’t need linebackers because they don’t seem to care about that unit.” They’ve upgraded this unit, too. Landman seems to be a score. The guy walks into camp and takes the green dot. That’s a good sign.

Only the secondary worries me. Neither Witherspoon nor Williams impressed last year. I like the safeties, but they lack an elite CB, and haven’t had one since they traded Ramsey. Last year the vulnerability was the run. Seems like this year, it could be that the CBs are the weak spot.

Special teams? Well, Evans is among the best, and Karty is good enough, and Smith is a decent returner. The Rams should be fine here.

So the offense looks improved to me in WRs, TEs, and OL. RB depth is improved. The defense has improved against the run (only way to go is up), and the DL looks absolutely menacing, and should take some of the pressure off the CBs.

This is a very good team, and the window is open right now. This is it. This is as good a chance as we are likely to see for a while. If injuries are not the storyline of the season, I am planning to watch the Rams in the Super Bowl this year.

In the SF report, I can tell you that there is less excitement about the 9ers this season than I would expect given how much respect they are getting nationally and in casinos. I think last season took some wind out of their sails, they lost Greenlaw, Hufunga, and Samuel, the WR room looks a mess right now, and evidently there have been some injuries. But Jennings IS practicing, Pearsall is looking good, and Robinson will be back Week 4, and Aiyuk will be eligible to return against the Rams in Week 5. I think it is short-sighted to write them off. They may not get off to a blazing start, but their schedule is weak, and they can win games without being full speed.

zn wrote:

Zooey wrote:

I see you edited out her comment about Pooh Paul.

Jourdan Sniffer.

I just assume she wrote that before he was cut, and then it got stuck in the Athletic’s publishing schedule. I took it as otherwise being confusing.

I think that’s a sure bet. She wouldn’t have written that after the 53 was released.

And now…

From
NFL Future Hits List: 32 under-the-radar names every true fan should know
Jourdan Rodrigue
Sept. 1, 2025Updated 5:46 am PDT

Los Angeles Rams: Jordan Whittington, WR
While the Rams are set with their 11 personnel depth (three receivers; Davante Adams, Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell), I predict it will become extremely difficult to keep Whittington off the field. The second-year player has rotated into run downs with the first team, but when playing receiver with the second team he moves with a different speed and physicality than others.